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Project VIEW aims to sharpen writing instruction for the visually impaired

Using a Braille writing machine, a student writes a paper at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired in Nebraska City.

Nebraska researchers are exploring ways to better understand how students with visual impairments are being taught to write, and how that instruction can be enhanced and tailored to each individual student’s needs.

Michael Hebert, associate professor of special education and communication disorders, and Mackenzie Savaiano, assistant professor of practice of special education and communication disorders, are the principal investigators in Project VIEW — Visual Impairments Education in Writing. The four-year study focuses on identifying factors that influence teachers’ writing instruction practices in an effort to improve outcomes among visually impaired students. Full Article

NAECR Knowledge: Best practices, considerations for using publicly available data sets

Lorey Wheeler, CYFS research associate professor, answers a question during the Feb. 27 NAECR Knowledge event examining how to access and use publicly available data sets for early childhood research.

A wide range of data sets is publicly available to researchers in all fields. But some are easier to access than others.

More than 20 early childhood researchers gathered in person and via videoconference Feb. 27 for the NAECR Knowledge event, “Accessing and Using Publicly Available Data Sets.” Natalie Koziol and Lorey Wheeler of the MAP Academy discussed the best ways to access and use publicly available data sets. They particularly emphasized how to effectively utilize early childhood data sets. Full Article

Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring Natalie Koziol

Natalie Koziol, CYFS research assistant professor, leads a Methodology Applications Series presentation Feb. 7 in the Nebraska Union.

Natalie Koziol, CYFS research assistant professor, led a Feb. 7 presentation in the Spring 2020 Methodology Applications Series. Her presentation, “Pursuing Causal Inferences in the Absence (or Failure) of Random Assignment: An Introduction to Propensity Score Analysis,” is now available on video. Full Article

Research suggests family mealtimes essential to lifelong health

Dipti Dev, principal investigator, shares some healthy eating ideas with children.

For centuries, families have served up good conversation around the dinner table.

Sharing advice, planning events and recounting the day’s highs and lows are key mealtime ingredients to connecting families and building support systems — all while cooking up valuable learning opportunities for the youngest family members. Full Article

Getting Ready to expand early childhood reach

Lisa Knoche, CYFS research associate professor and principal investigator of the Getting Ready Preschool Development Grant

For the past 15 years, the Getting Ready research program has helped enhance school readiness for children age 5 and younger by bringing evidence-based parent engagement strategies to early childhood programs throughout Nebraska.

Thanks to additional, recent funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Preschool Development Grant, Nebraska researchers will move those strategies into practice. Full Article

‘Coach Approach’ builds preschool teachers’ capacity to foster mathematics reasoning

From left, Rachel Schachter, co-principal investogator; Holly Hatton-Bowers, project consultant; and Kelley Buchheister, principal investigator

Although kindergarten is widely recognized as the beginning of a child’s formal academic journey, preparation for that journey is crucial. Research shows that solid early childhood experiences provide substantial benefits for children’s success.

High-quality, early mathematical instruction is particularly important. Children’s early mathematical knowledge also predicts reading achievement even beyond kindergarten. Full Article

Identifying, controlling selection bias in tests of differential item functioning

Marc Goodrich and Natalie Koziol are exploring ways to identify and combat selection bias in differential item functioning.

As demand increases for employees with expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, representation of Latinos in STEM fields continues to lag.

As of 2011, Latinos represented only 7 percent of the American STEM workforce, despite accounting for more than 16 percent of the U.S. population. Full Article

Brain imaging brings predictors for cochlear implantation success into focus

From left, Randa Ismail adjusts an fNIRS cap on Grace Oh.

For someone with hearing loss, a successful cochlear implant can change their world.

But because results vary among implant recipients, it is crucial to determine strong candidates for whom an implant will likely be successful.

A cochlear implant (CI) is a complex electronic device that can effectively restore hearing in individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. While the CI does not restore normal hearing and differs from hearing aids, which amplify sounds, it does provide a useful representation of sounds by directly stimulating the auditory nerve. The CI’s success depends on how well the auditory nerve functions. Full Article