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2. Developing and Evaluating an Eighth Grade Curriculum Unit That Links Foundational Chemistry to Biological Growth. Paper #1: Selecting Core Ideas and Practices -- An Iterative Process
- Author
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Roseman, Jo Ellen, Herrmann-Abell, Cari, and Flanagan, Jean
- Abstract
Researchers at AAAS and BSCS have developed a six-week unit that aims to help middle school students learn important chemistry ideas that can be used to explain growth and repair in animals and plants. By integrating core physical and life science ideas and engaging students in the science practices of modeling and constructing explanations, the unit is designed to address major recommendations in national standards documents, including the National Research Council's "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" (2012). In this paper, the authors focus on the iterative design process used to select and refine a set of learning goals for the unit that target the three dimensions of science learning identified in the "Framework"--science core ideas, science practices, and crosscutting concepts. The paper also describes the data on alignment, classroom implementation, and student and teacher learning that informed the revision of the learning goals through three iterations of the unit. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate the kinds of design issues that arose and how they were resolved to address the challenges inherent in taking a standards-based approach to curriculum design. (Contains 5 tables and 3 figures.)
- Published
- 2013
3. Searching for the Holy Grail of Learning Outcomes. SERU Project and Consortium Research Paper. Research & Occasional Paper Series: CSHE.3.12
- Author
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University of California, Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education, Douglass, John Aubrey, Thomson, Gregg, and Zhao, Chun-Mei
- Abstract
The search for the Holy Grail to measure learning gains started in the US, but the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) wants to take it global. Here we tell a bit of this story and raise serious questions regarding the validity of the Collegiate Learning Assessment test and suggest there are alternatives. The merit of the CLA as a true assessment of learning outcomes is, we dare say, debatable. In part, the arrival and success of the CLA is a story of markets. In essence, it is a successfully marketed product that is fulfilling a growing demand with few recognized competitors. As a result, the CLA is winning the "learning outcomes race," essentially becoming the "gold standard" in the US. We worry that the CLA's early market success is potentially thwarting the development of other valuable and more nuanced alternatives--whether it be other types of standardized tests that attest to measuring the learning curve of students, or other approaches such as student portfolios, contextually designed surveys on the student experience, and alumni feedback. In a new study published in the journal "Higher Education", we examine the relative merits of student experience surveys in gauging learning outcomes by analyzing results from the data from the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Survey. This essay discusses some of the main points from that article. There are real problems with student self-assessments. But as we argue here, universities can probably learn more about learning outcomes in a wide range of disciplines via properly designed census surveys than by standardized tests like the CLA. At present, we suggest there is tension between the accountability desires of governments and the needs of individual universities who must focus on institutional self-improvement. One might hope that they would be synonymous. But how to make ministries and other policymakers more fully understand the perils of a silver bullet test tool?
- Published
- 2012
4. Where You Come from or Where You Go? Distinguishing between School Quality and the Effectiveness of Teacher Preparation Program Graduates. Working Paper 63
- Author
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Urban Institute, National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER), Mihaly, Kata, McCaffery, Daniel, Sass, Tim R., and Lockwood, J. R.
- Abstract
In this paper we consider the challenges involved in evaluating teacher preparation programs when controlling for school contextual bias. Including school fixed effects in the achievement models used to estimate preparation program effects controls for school environment by relying on differences among student outcomes within the same schools to identify the program effects. However, identification of preparation program effects using school fixed effects requires teachers from different programs to teach in the same school. Even if program effects are identified, the precision of the estimated effects will depend on the degree to which graduates from different programs overlap across schools. In addition, if the connections between preparation programs result from the overlap of atypical graduates or from graduates teaching in atypical school environments, use of school effects could produce bias. Using statewide data from Florida, we show that teachers tend to teach in schools near the programs in which they received their training, but there is still sufficient overlap across schools to identify preparation program effects. We show that the ranking of preparation programs varies significantly depending on whether or not school environment is taken into account via school fixed effects. We find that schools and teachers that are integral to connecting preparation programs are atypical, with disproportionately high percentages of Hispanic teachers and students compared to the state averages. Finally, we find significant variance inflation in the estimated program effects when controlling for school fixed effects, and that the size of the variance inflation factor depends crucially on the length of the window used to compare graduates teaching in the same schools. (Contains 9 tables, 4 figures and 12 footnotes.)
- Published
- 2012
5. A Commission Resolution to Proceed with a University Eligibility Study for the Class of 2007. Working Paper WP/06-05
- Author
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California State Postsecondary Education Commission, Sacramento.
- Abstract
Since 1983, the California Postsecondary Education Commission has conducted six studies of the university eligibility of high school graduates to estimate the percentage of California public high school graduates who meet the admission requirements of the California State University and the University of California. The Commission's two most recent eligibility studies were for the high school graduating classes of 2001 and 2003. This working paper recommends that the Commission proceed with an eligibility study for the class of 2007 to give up-to-date estimates of the percentage of California public high school graduates eligible for the University of California and the California State University. The text of the Commission Resolution to Proceed with a 2007 Study appears in this working paper. Appendix A presents recent changes to the University of California's eligibility requirements. Appendix B presents electronic data collection in the 2003 eligibility study.
- Published
- 2006
6. Improving Child Welfare Agency Performance through Fiscal Reforms: An Assessment of Recent Proposals. JCPR Working Paper.
- Author
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Joint Center for Poverty Research, IL. and Geen, Rob
- Abstract
In state fiscal year (SFY) 2000, states expended at least $20 billion on child welfare services, 20 percent more than in SFY 1998. This increase occurred despite the fact that the number of children reported as abused and neglected and the number of children in foster care declined. This suggests that not only are child welfare agencies spending more money than they have in the past, they are spending more money per-child. Yet criticism of the performance of our nation's child welfare system has continued unabated. Many researchers and policy makers have argued that the existing structure of federal child welfare financing limits the ability of states to develop and implement innovative programs, services, and administrative reforms to address performance weaknesses. Over the past decade, a number of federal fiscal reform proposals have been introduced in Congress or floated around on Capitol Hill. Most recently, President Bush's FY 2004 budget proposed legislation that would offer states an alternative financing system that would provide for greater flexibility. This paper summarizes what is known about states' financing of child welfare services. The paper identifies commonly cited problems with the federal child welfare financing structure, describes and assesses recently proposed solutions, and questions how financing data can be used in assessments of state performance. (Contains 22 references.)(Author)
- Published
- 2003
7. Evaluating Rural Progress in Mathematics Achievement: Is 'Adequate Yearly Progress' (AYP) Feasible, Valid, Reliable, and Fair? Working Paper.
- Author
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Ohio Univ., Athens. Appalachian Collaborative Center for Learning, Assessment, and Instruction in Mathematics. and Lee, Jaekyung
- Abstract
The No Child Left Behind Act requires standards-based accountability for school districts and schools receiving Title I funds. A major component of this policy is to report whether districts and schools are making "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) based on their performance goals. This paper raises questions for rural schools using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics scores from 35 states and state student assessment results from Maine between 1992 and 1996. Assuming the nation's rural students will make the same amount of gain every 4 years as they did between 1992 and 1996, the number of rural students at or above proficient in mathematics will rise to 53 percent by 2014, indicating that the AYP goal is not feasible. Overall statewide academic improvement in Maine was approximately 2 times larger using the state assessment than with the NAEP assessment. That the assessment used can make such a large difference raises questions of validity. Because smaller sample sizes inherently produce unreliable scores, the successive cohort comparison is highly unreliable as a measure of academic progress in small rural schools. By setting a uniform AYP target for every school, the current formula does not consider the influence of schools' initial performance status on their chance to meet the target, which brings the fairness of the AYP into question. Recommendations include lowering the target achievement level or extending the timeline to reach the level for disadvantaged schools, allowing the use of multiple measures to demonstrate school progress, using rolling averages to stabilize performance variations, and allowing individualized AYP targets according to baseline performance levels. (Contains 19 references.) (TD)
- Published
- 2003
8. NAEP Validity Studies: Feasibility Studies of Two-Stage Testing in Large-Scale Educational Assessment: Implications for NAEP. Working Paper No. 2003-14
- Author
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National Center for Education Statistics (ED), Bock, R. Darrell, and Zimowski, Michele F.
