MUsings: The Graduate Journal continues to be a creative and scholarly outlet for our graduate students as they explore unique topics and share their expertise. This session celebrates the graduate students’ work published in MUsings: The Graduate Journal for Spring 2021 or Spring 2020. Each issue features research articles, short stories, and literary essays. Authors will present their articles, creative work, or personal reflections virtually. Join us in celebrating the authors of MUsings: The Graduate Journal.
The MiMJ aims to support undergraduate research at Millersville by showcasing research and creativity in a digital form, enhancing student inspiration, motivation, and open-ended academic conversation. The journal provides students who present at the Made in Millersville Conference the chance to formally publish a written summary of their research for a general audience—enhancing their skills in academic writing, translation, professional publishing, and providing an opportunity to showcase their undergraduate research. Furthermore, the journal provides opportunities to undergraduate students who want to learn more about the publication process and serve on the Editorial Board. This presentation will cover the experiences of the 2021 intern team and how the students will use the skills they developed throughout the publication process in their future careers.
An overview of how the contributions of genealogy, genetics, history, sociology, and psychology play into the understanding of African American identity. The purpose being to answer, how genealogy and genetics studies fit within the context and concept of African American race and racial identity.
The purpose of this project was to be a stepping stone in my current thesis project I am working on. The goal of my thesis project is to integrate Human-Machine Interfaces, Programmable Logic Controllers, and industrial robotic agents to dynamically communicate and automatically control an industrial process. The integration of a PLC to a work cell was the first step to my project and this allowed me to better grasp networking through the use of setting IP addresses and communication through Ethernet. I was also able to create a IP address list of all the addresses of the devices that can be found on the workbenches in Osburn Halls Automation Lab. This project is also paving a way for students to better understand industrial networking and will be applied to current and future classes.
In this class project, the goal was to use knowledge we obtained in the class by designing and 3D printing a droid named K-2SO from the movie Rogue One, which is part of the Star Wars cinematic universe. The goal was to achieve a moveable and realistic duplicate of the droid that was much smaller than the one portrayed in the movie. By using the skills taught in Computer-Aided Engineering Drawing class in the Fall 2020 year, we were able to successfully reverse engineer, sketch, design, and 3D print the model. In order to print this model, MakerBot software, a 3D printer, and solidworks were all utilized to create a finished product. By dividing the model into different parts and using ball joints to connect them together, the model was then able to move its limbs. This project taught us important skills such as abstract and critical thinking, problem solving, the importance of creativity, working on a team, prototyping, and setting goals/benchmarks.
This series is an exploration of watercolor that has allowed me to explore the medium while depicting something very personal. Throughout my life, my family has traveled to Vermont. The scenery has always left me in awe and inspired me to create. I’ve always had this idea to depict scenery from the state, but it wasn’t until I discovered watercolor that my idea fully came to fruition. I narrowed my concept down to depicting my favorite places at my home away from home. Through these paintings, I used color to express the emotions attached to the locations. It challenged me to think about the use of color and the emotional connection they can create with the viewer. Although it’s not a medium I was used to, my exploration pushed my artwork to grow in numerous ways.
Sarah Pike, printmaker, and owner of FreeFall Laser led a two-session visiting artist workshop that integrated new technology with traditional printmaking techniques. In this student-centered workshop Sarah shared her research in laser engraving waterless lithography plates and walked students through the process of creating laser-ready files, fine tuning settings with step tests, and troubleshooting. Sarah believes strongly in empowering students to understand the relationship between how the laser cutter operates, its effect on materials, and how to advance its application in the fine arts through safe experimentation. Participants of the workshop will be presenting an exhibition of work produced with this process. / Sarah Pike, printmaker, and owner of FreeFall Laser led a two-session visiting artist workshop that integrated new technology with traditional printmaking techniques. In this student-centered workshop Sarah shared her research in laser engraving waterless lithography plates and walked students through the process of creating laser-ready files, fine tuning settings with step tests, and troubleshooting. Sarah believes strongly in empowering students to understand the relationship between how the laser cutter operates, its effect on materials, and how to advance its application in the fine arts through safe experimentation. The participants have used this process to develop art for an online exhibition for Made at Millersville.
