February 2013 Awards


DISILVESTRO, ROBERT ARNOLD
Human Sciences
Project Title: Comparison of the uptake of two sources of supplemental silicon
Project Dates: 11/16/2012 – 4/1/2013
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $13,878
Project Sponsor: Jarrow Formulas Inc

GOODWAY, JACQUELINE DAWN; Sutherland, Susan
Human Sciences
Project Title: Training in service preschool teachers to conduct a motor skill intervention
Project Dates: 1/27/2013 – 5/31/2014
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $1,500
Project Sponsor: Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
Project Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate if trained in-service early childhood teachers can effectively deliver the SKIP motor skill intervention resulting in improvements in perceived and actual motor competence to the children in the SKIP intervention group as compared to the control children who will receive the typical standard of practice. This study will compare the performance of children in three groups across a 9-week intervention period. The SKIP-Expert group will receive the SKIP program delivered by an expert in motor development, the SKIP-Teacher group will receive the SKIP program delivered by a trained early childhood teacher. These two groups will be compared to a Comparison group who will receive well equipped free play which is the standard of practice for the early childhood program. Pretest, posttest, retention test differences in FMS and perceive motor competence will be examined in all children along with process variables for the SKIP intervention groups. It is hypothesized that children in the SKIP-Expert and SKIP-Teacher groups will have significantly better actual and perceived motor competence from pretest to posttest than the Comparison group. These findings have implications to teacher education, professional development of inservice teachers and early childhood policy. More Information

LIGHTLE, KIMBERLY SUE; Cervenec, Jason; Lightbody, Mary; Xie, Kui
Admin, Educational Studies
Project Title: Connecting climate science and inquiry in K-6 classrooms
Project Dates: 1/20/2013 – 5/31/2014
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $102,958
Project Sponsor: OH Board of Regents
Project Abstract: The goals of the Connecting Climate Science and Inquiry in K-6 Classrooms project are to increase K-6 elementary teachers’ understanding of Earth Systems and climate science, enhance their pedagogical knowledge of inquiry, differentiation, and use of informational text, and improve students’ understanding of the foundational concepts of climate science and increase their interest in science and science careers. Structured around the Seven Essential Principles for Climate Sciences and the resources from the Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle online professional development magazine, professional development will take elementary teachers past the superficial understanding of weather and the water cycle to a solid understanding of the Earth System. The project builds upon the framework for climate literacy and connects life, earth, space, and physical science concepts to the broader elementary curriculum. In addition to focusing on increasing content knowledge, the project promotes the use of science-themed informational text within the context of high-quality, inquiry-based science instruction. The outcomes for teachers include: an increased understanding of climate science and the nature of science; the ability to create lessons and/or units modeled after the learning cycle that foster science content knowledge and reading, writing, and discussion; the ability to create differentiated assignments to address diverse student strengths and needs; and the ability to meaningfully integrate informational text into inquiry lessons. The outcomes for students include increased opportunities to engage in active and inquiry-based learning; improved understanding of science and the nature of science; improved proficiency in science practices and in supporting their ideas with evidence; as well as increased interest in science careers. The principle partners include College of Education and Human Ecology, OSU (Kimberly Lightle, Mary Lightbody, Teresa Shiverdecker, Kui Xie); the Byrd Polar Research Center, OSU (Jason Cervenec, Lonnie Thompson, Ellen Moseley-Thompson, Bryan Mark); and Central Ohio school districts (Hamilton Local, South-Western City, Heath City, Newark City, and Worthington City). More Information

LILLARD, DEAN R
Human Sciences
Project Title: Cross-national patterns and predictors of life-cycle smoking behavior
Project Dates: 2/1/2013 – 7/31/2014
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $966,544
Project Sponsor: National Institute on Aging

RICHARDSON, ELAINE B
Teaching & Learning
Project Title: Developing critical literacies of black womanhood in an afterschool program in a university and community-based service learning context
Project Dates: 1/14/2013 – 8/1/2013
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $5,500
Project Sponsor: National Council of Teachers of English
Project Abstract: This study seeks to examine a gender race specific approach to critical literacy education in an Afterschool program for Black middle school girls focused upon what it means to be a Black woman and girl in contemporary urban America. In addition to fostering critical literacies of Black womanhood, including knowledge of self and society, the work seeks to uncover more specifically issues, strategies, pedagogical approaches, which need refinement, redirection, and inclusion in girl centered literacy education. This project aligns with CCCCs interest in supporting writing in informal settings. The work also builds on previous work that has been done in the area of culturally based approaches to literacy and expands upon it by adding a multi-faceted approach which includes service learning experience, mentoring and performance arts. The key element of impact derived from this project is that it attempts to address several layers of change in and outside of educational institutions. More Information

WIECHEL, JANE MARIE
Admin
Project Title: Child adult care food program (CACFP) renewal 2012-2013
Project Dates: 10/1/2012 – 9/30/2013
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $34,567
Project Sponsor: OH Department of Education
Project Abstract: Child and Adult Care Food Programs (CACFP) provides meal reimbursements for licensed or approved child and adult care centers to help promote understanding of nutrition in overall health and develop positive food-related attitudes and behaviors More Information