Using Critical Reflection to effect Dispositional Change toward Critical Thinking and Gain Insight into Student Learning

The purpose of this research roundtable is to discuss the use of Brookfield’s Critical Incident Questionnaire to effect dispositional change in students toward critical thinking, gain greater instructor insight, and improve instruction. My preliminary, and future, work in this area derives from experience with undergraduate students taking a general education science course

Indirect Gravimetric Determination of Waters of Hydration

An alternate gravimetric experiment is described that can be employed in the general chemistry or the quantitative analysis laboratory course. The procedure takes less time than conventional methods and introduces students to waters of hydration and indirect determinations

Critical Thinking in the Undergraduate Classroom: Attitudes and Preferences from Emerging and Adult Learners

One of the primary goals of higher education is to improve student critical thinking. Critical thought is a key factor in career readiness, a tool for survival that can enable one to escape oppression, and is ultimately a component of civic engagement. Even with this import, significant gains in critical thinking prove challenging to accomplish in the undergraduate setting. There is a growing body of research detailing which instructional interventions are most promising. While these studies have expanded our understanding of critical thinking instruction in the undergraduate classroom, there is scant data on undergraduate perceptions and preferences toward it. What is more, existing studies predominantly focus on traditionally aged, emerging adult learners. The number of adult undergraduate learners, however, is growing. Undergraduate students are not empty vessels. They arrive in classrooms with life experiences, individual and group identities, and pre-conceptions about the world. Students process classroom instruction in light of these factors. Individual and group identity factors can aid or inhibit a learner’s ability to engage with and assimilate course information. Emerging adulthood is markedly a time for identity exploration and instability. Adulthood, on the other hand, is not. Ultimately, these differences could factor into differential attitudes, preferences, and needs for critical thinking instruction for the two life stages. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and preferences of undergraduate learners, both emerging and adult, toward critical thinking instruction in the college classroom. Critical thinking instruction is typically less common, less explicit, or ill-defined in the undergraduate classroom. This investigation provides context and additional perspective with emerging and adult student voices and experiences in mind. Findings suggest that undergraduate learners had few classroom experiences with critical thinking instruction. These experiences, both positive and negative, informed the undergraduate learners’ attitudes and preferences for critical thinking instruction. Accordingly, learners’ sense of identity played an important role in their perspectives on critical thinking. Some identity components inhibited learners’ abilities to engage in critical thinking. Participants defined and self-identified life stages aligned with the theory of emergent adulthood, with some notable exceptions. Additional differences in life stage and religiosity appeared to coincide with the perceived acceptability of course topics. Undergraduate attitudes and preferences for critical thinking instruction aligned with research prescribed instructional interventions. These perceptions, however, added to the missing context and nuance in the literature. The implications from this study indicate that critical thinking instruction is just as nuanced as the students themselves. Due to this nuance and complexity, critical thinking instruction requires training and practice. Additionally, just as learning is both an individual and social endeavor, critical thinking also appears to have both individual and social elements. Greater research into this interplay could deepen our understanding of this phenomenon. Undergraduate adult learners in this study reported significant exploration in some areas of their identity. Additional inquiry into this phenomenon is needed, as returning adult undergraduate learners could be different in this way from adults engaging in other forms of adult learning. Identity exploration could impact the learning process. The interplay between identity, politics, and religiosity appeared to greatly influence some participants’ ability to engage in critical thought. This reticence is unaccounted for in the undergraduate critical thinking literature and deserves greater scrutiny as well

Phytoextraction of lead (Pb) contaminated soil by switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L): Impact of BAP and NTA applications

The accumulation of Pb deposits in soil is a growing global concern. Soil remediation options include phytoextraction that involves the use of plants and associated soil microorganism. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a second-generation bioenergy crop was used in this study due to its ability to produce high biomass and grow in metal polluted soils. Plants were grown in Pb-contaminated soil (5,802.5 mg kg−1) in an environmentally controlled greenhouse. Plants were treated with exogenous application of the plant growth regulator (PGR) benzylaminopurine (BAP) or complete foliar nutrient solution (Triple-12®) twice a week until harvested. Plants also received the soil fungicide propiconazole (Infuse™) that was followed by the soil chelate nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). Two concentrations of NTA were compared (5 mM and 10 mM) and combined application of NTA (10 mM) + APG (alkyl polyglucoside). Soil fungicide (propiconazole) was used to arrest arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) activities in the roots of switchgrass in order to enhance Pb-phytoextraction. Lead (Pb) was measured in dry plant materials using an ICP-OES. Phytoextraction by switchgrass was significantly improved by dual soil applications of 10 mMNTA, APG and foliar applications of BAP which resulted in the greatestaverage Pb concentration of 5,942 mg kg−1. The average dry mass of plants and the average value for total phytoextracted Pb (mg) per pot were significantly greatest for plants treated with 10 mM NTA, APG and BAP. Also, plants treated with NTA and BAP showed average bioconcentration factor of 1.02. The results suggested that chemically enhanced phytoextraction significantly improved biomass production of switchgrass and at the same time increased phytoextracted Pb which is important for phytoremediation and bioenergy industry

