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Abass Abdullahi, Ph.D.

Abass Abdullahi, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York

 Dr. Abass Abdullahi has a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where he has mainly worked on carbohydrate metabolism and related gene expression under changing environmental conditions using various models like diatoms, bacteria and recently yeasts (Pichia pastoris). He has successfully obtained PSC CUNY and CUNY Collaborative grants and a recent US patent through CUNY’s research foundation. This was on collaborative work with City College related to the “Purification of Recombinant Human α-Galactosidase A with C-terminal Truncation with Increased Activity”. Dr. Abdullahi has also helped design Bronx Community College of CUNY’s Biotechnology program, which he coordinated until recently and still teaches in the program on a course in Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Abdullahi also has interests in pedagogical research including distance learning, assessment, teaching with technology and other innovative teaching strategies. He has been involved in departmental assessment for one of the largest courses, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, for a very long time and still serves as one of the coordinators for A&P. He has published and presented widely in the region and nationally as well as help mentor a number of students and junior faculty.

Contact information:
Email: Abass.Abdullahi@bcc.cuny.edu

Authors Volume X, Fall Issue

Article 1: Common Final Cumulative Exam in Anatomy and Physiology: A Decade of
Summative Assessment Reveals Most Challenging Concepts and Prompts
Various Interventions

Abass Abdullahi, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York

 Dr. Abass Abdullahi has a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where he has mainly worked on carbohydrate metabolism and related gene expression under changing environmental conditions using various models like diatoms, bacteria and recently yeasts (Pichia pastoris). He has successfully obtained PSC CUNY and CUNY Collaborative grants and a recent US patent through CUNY’s research foundation. This was on collaborative work with City College related to the “Purification of Recombinant Human α-Galactosidase A with C-terminal Truncation with Increased Activity”. Dr. Abdullahi has also helped design Bronx Community College of CUNY’s Biotechnology program, which he coordinated until recently and still teaches in the program on a course in Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Abdullahi also has interests in pedagogical research including distance learning, assessment, teaching with technology and other innovative teaching strategies. He has been involved in departmental assessment for one of the largest courses, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, for a very long time and still serves as one of the coordinators for A&P. He has published and presented widely in the region and nationally as well as help mentor a number of students and junior faculty.

Contact information:
Email: Abass.Abdullahi@bcc.cuny.edu


Article 2: El líder y la motivación en la organización

Angiemarie Rivera, Ph.D Ed.D
Keiser University

Dr. Angiemarie Rivera holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in Liberal Arts, a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Administration and Educational Supervision from Dowling College, a Doctorate in Education with a Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, and a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Adults from the University of Berne. Dr. Rivera has worked as an elementary education leader in a private educational institution in Puerto Rico. She has also served as a professor at the undergraduate and graduate level at the University of Puerto Rico, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Universidad del Este (Ana G. Méndez), National University College Online in the Master’s Program in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership. She is also working as a graduate professor in the Educational Graduate Program Master and Doctorate Degree at Keiser University.

Contact information:
Email: anrivera@keiseruniversity.edu 

Brenda Morales, Ph.D
Keiser University

Dr. Brenda Lee Morales holds a Bachelor’s Degree in General Elementary Education from Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico. A few years later he completed a Master’s degree in Educational Administration at the same institution. In 2016, he completed a PhD in Educational Leadership at Keiser University where he had already earned a Specialist in Education degree. Finally, in the academic aspect, Dr. Morales holds a Post Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Walden University. She is currently doing another Post-Doctorate at Walden University in the Human Resources area. In terms of work and professional career, she has 27 years of experience working in the field of education in several positions as a teacher, Curriculum Specialist, Director of Federal Educational Proposals, Academic Dean, among others. Dr. Morales has worked at all levels of the education system in Puerto Rico, from Head Start to High School and at the university level. Eleven years ago, she began as Director of Federal Proposals and Professor of University Institutions and recently served as Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at Humacao Community College in Puerto Rico, where she also offered online courses at university level at the Master’s and PhD level.

Contact information:
Email: bmorales@keiseruniversity.ed

Exi Resto de Leon, MASJ
Keiser University

Exi Resto de León has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Social Work and a minor degree in Psychology from the Ana G. Méndez University System in Cupey, Puerto Rico. Later I completed my master’s degree in the Justice Systems Program with a specialty in Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Processes from the University of the Sacred Heart (USC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the year two thousand and sixteen I presented my first publication entitled Dominican Women of San Juan de Puerto Rico and health services; Inequity and Diversity. I have been an advisor to master’s students at the University of the Sacred Heart in the preparation of their thesis projects. I am currently pursuing doctoral studies in educational leadership at Keiser University.

Contact information:
Email: EResto@student.KeiserUniversity.edu

Angélica M. Vega, MSEM
Keiser University

Angélica M. Vega de Jesús holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus in Arts Secondary Education, a Master Degree in Science of Environmental Management with a concentration in Environmental Assessment and Risk Management from Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico (Ana G. Méndez).

Angélica M. Vega de Jesús works as a high school teacher in the public system of the Puerto Rico Department of Education. She has taught science courses such as biology, earth sciences, chemistry, environmental sciences and physics. She is also working as a biology teacher in the Ramón Quiñones Medina High School in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.

