27th Student Academic Conference Schedule

Impact of Maintaining Health Relationship In College Communities.

         Promoting healthy relationships within college communities creates an overwhelmingly positive correlation between successful social interaction and one’s overall health and well-being. Therefore, we chose to discuss the impact of maintaining healthy relationships, for our project, to present to our peers and faculty. Pursuing healthy relationships takes intentional effort, emotional intelligence, and skills in conflict resolution, with support from college and community resources. We felt that this topic is extremely relevant to our community here at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Finding ways to navigate healthy ways to maintain and progress these relationships is imperative for your overall health. Throughout our studies, by researching successful and healthy relationships, and their correlation to mental health rates in college, it was discovered just how prevalent mental illness within college communities is. Being able to prioritize healthy relationships can better impact one's overall health. 

Abstract
This paper explores how the use of manipulatives during play fosters the development of both gross and fine motor skills. As children engage in play, they naturally refine these abilities by incorporating essential motor movements while exploring manipulatives and interacting with peers. In this context, manipulatives refer to tangible objects that facilitate learning, such as play-dough, Magna-Tiles, puzzles, and blocks. Engaging with these materials strengthens fine motor skills as children bend and move their fingers with precision, while gross motor skills develop through larger movements, such as lifting and arranging blocks. Beyond motor development, the use of manipulatives cultivates independence and initiative in play. Furthermore, intentional play with these materials not only enhances motor skills but also contributes to social, cognitive, and emotional growth, making it a vital component of early childhood development.
Keywords: Manipulatives, play, development

This study explores the perspectives of preservice teacher candidates on the topics in education they perceive as the most important and urgent as they prepare for their first year of teaching. Utilizing quantitative methodology, the study aims to identify and prioritize educational topics preservice teacher candidates believe are critical to their professional development. Participants are asked to rate the topics based on two criteria: urgency and importance. Each topic is rated on a scale from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates unfamiliar with the topic, 1 indicates low urgency or importance, and 5 indicates high urgency or importance. The findings will provide insight into the current priorities and the concerns of future teachers, informing the teacher education program about areas that require immediate attention and resources. This study aims to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of teacher education programs to ensure teacher readiness during their first year in the profession.

This project is about the importance of science centers in an early childhood setting. In constructivism, Piaget clearly states that learning comes from the active role of children’s understanding of the world around them. When interacting with science-based learning centers in preschool, children learn to ask questions to receive answers. According to Piaget’s theory, children who are not actively engaged in group work are less likely to develop vocabulary skills, critical thinking, and adequate social skills. In a science center, children learn to engage with one another and the world around them to learn and grow as individuals through approaches such as inquiry-based science. Inquiry-based science is “a teaching method that encourages students to explore scientific topics through hands-on activities and problem-solving.” 

   College students need to eat healthy as it can directly impact their academics. Eating a healthy and balanced diet provides the body with the essential nutrients for everyday life. These essential nutrients include minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber, and much more. Maintaining a healthy balance of these nutrients will optimize your energy, better your mood, help you get better sleep, improve your immune system, and even help you live a longer life, avoiding chronic diseases. Having poor eating habits can lead to obesity, low energy levels/fatigue, poor immune function, increased risk of chronic diseases, decreased cognition, and mental health issues.

            College students face many barriers to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. These barriers include a lack of time, a busy schedule, and a limited budget. However, it is crucial for their academic success. There are many healthy options on campus to help students achieve a balanced diet. This project aims to show college students how they can prioritize eating healthy during their college life. 

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic airborne fungus that poses significant health risks, particularly to immunocompromised individuals and patients with preexisting conditions such as asthma. Despite its clinical relevance, the interplay between host sex, genetic background, and immune response to A. fumigatus exposure remains underexplored. This study investigated how collagen production, mucus production, and immune cell counts in the lung vary with sex and strain in BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J mice exposed to A. fumigatus.

Mice were challenged with airborne A. fumigatus spores weekly for three consecutive weeks. Histological analysis of lung tissue that were paraffin-embedded and sectioned at 5 µm was conducted to assess collagen and mucus production. Sirius Red/Fast Green and Periodic Acid Schiff was used for staining, images were analyzed and graded on a 3 point scale with higher numbers corresponding to a higher intensity of collagen. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to collect immune cells, and identified using morphometric differences.

Results show timepoint comparisons revealed significant increases in collagen deposition between naïve and day 3 BALB/cJ males, naïve and day 3 BALB/cJ females, naïve and day 3 C57BL/6J males, and day 3 and day 28 C57BL/6J females. Strain-based differences were also observed, with significant variation between naïve BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J males, day 3 BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J females, and day 28 BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J mice of both sexes. Granulocyte counts peaked at day 3 post-challenge and declined by day 28, with male C57BL/6J mice exhibiting significantly higher granulocyte numbers than male BALB/cJ mice. Sex-based differences in collagen production and immune cell counts were not significant across naïve and post-challenge groups, C57BL6/J male mice had elevated mucus production on day 3 post-challenge.

