SOME COMMENTS ON A MODAL ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

An ontological argument for God’s existence is any argument which attempts to prove the existence of God by reason alone. Its only resources are concepts (especially the concept of God) and logical inferences involving those concepts

Principal professional development and principal self-efficacy in an urban school district.

Educator professional development (PD) is a heavily relied upon method for school improvement, and administrator professional development (APD) is a key element to nearly all school reform efforts. District-wide APD in large school districts can carry a heavy cost in financial and human resources. Moreover, PD is frequently too inadequately planned and/or implemented to bring about lasting positive change in educator practice, school reform, and student achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between principal PD focused on culture/climate or instruction and principal self-efficacy in an urban school district. Through hierarchical linear multiple regression (HLMR), this study explored the predictive ability of culture/climate or instruction-focused APD, principal experience, school factors, and student achievement on principal self-efficacy. Additional correlational and HLMR analyses examined the relationships and predictive utility of these variables on student achievement. Findings of nonsignificant predictors and weak but significant correlations suggest that APD for these principals may not have contributed to principal self-efficacy or student achievement. The findings of this study have implications for district leaders in planning and developing effective APD and for future research

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Problem-Based Computer Modelling Module From the Student\u27s Perspective

The Computer Modelling module delivered to the third year Level 8 Mechanical Engineering students in the Technological University Dublin is marked completely by continual assessment. It was developed using a problem based approach in that the theory of Computer Modelling methods is first explained but is then illustrated by demonstrating its application to the solution of real life problems. It is delivered in a traditional manner for the first six weeks in that the underlying principles and techniques of the finite difference method are covered in lectures and practical assignments are completed in the weekly computer laboratory classes. A problem based approach is adopted for the remaining six weeks of the semester. The students form their own groups of three and choose a unique project from a list supplied to them. The primary aim is to get the students to use numerical modelling to solve practical Engineering problems drawn from many different areas such as thermal processing in the food industry, heat transfer in engines, fluid modelling using ANSYS CFX and vibration analysis of structures and machines using Matlab. The students are assigned a supervisor who meets them for at least 30 minutes each week to advise them and to monitor their progress. Each individual student is held to account for their contribution to the project effort. At the end of the semester, each group must create an A1 poster on their particular topic. They are given a standard template to follow and are advised on the structure including Literature Review, Methodologies, Results and Conclusions. The students are assessed on a ten minute presentation of their project to the module lecturers and their peers. A shorter open session is also held in which the students must present their posters to other staff members and students and a prize is awarded to the best poster. A survey was carried out on a group of 12 students who completed the module in 2013.It includes fourteen questions under the headings: Group Dynamics, Project Management, Poster Presentation and Personal View of the Project. In addition, a focus group with a small number of students who had completed the module in 2012 was conducted independently by the second author. The response of the survey was mainly positive with some negative comments. The comments of the focus were broadly in line with the more positive comments from the survey. The responses from the survey and focus groups are reported and discussed in the paper. The overall conclusion is that in general, the module is perceived to be enjoyable and challenging to complete and it equips the students with useful skills going forward

Surprising Comparison Of Risk And Return Factors Between Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) And The S&P 500 Index During The 2000-2011 Time Period

We composed and contrasted stock returns for large capitalized companies (S&P 500) with returns of real estate investment trusts using the Financial Times equity, mortgage and composite indexes. The time period which was chosen was 2000 through 2011. This period is significant because up until the crash of 2008, the real estate bubble was forming. Major real estate problems were already in force in 2007, but serious deflation really did not fully commence until the stock market crash in the late summer and early fall of 2008. With such heavy doses of deflation, one would think real estate was doomed. We found that average returns for the S&P 500 during this time period was 2.44% vs. a 13.73% average return for the composite Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) index. We calculated the geometric returns of .0054% for the S&P 500 vs. 11.21% for the composite REIT. This geometric return calculation was necessary because of many negative returns over a short period of time. The real surprise came when we risk adjusted our numbers using coefficients of variation. Using average returns, we found that the S&P 500 took 7.9959 units of risk for each unit of return, while the composite REIT composite only took 1.6497 units of risk per return. Even the SE Mortgage index only took 2.4914 units of risk per unit of return, while the Equity REIT index took on 1.5744 units of risk per return. Utilizing geometric returns or compounded rates of return, we found a coefficient of variation (CV) of 9.755 for the S&P 500, where the composite REIT experienced a 2.0205 CV and the FTSE Mortgage index showed a 4.0023 CV. Even though mortgage REITs took a greater hit than equity REITs, we still found a favorable relationship of risk and return vs. investment in common stocks. Money managers, who were properly diversified, rode out the financial storm much more comfortably with REITs as part of their diversification parameters

Endurantism Endures: Rejoinder to Barker and Dowe

In Barker and Dowe (2005), Stephen Barker and Phil Dowe present a range of arguments which they take to demonstrate the paradoxical nature of endurantism. I claim that the endurantist has convincing replies to each argument

Science for life: an evaluation of New Zealand\u27s health research investment system based on international benchmarks

During the past decade there have been major developments in the way that research investments have been monitored and evaluated. While there are differences in the ways governments fund research around the world, and a diversity of approaches to evaluation, there are a number of common themes that can be observed in national experiences. As the importance of evaluation increases, the gap between current practice and best practice becomes more significant, and the need for comparative study and methods development grows. Current international ‘better-practice’ approaches to research evaluation and performance indicators reflect two important considerations. First, they make a clear distinction between input, output and outcome indicators and assessments of impact. Only limited refinements have occurred in recent years in input and output performance indicators. However, quite considerable developments have occurred in relation to the development of indicators and approaches for assessing the outcomes and impact of research.1 Second, evaluation and reporting mechanisms vary considerably according to the intended audience for the reporting. In particular, as nations move toward strategically targeting limited government research resources reporting demands at the programme level, and for specific stakeholder groups becomes all the more pressing