- Abstract
This report examines the potential of adaptive testing, two?-stage testing in particular, for improving the data quality of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Following a discussion of the rationale for adaptive testing in assessment and a review of previous studies of two-?stage testing, this report describes a 1993 Ohio field trial of two-?stage assessment carried out, under the direction of the authors, by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC). The trial was part of a larger methodological study of science assessment at school-?leaving age supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). This report summarizes the instrument design, procedures, and results of the field trial and discusses implications for the conduct of assessment generally, and for NAEP specifically. A technical appendix outlines the measurement justification for two design prototypes and describes procedures used in analyzing the data. [This paper was commissioned by the NAEP Validity Studies (NVS) Panel May 1998.]
- Published
- 2003
9. IFLA General Conference, 1992. Division of Bibliographic Control: Section on Bibliography. Papers.
- Author
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International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, London (England).
- Abstract
The annual report of the Division of Bibliographic Control of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is presented, accompanied by papers that were presented at conference sessions dealing with bibliography. In 1991-92, the Section on Bibliography of the IFLA Division of Bibliographic Control had 89 members, including 20 associations, from 43 countries. Activities in the year included the first newsletter, participation in several studies, and the presentation of several workshops. The following papers are included: (1) "Section on Cataloguing--Review of the Work 1991/1992" (I. C. Spangen); (2) "IFLA Core Programme for Universal Bibliographic Control and International MARC (UBCIM): Report on Activities 1991-1992" (M.-F. Plassard); (3)"Division of Bibliographic Control-Review, 1991-1992" (R. Bourne); (4) "Restoring the Bibliographic Heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia" (H. Jarvis); (5) "National Bibliography as National Memory: Is Popular Culture Forgotten?" (R. P. Holley); (6) "The Restoration of the Bibliographic Heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia: The Contribution of France" (N. Simon); and (7) "Revision of the IFLA Manual 'Names of Persons': Report on the Feasibility Study" (parallel English and French versions) (F. Bourdon). References follow most papers. (SLD)
- Published
- 1992
10. Empowering Rural and Remote Health Professionals Training: A Cost-Effective Skin Suturing Simulator for Mobile Learning in Clinical Skills Acquisition
- Author
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Rebecca Mosaad, Julia Micallef, Aliyat Olatinwo, Gordon Brock, and Adam Dubrowski
- Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to develop a cost-effective suturing and knot typing simulator that aligns with the expectations of experts, addressing the need for affordable yet high-quality medical training tools. The focus was on assessing the efficacy of a silicone skin suture task trainer, created through a 3D printed mold, for use in mobile learning, specifically in rural and remote contexts. Methods: Rural and remote trainees participating in a skills acquisition workshop, engaged in a 90-minute suturing simulation station. They received minimal feedback from physician educators to simulate independent practice. After the practice, they completed a survey assessing the acceptability and feasibility of the simulator for the intended training purpose, as well as providing feedback for future improvements. Results: Results from quantitative data revealed the simulator's potential to develop competence (4.2 out of 5) and confidence (4.1 out of 5). Participants expressed a readiness to practice suturing independently using the simulator (4.3 out of 5). Notably, the realism of the simulator was identified as an area for improvement in terms of anatomical correctness (3.6 out of 5) and accuracy (3.4 out of 5), while durability scored high (4 out of 5). Participants found the simulator easy to use (4.4 out of 5) and well-suited for developing cognitive (4.4 out of 5) and psychomotor skills (4.2 out of 5) related to suturing and knot typing. Several improvements were noted, especially in the areas of anatomical representativeness, material selection, and interactions between the simulator and clinical tools. Conclusions: This paper outlines the acceptability and feasibility of the simulator, designed to complement an online learning management system for hands-on clinical skill learning within the mobile learning paradigm. Despite high self-efficacy and educational value scores, concerns about realism suggest a need for a hybrid design approach that balances costs and anatomical fidelity in simulator development. [For the full proceedings, see ED659933.]
- Published
- 2024
11. Assessing the Scope and Feasibility of First-Year Students' Research Paper Topics
- Author
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Rinto, Erin, Bowles-Terry, Melissa, and Santos, Ariel J.
- Abstract
This study applied a content analysis methodology in two ways to evaluate first-year students' research topics: a rubric to examine proposed topics in terms of scope, development, and the "researchability" of the topic, as well as textual analysis, using ATLAS.ti, to provide an overview of the types of subjects students select for a persuasive research essay. Results indicated that students struggle with defining an appropriate and feasible focus for their topics and that they often select topics related to education, health, and the environment. These findings were used to implement a new information literacy instruction model that better supports student topic development.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Briefing Paper regarding the Establishment of a Regional Technical and Industrial Skills Training Center.
- Author
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Powell, Roger Baden
- Abstract
In spring 1997, Oregon's Regional Workforce Committee commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of creating a technical and industrial skills training center in Region 12 of the state. Interviews were conducted with 40 individuals from area companies, social service agencies, and training organizations regarding the need for such a center and its functions. Results from the survey indicated that all respondents were interested in a partnership approach, which would entail participation by local organizations as training providers or training customers. The center should act as a regional broker of technical skills training courses, focusing on local training and skill development needs. The main constituencies to be served will include secondary students wanting to complete training while in high school, post-secondary students, the unemployed, and currently employed individuals wishing to enhance their career opportunities. The duration of training will depend upon participants' personal and career goals, ranging from 3 to 20 weeks of 40-hour-per-week instructional modules. Program offerings might include courses related to career progression skills, technical communication, fabrication technology, or office information management, while the center is expected to foster linkages with training agencies, social service agencies, and employers. Based on the interest expressed in the center, it is recommended that a meeting be held among school officials and potential partners to determine the center's economic potential, organization, location, programs, staffing, and funding sources. (JDI)
- Published
- 1997
13. A Training Program for the 1990s: Reflecting on Campaign Proposals. Occasional Paper 1992-4.
- Author
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George Washington Univ., Washington, DC. Center for Social Policy Studies. and Levitan, Sar A.
- Abstract
National concern about U.S. competitiveness in the world market has focused attention on the need to improve the work force. The two major 1992 presidential candidates have included training programs as important planks in their campaigns. President Bush has issued two proposals. Initially, he has charged in the Job Training 2000 proposal that the federally supported training programs are ineffective. At issue is administrative overhauling, not funding. In "The New Century Work Force," President Bush calls for additional funds for training programs. Governor Clinton's proposals advocate full funding of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Head Start programs as well as achieving a world-class education and helping disadvantaged parents build an ethic of learning at home. The recommendations for a comprehensive training system proposed in this document are the following: full funding of prenatal care, WIC, and Head Start; parenting training for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), WIC, and Head Start parents; reviving career education emphasis in public education; expanding cooperative education and tech prep programs; assessing the feasibility of national education standards and skill certification systems; expanding existing Job Training Partnership Act and displaced worker efforts; funding a work-based welfare system buttressed by public sector jobs for AFDC recipients and other hard to employ persons; and mandating employer provision of employee and youth training. (YLB)
- Published
- 1992
14. Indonesian Perspective on Massive Open Online Courses: Opportunities and Challenges
- Author
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Berliyanto and Santoso, Harry B.
- Abstract
There are two indications that Indonesia needs to improve its education quality. The first is the Human Development Index (HDI), which is still at the medium level, and the second is the enrollment rate in higher education, which is also at the low level. MOOCs have the potential to solve both problems. However, implementing MOOCs in a developing country needs a specific analysis to determine the opportunities and challenges. This study aims to identify the opportunities and challenges in implementing MOOCs from an Indonesian perspective. We observed four local MOOCs and analyzed various documents, including literature and government regulations. As a result, this study identified seven opportunities and seven challenges in implementing MOOCs in Indonesia. Recommendations are also provided.
- Published
- 2018
15. Television as Stimulus Input in Synthetic Performance Testing. Technical Paper 303.
- Author
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Army Research Inst. for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Arlington, VA. and Cockrell, John T.
