Facilitating Interlocal Collaboration: Community and the Soft Skills of Public Management

This paper explores the issue of interlocal collaboration in non-metro areas and argues that the concept of community and related soft skills that go along with it are critical to understanding how increased collaboration can be encouraged. An action research process piloted in two Iowa counties provides the basis for this study and offers rich qualitative insight into some of the factors that influence non-metro interlocal collaboration

Rural Area Inhabitants in the Context of the New Model of Rural Area Development

The aim of this publication is to look at the problems of Polish rural areas from the perspective of the young generation of researchers, to show what problems they are interested in and what study methods and techniques they use to describe the phenomena occurring in Polish villages. The results of their studies were also presented to underscore the importance of these phenomena for the development of knowledge concerning the dynamic transformations in Polish rural areas. The Authors represent different fields of study (sociology, ethnography, economy and geography) from renowned academic centres such as University of Lodz, Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, Polish Academy of Sciences (IRWiR PAN) in Warsaw, Life Science University of Poznan, Technical University in Warsaw, Institute of Urban Development in Krakow, and Maria Grzegorzewska University. What they have in common is interest in the problems of rural areas and their residents. They focus on the new model of rural development, very often identified with concepts such as multifunctional and sustainable development, on social innovation, the subject of transformations in rural residents' social roles, including rural women serving public roles, as well as on the strategies of coping with the reality used by residents of marginalized villages. The articles introduce the Readers to selected problems of development of Polish rural areas and help them to understand their complexity.Praca w części dofinansowana przez Polską Akademię Nauk / Polish Academy of Sciences IRWiR PAN / Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, 00-330 Warszawa, ul. Nowy Świat 72, Poland

AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ PROBLEMS IN SPEAKING ENGLISH DAILY LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT HUSNUL KHOTIMAH ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL

Natalia Rahayu. 14111310047. An Analysis of Students’ Problems in Speaking English Daily Language Program at Husnul Khotimah Islamic Boarding School. This research aimed at studying the student’s problems in speaking English daily language program at Husnul Khotimah Islamic Boarding School. This study tried to find the students’ problems, the factors, and the strategies to overcome with the problems in speaking English daily language of Husnul Khotimah Islamic Boarding School. This research was based on the fact that the students still have some problems in speaking English, although they have been encouraged to use English every day. This research was categorized as a descriptive research because the researcher wanted to describe the students’ problems in speaking English daily language of the second grade students of Husnul Khotimah Islamic Boarding School. The population in this research was taken from language room “Halimatussa’diyah” consisted of 19 students. The sampling technique used here was a purpose random sampling. The research instruments applied were interview and observation. These instruments were used to get the data of students’ problems in speaking English daily language program from the second year students. After giving and making interview and observation, the researcher found that students of Husnul Khotimah Islamic Boarding School had many problems it comes from their internal and external factors. The students’ still lack of understanding of grammatical patterns, incorrect pronunciation, and they limited of vocabulary mastery, minimum opportunities, students interest, mother tongue use, seldom to practice and less discipline, fear of making mistake and environment factors. Besides, they also have a psychological problem such as lack motivation. The main factors of students’ problems because the environmental factors which do not support them to implement English in daily language communication. From this factor also have a big effect for students that they lack of motivation and seldom to practice English. These show that students still have many problems of speaking English. Therefore, the teacher could give the effective strategies to overcome students’ problems. And the management also has evaluated the language program in order to overcome the obstacles that hinder because of human resources does not apply daily language program effectively. It happens because they have a different educational background, that which makes them hard to use foreign language every day, and this is also an obstacle for official in applying everyday language. Finally, this case needs management attention to evaluate the strategies to overcome the problems in speaking English daily language progra

Standardized Testing: Are the Benefits Really there?

The proponents of standardized high-stakes testing argue that this type of assessment will and does promote increased knowledge acquisition by students. The opponents of this testing claim any apparent knowledge increase as measured by improvements in tests scores are mainly due to teaching to the test. This study was done to determine whether high-stakes testing does in fact improve the knowledge of the students. Data from two national college entrance examinations were collected and reviewed changes over time as reference to knowledge improvements. Test scores from three state high-stakes tests were collected (California, Texas, and Colorado). The scores from the national tests both the national averages (composite scores) and the individual state averages were tabulated and plotted. The relative change over time was determined for the national examinations and the state examinations. The results of this study call into question the hypothesis that high-stakes testing improves results of education. The national examinations improved at approximately the same rate for the period examined (12-14 years) while the state test scores show greater changes either positively or negatively for the final 5-6 years examined. One conclusion that can be drawn by that is that the state test scores improved based on changes in what is being taught in the classroom, i.e. teaching to the test. The conclusion of this work is that the hypothesis that high-stakes testing will improve the knowledge of student must be rejected. Because of that the use and value of high-stakes testing is called into question and should be reevaluated and if not just eliminated then these tests need to be revised both in content and emphasis

Optimization of MLS receivers for multipath environments

A receiver is designed for aircraft (A/C), which, as a component of the proposed Microwave Landing System (MLS), is capable of optimal performance in the multipath environments found in air terminal areas. Topics discussed include: the angle-tracking problem of the MLS receiver; signal modeling; preliminary approaches to optimal design; suboptimal design; and simulation study

Sickle cell anemia and the black male from a psycho-social vocational perspective, 1987

Introduction Sickle Cell Disease is a term that refers to any inherited blood disorder where Sickle Cell hemoglobin is present. It is one of the major health problems that affects Black Americans in the United States today. People with Sickle Cell Disease usually have a chronic lifelong condition .Statement of the Problem The lack of familiarity with the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services for the treatment of selected adult Black male Sickle Cell patients. Statement of the Purpose This paper will focus on the effects of vocational rehabilitation on a selected group of Black males suffering with Sickle Cell Disease. With the proper guidance, Sickle Cell patients should be able to continue vocational training, complete their educational goals, and attain gainful employment regardless of their chronic illness. Methodology The methodology used to carry out this study is a Quasi-Experimental design. A pre-test and post-test were administered to twenty-two Black male Sickle Cell patients. Conclusions The projected outcome of the study is that both people diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease, and those working with the Sickle Cell patient will be better educated. It is believed that vocational rehabilitation has some positive impact on the Sickle Cell patient's overall level of functioning. Hopefully, receiving vocational rehabilitation from an understanding staff will promote a greater level of inde- pendence in the Sickle Cell patient