5026 research outputs found
Sort by
Teacher Perceptions of a Literacy Intervention Implementation in Middle School: A Case Study
Full text linkThe purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perspectives of teachers at Oakridge Middle School regarding the implementation of a literacy intervention and evaluate its impact on students’ literacy achievement. The study was guided by the social learning theory, which posits that a literacy intervention program would enhance students’ literacy skills. The study findings indicated that the program improved students’ reading and writing confidence and comprehension abilities. The successful implementation of the literacy intervention was facilitated by teachers’ collaboration and the use of data trackers, despite challenges, such as student buy-in and motivation issues. Technology-based programs, such as Lexia and Achieve 3000, accelerated learning but were perceived as monotonous by students. The study underscores the importance of literacy interventions in middle schools and provides insights into effective strategies for implementation, including fostering teacher collaboration, incorporating engaging technology, and addressing student resistance. The findings indicated the need to enroll struggling students in such programs to enhance their literacy skills
Telling Your Stories with Data: Using Statistics to Create Statistical Narratives
Full text linkI am a cataloger and back in 2015 I needed to figure out a way to share our numbers in a relevant way to my library director. I have learned to use data to create statistical narratives and use those narratives in many ways to tell stories with data, use data for assessment, visualize data in a meaningful way to make important data-driven decisions and ultimately showcase the value of library work to library stakeholders. I started with cataloging data and in my current position at Columbus State University, as Head of Technical Services, I oversee managing all library-wide statistics, so I have had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and share even more data-driven stories from all areas of the library
Towards Machine Learning-Based Control of Autonomous Vehicles in Solar Panel Cleaning Systems
Full text linkThis thesis presents a machine learning (ML)-based approach for the intelligent control of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) utilized in solar panel cleaning systems, aiming to mitigate challenges arising from uncertainties, disturbances, and dynamic environments. Solar panels, predominantly situated in dedicated lands for solar energy production (e.g., agricultural solar farms), are susceptible to dust and debris accumulation, leading to diminished energy absorption. Instead of labor-intensive manual cleaning, robotic cleaners offer a viable solution. AVs equipped to transport and precisely position these cleaning robots are indispensable for efficient navigation among solar panel arrays. However, environmental obstacles (e.g., rough terrain), variations in solar panel installation (e.g., height disparities, different angles), and uncertainties (e.g., AV and environmental modeling) may degrade the performance of traditional controllers. In this study, a biologically inspired method based on Brain Emotional Learning (BEL) is developed to tackle the aforementioned challenges. The developed controller is implemented numerically using MATLAB-SIMULINK. The thesis concludes with a comparative analysis of the AVs’ performance using both PID and developed controllers across various scenarios, highlighting the efficacy and advantages of the intelligent control approach for AVs deployed in solar panel cleaning systems within agricultural solar farms. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the ML-based controller, showcasing significant improvements over the PID controller
Teachers’ Conceptions of Students’ Data Literacy in Life Science and Physical Science Classes
Full text linkData literacy in science is an evolving field of study as students need to be able to collect, analyze, interpret, and make inferences from different sources of data. Much research centers on teachers\u27 use of data to improve instructional practices, but less focus on teachers\u27 conceptions of student data literacy and strategies used to foster data literacy in life and physical science high school classes. Thus, there is a need to address this area as recent Georgia assessments reveal that over 50% of students are performing below proficiency level in science. Consequently, this research sought to understand teachers’ conceptions of science data literacy and strategies used to foster data literacy in science. Moreover, the study aimed at identifying specific data literacy knowledge and skills teachers expect their students to possess, teachers’ conceptions of how students work through different concepts related to data literacy, and how these instructional strategies and conceptions of data literacy differ between life science and physical science teachers will be addressed. The present research employed the transformative learning theory, which suggests that conceptions are cultivated from beliefs, experiences, expectations, and purposes. Teacher conceptions were explored through the lens of the transformative learning theory. Purposeful sampling was used to select participants. Using a qualitative interpretivist paradigm and an exploratory case study design, interviews, observations, and document analyses were conducted to obtain data, which employed open, axial, and thematic analysis to develop themes. Major findings indicated teachers lacked confidence and needed additional training. Moreover, teachers believed that students’ past experiences impacted conceptions, expectations, and strategies used to foster data literacy. Visuals and models were a common way to represent data. Information gathered provided insight on science curriculums and designing professional development centered on data literacy
Teachers’ Perceptions of Professional Learning Communities
