Measured Progress: A Report on the High School Reform Movement

New studies on the impact of the wide-ranging efforts over the past half-decade to reform the nation's public high schools have produced important -- and encouraging -- findings

Digital and Media Literacy: A Plan of Action

Outlines a community education movement to implement Knight's 2009 recommendation to enhance digital and media literacy. Suggests local, regional, state, and national initiatives such as teacher education and parent outreach and discusses challenges

Changing Urban High Schools

This report chronicles a Cross City Campaign working meeting co-sponsored by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform

The Promise of Faculty Inquiry for Teaching and Learning Basic Skills

Shares insights from the Strengthening Pre-collegiate Education in Community Colleges project on how teachers' systematic and collaborative analyses of new approaches and practices foster innovation and improvement in basic English and math instruction

Development of a Web‐based learning tool for undergraduate health professionals studying applied anatomy

An understanding of anatomy is an essential component of degree courses for health professionals. A key learning outcome for physiotherapy students is to be able to observe, analyse and explain the sequence of normal anatomical movement patterns for the upper and lower limb. However, when there is a requirement for such learning to be practice‐based it is not always possible to provide students with the necessary resources for independent study. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a Web‐based tool that allows students to practise and test their human movement analysis skills independently, at their own pace. The tool utilizes video clips of common muscle movements and multiple‐choice questions with dynamic feedback to promote understanding. The aims of the tool and its evaluation by a sample group of forty‐five students is described Suggestions for future development are discussed

Exploring notions of genre in 'academic literacies' and 'writing across the curriculum': approaches across countries and contexts

The SIGET IV panel on genre in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) and “academic literacies” (ACLITS) has set rolling a discussion of the similarities and differences in the two traditions, the former originating in the US in the early 1970s, the latter originating in England in the early 1990s. This paper maps out some elements of each in relation to the other and to genre, which we hope will set in motion further discussions and cross-fertilization

Growing Opportunity: A Two-Year Update on The Opportunity Equation: Transforming Mathematics and Science Education for Citizenship and the Global Economy

Highlights progress on a 2009 report's call to mobilize for innovative, accountable math and science education for all; establish clear standards and effective assessments; improve teacher supply and leadership; and enhance school and system design

The influences of holmium on the solidification, microstructure and mechanical properties of elektron 21 magnesium alloy

The solidification parameter of Elektron 21 magnesium alloys with various Ho concentrations were investigated using computer-aided cooling curve thermal analysis system, and the solidification microstructure and phase constitution of the investigated alloys were characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD. The mechanical properties were also investigated comparatively. The Ho was selected due to the ability to develop new intermetallic phases together with Mg and have a positive potential to reflect the properties of Mg alloys. As the outcome from this study, the cooling parameter of Elektron 21 with lower addition Ho content, the nucleation and growth temperature of α-Mg in Elektron 21 magnesium alloy decreased, where the Ho changed the solution degree of Zn, which resulted in refinement of microstructure. The results of solidification parameters showed the addition of 0.083 and 0.16 wt. % Ho cause a decrease of the solidification temperature alloys, which lead to the grain size about 64.0 %, which being a most effective addition. The microstructure of the result indicated that the intermetallic phases in the Elektron 21 cast alloy consisted mainly of α-Mg matrix, Mg12Nd, Mg41Nd5, Mg3Gd and Mg3Nd phase. The lower addition of Ho consists of Mg-Zn-Ho phase appears in the cast alloys. However, after adding 0.5 to 3.0 wt. % Ho, the Mg-Zn-Ho phase was suppressed and the phase has earlier been mixed Mg2Ho and Mg3Ho phase. Moreover, the addition of 0.083 wt. % of Ho exhibited an excellent improvement of ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness of 139.7 MPa, 105.62 MPa and 103.52 Hv, respectively. The solidification, microstructure and mechanical properties of Elektron 21 magnesium alloys influenced by the Ho concentration in the magnesium alloys; Elektron 21 with 0.083 wt.% Ho exhibited the refinement of microstructure and displayed the best properties compared to other alloys

Basic Skills for Complex Lives: Designs for Learning in the Community College

Outlines the Strengthening Pre-collegiate Education in Community Colleges project's activities, results, and lessons learned, including five principles for teaching underprepared students. Recommends an institution-wide focus and faculty collaboration