Lindenwood Magazine - Spring 2021

8 9 SPRING 2021 EDITION SPRING 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD PRIDE GRANT PROJECTS (CONTINUED) FEATURED STORY FEATURED STORY A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON CULMINATING FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES Dr. Michelle Whitacre , assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, is studying the impact of the pandemic on teacher candidates’ student teaching experiences in K-12 classrooms. Along with co-researchers, Drs. Amanda Aldridge and Ricardo Garcia, associate professors of curriculum and instruction, this project explores how student teaching during the pandemic influenced teacher candidates’ perceptions of self-efficacy and pedagogical readiness. The data will uncover how teacher candidates adapted to teaching in various alternative educational settings including virtual, hybrid, and face-to-face classrooms. The project will also provide insights to better support and prepare teacher candidates to be successful in an increasingly technological field. IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON BIRTH EXPERIENCES Drs. Catherine Shoff and Amanda Harrod , assistant professors of public health, explore how the psychological and social factors surrounding birth have been impacted by COVID-19. The research team is conducting interviews with women who delivered at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. during the pandemic. Women who delivered with certified midwives through the Midwifery Birthing Center and those that delivered with OB/GYNs in the Mercy Birthplace, traditional labor and delivery unit, will be interviewed to better understand how caregiver support buffers psychosocial stressors. This research will provide important insights to inform and improve the quality of care for women and their babies. TEACHING BURIED HISTORY Dr. Jeffrey Smith , senior professor of history, is developing teaching materials for middle and high school teachers and connecting the university community with regional scholars and educators, contributing to the quality of teaching and understanding of the American experience. Students will collect data on burials and commemorative markings at Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Charles and will be the foundation for GIS maps. This project also engages several community partners including the Missouri Department for Elementary and Secondary Education, Cape Girardeau Public Schools, St. Charles County Historical Society, the City of St. Charles GIS Coordinator, and the City of St. Charles Superintendent of Parks. ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL TRAINING AND MATCH LOADS IN COLLEGIATE FEMALE LACROSSE ATHLETES Dr. Kyle Sunderland , assistant professor of exercise science, is examining the physical demands of a collegiate women’s lacrosse season. The grant provided heart rate and GPS sensors, often utilized by elite athletic teams, which are being worn by every athlete on Lindenwood NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse team during all practices and games. Along with Paige Sutton, an exercise science major and student researcher, they monitor heart rates, distances covered, running speeds, and calories burned. This project will help women’s lacrosse athletes and coaches to better understand the physical demands of the sport so they can improve performance and prevent injuries. PREDICTING TRAJECTORIES OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH FOLLOWING PREGNANCY LOSS Dr. Agata Freedle , assistant professor of counseling, is exploring the relationship between two mental health outcomes that can occur following a traumatic event: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG). More specifically, this study will investigate factors associated with the development of PTSD and/or PTG as well as the predictive trajectory of these two possible outcomes following pregnancy loss. Data collection began in February and is being guided by graduate students in Lindenwood’s counseling program, Sarka Beckett, Maria Miller, Tabitha Keys, Catherine Hawkins and Dishika Iyer. In addition, Elizabeth Ashcraft, strategist for internships and experiential learning, is contributing to ensure smooth implementation, data analysis, and distribution THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ADVISORY (SEA) Dr. Julie Turner , professor of nonprofit administration, will bring together existing coursework in social entrepreneurship, immersion in field placements, and networking among relevant stakeholders. The Social Enterprise Advisory (SEA) will support first-time exploration of social innovation ideas, equip students with tools to make successful transitions into mission-driven work, and empower aspiring Lindenwood social entrepreneurs. SEA’s primary audience includes undergraduate and graduate students ideally with an interest in nonprofit administration. Partners for this project include ITEN, Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship, Global Center for Social Entrepreneurship Network Foundation (GSCEN), and four nonprofit organizations serving as internship site hosts. THE DO-IT-YOURSELF FAMILY PLANNER ANDROID AND IPHONE APP Dr. Rebecca Panagos , senior professor of education, has partnered with Missouri First Steps Regions 1 and 2, to place this empowerment tool in the hands of families of young children with autism and developmental disabilities. Early Intervention service providers incorporate faculty and students in virtual home visits to field-test the app with families. The research team includes Lindenwood undergraduates Shraddha Belbase, Henrique Maderios Dos Reis, Alison Paris, Emma Price, and graduate student Rhea Dsouza. This project is also co-curricular, as the app was engineered, tested, and supported by computer science students, and will be supported by a marketing team who will provide a business plan for the app. IMMERSIVE REALITIES INTEGRATION AND ADOPTION Dr. James Hutson , assistant dean of online and graduate programs, seeks to provide faculty at Lindenwood with access to the latest virtual reality technology for curriculum integration across the University. The project involves the full integration of virtual reality technology into all art history courses and select art and design courses, with plans to expand in future semesters. Students will be exposed to new experiences and have a more immersive understanding of their subjects as they virtually travel to see things that are currently inaccessible. In addition, faculty across campus have been named Virtual Reality Champions for future integration in a variety of disciplines.