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Effects of Push-In Occupational Therapy Services in Kindergarten on Writing Foundations
Get PDFBackground: According to the Compensation & Workforce Survey, 24.89% of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) work in schools (AOTA, 2023). This researcher has worked in a public-school setting for over 20 years, and her caseload continues to grow each year, doubling in the past 10 years. Handwriting difficulties account for most referrals for this researcher.
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine if an occupational therapy (OT) led fine motor intervention small group along with push-in occupational therapy services during literacy instruction would improve kindergarten students’ handwriting.
Theoretical Framework: Motor learning theory is applicable to teaching handwriting. This theory states learning motor skills occurs through the use of activities (Jarus, 1994). Asher & Estes (2016) cited that motor learning theory can guide handwriting instruction in the classroom as the foundation of handwriting is built on fine motor and visual motor skills. This researcher used these motor skills when leading fine motor intervention groups in the intervention kindergarten classrooms.
Methods: This study used a quantitative pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design (Corcoran, 2017). Quantitative data (Creswell & Creswell, 2023) was collected using a pretestposttest design to compare legibility before and after the intervention for 87 kindergarten students. Forty-five students in the comparison classrooms received push-in OT services during literacy instruction one time per week for six weeks. Thirty-three students in the intervention classrooms received the once weekly push-in OT sessions plus a weekly OT led fine motor intervention small group reinforcing letter formation with Play-Doh®.
Results: Posttest scores were higher on the Screener of Handwriting Proficiency (LWT, 2021) for the kindergarten students who received an OT led fine motor intervention small group once a week focused on letter formation and letter memory while continuing to receive push-in OT services during literacy compared to those students who only received push-in OT services during their literacy instruction once a week.
Conclusions: Occupational therapy led fine motor intervention small groups with push-in OT services were effective to improve kindergartners handwriting as compared to only push-in services in a kindergarten classroom. The intervention and comparison kindergarten classrooms showed statistically significant changes from pretest to posttest scores. In all four kindergarten classrooms in this capstone project posttest scores were higher than pretest. This capstone project provided evidence that Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports provided by OTPs in kindergarten students’ natural environments improved handwriting legibility
“Teaching Assistants” on Student Engagement, Teaching, Learning, and Workforce Readiness
Get PDFIn this Pedagogicon Proceedings, a former Teaching Assistant shares their “lessons learned” and how their classroom leadership role assisted them in their professional pursuits.The faculty member’s work is a continuation of a 2022 EKU Teaching and Learning Innovation series and a 2023 Lilly Foundation Conference workforce readiness presentation
Tell Me, I Remember. Involve Me, I Understand
Get PDFThis SoTL study examined the learning of 28 undergraduate students who engaged in: (1) reading and lecture; (2) instructor demonstration of skills; (3) student experience practicing the skill. Findings suggest all three phases of learning were important, but experiential learning tasks promoted higher levels of learning according to Bloom’s taxonomy
Factors That Overcome Barriers For African American Educators In Educational Leadership
Get PDFThe demographic landscape of the United States has indeed been undergoing significant changes over the past few decades, marked by a growing diversity in its population. This shift is primarily driven by factors such as immigration, higher birth rates among certain ethnic and racial groups, and the aging of the white population. According to a report published by the Census Bureau the United States is projected to be a majority minority country by 2044. The term majority-minority refers to a situation where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. As a result of this shift, our school districts are becoming increasingly diverse. In Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS), the second largest school district in Kentucky, the school district is now a majority minority district. According to the FCPS diversity index 46.9% of the student population is White, 23.3% Black, 18.6% Hispanic, and 4.9% Asian. Although we see the growing trend of school districts becoming more diverse. Those trends of diversity are often not reflective in educational leadership positions. According to a report by the Lexington Herald Leader, the Kentucky public school system is comprised of 171 school districts. Of the 171 school districts, there are only 6 African American Superintendents or 3.5% of the total superintendent population. This data leads me to question the causes related to this underrepresentation, and what are the factors these educational leaders had to overcome to move into educational leadership positions
The Lara Croft Effect: The Sexualization of Women in Video Games and Its Impact on Violence Against Women
No full textAbstract
While violence against women is frequently associated with pornography consumption, this study expands the conversation by examining the broader media landscape, specifically, the impact of sexualized portrayals of women in video games. As gaming becomes increasingly mainstream, young audiences are routinely exposed to hypersexualized content that may shape attitudes toward gender and sexuality. This research investigates the relationship between the consumption of sexualized video game content and pornography use, as well as their combined influence on attitudes toward women and gender-based violence. Utilizing a survey distributed through online forums, gaming communities, and flyers at Eastern Kentucky University, the study gathered data on media consumption patterns, self-reported attitudes, and demographic information. Results revealed a moderate correlation between frequent exposure to sexualized video game content and pornography consumption, suggesting that these media forms may reinforce objectification and contribute to the normalization of harmful gender norms. Although no direct link was found between gameplay habits and acceptance of sexualization or perceived harm, the findings underscore the importance of media literacy and responsible representation in reducing the cultural acceptance of gender-based violence
Delulu is the Solulu: The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation About Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textSocial media has become a platform many use to connect with others and to learn and spread new information. However, concerns have been raised regarding the general population’s media literacy skills. These concerns have only grown as more and more people use social media to share information about mental and neurodevelopmental disorders that may not be entirely true. As misinformation regarding mental disorders has grown, as has self-diagnosis rates, particularly for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Little research exists on how adept college students are at discerning between accurate and inaccurate information, especially when it comes to ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social media, media literacy, and self-diagnosis in college students. Our study had a total number of 156 participants. Our study utilized a between-subjects experimental design and was made up of two conditions: an accurate information condition and an inaccurate information condition. The study focused on perceived believability of information, self-diagnosing behaviors, knowledge of ASD, and social media variables such as impact on anxiety levels. Our main hypothesis was that participants given inaccurate information will be more likely to rate the information as believable than those given accurate information. The study found no significant difference in believability ratings between conditions, suggesting that the average student cannot discern between accurate and inaccurate ASD information
