Changing Trends and Emerging Themes: Teaching and Learning in Post-Secondary Mathematics Classrooms

Educational institutions face increasing pressures to respond to the changing environment, including the rapid advances in technology. All curricula are subject to scrutiny, but arguably the sciences and mathematics curricula are under a special lens, given the impact of changing technology and the increasing importance accorded to the knowledge economy. This paper explores the continuing dialogue regarding the teaching and learning of mathematics including the transition from secondary to post-secondary and the emergent trends in the field of mathematics education. The recent evolution of mathematics teaching is described and the implications for the future of mathematics teaching are highlighted, including the need for an examination of the learning experiences afforded secondary and post-secondary mathematics students, as well as the need for dialogue between the secondary and post-secondary levels of mathematics education with the purpose of evidence-based development for mathematics teaching

The Politics of Mathematics: Just and Knowing Societies

Educational leaders and researchers recognize that mathematics can be an effective tool in enabling substantial advances in many fields of science and technology. However, the role that mathematics can play in shaping and creating socio-political views of societies is not as well understood. Within the mathematics’ learning community there is little discussion connecting the unique role that mathematics can play in conceptualizing a democratic society even within the democratic societies where that learning happens. Building capacity for learning in context is a critical piece of any comprehensive program but it is sometimes difficult for leaders to agree on what that context should and does look like. There are multitudes of influences at play when educational systems create and enact curricula but in order to push through the stalemate that can exist with different ideologies, it is essential to understand that mathematics can be a conduit to improvements in political social justice as well as a gateway to developments in science and technology. Mathematics has the potential to be a tool to create, as well as an instrument of influence; the key is for leaders to understand how to do both

Engaging caregivers to use an evidence‑based intervention for medicaid benefciaries with Alzheimer’s disease: a pilot study

Background This pilot study aimed to adapt an intervention, engaging informal caregivers to help clinicians with providing care to improve (or maintain) physical function of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. To the best of our knowledge, for the frst time, we report on use of the intervention in those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. Methods This was a 5-month mixed methods cohort study in a convenience sample of clinicians, caregivers, and benefciaries at 3-Medicaid Home and Community-based Service sites in Michigan. Two content experts and 5 caregivers modifed the intervention. We trained 116 clinicians to engage caregivers and 50 caregivers to help clinicians provide the modifed intervention to 52 benefciaries with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. Thematic analyses, descriptive statistics, counts, proportion comparisons, t-tests, and McNemar’s tests were used to examine socio-demographics, clinician knowledge uptake and satisfaction with training and use of the intervention; caregiver self-efcacy, feasibility, acceptability, usability, and satisfaction with intervention and benefciary outcomes (pre-/post). Results Feasibility (enrolled/recruited=78.5–86.7%), acceptability (7.55–8.35 [SD 1.50–2.06]), and usability (7.85–8.81 [SD 1.50–2.6]) of the modifed intervention (1=low;10=high) were high. Pre-/post-intervention clinician knowledge (12.33–12.28, SD 1.80–2.84; -0.52, SD 1.95) was high. Caregiver self-efcacy increased (0.81 [SD 0.62] p\u3c0.01). Benefciary outcomes did not improve nor decline (\u3e0.05). Conclusions Engaging informal caregivers to assist clinicians with providing an intervention adapted to the needs of those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias was feasible, acceptable, and usable. Further testing in a broader sample of those with dementia in various settings is needed

Bridging the Gap in Medication Access

https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/bridging_gaps2016/1000/thumbnail.jp

Spring 1984 Department Newsletter

Newsletter spotlights the department\u27s recent, successful NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) review

Emergent Strain of Human Adenovirus Endemic in Iowa

We evaluated 76 adenovirus type 7 (Ad7) isolates collected in Iowa from 1992 to 2002 and found that genome type Ad7d2 became increasingly prevalent. By 2002, it had supplanted all other Ad7 genome types. The association of Ad7d2 with severe illness and death calls for heightened public health concern

The effect of polyploidy and hybridization on the evolution of floral colour in Nicotiana (Solanaceae)

Background and Aims: We investigate whether changes in floral colour accompany polyploid and homoploid hybridisation, important processes in angiosperm evolution. Potentially, changes in floral colour can facilitate speciation through pollinator shifts. Methods: We examined spectral reflectance of corolla tissue from 60 Nicotiana (Solanaceae) accessions (41 taxa) based on spectral shape (corresponding to pigmentation) as well as bee and hummingbird colour perception to assess patterns of floral colour evolution. We compared polyploid and homoploid hybrid spectra to those of their progenitors to evaluate whether hybridisation has resulted in floral colour shifts. Key Results: Floral colour categories in Nicotiana seem to have arisen multiple times independently during the evolution of the genus. Polyploid and homoploid hybrids can display a floral colour: 1) intermediate between progenitors, 2) like one or other progenitor, or 3) a transgressive or divergent colour not present in either progenitor. Conclusions: Floral colour evolution in Nicotiana is weakly constrained by phylogeny, but colour shifts occur and are sometimes associated with allopolyploid or homoploid speciation. Transgressive floral colour in N. tabacum has arisen by inheritance of anthocyanin pigmentation from its paternal progenitor while having a plastid phenotype like its maternal progenitor. Potentially, floral colour evolution has been driven by, or resulted in, pollinator shifts

Federal Land Management Agencies: Background on Land and Resource Management

This report provides an overview of how federal lands and resources are managed, the agencies that manage the lands, the authorities under which these lands are managed, and some of the issues associated with federal land management