College of Arts & Sciences

Elle Griffiths

School of Education

Secondary Education: English

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Deirdre McMahon

English & Philosophy

Applying Mind, Brain, and Education Science to the Language Arts Classroom

Many U.S. educators lack knowledge of how the brain reacts to information, stress, emotions, and sleep, and how neuroplasticity affects learning in the short and long term. The purpose of my research is two-fold: to explore the emergent field of Mind, Brain, and Education Science (MBE), also known as Educational Neuroscience, and to apply MBE theories to the 12th-grade language arts classroom through sample lesson plans on the young adult novel Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Through independent research, reciprocal teaching, and collaborative, small group discussion, students will be able to place Woodson’s free-verse poetry in its cultural/ historical context before working together to discuss the form and voice of her work. These activities incorporate MBE principles to maximize both student engagement and learning outcomes, offering a framework for student and teacher discussions of metacognition and enabling the development of research skills, thoughtful self-expression, and dialogic exchange that can be applied to other learning experiences.

Claire Baker

Pennoni Honors College

Custom-Designed Major: Actuarial Science

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lloyd T. Ackert

History

Ruth Patrick’s Guide to Success through Risk Assessment and Personal Development Tactics (1960-1980)

People all around the globe share the ultimate goal of becoming successful. As would be expected of a universal aspiration, it is extremely tough to attain and even harder to measure. Ruth Patrick exemplifies the characteristics required to achieve such a triumph. As a woman in the STEM field during the early 20th century, her methods were, and continue to be, often overlooked. However, the techniques Patrick used to approach issues of water protection and conservation have been essential in the movement to ensure a habitable earth for future generations. These tactics include using risk assessment as a basis for action, personal development, which incorporates the importance of acknowledging when to delegate tasks, and even straightforward communication skills, such as using tangible examples to make complex topics more accessible to readers. The majority of society was frighteningly uninformed with the status of their environment. Patrick tirelessly worked to reach and impact those she could, with the hope that they would then go on to influence others.