The campus community is invited to attend the following graduate defenses:
Dennis Daw
When: 9 a.m. Feb. 27
Where: Education Building, Room 110
Program: Master of Science in Biology
Title: An In-Depth Evaluation of Otolith Zonation and a Comparison of Assigned Age and Precision of Otoliths, Scales, and Pectoral Fin Rays of Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) and Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Abstract: There is extensive confusion surrounding the timing and interpretation of otolith zones, specifically, which zone represents fast growth and which represents slow growth. To determine if this confusion is a species-related difference, we calculated monthly growth rates and investigated otolith zonation for a cold-water (Redband trout: Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) and a warm-water (Bluegill: Lepomis macrochirus) species, in two Southern Idaho streams and three ponds. Redband Trout showed their fastest growth during the month of June, with continuation of growth through September. The opaque zone was forming during the highest rate of growth. As with Redband Trout, the fastest growth rates for Bluegill were during late spring and early summer. However, this fast growth coincided with the formation of the translucent zone. These findings have implications for both experienced and novice biologists conducting ageing studies. Lacking water-specific validation, the annulus for temperate warm-water centrarchids should be considered the opaque zone. Conversely, the annulus for temperate cold-water trout should be considered the translucent zone. To determine if there was a quality non-lethal ageing structure, I further compared the precision and assigned age of otoltihs, pectoral fin rays and scales for these two species. Otoliths were the most precise for both species in all water bodies. Scales produced lower age estimates when compared to otoliths for both species in all water bodies. Assigned age did not differ from that of otoliths, however fin rays were considerable more variable than otoliths on Bluegill. Redband Trout fin rays did not differ in assigned age but were more variable than otoliths. I do not recommend the use of scales for either species. Further I do not recommend fin rays as an aging structure for Bluegill. However, fin rays may be an acceptable aging structure for Redband Trout.
Zeke Hudson
When: 3 p.m. Feb. 27
Where: Liberal Arts Building, Room 208
Program: Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Title: The Travelogues
Abstract: In the last few years, I felt uncomfortably situated between a frantic postmodernity and an earnest sincerity. I think as much is apparent in my manuscript. In The Travelogues, I tried to blend the abstract lyricism of the Language poets, the narrative tone and continuity of the New York School, and the sense of interpersonal connectivity and responsibility of contemporary Bay Area writers. To be more precise, I hoped to channel a bit of Rae Armantrout, Frank O’Hara, and Juliana Spahr. However, each poem in The Travelogues marks a journey, real or imagined; consequently, they manifest as travel or nature poems, wherein the aesthetic of shifting geographies blends with introspection and memory, ultimately inscribing themselves into a form as consistent as the roads on which they were conceived and written.
The Travelogues is a collection of poetry that seeks to escape the quotidian. In so doing, it examines the relationship between person, place, and memory. Each poem chronicles the speaker’s movement through a new and terrible landscape in search of connection. These landscapes, both real and surreal, are barren and hospitable, void of comfort or humanity. The poems reach a crisis: they become aware of their own artifice and inability to exist beyond the page. The Travelogues resigns in failure, yet still makes one last move toward escape.
Kelly Cox
When: 10 a.m. March 3
Where: Hemingway Center, Room 110 – Visual Arts Collective, Gallery Two
Program: Master of Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Title: Fixate
Abstract: In this thesis, I will provide a brief history of consumer culture and the mechanisms by which it operates: such as the aestheticization of the factory including the illusions that remove evidence of process from production, a propagated fear of the body and a cultural rejection of the unfamiliar, the difficult or the old. Connecting them to ideas in both Art and consumerism, I will poke and prod at the mythologies of progress, dematerialization and the Orphic complex. In exploring theories of doubt and skepticism, I will suggest an alternative perspective on the body, one that considers the mouth as the entrance to the self (rather than the eyes) and personal experience as a compass for subjective direction (in the form of expression). Finally, I will explore complexity (created by depth, layers and juxtaposition,) decoration and gradient as concepts that are of both visual and conceptual concern.
