18253 research outputs found
Sort by
Man-Dig Those Crazy Los Angeles Freeways : The Changing Image of Southern California Freeways in the Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Full text linkUncovering Complicated Narratives and Nurturing Black Joy -- A Critical Race Exploration of the K-12 Educational Experiences of Black College Students
Full text linkThere is limited research on the educational experiences of Black students in predominantly White rural/suburban settings. This qualitative study, grounded in Black joy (Lewis-Giggetts, 2022) as a central concept, draws on Critical Race Theory (CRT) (Ladson-Billings & Tate, 1995; Solórzano, 1997), Black Critical Theory (BlackCrit) (Dumas & ross, 2016), and an endarkened feminist epistemological perspective (Dillard, 2000). It examined the K-12 educational experiences of Black college students in rural/suburban settings, focusing on how these experiences shaped their sense of belonging, positive racial identities, and the support systems and barriers they encountered, as revealed through interviews. Findings revealed that the experiences of Black young adults in rural/suburban settings are nuanced and, often, contradictory. Students’ reflections on their educational experiences included racial pride and internalized racism, underscoring the duality of their experiences. Findings provided insights for educators and policymakers to create inclusive and affirming environments that support the success of Black students in rural/suburban educational settings and advocates for the development of anti-racist teachers, fostering culturally responsive teaching practices, and nurturing Black joy (Lewis-Giggetts, 2022) as essential steps toward creating an inclusive educational environment that empowers Black students and students of color to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally
Pláticas on Perseverance, Presence, and Praxis: The Occupassion of Latina Superintendents
No full textThis study was a qualitative examination of social justice praxis and its intersections with race, gender, and other facets of the identities of eight Latina former superintendents, referred to as the mujeres. A trio of theoretical frameworks that included Chicana feminist epistemology (Delgado Bernal, 1998), Community cultural wealth, or CCW, (Yosso, 2005) and applied critical leadership, or ACL, (Santamaría & Santamaría, 2012; Santamaría, 2014) were used to analyze how personal identity informed their approaches to advance social justice in their school districts. I engaged the methodological approach of pláticas [meaningful conversations] (Fierros & Delgado Bernal, 2016) to elicit reflection on achieving presence, perseverance, and praxis in the rarified and contested space of the superintendency. The findings indicated that they drew from their core personal identities to inform various facets of their professional roles, enabling them to challenge status quo practices and policies. Using a CFE lens, five themes emerged, highlighting shared transcendent characteristics consistent with the major tenets of CCW and with ACL behaviors of social justice leaders. This study called for broadening the conversation on intersectional identity and leadership while directing discourse away from deficit orientations about historically marginalized communities. By inviting Latina voices to the fore, this study affirmed the value of Chicana/Latina feminist perspectives in the scholarly literature about social justice leadership in education. The study endeavored to inspire future Latinas in the superintendency to envision their work, not merely as an occupation, but as a true occupassion
Theater or Education: Finding the Balance Between Teaching and Creative Expression
No full textFor my senior thesis, I shadowed and supported Breanna Mac with her school’s (Thousand Oaks High School) spring musical Zombie Prom. I attended rehearsals twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), during the final 9 weeks of the production. Throughout the process, I have notated reflections, observations and schedules to capture the process. Overall, my goal was to learn about all the requirements and expectations for a high school theater director. Through this experience, I have gained valuable skills within the theater and education sphere, allowing me to represent these skills and experience in future job opportunities within both fields. This experience can give me a peak into my future and can give me a path in how I want to explore theater education for my long-term career
Globetrotter
No full textGlobetrotter is an AI-powered mobile application designed to improve and personalize the travel planning experience. Globetrotter consists of a React Native front end, a Python Flask back end, a MySQL database, and external integration with the OpenAI API. Users can log in, create a profile, and submit their travel preferences (desired climate, environment, vacation style, start date, etc) to generate day-by-day itineraries. These itineraries are created with the OpenAI API, which interprets the user preferences and builds a structured prompt to return organized travel plans. Each itinerary is displayed in a scrollable interface and can be saved directly to the user\u27s profile for later reference. The profile page allows users to view the saved itineraries, upload a profile picture, and create a wishlist of dream travel destinations. Globetrotter combines intuitive design and AI to create a seamless trip planning experience
No Turning Back? Examining the Rise of Short-Form Content in Post-COVID Marketing for Gen-Z and Gen Alpha
Full text linkOver the past 10 years, the world has seen a massive increase in the use of social media, specifically with the younger audiences of Gen-Z and Gen Alpha. When the Covid-19 Pandemic rocked the world in early 2020, many of these young generations were forced into their homes, with social media being a main source of communication with their peers. Coupled with a rise of short-form content like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Youtube Shorts, and social media content was now more widespread than ever. Due to this the digital marketing landscape has been drastically changed, with attention spans getting shorter and shorter. Through secondary research, analysis of company social media data, and case studies, I will examine how companies and marketers have reacted to the increase in short-form content and determine the implications for future generations. I predict that my research will show that attention spans for younger audiences have drastically decreased, especially with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, being audiences who grew up with social media, and that this has led to an alteration of the marketing formula to stray away from traditional marketing methods. I also predict that my primary research will back this, and I will point to several companies and how they have been able to successfully adapt to this change. As younger generations grow up more reliant on social media and technology than ever, analyzing this research will be crucial for marketers to predict how marketing trends will change in the future
