Lessons Learned in Time Management When Conducting a Capstone

Rebecca Andes, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in General Biology

The past year has taught me a lot about the crucial lesson of the importance of time. Four years of college have flown by, and the idea of a capstone project that had once seemed so far away since freshman year, soon became a reality. I often told myself there was plenty of time, but eventually, time caught up with me.

Selecting a topic for my capstone it was not an easy task. There were so many different ideas and interests available, making it a challenge to focus on just one area. Thankfully, with the guidance of my mentor, Professor Antonella Guadagnino, I decided on my topic, "Reviewing the Role of Carbon Dioxide for Seizure Intervention in Humans and African Naked Mole-Rats."

Completing my capstone project had many different challenges, but as I overcame these challenges, I learned valuable lessons. At first, the whole project felt daunting, but with perseverance and patience, I discovered my ability to push through. The importance of communication was another lesson that I learned during my research. By learning how to communicate more and to ask for help, it made it easier for me to organize my thoughts and gain more knowledge about my topic.

Lastly, time management was one of the biggest lessons that I had to learn, due to it not being my strongest skill. Through careful organization and planning, I improved significantly in managing my time.

Throughout this journey, I not only improved academically but also grew personally from the many lessons I have learned. Each challenge and success helped me learn more about myself.

Creating a Crochet Stitch Counter

Danielle Aurilia, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Electrical Engineering and minor in Mathematics  

My capstone project involved creating a device that could count your stitches while you crocheted. As an avid crocheter, this project was important as it solved a real-life issue I have encountered.

When crocheting, if you miscount your rows and stitches you may end up with a hole in your project, a misshapen project, or some lack of structural integrity. By having a device count for you, the risk would be eliminated, thus ensuring a smooth crocheting experience. There are currently no crochet machines in existence. Any crocheted item that is sold in a store, has been created by hand. The completion of this project could be a step towards the development of a crochet machine.

This project was substantial in allowing me to learn more about the many facets of engineering. Engineering often involves many systems working together to create a cohesive project. Although different components may be studied in different engineering courses, this project was the culmination of all of these components working together.

Working on this project as a group allowed for further insight about what an engineering career may look like in the future. Engineers often work in teams in the field and will very rarely work independently. Working as a team allowed me to learn more about bouncing ideas off of others and delegating tasks.

This project allowed me to learn more about different facets of engineering as my partner could explain ideas that I did not understand as clearly, and vice versa. Lastly, the project further emphasizes the idea that progress is not linear. Many components may need tweaks and edits or overall changes for a successful project. One’s first notion of a project will almost certainly not be the end result.

 

Orientalism and its Effects on Modern Day Sportswashing

Wahaj Ali, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology

I have been a huge fan of sports, particularly soccer, from a very young age and as I have grown up I’ve begun to see the actual power of the sport. Soccer, a sport that is played by youth all over the world, was in fact plagued with corruption at all levels. The 2015 uncovering of the exploitation at the highest level of football completed by the higher-ups of FIFA, became the tipping point for many viewers, as it highlighted the value of money over the integrity of the sport.

Match-fixing has always been prevalent; however, we’ve never had cases of nations paying FIFA members to be able host World Cups until now. I began to realize the power of not only soccer, but other sports as well, and as the 2022 World Cup inched closer the term “Sportswashing” became more apparent.

Sportswashing is the use of soft power, which is power through attraction as opposed to coercion, in order to divert controversial issues a nation is facing.

I looked at Sportswashing as a new concept; however, through completing this project I learned that while it is a new phrase, the concept itself has been around for years. I learned how Sportswashing has a very strong impact on a nation's geopolitical standing. Sports are an easy and safe way to promote tourism, show off your prominent cities, and take away any negative news coming out about your nation.

As this process became more mainstream, regular media outlets would write about its dangers. I began to realize that many of these articles were highlighting the usage of Sportswashing by MENA nations (Middle East and North Africa). 

Its concept has recently been used by Russia (2018 World Cup), and China (2008 Summer Olympics and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics). However, their usage was not highlighted. Instead, the takeovers of soccer teams by Qatar and Saudi were protested against, deals that if deemed harmful could easily be blocked by the English parliament. Learning more about Orientalism and how prominent it is in our society, I began to put two and two together and found that many of the views pushed out about Sportswashing were derived from Orientalist views.

Can Art Integration Enhance Student Engagement in the Classroom?

Jaclyn Regina, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in SLS (1-6)

For my research project, I wanted to focus on a topic that I was both passionate and knowledgeable about. As an SLS major with a special interest in art, I thought that researching information on the connection between art integration and student engagement would be interesting. I completed a literature review, analyzing texts that supported the question at hand. With the assistance of my mentor, Professor Cabral, I was able to learn a lot about art integration and its many connections to increased student engagement.

This assignment taught me a lot about both my specific topic and the process of creating an effective capstone. I learned a lot about how to properly research and where to find appropriate sources. Almost every source I used was from the CSI library. The education databases provided me with so much significant information that was very beneficial when researching and writing this essay. I was also able to improve my ability to cite sources and to defend claims. The ability to answer a research question by providing strong peer-reviewed sources is a very important skill to have.

Being able to expand my knowledge on a topic that is important to me has also been very impactful. As a future educator, I want to ensure that my students are supported and have a reason to come to school every single day. With the information I learned through the literature reviewed, I now know so many different aspects of teaching, as they connect to art integration and student engagement.

My essay follows 6 key themes including hands-on learning, social-emotional learning, use of new materials, different art forms, culture, and identity. Each of these themes work together to support how art integration can enhance student engagement in the general education elementary classroom. I was able to learn a lot through this experience and it was exciting to present my findings at the Undergraduate Research conference.

Comparison of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Gadzhi Shakhnavazov, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology 

"The more you learn, the more you earn," is a famous quote by Warren Buffett. While most people think that it is only related to money, I found it to be beyond that. Learning, in my opinion, provides one with an opportunity to have new experiences, which can then shape the person.

Doing research was a new thing for me, and to be honest, it was not easy, but it was worth it. While my capstone project (research) was a meta-analysis and I did not have to physically do the experiments, it was not easy to find reliable sources and accurate information.

Searching for articles on the comparison of conventional and non-conventional treatments for Parkinson's disease was quite difficult, since the disorder is not well studied yet. During the process of completing my project, I embarked on a journey that not only enriched my understanding of this neurological disorder but also honed my skills in research, critical analysis, interpretation of information, and teamwork.

After completing the project, I enhanced my research skills and learned new ways of finding reliable information that I implement in my everyday life. For example, I recently needed to buy supplements and I used my research skills to find a good study that discussed the benefits and disadvantages of different forms of certain supplements that best suited my needs.

Another important aspect that was enhanced was teamwork. Working and communicating with my partner and mentor taught me important communication skills, making me more professional. We had different perspectives on different matters, but, embracing diverse perspectives and integrating insights from several minds can lead to more comprehensive solutions to complex challenges.

As mentioned above, the disorder is not well studied yet, so it is important for research to continue. One potential direction is to conduct longitudinal studies to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, advancements in technology offer opportunities to enhance the delivery and monitoring of non-pharmacological interventions such as physical therapy, cognitive training, and deep brain stimulation. While meta-analysis exposes you to a broad scope of information, I think that choosing one certain treatment and conducting a physical experiment on its effectiveness would be a great way to continue researching the topic in the future.

In conclusion, the process of developing and completing my capstone project has been a transformative journey. It has not only deepened my understanding of this neurological disorder but has also equipped me with invaluable skills in research, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration.