The Brother Joseph W. Stander Symposium recognizes and celebrates academic excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. This annual event provides an opportunity for students from all disciplines to showcase their intellectual and artistic accomplishments. The Stander Symposium represents the Marianist tradition of education through community and is the principal campus-wide event in which faculty and students actualize our mission to be a "community of learners."
-
Producer Prices, Cost-Push-Inflation and Stock Market Returns
Anthony J. Bello
Although the Fed looks at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditure index (PCE) as the key measures of inflation, in this study I focus my attention on Producer Prices (PPI) as a leading indicator of inflation in final goods produced. I want to test three hypotheses. First there is a high pass through rate for prices in the 4 basic stages of production identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Using regression analysis to measure the pass through rate, I expect the b coefficients to be greater than zero and close to one. This would indicate that a cost-push inflation process is working at the producer price level. I also want to test the hypothesis that out-of-sample forecasting models of cost-push inflation at the various stages of production are both efficient and stable with acceptable levels of forecast error. Finally, I want to test the hypothesis that stock market prices co vary with producer prices. An inverse relationship suggests that rising factor costs cause the aggregate supply curve to shift upwards and to the left, lowering or reducing the rate of GDP growth, which results in a decline in stock market prices. A direct relationship suggests that factor costs are rising because of demand pull inflationary forces in the economy, leading to rising stock market prices.
-
RE (CELL) LCD: A Feasibility Study on Recycling Cell Phone LCD
Abdulaziz Alotaibi, Christopher C. Beaschler, Siddharth N. Rathod, Matt S. Shea
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) are used in a magnitude of devices and have now become the norm in products that require a screen, such as, cell phones, computers, televisions, tablets, and more. However, many of these technologies are becoming outdated leading towards the issue of exponential growth of waste with a lack of technology set in place for proper recycling. Most of research literatures on LCD recycling are of electronic products and e-waste in general rather than cell phones in particular. Few studies on recycling of cell phone LCD have been accomplished. Since everyday around 300,000 mobile phones are sent to trash in United States alone, the recycling of LCD of cell phones is still a challenge for recyclers. In this paper four main topics will be discussed: Establishing need of recycling of LCD due to its environmental impacts, increasing number of LCD usage with time, current EoL (End of Life) process and challenges associated with it in terms of environment, economy and social aspects. By our findings, we are aiming to examine the sustainable feasibility of recycling LCD of cell phones comparing with other LCD products. Our approach for obtaining data for LCD of cell phones is to simulate details from other LCD products (LCD Monitor, LCD PC, LCD TV) such as main elements, recovery of substances, energy required to produce, etc.Finally, we will conclude with the observations with important considerations for a holistic approach to make LCD recycling of cell phones feasible. The results aim to enable recyclers to add confidence in LCD recycling of cell phones and also for researchers to extend this work with innovative ways and cost-effective approach in future.
-
Renew Your Interest...So your best potential can come to Light! Examining the Effectiveness of Academic Renewal Course & Coaching (ARCC)
Shanon C. Davis
This research explores how the seven week academic intervention course, Academic Renewal Course and Coaching (ARCC) at the University of Dayton, affects student learning development and the parallel to decreasing attrition. The objective of this research was to extract the academic intervention practices and strategies that work best to increase academic performance amongst students who are academically and motivationally challenged. It also explains how and why student learning is affected when the appropriate conditions and resources aren’t identified and/or utilized by students. Academic intervention program assessment of ARCC is the all-encompassing purpose of this research. Through qualitative and quantitative data collection, the assessment revealed how effective ARCC is for students. Through personal interviews with former ARCC participants, the data showed how student’s sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and self-authorship are affected, along with transitional college adjustments. Students also shared that they gained additional knowledge about learning styles, learning environments, time management techniques, and note taking strategies. Post ARCC cumulative GPA reports revealed that students benefited from the course well into their collegiate career. This data, in combination with personal interviews revealed that students attributed their long term success to their ARCC involvement, as the course served as tool to get them back on track and fully acclimated. to college requirements.