Full text linkThis study explored the influences of a social emotional learning (SEL) focused professional learning community (PLC) participation with core content high school teachers. Numerous schools throughout the nation claim to be implementing PLCs by engaging in activities like book studies, attending conferences, or district led meetings. Simply labeling a meeting or initiative as a PLC does not align with the central tenets of true PLCs, and do not increase teaching practices or student learning. The sole purpose of real PLCs is to ensure all students learn at high levels. An authentically aligned PLC embodies a solid foundation of shared mission, vision, collective commitments, and goals. The foundation of an aligned PLC promotes a collaborative culture for teachers to work in teams rather than isolated classrooms. When members of the community change their behavior to match the culture then there is a shift that takes place from one of compliance to one of collective commitment. A collaborative culture is immersive and interactive because it allows teachers and school leaders to come together to share their expertise all in the name of improving teaching practices and student learning. This study explored the influence of SEL PLCs on schools and teachers. Participants in this case study were interviewed and asked a series of questions to gain an understanding of how SEL focused PLC participation influenced teacher participation. This study expressed beliefs that the PLC was poorly implemented and did not align with the features that literature suggests are essential to a PLC. Implications will be discussed
Rural Educators’ Perceptions of the Use of Personalized Learning as a Possible Means to Enhanced Student Learning
Full text linkThe aim of this qualitative study was to investigate rural educators’ perceptions of Personalized Learning as a possible means to enhance student learning. The theoretical framework for this study was Weick’s Theory of Sensemaking (Vazquez et al., 2022). Sensemaking is how people make sense of new phenomena and apply that knowledge to situations. The Personalized Learning Conceptual Framework for this study is based on Georgia’s 9 Essential Conditions of Personalized Learning and the 10 Standards of Practice that support the essential conditions. A basic interpretive study was conducted, which utilized a survey and individual, semi-structured interviews to collect data from participants. The survey, distributed via Qualtrics Survey Platform, consisted of 12 questions, four of which were demographic questions, and the others aimed at gathering educator\u27s understanding and perceptions of Personalized Learning. The interviews were used to gain even more insight into educator’s perceptions. Suggestions for future research include having a more diverse participant pool of educators; exploring how students, parents, and other stakeholders perceive Personalized Learning; investigating educators’ perceptions of Personalized Learning across a more diverse geographic range, including urban, suburban, and other rural areas outside of Georgia; investigating best practices for introducing Personalized Learning specifically to administrators, and having more semistructured interviews including a wider range of educators, support staff, and other stakeholders. A result of this study was that the rural Georgia Educators who served as participants considered Personalized Learning as a possible means to enhance student learning according to survey and interview data. Additionally, according to document analysis, there was evidence of Personalized Learning strategy implementation among the districts of stud
Creating a Social Media Presence in Columbus State Women\u27s Basketball Program
Full text linkThis professional project will explore increased social media growth within the Columbus State University Women\u27s Basketball team. It will present a sweeping writing audit focusing on the encounters and perspectives of the Columbus State Women\u27s Basketball program regarding social media and the advancing opportunities for female student-athletes. It will dive into the framework to understand how women\u27s basketball social media platforms impact the subjects, stories, and conversations encompassing the game, ultimately molding the public insight and plan. We get into the impact of a solid virtual social media presence, effective online entertainment strategies, the variety inborn in the women\u27s basketball sport, and the restrictions coming from sparse media openness when it comes to the image of a team. The research highlights the essential job of social media entertainment in molding women\u27s basketball programs. The shift to the Image of College women\u27s basketball teams, which also helps with the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era in college sports, denotes an extraordinary stage. We diagram a course for future examination and drive with the yearning to develop a more dynamic future for the Columbus State Women\u27s Basketball team
Ode To Mack Miller Park: A Joyful Resistance
No full textPodLink: https://rss.com/podcasts/soulvibrant/1776664/
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecsZg9dUL2M
Description:
Although created to maintain order in the segregated south, learn about how one small town used a recreational park as a source of Joy. Originally for the Black citizens of Harris County, Georgia, the park\u27s popularity grew to attract visitors from all over the state and even from the neighboring state of Alabama. After its closing in the late 1970s, the park\u27s existence was no more than a memory of those who enjoyed it. Until Now! Discover the history, essence, and legacy of what was...Mack Miller Park.
Narrator, Historian & Host: Andriana H. (aka. Lady AC)
Speakers: Elder M.J. Elder Pastor N.B. and J Elder Deacon S Elder J.P Elder A.D. Elder H.M.H. Elder V Elder Y and M Elder R.R
Podcast musical intro produced by: Leem Lizzy @leemlizzy
Musical highlight artists: ROM ft. Emmavie Social- @romdeful @emmavie Gaidaa Social- @gaidaaonthewebs Sources of research: Interviews from the Elders of the community (listed above) Harris County Journal Archives , Harris County, Georgia Troup County Archives and Legacy Museum on Main LaGrange, Georgia Columbus State University Archives and Special Collections Columbus, Georgia Davis Broadcasting/ WOKS, Columbus, GA The Ancestors - “Gone but Never Forgotten
The Ethical Safeguards within Servant Leadership
Full text linkMany of the prevailing strategies to address corporate misconduct are focused on an increase in regulation, greater oversight, and stricter punishments for offenders. Other strategies, often found in business schools, focus on developing cognitive moral reasoning skills. Both of these theories, by their nature, underestimate the power of context in ethical decision-making, as well as the importance of affirmative efforts to develop moral character. The following article explicates elements of servant-leadership theory that serve as ethical safeguards regarding a person’s ability to make ethical decisions, as well as aiding in the formation of contexts and cultures that facilitate ethical decision-making. Using psychosocial and neurological research, as well as philosophical insight, a case is built that the practice of servant-leadership theory provides a more effective safeguard against corporate misconduct than either of the current prevailing strategies