This study highlights that genetic background influences collagen deposition and the immune response to A. fumigatus infections, while sex-based differences were largely absent. These findings provide insights into fungal disease modeling and emphasize the importance of strain-specific considerations in therapeutic strategies.

Relationships with faculty can play an essential role in shaping academic success and personal growth of students in higher education. This study explores the significant impact of faculty-student relationships, highlighting how meaningful mentorship promotes academic success, high retention rates and encourages student involvement. The findings reveal that mentorship is not just an academic support mechanism. 

   From the moment we are born, our family is influencing our lives. Whether it’s from the clothes we wear, the school we go to, or even the career we choose to pursue, the whole trajectory of someone’s life can be influenced by their family. The purpose of this study is to investigate any correlations between one’s family structure and behavior to their own behavior. By better understanding this concept, we may be able to conduct further research to prevent negative behaviors and reinforce positive behaviors in children, which can influence someone’s life for the better. 
The sample for this dataset was first graders and their family members from elementary schools in Phoenix and San Antonio. Mostly, the population consists of first graders from low-income, Latino households. 3,084 first graders were surveyed in addition to their family. Over 200 teachers were also surveyed. 
A cross-sectional survey was used from the 2007/2008 school year until 2015. It was distributed through the mail, given through telephone interviews, and used physically in schools with pencil and paper and written questionnaires. The schools used in this study were picked depending on their positive background with FAST and other social service agencies. 
The findings of this research either had no correlating variables or slightly correlating variables, leading to no major, new findings. If anything, this study shows that more studies need to be conducted to enlighten us in the “murky areas.” With larger sample populations, more conclusive results may be given.  

Classroom teachers are often required to teach advisory courses that include career counseling and social emotional learning components. While the study is focused on collecting information from working adults, the results of this study could provide information for teachers who are taking on coaching, advising, and counseling roles at any educational level. The purpose of this positivist cross-sectional correlational research was to explore the relationships between the Big Five Aspects of personality and career interest in working individuals in Redwood County, Minnesota. A total of 88 quantitative items are included in the anonymous Personality and Career Interest Questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher, with an additional 4 qualitative (i.e., open-ended) items. The questionnaire was field tested and updated according to the recommendations provided by the reviewers before it was distributed to various businesses, organizations, and community members via email. Partial correlations were found between the Big Five Aspects of personality and Holland’s Codes of career interest. Partial correlations were also found between two Big Five Aspects of personality and job satisfaction. Partial correlations were found between the Big Five Aspects of personality and career fit. This exploratory study allows researchers to put forth recommendations for the improvement of career coaching, advising, and counseling.

Nearly all higher education institutions in America utilize Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) as a tool to determine course quality, effectiveness, and weaknesses. Though SETs integration is expected, factors are being evaluated that are outside of faculty control (e.g. gender, appearance, ethnicity) bringing into question their reliability and validity (Cho et al., 2018; Kogan et al., 2010). SET tools need to be reviewed to ensure student feedback addresses modifiable factors (e.g. course activities, teaching methods) and ensuring learning objectives of the course were met. SETs also have weight on faculty tenure and promotion in higher education. Utilization of SETs for tenure and promotion could decrease retention of marginalized groups. Black faculty and non-native English speakers were more likely to receive lower student rating than another race or native English speakers (Smith, 2007; Alauddin & Kifle, 2014). Since there is scarce literature on the role SETs have on faculty retention this study aimed to address faculty a) utilization of the SET tool b) use for tenure and promotion c) estimated retention of faculty related to SET feedback. The purpose of the study was to increase understanding of the role SETs might have in nursing faculty retention. While there was a weak correlation suggesting SET feedback may make nursing faculty more likely to leave teaching, the practical implications are valuable. Nursing faculty estimated retention was 74.7 percent while estimated retention of faculty from other fields of study was 92.9 percent. This is significant given the current shortage of nursing faculty in America. 

References

Alauddin, M., & Kifle, T. (2014). Does the student evaluation of teaching instrument really measure instructors’ teaching effectiveness? An econometric analysis of students’ perceptions in economics courses. Economic Analysis and Policy, 44(2), 156–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2014.05.009 

Cho, J. I., Hamash, K., Otani, K., Reimer, N., & Deng, Y. (2018). Influential Factors of Student Evaluations of Teaching in a Nursing Program. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 13(2), 86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2018.01.002 

Kogan, L. R., Schoenfeld-Tacher, R., & Hellyer, P. W. (2010). Student evaluations of teaching: perceptions of faculty based on gender, position, and rank. Teaching in Higher Education, 15(6), 623–636. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2010.491911