Contact information:
Email: A.VegaDeJesus@student.keiseruniversity.edu        


Article 3: Evaluación de un curso en línea de Matemática Remedial

Dr. Liana I. Gutiérrez Moreno
Institute of Statistics and Computerized Information Systems
College of Business Administration
University of Puerto Rico

Dr. Gutiérrez Moreno is a professor of the College of Business Administration of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She has a Master Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching in Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, she worked on various professional development projects for teachers and as designer of online Mathematics modules. Her areas of interest are online education, program evaluation, finite element method, numerical analysis and numerical linear algebra.

Contact information:
Email: liana.gutierrez@upr.edu
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9608-9905


Article 4: Impacts Pre-Freshman Immersion Summer Programs have on STEM undergraduate minority students in a Hispanic Serving Institution: An Exploratory Design

Carmen Peraza González
Professor
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina
Educational Researcher of HSI STEM Title III Program

Dr. Carmen Peraza is a Professor at Universidad Ana G. Méndez Carolina Campus, with over 30 years of experience. She has a PhD in Educational Research, a MA in Education, and a BA in Math Education. Dr. Peraza has published in topic areas such as research methodology, math phobia, and transdisciplinary approaches. She is also the author of various books including a Practical Guide for Action Research, which has been adopted by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. In addition, she did the technical revision of the Spanish version of the well-known Mathematical ideas book by Charles D. Miller et al. Currently, Dr. Peraza is an active member of the Association of Math Teachers of PR and the Puerto Rican Union of Qualitative Research, and serves as peer-reviewed for various Latin-American journals. She was the PI of a Department of Education Title V proposal for the Integration of Math and Geography and is currently serving as the Educational Researcher in the DE HSI-STEM Title III proposal Competency Development Approaches:  Increasing STEM Awareness and Retention to Narrow the Achievement Gap of Hispanic Students awarded to UNE.

Contact information:
Email: ue_cperaza@suagm.edu
Phone: 787-257-7373 ext. 2176

Dr. Marielis E. Rivera Ruiz
(Corresponding author)

Dean School of Science and Technology
Director of HSI STEM Title III Program
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina

Dr. Marielis Rivera is the Dean of the School at the of Science and Technology of Universidad Ana G. Méndez Carolina Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and postdoctoral experience in Pharmacology from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. Currently is the principal investigator of the DE Title III HSI-STEM program Competency Development Approaches: Increasing STEM Awareness and Retention to Narrow the Achievement Gap of Hispanic Students and oversees the implementation of other programs funded by DE-MSIEP, NIH-RISE, and USDA-WAMS. Dr. Rivera has published in topic areas such as post transcriptional regulation, antifungal drugs, electrical remodeling in the heart and learning strategies in STEM education.

Contact information:
Email: Mrivera966@suagm.edu
Phone: 787-257-7373 ext. 3938

Dr. Nilda G. Medina
Associate Professor
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina

Dr. Nilda G. Medina is an Associate Professor at the School of Social and Human Sciences of Universidad Ana G. Méndez (UAGM), Carolina. She holds a PhD in Academic-Research Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus and a Master Degree in General Psychology from New York University (NYU). From 2011 to 2015 she was a Research Professor in UAGM’s Project VIAS-RIMI and is currently Principal Investigator of several research projects, including Project ECO-RED (Effects of air pollutants on respiratory health and cognition of Puerto Rican children – R15MD010201), funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Medina has several publications in professional journals such as Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action (John Hopkins University Press), the Puerto Rican Journal of Psychology, among others. In addition, she has participated as a speaker in academic and professional forums sponsored by the Inter-American Psychological Society, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychology and the Puerto Rico Psychology Association, among others. Likewise, she has worked as a school psychologist in the public and private sector. Her research interests include neurocognitive development, language development, learning disabilities, school violence and school climate.

Contact information:
Email: nmedina18@suagm.edu

Wined Ramirez Lopez
Scientific Writing Specialist
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina

Mrs. Wined Ramirez-Lopez holds a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Puerto Rico-Medical School. She is currently the Scientific Writing Specialist for the Universidad Ana G. Mendez- Carolina Campus School of Science and Technology. Her task is to assist students with developing scientific writing, among others. Before becoming a Scientific Writer, she was a Research Assistant at the Center for Public Health Preparedness. There she was tasked with the Hazard Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Assessment of the Health Care System in Puerto Rico. Mrs. Ramirez-Lopez’s research experience consists of evaluating the implementation of a sanitary system in a developing community in Haiti and the effects that antibiotic Monensin has on soil bacteria.

Contact information:
Email: wiramirez@suagm.edu
Phone: (787) 257-7373 Ext. 3220

Dr. Frances N. Lugo- Alvarado
Auxiliary Director
School of Science and Technology
Universidad Ana G. Méndez- Carolina Campus

Dr. Frances Lugo is currently the Program Director for the School of Science and Technology at Universidad Ana G. Mendez- Carolina Campus. Her task is to work alongside the School faculty to develop and implement educational strategies to improve students learning. Before becoming the program director for that university, she was the curriculum specialist. As a specialist, her role was to create activities for the development of competency as well as develop the pre-immersion program named “BootCamp,” and biweekly seminars.  Dr. Lugo’s research experience consists of studying the synthesis of materials that can absorb greenhouse gases as well as determining heavy metal algae bioabsorption, and concentration of heavy metals in Puerto Rico freshwater.

