Technology Paved the Road for Students in a High-School Dropout Recovery Program to an Online College Class

Although there are Federal programs that are intended to assist a wide range of people with getting a college education, the educational attainment statistics confirm that these programs are not reaching the students who are the least apt to go to college. This chapter describes how technology enabled 52 inner-city high school students, 49% of whom had cumulative high school grade point averages (GPA) that were between 1.0 and 1.9 points, to be dually enrolled in an online college class and their online high school classes. The class average for the quizzes the students completed was 88% and the students who took the final exam scored, on average, 86%. There were some unexpected delays and difficulties along the way, but the students performed at a college level in a difficult class

Can Professional Development Programs Help Close the Achievement Gap?

This paper explores the question of whether it is possible to design professional development programs for teachers that can significantly improve student test results and reduce the achievement gap for students. The Dayton (Ohio) Foundation and the Montgomery County (Ohio) Educational Service Center, sponsors of The Miami Valley Teacher/Leadership Academy, answer this question with a resounding yes. Recent results indicate that the academy\u27s two-year program, designed to provide professional development to help improve student test scores, not only succeeded in significantly improving the student proficiency mean score, but also considerably reduced the achievement gap for participating students. This paper includes two parts. First, the authors discuss how to measure the achievement gap and assess its changes in individual classrooms. Second, they report the findings of an original research project relative to affecting the achievement gap

QTC is Associated with Obesity and Physical Activity Level for African American Females

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular or ischemic disease mortality. Obesity as a cause for acquired LQTS in otherwise healthy individuals is rapidly gaining the attention of the scientific community. African American people have a higher incidence of obesity compared to Caucasians, yet race-specific information is not available for their prevalence of LQTS. Chronic physical activity can help reduce the incidence of obesity, yet little is known about the effects of chronic physical activity on acquired LQTS. Subjects in this study were a volunteer sample of African American mothers (21-53 yr, n = 44) and daughters (5-17 yr, n = 66) recruited from the inner city Dayton, Ohio community using posters placed in a local agency that provides assistance for mothers with children. Electrocardiograph (ECG) tracings were drawn, and body weight and height were measured without shoes. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated (weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). Each subject completed an interviewer administered physical activity questionnaire. QTc (QT interval corrected for heart rate) data were grouped according to subject body mass index (BMI) for normal weight (BMI \u3c 25), overweight (BMI 25 -29.99), and obesity (BMI\u3e30) and statistically analyzed using an ANOVA test to determine if QTc duration was significantly different between BMI groups. Correlation tests were run between physical activity level and QTc, and between mothers\u27 and daughters\u27 QTc. Results indicated a longer QTc for obese mothers and daughters compared to normal-weight mothers and daughters (p = 0.003). Self-reported PA was inversely associated with QTc for mothers and daughters, but reached statistical significance (r = -0.46; p \u3c 0.001) for the obese daughters only. Mother and daughter QTc durations were significantly and positively correlated (r = 0.42; p \u3c 0.0001). These results indicate a positive association between obesity and QTc and an inverse association between PA and QTc

The Mind-Body Connection: The Association between Adolescent Locus of Control and Indicators of Physical Health

Locus of control (LOC) describes an individual’s generalized beliefs or expectancies that their reinforcements are under internal versus external control (1). An individual exhibits either an internal or external LOC. This study examines the link between LOC and selected health risk factors in adolescents. A convenience sample of 167 high school physical education students completed a 13-item LOC questionnaire based on Rotter’s 1966 instrument. Various anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and body fat were recorded on all subjects. A subsample of 61 female students received blood chemistry analysis that included a lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Apo A-1, and Apo B. Mean body fat percents and LOC scores were significantly correlated (r=0.208; p=0.006), and mean body fat percent was significantly different between the internal and external LOC groups (p=0.039). Regression equations were developed to predict HbA1c from hip circumference and LOC, and to predict Apo A-1 from LOC. Predictability was 99.8% and 97% respectively. We conclude that, with further research, LOC may prove to be a useful tool for screening large groups of adolescents for disease risk

High Dietary Fat Intake is not Associated with High Levels of Circulating Lipoproteins or Total Cholesterol

The objective of this study was to determine the association between dietary intake of fats, waist to hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), and blood lipoproteins and total cholesterol (TC) using food frequency data in one group of apparently healthy, urban African American women and their daughters (n = 110). Subjects were fasted when blood was drawn, waist and hip circumferences and body weight and height were measured, and WHR and BMI were calculated. Average daily total fat intakes were 91.46 g and 77.83 g for mothers and daughters, respectively, but average LDL levels of 104.4 g/L and 103.1 g/L were low compared to the NIH cutoff point for normal LDL of less than 130 g/L. The data support the recent findings that race may exert an independent effect on the relationship between high dietary fat intakes and blood lipid values in that high dietary fat intakes were not significantly correlated with high levels of circulating lipids for these relatively young African American females

Systematically Controlling for the Influence of Age, Sex, Hertz and Time Post-Whole-Body Vibration Exposure on Four Measures of Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Cross-Over Study