-
Reporter's Privilege in the 21st Century
Patrick R Mcadams, Ebony A Munday, Annette M Taylor
Journalists have been subpoenaed and otherwise pressured to give up information and sources more times in recent years than any other period of time. Most states have shield laws for reporters, but efforts to pass a federal shield law have thus far failed. With this in mind, Patrick McAdams analyzes cases in the 2nd and 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals since the turn of this century to establish the legal landscape of reporters’ privilege in these regions, and considers whether it is time for a federal shield law. Ebony Munday examines reporter’s shield laws in New Jersey and Ohio and compares how courts in each state handle challenges to journalists' efforts to protect sources.
-
Research exercise: Amplifying Signals via Riboswitch Biosensors
Annastacia C. Bennett
The Air Force is always in search of new and efficient ways to protect the lives of their Airman and equipment. Biosensors are self-sufficient, natural systems that can report a signal based on the presence of a specific molecule. However, biosensors are limited by a low signal output. Here we describe how a biological amplification circuit, loosely based on concepts similar to electrical circuitry, will be used to produce and amplify a signal. The biosensor consists of sensing cells and reporter cells that are ‘wired’ together via quorum-sensing signal molecules. The sensing cells contain a riboswitch that activates the reporter cells only when in the presence of a ligand specific to the riboswitch. When compared to a riboswitch with direct control of expression, the amplification circuit was able to increase the amount of fluorescence generated. The amplification circuit also increased the sensitivity of the riboswitch, resulting in fluorescent signal production at much lower ligand concentrations. Lastly, the amplification circuit reduced the time required for the reporter cells to produce a fluorescent signal output.
-
Research exercise: Best Model for Forecasting Future Sales of Company X
Amal I Alsomali, Rabab O Alzahrani
In this project we try to forecast the future sales of some American Company depending on the data provided on their website. We will use the techniques learned in our time series class (MTH 544) to try to come up with the best model on this real life data.
-
Research exercise: The Development of a First Year Chemistry Laboratory
Leslie M. Porter
The purpose for this project was to redesign a past General Chemistry Laboratory experiment with emphasis on student learning objectives in support of lecture material. The experiment was first introduced into the second semester CHM124L course in 1997 as “Preparation and Investigation of Salt Solutions”. For the Fall 2016 curriculum, the modified experiment will be conducted in the first semester General Chemistry course CHM123L as “Equilibrium of Salt Solutions”. This experiment was chosen for modification because the concept of equilibrium, especially when applied to pH of salt solutions, is one that many students find difficult to understand. Experiencing the concept in lab is one way for the students to increase their understanding. Our approach with the modification of the experiment was to step back and view the procedure from a first year student’s point of view. To take into account their laboratory skill set as a first semester student and to consider background material they would be exposed to by the time the experiment was conducted. The goal was to create an experiment that lead students through a thought provoking qualitative and quantitative analysis of the subject.
-
Research exercise: Tired of rubber landfills: From environmental hazard to sustainable use potential of discarded tire materials
Keith Brian Abankwah, Abdulelah Bajbair Bajbair, Feras A. Melibari, Bjoern Oliver Winter
How do you dispose of your used car tires? Although answering this on an individual level doesn’t seem to be hard, the sheer amounts of old tires disposed of as a byproduct of a growing car market in the United States have grown to make a significant impact on the environment. Each year, over 350 million tires are consumed and only about 70% of the accruing waste is properly recycled at their end of life. The storage of tires in landfills, or improper methods of disposal, such as burning and waterbody displacement causes hazardous emissions and health problems. For instance, the improper storage of tire stockpiles can lead to potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects and rodents as stockpiled tires are often holding water for long periods of time. Burning tires can negatively affect air, water and soil and produce toxic chemicals, such as benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Tire stockpiles set on fire, whether by chance or on purpose, produce enormous amounts of heat and are so hard to extinguish that some fires have been continuing to burn for extended periods. A prominent example was a fire in Rhinhart, Winchester, Virginia that continued to burn for nine months on end. Against this background, an assessment of the magnitude of tire disposal related impacts in the near future is performed within different scenarios while providing insight into current practices of tire disposal. In contrast to this, alternative processes that process tires into fuel and activated carbon are looked upon. In a subsequent life-cycle analysis, the production of fuel and carbon from tires is compared to the fabrication of the same products from natural resources in order to show environmental advantages of recycling tires in these processes.
-
Research exercise: VectorWorks for Light Design
Mary F Lamperis
VectorWorks is a 3-dimensional modeling program like Autodesk or SolidWorks, yet unlike these, it excels when dealing with light design. Integration of Autodesk files into VectorWorks is currently possible, yet not adaptable when working with the further light design tools that VectorWorks has to offer. Being adept in this program while working in theatrical lighting design will be a tremendous advantage. One of these main tools lets you output a data chart necessary when implementing the lighting layout in the theatre itself. Normally transferring the data from an Autodesk file to a usable chart takes several hours and includes multiple human errors. With these advantages in mind, I created a layout of Boll Theatre that not only gives me experience, but also provides a updated model to aid future light designers.
-
Research exercise: Vocation and Arts
Elizabeth A. Abrams, Randy T. Brackman, Renee Katharine Brown, Ian N. Cali, Kieran L. Campbell, Jessica L. De Groot, Blaise T. Eby, Alexandra M. Hallagan, Claire Elizabeth Sanfilippo, Virginia Abigail Saurine, Thomas Brewster Tappel, Marsha Turner, Mary Elizabeth Turner, Sarah Frances Wood
The Chaminade Scholars 'Vocation and Arts' class have been preparing all semester for an in-depth pilgrimage to Italy in May. The interactive Stander Symposium experience introduces participants to the Art, Culture and Spirituality of Assisi and Rome. Included is an exhibit of students' photography and "Awakening to Beauty publication.
-
Research Experience for Teacher (RET) program: Inspire the Next Generation in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
Caroline Margaret Boeckman, Emma A Cipriani
This research was conducted at the University of Dayton through a research program for teachers. The goal of this program was to have pre-service and experienced teachers gain more knowledge about engineering concepts so that they could incorporate them into their classroom. The objective of this research was to perform tensile testing of Fused Deposition Modeling materials to determine variability due to orientation and print machine. The Ultem samples tested were produced on six different printers. Within these samples, there were three different orientations tested; ZXY, YZX, and YXZ. We tested the tensile strength using an Intron 4486. Each member of the group was involved in the testing process, which included sample testing, recording data, placing extensometer, analyzing data, and running the Bluehill program. During the analysis of our data, we calculated the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Stress at Failure, Strain at Failure, and Elastic Modulus. After testing multiple samples of each orientation and the different printers, we found that YZX has the highest ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and strain of all orientations tested. ZXY had the weakest UTS and strain. Statistically, each orientation from the various printers has similar tensile properties.
-
Robust Nonlinear Adaptive Control for Longitudinal Dynamics of Hypersonic Aircraft Vehicle Model
Turki Mohammed Alsuwian
A hypersonic aircraft vehicle is a highly complex nonlinear system, which includes uncertainties in the dynamics. This paper presents the design of robust nonlinear adaptive control for a hypersonic aircraft vehicle model. The complexity of the dynamic system is considered into the design structure of the control in order to address robustness issues. Design of a robust control system should decouple the longitudinal and lateral dynamics to handle the flight of hypersonic vehicle under certain specific conditions. In this paper, we only consider longitudinal dynamics, which are divided into aircraft speed subsystem and flight-path angle subsystem. A robust control design is implemented to provide asymptotic tracking regulation of aircraft speed and flight-path angle. In addition, it is employed in this study because the algorithm of control design exhibits better robustness properties. Based on the stability analysis, the adaptive control is derived for a Lyapunov function candidate of feedback closed-loop system. Simulation results of control design illustrate robustness and effectiveness.
-
Role of axial patterning genes in growth regulation during eye development
Neha Gogia
An important question in developmental biology is that how axial patterning genes work with growth and patterning to form any three-dimensional organ. In any multicellular organism, Organogenesis, requires axial patterning i.e. formation of Antero-Posterior (AP), Dorso-Ventral (DV), Proximo-Distal (PD) axes. Any deviation in these axes during development leads to genetic birth defects. We use Drosophila melanogaster (a.k.a fruit fly), eye as our model. As the genetic machinery between flies and human is conserved, any insights generated in flies can be extrapolated into humans. In Drosophila, DV patterning marks first lineage restriction event where expression of dorsal, ventral fate selectors forms dorsal & ventral compartments in eye respectively. We have identified defective proventriculus (dve), an ortholog of SATB homeobox 1 (in humans), as a new member of DV patterning gene hierarchy. Our previous data establishes dorsal gene hierarchy & states that dve acts downstream of pannier (pnr, GATA-1 transcription factor), and upstream of Wingless (wg), Loss-of-function of both dve or pnr results in dramatic dorsal eye enlargements. Furthermore, Wingless, also exhibits similar eye enlargement phenotypes and has also been shown to play a role in growth. Our data also suggests that Wg is downstream target of Hippo pathway (highly conserved) and that the pathway promotes cell differentiation by downregulating wingless. Hereby, I propose to investigate the role of dve and pnr in growth and patterning during Drosophila eye development. I will test whether these two fundamental processes works independently or in coordination with each other to form an eye. The proposed study will help in elucidating how cell fate specification, pattern formation and growth are involved in organ formation. Our study will have significant bearing on developmental mechanisms, patterning events, growth regulation during organogenesis, and helps us in understanding the etiology of growth related birth defects in eye.
