Teacher training for curriculum enrichment procedures to be used with potential minority engineering students in Atlanta-area high schools

Issued as Final report, Project no. E-15-62

The influence of an integrated course cluster on the communication skills, technical content knowledge, and problem-solving skills of upper-level college students

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine if upper-level college students who participated in AgPAQ, an integrated course cluster learning community, would demonstrate enhanced learning in the areas of oral communication, written communication, technical content knowledge, and problem-solving;The population (N=182) consisted of students who participated in AgPAQ, the treatment group (n=33), and five comparison groups: the AgEdS 450 farm management class (n=57); the Agronomy 356 class (n=36); the Agronomy 356/English 309 integration ( n=35); the paid AgPAQ volunteer group (n=7); and the paid non-AgPAQ volunteer group (n=14). Students in these six groups worked in teams to generate the data for the study, team written reports and oral group presentations. The reports and presentations that were generated between 1999 and 2006 were scored by trained raters. AgPAQ and comparison group scores from Heppner\u27s Problem Solving Inventory (1988), the Group Oral Communication Rubric (Barnett, 2006), the Written Communication Assessment Rubric (Barnett, 2006), and the Technical Content Assessment Rubric (Gibson, et al., 2006) were analyzed;Analyses showed that AgPAQ participants scored higher on measures of oral and written communication than did comparison group participants. Also, AgPAQ participants scored higher on measures of technical content knowledge than did students in the non-AgPAQ paid volunteer group and the Agronomy 356 group. While AgPAQ participants achieved higher technical content knowledge scores than students who participated in the 356/309 integration group, the difference was not statistically significant. AgPAQ participants did not achieve higher problem-solving scores than the AgEdS 450 comparison group on three scales of the problem solving inventory: (1) individual confidence in problem-solving abilities; (2) problem approach or avoidance; and (3) control of emotions and behavior;AgPAQ fostered enhanced learning in specific areas, so upper-level learning communities---designed specifically for students in agriculture---should be continued and used as research sites. For example, compare an AgPAQ-like learning community with technical content/communication linked courses to simultaneously test multiple skill sets---written/oral communication, technical content knowledge, and problem-solving. Incorporate qualitative methods to investigate group processes and problem-solving behavior (leadership, participation, and conduct). Further, implement an introductory seminar to demonstrate AgPAQ\u27s benefits to future agriculture professionals

Effect of the Healthy Schools Program on prevalence of overweight and obesity in California schools, 2006-2012.

IntroductionThe Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program (HSP) is a national evidence-based obesity-prevention initiative aimed at providing the schools in greatest need with onsite training and technical assistance (TTA) and consultation with national experts (HSP national advisors) to create sustainable healthy change in schools' nutrition and physical activity environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of HSP on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in California schools, from HSP's inception in 2006 through 2012.MethodsWe used statewide body mass index (BMI) data collected annually from 5th-, 7th-, and 9th-grade students to determine whether enrolling in the HSP's onsite intervention reduced the prevalence of overweight and obesity in intervention schools (n = 281) versus propensity-score matched control schools (n = 709) and whether increasing exposure to the program (TTA and contact with HSP national advisors) was associated with reductions in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.ResultsAnalyses showed no difference between HSP schools and control schools in overweight or obesity prevalence. However, program exposure varied widely among participating schools, and each additional contact with TTA or HSP national advisors was associated with a 0.3% decline in overweight and obesity prevalence (P < .05).ConclusionHSP appears to be an important means of supporting schools in reducing obesity. Although participation in HSP alone was not sufficient to improve weight status in California schools, there was a clear dose-response relationship to the program. HSP serves as an effective model for addressing childhood obesity among engaged schools

Should NPOs follow international standards for financial reporting? A multinational study of views

Financial reporting is an important aspect of not-for-profit organisations' (NPOs') accountability. Globally, numerous and varying regimes exist by which jurisdictions regulate NPO financial reporting. This article explores whether NPOs should be required or expected to follow sector-specific international financial reporting standards. We investigate stakeholder perceptions on the nature and scope of any such developed standards, interpreting our findings through the lens of moral legitimacy. Using an international online survey of stakeholders involved in NPO financial reporting, we analyse 605 responses from 179 countries. Based on our findings, we argue that diverse stakeholder groups, especially those who are involved with NPO financial reporting in developing countries, are likely to grant moral legitimacy to developed NPO international accounting standards if the consequences are to enhance NPO accounting and accountability information, subject to agreement as to whether all or only NPOs of a certain size should comply and whether any such standards should be mandatory

Aquilegia, Vol. 23 No. 2, March-April 1999: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1089/thumbnail.jp

Aquilegia, Vol. 25 No. 7, November-December 2001: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1090/thumbnail.jp

Aquilegia, Vol. 22 No. 4, July-August 1998: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1085/thumbnail.jp

Aquilegia, Vol. 26 No. 5, September-October 2002: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1095/thumbnail.jp

Aquilegia, Vol. 26 No. 1, January-February 2002: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1091/thumbnail.jp

Depression and anxiety in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis in the UK: A cross-sectional study

Background The International Depression/anxiety Epidemiological Study (TIDES) in the UK aimed: (i) to establish the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst people with CF compared to a normative sample; (ii) to establish the association between mood, demographic and clinical variables; and (iii) to provide guidance for specialist-referral decision-making. Methods Patients (≥ 12 years) completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). CF-HADS scores, expressed as percentiles, were compared with a normative sample. Multiple-regression analysis explored associations between demographic, clinical and mood variables. Results Thirty-nine CF centres recruited 2065 patients. Adults with CF were similar in terms of anxiety and depression to the general population. Adolescents with CF were less anxious and depressed. For adult patients, older age, unemployment for health reasons and poor lung function were associated with disordered mood. Gender-specific CF-percentile scores were calculated. Conclusion Surveillance, with attention to gender and risk factors is advocated. This work provides unique benchmark scores to aid referral decision-making