42 research outputs found
The use of levelled assessment tasks and their impact on teaching and learning in science education
The use of Levelled Assessment Tasks (LATs) in secondary science in England has
been increasing over the past five years in response to attempts to encourage more
Assessment for Learning (AfL) strategies in the science classroom. This empirical study
investigates how LATs are used by teachers and the extent to which such tasks support
teaching and learning. An online survey of 106 teachers was used. It showed that
teachers did find that the LATs supported their teaching using AfL strategies, but
revealed that a majority of teachers do not use the tasks as formatively as they could be
used. From the online questionnaire, a descriptive framework for how the LATs support
teaching and learning is proposed. Five case studies where teachers used a LAT were
observed. The data collected included a post-lesson pupil questionnaire, an interview
with a group of pupils and an interview of the teacher. From these cases, a theory
seeking approach to educational case studies through fuzzy propositions (Bassey, 1999)
was used to develop a model of the relationship between teacher values and pupil values
to assessment tasks. The fuzzy generalisations proposed from the case studies were that:
(1) Teacher attitudes to the LATs may influence pupil attitudes to the LATs, (2)
Teachers with a ābig picture of levelsā may be more likely to use LATs formatively and
(3) Teachers who engage pupils with the notion of ālevelnessā may be more likely to
improve conceptual development of pupils. The notion of ālevelnessā is explored. This
evolves into three issues being explored: whether grades should be shared with pupils,
the LATs relationship with summative and formative assessment practices and why
such tasks have become popular with science teachers. The latter is considered in the
context of the current target-driven culture of schools in England. Finally, the future of
assessments like the LATs is discussed in relation to current policy and
recommendations for their use and development are considered
Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine-Derived O2-Alkylthymidines Are Potent Mutagenic Lesions in SOS-Induced Escherichia coli
The utility of the Historical Clinical Risk -20 Scale as a predictor of outcomes in decisions to transfer patients from high to lower levels of security-A UK perspective
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) approaches to violence risk assessment are increasingly being adopted into clinical practice in international forensic settings. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive validity of the Historical Clinical Risk -20 (HCR-20) violence risk assessment scale for outcome following transfers from high to medium security in a United Kingdom setting.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample was predominately male and mentally ill and the majority of cases were detained under the criminal section of the Mental Health Act (1986). The HCR-20 was rated based on detailed case file information on 72 cases transferred from high to medium security. Outcomes were examined, independent of risk score, and cases were classed as "success or failure" based on established criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean length of follow up was 6 years. The total HCR-20 score was a robust predictor of failure at lower levels of security and return to high security. The Clinical and Risk management items contributed most to predictive accuracy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although the HCR-20 was designed as a violence risk prediction tool our findings suggest it has potential utility in decisions to transfer patients from high to lower levels of security.</p
Pulsed laser deposition of Ga-La-S chalcogenide glass thin film optical waveguides
Thin film optical waveguides of the chalcogenide glass Ga-La-S have been deposited on substrates of CaF2 and microscope glass by the technique of pulsed laser deposition. The chalcogenide properties of photobleaching, photodoping, and photoinduced refractive index changes have been observed and preliminary experiments carried out. The refractive index and thickness of the layer were verified using a waveguide "dark mode" analysis technique
Secondary Studentsā Thinking about Familiar Phenomena: Learnersā explanations from a curriculum context where āparticlesā is a key idea for organising teaching and learning
Keys to the House: Unlocking Residential Savings With Program Models for Home Energy Upgrades
After more than 40 years of effort, energy efficiency program administrators and associated contractors still find it challenging to penetrate the home retrofit market, especially at levels commensurate with state and federal goals for energy savings and emissions reductions. Residential retrofit programs further have not coalesced around a reliably successful model. They still vary in design, implementation and performance, and they remain among the more difficult and costly options for acquiring savings in the residential sector. If programs are to contribute fully to meeting resource and policy objectives, administrators need to understand what program elements are key to acquiring residential savings as cost effectively as possible. To that end, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored a comprehensive review and analysis of home energy upgrade