Contact information:
Emails: lugof2@suagm.edu; flugo18@gmail.com 
Phone: 787-257-7373 x. 3219

Saraí Torres Ruíz
Internal Evaluator
Youth Educational Success Project
Universidad Ana G. Méndez- Carolina Campus

Sarai Torres has a master’s degree in Educational Research and Evaluation from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Obtained a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Accounting from the Interamerican University of P.R., Bayamón Campus. For nearly 10 years has evaluated STEM focused projects from Ana G. Méndez University, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón and is currently the Internal and Data Evaluator for the Youth Educational Success Project at Global Education Exchange Opportunities. She has worked as a workshop designer focused on new technologies, use of platforms and educational applications for K-12 teachers.

Contact information:
Email:saritoru@gmail.com


Article 5: La matrícula universitaria a distancia de Puerto Rico: retos y oportunidades

Dr. Marcos Torres-Nazario
Full professor
Distance Education Department
Inter-American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Campus

Dr. Marcos Torres-Nazario teaches online and face-to-face courses of statistics and research, at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico (IAUPR) Ponce Campus. He received the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from the Inter American University Metro Campus. Also completed a Post Master Certificate in Institutional Research from Florida State University. In 2013 completed a Master Degree in Research and Evaluation at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. During the Summer of 2015 completed the ELearning Expert Certificate from FATLA.

Contact info:
Email: mtorres@ponce.inter.edu
Phone: (787) 284-1912 X-2049
Fax: (787) 841-0103


Article 6: La presencia social de los profesores de los cursos en línea y su relación con el aprovechamiento académico y la satisfacción de los estudiantes con el curso

Peggy Y. Santiago
Professor
University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus

Peggy Y. Santiago is professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón. Her master’s degree in Business Education and doctoral degree in Education and Curriculum has enabled her to engage in the profound process of teaching and learning. She has also participated in the process of assessing students learning outcomes and program assessment as part of the accreditation process of Office System Department. She is certified as teacher by the Education Department of Puerto Rico, Microsoft User Specialist in Word and PowerPoint, and as Microsoft Certified Educator.

Under her authorship are various articles published in Revista APEC associated to distance education issues, educational philosophy, and teaching-learning assessment. Likewise, she is coauthor of two books associated with an abbreviation system as well as a productivity program. The author believes that through education the human being thinking process is constantly transformed.

Contact information:
Email: peggy.santiago@upr.edu
Phone: (787) 993-0000, extension 3360


Article 7: Manejo del tiempo desde la perspectiva académica, profesional y personal

Angiemarie Rivera, Ph.D Ed.D
Keiser University

Dr. Angiemarie Rivera holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in Liberal Arts, a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Administration and Educational Supervision from Dowling College, a Doctorate in Education with a Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, and a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Adults from the University of Berne. Dr. Rivera has worked as an elementary education leader in a private educational institution in Puerto Rico. She has also served as a professor at the undergraduate and graduate level at the University of Puerto Rico, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Universidad del Este (Ana G. Méndez), National University College Online in the Master’s Program in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership. She is also working as a graduate professor in the Educational Graduate Program Master and Doctorate Degree at Keiser University.

Contact information:
Email: anrivera@keiseruniversity.edu

 

Marlie Toledo
Keiser University

Marlie Toledo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with two Sub-Concentrations in Pre-Technology Medical and Biomedical Science from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Completed a Master Degree of Education in Curriculum and Teaching in Biology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Marlie Toledo has been a professor at universities such as Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and Turabo University form Puerto Rico. She has served as a Board Member of Directors at universities.

Contact information:
Email: M.Toledo5@student.keiseruniversity.edu

Brenda Morales, Ph.D
Keiser University

Dr. Brenda Lee Morales holds a Bachelor’s Degree in General Elementary Education from Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico. A few years later he completed a Master’s degree in Educational Administration at the same institution. In 2016, he completed a PhD in Educational Leadership at Keiser University where he had already earned a Specialist in Education degree. Finally, in the academic aspect, Dr. Morales holds a Post Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Walden University. She is currently doing another Post-Doctorate at Walden University in the Human Resources area. In terms of work and professional career, she has 27 years of experience working in the field of education in several positions as a teacher, Curriculum Specialist, Director of Federal Educational Proposals, Academic Dean, among others. Dr. Morales has worked at all levels of the education system in Puerto Rico, from Head Start to High School and at the university level. Eleven years ago, she began as Director of Federal Proposals and Professor of University Institutions and recently served as Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at Humacao Community College in Puerto Rico, where she also offered online courses at university level at the Master’s and PhD level.

Contact information:
Email: bmorales@keiseruniversity.edu

 

Exi Resto de Leon, MASJ
Keiser University

Exi Resto de León has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Social Work and a minor degree in Psychology from the Ana G. Méndez University System in Cupey, Puerto Rico. Later I completed my master’s degree in the Justice Systems Program with a specialty in Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Processes from the University of the Sacred Heart (USC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the year two thousand and sixteen I presented my first publication entitled Dominican Women of San Juan de Puerto Rico and health services; Inequity and Diversity. I have been an advisor to master’s students at the University of the Sacred Heart in the preparation of their thesis projects. I am currently pursuing doctoral studies in educational leadership at Keiser University.

