Perceptions of the Best and Worst Practices in Online Classes: Instructor’s Perspective
STUDENT: Kylie Bennett
ADVISOR: Dr. Erica Berte
DIVISION: Business
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research project is to identify the most common perceptions of beneficial practices in designing and teaching online courses from an instructor’s perspective. Primary research will consist of surveys distributed to and completed by IU Columbus professors who have previously taught online classes. Secondary research will include information from academic journals, books, videos, etc. Project Poster |  |
Individual Differences, Feedback, and Short-Term Memory Performance
STUDENT: Rodney Burton
ADVISOR: Dr. Mark Jaime
DIVISION: Science
ABSTRACT: The primary goal of this study is to investigate the effects of feedback on short-term memory performance. The secondary goal is to explore the relationships between self-efficacy, self-esteem, personality, feedback, and short-term memory performance.
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Like it, Tweet It, Share it: Social Media Satisfaction and Biological Sex
STUDENTS: Michael Foist and Jaclyn Vanosdol
ADVISOR: Dr. Anna Carmon
DIVISION: Liberal Arts
ABSTRACT: This study examined how individuals’ social media communication satisfaction was influenced by their biological sex and perceptions of interpersonal communication competence. Relationships between biological sex, social media utilization preference, communication competence, and communication satisfaction were also explored. Results suggested no relationship existed between biological sex and social media communication satisfaction, satisfaction and social media preference, and interpersonal communication satisfaction and social media preference. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between interpersonal communication competence and communication satisfaction.
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Self-Sustainable Gardening
STUDENT: Autumn Fox
ADVISOR: Dr. Luke Jacobus
DIVISION: Science
ABSTRACT: We are establishing long-term ecology education and student research plots in neglected spaces on our small campus. Our pilot plots will be in small dirt patches bounded by curbs in a parking lot. Currently, the plots are an eyesore and require unnecessary maintenance. We will use plants native to Indiana that can withstand the harsh conditions of that microclimate. Once the plots are established, they will provide opportunities to study ecological succession, sustainable gardening practices and various areas of botany, as well as provide opportunities for biological education in public areas. Eventually, we hope to see the project expand to include small gardens of herbs and vegetables to be used in our campus café.
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An Examination of Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs about Using Social Issues Picture Books in their Future Elementary Education Classrooms
STUDENT: Chelsea Guerrieri
ADVISOR: Dr. Jenny Conner-Zachocki
DIVISION: Education
ABSTRACT: This research project is based on the belief that public schools must, as one of their basic responsibilities, incorporate the histories, texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from different cultural backgrounds and with different lifestyles as a way to remove barriers to societal injustices. Preservice teachers will be asked to examine several books that highlight social justice issues. Among other information they will be asked whether or not they would use the book in an elementary classroom and why. Project Poster |  |
The Effect of Chitin Fiber Morphology on Mechanical Strength
STUDENT: Heather Johnson
ADVISOR: Dr. James D. Mendez
DIVISION: Science
ABSTRACT: We have already determined that chitin can be obtained from a wide variety of sources including crawfish shells, cicada sloughs, mealworms, and lobster shells. The next step is to determine if there are differences in the chitin obtained from these different sources at the nanoscopic level that can be useful for other applications. Mechanical testing of some basic chitin/plastics composites is already in progress, but we need a more detailed picture. To see what is occurring at the nanoscopic level, we plan to use using the TEM (transmission electron microscopy) at IU Indianapolis to assess the size and structure of the fibers that our chitin is made of. Project Poster |  |
The Best and Worst Practices in Online Classes: Students’ Perspectives
STUDENT: Courtney Linville
ADVISOR: Dr. Erica Berte
DIVISION: Business
ABSTRACT: The online learning environment is continuing to grow; this means the quality of online education is becoming even more important. The goal of this research project is to find the best and worst practices in online classes from students’ perspectives. The results will give instructors the opportunity to alter their online classes to implement the most effective online teaching strategies. Project Poster |  |
Comparing Methods of Measurement: The Various Blood Pressure Instruments and Locations
STUDENT: Carece Robbins
ADVISOR: Bethany Murray, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC
DIVISION: Nursing
ABSTRACT: We are researching whether there is a difference in blood pressure (BP) measurements when the measurements are conducted with different measurement methods. These methods include: an automated upper arm blood pressure machine, an automated wrist blood pressure method, and a manual measurement on the upper arm. Project Poster |  |
Long Tan Legs: A Pentad Analysis of Women in Modern Country Music
STUDENT: Emma Metz Sipple
ADVISOR: Dr. Ryan Neville-Shepard
DIVISION: Liberal Arts
ABSTRACT: This work is the application of Kenneth Burke’s pentad to popular country songs. It illuminates the patterns of expectations of women in country music and also the consequences of widespread acceptance of these expectations. Project Poster |  |
Recognition of Subjective Action in Children
STUDENT: Megan Taylor
ADVISOR: Dr. Mark Jaime
DIVISION: Science
ABSTRACT: One aspect of self-awareness in children that has not been explored is whether they can represent subjective experiences and when does this capacity emerge in development. Understanding children’s recognition of first-person action is important because it provides a basis for more complex social cognitive functioning later in development. Therefore, the objective of this proposed study is to explore whether children have the ability to recognize first person experiences. |  |
The Biodiversity of Mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Minnesota
STUDENT: Andy Usher
ADVISOR: Dr. Luke Jacobus
DIVISION: Science
ABSTRACT: This continuing study aims to identify current species of mayfly in the State of Minnesota, observe their habitat and range, as well as record data from hitherto uncatalogued parts of the state. Minnesota is recognized as a rich tapestry of diversity of aquatic fauna, yet conversely, the mayfly is poorly studied thereat. The changing habits of mayflies may be equated with global climate change and human habitat interference: the project aims to pose the question of how the distribution of an organism so low on the “food chain” could portend wide ranging implications for future human habitation. Project Poster |  |
