Implementing Proficiency-Based Learning: Perspectives Of Three Vermont High School Social Studies Teachers

ABSTRACT The passage of Act 77 in June 2013 and the Educational Quality Standards passed in April 2014 are significantly changing the way education is being conceptualized in Vermont. These two policy mandates called for all Vermont high schools to shift to proficiency-based learning (PBL), also known as standards-based, competency-based or mastery-based learning, by 2020. Yet scant research exists on how to implement PBL. This qualitative study addresses this need by examining the perspectives of three exemplary high school social studies teachers who were early adopters of proficiency- based instruction and learning in their classrooms. The research centered on questions about the teachers\u27 perspectives on the curricular, instructional, and assessment shifts accompanying and supporting the implementation of PBL. The theoretical framework that informed this study was constructivist theory and the notion that knowledge is socially constructed through the learner\u27s interaction with the world (Brooks & Brooks, 1999). The study focused on teachers\u27 perspectives on and understandings of these shifts in order to capture innovative tools, strategies, and instructional approaches they developed as they implemented PBL. The findings may inform the thinking of social studies educators, administrators, policy makers, students, and other stakeholders interested in implementing PBL. The major findings that emerged in this study included several key components the teachers identified as vital to PBL implementation in a classroom including the need to: 1) identify key skills and concepts required to meet proficiencies, 2) use targeted and ongoing feedback with learners, 3) enact a curricular design that situates proficiencies in authentic experiences that provide multiple opportunities for practice, 4) support the emergence of new structures in high schools such as larger chunks of time with students, high school teaming, and flexible grouping of students, and 5) teach students explicitly about the learning process. The study also identified several broader policy considerations related to the implementation of PBL including a need for: 1) targeted professional development, 2) restructured school schedules to accommodate collaborative learning conversations among educators, administrators, and students, 3) collaboratively designed (including student voice) learning proficiencies that create a coherent experience from grades 9 to 12 (Fullan, 2016), and 4) redesigned preservice teacher training so that newly credentialed teachers are prepared to teach in proficiency-based centered learning environments

Effects of a Short-Term Neuromuscular Training Program on Jump Performance and Landing Mechanics

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Extracting Structural Information of a Heteropolymer from Force-Extension Curves

We present a theory for the reverse analysis on the sequence information of a single H/P two-letter random hetero-polymer (RHP) from its force-extension(f-z) curves during quasi static stretching. Upon stretching of a self-assembled RHP, it undergoes several structural transitions. The typical elastic response of a hetero-polymeric globule is a set of overlapping saw-tooth patterns. With consideration of the height and the position of the overlapping saw-tooth shape, we analyze the possibility of extracting the binding energies of the internal domains and the corresponding block sizes of the contributing conformations.Comment: 5 figures 7 page

Epigenetic Silencing in Friedreich Ataxia Is Associated with Depletion of CTCF (CCCTC-Binding Factor) and Antisense Transcription

Background: Over 15 inherited diseases are caused by expansion of triplet-repeats. Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) patients are homozygous for an expanded GAA triplet-repeat sequence in intron 1 of the FXN gene. The expanded GAA triplet-repeat results in deficiency of FXN gene transcription, which is reversed via administration of histone deacetylase inhibitors indicating that transcriptional silencing is at least partially due to an epigenetic abnormality. Methodology/Principal Findings: We found a severe depletion of the chromatin insulator protein CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) in the 59UTR of the FXN gene in FRDA, and coincident heterochromatin formation involving the +1 nucleosome via enrichment of H3K9me3 and recruitment of heterochromatin protein 1. We identified FAST-1 (FXN Antisense Transcript – 1), a novel antisense transcript that overlaps the CTCF binding site in the 59UTR, which was expressed at higher levels in FRDA. The reciprocal relationship of deficient FXN transcript and higher levels of FAST-1 seen in FRDA was reproduced in normal cells via knockdown of CTCF. Conclusions/Significance: CTCF depletion constitutes an epigenetic switch that results in increased antisense transcription, heterochromatin formation and transcriptional deficiency in FRDA. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the transcriptional silencing of the FXN gene in FRDA, and broaden our understanding of disease pathogenesis in triplet-repea