- Abstract
As part of an effort to provide more economical methods for job-skill evaluation in the Army Enlisted Personnel Management System, a study investigated the use of television as a means of presenting test items for a sample of tests from the job field of tank crewman. The television scene provided the job setting for each item and then posed a question that required a real-time response from the examinee. All items were job-connected and therefore represented simulated skill items. The examinee responded directly to the face of the television screen by means of an electronic stylus or gun reticle. The test was compared with a paper-and-pencil test which covered the same items and a hands-on performance test which covered many of the same items. The results indicated that television testing is very acceptable to soldiers and feasible. The validity of the prototype test could not be determined precisely because the criterion hands-on test was not usable; most examinees made a perfect score on the hands-on test. (Author/GDC)
- Published
- 1978
16. The Most Underserved Populations: How Rich and Poor Orphans Rise Together
- Author
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Brant, James Michael
- Abstract
Our world has become starkly inequitable with 0.01% of the population owning 11% of all wealth, 1% owning 38% of all wealth, 10% owning 76% of all wealth, and the lower 50% owning almost nothing. Amongst all of these, there is a group of the most vulnerable, the most underserved, and ironically the most silent because, for the most part, they cannot speak for themselves: orphans, most of whom are in the lower 61%. The world population of orphans today is approximately 153 million. Selfishness and indifference have brought us to an appalling point in human history, but a radical change could be made, starting with the orphan population, if the world's middle class and above would adopt them in some way. The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of such a social action and demonstrate the viability and potentially rapid effectiveness of this positive social engineering. The subject area is social and emotional learning, social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. One of the groups in question is underserved and one is overserved yet underserved in that it lacks real happiness, in effect, both orphans. Through the lens of social constructivism, we examine the feasibility of projects through which the overserved help the underserved and both find fulfillment. Quantitative facts highlight the possibilities for radically ameliorating the orphan problem and qualitative investigation can measure the ensuing fulfillment of these groups. The final significant implication is that the orphan problem could be solved in this generation. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]
- Published
- 2023
17. A feasibility study of composites produced from telephone directory paper, plastics, and other adhesives
- Author
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Steiner, P [Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)]
- Published
- 2020
18. Institutional Research and Creative Change. Papers from the Annual Meeting of the North East Association for Institutional Research (6th, Cooperstown, New York, October 14-16, 1979).
- Author
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North East Association for Institutional Research.
- Abstract
Papers from the 1979 annual meeting of the North East Association for Institutional Research are presented. The theme of the conference was institutional research and creative change. Part One, Budget/Cost Analysis, contains papers on academic income-cost models for institutional planning, a budget incentive factor within declining enrollments, energy conservation techniques, and instructional cost analysis at a small college. Part Two on Planning presents five papers concerning areas such as creative change through cooperation, long-range planning, the use and misuse of systems approaches, and planning support systems. Part Three, Faculty, examines: faculty resource allocation, software approach to instruction, and faculty goals and activities. Part Four, College/University Community and Institutional Research, contains five papers dealing with areas such as grade inflation, the quality of student life, college attrition, and institutional research at a community college. Part Five, Admissions/Enrollment/Financial Aid, examines tools for marketing management and enrollment trends, factors affecting freshman applicants, and college choice. The final section, Managing Student Enrollment: The Boston College Story, examines information systems, admission processes, financial aid and student attrition as it applies to Boston College. The appendix provides a copy of the conference program. (LC)
- Published
- 1979
19. A Guidebook for Conducting Field Trials of New Methods. Paper and Report Series No. 77.
- Author
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Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, OR. Research on Evaluation Program. and Gray, Peter J.
- Abstract
This guide provides evaluators interested in new methods with a framework for determining the feasibility, utility, and effectiveness of the methods in field settings. To accomplish this intent, the body of this guide contains discussions of five checklists. Three of the checklists are to be used before a trial to determine the feasibility of one or more methods, and during and after a trial to determine the method's utility and effectiveness. An additional checklist lists factors related to ideal field trial conditions; deviations from these ideal conditions suggest the limitations that may be imposed on a method in a particular field trial. A final checklist contains an outline for recording the conditions and results of a field test. A brief summary of 27 method trials and an updated catalog of 38 new evaluation methods are appended. (BW)
- Published
- 1982
20. The Feasibility of Vouchered Training in WIN: Report on the First Phase of a Study. Paper No. 538.
- Author
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Bureau of Social Science Research, Inc., Washington, DC., Richardson, Ann, and Sharp, Laure M.
- Abstract
The preliminary study explores the feasibility of a voucher system for purchase of skill training by participants in the Work Incentive Program (WIN) and describes the Portland, Oregon voucher system. Time limits on vouchers, voucherable occupations, dollar limits on vouchers, eligibility of clients, eligibility of vendors, timing and financial assistance for voucher decisions, and client and counselor role content are discussed. Data on personal characteristics of 167 voucher clients (about one-third of those enrolled in the 1974 local WIN program) are compared to data on 161 clients who had taken regular WIN training in Portland in 1973. This section contains tables and discussion comparing the two groups with reference to occupations and the schools, the training occupations, the training institutions, length and costs of training, and counselor experience with the voucher programs. Conclusions deal with attractiveness of the program, clients' decisions and levels of occupational choice, preference of training schools, use of allowable time and money, and cost comparison. Conclusions point generally to administrative feasibility, and plans are outlined briefly for followup studies. (MDW)
- Published
- 1974
21. Feasibility and Credibility of Bilingual Instructional Features Study Plans: Field Verification. Planning Paper 5. Bilingual Instructional Features Planning Study.
- Author
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Abt Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA. and Nieves-Squires, Sarah
- Abstract
This report is one of five submitted as products of a "Study Designed to Assist Planning of Research on Significant Instructional Features in Bilingual Education Programs." The reports are intended to assist the National Institute of Education in its plans for a major new research study in bilingual education. The present report summarizes the results of 123 open interviews conducted with bilingual practitioners who are administrators in: Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New York, New York; Oakland, California; and Rough Rock, Arizona. The questions asked were designed to elicit responses about the working definitions of terms and the designs considered. The intent was to test the credibility and acceptability to consumers of alternative study approaches. Among important concerns to emerge from the interviews are respect for administrative protocol of each educational organization, the need for a clear prospectus of the study, financial burden and disruption of educational process, clarification of benefits of the study, and the need to secure parental cooperation. (Author/JB)
- Published
- 1980
22. Worker Learning and Worktime Flexibility. A Policy Discussion Paper.
- Author
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Upjohn (W.E.) Inst. for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, MI. and Meier, Gretl S.
- Abstract
A study explored the feasibility of research on the impact of flexible work patterns on the educational and training opportunities available to women in low-status jobs. Intended to provide a basis for a more informed discussion of policy questions pertaining to flexible worktime, the study involved a review of related literature, a series of informal interviews, and the collection of preliminary data at selected worksites during 1981. These sources of data confirm the fact that concern over declining productivity, together with demographic shifts and workers' changing values, have made it more important than ever to develop more effective opportunities for education and training and to expand the use of flexible work patterns. During the study, an examination was made of recent attempts at adjusting working hours for education and training such as the use of part time, combined part time and tuition aid, 40-hour flexible schedules, and informal flexibility. This examination revealed positive, albeit tentative, connections between flexible hours and employer-provided learning programs. However, it also suggests that this linkage will affect women in low-status jobs on a significant scale only if other conditions also prevail. Therefore, more comprehensive research on the impact of flexibility is needed. (MN)
- Published
- 1983
23. Creating a New Professional Association
- Abstract
This position paper investigates the merits and potential benefits of creating a new, more comprehensive professional association for members of the learning assistance and developmental education profession. This was the task assigned to the College Reading and Learning Association/National Association for Developmental Education (CRLA/NADE) Working Group by the CRLA and NADE national executive boards. This Working Group considered not only the issue of effectiveness of the current professional associations but also the merits of expanding the mission and vision of a new professional association. Building upon the success of CRLA and NADE, the Working Group identified many ways a new association could better serve members and have a greater influence on student success and in society (CRLA/NADE Taskforce, 2007).
