Revisiting the Definition of a Virtual Manipulative

In 2002, Moyer, Bolyard and Spikell defined a virtual manipulative as an “an interactive, Web-based visual representation of a dynamic object that presents opportunities for constructing mathematical knowledge” (p. 373). The purpose of this chapter is to revisit, clarify and update the definition of a virtual manipulative. After clarifying what a virtual manipulative is and what it is not, we propose an updated definition for virtual manipulative: an interactive, technology-enabled visual representation of a dynamic mathematical object, including all of the programmable features that allow it to be manipulated, that presents opportunities for constructing mathematical knowledge. The chapter describes the characteristics of five of the most common virtual manipulative environments in use in education: single-representation, multi-representation, tutorial, gaming and simulation

A Review of the Literature on Mathematics and Science Teacher Quality

A large body of literature exists that examines teacher quality characteristics and the relationship of indicators of those characteristics to teacher effectiveness. This existing research literature broadly views teacher quality research without illuminating specific areas of teacher quality, such as mathematics and science. In an effort to focus the literature base for researchers and policymakers more narrowly, this review specifically examines teacher quality as it relates to mathematics and science teaching and learning. The review highlights key policy and practitioner perspectives, provides a focused synthesis on current research findings on mathematics and science teacher quality, and suggests areas of research that are limited in the literature

Virtual Manipulatives Used by K-8 Teachers for Mathematics Instruction: Considering Mathematical, Cognitive, and Pedagogical Fidelity

This study examined teachers’ uses of virtual manipulatives across grades K-8 after participating in a professional development institute in which manipulatives and technology were the major resources used throughout all of the activities. Researchers analyzed 95 lesson summaries in which classroom teachers described their uses of virtual manipulatives during school mathematics instruction. The findings indicated that the content in a majority of the lessons focused on two National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000a) standards: Number & Operations and Geometry. Virtual geoboards, pattern blocks, base-10 blocks, and tangrams were the applets used most often by teachers. The ways teachers used the virtual manipulatives most frequently focused on investigation and skill solidification. It was common for teachers to use the virtual manipulatives alone or to use physical manipulatives first, followed by virtual manipulatives. One important finding of this study was that teachers used the virtual manipulatives during the main portion of their lessons when students were learning mathematics content. These results represent an initial exploration of teachers’ current use of virtual manipulatives in K-8 classrooms

Navigating the Academic Job Search for Environmental Engineers: Guidance for Job Seekers and Mentors

Students and postdoctoral associates interested in tenure-track environmental engineering positions have limited resources to aid them. The Student Services Committee (SSC) of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) organized a workshop to fill some of the need. Newly hired faculty and experienced search committee and department chairs shared information on how to create competitive applications. Students and postdoctoral associates were also provided with individualized feedback on their faculty application packages. Survey data were collected for all participants, and these data are presented in this paper along with tips shared during the workshop and information collected from the literature. The objective of this paper is to share that information (1) to inform applicants (students and postdoctoral associates) about the academic job search process, and (2) to inform mentors about how to mentor applicants. Survey responses revealed that participants felt they learned valuable information about the job search process. They found the personalized feedback on application packages to be the most helpful activity; other mentors are encouraged to provide similar personalized feedback. A wiki website component included in the workshop was effective at engaging the participants and helped broaden the impact beyond the workshop attendees. Key lessons learned by comparing workshop results with literature were the importance of fit, the unique diversity of environmental engineering, mentoring and networking, Ph.D. planning sessions, being informed, and becoming a more skilled candidate. The recommendations presented in this paper can be used by students, postdoctoral associates, and their mentors to facilitate the candidate’s path toward academia

Taking Professional Development From 2D to 3D: Design-Based Learning, 2D Modeling, and 3D Fabrication for Authentic Standards-Aligned Lesson Plans

There is currently significant interest in 3D fabrication in middle school classrooms. At its best 3D printing can be utilized in authentic design projects that integrate math, science, and technology, which facilitate deep learning by students. In essence, students are able to tinker in a virtual world using 3D design software and then tinker in the real world using printed parts. We describe a professional development activity we designed to enable middle school teachers who had taken part in a three-year Math Science Partnership program to authentically integrate 3D printing into design-based lessons. We include some examples of successful design-based lesson plans

