Application of data envelopment analysis to measure technical efficiency on a sample of Irish dairy farms

peer-reviewedThe aim of this study was to determine the levels of technical efficiency on a sample of Irish dairy farms utilizing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and to identify key management and production factors that differ between producers indentified as efficient and inefficient. DEA was used in this study to generate technical efficiency scores under assumptions of both constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS). The average technical efficiency score was 0.785 under CRS and 0.833 under VRS. Key production characteristics of efficient and inefficient producers were compared using an analysis of variance. More technically efficient producers used less input per unit of output, had higher production per cow and per hectare and had a longer grazing season, a higher milk quality standard, were more likely to have participated in milk recording and had greater land quality compared to the inefficient producers

Country Profile: Ireland

Chapter 3.3. of Policy Making in Adult Education: A Comparative Approach across 21 EU Regions is one outcome of the REGIONAL Project (www.regionalproject.eu) 2013-2015 that interrogated adult education across 21 regions in 5 European Countries to produce an adult education policy making toolkit. This chapter profiles adult education in Ireland as prepared for the Regional Projec

Is comparative education another form of colonialism?

Abstract included in text

Comparative Analysis

Chapter 4 of 'Policy Making in Adult Education: A Comparative Approach across 21 EU Regions' is one outcome of the REGIONAL Project (www.regionalproject.eu) 2013-2015 that interrogated adult education across 21 regions in 5 European countries to produce an adult education policy making toolkit. This chapter profiles a comparative analysis of adult education policies across 21 regions and 5 countrie

Secondary Students, Laptops and Game Design: Examining the Potential of Homemade PowerPoint Games in a Blended Learning Environment

The integration of technology into K-12 classrooms has long been hampered by the problem of scalability. Familiar software programs, such as MS PowerPoint, can be used as a tool for students to create educational games to deepen their understanding of content. In this article, the authors examine students in two secondary social studies classes that created homemade PowerPoint games as a way to review for their mid-term and final examinations. The authors compared student performance on these exams based upon the topics covered by their game design. While no significant differences in student outcomes were found, qualitative analyses indicate that students and the teacher reported that the activity enjoyable and wished to continue this project. The authors speculate the lack of statistical differences was due to the small sample size and plan to use the lessons from the first year as this research continues

PowerPoint Games in a Secondary Laptop Environment

There is no denying the success and popularity of WebQuests among teachers. For those interested in technology integration, this is a significant step in the right direction. Yet, WebQuests are instructivist examples of technology integration – they are web-enhanced forms of direct instruction. We consider constructing homemade PowerPoint games as a constructionist alternative to WebQuests. PowerPoint is nearly ubiquitous software and teachers already use existing games in their classrooms. The authors contend that a better use of class time for learning is to turn over the act of game design to the children themselves. In this project, students in social studies course delivered by a mid-western high school designed PowerPoint Games as a means to review for portions of two examinations

Continuing Change in a Virtual World: Training and Recruiting Instructors

The process of teacher identification, selection, initial training, and on-going professional development that has developed at the Illinois Virtual High School (IVHS) over the past seven years is described and discussed in this article. Validation was based upon existing practices and research. To provide background the creation and initial development of the IVHS is described. Some of the issues within the hiring process and professional development that the IVHS continues to struggle are examined including teacher certification and the changing nature of technology. The paper concludes with a recommendation that teacher education programs assist in addressing these challenges to support IVHS and other virtual schools

Helminth parasites

12 p. ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 9-12)."Twenty-five species of helminths were found in 197 cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus, from north-central and south-central Florida--including seven species of trematodes, six of cestodes, and twelve of nematodes. Six species of trematodes were restricted to rats from salt marshes. Incidence of four nematodes with free-living larval stages was highest in rats from freshwater marshes, lower in those from saltwater marshes, and lowest in those from more xeric upland habitats. Undescribed species of Raillietina (Cestina) and Gongylonema (Nematoda) were restricted to rats from upland habitats. The cotton rat was found to be an intermediate host of three carnivore tapeworms and to share adult helminths with ecological associates, such as squirrels, rabbits, deer mice and rice rats. A checklist of the helminths of the cotton rat is included"--P. [1]