programs with proven track records, focusing on those with robustly verified savings and constituting good examples for replication. The study team reviewed evaluations for the period 2010 to 2014 for 134 programs that are funded by customers of investor-owned utilities. All are programs that promote multi-measure retrofits or major system upgrades. We paid particular attention to useful design and implementation features, costs, and savings for nearly 30 programs with rigorous evaluations of performance. This meta-analysis describes program models and implementation strategies for (1) direct install retrofits; (2) heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) replacement and early retirement; and (3) comprehensive, whole-home retrofits. We analyze costs and impacts of these program models, in terms of both energy savings and emissions avoided. These program models can be useful guides as states consider expanding their strategies for acquiring energy savings as a resource and for emissions reductions. We also discuss the challenges of using evaluations to create program models that can be confidently applied in multiple jurisdictions
Recommended from our members
Keys to the House: Unlocking Residential Savings With Program Models for Home Energy Upgrades
After more than 40 years of effort, energy efficiency program administrators and associated contractors still find it challenging to penetrate the home retrofit market, especially at levels commensurate with state and federal goals for energy savings and emissions reductions. Residential retrofit programs further have not coalesced around a reliably successful model. They still vary in design, implementation and performance, and they remain among the more difficult and costly options for acquiring savings in the residential sector. If programs are to contribute fully to meeting resource and policy objectives, administrators need to understand what program elements are key to acquiring residential savings as cost effectively as possible. To that end, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored a comprehensive review and analysis of home energy upgrade programs with proven track records, focusing on those with robustly verified savings and constituting good examples for replication. The study team reviewed evaluations for the period 2010 to 2014 for 134 programs that are funded by customers of investor-owned utilities. All are programs that promote multi-measure retrofits or major system upgrades. We paid particular attention to useful design and implementation features, costs, and savings for nearly 30 programs with rigorous evaluations of performance. This meta-analysis describes program models and implementation strategies for (1) direct install retrofits; (2) heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) replacement and early retirement; and (3) comprehensive, whole-home retrofits. We analyze costs and impacts of these program models, in terms of both energy savings and emissions avoided. These program models can be useful guides as states consider expanding their strategies for acquiring energy savings as a resource and for emissions reductions. We also discuss the challenges of using evaluations to create program models that can be confidently applied in multiple jurisdictions
Recommended from our members
Keys to the House: Unlocking Residential Savings With Program Models for Home Energy Upgrades
After more than 40 years of effort, energy efficiency program administrators and associated contractors still find it challenging to penetrate the home retrofit market, especially at levels commensurate with state and federal goals for energy savings and emissions reductions. Residential retrofit programs further have not coalesced around a reliably successful model. They still vary in design, implementation and performance, and they remain among the more difficult and costly options for acquiring savings in the residential sector. If programs are to contribute fully to meeting resource and policy objectives, administrators need to understand what program elements are key to acquiring residential savings as cost effectively as possible. To that end, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored a comprehensive review and analysis of home energy upgrade programs with proven track records, focusing on those with robustly verified savings and constituting good examples for replication. The study team reviewed evaluations for the period 2010 to 2014 for 134 programs that are funded by customers of investor-owned utilities. All are programs that promote multi-measure retrofits or major system upgrades. We paid particular attention to useful design and implementation features, costs, and savings for nearly 30 programs with rigorous evaluations of performance. This meta-analysis describes program models and implementation strategies for (1) direct install retrofits; (2) heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) replacement and early retirement; and (3) comprehensive, whole-home retrofits. We analyze costs and impacts of these program models, in terms of both energy savings and emissions avoided. These program models can be useful guides as states consider expanding their strategies for acquiring energy savings as a resource and for emissions reductions. We also discuss the challenges of using evaluations to create program models that can be confidently applied in multiple jurisdictions