- Published
- 2009
24. Feasibility and acceptability of measuring prenatal stress in daily life using smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment and wearable physiological monitors.
- Author
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Tung I, Balaji U, Hipwell AE, Low CA, and Smyth JM
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Pregnancy, Adult, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology, Heart Rate physiology, Young Adult, Pregnancy Complications diagnosis, Pregnancy Complications psychology, Monitoring, Ambulatory instrumentation, Monitoring, Ambulatory methods, Ecological Momentary Assessment, Smartphone, Stress, Psychological diagnosis, Stress, Psychological psychology, Feasibility Studies, Wearable Electronic Devices, Telemedicine instrumentation
- Abstract
High levels of stress during pregnancy can have lasting effects on maternal and offspring health, which disproportionately impacts families facing financial strain, systemic racism, and other forms of social oppression. Developing ways to monitor daily life stress during pregnancy is important for reducing stress-related health disparities. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using mobile health (mHealth) technology (i.e., wearable biosensors, smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment) to measure prenatal stress in daily life. Fifty pregnant women (67% receiving public assistance; 70% Black, 6% Multiracial, 24% White) completed 10 days of ambulatory assessment, in which they answered smartphone-based surveys six times a day and wore a chest-band device (movisens EcgMove4) to monitor their heart rate, heart rate variability, and activity level. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated using behavioral meta-data and participant feedback. Findings supported the feasibility and acceptability of mHealth methods: Participants answered approximately 75% of the surveys per day and wore the device for approximately 10 hours per day. Perceived burden was low. Notably, participants with higher reported stressors and financial strain reported lower burden associated with the protocol than participants with fewer life stressors, highlighting the feasibility of mHealth technology for monitoring prenatal stress among pregnant populations living with higher levels of contextual stressors. Findings support the use of mHealth technology to measure prenatal stress in real-world, daily life settings, which shows promise for informing scalable, technology-assisted interventions that may help to reduce health disparities by enabling more accessible and comprehensive care during pregnancy., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Review of a Proposal to Establish a School of Law at the University of California, Irvine. Commission Report 07-01
- Author
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California Postsecondary Education Commission
- Abstract
Pursuant to Education Code 66903, the California Postsecondary Education Commission is charged with reviewing and commenting on the need for new academic programs at California's public colleges and universities and with making recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor. In September 2006, the Commission considered a proposal to establish a School of Law at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Following a preliminary finding of non-concurrence, UC Irvine and the UC Office of the President submitted supplemental information in response to concerns raised by staff. This report contains a final analysis of all proposal information and supporting documents.
- Published
- 2007
26. An Scéalaí: Synthetic Voices for Autonomous Learning
- Author
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Ní Chiaráin, Neasa and Ní Chasaide, Ailbhe
- Abstract
This paper details the motivation for and the main characteristics of "An Scéalaí" ('The Storyteller'), an intelligent Computer Assisted Language Learning (iCALL) platform for autonomous learning that integrates the four skills; writing, listening, speaking, and reading. A key feature is the incorporation of speech technology. Speech synthesis provides aural feedback which draws the learners' attention to errors in the text. Natural language prompts focus on common spelling and grammatical errors, further guiding the learners' ability to revise and self-correct written materials. While "An Scéalaí" is still in early stages of development, results of a feasibility study are positive and point towards directions for further development. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED590612.]
- Published
- 2018
27. Development of Learning Material in Behavioral Economics for Higher Education
- Author
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Retno Mustika Dewi, Sri Umi Mintarti Widjaja, Agung Haryono, and Hari Wahyono
- Abstract
Economic man ("homo economicus") in the view of classical economics is an individual who is independent, autonomous, and rational, who pursue maximum satisfaction with minimum costs. However, as a human being, we often make irrational or unreasonable decisions because of cognitive biases. The irrationality of the individual due to instincts or feelings that are used as a consideration in making decisions without using rationality in thinking. This topic can be studied in the discussion of Behavioral "Economics." The dominance of neoclassical economics in educational curricula is a prominent concern. However, promoting behavioral economics may encourage students to make better economic decisions. This study aims to develop and assess the feasibility and effectiveness of learning materials in behavioral economics for higher education in order to help students make complex decisions. This paper followed the development procedures outlined by Dick and Carey for instructional design and was tested in the classroom using an experimental approach. Four experts validated the content, and 30 undergraduate students at Universitas Negeri Surabaya participated in the experimental study. The findings reveal that the learning material development was reviewed and validated by experts and underwent some revisions and enhancement. Based on the analysis, the development feasibility level scored 81, and the N-Gain was 56.22%, indicating that the teaching material was quite feasible and effective. Therefore, the behavioral economics teaching material can be used for higher education.
- Published
- 2024
28. Feasibility of Lipid Production from Waste Paper by the Oleaginous Yeast Cryptococcus curvatus.
- Author
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Wenting Zhou, Zhiwei Gong, Linfang Zhang, Yi Liu, Jiabao Yan, and Mi Zhao
- Subjects
- *
WASTE paper , *LIPIDS , *FEASIBILITY studies , *CRYPTOCOCCUS , *YEAST - Abstract
Waste paper was studied as a potential source for lipid production using the oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus curvatus for the first time. Three common types of waste paper, office paper, newspaper, and cardboard, were directly hydrolyzed by an enzyme cocktail to generate sugar-rich and nitrogen-limited hydrolysates. When these hydrolysates were used without any auxiliary nutrients by C. curvatus, the lipid content and lipid yield were higher than 50% and 200 mg/g, respectively. The nitrogen-rich enzyme cocktail exerted no negative effects on lipid production. Moreover, the integrated processes of enzymatic hydrolysis and lipid fermentation achieved comparable lipid yield to the separate hydrolysis and lipid production process. The resulting lipid samples had similar fatty acid compositional profiles to those of vegetable oils, which suggested their potential for biodiesel production. These findings strongly supported waste paper as appealing substrates for lipid production via oleaginous yeast, which provided cost-effective waste paper-to-lipids routes for sustainable biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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29. Examining the Support of Modern Athletic Reform Proposals Developed by the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics in Response to Higher Education Athletic Reform: A Case Study
- Author
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Zimmerman, Wade W. and Wickersham, Leah E.
- Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the success for the diffusion of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (COIA) white paper Framing the Future: Reforming Intercollegiate Athletics. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) and personal interviews were utilized to collect data and purposeful sampling was used to identify one NCAA Division I university in the state of Texas. Athletic personnel and faculty senate members were asked to complete the SoCQ and participate in an interview for the study. Findings provide evidence that the participants share common concerns in relation to the adoption of the COIA white paper such as creating a balanced approach to academics and athletics, increasing campus pride, and academic integrity. Participants also felt that meaningful collaboration among faculty and staff members can prove beneficial to helping individuals take ownership in the adoption process. (Contains 1 figure.)