Smith, B. P. (2007). Student Ratings of Teaching Effectiveness: An Analysis of End-of-Course Faculty Evaluations. College Student Journal, 41(4), 788–800. https://web-s-ebscohost-com.trmproxy.mnpals.net/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=983186b6-c6ba-4028-aaec-eaadf294f9aa%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=28351175&db=aph

This study explores the concept of adaptation and transition which follows the transition of two higher education faculty members who both took teaching positions at their respective alma maters in which they first receive their initial degrees. Self-study, also known as autoethnography, was the chosen methodology for this study which allows the author dual perspectives as the subject and the researcher. As a result, Institutional Review Board approval was not required because the subject is self and study documentation is self-generated. Over the course of the first six months of employment at their alma maters, the two faculty members journaled about their transition, took pictures of images that they perceived to represent their transition, and participated in discussions with a critical peer about their transition. By triangulating journal entries, visual artifacts, and interview transcriptions the researchers developed themes which describe their transition to their alma maters. Unique to the coding process, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Microsoft Copilot, was used to conduct the initial coding of all three sources of data. Member checking and traditional coding will be conducted to support or refute the AI generated initial coding.

Dramatic play is one of the biggest aspects of a child’s life, and is not often seen as academic, however, it has been proven that children learn a wide variety of skills through play. One of the founding theorists that acknowledged the true value of play was Vygotsky. Through his theory, it is said that dramatic play is a crucial aspect of early childhood development,  and it fosters creativity, while also building social skills and cognitive growth. Through role playing children can explore emotions and problem-solving skills. This type of unstructured play encourages collaboration and helps children grow social relationships while building self-expression. Dramatic play can also support academic learning by reinforcing skills like literacy, math, and science through hands-on experiences. 

KEYWORDS: Play, Unstructured, Vygotsky’s Theory, Social Development, Cognitive Growth.

Money Matters: Mastering Your Budget 

         Most college kids feel like they are struggling financially, which affects many students in different ways. So, what can be done about this stressful time in life? To master your budget there are important steps that can be taken to better understand your financial needs. These steps include understanding income and expenses, setting financial goals, creating a budget, tracking and adjusting your budget, saving, and staying consistent. To further understand our topic, we asked ourselves “What is the impact of financial stress caused by a lack of budgeting, compared to the financial stability experienced by college students who manage their budget?”. In completing our study on budgeting, we will utilize resources such as a budgeting planner, a budget app, previous studies used, and self-evaluations. In our research study we have discovered that college students who budget overall have reduced stress. As a group, our recommendation is to make use of the resources we discussed to minimize your financial stress.  

This presentation will explore the relationship between nutrition and mental health. The goal of this research is to relate to college students about nutritious foods they can eat that can fuel their body and help them stay motivated throughout a stressful and busy college schedule. The motivation for this project is based on the real-life experiences of MSUM nursing students, highlighting how food choices affect their ability to cope with college stress. Our research will showcase how saturated fats, refined sugars and ultra-processed foods affect brain function, emotional regulation, and how the body responds. In comparison, it will also explore how adding in gut-healthy and whole foods positively impacts our daily lives. Attendees will gain valuable insight into managing their mood through healthier dietary choices while also providing resources to track their progress. By understanding the powerful connection between food and mood, individuals are able to make informed choices that enhance their physical and emotional health. 

Sensory play is a crucial component of early childhood education, particularly in a preschool setting, as it supports cognitive, emotional, social, and motor development. Engaging children in hands-on activities stimulates their five senses, smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight. These developmental milestones and engagement of different senses can be achieved through either specific sensory tables or interactive experiences. While sensory play is often depicted as “messy” or “loud”, a prepared environment with a few house rules is beneficial to the child and enhances the way in which they react to their environment through multiple senses. Sensory activities and tables can be set up indoors, outdoors, through a premade kit, or made with materials throughout a home. 

We want to give students resources regarding their study techniques and learning styles. Our target audience is MSUM college students. We have learned through our own personal experiences and those of our classmates that not all students learn the same way. By giving each individual the knowledge to know their learning style and the ways they study the best, we can ensure that each student is reaching their maximum potential. We could partner with the tutoring center or individual tutors to help gain knowledge into the resources available for students. To help us with our project, we believe that we should further our knowledge into the different types of learning styles. We understand that there are a few categories including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. However, we would like to take a deep dive into each specific category. We would then like to research more into different techniques that apply to each area. Some techniques might include watching videos, active recall, flashcards, or quizzing. To help cater to each specific individual, we would like for them to take a learning style quiz. After they have completed the quiz, we can better understand how to serve those specific individuals. This will also allow us to provide them with the proper resources. A  barrier we might encounter is that someone might fit into two or more learning categories. We can then give them multiple techniques for a range of styles and have them determine which techniques were the most beneficial to them. Another barrier we might encounter is that we would not be able to determine if our teachings were successful or easy to follow through with. We could counteract this barrier by sending out a questionnaire after giving the students some time to try the new techniques.