Floodwaters regularly inundate trees that grow beside the Susquehanna River. The flooding erodes the riverbank and exposes the roots of the tree. I am inspired by how the trees still survive after so many storms. In this series, I tried to capture the grit, the steadfastness, of these trees, and the foundation these roots provide to the tree to withstand enormous flows. I tried to show the relative permanence of the tree, yet these are temporary and sooner or later will succumb to a flood. There is meaning in this for our lives, in how we humans are inundated with tribulations and with the right supports, we endure.
When considering my art, I realized that I had never made art in response to worship. I am a Christian, but my faith was not evident in my artwork. One night my watercolor class met outside. We painted as the sun set and the moon rose. The sky was changing so fast that you could not capture it before the next brilliant color appeared. It was beautiful, and it was only then that I realized I was painting God's creation of nature. Since then I have been spending time painting outside, enjoying the beauty of the landscape that is all around us. God is an incredible artist and these paintings are how I worship him.
Extracts from the plant Valeriana officinalis are commonly used as an herbal remedy to treat anxiety and insomnia. In vitro experiments have demonstrated that valerenic acid (VA), a chemical component of Valeriana extracts, binds to a specific type of receptor for one of the brain’s major inhibitory neurotransmitters (i.e., gamma aminobutyric acid type A receptors). However, there is relatively little in vivo evidence that VA affects behavior. The purpose of these experiments was to test whether administration of VA produces measurable changes in anxiety-like, depression-like, or locomotor behaviors in a mouse model. Groups of adolescent female mice were given one of three dosages of VA dissolved in ethanol (3mg/kg, 6mg/kg, or 12mg/kg), an ethanolic control solution, or diazepam (i.e., Valium, 1mg/kg), a federally approved treatment for anxiety. Afterwards, each mouse was tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), and tail suspension test (TST), in that order. All tests were video recorded and analyzed for various behavioral parameters. The results demonstrated that VA reduced anxiety-like behavior in the EPM. Furthermore, the behavioral effects of VA largely mimicked those of diazepam.
Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasitic nematode responsible for infecting millions of humans and dogs and causing the potentially fatal disease strongyloidiasis. The unique life cycle of S. stercoralis consists of both parasitic and free-living generations. The genes that regulate the divergent development of two similar stages, post-parasitic first-stage larvae (PP L1) that develop to free-living adults and post-free-living first-stage larvae (PFL L1) that develop to infectious larvae, are unknown. Using RNA collected from both the PP L1 and PFL L1 stages, we identified 193 genes that are significantly up-regulated in PP L1 and 87 that are down-regulated. Homology searches of the up-regulated genes revealed several encoded zinc-finger transcription factors. To characterize these and other differentially expressed genes, we plan to generate phylogenetic trees to determine the relatedness of any protein families as well as use the SignalP and TMHMM servers to refine the location and function of the encoded proteins. The findings will allow us to better understand the genetic mechanisms regulating the life cycle and ultimately how to prevent transmission of S. stercoralis in humans and dogs.
Scutes are the thick scales found on the carapace of a turtle shell. They form a mosaic pattern that is unique to each species. Scutes are formed from skin cells and are considered an epidermal appendage, like human hair or the feathers of a bird. Like all epidermal appendages, they arise from a placode (a plate of thickened cells) which forms from the interactions of various signaling pathways and molecules. Ectodysplasin A (EDA) and Activin A are known signaling molecules that are necessary for the development of such appendages. One objective of this research is to test if EDA also plays a necessary role in the development of scutes in turtles using an antagonist antibody (EctoD2) that can block signaling through the EDA receptor. The torsos of turtle embryos were cultured with the antibodies for several days and the formation of scute placodes was analyzed with an in-situ hybridization probe. Exposure to the EctoD2 antibody reduced or completely erased EDA expression during these early stages resulting in no scute formation. When embryos were exposed to Activin A, they had fewer, but larger scutes. Which suggests that they may have fused together. It can be concluded that, EDA is necessary for the formation of scutes during early embryonic turtle development, and that Activin A also plays an important role.