- Published
- 2012
30. Effect of moisture content on the accuracy and economic feasibility of oil–paper insulation prediction model.
- Author
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Li, Chong, Wu, Kai, and Cheng, Chuanhui
- Subjects
- *
PREDICTION models , *LIFE cycle costing , *MOISTURE , *FORECASTING , *FEASIBILITY studies , *HEAVY oil - Abstract
The condition assessment of oil–paper insulation is a vital issue in transformer management. To investigate the effect of moisture content on the accuracy of the prediction model, accelerated ageing experiments were performed with different initial moisture content (IMC) in laboratory condition. Two types of multi-parameter lifetime prediction models, e.g. with and without consideration of IMC, were presented for comparison purpose. The authors found that a better accuracy for its prediction results could be achieved by establishing the prediction models with the consideration of IMC. Besides, models considering IMC have better economic feasibility than that without considering IMC(non-IMC) as its total cost is cheaper according to life cycle cost (LCC) calculations. In addition, failure probability based on the proposed prediction models was also calculated as a direct indicator for evaluating the oil–paper insulation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Feasibility and effectiveness of electronic vs. paper partograph on improving birth outcomes
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Sumon Kumar Das, Tahmina Begum, Jelle Stekelenburg, Monjur Rahman, Sadika Akhter, Tarun Kanti Ghosh, Dewan Md Emdadul Hoque, Aminur Rahman, Iqbal Anwar, Parveen Fatima, Fatema Ashraf, and Public Health Research (PHR)
- Subjects
Maternal Health ,Social Sciences ,Logistic regression ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,Prolonged labour ,Cultural Anthropology ,Geographical Locations ,Labor and Delivery ,0302 clinical medicine ,Obstetrics and gynaecology ,Sociology ,Pregnancy ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Bangladesh ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Multidisciplinary ,Cross-Over Studies ,Labor, Obstetric ,Obstetrics ,Pregnancy Outcome ,Gestational age ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Institutional review board ,Hospitals ,Religion ,Obstetric Procedures ,Regression Analysis ,Female ,Research Article ,Adult ,Paper ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Asia ,Referral ,Science ,Surgical and Invasive Medical Procedures ,03 medical and health sciences ,Asphyxia ,Young Adult ,Signs and Symptoms ,Fetus ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Chi-square test ,Humans ,business.industry ,Cesarean Section ,medicine.disease ,Delivery, Obstetric ,Electronics, Medical ,Health Care ,Health Care Facilities ,Anthropology ,People and Places ,Birth ,Women's Health ,Feasibility Studies ,business - Abstract
BACKGROUND: The partograph has been endorsed by World Health Organization (WHO) since 1994 which presents an algorithm for assessing maternal and foetal conditions and labor progression. Monitoring labour with a partograph can reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes such as prolonged labor, emergency C-sections, birth asphyxia and stillbirths. However, partograph use is still very low, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs). In Bangladesh the reported partograph user rate varies from 1.4% to 33.0%. Recently, an electronic version of the partograph, with the provision of online data entry and user aid for emergency clinical support, has been tested successfully in different settings. With this proven evidence, we conducted and operations research to test the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing an e-partograph, for the first time, in 2 public hospitals in Bangladesh.METHODS: We followed a prospective crossover design. Two secondary level referral hospitals, Jessore and Kushtia District Hospital (DH) were the study sites. All pregnant women who delivered in the study hospitals were the study participants. All nurse-midwives working in the labor ward of study hospitals were trained on appropriate use of both types of partograph along with standard labour management guidelines. Collected quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 23 statistical software. Discrete variables were expressed as percentages and presented as frequency distribution and cross tabulations. Chi square tests were employed to test the association between exposure and outcome variables. Potential confounding factors were adjusted using multivariate binary logistic regression methods. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).FINDINGS: In total 2918 deliveries were conducted at Jessore DH and 2312 at Kushtia DH during one-year study period. Of them, 1012 (506 in each facility) deliveries were monitored using partograph (paper or electronic). The trends of facility based C-section rates was downwards in both the hospitals; 43% to 37% in Jessore and from 36% to 25% in Kushtia Hospital. There was a significant reduction of prolonged labour with e-partograph use. In Kushtia DH, the prolonged labour rate was 42% during phase 1 with the paper version which came down to 29% during phase-2 with the e-partograph use. The similar result was observed in Jessore DH where the prolonged labour rate reduced to 7% with paper partograph from the reported 30% prolonged labour with e-partograph. The e-partograph user rate was higher than the paper partograph during both phases (phase 1: 3.31, CI: 2.04-5.38, p < .001 and in phase 2: 15.20 CI: 6.36-36.33, p < .001) after adjusting for maternal age, parity, gestational age, religion, mother's education, husband's education, and fetal sex.CONCLUSION: The partograph user rate has significantly improved with the e- partograph and was associated with an overall reduction in cesarean births. Use of the e-partograph was also associated with reduced rates of prolonged labour. This study has added to the growing body of evidence on the positive impact of e-partograph use. We recommend implementing e-partograph intervention at scale in both public and private hospitals in Bangladesh.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03509103.
- Published
- 2019
32. Bioethanol production from various waste papers: Economic feasibility and sensitivity analysis.
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Wang, Lei, Sharifzadeh, Mahdi, Templer, Richard, and Murphy, Richard J.
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- *
ETHANOL as fuel , *WASTE paper , *REFUSE as fuel , *BIOMASS energy , *SENSITIVITY analysis , *FEASIBILITY studies , *PRICING , *ECONOMICS - Abstract
Abstract: As a significant fraction of municipal solid waste, waste paper is a potential source for producing bioethanol. In the present paper, bioethanol production from various waste papers (newspaper, office paper, cardboard and magazine) using an enzyme complex (Cellic Ctec 1) was evaluated from an economic standpoint. Four bases cases without pre-treatment and two state-of-the-art cases (including dilute acid pre-treatment for office paper and oxidative lime pre-treatment for newspaper) were constructed using laboratory experimental data, literature values, expert consultations and simulation using AspenPlus™. Several scenarios were also carried out to assess the sensitivity of various technology parameters (i.e. solids loading in saccharification, anaerobic digestion and fermentation efficiency, and sugar yields in pre-treatment). The sensitivity analysis suggested that the economic performance of bioethanol produced from waste paper could be improved significantly with an up to 25% reduction in minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) by increasing solids loading in saccharification and with a 6% reduction in MESP by enhancing fermentation efficiency. The comparison of the bioethanol selling price at pump (reference year 2009) and the petrol price showed bioethanol produced from newspaper, office paper and cardboard were economically competitive with petrol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2013
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33. Feasibility of measuring sodium, potassium and creatinine from urine sample on dried filter paper
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Ritvik Amarchand, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, Pradeep Joshi, Harshal Ramesh Salve, Mohamad Tarik, Prashant Mathur, and Anand Krishnan
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Analyte ,Potassium ,Sodium ,Clinical Biochemistry ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Urine ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,01 natural sciences ,Analytical Chemistry ,Ion selective electrode ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Humans ,General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics ,Salt intake ,Creatinine ,Chromatography ,Filter paper ,Chemistry ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Methodology ,General Medicine ,0104 chemical sciences ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Feasibility Studies ,Filtration - Abstract
Aim: To develop a bioassay for estimation of sodium, potassium and creatinine in dried urine strips and comparing with their respective concentration in liquid urine samples. Materials & methods: Urine was collected on filter paper strips, dried at room temperature and, eluted for estimation of sodium, potassium by indirect ion selective electrode method and creatinine by Jaffé method. Result: This bioassay was validated based on the US FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation and was linear, sensitive, accurate and precise with acceptable recovery and matrix effects. Analytes were stable in dried urine strips during 1 year of storage at 4°C. Conclusion: We conclude that the dried urine is suitable for analysis of sodium, potassium and creatinine and offers a convenient alternative for monitoring dietary salt intake.
- Published
- 2019
34. A Study of the Feasibility of Using Grey Sedge Residue to Facilitate Zero Waste Production.
- Author
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Chucheep, Kamonwan, Suwanpayak, Nathaporn, and Phanchindawan, Naree
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LOAM soils ,BACTERIAL typing ,SOIL microbiology ,FEASIBILITY studies ,PAPER bags - Abstract
There is approximately 30% of grey sedge (Lepironia articulata) residue remaining from weaving production that could add value to support zero waste management. Therefore, the aim of this research was to study the feasibility of using a residue of grey sedge or Krajood strips from weaving production to form a value-added product. To obtain preliminary data, Krajood strip residue was examined for its biological and physical properties. In addition, the biological and physical properties of Krajood strip residue in combination with loam soil (KSRL) were examined and compared with the properties of loam soil (LS) itself. The results showed that the total microbe and moisture content of the Krajood strip residue was significantly higher than that of the products made from Krajood strips (KS). The stress value of Krajood strips was higher than the stress values of other samples except for that of a bag made of paper. Identification of bacteria and mold by MALDI Biotyper and DNA sequencing compared with BLAST revealed the presence of the types of soil microbes that benefit plants. KSRL was enriched with larger amounts of the primary elements important for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and the three second tier elements. The pH of KS, LS, and KSRL were 6.40 ± 0.14, 5.87 ± 0.04, and 5.26 ± 0.02, respectively. These results could support the use of this beneficial residue for bioresource sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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- View/download PDF
35. Briefing paper -- Remedial Action Assessment System
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Buelt, J
- Published
- 1990
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36. Developing Innovative Practices through Third-Space Partnerships: Reflections on Project DARE (Dementia Knowledge, Art, Research and Education)
- Author
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Green, Corinne A., Eady, Michelle J., Burns, Pippa, Baker, Jessica, Primmer, Jennine, Harris, Penelope, Barkley, Carinya, and Traynor, Victoria
- Abstract
Partnerships between schools, universities, and community organizations have mutual benefits for all involved. These partnerships value the contributions of all participants and capitalize on the expertise and knowledge that each brings. This reflective paper details a collaborative third-space partnership between a university, a primary school, and a community organization. The partnership facilitated the design, development, and implementation of a unique program called Project DARE (Dementia knowledge, Art, Research, and Education). A research-based evaluation of the Project DARE feasibility study can be found elsewhere (Burns et al., 2020). The aim of this paper is to reflect upon the formation of the partnership and the roles that each party played. It also discusses implications for the future development of third-space partnerships.