The Assessment of Mathematics and Science Teacher Quality

The purpose of this study was to examine the types of instruments being used to document mathematics and science teacher quality characteristics in 48 nationally funded mathematics and science education awards. Each of the 48 projects operationalized teacher quality and determined how to assess it. The main research questions examined the instruments awardees used to gather data on mathematics and science teacher quality, and the main characteristics of teachers examined by awardees. Results showed that awardees most frequently used surveys or questionnaires to assess characteristics of mathematics and science teacher quality. The most common teacher characteristics examined by awardees\u27 included teacher behaviors, practices, and beliefs, followed by the assessment of subject and pedagogical knowledge, and the documentation of mathematics and science teachers\u27 certification. A few new instruments were under development and in use to assess characteristics of teacher quality. Detailed information on the development and psychometric properties of the instruments used for these examinations was not available from the reports. Because awardees were at different stages in their funded activities and data collection efforts were ongoing at the time of this analysis, this study offers a preliminary and formative review of the use of assessments to document mathematics and science teacher quality characteristics among these awards

Exile Vol. XLII No. 1

40th Year Title Page by Sakura Yamamoto \u2797 i Epigraph by Ezra Pound ii Table of Contents iii / Untitled (artwork) by Gretchen Hambly \u2796 iv Breughel Again, Brussels by Adrienne Fair \u2796 1 for play with whitman by alex e blazer \u2797 4 Saeta Sunday by Carl Boon \u2796 5 An Abbreviated Life by Mike Westmoreland 6 Anthem of Governor\u27s Bay by Jamey Hein \u2796 7-10 Time is everywhere, yet nowhere (artwork) by Susanne Ducker \u2796 11 Crosses by Liz Bolyard \u2796 12 Raccoons at the Cats\u27 Food by Jennifer Rudgers \u2796 13-14 Father Federico by Trish Klei \u2797 15 Dream Poem I by Colin Bossen \u2798 16 Virgin Mary in Kentucky by Amy Ard \u2796 17 the jig is up by alex e blazer \u2797 18-20 Visiting Uncle Ernie by Liz Bolyard \u2796 21-22 A Capuchin Monk by Linda Fuller-Smith 23 Sunday, October 15, 1995 by Carl Boon \u2796 24 Old Man and the Marriage Party by Trish Klei \u2797 25 Untitled (artwork) by Gretchen Hambly \u2796 26 Cowboy Up by J. Murdoch Be Matheson \u2796 27-34 Fragments by Colin Bossen \u2798 35 meditation (artwork) by alex e blazer \u2797 36 Palazzo Rezzonico by Linda Fuller-Smith 37 A Poem About The Photographic Imprint I Would Leave If A Nuclear Bomb Hit Nearby As I Took Out The Trash One Night by Trish Klei \u2797 38 The Crazies I\u27ve Called by Julie Johnston \u2796 39-46 Contributors\u27 Notes 47-48 Editorial Board 49 Editorial decisions are shared equally among the Editorial Board. -49 Cover art by alex emmons -4

Exile Vol. XLI

39th Year Cover Art by Elisa Gargarelle \u2795 (quote from J.D. Salinger\u27s Catcher in the Rye) untitled by Aileen Jones \u2797 i Girl by Colin Bossen \u2798 1 sun by Alex Blazer \u2796 2 Shifting by Alex Blazer \u2796 2 The Fish by Sarah Ramsey \u2795 3 New Woman by Lisa Stillman \u2795 4 Why by Lelei Jennings \u2795 5 Camel Cafe by Jeremy Aufrance \u2795 5 Jenny by Lizzy Loud \u2795 6 Beautiful Dreamer by Melissa Bostrom \u2796 7 Rising by Lizzy Loud \u2795 12 Pinsetter by Jeremy Aufrance \u2795 13 A Greater Distance by Jeff Boon \u2795 14 Shiho by Jeff Boon \u2795 15 Sub-stance by Alex Blazer \u2796 15 Sisters by Gretchen Hambley \u2796 16 Anne Sexton by Allison Lemieux \u2796 17 The Holy Grail... by Ed Shim \u2795 17 untitled by Liz Bolyard \u2796 18 23 by Keith Chapman \u2795 18 Bang, Zoom! by Victoria Lyall \u2796 19 Gabe and Me by Heather Trabert \u2797 20 Tornado Summer by Liz Bolyard \u2796 21 Nude by Elise Gargarella \u2795 21 Why I can\u27t tell short stories by Colin Bossen \u2798 22 america by Lynn Tramonte \u2798 24 Upon Being Asked... by Matt Makman \u2796 24 Being Azra by Lynn Tramonte \u2798 25 Mystic Truths by Adrienne Binni \u2795 27 King\u27s Court by Elisha Gargarella \u2795 27 Incense by Erin Lott \u2796 28 Sunday Morning... by Lisa Stillman \u2795 33 untitled by Elisa Gargarella \u2795 33 Quien no ha visto... by Adrienne Binni \u2795 34 The Space Between Us by Allison Lemieux \u2795 35 searching for the Bermuda... by Victoria Lyall \u2796 35 untitled by Man Chhoa \u2796 36 The Hunted by J. Murdoch Matheson \u2796 37 Editorial decisions are shared equally among the editorial board. -4