Cannabis sativa L. is perhaps one of the most infamous plants worldwide – leading to a history of prohibition. Consequently, little is known about the plant. Cannabis sativa has two main informal groupings: the widely known drug marijuana, and hemp, the psychoactive-free form of Cannabis. With products such as cannabidiol (CBD), hemp seeds, and natural fiber, hemp is exploding in popularity. The demand for these products is increasing, while our knowledge of the plant remains stagnant. While the cultivation of the plant is relatively new to Pennsylvania following the 2017 Farm Bill, farmers are anticipating crop rotation between hemp, corn, and soybeans. In a crop rotation system, there is potential for interaction and transmission of “microbes” or bacteria, fungi, protists, which are collectively known as the microbiome. Recently, the microbiome has been gaining attention for its countless roles in biological systems, ranging from the human intestine to the ocean floor. Microbiota are constantly in flux, and the microbes within them are constantly vying for control. In this project, we aim to quantify the bacterial soil microbiome (rhizosphere) of hemp and compare it to that of corn and soy. Understanding the rhizosphere microbiome allows for the analysis of beneficial and pathogenic rhizobacteria the crops have in common – at the soil level. Understanding the rhizosphere microbial community is key to the successful production of hemp. In this presentation, I will explain the project’s importance, methods, and preliminary results.
During the fall 2020 semester, I worked as an Animal Care Intern at Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Chalfont, PA. This rehabilitation center is a 24-hour non-profit organization that sets out to encourage an appreciation and understanding for Pennsylvania native wildlife through rehabilitation, education and training. Aark Wildlife specializes in setting broken bones, treating illnesses, and providing food and shelter to injured and orphaned wildlife with the intention of returning them to their natural environment as soon as possible. During my internship, I gained substantial experience in animal handling techniques of mammals, birds and reptiles. I also learned strong communication skills in regards to my coworkers and the public, as well as team building and problem solving skills in a fast-paced work environment.
Currently, research efforts have focused on marine and estuarine ecosystems compared to the impact microplastics (MPs) may have on freshwater systems. This study determined the impact that land use had on the presence of MPs in macroinvertebrates over twenty years in the Schuylkill Watershed. We analyzed aquatic insects from 6 headwater streams within land-use types of the Schuylkill watershed from 1999 – 2019. Insects were digested in hydrogen peroxide and filtered to enumerate microplastics using a dissecting microscope. We found land use did impact MP abundance but temporal differences were subtle. This study may shed significant light on the movement of MPs within aquatic macroinvertebrates and across landscapes over time.
Invasive species are one of the leading threats causing native species to require federal protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the United States. The goal of this project is to identify the top invasive species that threaten species protected under the ESA, how invasive species negatively impact protected animals and how these impacts vary by taxa. We reviewed federal register listing documents for all ESA listed animal species from 1975 through 2020. We identified all ESA listed animal species impacted by invasive species, and the taxa of these invasive species. We also summarized how specific invasive species taxa negatively impact protected animal species through various interaction types (e.g., competition, predation, adverse habitat modification etc.).
This case aims to promote discussion on the distinct culture and various characteristics of The Walt Disney Company. Every day The Walt Disney Company works to fulfill their mission to “entertain, inform, and inspire people around the globe,” while simultaneously maintaining the values and standards that are recognized throughout the world. For many people, working for Disney is a dream come true. Providing current information on this globally recognized company’s corporate culture, organization structure, motivation strategies, and their strategies for finding the right fit based on personality, this case provides valuable insight for those studying Organizational Behavior. The Walt Disney Company’s iconic customer service, unique company culture, and distinct company organization are key parts of what add up to make Disney the worldwide media conglomerate it is today. A brief set of discussion questions follows this case.
Hunanamycin A (HA), isolated from Bacillus hunanensis by MacMillan and co-workers, exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram-negative pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Demand for antibacterial compounds is increasing as bacteria become more resistant to available antibiotics. To further explore HA and structurally related compounds, our project aims to optimize the synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone derivatives. Through preparing α,β-unsaturated amides as starting material for Lewis acid catalyzed cyclization, the quinoline core structures of 8-bromo-4,4-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one and 4,4-Dimethyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one were synthesized in 41 and 68 % yield, respectively. This route provides access to a variety of quinoline core structures.