- Published
- 2021
37. A comparison of smartphone and paper data-collection tools in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study in Gezira state, Sudan
- Author
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Peter Burney, R Robinson, Kevin Mortimer, S. Bertel Squire, Asma Elsony, Rachael Thomson, Rana Ahmed, Rasmus Malmborg, Kodgule, Rahul, and Wellcome Trust
- Subjects
Male ,Rural Population ,Questionnaires ,Pulmonology ,020205 medical informatics ,Electronic data capture ,Physiology ,lcsh:Medicine ,Social Sciences ,Pilot Projects ,02 engineering and technology ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,ELECTRONIC DATA CAPTURE ,Medical Records ,Sudan ,Geographical Locations ,Random Allocation ,Habits ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cohen's kappa ,Sociology ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Smoking Habits ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Coughing ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Electronic Health Records ,Public and Occupational Health ,030212 general & internal medicine ,lcsh:Science ,Medical History Taking ,Observer Variation ,education.field_of_study ,wa_30 ,Schools ,Multidisciplinary ,Data Collection ,Smoking ,wa_900 ,Information quality ,Middle Aged ,Socioeconomic Aspects of Health ,Obstructive lung disease ,Multidisciplinary Sciences ,Open data ,Research Design ,Science & Technology - Other Topics ,Engineering and Technology ,Female ,Smartphone ,Symptom Assessment ,wf_600 ,Research Article ,Adult ,Paper ,wa_950 ,Adolescent ,General Science & Technology ,Population ,Equipment ,Research and Analysis Methods ,Sampling Studies ,Education ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Signs and Symptoms ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Environmental health ,MD Multidisciplinary ,medicine ,Humans ,Lung Diseases, Obstructive ,education ,c941fbbd ,Aged ,Communication Equipment ,Behavior ,Science & Technology ,Survey Research ,Data collection ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Biology and Life Sciences ,medicine.disease ,Health Care ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Dyspnea ,Data quality ,People and Places ,Africa ,Feasibility Studies ,lcsh:Q ,Forms and Records Control ,Cell Phones ,Physiological Processes ,business - Abstract
Introduction \ud Data collection using paper-based questionnaires can be time consuming and return errors affect data accuracy, completeness, and information quality in health surveys. We compared smartphone and paper-based data collection systems in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study in rural Sudan. \ud Methods \ud This exploratory pilot study was designed to run in parallel with the cross-sectional household survey. The Open Data Kit was used to programme questionnaires in Arabic into smartphones. We included 100 study participants (83% women; median age = 41.5 ± 16.4 years) from the BOLD study from 3 rural villages in East-Gezira and Kamleen localities of Gezira state, Sudan. Questionnaire data were collected using smartphone and paper-based technologies simultaneously. We used Kappa statistics and inter-rater class coefficient to test agreement between the two methods. Results Symptoms reported included cough (24%), phlegm (15%), wheezing (17%), and shortness of breath (18%). One in five were or had been cigarette smokers. The two data collection methods varied between perfect to slight agreement across the 204 variables evaluated (Kappa varied between 1.00 and 0.02 and inter-rater coefficient between 1.00 and -0.12). Errors were most commonly seen with paper questionnaires (83% of errors seen) vs smartphones (17% of errors seen) administered questionnaires with questions with complex skip-patterns being a major source of errors in paper questionnaires. Automated checks and validations in smartphone-administered questionnaires avoided skip-pattern related errors. Incomplete and inconsistent records were more likely seen on paper questionnaires. \ud Conclusion \ud Compared to paper-based data collection, smartphone technology worked well for data collection in the study, which was conducted in a challenging rural environment in Sudan. This approach provided timely, quality data with fewer errors and inconsistencies compared to paper-based data collection. We recommend this method for future BOLD studies and other population-based studies in similar settings.
- Published
- 2018
38. Bioconversion of paper mill sludge to bioethanol in the presence of accelerants or hydrogen peroxide pretreatment
- Author
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Eric L. Singsaas, Raghu N. Gurram, Shona M. Duncan, Malek Alkasrawi, Nicholas Joshua Lecher, and Mohammad Al-Shannag
- Subjects
Paper ,Environmental Engineering ,Accelerant ,Bioconversion ,Industrial Waste ,Bioengineering ,Cellulase ,Calcium Carbonate ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Hydrolysis ,Yeasts ,Enzymatic hydrolysis ,Cellulose ,Hydrogen peroxide ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Ethanol ,Sewage ,biology ,Waste management ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,food and beverages ,Hydrogen Peroxide ,General Medicine ,Pulp and paper industry ,chemistry ,Biofuels ,biology.protein ,Feasibility Studies ,Fermentation - Abstract
In this study we investigated the technical feasibility of convert paper mill sludge into fuel ethanol. This involved the removal of mineral fillers by using either chemical pretreatment or mechanical fractionation to determine their effects on cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation to ethanol. In addition, we studied the effect of cationic polyelectrolyte (as accelerant) addition and hydrogen peroxide pretreatment on enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. We present results showing that removing the fillers content (ash and calcium carbonate) from the paper mill sludge increases the enzymatic hydrolysis performance dramatically with higher cellulose conversion at faster rates. The addition of accelerant and hydrogen peroxide pretreatment further improved the hydrolysis yields by 16% and 25% (g glucose / g cellulose), respectively with the de-ashed sludge. The fermentation process of produced sugars achieved up to 95% of the maximum theoretical ethanol yield and higher ethanol productivities within 9h of fermentation.
- Published
- 2015
39. Characterization and Feasibility Assessment of Recycled Paper Mill Sludges for Land Application in Relation to the Environment
- Author
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Rosazlin Abdullah, Che Fauziah Ishak, Rosenani Abu Bakar, and Wan Rasidah Kadir
- Subjects
Paper ,concentration ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Amendment ,lcsh:Medicine ,Industrial Waste ,chemistry.chemical_element ,engineering.material ,Article ,Industrial waste ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,13C-NMR spectrum ,nutrients ,Cation-exchange capacity ,Recycling ,Cellulose ,Fertilizers ,heavy metals ,Moisture ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Malaysia ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Paper mill ,land application ,chemistry ,soil properties ,Environmental chemistry ,engineering ,Feasibility Studies ,Environmental science ,Environmental Pollutants ,FTIR spectrum ,Fertilizer ,business ,Carbon - Abstract
The disposal of industrial paper mill sludge waste is a big issue and has a great importance all over the world. A study was conducted to determine the chemical properties of recycled paper mill sludge (RPMS) and assess its possibilities for land application. RPMS samples were collected from six different paper mills in Malaysia and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, (13)C-NMR spectra and for the presence of dioxins/furans. The RPMS was dewatered, sticky with a strong odour, an average moisture of 65.08%, pH 7.09, cation exchange capacity (CEC) 14.43 cmol (+) kg(-1), N 1.45, P 0.18, K 0.12, Ca 0.82, Mg 0.73, Na 0.76 and Al, 1.38%. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals levels were below the standard Class 2 limits. The dioxin and furan were in below the standard concentration of Class 1. The most prominent peak in the (13)C-NMR spectra of RPMS was centered at 31 ppm, proving the presence of methylene (-CH2) groups in long aliphatic chains, with lipids and proteins. The signal at 89 ppm and highly shielded shoulder at 83 ppm were due to presence of cellulose carbon C-4, and the peak at 63 and 65 ppm was due to the cellulose carbon spectrum. The RPMS therefore contains significant amount of nutrients with safe levels of heavy metals and PAHs for environment and can be used as a fertilizer and soil amendment for land application.