Though popular, there is little agreement on what whole-body vibration (WBV) parameters will optimize performance. This study aimed to clarify the effects of age, sex, hertz and time on four physical function indicators in community-dwelling older adults (N = 32). Participants were exposed to 2 min WBV per session at either 2 Hz or 26 Hz and outcome measures were recorded at 2, 20 and 40 min post-WBV. Timed get up-and-go and chair sit-and-reach performances improved post-WBV for both sexes, were significantly different between 2 Hz and 26 Hz treatments (P ≤ 0.05) and showed statistically significant interactions between age and gender (P ≤ 0.01). Counter movement jump and timed one-legged stance performances showed a similar but non-significant response to 2 Hz and 26 Hz treatments, though male subjects showed a distinct trended response. Age and gender should be statistically controlled and both 2 Hz and 26 Hz exert a treatment effect

Developing Online Learning Materials for Higher Education: An Overview of Current Issues

The changing roles and challenges for higher education and the increased productivity required of faculty are driving forces for the development of more diverse and efficient teaching methods. Educational trends are toward more learner-centered materials. In response to these trends, colleges and universities are now offering courses at a distance and in forms other than traditional delivery. Online courseware materials may be a viable means of fulfilling these numerous requirements but are very resource-intensive to develop. Multiple approaches to developing online learning have been tried, with limited success. The primary approach has been for faculty to enter their own course materials into the computer. To maximize university resources, the most effective approach for developing online learning materials must be determined and institutionalized. While faculty are the most logical persons to provide course content and design, faculty should not be expected to complete the technical tasks associated with developing online learning materials

Whole-Body Vibration Improves Functional Mobility, Flexibility, and Relative Risk for Falling in the Assisted Living Elderly: A Case Series

Study design: A randomized double blind repeated measures, case series study of whole body vibration (WBV) in the assisted living elderly. Background: A single exposure to WBV has been shown to have benefit with respect to muscle activity, strength, balance, and power in some studies while other studies have found no benefit. Its overall effectiveness is unknown due to the conflicting findings reported in the literature. Case description: Six subjects (5 female, 1 male; mean age = 85.4) in an assisted living community volunteered to participate. Subjects were exposed to a single bout of WBV at 0, 2, 20, and 26 Hz. Dependent variables including timed get up and go, chair sit and reach, one-legged stance time, and counter-movement jump were collected ten minutes prior, and two, twenty, forty, and sixty minutes after exposure. Published times for predicting falls using the timed up and go test and one-legged stance time were used to determine the number of outcome measures predicting falls prior to WBV. This was then compared to the number of outcome measures that predicted falls after exposure to determine any change. Outcomes: WBV had no statistically significant effect on mobility in the elderly. However, trends suggest mean timed get up and go may improve after 20 Hz and 26Hz. Mean chair sit and reach showed minimal improvement with time bilaterally following all frequencies of WBV. No trends were found for one-legged stance time and counter-movement jump. The fall risk assessment suggested improvements following 2 Hz of WBV, but findings were not significant. Conclusion: WBV had no significant effect on mobility in the assisted living elderly. Further research with larger sample size would be beneficial

Field Testing Adolescent Females for Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Over-fatness and poor cardiovascular (CV) fitness are well-documented risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults, but less is known about their association with disease risk in adolescents. This study aimed to determine the relationship between anthropometrics, fitness, and CVD risk. Six anthropometric indicators of body fatness, seven measures of fitness, and seven metabolic and hemodynamic CVD risk factors were measured in a convenience sample of 28 female high school students (15-18 years of age). A tally was made of the number of factors for which each subject was outside the normal reference range (CVD risk). Correlation analyses were completed to determine the association between CVD risk and other study variables and regression analyses were completed to determine if any fitness or anthropometric variables were significant predictors of CVD risk. All anthropometric indicators of fatness were highly significantly correlated with CVD risk (P≤0.0001), while only three fitness variables reached a lower level of significance (P≤0.05). WC was the single best anthropometric or fitness predictor of the variance in CVD risk factors (r2=.742; p≤0.004). While SBP was the single best predictor of the variance in CVD risk when all study variables were considered (r2=.932; p≤0.0001). Anthropometric indicators of body fatness were more significantly associated with and predictive of CVD risk compared to fitness variables in a convenience sample of 28 female high school students. Non-invasive measures that are easily obtained in the school setting may be useful in identifying adolescent females at high risk for developing CVD

The Effects of Home-based Pilates in Healthy College-Age Females

Objectives: To quantify and determine the effects of Pilates on core endurance, hamstring flexibility, balance, body composition/mass and perceived stress level in healthy college age females. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial design. Background: Emerging research on the Pilates technique is inconclusive regarding benefits to core endurance, flexibility, balance, body mass, and perceived stress. Methods and Measures: Female college students (n=57; 18-35 years old) were randomly assigned to a Pilates group, who exercised at home with a DVD, or a control group who did not engage in Pilates practice. Core endurance, hamstring flexibility, balance, body composition and stress measurements were taken at baseline and at 10 weeks. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between groups for multidirectional standing reach test results, specifically reaching to the right and right hamstring flexibility. Conclusion: Pilates practice resulted in gains in balance and hamstring flexibility among college-aged females. Limitations in this study including the unknown level of activity of the control group warrant further investigation. Additional research is needed to determine if Pilates has a significant effect on core endurance, body composition and perceived stress level