Photoredox catalysis (PRC), utilizing light energy and transition metals to control single-electron transfer reactions, can produce substituted cyclobutanes, as well as many other structural motifs. Natural products containing cyclobutane rings often exhibit antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer activity; methods allowing for efficient entry into related molecular structures are of potential value. By creating a small library of olefins via a two-step synthetic route from 1-indones and tetralones, we have initiated studies toward exploring the substrate scope and limitations of Ruthenium PRC in the context of [2+2] cycloadditions. Building on the work of Chen et al. Ru(bpy) and Ru(bpm) will be initially screened against a small library of olefins.
This project is a movie trailer for a documentary I will be filming the summer of 2021. After my graduation I will embark on a five month hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. I will be documenting my experience and creating a professional documentary. With the help of Dr. Stacey Irwin, this documentary will fulfill my requirements for graduation as well as give me a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel across the country in a unique way.
This session details a proposed positive energy grant project which sought to equip teacher trainees at MU with skills in designing AT devices for the assistive technology lab located in Stayer Hall. How COVID affected the face-to-face implementation will be discussed, and the use of virtual means to train participants and equip the AT laboratory will be further explored.
This action research study was conducted to focus on improving students’ Spring Math scores through small group instruction focusing on number sense and math facts. The Spring Math intervention program was used to determine the participants for this study and assess the students’ ability to increase their scores. Spring Math data has been collected throughout the entire year as a pre-assessment to determine the class’s intervention focus. When the class median achieves mastery level for each focused intervention the class moves forward to the next focused intervention, regardless if each individual student has achieved mastery level and in some instances instructional level. Participants in this study included a group of six second grade students who have been unable to consistently obtain Spring Math instructional target scores. During this study, students participated in thirty minutes of in-person small group instruction four times a week, one day of fifteen-minute virtual small group instruction, and completed their weekly whole class Spring Math assessment four times a week. Small group instruction was student-centered with playing cards being used as manipulatives to teach addition and subtraction facts through card games. Each participant received a deck of playing cards and game instructions to use as homework practice two times a week. During this study Spring Math scores and completion of homework were recorded weekly. Student’s participation and correct answers during small group instruction were recorded daily. After the study participant’s Spring Math scores were analyzed to determine the success of the small group instruction.
This research project addresses the effectiveness of the word study program, Words Their Way. The program was implemented in a third grade classroom in the York Suburban School District during the 2020-2021 school year.
An inquiry question is developed about one aspect of instruction. The inquiry is researched and a plan is developed for the instructional methods that will be used. Artifacts and data will be collected.
Educators and other helping professionals often find it challenging to prepare individuals with severe disabilities for future possible employment after high school. In this presentation, we will share the results of literature reviews on employment for people with autism, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. Recommendations to support positive employment outcomes for individuals with severe disabilities will be discussed, with emphasis on how future educators could best support individuals with severe disabilities in this area.
Educators and other helping professionals often find it challenging to prepare individuals with severe disabilities for future possible employment after high school. In this presentation, we will share the results of literature reviews on employment for people with autism, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. Recommendations to support positive employment outcomes for individuals with severe disabilities will be discussed, with emphasis on how future educators could best support individuals with severe disabilities in this area.
Second grade students are at a critical turning point in their academic journey as they prepare for the rigor of third grade where they will begin standardized testing. One way educators can support these students in taking responsibility for their education and building their academic confidence is through the use of goal setting. This study aims to bring to light the benefits of goal setting for second grade students in the context of mathematics. Through this study, I will be looking at the improvement of academic achievement in a class of second grade students by implementing goal setting sheets and having goal meetings with the students. These components will be put into place with this group of students in hopes that they can take these skills with them and apply it to the rest of their academic journey as well as their everyday lives as a means to improve achievement and increase self-efficacy.
Presenters will discuss their experiences in developing a gardens curriculum for an outdoor learning center. Best practices that foster a generation of sustainability stewards by developing curriculum that connects communities and school with a focus on sustainability, equity and access will further be explored.