- Published
- 2015
40. Feasibility study of a multicentre cluster randomised control trial to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a structured diagnostic pathway in primary care for chronic breathlessness: protocol paper
- Author
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Michael C Steiner, Natalie Armstrong, Jill Clanchy, Noel Baxter, Stacey Chantrell, Gillian Doe, Sarah Edwards, Darren Jackson, Simon Wathall, and Rachael A. Evans
- Subjects
Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Cost effectiveness ,Cost-Benefit Analysis ,Disease cluster ,quality in health care ,primary care ,Quality of life (healthcare) ,Intervention (counseling) ,Health care ,medicine ,respiratory medicine (see thoracic medicine) ,Humans ,Multicenter Studies as Topic ,Cluster randomised controlled trial ,Intensive care medicine ,Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ,Research ethics ,Primary Health Care ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,Dyspnea ,Quality of Life ,Medicine ,Feasibility Studies ,Health Services Research ,business ,qualitative research ,Qualitative research - Abstract
IntroductionChronic breathlessness is a common and debilitating symptom, associated with high healthcare use and reduced quality of life. Challenges and delays in diagnosis for people with chronic breathlessness frequently occur, leading to delayed access to therapies. The overarching hypothesis is a symptom-based approach to diagnosis in primary care would lead to earlier diagnosis, and therefore earlier treatment and improved longer-term outcomes including health-related quality of life. This study aims to establish the feasibility of a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a structured diagnostic pathway for breathlessness in primary care.Methods and analysisTen general practitioner (GP) practices across Leicester and Leicestershire will be cluster randomised to either a structured diagnostic pathway (intervention) or usual care. The structured diagnostic pathway includes a panel of investigations within 1 month. Usual care will proceed with patient care as per normal practice. Eligibility criteria include patients presenting with chronic breathlessness for the first time, who are over 40 years old and without a pre-existing diagnosis for their symptoms. An electronic template triggered at the point of consultation with the GP will aid opportunistic recruitment in primary care. The primary outcome for this feasibility study is recruitment rate. Secondary outcome measures, including time to diagnosis, will be collected to help inform outcomes for the future trial and to assess the impact of an earlier diagnosis. These will include symptoms, health-related quality of life, exercise capacity, measures of frailty, physical activity and healthcare utilisation. The study will include nested qualitative interviews with patients and healthcare staff to understand the feasibility outcomes, explore what is ‘usual care’ and the study experience.Ethics and disseminationThe Research Ethics Committee Nottingham 1 has provided ethical approval for this research study (REC Reference: 19/EM/0201). Results from the study will be disseminated by presentations at relevant meetings and conferences including British Thoracic Society and Primary Care Respiratory Society, as well as by peer-reviewed publications and through patient presentations and newsletters to patients, where available.Trial registration numberISRCTN14483247.
- Published
- 2021
41. Predicting Implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game + MyTeachingPartner Interventions
- Author
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Summer S. Braun, Catherine P. Bradshaw, Lydia A. Beahm, Alexa C. Budavari, Jason Downer, Nicholas S. Ialongo, and Patrick H. Tolan
- Abstract
Introduction: Effective classroom management is critical to creating a classroom environment in which social, emotional, and academic learning can take place. The present study investigated the association between early career, early elementary teachers' occupational health (job stress, burnout, and perceived teaching ability) and perceptions of program feasibility in relation to their implementation dosage and quality of two evidence-based classroom management programs implemented together: the PAX Good Behavior Game (GBG) and MyTeachingPartner (MTP) intervention. Methods: Teachers provided information on their occupational health at the start of the school year and were then randomized to the PAX GBG + MTP condition or control condition. Teachers' perceptions of the feasibility of the program, implementation dosage, and implementation quality of the intervention were measured at the end of the school year for the 94 intervention teachers. Results: Teachers participated in more MTP coaching cycles when they reported that the combined PAX GBG + MTP program was feasible. Although there were no main effects of occupational health on implementation, the associations between job stress and implementation quality were moderated by perceptions of feasibility. Discussion: Findings highlight the complexity of factors influencing the implementation of evidence-based programs in school settings. [This paper was published in "Frontiers in Psychology" v14 2023.]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Hong Kong Pre-Primary Education in Transition: 'Consultation Document of the Working Party on Harmonisation of Pre-Primary Services'
- Author
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Lee, Kenneth Siu Woo, Na, Anna Yeung On, and Yee, Wong Shuk
- Abstract
Hong Kong's most recent education reform proposal is the "Consultation Document of the Working Party on Harmonisation of Pre-primary Services" ("Consultation Document".) This examines the feasibility of combining kindergarten and childcare centres and having one single body regulating them. It has stimulated great responses from the early childhood education sector. As one of the major training institutions for kindergarten teachers and childcare workers, the faculty and students of the Hong Kong Baptist University have had extensive discussions on the "Consultation Document" with experts in the sector. This article reviews the development and rationales of the "Consultation Document" and examines its recommendations on teacher training, subsidy schemes, and transition arrangements. The authors' views and counter-proposals are also discussed.
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. International Testing of a Performance-Based Assessment in Higher Education
- Author
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Council for Aid to Education (CAE), Zahner, Doris, and Kostoris, Fiorella
- Abstract
International assessments in higher education are especially challenging because differences across countries (e.g., educational systems, SES) increase the complexity of testing. This becomes even more challenging when using performance-based assessments, which are becoming more prominent in assessment programs. ANVUR collaborated with the Council for Aid to Education (CAE) to adapt, translate, administer, and score the CLA+, a performance-based assessment of critical-thinking and written communication skills, to Italian university students. The objectives of this study were to see if it was feasible to assess Italian students' skills, to conduct a cross-country comparison of Italians and Americans, and to validate the importance of these skills in the labor market. In 2015, students at participating institutions completed a translated and adapted version of the CLA+ that included the Performance Task (PT) "Life Expectancy" and one of two sets of 25 selected-response questions (SRQs). The CLA+ for the ANVUR project was administered between May and July 2015, and a total of 6,268 students across 23 institutions participated in the administration. Out of the 6,268 assessments administered, the CLA+ was completed by 6,245 students. Student responses are measured on three subscales: analysis and problem-solving, writing effectiveness, and writing mechanics. The SRQs measure students' analysis and problem-solving skills on three subscales: Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning, Critical Reading and Evaluation, and Critique an Argument. Overall, results from this study indicate that the CLA+ measures the critical-thinking and written-communication skills of the Italian students. The reliability scores for each of the sections on the Italian version of CLA+ are comparable to the American version, and although overall reliability was low at the individual student level, this is not the case at the institutional level. The results from this study also indicate that Italian students' performance were comparable to that of their American counterparts. [Paper presented at the 2016 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.]
- Published
- 2017
44. Learning a Language through Gaming: A Minecraft Game Design for Negotiation of Meaning and Co-Construction of Knowledge
- Author
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Baek, Joeun and Park, Hyekyeong
- Abstract
The purpose of this study is to design a Minecraft game where players can learn a language by negotiating meanings and constructing knowledge together with other players. In order to achieve this purpose, related theories are explored and an instructional design theory was adopted to provide a background for a game building. After the game was designed, it was implemented to test its feasibility. A further suggestion for re-design of the game as a next step was made. [For the complete proceedings, see ED601080.]