Contact information:
Email: EResto@student.KeiserUniversity.edu

Gerardo Ocaña
Keiser University

Gerardo Ocaña holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in Arts with a concentration in Political Sciences and International Relations, a Master’s Degree in Adults Education and Training from University of Phoenix. At this moment, Gerardo is a student of the doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at Keiser University. Gerardo has been corporate trainer and instructor in some areas like banking, U.S. Federal Reserve Bank System and airline industry for the last 15 years.

Contact information:
Email: G.Ocana1@student.keiseruniversity.edu

 

Angélica M. Vega, MSEM
Keiser University

Angélica M. Vega de Jesús holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus in Arts Secondary Education, a Master Degree in Science of Environmental Management with a concentration in Environmental Assessment and Risk Management from Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico (Ana G. Méndez). Angélica M. Vega de Jesús works as a high school teacher in the public system of the Puerto Rico Department of Education. She has taught science courses such as biology, earth sciences, chemistry, environmental sciences and physics. She is also working as a biology teacher in the Ramón Quiñones Medina High School in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.

Contact information:
Email: A.VegaDeJesus@student.keiseruniversity.edu

Noelia Rodriguez
Keiser University

Noelia Rodriguez holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Science of General Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix and actually is a candidate student of a Doctorate Degree in Philosophy in Leadership of Education at Keiser University. Noelia Rodriguez has worked as a Customer Service Supervisor in NeoDeck Corp. in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She also has served as a Case Management Counselor at Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville, Virginia and she is currently working as an Elementary Dual Language Teacher in Harrisonburg City Public Schools

Contact information:
Email: N.Rodriguez58@student.keiseruniversity.edu


Article 8: Peculiaridades de las redes sociales

Elizabeth Díaz Rodriguez EdD, MCE
Ana G. Méndez University, Puerto Rico

Dr. Elizabeth Díaz Rodriguez has had the privilege of teaching, mentoring students and teachers, and participating in community-based education in Puerto Rico. She has served as schoolteacher for elementary through high school for 30 years. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, distance education, science teaching and education. With over 17 years of experience in higher education Mrs. Díaz currently teaches face to face, online and hybrid courses at the Ana G. Méndez University of Puerto Rico. In addition, has certifications in Distance learning, Construction of Virtual Environments, Microsoft Educator, Cybercrime, Designer modules and IRB, RCR, HIPS. She achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching in Biology Education from the Rio Piedras University Campus, of the University of Puerto Rico, a Master Degree in Science Education from the Cambridge College and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching. She has been editor of the educational journal Conectate AHORA and has written some articles.

Contact information:
Email: edrcc@yahoo.com
Twitter: @elidi
Métodos de enseñanza_Scoopit
C0_Scoopit
Recurso de referencia para clases de ciencia. Scoopit


Article 9: Reframing the Narrative of Hispanic Student Success: From Pipelines to
Ecosystems

 Jeanette Morales
Director for PK-Initiatives
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

Jeanette Morales is the director for PK-12 initiatives for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. She joined HACU in August 2006. In this position, she works with school districts to better serve their Hispanic populations and help increase the number of Hispanics in post-secondary education. Among the programs she coordinates are professional development programs for high school counselors and university tours for middle and high students. She serves as a liaison to help bridge the gap between school districts and institutions of higher education.  Morales has more than 25 years’ experience working with first-generation, minority students. Her prior experience includes working at the Center for Health Policy Development. She helped launch the Upward Bound Math & Science program at University of Texas at San Antonio working with students from South Texas. At Communities in Schools of San Antonio, she worked with Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search programs assisting middle and high school students from rural communities develop their skills for post-secondary success. She created a grade specific curriculum to help students navigate their way through the college admission and financial aid processes.  Morales was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s from St. Mary’s University and a master’s from the University of Texas at San Antonio where she is currently enrolled as a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Contact information:
Email:  Jeanette.morales@hacu.net

David Ortiz
Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

David A. Ortiz, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief operating officer for HACU, previously served as the executive director for policy analysis and information at HACU. Before joining HACU, he oversaw a 2.5 million-dollar Title V federal grant at the University of the Incarnate Word, and has served in various faculty and administrative roles at Indiana University, Baylor University, Oklahoma State University, and Concordia University. His research and work on Hispanic higher education has been recognized by the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanics, Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators, National Orientation Directors Association, National College Learning Center Association, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, and the Association of Fraternity Advisors. Ortiz has served as the vice president of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators, executive council member of ACPA/College Student Educators International, national executive deputy of Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society, and national president of Omega Delta Phi, Fraternity, Inc.  He earned his doctorate from Indiana University Bloomington and has a master’s and bachelor’s from Texas A&M University, College Station.

Contact information:
Email: David.ortiz@hacu.net


 Article 10: Re-Imagining Strategic Enrollment Management in Higher Education

Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, Ph.D.
President/CEO
Pittsburgh Technical College

With nearly three decades of experience in academic leadership Dr. Harvey- Smith is a learning-centered educator with extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning, enrollment management, government and corporate partnerships, and student achievement. Dr. Harvey-Smith earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland; Master of Science degree from The Johns Hopkins University; Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University, and a Certificate of Completion from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education Seminars for Presidential Leadership. Her presidential peers elected her to the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges, and she served on the Association’s Executive Board.

Contact information:
Pittsburg Technical College
Address: 1111 Mckee Road, Oakdale, PA 15071
Phone: (412) 809-5100


Article 11: The Impact of Blended Learning on Retention, Performance and Persistence in an Allied Health Gateway Lab/Lecture Course in an Urban Community College

Carlos Liachovitzky
Lecturer
Department of Biological Sciences
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York

Carlos Liachovitzky is a faculty mentor in the Online Course Development program at the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology at Bronx Community College of The City University of New York. He teaches face-to-face and blended courses in the Department of Biology, and coordinates Anatomy and Physiology, an Allied Health professions gateway course. Carlos has been following the Open Educational Resources movement for a while, and has published an OER Anatomy and Physiology Preparatory textbook (https://academicworks.cuny.edu/bx_oers/1/). He received his Master’s degrees from Stony Brook University and Fordham University, and his Licenciatura from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Contact information:
Email: Carlos.Liachovitzky@bcc.cuny.edu
Address: Bronx Community College of the City University of New York
2155 University Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10453

 

Alexander Wolf
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York

Wolf holds a PhD in Developmental Biology from the University of Chicago. In my more than 10 years of teaching at the community college level, I have instructed numerous sections of Anatomy and Physiology, as well as Microbiology, for Allied Health majors. I also have extensive experience conducting pedagogical research, including studies on the use of active learning in the classroom, the use of the flipped model, on effective methods for teaching evolution in a General Biology classroom, and on framing a General Biology course using the threshold concepts model.

Contact information:
Email: Alexander.Wolf@bcc.cuny.edu
Address: Bronx Community College of the City University of New York
2155 University Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10453


Article 12: Using Hispanic Memoirs to Create a Culturally Sustaining Common Read Program

Beth Counihan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of English
Queensborough Community College-CUNY

Beth Counihan is an Associate Professor and the Co-Deputy Chair of the Department of English at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York.  While in an administrative position at Lehman College, she worked on the HETS Virtual Plaza FIPSE grant. She has been teaching at Queensborough since Fall 2001 and her interests include High Impact Practices, reading theory and pedagogy, and nature across the curriculum.  Her work has been published in English EducationCommunity College Humanities Review and the collection ​What is College Reading?

Contact info:
Email: bcounihan@qcc.cuny.edu​

Robin R. Ford
Assistant Professor of English
Queensborough Community College
City University of New York

Robin R. Ford (Ph.D. New York University) is an Assistant Professor of English at Queensborough Community College, City University of New York. A queer, black, woman, whose scholarship is both academic and personal, her focuses include the use of graphic genre works to teach critical literacy, intersectionality of race, gender and sexuality, social justice, and critical interrogation of the spaces we occupy. She has presented scholarship on race and space, popular culture, and the creation of identity through literacy at AERA, PAMLA and CCCC conferences. She has been published in Salon.com, the Kenyon Review, The Conversant, and appeared on NPR’s “On Point, with Tom Ashbrook.” Her work can be found on www.robinrford.wordpress.com.​

Contact information:
Email: rford@qcc.cuny.edu
Twitter handle:  @Dr.RobinWriting


Article 13: Utilizing Simulation to Foster Nursing Skills in a Cohort of Community College Students

Ronette A. Shaw, MSN, FNP, R.N.
(First Author)

Assistant Professor
Nursing Program, Allied Health Department
Hostos Community College of the City University of New York

Ronette Shaw is an Assistant Professor at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY). As a member of the Allied Health department she is a faculty in the nursing department and appointed liaison to the Office of Educational Technology. Educational background includes an MSN from the College of New Rochelle where she also obtained her current license as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently she is teaching in the licensed practical nursing (LPN) program at Hostos Community College and enjoys introducing variations to learning into the classroom setting and capture the interest of learners. As a member of Educational Technology, the opportunity to include new and innovative technology in the classroom has been infused into her teaching instruction to meet the needs of the diverse student population as they prepare to enter into professional practice.

Contact information:
E-mail: RSHAW@hostos.cuny.edu

Dr. Elys Vasquez-Iscan
(Corresponding author)
Assistant Professor
Education Department, Health Education Unit Coordinator, Hostos Community College of the City University of New York

Dr. Elys Vasquez-Iscan teaches online and hybrid courses in the Health Education Unit at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York. Her research interests entail analyzing HIV and its intersection with gender and violence and health inequities; online research to identify coping responses to stress among vulnerable populations; developing strategies for multicultural sensitivity among health professionals; evaluating the impact of e-health on health disparities; capacity building for local and international disease prevention efforts; utilization of community based participatory research for health promotion and community empowerment. She has been the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and an ELEVATE Fellowship from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Minority Serving Institutions. She enjoys teaching the diverse Hostos student population due to the wealth of life experience that they bring into the classroom.

Contact information:
E-mail: evasquez-iscan@hostos.cuny.edu


To learn more about the authors of previous issues click here

Common final cumulative exam in anatomy and physiology: A decade of summative assessment reveals most challenging concepts and prompts various interventions

By: Abass Abdullahi
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York

Abstract

A decade long study was conducted on the assessment of 25 cumulative common final multiple-choice questions at the end of every semester from Spring 2008 to 2018 for both courses in the two semester Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) curriculum. The assessment design heavily involved faculty from the beginning; faculty were asked to contribute to the question pools on which the finals were based. There were slight modifications over time based on feedback from the previous semester’s assessment data, but generally the same concepts were maintained for consistency. Overall, the study revealed that A&P I students averaged 67% when all 25 questions were combined and approached the 70% benchmark that was set as a marker for student success in 17 out of the 25 concepts. This was not the case for A&P II, where the overall average was 62%, and individually students were closer to the benchmark in only 13 concepts. For both courses, we identified the 7 most difficult concepts that need better pedagogical approaches. Some of these concepts were consistently performed at or below 50%, even at their most basic difficulty level, and may thus be considered as concepts that most students couldn’t grasp at all. These later concepts included cellular metabolism, action potential and QL-protein synthesis (A&P I), as well as blood osmolarity, acid base and reproductive questions (A&P II). The information revealed by the current study is very useful in curricular redesign and challenges faculty to think of the best innovative strategies to improve student outcomes.

El líder y la motivación en la organización

Por: Angiemarie Rivera Ph.D Ed.D, Brenda Morales Ph.D,  Exi Resto de Leon MASJ, Angélica M. Vega MSEM

Resumen

El estudio de liderazgo y la motivación busca mejorar las actitudes de los empleados a través de la satisfacción. Es así como el líder y la motivación influye en la organización, la sensibilidad humana, la comunicación efectiva, la integridad, la confianza, la seguridad y el trabajo en equipo. Este estudio documental analiza los antecedentes de la literatura y proveyendo recomendaciones en como la motivación y el liderazgo mantiene un rol significativo con el fin de lograr resultados positivos en toda organización. Bass (1997) argumentó que el líder transformacional tiene éxito al cambiar la base motivacional del individuo desde una motivación regular hasta llevarla al compromiso. Los líderes transformacionales elevan los deseos de logros y autodesarrollos de los seguidores. Mientras que a la vez promueven el desarrollo de grupos y organizaciones. Palabras Claves. Liderazgo, motivación, sensibilidad humana, comunicación y trabajo en equipos.

Evaluación de un curso en línea de Matemática Remedial

Por: Dr. Liana Iveth Gutiérrez Moreno
Universidad de Puerto Rico
Recinto de Rio Piedras

Resumen

Este artículo muestra el proceso de evaluar la efectividad del curso en línea Matemática Preuniversitaria desarrollado por el Proyecto Acceso al Éxito de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. La evaluación se realizó mediante una adaptación del modelo de evaluación Contexto, Insumo, Proceso, Producto (CIPP). La pregunta general de investigación fue: ¿Cuán efectivo es el curso en línea de Matemática Preuniversitaria desarrollado por el Programa Acceso al Éxito de la Universidad de Puerto Rico? Además, por la naturaleza de esta investigación, se tuvo 21 preguntas de evaluación, que se desprenden de la pregunta general, y se distribuyen en cada tipo de evaluación del modelo aplicado. Esta investigación se desarrolló bajo el diseño de estudio de caso de tipo intrínseco.

Los hallazgos muestran que el curso es parcialmente efectivo. Además, no responde a un diseño curricular e instruccional previamente establecido. El modelo CIPP requiere que se implemente secuencialmente, cuando se aplica en la evaluación de un curso en línea, pues cada tipo de evaluación provee información relevante para la siguiente. A pesar de que el modelo sugiere, que cada tipo de evaluación es independiente.

Impacts pre-freshman immersion summer programs have on STEM undergraduate minority students in a Hispanic Serving Institution: An exploratory design

By: Carmen Peraza González, Frances N. Lugo-Alvarado, Marielis Rivera Ruiz (Corresponding Author)
Nilda Medina-Santiago, Saraí Torres Ruíz and Wined Ramirez-López
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina Campus (Puerto Rico)
Escuela de Ciencias y Tecnología

Abstract

The School of Science and Technology (SST) of the Universidad Ana G. Mendez- Carolina Campus implemented a Pre-Freshman Summer Immersion Program known as “BootCamp” for minority STEM undergraduate students through the U.S. Department of Education. Freshman students tend to enter university without certain skills needed to succeed during their first year. The objective of the program is to reinforce quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning competencies and help students adapt to university life through self-efficacy and coping skills. To accomplish these objectives Bootcamp was organized as a two-week intervention, focusing on basic mathematical concepts that the students found difficult during their first year of undergraduate studies. Also, the program offered critical thinking development with case studies focused on science and engineering scenarios. A descriptive-exploratory design involving a sample size of 39 students from the SST was used. The results are obtained from four standardized tests and first-semester math grades. The results show that participants in the BootCamp need to reinforce quantitative reasoning skills needed by freshmen students to succeed along the path to complete studies that lead them into careers in STEM.

La matrícula universitaria a distancia de Puerto Rico: Retos y oportunidades

Por: Dr. Marcos Torres-Nazario, Profesor, Departamento de Educación a Distancia
Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ponce

Resumen

En este artículo se actualizan los datos de la población de estudiantes universitarios, así como aquellos que toman cursos a distancia en Puerto Rico por nivel académico y sector educativo desde el otoño de 2013 hasta 2017. Este estudio cuantitativo-descriptivo presenta los datos más recientes del alumnado total del país, proporcionando, detalles específicos sobre el nivel y el tipo de institución que ofrece cursos y programas a distancia. Los hallazgos revelan que para los años 2013-2017, hubo una reducción del 10% en la matrícula total de estudiantes universitarios del país, de los que un 20.3% tomó al menos un curso en línea. La vasta mayoría del alumnado a distancia del país, estaba matriculado en cursos de nivel subgraduado en las 37 instituciones de educación superior (IES) que ofrecen cursos y programas a distancia en Puerto Rico. Sin embargo, de continuar los patrones de reducción de población, para los años 2020-2021, habrá menos de 200 mil estudiantes universitarios en el país. Esto agudizará las presiones económicas que las IES públicas y privadas enfrentarán para mantener su operación, a la vez que mantiene viable su oferta académica. Las implicaciones de estos patrones, tanto para los individuos como para las instituciones educativas de nivel superior, son de gran envergadura. La educación a distancia representa una de las principales herramientas que tienen las IES para lidiar con esos retos.