It is vital to understand the physical properties of the ground before construction because the properties of the subsurface can lead to slope instability, uneven compaction, and water infiltration of the near-surface rock. These can cause foundation issues, which would result in the failure of the structures. Natural fractures are an important geologic feature because their mechanical and hydrological properties influence the sub surface’s behavior. Fractures within rocks allow for the dispersion of mechanical stresses and the transmission of fluids. Because of this, fractures must be investigated as part of a complicated geotechnical investigation of the ground’s mechanical and hydrologic properties whenever a new construction project begins. Pennsylvania has varying geology, and there is a broadly insufficient understanding of subsurface fracture behavior in the six physiographic provinces found within the state. Research needs to be done in all the state’s provinces to develop a comprehensive understanding of the naturally occurring fractures and their impact on ground properties, like stability and water infiltration. This research intends to attain greater foundational knowledge of the subsurface by analyzing fractures in the near-surface rock in two of Pennsylvania’s physiographic provinces. The research will contain fracture analysis of four drill cores, which will be compared to the rock type and stress regimes of the physiographic provinces in which they are found. The goal of this work is to develop a model to allow for more accurate and efficient geotechnical modeling of the near-surface rock in the future.
The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collects data from a series of buoys around the United States. From this data collection, the question was is it possible to find Nor’easters over the ocean when they go through an area near the coast. To do this, Google Colaboratory was used—more specifically Python. This is when the location of Long Island, New York was selected to be the research target. From buoy station 44025, data from meteorological and ocean data was pulled from the archives and analyzed. The main parameters in question were wind speed and wave height. These are the two that show when big storms go through an area. From numerous graphs, it is possible to determine when a Nor’easter or other big weather events go through a region based of data collected over the ocean. This project focused in on the time between 2010 – 2020. The next big thing in question is if there is a climate aspect in this project. This will result data being pulled from the 1990 to present data. The goal of this will be to determine if there has been an increase or decrease in storm, as well as an increase or decrease in storm strength.
Threaded within the contours of the Middle East lies one of the most complicated cases cultural interaction in a contemporary sense: the stateless Kurds. Within this research project, the perception in which this crisis is interpreted between the Kurdish population and the Turkish population within the Middle East is explored. Although the intercultural crisis has occurred for decades, a new chapter unfolded within the duration of the Trump administration. Within the previous year, the diplomatic interactions between the United States and the Kurdish population have deteriorated quite rapidly. Consequently, the Kurds who are at a greater risk of state violence have suffered the after-effects of President Trump’s cultural negligence to sever support with the Kurds within Syria. Various states within the region have a complicated relationship with the Kurds, which adds to the difficulty of the situation; these state relationships to the Kurdish population will be addressed and analyzed as an additional perspective of the crisis.
Kurt Vonnegut, one of America’s most prolific authors—and perhaps one of the most difficult to categorize—possessed the unique ability to express simply the complexities of human life. While Vonnegut often reveals the chaos and absurdity of reality by imagining the darkest and most disconcerting experiences humanity may face, underlying all of his works is an undeniably humanist ethos. Despite this, Vonnegut is often labeled a fatalistic pessimist, a cynic, and a nihilist. By closely examining his novels The Sirens of Titan, Cat’s Cradle, and Slaughterhouse-Five, I propose that Vonnegut, although critical of humanity, warns against embracing the belief that human life is futile and instead advocates for the potential good of humanity.
This project will explore two books: The Four Theories of the Press and This is Not Propaganda as well as academic articles. In doing this, I will compare and contrast how media has been run in the past and how it is being run today in an attempt to analyze if history is repeating itself or if the media industry is changing for the better. I plan on backing the comparisons and the conclusion with evidence from academic articles and journals.
This is a creative project, and is a innovative and experimental writing piece called a hybrid text. This means it is one story told through a variety of genres (drawings, poetry, and prose). I was inspired by Shakespeare, so the title is a shoutout to one of his works, and the story itself is the fictional telling of the story of a girl completely through her dreams. Inspiration came from a bit of innovative and experimental genres, along with works produced underneath them. It was inspired by postmodern writing (such as poetry by Charles Olsen), a bit of projective verse and BEAT style, surrealism and modernism, procedurals, hybrid texts such as "The Collected Works of Billy the Kid", and many experimental pieces of writing that appear in the collected works of "Experimental Literature." The most interesting part of a hybrid text, which I would like to focus on, as I will focus on a forward about the research which has gone into the piece, and an afterword of its usefulness in my academic and professional career, is that such a piece, all within itself, showcases a variety of my skills throughout different genres. As I am a writing studies concentration, this is helpful in showcasing a variety of my writing styles within one example, and would therefore be a great addition to a professional portfolio.
