Title: Trauma-Informed Learning Environments Student: Sarah Achenbach Major: Elementary Education with Special Education Licensure Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lawrence Ruich Abstract: It is vitally important for educators to understand the effects of trauma on a child’s development and to be able to implement trauma-informed practices in the learning environment. To inform this project, I will be conducting interviews with school staff, support staff, and other relevant community members and professionals about creating trauma-informed learning environments.
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Title: A Farm-University-Library Partnership in Elementary Civic Science Teacher Education Student: Sarah Achenbach Major: Elementary Education with Special Education Licensure Student: Chanel Martinez Major: Education with English as a New Language Licensure Student: Lily Thompson Major: Education with Special Education Licensure Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura B. Liu Abstract: Environmental education in the elementary classroom is vital to foster citizen dispositions toward promoting sustainable development for future generations. This mixed methods study builds on prior research in elementary environmental sustainability education to design, implement, and analyze the impact of a community-engaged civic science outreach at a public library. Three elementary teacher candidates completed a university teacher preparation course on integrating science and social studies in the classroom, then led a public library story time as part of the library’s community outreach for Earth Day. Parent participant surveys and librarian interviews resulted in findings on community learning outcomes and challenges, and future community engagement efforts. Implications for teacher education practice, policy, and research are offered, including in informal community-based settings. With Dr. Liu, these three students delivered a virtual lightning talk about this scholarship on behalf of the National Center for Science Education & Civic Engagement SENCER Institute in August 2022.
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Title: Entrepreneurial Benefits Through Use of Business Simulations Student: Austin Baecke Major: Business Administration Student: Todd Coons Major: Business Management Student: Tatum Downing Major: Marketing and Management Student: Carson Farmer Major: Business Management Student: Jordan Kelley Major: Business Management Student: Bryan McGaha Major: Marketing Student: Andrea Rodriguez Major: Marketing Student: Tina Russell Major: Business Management Student: Samuel Willis Major: Business Management Faculty Mentor: William Haeberle Abstract: Through a capstone course (BUS J401), students learn the significance and challenges of running their own business using the Business Strategy Game (BSG) on an international scale. During the semester, undergraduate students must develop distribution, marketing, sales, and manufacturing plans in response to competing businesses within the market (other businesses are run by fellow classmates). Students must make strategic plans and present a weekly business analysis to stakeholders and be directly compared to the competition. |
Title: Pre-service Teachers’ Decisions for Including LGBTQ+ Children’s Literature in Their Future K-6 Classrooms Student: Sophie Barrett Major: Elementary Education Faculty Mentor: Dr. A’ame Joslin Abstract: The study conducted will answer the overarching question: What factors impact Pre-service teachers’ decisions for including LGBTQ+ children’s literature in the K-6 classroom? A survey will be distributed to pre-service teachers that will ask questions directly relating to how pre-service teachers’ attitudes are formed toward the incorporation of LGBTQ+ children’s literature in a K-6 classroom. In our survey, we are examining how one’s demographics, place in the program, university, family background, and their own elementary school location(s) may have influenced attitudes and behaviors towards incorporating LGBTQ children’s literature in a K-6 classroom.
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Title: Creative Approaches in Counseling Asian Americans Student: Austin Finney Major: Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Faculty Mentor: Dr. Debolina Ghosh Abstract: This research aims to improve outcome efficacy when counseling Asian American clients. Information will be gathered from mental health professional working with Asian American clients and will focus on creative approaches that demonstrate positive clinical results.
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Title: Inside The Bell Jar Student: Kaleigh Goode Major: Psychology; Minor: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Faculty Mentor: Dr. Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick Abstract: This project concentrates on analysis and discussion of trauma as it pertains to women in Sylvia Plath’s novel The Bell Jar. The approach is informed by current research in psychology and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
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Title: Hush Hush No More: Understanding Vaginismus from a Mental Health Counseling Perspective Student: Natalie Heidenreich Major: Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Student: Dariagne Romero Lopez Major: Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Faculty Mentor: Dr. Debolina Ghosh Abstract: Vaginismus is a common health condition for women associated with trauma and/or psychological distress. Since there is stigma about women’s sexual health, this condition is misunderstood, is underreported, and is lacking in the research literature. The goal of this project to understand the biopsychosocial components of vaginismus as well as counseling interventions and other alternative medicines to relieve distress.
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Title: Learning from Our Stories, Aprendiendo de Nuestras Historias Student: Anakarina Hurtado Major: Psychology; Minor: Sociology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura B. Liu Abstract: This study involves designing and implementing a lesson plan based on a bilingual autobiographical children’s book authored by the student researcher about a family member’s own cultural and linguistic background and journey to the U.S. This study examines how second grade students in a Spanish immersion program are inspired by the author’s story to explore their own and others’ cultural and linguistic funds of knowledge as they create and share their own stories with one another. This lesson supports students in learning from intercultural and interlinguistic differences as a diverse, inclusive community. This project was presented at the Community Engaged Alliance Summit and Research Symposium in Indianapolis in April 2023 and at the American Educational Research Association Virtual Annual Meeting in May in 2023.
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Title: The Mediating Role of Rumination in the Relationship between Neuroticism and Death Anxiety Student: Kylei Kinworthy Major: Psychology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kimdy Le Abstract: Previous research has found that more severe death anxiety is associated with specific personality traits. However, little research has sought to explain the relationship between personality and death anxiety. Individuals with more severe death anxiety have been found to be more neurotic. This study aims to investigate whether ruminative thinking explains the relationship between death anxiety severity and trait neuroticism.
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Title: Investigating Predictors of Academic Performance amongst ESL Middle School Students Student: Joseph Lampton Major: Psychology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kimdy Le Abstract: Self-esteem, perceived social support, and stress levels were measured and correlated to academic performance amongst middle school English Second Language (ESL) students (n=21). This was measured by having students complete a survey in-person after receiving informed consent from the student and the students’ guardians. Results were statistically significant and found the self-esteem (r=.51) and perceived social support (r=.554) positively relate to academic performance while stress (r=-.56) negatively related to academic performance amongst middle school ESL students. This project was presented at the Indiana University Undergraduate Research Conference in December 2022, where it won the fourth-place prize for best research project, and at the Midwest Psychological Association Conference in Chicago in April 2023.
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Title: The Effects of Parental Divorce on Emotional Development Student: Natalia Alexandra Martinez Major: Psychology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth daSilva Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine whether parents' marital status affects emotion regulation and emotional adjustment for young adults. It is hypothesized that children of divorced parents will show more negative emotion regulation patterns. This study will also look at the effect of sibling order on emotion regulation and emotional adjustment.
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Title: From the Shadows We Rise: Telling Immigrant Stories Student: Yamileth Martinez Gaitan Major: Elementary Education Faculty Mentor: Dr. A’ame Joslin Abstract: Misinformation places a lot of perception on groups of people. Therefore, this project aims to provide factual evidence and information about immigration and immigrant policies. This will be achieved through immigrant stories and facts installations.
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Title: Design and Development of Wind Turbine Blades using Additive Manufacturing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Student: Paul Meyer Major: Mechanical Engineering; Minor: Math Faculty Mentor: Dr. M. Noor-A-Alam Abstract: The purpose of this project is to develop and test wind turbine blades, manufactured using continuous fiber reinforced polymer composite. The composite material can increase the strength to weight ration of the blade reducing the weight of the blade. Lighter blades reduce the overall weight of the turbine and require less force to rotate.
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