Knowledge Gaps and Personal Experiences: A Qualitative Examination of Women\u27s Menstrual Health and Birth Control Choices
No full textWomen all over the world face significant knowledge gaps and societal perceptions (Mukanga et al., 2023) regarding menstruation and birth control, which impact their understanding of both the physical and mental symptoms associated with these experiences. From a young age, women are often left to navigate these processes without sufficient education or support, leading to confusion, misconceptions, and a lack of empowerment when it comes to managing their reproductive health (Guendelman et al., 2000). The stigma surrounding topics like menstruation and hormonal contraception can further isolate women, making it difficult for them to seek reliable information or openly discuss their symptoms. As a result, many women experience a range of physical and emotional challenges, from mood swings (Lewis et al., 2019) and weight gain to more complex long-term health concerns (Gaffey et al., 2014), without fully understanding the causes or available solutions. This lack of awareness not only affects their health but also influences their healthcare choices and how they engage with medical professionals. This thesis explores women’s personal experiences with menstruation and hormonal birth control through a qualitative survey, highlighting the knowledge gaps and diverse responses regarding physical and mental health outcomes. The study uncovers key themes around the symptoms women experience, such as mood swings, cramps, etc., and how they understand and cope with these effects (Teal et al., 2021). By analyzing the personal narratives of respondents, the research identifies significant gaps in women’s knowledge about the potential risks and benefits of hormonal contraceptives, revealing a lack of detailed, accessible information about their impact on health. These experiences are framed within existing research, which supports and explains the physical and emotional changes that many respondents report. Research also explores how socioeconomic status influences women’s access to information, healthcare, and contraceptive options, shedding light on barriers that may shape their experiences. Through thematic analysis, the current study found seven themes: Lack of education and information, stigma and discomfort, physical and emotional impact, individual experiences, misconceptions and gaps in knowledge, improvement in social attitudes, and empowerment through knowledge and support. Overall, the findings of the current study bridge knowledge gaps and advocate for a more informed, personalized approach to women’s reproductive health, emphasizing the importance of considering individual experiences in healthcare decision-making
Fantasy Orientation of Media Consumption in Childhood and Creativity in Adulthood
No full textThe purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between the fantasy orientation of media consumption during childhood and creativity in adulthood. Creativity is a valuable skill to nurture in children because of how it influences creative problem-solving and supports well-being throughout their lives. Previous research has shown that fantasy play can be beneficial to the development of creativity, and as media-based activities become increasingly prevalent in modern play, it is important to investigate whether this has similar benefits to typical pretend play. It was hypothesized that higher fantasy orientation of media during childhood would predict higher levels of creativity in adulthood. About 150 participants were recruited for this study, where they were given a survey to assess fantasy orientation of preferred media during childhood and current creativity. The fantasy orientation of media consumption in childhood was not found to be correlated with creativity in adulthood, nor was it found to predict creativity. These findings suggest that the impact of fantastical media on the development of creativity does not have long-lasting effects, which can impede children’s development of play skills
The Impact of Cattle Grazing on Water Quality in Stoner Creek, Bourbon County, KY.
No full textThis study aims to identify the impact of cattle grazing on the water quality of Stoner Creek, located in North Middletown, KY. Cattle grazing can impact water quality in numerous ways. In this study, water quality was examined using the following parameters: water temperature (°C), pH (SU), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), conductivity (μS/cm), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonies per 100 mL of water. Results show that Site 3 (Cattle access point) had the greatest average conductivity at 465 μS/cm. Sites 3 and 4 showed the highest turbidity. There was a strong positive correlation (r2=0.32, p=0.02) between conductivity and turbidity. DO levels were the highest at Site 2 (bottom of riffle downstream from dam, upstream from cattle access point). Site 1 (upstream to cattle access point) had the greatest average count of E. coli at 1687 CFU per 100mL. Site 3 had the lowest average count of E. coli at 480 CFU per 100mL. E. coli runoff occurred at higher rates after rainfall events. Cattle do not appear to be the single source of pollution but do play a role in E. coli runoff and increased sedimentation
Financial Literacy Among Occupational Therapy Students: A Survey Study
No full textOccupational therapy students face professional and personal financial literacy challenges. Professionally, financial management has been identified as an instrumental activity of daily living, and recent research has examined how occupational therapy has helped clients with these skills. Personally, occupational therapy students may face higher debt levels due to degree escalation and economic changes. The study aimed to determine the level of understanding of financial literacy among matriculating occupational therapy students in a combined baccalaureate and entry-level master’s program. Nineteen occupational therapy students completed a virtual survey distributed through Google Forms. The survey included demographic questions, the Financial Self-Efficacy Scale (FSES), and a 16-question survey about financial habits and knowledge from open-sourced questions. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS version 29. Results showed that most students had a general understanding of financial literacy, but they could not correctly apply the concepts to real-life questions. The overall mean for the FSES was 13.05 (SD = 4.28). For financial habits, most students reported they did not have an emergency fund or a budget but had checked their credit scores. Most students responded incorrectly or were unsure about most financial knowledge questions. No one answered all the financial knowledge questions correctly. Financial literacy is needed in occupational therapy education to prepare students to transition with skills that will benefit clients and themselves