The aspect of my presentation will be a discussion of a digital portfolio as a whole. I will be using my own examples I have curated for my own eportfolio. The project will prepare students for their professional careers or graduate school.
A professional portfolio is a compilation of documents and artifacts that showcase your experience, skills, interests, qualifications, and professional goals. The portfolio will consist of a Homepage, About Me page, Resume, and Writing samples.
This presentation will discuss the digital portfolio project, the process of creating a digital portfolio and samples from our personal portfolios. In our research we will break down the benefits of digital portfolios when seeking out a post graduate career or higher education.
Digital portfolios provide more insight into what their future employee may look like and get an idea of what they bring to the table. The digital portfolio is used to give employers more than just a resume to look at when determining if they should hire you. Digital portfolios are one place to house all of your best works, resume, and info about you.
My project is an analysis of masculinity in the film Moonlight. I provide commentary on scenes in the movie and explain how the characters portray masculinity.
Font Fanzine is a 4-page newsletter spread detailing the impacts of fonts in writing, the psychology of fonts, and the difference between different font typefaces.
You’re at home reading your favorite academic journal. It addresses a recent discovery of a bacteria found along the ridges of camera lenses on cell phones. When in contact with skin, this bacteria can cause an itchy red rash that can last up to three weeks. Fear takes over your gaze. As your eyes are scanning down the article in hopes that your phone is not infected, something catches your eye. Out of nowhere, something scarier than the information before you appears: Comic Sans MS. The author of the journal switches from documenting their information using the classic font Times New Roman and switches to the playful Comic Sans font. You can no longer continue taking this academic journal seriously. Is this a joke? It isn’t. This is very real. This is font mood connotation. Font mood connotation is used to describe the subconscious emotions we inherently associate with a certain font. The psychology of font choices is real and it exists in the choices we make when writing.
The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the wide and beneficial use that digital portfolios have across multiple disciplines. Digital portfolios have a wide range of use and are capable of being applied across multiple disciplines and applied towards an abundant number of careers. What we aim to do is to show the benefit that anyone in any field can garner when utilizing a digital portfolio.
My project is on how the Columbian exchange changed the diets of Europeans and fueled the Industrial Revolution. Many of the common foods eaten today in Europe were not available to Europeans living before the advent of the Columbian exchange in 1492. Crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, maize, tobacco, coco, and coffee are native to the Americas and were only introduced to Europeans after 1492. These foods- such as tomatoes and potatoes- are foods that most modern people view as staples of European diets. However, they did not exist in Europe until the 16th century. In fact, both potatoes and tomatoes were actually welcomed with suspicion when they were first introduced to Europeans. It was not until the late 18th century that potatoes were enthusiastically included in European diets, and it was not until tomatoes became popular in the United States that they became a popular foodstuff in Europe. The adoption of crops from the Columbian exchange led to a more robust European population. Europeans were better nourished and experienced less incidences of starvation. This also significantly facilitated the start and continuation of the Industrial Revolution. In my presentation, I will also talk about why I am incorporating this paper in my digital portfolio.
This project considers the messiness and authenticity of in the moment writing. It is a collection of poems, thoughts, doodles, and the like, all written on index cards. Index card poetry explores the idea of what writing can be when the pressure of quality and aesthetic is removed.
This project will showcase a variety of samples that can be included in a digital portfolio. Samples will include select articles, creative pieces, pieces that illustrate editing skills, and pieces that include design elements. This will help students understand that a portfolio is a wide collection of pieces that are not restricted to one specific style of writing or media.
Employers and admissions offices are increasingly asking for evidence of skills, ability, passion, and knowledge when students apply for a job or a graduate program. A digital portfolio is a convenient, creative, and effective way to house a living resume that consists of samples, artifacts, and past projects. This presentation will feature a few samples from my own digital portfolio with reflections on how each sample highlight my work ethic and research interests.
