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Supporting a More Equitable Learning Environment: Implications of Person-Centered Practices on Teacher Self-Efficacy
Get PDFARE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS PREPARED TO TEACH A STEM FOCUSED CURRICULUM: A NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF AN INNER-CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Get PDFWater Resources Science and Technology Fall Seminar Series: Dr. Xuejun Dong (Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Uvalde )
No full textDr. Dong is a crop physiologist and presented his work on optimizing water-soil-plant conditions to grow crops when water scarcity is a potential limiting factor. This presentation is the first in our seminar series that connects agriculture to irrigation
Response and resilience of karst subterranean estuary communities to precipitation impacts.
No full textThe impact of meteorological phenomena on ecosystem communities of karst subterranean estuaries (KSEs) remains unknown. KSEs are characterized by vertically stratified groundwater separated by a halocline and host endemic aquatic cave-adapted fauna (stygobionts). In October 2015, 8 days of heavy precipitation caused the first recorded mortality event in the KSE. This event was marked by a halocline shift 5 m deeper. The present study aimed to provide insights into resilience of KSEs faunal communities to temporal shifts in temperature and precipitation. Cave water temperature decreased on average 0.0068°C per mm of accumulated precipitation over 4 days, which can add up to, and surpass, the interannual temperature variation in cases of heavy precipitations. Biological surveys (2012-2021) conducted within cave systems El Aerolito and La Quebrada, in Cozumel, indicated that change in community structure was not detected and stygobionts were resilient; however, marine species inhabiting the caves were impacted. Overall, the faunal community at KSEs remains resilient within short-term meteorological phenomena despite shifts of non-stygobionts
‘How Are You Doing?’: College Instructors’ Relationships and Communication with Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Get PDFThe Higher Education Opportunity Act has increased the number of postsecondary education programs established to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) in attending college. With the development of these new programs, there is an ever-present need to assess the interactions and necessary strategies to support students with ID in higher education. As college instructors are the primary instructors within these settings and programs, the current study explored this population’s perceptions and experiences related to instructing, communicating, and developing effective relationships with students with ID in their coursework. In-depth interviews were conducted with six college instructors working with students with ID in a higher education program in the United States. Applied thematic analysis identified themes related to the frequency of communication and relationship development, collaboration strategies, and using student feedback to inform future instruction and course preparation. Most instructors found relationships with students developed more effectively via increasing frequency, consistency, and accessibility of communication methods (e.g. scheduling individualised meeting times, video recorded directions, and reminders). Instructors also reported the importance of clear communication with stakeholders, supporting personnel/staff, and students’ peers, which aided student learning and engagement in the classroom. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed
Editorial: Community Series in Tools, Techniques, and Strategies for Teaching in a Real-world Context with Microbiology, Volume II
Get PDFThis Research Topic is the second volume in the Community Series Tools, Techniques, and Strategies for Teaching in a Real-World Context with Microbiology. Making microbiology relevant to our students increases student engagement with science, which could not be more important as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. We have learned much during this period as we adapted and modified our learning environments and strategies, all while demonstrating the many ways microbes impact our world beyond disease. Placing microbes at center stage leads to engaging and exciting curricula and assignments. Microbes also are wonderful tools as they are easy to manipulate in the laboratory and serve as model organisms helping us to study biological phenomena and concepts. As faculty we can engage our students through guided inquiry, tactile hands-on tools, authentic research experiences, project-based learning, and case studies, with valuable, student-centered experiences occurring both inside and outside the classroom. We can also endeavor to abide by the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and those of universal design allowing all students to succeed in our courses
Faculty Development - ESRI and the TAMU San Antonio: Partners in the Science of Where
No full textMark Steward with ESRI San Antonio gave an introductory presentation about ArcGIS products
A Control Study Analysis Application of Unoccupied Aerial Systems (Drones) to Monitor Eutrophication
Get PDFUnmanned Aircraft systems (UAS) can offer a valuable perspective for detecting and monitoring for eutrophication in bodies of water by providing high-resolution images and data assignments for algal blooms and nutrient levels. Eutrophication, the process by which water bodies become enriched with nutrients, has emerged as a critical factor in evaluating and maintaining water quality. In this study, we use DJI Inspire Pro 1 equipped with a Zenmuse X3 camera, attached with a Parrot Sequoia multispectral sensor was used to in conjunction with algorithms to retrieve Chlorophyll parameters for monitoring eutrophication. Although water quality parameters such as pH, nitrate, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen are common indicators for monitoring eutrophication, analysis of aerial images captured by UAS can potentially be a more cost-effective method for monitoring a large body of water. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) is given a priority for this research and analysis due to Chl a being the trusted trophic state indicator and is the recognized by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as the most useful means of estimating algal biomass in most reservoirs.
In this study, we used DJI Inspire Pro 1 drone with Zenmuse X3 camera attached with a Parrot Sequoia with multi-light censoring to capture multispectral imaging that can be further processed into PIX4Dmapper software for more quantitative analysis such as Chl a analysis for monitoring eutrophication. We successfully assembled the drone system and used a controlled method for standardizing spectral images of water with a known concentration of chlorophyll. We demonstrated that the images captured by Parrot Sequoia could detect the presence of 3 chlorophyll in water when compared to an untreated control at various heights (3 m - 14 m). We further assessed the applicability of PIX4D software to process and analyze the images with various spectral bandwidths
How Cloud, Edge, and Mist computing affects resource management in VANETs
Get PDFWith public interest in automated vehicles as well as self-aware and responsive smart cities the demand for fast and efficient communication and computation will push our current infrastructure beyond its limits. Vehicular networks(VANETs) look to solve this issue but suffer from extremely dynamic topologieswith unpredictable times and locations of high network and computational de-minds from highly mobile units. This thesis looks into how current scholarlyworks attempt resource management in VANETs and simulate VANETs withcloud, edge, or mist computing architectures. The data of are compared anddiscussed to drive a data-driven understanding and conversation of architectureapplicability when considering approaches. Chapter 2 discusses the current literature on resource management in VANETs. Chapter 3 reviews current Python-based projects that focus on VANETs. Chapter 4 simulates a cloud, edge, andmist computing deployment in a VANET using PureEdgeSim for comparison