Evaluation of Chelating Agents Used in Phytoextraction by Switchgrass of Lead Contaminated Soil

Soil lead (Pb) contamination is a recognized environmental and global health problem. Phytoextraction of Pb using switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a second-generation biofuel crop, is typically enhanced by soil chelation. The effectiveness of four different chelating agents, phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphate), citric acid, NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid), and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) was examined in pot culture. Plants treated with EDTA (1 mM) showed significantly higher shoot Pb concentrations compared to control plants and plants treated with other chelates. Lead-solubility following phytoextraction was examined by soil washing using 0.01 and 0.05 M acetic acid as an extractant solution revealed no significant differences in Pb concentrations in soil among different chelate treatments and control. Furthermore, the effects of different concentrations (1, 2, 5 and 10 mM) of NTA on Pb phytoextraction of switchgrass were examined. Plants receiving 5 mM and 10 mM NTA had significantly higher foliage concentrations of Pb compared to plants treated with lower levels (1 and 2 mM) of NTA. Moreover, the effect of NTA application alone was significantly improved by a combined application of Triton X-100, an alkyl polyglucoside (APG); the Pb concentration in the foliage of switchgrass was more than doubled when treated with NTA combined with APG. The use of NTA combined with APG has great potential in improving phytoextraction efficiencies of switchgrass on Pb-contaminated soils

Individuals under voluntary treatment with sexual interest in minors: what risk do they pose?

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and the production, use, and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are key threats to children’s mental health. From the perspective of indicated prevention, it can be assumed that some persons with a sexual interest in children commit such unreported crimes. Accordingly, the German Network kein Täter werden (meaning do not offend) has implemented a confidential treatment service for persons with a sexual interest in minors who voluntarily seek therapy, might or might not have offended but have not yet been detected or have fulfilled all legal requirements (here referred to as non-forensic individuals). However, this offer has been questioned for investing resources in a group which critics consider as low risk. The following study addresses the question of recidivism risks for CSA or viewing CSAM among non-forensic individuals. We found significantly higher rates of CSA/CSAM in our participants’ history compared to a German study on a representative sample of males. Regarding CSAM, the recidivism rate of 39% was found to be 11 times higher than the expected recidivism rate based on previous publications. Regarding CSA, the recidivism rate of 14% was not significantly different from the expected rate reported for subjects with a conviction for a sexual contact offense. Among various risk instruments, only the CPORT with CASIC rating was able to predict CSA (AUC = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.55, 0.82) and CSAM (AUC = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.53, 0.73) among individuals with a history of CSAM, but with poor discrimination. We conclude that a large proportion of our sample poses a substantial risk and therefore treatment resources are well invested. However, further studies are needed to improve risk assessment among non-forensic clients

UD Spirit Flags will Show Game Day Pride in University

News release announces that UD spirit flags will be available for purchase to show pride on game days

Identificación y análisis de los recursos económicos asignados a la segunda locomotora. Evolución, aciertos y desaciertos

Con la elaboración del presente documento, se pretende identificar y analizar los recursos económicos asignados a una de las locomotoras del gobierno del presidente Juan Manuel Santos en el marco de su plan de desarrollo Prosperidad para todos y el impacto social de esta asignación de recursos en el agro Colombiano, Así mismo evaluar el cumplimiento de dicha política publica y la generación de bienestar social en la población."With the production of the present document, one tries to identify and to analyze the economic resources assigned to one of the locomotives of the government of the president Juan Manuel Santos in the frame of his plan of development "" Prosperity for all "" and the social impact of this assignment of resources in the Colombian agro, Likewise to evaluate the fulfillment of the above mentioned politics publishes and the generation of social well-being in the population.