-
Role of Wingless (Wg) signaling pathway in Aβ42 mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease
Ankita Sarkar
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a common form of dementia and an age related progressive neurodegenerative disorder affects 21 million people globally. AD manifests as memory loss and reduced cognitive ability. One of the hallmarks of AD is formation of the Amyloid-beta (Aβ42) plaques, which initiates oxidative stress due to impaired signaling and finally leads to the death of neurons by unknown mechanism. It is known that loss of neurons in AD is not an outcome of a single gene mutation rather it is an impairment of several signaling pathways involved in growth and survival. The short life cycle of 12-15 days, a plethora of genetic tools, and about 70% similar genetic makeup to that of the humans, makes Drosophila an ideal model to study human disease. We have developed a highly versatile Drosophila melanogaster model to understand the role of these highly conserved signaling pathways in AD. We misexpressed high levels of human Aβ42 protein in the developing fly retina which mimics AD like neuropathology. Our aim is to use this model to discern the role of signaling pathways involved in neurodegeneration. We performed a forward genetic screen and identified members of highly conserved Wingless (Wg) pathway as modifiers of the Aβ42 mediated neurodegeneration. We have demonstrated that blocking Wg signaling pathway, can suppress the Aβ42 mediated neurodegeneration. My future goal is to investigate if we can use chemical inhibitors to block Wg signaling in neurons expressing high levels of Aβ42 and thereby prevent neurodegeneration in the Drosophila eye. We will test antagonists and agonists of Wg signaling to determine if they can work as chemical inhibitor of Aβ42 mediated neurodegeneration. I will be testing in these studies whether Wg can be a good therapeutic target in our in vivo animal system.
-
Size, Value and Momentum in Stock Returns: an Empirical Analysis, 2010-2014
Matthew Peter Fazio, Erik Jameson Kurcz
Based on the landmark studies of Eugene Fama and Kenneth French in the 1990's, most financial economists consider a firm's market capitalization (size) and price to book as two of the most important factors affecting the cross section of stock market returns. In recent years, other factors including stock price momentum have been accepted as predictors of stock returns in the cross section. In this study, I develop a three factor analysis of S&P 500 stock returns for the period 2010-2014. This period was chosen because it is not included in more recent studies. It also reflects a period of high volatility in the market with a strongly accommodating monetary policy. Using the factors firm size, price to book and stock price momentum, I test the following hypotheses: (1) Small cap stocks outperform large cap stocks, (2) growth stocks outperform value stocks, (3) growth stocks have longer periods of market out-performance (momentum) when compared to value stocks.
-
Social Support Influences in Graduate International Student Engagement
Chin Yi Chen
Changes that graduate international students face in acculturating to U.S. educational environments can often impact the ways they engage on campus, and their subsequent personal and career success. This poses the question of “What are the key themes that institutions can build upon to better support and encourage their growth?” In conducting a mixed-methods study on the lived experiences of graduate students from India, main findings suggested that mentoring relationships, social ties, and factors of perception were crucial to influencing students’ academic and social engagement.
-
Spatial Mechanism Analysis and Synthesis by Dual Special Unitary Matrices
Saleh M. Almestiri
Numerical algebraic geometry is the field that studies the computation and manipulation of the solution sets of systems of polynomial equations. The goal of this work is to formulate spatial mechanism analysis and design problems via a method suited to employ the tools of numerical algebraic geometry. Specifically, equations are developed using dual special unitary matrices that naturally use complex numbers to express physical and joint parameters in a mechanical system. Unknown parameters expressed as complex numbers readily admit solution by the methods of numerical algebraic geometry. This work illustrates their use by analyzing the spatial RCCC and RRRCC linkages. The specialization to pure rotations using special unitary matrices is also presented and used in the analysis of the spherical four-bar and Watt I linkages. The motion curves generated in this work are validated by comparison to other published work.