Neutropenia in Barth syndrome:characteristics, risks, and management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked disease characterized by defective remodeling of phospholipid side chains in mitochondrial membranes. Major features include neutropenia, dilated cardiomyopathy, motor delay and proximal myopathy, feeding problems, and constitutional growth delay. We conducted this review of neutropenia in BTHS to aid in the diagnosis of this disease, and to improve understanding of both the consequences of neutropenia and the benefits of treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). RECENT FINDINGS: In 88 patients with BTHS, neutropenia, that is, at least one count below 1.5 × 10/l, was detected in 74 (84%) and 44% had severe chronic neutropenia, with multiple counts below 0.5 × 10/l. The pattern of neutropenia varied between intermittent and unpredictable, chronic and severe, or cyclical with mathematically regular oscillations. Monocytosis, that is, monocytes more than 1.0 × 10/l, was observed at least once in 64 of 85 (75%) patients. G-CSF was administered to 39 of 88 patients (44%). Weekly average G-CSF doses ranged from 0.12 to 10.92 μg/kg/day (mean 1.16 μg/kg/day, median 1.16 μg/kg/day). Antibiotic prophylaxis was additionally employed in 21 of 26 neutropenic patients. Pretreatment bone marrow evaluations predominantly showed reduced myeloid maturation which normalized on G-CSF therapy in seven of 13 examined. Consistent clinical improvement, with reduced signs and symptoms of infections, was observed in response to prophylactic G-CSF ± prophylactic antibiotics. However, despite G-CSF and antibiotics, one adult patient died with multiple infections related to indwelling medical devices and gastrostomy site infection after 15.5 years on G-CSF and a pediatric patient required gastrostomy removal for recurrent abdominal wall cellulitis. SUMMARY: BTHS should be considered in any men with neutropenia accompanied by any of the characteristic features of this syndrome. Prophylaxis with G-CSF ± antibiotics prevents serious bacterial infections in the more severe neutropenic patients although infections remain a threat even in patients who are very compliant with therapy, especially in those with indwelling devices

Measuring hospital-wide activity volume for patient safety and infection control: a multi-centre study in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Japan, as in many other countries, several quality and safety assurance measures have been implemented since the 1990's. This has occurred in spite of cost containment efforts. Although government and hospital decision-makers demand comprehensive analysis of these activities at the hospital-wide level, there have been few studies that actually quantify them. Therefore, the aims of this study were to measure hospital-wide activities for patient safety and infection control through a systematic framework, and to identify the incremental volume of these activities implemented over the last five years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using the conceptual framework of incremental activity corresponding to incremental cost, we defined the scope of patient safety and infection control activities. We then drafted a questionnaire to analyze these realms. After implementing the questionnaire, we conducted several in-person interviews with managers and other staff in charge of patient safety and infection control in seven acute care teaching hospitals in Japan.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At most hospitals, nurses and clerical employees acted as the main figures in patient safety practices. The annual amount of activity ranged from 14,557 to 72,996 person-hours (per 100 beds: 6,240; per 100 staff: 3,323) across participant hospitals. Pharmacists performed more incremental activities than their proportional share. With respect to infection control activities, the annual volume ranged from 3,015 to 12,196 person-hours (per 100 beds: 1,141; per 100 staff: 613). For infection control, medical doctors and nurses tended to perform somewhat more of the duties relative to their share.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We developed a systematic framework to quantify hospital-wide activities for patient safety and infection control. We also assessed the incremental volume of these activities in Japanese hospitals under the reimbursement containment policy. Government and hospital decision makers can benefit from this type of analytic framework and its empirical findings.</p