iSchool Capstone

2024

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HazingInfo.org

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of consent. Across college campuses, hazing among social organizations is a continuing issue due to obscure or undocumented hazing-prevention resources. HazingInfo.org is a free, comprehensive database of information showcasing a school’s actions to prevent hazing through hazing reports, policies, and legislation. This site centralizes hazing resources by surfacing information that can be buried within school websites. HazingInfo.org is an accessible way for students and families to make informed decisions in enrolling at a school or joining an organization.
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Hearing in Harmony: Streamlining Audiology Clinic Operations through a Unified Hearing Device Loaner Management System

The Audiology Clinic at Seattle Children’s Hospital offers hearing aid trials and loaners to its patients. Access to sound during a child’s formative years is crucial to developing speech and language. This service was managed inconsistently across several disparate spreadsheets, making the process inefficient and reporting capabilities time-consuming. This project aimed to rebuild and replace the existing system, streamlining clinic operations and centralizing its data. This improved data source enables reporting capabilities to support clinic leadership in data-driven decision-making. The system is designed to grow with the clinic and meet its and its patients' changing needs.
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Here in Perpetuity: Uplifting Tribal Sovereignty in Public Libraries

Public librarians have an obligation to acknowledge the sovereignty of Tribal nations and to provide culturally responsive library services to Indigenous patrons. Our project emerged from the recognition of a scarcity of resources to assist library staff in meeting these obligations. Through iterative research, we identified initial key topics, fully developed two learning modules, and commenced curating existing resources aimed at enlightening non-Indigenous LIS professionals on the significance of upholding Tribal sovereignty in public libraries. The image utilized is a text-free rendition of the Indigenous Systems of Knowledge model crafted by our sponsor Dr. Sandy Littletree (2018).
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HerHeartCo: Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Perimenopausal Women

HerHeartCo empowers women to take charge of their health by improving access to information about cardiovascular disease risk factors during perimenopause. Our mobile application utilizes wearable technology to facilitate self-monitoring and symptom management, offering personalized recommendations and insights, and providing educational resources. Our holistic solution bridges the knowledge gap and equips women to make intentional, informed decisions for their heart health during this critical life stage.
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Homosaurus Implementation Project

I worked with the Orbis Cascade Alliance Cataloging Standing Group (CSG) to build on a series of Homosaurus training sessions they recently facilitated with a retrospective implementation project. Working with sets of legacy records in the consortial catalog identified by the CSG, I performed subject analysis on a record-by-record basis and added terms from the Homosaurus as appropriate. I also contributed to the creation of training materials for other students and non-cataloging staff participating in the project. Through this work, I helped enhance discoverability of LGBTQ+ records in the Alliance catalog, contributing to the Homosaurus community of practice.
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House of Arts Outreach Project

Last year, the High Point Public Library began hosting its House of Arts club to promote access to art within the community. To encourage the club’s scope, the Library needed to raise awareness via social media and enhance its offerings through community partnerships. Through this capstone, the Library developed a stable internet presence through their existing Facebook and a new but growing Instagram. Additionally, the club gained three art professionals who have led or will lead workshops for the community. These efforts have ensured that the High Point community has an accessible and high-quality option to explore their artistic interests.
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How To Train Your Chatbot

With the continuing rise of Artificial Intelligence, young students are especially vulnerable to misconceptions and misuse of AI. Many teachers are also unfamiliar with the new technology. How To Train You Chatbot is an online learning platform that introduces AI to middle school students. The website modules explain prompt engineering, fact-checking, and the ethical implications of interacting with AI. By using this platform, teachers can encourage critical thinking, prevent academic misconduct, and help students use platforms like ChatGPT to enhance their learning. As AI continues to evolve, our platform empowers students to build a mindful relationship with artificial intelligence.
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How Well Do LLMs Represent Values Across Cultures? An Analysis of LLM Responses to Hofstede Cultural Dimensions

Large Language Models (LLMs) attempt to imitate human behavior by responding to humans in a way that pleases them, including by adhering to their values. Therefore, it is important to understand whether LLMs, upon understanding a user's national background, will showcase a different set of values to the user. We have found that LLMs have an innate understanding that cultures differ in values, responding differently based on different nationality input. By discovering this information, we empower others to consider whether using LLMs to seek advice will be ethical and beneficial for them, especially with answers that must be culturally-sensitive.
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Howler: Your Creative Sanctuary

Howler addresses the challenge of providing a supportive platform for University of Washington students grappling with self-expression. Our journaling application nurtures a positive, safe, and creative community, enabling students to articulate thoughts and concerns through daily prompts. Howler provides a platform for expressive exploration, empowering students to confront personal and professional obstacles while building connections with peers. By fostering reflection and a sense of solidarity, Howler cultivates a supportive environment, advocating for well-being and promoting a community culture on campus, ultimately enriching the lives of University of Washington students.
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HuskySync: Where tests become collaborative quests

HuskySync serves as a centralized hub for students navigating the challenges of rigorous introductory courses at UW. First-year students encounter prerequisite courses with large enrollments, which can feel overwhelming in regards to performing well. Managing both the academic workload and the social dynamics can significantly impact one's ability to study effectively. To address this challenge, we developed a platform where students can collaboratively engage with study materials. By enabling multiple students to upload their study notes, HuskySync generates personalized quizzes tailored to each user. In essence, we transform individual tests into shared quests, fostering a collaborative approach to learning.