Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Often teachers use pedagogical methods that focus and elaborate on the peripheral issues of a topic. Such emphasis is mostly directed towards the very specific applications of concepts to certain phenomena. Scattering the material in this way delivers a message to the students that what they are leaning is specific only to the course they are in. They fail to apply solutions to problems that they may later face in another course or in their professional life because of their inability to perceive the underlying basic concepts in what is at hand, despite the fact that they were previously exposed to these concepts. However, their exposure was centered on an application of a concept with very little deep understanding of the concept itself.

In order to facilitate students’ learning, it is much more effective to start with the concept as a bull’s eye of a multi-concentric circle system and then expand outward towards applications and adaptations of the concepts to different areas of relevance to learning the concept. The expansion is in the form of concentric circles whereby the specificity of the applications increases as the circles expand outwards.

This pedagogical approach constantly reminds the students of the very basic concept involved, ie, the bull’s eye. The poster will illustrate such a modality using the ionization character of weak acids and bases as the concept and expanding from there to applications such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs that are weak acids and bases or salts thereof. Other applications are buffers, precipitation as pH changes, IV admixtures, and pharmaceutical products design and development, among others. Finally, this modality nurtures problem-solving and critical thinking skills as the learner is directed to reexamine the assumptions made as he/she tries to delve into the concept upon which an application is based.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper deals with the phenomenon commonly labelled political scandal (Thompson 1995, 2000). Our study of three political scandals in the print media, where a general framework of discourse analysis has been applied, is concerned with aspects of media, gender, power and celebrity. Main areas of interest are the journalistic use of visual techniques, and given that press photographers and photo editors in general are men, what actions and situations are seen as interesting to put forward in the visualization of male and female politicians? We will show how journalists, using visuals, actively reuse previous knowledge, experience, and assumptions based on prior scandals when the discursive frame or image of a politician is constructed in a new scandal. This seems to be even more true when the politician in question is a woman, possibly because women are used more actively in the construction of an emotional scandal narrative. We also believe that we have found significant gender-based differences in the visual construction of male and female politicians respectively which will be further exemplified in the paper. Lastly, we argue that gender-bias in a political scandal is not only linked to traditional conceptions and stereotypical notions of ‘men’ and ‘women,’ but can be defined and constructed in various ways depending on each politician’s media biography.

Publication Type: Traditional Presentation
Abstract: Energy understanding directly connects daily habits, classroom lessons, and conservation to the newest wave of adventure, opportunity, and sustainability. Do so with free computer tools, systems-thinking software, and “living” lessons. Energy abundance addresses social, ecological, and financial burdens. Come see how today's currency is in kWhs.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study examines and compares discursive constructions and performance of gender in Sarah Palin’s media portrayal during the first week of her nomination to the Republican vice presidential candidacy. Using content and discourse analysis of online video clips posted by five U.S. network news websites, the authors found that gender becomes a primary focus in these mediated discourses about Palin. Her gender performance serve as an example of how masculinity and femininity practices are structured through society’s gender-role models and how Palin’s ‘masculinity’ is accepted and celebrated as it is still firmly rooted behind the confines of femininity.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States and having picked up on this demographic explosion the major political parties have made a concerted effort to woo potential Latino voters in the last three presidential elections. Millions of dollars have been spent on Latino targeted ground and air campaign strategies. However, heretofore little research has been done to determine if the rise of Amigo Politics strategies has been an effective mobilizing and/or persuasion tool. Moreover, has the rise of Amigo Politics alienated non-Latino voters? To answer these questions we examine ad data from the CMAG, survey research, and original survey experiments.