La presencia social de los profesores de los cursos en línea y su relación con el aprovechamiento académico y la satisfacción de los estudiantes con el curso

Por: Prof. Peggy Santiago
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Bayamón

 

RESUMEN DEL PROYECTO

El propósito de este estudio era identificar las estrategias de la inmediatez escrita que pro­yectan la presencia social de los profesores de cursos en línea y su relación con el nivel de satis­facción de los estudiantes con su aprovechamiento académico y su satisfacción con el curso.

El diseño del estudio fue uno exploratorio, ya que se auscultó la percepción de los estu­diantes sobre la proyección de la presencia social del instructor y cómo esta se relacionaba con su nivel de satisfacción con el aprovechamiento académico y satisfacción con el curso. La mues­tra fue por disponibilidad e incluyó a 148 estudiantes que estaban matriculados durante el semes­tre de agosto a diciembre 2018 en un curso a distancia en una universidad pública del país.

De acuerdo con los resultados de la investigación, 70 % de los sujetos indicaron que las actividades que realizaban los profesores en cursos en línea cumplían parcialmente con sus ex­pectativas de percibirlo como alguien presente en la comunicación escrita, 78 % percibieron que su aprovechamiento académico cumplía parcialmente con sus expectativas y 83 % percibieron que su satisfacción con el curso cumplía con sus expectativas. Las pruebas de coeficiente de re­lación de Pearson indicaron que la relación entre aprovechamiento académico y satisfacción fue r=.83 lo que representa una relación significativa positiva. La relación entre aprovechamiento académico e inmediatez fue r=.73 lo que igualmente representa una relación significativa posi­tiva y la relación entre satisfacción e inmediatez fue r=.70 lo que representa una relación signifi­cativa positiva.

Finalmente, el análisis de la relación múltiple entre las tres variables, a saber:   aprove­chamiento académico, satisfacción e inmediatez arrojó un coeficiente de +1.00, lo cual evidencia una relación significativa entre las tres variables estudiadas.

Manejo del tiempo desde la perspectiva académica, profesional y personal.

Por: Angiemarie Rivera Ph.D Ed.D, Brenda Morales Ph.D, Marlie Toledo MTR,
Exi Resto MASJ, Angélica M. Vega MSEM, Noelia Rodríguez MBA, Gerardo Ocana MEd

 

Resumen

Una de las competencias fundamentales dentro del ámbito académico, profesional y personal lo es el manejo del tiempo. Cuando se habla del tiempo, se resalta lo valioso que este puede ser. De acuerdo con Durán y Pujol (2012) el manejo de tiempo es una competencia solicitada en el área profesional para alcanzar otras posiciones laborales. Por lo tanto, se destaca que esta competencia en conjunto con otras brindaría la oportunidad de crecer y que la persona sea una competitiva y productiva. Este estudio documental analiza la importancia del manejo del tiempo. El tema planteado es relevante ya que permite al estudiante organizar y estructurar el tiempo de estudio y los compromisos laborales sin que existan conflictos. Blaydes (2002) desarrolló la Teoría del Aprendizaje basada en el postulado que promueve que al estudiar el cerebro se estudia con la activación de ambos hemisferios del cerebro ayudando a incrementar el desempeño académico.

Palabras claves: Manejo del tiempo, organización del tiempo, Teoría del Aprendizaje y Neurociencia.

 

Abstract

One of the fundamental competences within the academic, professional and personal field is time management. When talking about time, it highlights how valuable it can be. According to Durán and Pujol (2012), time management is a competence requested in the professional area to reach other job positions. Therefore, it is emphasized that this competition together with others would provide the opportunity to grow and that the person be competitive and productive. This documentary study analyzes the importance of time management. The issue raised is relevant as it allows the student to organize and structure study time and work commitments without conflicts. Blaydes (2002) developed the Theory of Learning based on the postulate that promotes that studying the brain is studied with the activation of both hemispheres of the brain helping to increase academic performance.

Keywords: Time management, time organization, Learning Theory and Neuroscience.

Peculiaridades de las redes sociales

Por: Elizabeth Díaz Rodriguez EdD, MCE

Resumen

Las redes sociales se han convertido en una manifestación cultural de gran influencia en la comunidad. El propósito del artículo es describir sus particularidades en nuestra sociedad. Conjuntamente, presentar algunos aspectos de este fenómeno emergente. Para ello se realizó una revisión de literatura. Se consideraron aspectos relevantes sobre el tema tales como su enfoque histórico-cultural, lo que producen en la sociedad, su autorregulación, orientación como instrumento de investigación, los efectos en la educación y algunas sugerencias a los educadores en su manejo.

Ante las redes sociales, el educador se reafirma como entidad evaluadora del pensamiento y el mundo que le rodea. De ahí el rol de la educación en la enseñanza y aprendizaje de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC). Además, intenta describir la influencia del aspecto emocional. Se concluye que las redes sociales deben ser herramientas del individuo, dirigidas hacia la autorreflexión y metacognición.