Several student group projects will explore major themes in selected works of non-Western literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries through the lens of postcolonial studies . Analyzing books by authors from Nigeria, Egypt and Afghanistan, students will place them in their cultural and historical contexts and also demonstrate what American audiences can learn from them.
For my Digital Portfolio class, I am required to present something related to said subject matter, and have elected to, instead of simply presenting a single artifact of my future portfolio, show off how one goes about constructing such a thing, examples of the pieces I might showcase in my own portfolio, and how all these pieces come together to, in some way, aid me in my search for employment in the education sphere in my near future.
The Use and Abuse of the Oxford Comma is an article about the history and modern use of the Oxford comma and by extension punctuation in general. This article gives a brief overview of punctuation history from the first use of the comma to a recent court case that hinges on the use of an oxford comma. A controversial topic for some, the oxford comma represents the flexibility of punctuation in the English language. Whether to use for a meme or in formal papers, oxford commas make for a fun point of punctuation.
Role-playing games (RPGs) are games where the player participants assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create stories. Players determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization and the actions succeed or fail according to a system of rules and guidelines. Keeping in line with the rules of the game, they may improvise freely; their choices shape the outcome and directions of the game. In interactable virtual mediums, such as video games and virtual reality (VR), players assume a virtual avatar and make choices within the bounds of the game to shape their avatar’s characterization. In massively-multiplayer online games (MMOs), it is almost essential for players to interact with other players and push the direction of the game further. While not entirely necessary from a game mechanic point of view, players will adopt virtual personas while interacting with other players as a means to enhance their own immersion within the game. Creating a virtual avatar with in-depth characterization fuels the player’s decisions in the game, and will dictate how the player is able to interact with other players.
Foreign language departments have been decreasing in size in recent years. This study aims to determine how cultural associations affect motivation to, or to not, study German at the college level. The field of psycholinguistics encompasses research that takes a psychological perspective on foreign language learning. Previous studies have delved into motivation within the foreign language classroom, where as this study focuses on cultural associations that potentially affect enrollment in foreign language classes. Americans develop cultural associations from individual exposure to foreign language or culture. The result of which may affects one’s proclivity towards later foreign language learning. The survey gathers information regarding history of foreign language learning before college and has open-ended questions for subjects to express their associations to the German language, German culture, and any potential connection they may perceive towards German language, culture, or German-speaking countries.
Winter Storm Orlena, a large Nor’easter containing strong winds and heavy snow, caused disastrous impacts across the Tri-State area, as well as the northeast United States from January 31, 2020 to February 3, 2021. The storm contained different precipitation conditions, with many areas receiving changes between snow and a wintry mix (i.e. freezing rain and sleet) a few times a day. The atmospheric conditions throughout the storm were a factor in changing the precipitation type and creating the dangerous hazards left by Orlena. Using photo-imagery of the changing ice aggregates, weather station data will be compared to the different types of precipitation that occurred, and will be analyzed to gain a better understanding of the impacts of rapid changing winter weather conditions.
With a passion for sports journalism, I've spent the last four years improving my writing skills and gaining invaluable experience as an amateur sports reporter with the Hershey Bears hockey team. Through my four years at Millersville, I've been able to better my writing and apply it to the work I've done outside of college. As my portfolio continues to grow, I hope to showcase the work I've done, the experience I've gained, and recognize professors that helped me improve as a writer during my time at Millersville University.
I want to talk about a Philadelphia Flyers game that I attended and covered a play-by-play article on in March of 2020, right before the COVID pandemic hit. I covered this event for an assignment for ENGL315 Advanced Reporting. I wrote an article of a hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Winnipeg Jets and I believe it is a good example of how to cover a sports event and highlight the important aspects of a game. I think this article represents some of my best work in covering a sporting event so I would be very comfortable discussing it.
For my COMM 326 class our assignment was to create a story involving sustainability. The catch was that it had to be local to Lancaster. Our project was going to be published on ProjectGreenLancaster on the Millersville University website. For my piece, I found a company called Sustainable Composites LLC, where they take scraped leather and refurbish it into quality products such as wallets, belts, bags, and other products. I had the chance to interview the founders of Sustainable Composites LLC for my story. This project is a way to demonstrate my journalism skills with my interview with the founders as well as my ability to create and write a story.