- Published
- 2019
45. A Portfolio for Optimal Collaboration of Human and Cyber Physical Production Systems in Problem-Solving
- Author
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Ansari, Fazel and Seidenberg, Ulrich
- Abstract
This paper discusses the complementarity of human and cyber physical production systems (CPPS). The discourse of complementarity is elaborated by defining five criteria for comparing the characteristics of human and CPPS. Finally, a management portfolio matrix is proposed for examining the feasibility of optimal collaboration between them. The optimal collaboration refers to the exchange of knowledge, reciprocal learning, and interaction of human and CPPS in smart factories. The proposed portfolio matrix provides feasibility check rules to trigger the transition towards ideal state of human and CPPS collaboration in Industry 4.0. [For full proceedings, see ED571332.]
- Published
- 2016
46. Are Commercial 'Personal Robots' Ready for Language Learning? Focus on Second Language Speech
- Author
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Moussalli, Souheila and Cardoso, Walcir
- Abstract
Today's language classrooms are challenged with limited classroom time and lack of input, and output practice in a stress-free environment (Hsu, 2015). The use of commercial, readily available tools such as Personal Robots (PRs; e.g. Amazon's Echo, Jibo) might promote language learning by freeing up class time, allowing for a more focused personalized instruction, and giving learners more opportunities for input exposure and output practice in a stress-free environment. PRs are pedagogically valuable because of their built-in Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) software. This feasibility study investigates the pedagogical use of PRs as tools to extend the language classroom by combining it with traditional in-class, teacher-facilitated interactive practices. We evaluated a commercial PRs' ability to comprehend L2 speech, to provide "easy-to-understand" feedback, and to deliver accurate results for a set of pre-established questions. Using a survey and interviews, the results highlight the benefits of personalized, computer-mediated instruction as an approach to extend the reach of the classroom. As such, our study contributes to this under-studied area of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL): the pedagogical use of personal robots in L2 education. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED572005.]
- Published
- 2016
47. Self-Regulated Learning in Kenyan Classrooms: A Test of ePEARL, a Process e-Portfolio
- Author
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Lysenko, Larysa, Wade, C. Anne, Abrami, Philip C., Iminza, Rose, and Kiforo, Enos
- Abstract
To align with Kenya 2030 Vision of education for self-reliance, there is a growing need for classroom instruction that develops students' capacity to be in control of their learning. This paper reports a two-year study that tested feasibility of implementing ePEARL, an e-portfolio, in the context of Kenyan public schools. By design, the digital portfolio supports the key learning processes though the phases of self-regulated learning--forethought, performance, and self-reflection. In this study, students (N=137) from four secondary classrooms used the tool as part of classroom instruction to complete their project assignments. Repeated measures analyses revealed that, over-time, students who demonstrated fuller use of ePEARL made significantly higher gains and reported higher level of self-regulated strategies compared to their classmates who hardly used the tool. The results suggest that in order to yield important benefits, the tool should be meaningfully integrated into classroom instruction.
- Published
- 2022
48. Application of ultrafiltration in the pulp and paper industry: metals removal and whitewater reuse
- Author
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Cláudio Mudado Silva, A.F. Milanez, and C.R. Oliveira
- Subjects
Paper ,Conservation of Natural Resources ,Engineering ,Environmental Engineering ,business.product_category ,Bleach ,Industrial Waste ,Ultrafiltration ,Reuse ,engineering.material ,Waste Disposal, Fluid ,Water Purification ,Effluent ,Water Science and Technology ,Waste management ,business.industry ,Pulp (paper) ,Temperature ,Membranes, Artificial ,Paper mill ,Pulp and paper industry ,Dewatering ,Paper machine ,Metals ,Feasibility Studies ,business ,Water use - Abstract
In the pulp and paper industry, the water use minimization is a constant target. One way to reduce water use is to recycle the effluent in a closed-cycle concept. In paper mills, the main source of liquid effluent is the so-called whitewater, which is the excess water, originated from pulp stock dewatering and other fibre contaminated water. This research studied the reuse of paper mill whitewater after membrane ultrafiltration (UF) in the paper machine and in the pulp bleach plant of an integrated mill. Contaminant removal and flux behaviour of the UF system were evaluated. The treatment by ultrafiltration was technically feasible and the treated whitewater had good potential to be reused in some processes in the paper machine. The reuse of ultrafiltered whitewater in the bleaching plant was not recommended because of the high level of soluble calcium present in this stream. Therefore, a combined treatment of the whitewater using the principle of precipitation and ultrafiltration was proposed showing good results and enabling the use of the treated whitewater in the bleach plant.
- Published
- 2007
49. The Simulation of Ink Penetration into Paper with Watermarks During Offset Printing.
- Author
-
Kyrychok, T. Yu., Talimonova, N. L., and Zaritska, V. I.
- Subjects
SIMULATION methods & models ,WATERMARKS ,OFFSET printing ,COLORIMETRY ,MICROSCOPY ,FEASIBILITY studies - Abstract
In this paper, we propose the model of ink fixing on paper with watermarks: properties of positive watermark areas are similar to high-calender paper and properties of areas beyond positive watermark and areas of negative watermark are similar to paper of machine smoothness. It causes difference of ink pigment and binding agent penetration into paper. Colorimetric evaluation of the difference between area of positive watermark and beyond it for offset printed paper with watermark shows the essential distinction: the value of colour shift ΔE* is 6,5-20,0 and it depends on ink thickness. The technique of preparing paper cross sections is developed relying on microtome cuts. The light microscopic study of paper cross sections demonstrate a big difference of ink penetration depth in zone of positive watermark (9-16 μm) and beyond this zone (22-40 μm). Therefore, through experiments conducted by employing colorimetry as well as microscopic study of printed paper with watermarks cross sections, we prove the feasibility of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
50. Feasibility, reliability, and validity of adolescent health status measurement by the Child Health Questionnaire Child Form (CHQ-CF): internet administration compared with the standard paper version
- Author
-
Gitte C. Kloek, Resiti T. Mangunkusumo, Jeanne M. Landgraf, Hein Raat, Johannes Brug, and Public Health
- Subjects
Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Psychometrics ,Health-related quality of life ,Self-concept ,Child Health Questionnaire Child Form 87 items (CHQ-CF87) ,Child Welfare ,Computer-assisted web interviewing ,Adolescents ,Validity ,Health status measurement ,Quality of life (healthcare) ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,Health Status Indicators ,Humans ,Web-based questionnaire ,Child ,Reliability (statistics) ,Netherlands ,Original Paper ,Internet ,business.industry ,Public health ,Role ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Feasibility ,Internet questionnaire ,Reliability ,Online questionnaire ,Self Concept ,humanities ,Reference / norm scores ,Adolescent Behavior ,Quality of Life ,Feasibility Studies ,Female ,The Internet ,business ,Psychology ,Attitude to Health ,Clinical psychology ,Adolescent health - Abstract
Aims In this study we evaluated indicators of the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form (CHQ-CF). We compared the results in a subgroup of adolescents who completed the standard paper version of the CHQ-CF with the results in another subgroup of adolescents who completed an internet version, i.e., an online, web-based CHQ-CF questionnaire. Methods Under supervision at school, 1,071 adolescents were randomized to complete the CHQ-CF and items on chronic conditions by a paper questionnaire or by an internet administered questionnaire. Results The participation rate was 87%; age range 13–7 years. The internet administration resulted in fewer missing answers. All but one multi-item scale showed internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α > 0.70). All scales clearly discriminated between adolescents with no, a few, or many self-reported chronic conditions. The paper administration resulted in statistically significant, higher scores on 4 of 10 CHQ-CF scales compared with the internet administration (P < 0.05), but Cohen’s effect sizes d were ≤0.21. Mode of administration interacted significantly with age (P < 0.05) on four CHQ-CF scales, but Cohen’s effect sizes for these differences were also ≤0.21. Conclusion This study supports the feasibility, internal consistency reliability of the scales, and construct validity of the CHQ-CF administered by either a paper questionnaire or online questionnaire. Given Cohen’s suggested guidelines for the interpretation of effect sizes, i.e., 0.20–.50 indicates a small effect, differences in CHQ-CF scale scores between paper and internet administration can be considered as negligible or small.
- Published
- 2007
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