Wyoming Space Grant Consortium
WyoScholar Institutional Repository (University of Wyoming)Not a member yet
6751 research outputs found
Sort by
The Long-Term Effects on Conceptual Change and Affect for Preservice Teachers One Year After a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) Experience
No full textThe current research evaluated the long-term effects of a cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE) experience on preservice teachers’ conceptual change and affect. To evaluate the lasting effects, four students from a physical science class were interviewed one year following their experience in a CAVE simulation in which they learned about molecular density. For each participant the interview produced a transcript of his/her spoken responses and a drawing that was compared to the drawing s/he had done the year before. The results of the research showed that participants manifested both positive and negative affect in regard to their CAVE experience. Positive affect was most common in recalling the CAVE experience itself, while negative affect was most prevalent when recalling specific content learned. All four participants retained changes in conceptions from their time in the CAVE. However, these conceptual understandings consisted of both accurate information and misconceptions
The Fisheries Crisis and its People: An econometric Sustainable Livelihoods application for low-income artisanal fishers in Sierra Leone
No full textThe global fisheries crisis is a topic of significant research across fields, including economics. It is evident that the current global fish stocks are declining, which has motivated environmental protection measures to be implemented. Low-income countries and their inhabitants are unevenly harmed by these environmental impacts, as artisanal fishing villages are dependent on fisheries for subsistence and livelihood. This case is particularly true in Sierra Leone, where poverty is evident, artisanal fishing communities exist, and dependence on fisheries is high (Kassam, et al. 2017; Teh, et al. 2016). Policy makers in these countries are faced with the challenge of mitigating environmental disasters while still ensuring that livelihoods of local people are protected. The present paper argues that an econometric model would provide useful, empirical evidence to these policy makers as to the specific factors of livelihood, responding to the question: which factors in the livelihoods of low-income artisanal fishers are most significant, and therefore should be considered in policy decisions? The econometric model in this paper follows the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach to environmental protection and poverty reduction (Krantz 2001). Livelihood, measured by the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index, is explained by economic, social, and environmental variables in a sustainable livelihoods framework. Results and viability of this model are discussed, followed by a discussion of further research to sharpen these results. The model is then tested to show its practical application for policy-makers in maximizing poverty alleviation outcomes. Research concluded that insufficient data has caused present results to be relatively inconclusive for Sierra Leone today, but the model design and rationale can be useful given a substantially larger dataset
Vision Therapy Rehabilitation of Post-Concussion Visual Impairments
No full textConcussion is a common, mild form of traumatic brain injury that is caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Concussion can be caused by a wide variety of situation, commonly sports collisions, automobile accidents, and falls. Signs of concussion include a loss of consciousness, temporary amnesia, and disorientation. Severe concussion can result in visual impairments such as blurred vision, light sensitivity, attention deficits, impaired memory, and double vision. Vision therapy can significantly or completely improve many of these visual impairments. Vision therapy is a series of procedures monitored by an optometrist that are designed to improve visual movements and processing. Vision therapy can be used to benefit patients in many different situations from sports vision training and learning disability improvements to traumatic brain injury rehabilitation and specific visual condition correction. Many or all of the visual symptoms of concussion respond to vision therapy; vision therapy programs for concussion typically focus on correcting convergence insufficiency, eye movements, visual tracking, and gaze stabilization. The case study included at the end of this research presents the use of vision therapy for the management of post-concussion visual symptoms in a 20 year old male athlete
Vague in Northern Ireland: Examining Perceptions of Victimhood and Lasting Animosities in Northern Ireland
No full textIn 1998, the violent Troubles in Northern Ireland came to an end with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Many in the world would believe that today, Northern Ireland exists in a state of peace. That idea, however, is far from true. Today, Northern Ireland exists in a state of negative peace with isolated incidents of violence occurring between Catholic Republicans and Protestant Loyalists. These groups continue to disagree on who is a true victim of the Troubles, creating a hierarchy of victimhood. With the collapse of the government in 2017, many wonder what will happen in the future between these two groups. This paper looks at the existing perceptions of victimhood between Catholic Nationalist Republicans and Protestant Unionist Loyalists, as well as the role of the media and international funding. Through examining these perceptions, it becomes clear that full peace in Northern Ireland may be far off if the two communities cannot come together to form one definition of victimhood
Verbal Chess using Computer Vision with the Baxter Research Robot
No full textThe Baxter robotic system is an extremely sophisticated piece of machinery, equipped with a myriad of sensors and features. As of yet, very little research has been accomplished utilizing Baxter by students or faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wyoming. This project is a base that will enable future employment of Baxter for more intricate and advanced research topics. This project was derived to showcase a large portion of Baxter’s functionality in an easily digestible and potentially expandable format. It will display a convenient form of user interaction (voice commands), utilization of computer vision (detecting chess board and pieces), and safe and precise physical interactions with or near humans (moving chess pieces).
The goal of this project is to enable the Baxter robotic system to move chess pieces on a chess board based on user input in the form of voice commands. This can be broken up into four main parts: physical movement of Baxter’s appendages, computer vision to locate the board and chess pieces, voice recognition for the necessary set of commands, and internal chess board state information and chess logic
‘Bias,\u27 \u27Racism,\u27 and \u27Stereotyping\u27 Education in the Middle School Classroom
No full textMy research will focus on the methods of instruction and assessment for student learning and understanding of “bias,” “stereotyping,” and “racism.” This project will focus on a seventh grade reading classroom at Dean Morgan Middle School in Casper, Wyoming. The research will be based on a three-day learning unit, which introduces each topic and guides students toward the formulation of an argument regarding the presence of bias in an influential photograph from TIME’s list of the “100 Most Influential Photos of All Time.” I will present evidence gathered from the classroom and video recordings of lessons in order to assess students’ prior knowledge on the subject, as well as the most beneficial methods for instructing and assessing student learning. Finally, I will bring in knowledge obtained through the English as a Second Language program at the University of Wyoming, exploring how diversity and the lack thereof impact student learning, especially in regards to the aforementioned topics
Name it, Speak it, Act it
No full textThis creative project is a dance performance piece I have choreographed to challenge the mindsets surrounding racism and white privilege, specifically the mindsets around these topics in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. My experiences studying school and dance on the east coast last year leads me to believe that many people in this region don’t think that racism is still a big issue in the United States. This is a dangerous mindset which can result in inadvertent racism. Dance is a powerful method of communication. Nonverbal communication is a significant way to reach a wide range of people, and this piece will perform both at the American College Dance Association in Boulder, Colorado and at the Shepard Symposium for social justice in Laramie, Wyoming. I hope that it will spark thoughtful conversations about individual mindsets toward this topic, and that it will create empathy. My choreography is driven from feelings of frustration surrounding this topic. I’ve used unison group work to symbolize the mentality that we can all get stuck in because everyone else is thinking that way, and I’ve used solos and duets to symbolize thinking for yourself and listening to those around you. This piece creates an open dialogue about this topic and the confusion which surrounds it