An Assessment of the Perceived Value of Teacher Portfolios in the Early Years Enhancement (EYE) Program by Primary and Secondary Teachers in Utah\u27s Schools

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of the teacher portfolio as an evaluation of professional development in Utah\u27s new teacher licensing--the Early Year\u27s Enhancement (EYE) program. This study explored teacher perceptions of the value of the portfolio. Results of the study identified the perceived value of teacher portfolios related to: (a) accuracy as an evaluation tool, (b) usefulness with respect to teacher professional growth, (c) feasibility with regard to teacher time, and (d) appropriateness related to the effect of portfolios on teaching practices. It also identified the relationship of the teacher\u27s perceived value and the required district portfolio format, teaching assignment, age of teacher, number of years teaching, district employed by, district training in portfolio development, and district use of the portfolio. Using a mixed method survey design, data were collected from the new teachers who had completed the EYE evaluation in the 40 school districts of Utah during the 4 years since its implementation. Teacher surveys developed by Tucker, Stronge, and Gareis were adapted, delivered electronically, and utilized to provide both quantitative and qualitative data. Telephone interviews with the district EYE contact provided additional information for the study. The results of the study indicated that new teachers perceived the EYE portfolio as minimally effective as an accurate, useful, feasible, and appropriate tool for measuring professional development. A relationship was found in the teacher\u27s assignment, age, district, portfolio training level, and the district\u27s use of the portfolio and their perception of value. Teachers identified self-reflection as an important advantage and the time requirement as a critical disadvantage of the portfolio process

Detection of the TCDD binding-fingerprint within the Ah receptor ligand binding domain by structurally driven mutagenesis and functional analysis

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent, basic helix-loop-helix Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS)-containing transcription factor that can bind and be activated by structurally diverse chemicals, including the toxic environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Our previous three-dimensional homology model of the mouse AhR (mAhR) PAS B ligand binding domain allowed identification of the binding site and its experimental validation. We have extended this analysis by conducting comparative structural modeling studies of the ligand binding domains of six additional highaffinity mammalian AhRs. These results, coupled with site-directed mutagenesis and AhR functional analysis, have allowed detection of the "TCDD binding-fingerprint" of conserved residues within the ligand binding cavity necessary for high-affinity TCDD binding and TCDD-dependent AhR transformation DNA binding. The essential role of selected residues was further evaluated using molecular docking simulations of TCDD with both wild-type and mutant mAhRs. Taken together, our results dramatically improve our understanding of the molecular determinants of TCDD binding and provide a basis for future studies directed toward rationalizing the observed species differences in AhR sensitivity to TCDD and understanding the mechanistic basis for the dramatic diversity in AhR ligand structure. © 2009 American Chemical Society

Tablet computers in assessing performance in a high stakes exam : opinion matters

The authors would like to thank Dr Craig brown, University of Aberdeen for assistance with data analysis.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Heart And A Rose

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When The Sheep Are In The Fold, Jennie Dear

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When the Whip-Poor-Will Sings Marguerite

VERSE 1The whip-poor-will at twilight’s glow was singing,The cricket chirp’d it’s “Goodnight” lullaby,The dear old village bells were sweetly ringing,As you held me in your arms and said, “Goodbye;”You told me of a love that naught could sever,Of happy days when you and I should wed,You kissed my lips to part perhaps, forever.Then held my hand a moment while you said: CHORUSWhen the whip-poor-will sings Marguerite,And forget-me-nots bloom at your feet,You may know though you yearn, that to you I’ll return,Love’s old story again to repeat;So be true little girl I entreat,Till the time when again we shall meet,Let love’s star brightly shine,I’ll return sweetheart mine,When the whip-poor-will sings Marguerite. VERSE 2For weary days I’ve waited your returning,I’ve longed to see your dear face once again,The whip-poor-will is singing, I am yearning,For my longing and my waiting was in vain;‘Neath dear old southern shies tonight you’re sleeping,The Swanee river flows upon its way,For old time’s sake your love I still am keeping,At twilight’s glow, I seem to hear you say: CHORU

Neatth The Old Acorn Tree, Sweet Estelle

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Jogging not running: A narrative approach to exploring ‘exercise as leisure’ after a life in elite football

As research has shown, former elite athletes often struggle to adapt to aspects of their post-sport lives. This can include the management of their identities, dealing with the uncertainty of their new roles, and negotiating the changes that occur to their bodies. In this paper we discuss an under-reported challenge facing retired athletes: how to manage their ongoing relationship with exercise. To address this issue we adopted a narrative approach, based on the first author’s experiences as a former football player, to provide a socio-cultural reading of the various challenges involved in the transition from exercise as a vocation to a leisure activity. We suggest that these stories demonstrate that in retirement, former athletes’ docility, while seemingly advantageous, can also be a significant obstacle to developing alternative meanings for exercise, including as a potential re-creative or leisure activity that can become meaningful and important in its own right

Someone Is Waiting At Home, Sweet Home

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