The National University System Repository exists to increase public access to research and other materials created by students and faculty of the affiliate institutions of National University System. Most items in the repository are open access, freely available to everyone.
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Item Overcoming prejudices with E-Pal connections(2007)U.S. public schools often reflect the diverse nationalities of our country and may be the only place students have the opportunity to meet other peers with different ethnic backgrounds. Mixing diverse populations creates opportunities for students to develop cultural understanding and appreciation. Studies have shown that students who have high multi-cultural sensitivity get along better with other ethnic groups, have higher self-esteem, and help promote a positive atmosphere on school campuses. This quantitative study, Overcoming Prejudices with E-Pal Connections, is designed to examine student multi-cultural sensitivity before and after virtual communication with international e-pals and then compare data with students who have not had the experience of international virtual communication. The study will apply correlational research between 15 students who have e-pals and 15 students who do not have e-pals to determine if e-pal conditions and experiences have any effect on cultural sensitivity. Students’ experiences and impressions applied to a pre and post survey will help determine if an alteration of cultural sensitivity is apparent and provide further insight into the power of virtual, international communication with peers around the world.Item Organization impact: how leader decisions and behaviors influence morale(2010)The purpose of this study was to describe and learn the reasons of how people in leadership positions come to their final conclusions in the decision-making process. How do they implement their decisions in relation to performing their actions and examining the impact effects it has on others. “Typically, ethical decisions are the product of careful thought and common sense” (Maddalena, 2007). Leaders of various types need to be able to understand the impact and implications of their decisions and behaviors and that they are viewed to a higher standard of conduct. Gini (2004) implied that leaders need to establish their goals with a clear vision and effective communication channel of what they stand for, what they want to achieve, and what they expect from others, and where the organization wants to go. However leaders are just as an important factor to an organization as are employees and according to Banerji and Krishnan (2000) a leader aligns vision with followers’ needs and aspirations, propagates open communication and generates team motivation, is a risk taker, helps and coaches in confidence building and promotes team building (p. 3). Leadership characteristics may start at the home or classroom for some and Stein (2009) states that teachers are undeniably leaders in the community and in the classroom, they must be able to have some form of life lasting impact on students and be able to motivate them to strive for excellence. Besides having their students sit and behave; they must also inspire them to achieve their goals.Item Operation continental bee(2014)JJL Networking Solutions proposes the following project for each site: the installation of four desktop computers for employee workstations, the set-up and installation of a small networking system and business server, and the installation of Microsoft Office applications. It has been decided that by providing MSB a systematic technology update at all sites, MSB could more efficiently manage orders and communicate with vendors and customers. It will also ease the documentation process, improve recordkeeping, and offer security measures for confidential information as all information will be digital and backed-up on a standby server.Item Organic gunshot residue analysis of shooting individuals using LC/MS-MS detection(2008)The analysis of diphenylamine, a major component of organic gunshot residue, was performed under a variety of circumstances where the detection of gunshot residue 1s needed. Tests involving the detection of diphenylamine on the arm and shirt sleeve of the shooter and after hand washing were evaluated in this study using LC/MSMS. After evaluating four areas of the arm and shirt sleeve, only the hand region and shirt sleeve exhibited significant levels of diphenylamine which meets the acceptance criteria of having a confidence level of 95 percent. A final study reveals that less than 5 percent from the original concentration of diphenylamine remains after hand washing. The results of this study show that it is possible to detect diphenylamine on the hand and shirt sleeve of the shooting individual, and that diphenylamine can not be detected after the shooter’s hand has been washed.Item Special Educator Belonging, Efficacy, and Shared Responsibility: A Case Study on Inclusive Settings and Collegial Relationships(2025-09)The problem addressed in this study was that although special educators are essential members of a public school faculty, their feelings of belonging, efficacy, and perceptions of shared responsibility are not well supported by the conditions in the school setting. This qualitative descriptive case study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of special educators' perspectives on how inclusion practices influenced their professional experiences, using a conceptual framework that combined social learning theory and sensemaking theory. The study used a multiple case study design with a sample of 10 secondary level special educators in Massachusetts who had at least one year of experience in inclusive classroom settings. Data were collected through a combination of open-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and reflective journaling. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit participants. Data coding and analysis involved hand coding and used reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns and identified six themes within the data. The key findings demonstrated that special educators' professional experiences were shaped by the unique interplay between workplace environments, personal beliefs about their effectiveness, and role interpretation. The research reinforced that relying on isolated efforts to support special educators’ sense of efficacy and belonging is insufficient. The study's implications for practice suggest that fostering intentional collaboration, clarifying roles, and strategically reallocating resources are necessary to create a shared understanding of collective roles. This study makes a significant contribution to the body of research and literature on special education and provides actionable guidance for administrators and policymakers.
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