Stress is not new to students, especially those who make it to college. Time and time again, students are told to just get through classes and deal with the stress they face. Insight of the widespread stress in students, no one stops and thinks about what stress does to students. Instead, it is normalized. How does stress affect them long term? What kinds of other issues develop as coping mechanisms- drug use, alcohol use? And what can be done to combat this? Through the example of a music major, research, and analysis, the causes and justification of stress will be brought to question; as well as researched and proven ways to combat stress and preventative measures. Stress can directly be related to drug and alcohol usage, as well as the development of mental illnesses. These severe links make the conversation of stress and its impact so important.
Research supports that mindfulness strategies are associated with enhanced well-being, decreased anxiety and improved relationship qualities. For the purpose of this assignment, mindfulness will be discussed in terms of where it comes from, what it represents, what it means and does, and how it is beneficial to people. A 12-week yoga intervention program, where students attended 45-minute mindfulness sessions four days a week will be explored and how this intervention could be useful for school professionals, specifically school psychologists. The role of a school psychologist in problem solving and systems level delivery will be discussed as well as the collaborative approach with other school professionals necessary for effective implementation. The results of this study exhibit positive impacts on problematic responses to stress including: emotional arousal, intrusive thoughts, and rumination. Additionally, teachers and administrators generally found positive outcomes in student behaviors in the classroom. Research such as this actively demonstrates the usefulness of mindfulness in schools at a systems-level and could be a valuable tool to battle student stress induced from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gratitude involves appreciating what is valuable to oneself, and mindfulness entails being aware of what arises from non-judgmentally attending to the present moment. This study explored how gratitude may impact mindfulness in a sample of college students. Participants were randomly assigned to a group that engaged in daily gratitude journaling or to a control group who journaled daily about an arbitrary topic. Results suggested that self-reported mindfulness among participants who completed the gratitude exercise did not differ from the control group. Qualitatively, major themes of the gratitude journals reflected Maslow’s (1987) physiological and belongingness needs. Factors that may have contributed to a non-significant result are explored, and suggestions for future study are provided.
The purpose of this paper is to describe a graduate school psychology student’s consultation training case, using The Classroom Check-Up (CCU) Coaching model, delivered remotely. The CCU is a class-wide consultation model designed to address classroom management and student engagement, via the use of motivational interviewing and a problem-solving process. The aim of the CCU with this third-grade teacher was to improve student engagement in her virtual classroom. The steps of the CCU process will be outlined. The consultant observed the virtual classroom over a three-day period. Feedback was given to the teacher regarding her strengths and areas of concern. Two interventions were implemented; the use of a random name generator strategy to call on different students and the use of group contingencies with specific praise to increase the percentage of students engaged. The consultant monitored the interventions for the first week of implementation, followed by the teacher monitoring for the remainder of the semester. Performance feedback showed that both student engagement and opportunities to respond increased during times of indirect instruction.
The purpose of this case study was for a graduate school psychology consultant-in-training to get experience using consultation models during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to social distancing precautions, the consultation case was conducted via tele-consultation to support a high school teacher in increasing the engagement of students in online and hybrid instruction. The Classroom Check Up Model (Reinke et al., 2008) was applied. Through a problem-solving process, structured observations, and the use of motivational interviewing, we were able to produce an intervention targeting opportunities to respond (OTR’s). Data was graphed and showed an increase in OTR’s. Lessons learned and implications for future tele-coaching will be discussed.
This research project is the curricular design and creation of gamified learning modules for the training of student employees in McNairy Library’s Digital Learning Studio (DLS). The purpose of this curriculum is to create a consistent and engaging training program that develops and improves the learners’ skills for performing tasks in their position and the skill sets that can take them into the next stage of their career. At present, DLS student employees receive some training from their supervisor, the Learning Technologies Librarian, and some from their peers who have previous experience. Training typically takes place through observational learning and peer mentoring. It was determined existing training was not consistent and student employees could benefit from an expansion of content to improve their customer interaction, technical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This technical research and design project was the creation of a three-phase plan to implement the training, a curriculum for phase one, and the creation of a gamified learning framework designed in D2L.