Advancing Recovery of Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes Through Urban Rewilding
Full text linkSan Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) are endemic to arid habitats in the San Joaquin Valley region of central California. This species is listed as Endangered due to profound habitat loss throughout its range caused by agricultural, industrial, and urban development. Interestingly, kit foxes currently occur in three cities with the population in the city of Bakersfield being large (several hundred foxes) and self-sustaining. Demographic and ecological attribute values for this population are among the highest observed in San Joaquin kit fox populations. Loss of natural habitat is still occurring and additional urban kit fox populations could contribute significantly to the conservation and recovery of this species. However, other cities in the San Joaquin Valley that might be suitable for kit foxes are disconnected from occupied kit fox habitat by incompatible land uses, primarily agriculture. Kit foxes could be translocated to other cities and the Bakersfield population would be an excellent source population as surplus animals are available and these individuals are already adapted to urban environments. However, a number of biological, legal, and social issues would make any translocation effort challenging. Another strategy would be to strategically remove agricultural lands from production such that corridors are created between occupied habitat and suitable urban areas. Urban populations contributed significantly to the recovery and delisting of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and the same may be possible for San Joaquin kit foxes
Floral Use Competition Between Honey Bees and Bumble Bees Within an Urban Community
Full text linkThe global increase in the number of managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) has raised concerns about their impact on native pollinator species, including bumble bees (Bombus spp.). This study examines the extent of floral resource overlap between honey bees and bumble bees in urban areas within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario, Canada, to better understand how competition for floral resources may influence bumble bee foraging behavior and niche partitioning. Pollen samples were collected from 541 bees, representing seven Bombus species and honey bees, across ten urban sites with high vs low honey bee abundance. We analyzed the floral use of bumble bees at sites with high and low honey bee abundance to assess the potential impact of competition. Our results show significant overlap in the floral resources used by honey bees and bumble bees, with bumble bees interacting with a slightly broader range of floral genera. Despite this high overlap, no significant difference was found in the overall floral genera visitation of bumble bees between sites with different honey bee abundances. However, some floral genera were more frequently visited by bumble bees at sites with lower honey bee abundance, indicating possible niche partitioning in response to competition. The findings highlight the potential for competition between honey bees and bumble bees to influence floral resource use, with possible implications for bumble bee health and conservation. This study underscores the need for pollinator conservation strategies that minimize negative impacts on wild bee populations, such as urban rewilding initiatives that increase native floral diversity such as the creation of meadows. By providing insights into the dynamics of pollinator interactions, this research contributes to our understanding of the ecological balance between managed and wild pollinators in urban environments
Exploring Retention Practices in Catholic High Schools: Principal Perspectives
No full textThis research study explored strategies to combat teacher turnover in Catholic high schools, employing the four-capital theoretical model of teacher retention and the defining characteristics of Catholic education from the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Catholic Schools (National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Catholic Schools, 2023). By analyzing interviews with eight high school principals across varied socio-economic contexts, the study identified key elements that influence teacher retention: human, social, structural, and psychological capital. It highlights the critical role of mission-aligned hiring, comprehensive onboarding, and ongoing professional development in cultivating a committed teaching workforce. The findings emphasized the importance of supportive, relationship-focused environments and adequate compensation through stipends for extracurricular duties to enhance teacher satisfaction and reduce turnover. Recommendations included implementing structured onboarding programs, enhancing professional development, and ensuring transparent budget management. The findings contributed actionable strategies for improving teacher retention in Catholic schools, underscoring the necessity of aligning with mission-driven goals and establishing robust community and support structures
Analyzing Immigrant Pay Gaps & the Policies That Influence Them
Full text linkDespite making up 14% of the US population, little research has been done on pay gaps for immigrants, the majority of whom are Latin American immigrants. I analyze the effect of immigration on immigrants’ wages, specifically looking at the effects of region of birth, citizenship, and state immigration policies. I find that even when compared to natives with similar education, Latin American immigrants earn significantly less. Furthermore, while noncitizens earn less than natives and naturalized citizens earn more overall, Latin Americans face a larger penalty for noncitizenship and lower returns to citizenship. Finally, while living in Sanctuary and Anti-Sanctuary States do affect immigrants’ income, these policies are not the causal effects of the gaps, suggesting the overall sentiment towards immigrants is more impactful