-
Star Decompositions of the Complete Split Graph
Adam Christopher Volk
A graph is a discrete mathematical structure that consists of a set of vertices and a set of edges between pairs of vertices. A problem of interest in graph theory is that of graph decomposition, partitioning the set of edges into disjoint sets, producing subgraphs which are isomorphic to each other. Here we consider the problem of decomposing a class of graphs called complete split graphs into stars of a fixed size. We present conditions for the decomposition as well as an algorithm for the decomposition when it is possible.
-
State Initiatives, Ballot Language, and the Media: Do They Overlap?
Alison R. Cozad
State Initiatives are seen throughout every state, some more than others, but every election brings them. However, not every election is equal when it comes to turnout, depending on if it is a presidential or midterm year. Some are given more media attention, some are given minimal attention, if at all. The fundamental question is what role doe’s media play in turnout during elections and does any amount of roll-off occurs during presidential or governor’s elections? Does this poll-off or turnout have to do with media (or lack of) attention, or is there something more going on? Besides looking at the media aspect of covering ballot initiatives, there is also the idea that ballot language can have an impact on how voters vote. In this thesis, I hypothesize that the shorter word count, the more likely the initiative will get a “yes” vote; the better readability an initiative has, than the more likely it is to get a “yes” vote; and a greater amount of roll-off will occur in years with a presidential or governor’s race. By exploring these questions, we can see perhaps a bigger picture of how the media plays a role in the passage of state initiatives and also how what voters see on the ballot affects the passage of state initiatives.
-
Supplementation of propionate inhibits the anaerobic growth of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
Eric Edward Newton
Listeria monocytogenes is an infectious bacterium that is known to cause severe diseases in people who are pregnant, elderly, or generally immunocompromised through consumption of contaminated food products. To help develop preventative strategies to protect these high-risk individuals, our lab focuses on the approach of enhancing the chemical barrier naturally existing in the intestinal tract to block L. monocytogenes from interacting with the human intestinal epithelium and causing fatal infections. The chemical environment inside the human intestinal lumen is rich with fermentation acids produced by the endogenous microbes. In my research project, I tested the efficacy of propionic acid, one of the three major fermentation acids naturally abundant in the human gastrointestinal tract, against the in vitro growth of L. monocytogenes. If propionic acid exhibits inhibitory effect on L. monocytogenes growth, then it can be further developed into a preventative tool against L. monocytogenes infections. To determine the effect of propionic acid on L. monocytogenes growth, I supplemented L. monocytogenes cultures with 0, 5, 15, 25mM of sodium propionate and grew the culture either aerobically with continuous agitation for oxygen saturation or anaerobically inside an anaerobic chamber with a 2.5% hydrogen in nitrogen atmosphere. I monitored bacterial growth by measuring culture optical density every hour for 8 hours and calculated bacterial doubling time during the exponential phase of the growth. I observed that under aerobic conditions, propionate supplementations did not cause a significant impact on bacterial doubling time. However, under anaerobic conditions, propionate supplementation at 25mM led to a significantly increased doubling time, a result indicating an inhibitory effect of propionate on growth. These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of a naturally occurring fermentation acid in the human intestines and therefore highlighted the potential values for propionic acid as a preventative chemical agent against L. monocytogenes infections.
-
Synthesis of research on dyscalculia and The Common Core State Standards
Melissa Rachel Siegel
This thesis analyzed the implications for instruction under the newly adopted Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the effects they have on students with dyscalculia.The CCSS is an educational initiative created for students to succeed in their academic endeavors through college and their professional careers. Correlations were found in the research between the instructional implications under the CCSS and intervention strategies for students with dyscalculia. Parents, teachers and students were interviewed as evidence to verify this correlation.