Eric Mullis
When: 1 p.m. March 3
Where: Hemingway Center, Room 110 – Visual Arts Collective, Gallery Two
Program: Master of Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Title: B> Be greater than.
Abstract: B>Be greater than.
Be greater than nature. Be greater than human. Be greater than ever.
B> designs innovative lifestyle products that improve the lives of people everywhere by allowing them to transcend everyday life and reclaim their inner greatness.
B> was founded in 2013 by artist and designer Christopher Mollusk in a community center studio in Boise, Idaho. Two years later B> offers a line of four lifestyle products for everyday greatness ranging from simple and elegant self-improvement accessories, innovative mobile connectivity devices, tools for conflict resolution, and commemorative figurines that celebrate everyday greatness. B>’s line of innovative accessories for greatness allow you to transcend everyday life and be greater than ever.
Meagan McKinney
When: 12 p.m. March 4
Where: Education Building, 3rd Floor, Ed Tech Conference Room
Program: Master of Science in STEM Education
Title: The Relationship Between Elementary Teacher Self-Efficacy for Teaching Mathematics and Their Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching
Abstract: This thesis examines the relationship between the mathematical content knowledge elementary teachers have and their self-efficacy for teaching the mathematical content to their students. Self-efficacy refers to a person’s beliefs about their ability to successfully perform a task (Bandura, 1993). The main focus was on how is the self-efficacy teachers have related to their mathematical content knowledge (Hill, Rowan & Ball, 2005), which simply put is the subject matter knowledge that support teaching the why and how of specific mathematical procedures. Self-efficacy and mathematical content knowledge are of high importance with their implications in regards to quality of instruction and the drive of the Common Core State Standards for mathematics requires “highly qualified” teachers.
Data for this study was collected form a small group of elementary (grades 1-5) teachers. These teachers were participating in a grant project at the time of data collection. Data was collected regarding their self-efficacy with the practices of teaching mathematics and the overall mathematics content itself using a validated instrument called the Self-Efficacy for Teaching Mathematics Instrument (SETMI). The Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Instrument was used to collect data on teachers’ mathematical content knowledge. A correlational analysis was run to test for a relationship between the two self-efficacy constructs and the CKT-M score. Analysis of the results showed there to only be a statistically significant relationship between self-efficacy for pedagogy in mathematics and self-efficacy for teaching mathematics content. There was not a statistically significant relationship between either of the two self-efficacy constructs and the content knowledge for teaching mathematics scores. Qualitative data was collected pertaining to teachers’ perceptions of the positive influences and challenges of implementing the Common Core State Standards into their classroom. The themes of training and support were seen as positive influences, while curriculum and time were seen as the major challenges.
Douglas Whitten
When: 9 a.m. March 11
Where: Education Building, Room 717, Social Work Conference Room
Program: Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Title: Recruiting for the Collegiate Marching Band: A Study of Student Perceptions of Recruitment and College Choice Factors in Kansas and Missouri
Abstract: The marching band is an important and iconic part of the game day atmosphere at athletic events and community functions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. To many institutions, the band is a great source of pride and considerable resources are committed in an effort to have the best band possible. A key component to having the best band possible is having effective recruiting practices.
There is a large body of research on recruiting general student’s populations and many other sub categories of students, including music majors. However, research regarding recruitment of students that participate in marching band is missing from the literature because most marching band members are not majoring in music. It is the hypothesis of the researcher that these students are a unique population that likely respond to different recruiting strategies than would those who are music majors.
To determine what college choice factors and recruiting strategies are most applicable to the college marching band member, the Marching Band Participation Questionnaire was designed to measure why students chose to participate in their chosen program. Results from the study demonstrate that 70% of college marching band members are not majoring in music and that they have college choice considerations that differ from the general student population and those of music majors. Therefore, this demographic is likely be more responsive to a recruiting and marketing campaign that treats them as a unique population.