Reframing the narrative of Hispanic Student Success: From Pipelines to Ecosystems

By: David Ortíz, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and Jeanette Morales, Director for PK-12 Initiatives
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

Abstract

At one time the analogy of a pipeline that funneled students from K-12 through higher education and on to a career was appropriate. Due to the multiple entryways that students can obtain high school credit and enter into higher education, a pipeline is no longer applicable. Students can take Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual-credit or early college high school to earn college credit. Within higher education, students can earn credits for licensure and certificate programs for immediate entry into the workforce or transfer from a two-year to a four-year institution for an advanced degree. Through reverse transfer agreements, students can earn an associate’s degree from one institution and a bachelor’s from another. Through multiple ingress and egress, we are no longer working with a pipeline but an ecosystem built from partnerships in conjunction with interested parties from the community to advance student success.

Keywords: collaborative partnership, anchor institutions, ecosystems

 

The terms Hispanic and Latino/a are used interchangeably within the context of this manuscript.

Re-Imagining Strategic Enrollment Management in Higher Education

By: Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, Ph.D.
President/CEO, Pittsburgh Technical College

 

Enrollment Challenge

Nationally, higher education institutions of all types are facing increasing challenges with reaching enrollment benchmarks. According to Inside Higher Education, (June 21, 2018), community college enrollments specifically will continue declining over the next several years.

This challenge is further complicated by declines in state funding and rising demands for improved performance outcomes, as well as projections that a lower number of traditional-age college students age 18 to 22 years old will be entering college beginning in 2025 due to lower birth rates during the recession.

The withdrawal of adult learners aged 25 and older who have typically enrolled at greater rates during weaker economic periods with high unemployment will also contribute to widening the gap in enrollments.

The conversion of all of these factors does present a critical challenge for colleges and universities. This is a challenge that will require an examination of institutional practices and the generation of innovative solutions. One such solution is the reimagining and expansion of strategic enrollment management approaches to provide an answer, or, at the very least, lead institutions in the right direction.

 

Strategic Enrollment Management Solution

Placing renewed focus on comprehensive strategic enrollment management (C-SEM) can assist colleges with addressing ongoing enrollment challenges with clear goals targeted on the enrollment, retention and completion of students.

The Impact of Blended Learning on Retention, Performance and Persistance in an Allied Health Gateway Lab/Lecture Course in an Urban Community College

By: Carlos Liachovitzky, and Alexander Wolf
Bronx Community College of The City University of New York

 

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare blended and face-to-face (FTF) teaching in student learning outcomes, retention, likelihood of repeating the course, likelihood of taking the subsequent course in a sequence, and performance in the subsequent course. We tested the null hypotheses that all of the above mentioned variables were independent of the teaching format by comparing eight semesters of blended and FTF sections of Human Anatomy and Physiology I. We found no difference in retention, student learning outcomes, nor the likelihood of repeating the course. Completing a blended section of the first semester of Anatomy and Physiology did not have an impact on performance (grade distribution) in the second semester of Anatomy and Physiology relative to students in FTF sections. A large majority of students in a blended section answered that they would take a blended course again, and that they would recommend it to a friend. However, fewer students completing a blended section went on to the second semester of the course.

keywords: gateway course, blended learning, hybrid learning, distance learning, anatomy and physiology, urban community college, course sequence, longitudinal study, Bronx Community College

  

Using Hispanic Memoirs to Create a Culturally Sustaining Common Read Program

By: Robin Ford and Beth Counihan
Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York

Abstract

This article shares a best practice for developing a Common Read program grounded in a culturally sustaining pedagogy (Paris, 2012) within a diverse urban community college.  The authors make the argument for choosing memoirs by Latinx/Hispanic authors to promote greater cultural understanding and connections for both students and faculty, especially in light of the current political climate in the United States. Recent memoirs by Rosie Perez, Sonia Sotomayor, Richard Blanco and others are discussed as strong examples of successful Common Read texts, and a suggestion is made for a HETS and/or HACU-wide Common Read program.

Utilizing Simulation to Foster Nursing Skills in a Cohort of Community College Students

By: Ronette A. Shaw, Assistant Professor, MSN, FNP, R.N., Nursing Program, Allied Health Department
and Dr
. Elys Vasquez-Iscan, (Corresponding Author), Assistant Professor,
Education Department, Health Education Unit Coordinator,
Hostos Community College of the City University of New York

 

Abstract:

The nursing profession is currently focusing on improvements in patient-provider relationships and is utilizing simulation as an approach to increase competency and empathy of healthcare providers as they develop preemptive skills. In nursing, simulation training utilizes technology that mimics human body parts or model body systems to provide nursing students a simulated real world setting in a safe practicing environment. At Hostos Community College, a faculty member in the licensed practical nursing program (LPN) integrated constructs of critical pedagogy theory with simulation training for LPN students. This article discusses the results of preliminary data from a survey assessing the LPN students’ level of confidence in learning the three domains of nursing skills (cognitive, affective and psychomotor) and highlights the importance of future research to analyze the impact of simulation training specific to nursing practice and care. The article also underscores the utility of critical pedagogy in simulation training for nursing students as an effective tool to educate health care providers about the social and structural barriers impacting patient health outcomes.