-
The Current State of Academic Services for Hearing Impaired Students at Public Universities in Saudi Arabia
Nihad Maneaa Alogail
The majority of hearing impaired students in public universities in Saudi Arabia encounter several challenges, including inadequate learning infrastructure and poor academic inclusion. Although they have the potential to succeed, these inadequacies curtail their ability to attain desirable academic standards. In most cases, they feel left out not only in class work, but also in co-curricular activities, which results in dismal performance and low self-esteem. University administration can fix these problems so as to give the hearing impaired students a productive and fulfilling learning environment at the university. This research examined the impact of the inadequate learning infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, and academic inclusion on the performance of first-year hearing-impaired students. Findings suggest that there is still a need for program development for hearing impaired students.
-
The Effectiveness of Active Interaction in Interactive Visual Imagery as Created by the Keyword Method
Morgan E Pair
Mnemonic devices have been proven to be extremely effective methods for learning and subsequent retention of information. In recent years, as our country becomes more multi-cultural and the need for bilingualism increases, mnemonic devices have been increasingly utilized in foreign language learning. One of the most effective mnemonic devices being used in this way is the keyword method. The keyword method uses paired-associate learning and visual imagery to more strongly encode the English and foreign word pairs (Raugh & Atkinson, 1975). Recent research has shown the effectiveness of visual imagery increases when there is an interaction shown between the paired words (Crutcher, 1990). However, there have not been any sufficient investigations into what aspect of the inter- active visual imagery makes it so effective for learning and retention. This study sought to answer this question by investigating the nature of the interactions used to relate the English translation and keyword mediator pair.
-
The Effect of Early Life Social Stress on Anxiety-like Behaviors and Ethanol Drinking in Female Long-Evans Rats
Alyssa Rose Roeckner
Among women with Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs), women have higher rates of anxiety-disorders and are more influenced by early life stress compared to men. Preclinical models have been used to study the relationships between early life stress, anxiety-like behavior, and alcohol intake and preference. However, fewer studies have been done with female rats than male rats. To that end, we used a model of early life stress in females that utilizes chronic social instability. In this model Long Evans rats are placed in different pairs every day, and this has previously produced anxiety-like behavior in female rats (McCormick et al., 2008). Our study extended the McCormick et al. model by including an extra experimental group and including an alcohol self-administration paradigm. Experimental groups were: (1) chronic social instability (pair-housed for 17 days with a novel cage mate introduced every 24h); (2) Social stability; pair-housed with same cage mate daily); (3) Isolated; single housed for entire study); (4) Acute social instability; pair-housed with same cage mate for 16 days but novel cage mate for 24h on last day). A well-validated model for assessment of anxiety-like behavior, the elevated plus maze, was utilized to evaluate anxiety-like behavior after the housing manipulation, and plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels were measured. Following these measures, rats were given a two bottle choice and intermittent access between alcohol and water, and alcohol consumption and preference was measured. Following these measures, no significant differences were found between experimental groups for anxiety-like behavior, CORT levels, or alcohol intake/preference. Thus, further study is needed to find a preclinical model of early life stress that promotes anxiety-like behavior and alcohol consumption.
-
The Effects of Early Science Education on the Acquisition of Executive Functioning Skills in Preschoolers
Nouf M Alhakami
The presentation will describe a study that focuses on how early science education impacts the development executive functioning (EF) skills. Early science education can be an effective method for improving preschoolers’ working memory and inhibitory control. The study involves observations of preschoolers in a STEM-focused classroom and those in a more traditional classroom where science is not the focus of the curriculum. Objectives: First, Participants will develop a better understanding of how early science education affects engagement in EF skill development. Second, Teachers and curriculum leaders will develop a better understanding of how curriculum supports EF skills. The poster session will introduce executive functioning skills and explain why they are important for children during the first 5 years. EF skills are acquired through both formal learning experiences and also through life experience. These skills are not innate and skills such as working memory, and inhibitory control must be intentionally developed in preschool children. This poster will explain the role of a STEM curriculum in improving EF skills and will demonstrate how preschoolers in a STEM focused classroom are more engaged in EF skills than those in a non-STEM focused classroom. The results of structured observations in two types of classrooms, STEM, and non-STEM through circle time and learning centers of the daily schedule will be shown. The methodology of the study includes the use of a structured observation tool, the Engagement Check II (McWilliams, 1994), which was used to assess child engagement/focus and also a structured observation of the Ohio Early Learning and Development standards that address approaches to learning. A discussion of the results will provide a better understanding of the difference in STEM focused and non-focused curriculum practices and the impact of those practices on the opportunities for children to engage in EF skill development.
