Creating a Model and Professional Learning to Support the Design of Authentic Student Learning Tasks

This purpose of this dissertation in practice is to develop a learning/technology framework called the Authentic Learning with Technology Model, and six professional learning modules to help teachers design more authentic student learning tasks in their classrooms. Research shows that student academic performance increases when students are cognitively engaged in the classroom, which occurs when they experience challenging, authentic learning tasks. Learning frameworks, technology, and ongoing professional learning experiences can support teachers design authentic learning tasks when used effectively. Unfortunately, research demonstrates 1) schools rarely use consistent learning frameworks, 2) technology is limited to traditional teaching practices, and 3)professional learning is limited and ineffective. The study population of interest is New York City public school K-12 classroom teachers, principals, and academic coaches. Participants experienced six in-session professional development modules accompanied by additional online support resources in an iTunes U course. Participants selected and redesigned examples of their own student learning tasks to increase the level of authenticity, in part by the use of technology. Tasks were collected to demonstrate levels of authenticity before and after the professional development. 12 out of 15 tasks(80%) increased authenticity from learning and technology perspectives, 2 out of 15 tasks (13%) stayed at the same level of authenticity, and 1 task (7%) decreased in authenticity. Participants completed qualitative surveys to ascertain whether or not the professional development modules supported a shift in their thinking towards learning, technology, and authenticity of their tasks. A majority of participants found the ALTmodel effective in helping them rethink the extent to which their tasks engaged students in deeper cognition and effective technology use. Participants also felt the modules inspired them to change their short-term and long-term practice with respect to designing more authentic student learning experiences that effectively incorporate technology

Fluoride investigations in the Dalles area, 1968-1974

Percent fruit set of `Royal Ann' sweet cherries during 1967, 1969, and 1970 was found to increase with distance and decrease with increasing direction (from 0-140 degrees, based on East = 0 degrees) from the aluminum reduction plant in The Dalles, Oregon. Correlative studies also indicate that annual growth and number of buds and spurs (for growth years 1965-1969) increased as distance from the aluminum reduction plant increased, decreased with clockwise direction, and decreased as fluoride leaf levels increased. Similar results were found with air and vegetative fluoride sampling patterns, although these data were also influenced by wind direction. Areas closer to and downwind from the aluminum plant tended to have higher air and vegetative fluoride levels. Comparison studies of various fluoride air samplers at one location indicated that filter paper samplers were in close agreement with an automated bubbler system.Published February 1976. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Fluoride investigations at the Mid-Columbia Experiment Station, 1961-1979

Fruit set of sweet cherries was reduced if sprays containing fluoride (sodium or ammonium fluoride or hydrofluoric acid) were applied during anthesis. Sprays applied at other times during the fruit-growing season caused fruit and leaf symptoms, depending on the concentration of fluoride, but no reductions in fruit set. Symptoms of fluoride toxicity were blackening, shriveling, and "dimpling"; increased firmness of the stylar end of the fruit and marginal necrosis; interveinal chlorosis, cupping, reduced leaf size, and a loss of leaf tip. Similar responses were found, both with respect to fruit set and symptom expression, when sweet cherry limbs were enclosed in mylar cages and fumigated with gaseous hydrogen fluoride for varying periods of time at varying air fluoride concentrations. Fruit set reduction was linearly related to increasing dose of fluoride (expressed as hours exposure times concentration of fluoride in μg/m'). Germination of pollen and growth of pollen tubes were found to be inhibited by fluoride. Growth of fruit and vegetative tissues was influenced only at the higher levels of gaseous fluoride tested (4-6 )Ag/m') and generally after whole season treatment.Published April 1982. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Influence of preharvest treatments to reduce the seasonality of persimmon production on color, texture and antioxidant properties during storage

[EN] Persimmon production has increased considerably, thanks to techniques for removing astringency whilst maintaining the strong consistency. Currently, the needs of cooperatives are focused on increasing the commercial period. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of preharvest treatments (paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Ethephon to accelerate ripening and GA3 to delay it) on persimmon size, composition, color index (CI), texture and antioxidant properties over 11 days of postharvest storage at 4ºC. The results showed that the size of fruits subjected to preharvest treatment was smaller than in untreated fruit. Moreover, CI of the apical zone was higher in samples of standard ripening throughout the first few days of storage. It is also noteworthy that the treated fruits at the beginning of storage reported greater antioxidant properties. Finally, the evolution of the antioxidants has been fitted with a first-order model to predict their kinetic degradation depending on the persimmon harvest period.The authors thank the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the PhD scholarship of the author Ruth Martinez Las Heras.Martínez Las Heras, R.; Amigo-Sánchez J.C.; Heredia Gutiérrez, AB.; Castelló Gómez, ML.; Andrés Grau, AM. (2015). Influence of preharvest treatments to reduce the seasonality of persimmon production on color, texture and antioxidant properties during storage. CyTA - Journal of Food. 14(2):333-339. doi:10.1080/19476337.2015.1113204S33333914

A competence-based and multidimensional operationalization and measurement of employability

Employability is a critical requirement for enabling both sustained competitive advantage at the firm level and career success at the individual level. We propose a competence-based approach to employability derived from an expansion of the resource-based view of the firm. In this contribution, we present a reliable and valid instrument for measuring employability. This measure is based on a five-dimensional conceptualization of employability, in which occupational expertise is complemented with generic competences. Two sources of raters (employees and their immediate supervisors) are involved in developing and testing the measure. Since the five dimensions of employability explain a significant amount of variance in both objective and subjective career success, the predictive validity of the tool is promising. This instrument facilitates further scientific HRM research and is of practical value in light of job and career assessments, recruitment, staffing, career mobility, and development practice

Knowledge management related training strategies in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia construction industry: An empirical study

The growing popularity of knowledge management (KM) in the construction industry has, unfortunately, not been matched by parallel empirical research in training and benefits of KM for construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This paper discusses the KM related training strategies implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia construction industry. Given the relatively new and unexplored nature of the research problem, qualitative research method was adopted to collect and analyse data. Results are based on the analysis of data from 46 professionals from KSA construction organisations. This paper concludes that training interventions are a complex and context-embedded activity. The current study results suggests that for effective implementation of KM strategies, there is an urgent need for KSA construction industry to develop and deploy appropriate KM related management training programmes. Leadership plays an important role in breaking down barriers in achieving KM strategies. The practical implication of this research is that the KM should not only focus on the specific knowledge to be captured, shared, mapped and transferred between individuals but should also address strategic concerns at group and organisational levels