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Rubric supported journal writing in mathematics : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Studies (Mathematics), at Massey University

Using an Action Research model, this project followed the implementation of a journal writing programme in mathematics, in a grade three (year 4) class. The effect of journal writing, as a formative assessment tool upon a single teacher's approach to the teaching and assessment of mathematics in her textbook-based, whole class mathematics programme, is the focus of the study. The teacher who participated in this project looked towards the journal writing programme to assist her in making changes to her teaching and assessment practises in mathematics, in an effort to bring them in line with her performance based approach to other areas of the curriculum. Using Greenwood's (1993) criteria for mathematical thinking, rubrics were designed to make mathematical thinking a focus of her teaching and assessment in mathematics. Several changes in the teacher's approach to the teaching and assessment of mathematics were observed within the study period and continued sustained changes were realised in the longer term. In addition, aspects of her teaching and assessment practices that were not observed to change are discussed. The suggestion is made that the potential of journal writing to be used to extend and challenge the mathematical thinking of students may be partly dependent upon the depth and breadth of the mathematical knowledge of the teacher

Differences Between Two Head Start Locations Using the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL) as a Measure of Language and Concepts

The study was conducted on a sample of 43 students between two Head Start locations, A and B. Sociodemographic information was obtained via questionnaires completed by parents at locations A and B. The Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning, Fourth Edition (DIAL-4) was the screener used to assess each child’s performance with regards to language, concept, and motoric development. There was no significant difference between locations A and B for concept and language sub-test standard scores. DIAL motor sub-test scores for locations A and B were statistically significant. This study found that the DIAL is a reliable way to measure concept and language development of preschoolers attending Head Start programs

A False Start in the Race Against Doping in Sport: Concerns With Cycling’s Biological Passport

Professional cycling has suffered from a number of doping scandals. The sport’s governing bodies have responded by implementing an aggressive new antidoping program known as the biological passport. Cycling’s biological passport marks a departure from traditional antidoping efforts, which have focused on directly detecting prohibited substances in a cyclist’s system. Instead, the biological passport tracks biological variables in a cyclist’s blood and urine over time, monitoring for fluctuations that are thought to indirectly reveal the effects of doping. Although this method of indirect detection is promising, it also raises serious legal and scientific concerns. Since its introduction, the cycling community has debated the reliability of indirect biological-passport evidence and the clarity, consistency, and transparency of its use in proving doping violations. Such uncertainty undermines the legitimacy of finding cyclists guilty of doping based on this indirect evidence alone. Antidoping authorities should address these important concerns before continuing to pursue doping sanctions against cyclists solely on the basis of their biological passports

Shift Work: Gut Health and Metabolic Disease

The number of people engaged in shift work continues to rise, and with it the research linking shift work to various diseases and conditions. Shift work changes the body’s sleeping patterns and circadian rhythms which has an effect on all parts of the body including the heart, immunity, cancer development, and inflammatory processes. Altered sleeping patterns and circadian rhythms change the composition and anatomy of the gut and microbiome, which in turn affects the development of metabolic diseases. Shift work also changes one’s eating patterns and habits. Altered eating habits similarly changes the composition and anatomy of the gut and microbiome. With the combined effects of sleep patterns and eating habits on the gut, it can be said shift work itself produces lasting and harmful effects in the gut and microbiome. These changes in the gut underlie many of the disease processes plaguing shift workers. With the gut having such widespread effects on the body, it should be the focus of research and treatment related to shift work associated disease processes

Playing with the dead:transmedia narratives and the Walking Dead games

This chapter discusses the theory and practice of transmedia narratives within the storyworld created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard’s comics series The Walking Dead. It examines key aspects from the comics series and AMC’s adaptive television franchise to consider how both have been utilized and adapted for games. Particular focus will be paid to Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead, Gamagio’s The Walking Dead Assault and Terminal Reality’s The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. The chapter explains the core concepts of transmedia narratives as they relate to The Walking Dead, places the games in the context of both the comics and television franchise, examines the significance of commercial and grassroot extensions and considers the role gaming and interactive narratives have within rich storyworlds. In examining The Walking Dead as a transmedia property, the authors demonstrate how vast narratives are adopted, modified and transformed in contemporary popular culture

Telepharmacy and the Law

Recently, an Advisory Notice was placed on the website of the New York State Board of Pharmacy entitled Automated Dispensing Machines that provide drugs for sale to customers outside of their respective registered pharmacy areas , and that it considers this to be a violation of state law 1. In support, the Notice cited the Education Law relating to the profession of pharmacy2 and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education3. Finally, ownership of the pharmacy and the Supervising Pharmacist are responsible for compliance and may be subject to disciplinary and unprofessional conduct action . The Notice did not name specific pharmacies. The Board described a form of telepharmacy that is arguably covered by a legislative proposal before the New York State legislature

Private Lorraine J. Turnbull

Pvt. Lorraine Turnbull was one of the thousands of American women to enlist in the Marine Corps Women\u27s Reserve (MCWR) during the Second World War. Turnbull was one of the 500 women Marines selected out of a pool of 8,000 Women Reservists serving in the field of aviation for duty in Hawaii. Using hundreds of the letters written by Turnbull during her war experience, one is able to piece together the true impact of the war upon WWII military women. Using select letters written by Turnbull, this research project focuses on the elements of sexism women experienced in the MCWR, the significance of letter writing to these women, the true importance of the MCWR during WWII, and the overall expansion of opportunity given to Women Reservists through the MCWR

Hollywood Homeless Youth Point-in-Time Estimate Project: An Innovative Method for Enumerating Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Homeless youth are greatly undercounted in the United States.  Census methods for homeless adults are inappropriate for homeless youth; thus, nationally, organizations are determining new methods for counting homeless youth.  In collaboration with the Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership, we utilized an agency-based approach to count and survey all homeless youth entering their facilities and encountered on their outreach activities. Between October 19 and October 25, 2012, 460 unique homeless youth were counted and surveyed in Hollywood. Of these, 222 experienced literal homelessness on the night of Thursday, October 18, 2012, and 381 experienced literal homelessness within the previous year.  Literal homelessness refers to youth who are either living in emergency or transitional housing or living on the streets or in parks, abandoned buildings, cars, subway tunnels, or other places not meant for human habitation. Of the surveyed youth who experienced literal homelessness in the last year, 65% were male, their average age was 21 years, their average age of first literal homelessness experience was17 years, and 43% were from Los Angeles. Our week-long, agency-based approached was successful in enumerating homeless youth in Hollywood.

An Improved Living Environment, But...

In 2000, the CHA received a HOPE VI grant to revitalize the Madden/Wells community by demolishing the nearly 3,000-unit dilapidated development and replacing it with a new mixed-income community named Oakwood Shores. Another development, Dearborn Homes, was slated for revitalization a few years later and was often used to house residents from other CHA developments targeted for demolition who were reluctant to leave CHA housing or had not qualified for mixed-income housing or vouchers.The plan for Dearborn Homes was to substantially rehabilitate its buildings.For over 10 years, the Urban Institute has been researching the outcomes of residents from these developments. This brief examines whether and to what extent the original residents of these distressed developments ended up in an improved living environment 3 to 10 years after relocating from Madden/Wells (the Panel Study sample) or 1 to 3 years after relocating from either Madden/Wells or the Dearborn Homes (the Demonstration sample).In general, these CHA families live in better housing in substantially safer, but still very poor, neighborhoods. Yet these gains are fragile; relocatees experience significant material hardship, and too many of those who have moved with vouchers live in neighborhoods where drug traf?cking and violent crime remain significant problems