Development of a pulling machine to produce micron diameter fused silica fibres for use in prototype advanced gravitational wave detectors

A pivotal aspect in increasing the sensitivity of the Advanced LIGO detectors to allow the first gravitational wave detection, GW150914, was the installation of the monolithic fused silica suspensions. The 40 kg test mass suspended by four 400 μm fused silica fibres lowers the thermal noise as compared to initial LIGO. There is a desire for the use of thinner fibres to suspend smaller optics for other experiments of interest to the gravitational wave community that the current aLIGO fibre pulling machine is not capable of. We present here an overview of a new CO2 laser-based micron scale diameter fibre pulling machine developed at the University of Glasgow, based on the principals of our current aLIGO fibre pulling machine. We also discuss the upgraded fibre characterisation apparatus for dimensional and strength testing. It was found that fibres with a minimum diameter between 7.6 and 9.3 μm had an average breaking stress of 2.7 GPa and a Young's modulus value of 63.3 GPa, which is lower than the accepted bulk value of 72 GPa. Fibres with an average diameter between 13.2 and 17.8 μm had higher breaking stress and Young's modulus values ranging between 3.7–4.0 GPa and 71.8–75.9 GPa, respectively

Captive reptile mortality rates in the home and implications for the wildlife trade

The trade in wildlife and keeping of exotic pets is subject to varying levels of national and international regulation and is a topic often attracting controversy. Reptiles are popular exotic pets and comprise a substantial component of the live animal trade. High mortality of traded animals raises welfare concerns, and also has implications for conservation if collection from the wild is required to meet demand. Mortality of reptiles can occur at any stage of the trade chain from collector to consumer. However, there is limited information on mortality rates of reptiles across trade chains, particularly amongst final consumers in the home. We investigated mortality rates of reptiles amongst consumers using a specialised technique for asking sensitive questions, additive Randomised Response Technique (aRRT), as well as direct questioning (DQ). Overall, 3.6% of snakes, chelonians and lizards died within one year of acquisition. Boas and pythons had the lowest reported mortality rates of 1.9% and chameleons had the highest at 28.2%. More than 97% of snakes, 87% of lizards and 69% of chelonians acquired by respondents over five years were reported to be captive bred and results suggest that mortality rates may be lowest for captive bred individuals. Estimates of mortality from aRRT and DQ did not differ significantly which is in line with our findings that respondents did not find questions about reptile mortality to be sensitive. This research suggests that captive reptile mortality in the home is rather low, and identifies those taxa where further effort could be made to reduce mortality rate

Functional diversification of maize RNA polymerase IV and V subtypes via alternative catalytic subunits.

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FGF receptor genes and breast cancer susceptibility: results from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium

Background:Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Genome-wide association studies have identified FGFR2 as a breast cancer susceptibility gene. Common variation in other fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors might also modify risk. We tested this hypothesis by studying genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imputed SNPs in FGFR1, FGFR3, FGFR4 and FGFRL1 in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. Methods:Data were combined from 49 studies, including 53 835 cases and 50 156 controls, of which 89 050 (46 450 cases and 42 600 controls) were of European ancestry, 12 893 (6269 cases and 6624 controls) of Asian and 2048 (1116 cases and 932 controls) of African ancestry. Associations with risk of breast cancer, overall and by disease sub-type, were assessed using unconditional logistic regression. Results:Little evidence of association with breast cancer risk was observed for SNPs in the FGF receptor genes. The strongest evidence in European women was for rs743682 in FGFR3; the estimated per-allele odds ratio was 1.05 (95 confidence interval=1.02-1.09, P=0.0020), which is substantially lower than that observed for SNPs in FGFR2. Conclusion:Our results suggest that common variants in the other FGF receptors are not associated with risk of breast cancer to the degree observed for FGFR2. © 2014 Cancer Research UK