LinkedIn: Jeff Weiner

https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mclp/1009/thumbnail.jp

A Case Study of Arts Integration Practices in Developing the 21st Century Skills of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration

This qualitative, single case study explored teacher perceptions of arts integration practices in developing critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration (4 C’s) at a North Carolina A+ (arts-integrated) kindergarten through eighth grade charter school. A combination of interviews, document analysis, and site observations were utilized to answer the guiding question: What is the impact of a school-wide arts integration program on creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication? The research focused on three questions: (RQ1) What strategies/methods are used to implement a school-wide arts integration program at this school? (RQ2) What strategies/methods are used to foster student acquisition of the 4 C’s through arts integration at this school? (RQ3) What 21st century support systems align with the school-wide arts integration program at this school? Data gathered from interviews, observations, and documents revealed common themes or practices implemented at the school to sustain the school-wide arts integration program: collaborative planning, leadership support, focus on the process of learning rather than the product, multiple learning pathways and measures of success, professional development, community partnerships and relationships, and reflection as a tool for growth. The arts integration strategies perceived by participants at the research site that promote the 4 C’s include student engagement in group projects, student self- and peer- analysis of artistic work, student creative choice, and student expression of knowledge through multiple art forms and mediums. The 21st century support systems of standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and learning environments were found to be in alignment with the arts integration support systems at the school site. The results of this study led the researcher to conclude the school-wide practices of arts integration promote student acquisition of the 4 C’s. Recommendations include providing education preparation programs with redesigned curriculum offerings to emphasize the connection between the arts and 21st century skills, such as the 4 C’s. Adapting the school infrastructure to support collaborative planning, teaching, and professional development in arts integration practices that support the 4 C’s should also be considered

Increasing Student Outcomes Through Effective Feedback

This module explores descriptive purposeful feedback and its use as a strategy for differentiation and as a formative assessment tool. This module explores in detail research integral to understanding what effective and purposeful feedback is and the importance of providing specific and descriptive feedback. This module provides an evaluator the understanding and tools for how to use purposeful feedback to determine if a student is meeting the established performance criteria or if more intensive intervention is needed. Visit professional learning module.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/improve/1002/thumbnail.jp

Peroxynitrate formed during a transient episode of brain ischemia increases endothelium-derived hyperpolarization-type dilations in thromboxane/prostaglandin receptor stimulated rat cerebral arteries

Aim Increased thromboxane A2 and peroxynitrite are hallmarks of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Stimulation of thromboxane/prostaglandin receptors (TP) attenuates endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH). We investigated whether EDH-type middle cerebral artery (MCA) relaxations following TP stimulation are altered after I/R and the influence of peroxynitrite. Methods Vascular function was determined by wire myography after TP stimulation with the thromboxane A2 mimetic 9,11-Dideoxy-9α,11α-methano-epoxy prostaglandin F2α (U46619) in MCA of Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to MCA occlusion (90 min)/reperfusion (24 h) or sham operation, and in non-operated (control) rats. Some rats were treated with saline or the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)prophyrinato iron (III) (20 mg kg-1). Protein expression was evaluated in MCA and in human microvascular endothelial cells submitted to hypoxia (overnight)/reoxygenation (24 h) (H/R) using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Results In U46619-preconstricted MCA, EDH-type relaxation by the proteinase-activated receptor 2 agonist serine–leucine–isoleucine–glycine–arginine–leucine–NH2 (SLIGRL) was greater in I/R than sham rats due to an increased contribution of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SKCa), which was confirmed by the enlarged relaxation to the SKCa activator N-cyclohexyl-N-2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinamine. I/R and H/R induced endothelial protein tyrosine nitration and filamentous-actin disruption. In control MCA, either cytochalasin D or peroxynitrite disrupted endothelial filamentous-actin and augmented EDH-type relaxation. Furthermore, peroxynitrite decomposition during I/R prevented the increase in EDH-type responses. Conclusion Following TP stimulation in MCA, EDH-type relaxation to SLIGRL is greater after I/R due to endothelial filamentous-actin disruption by peroxynitrite, which prevents TP-induced block of SKCa input to EDH. These results reveal a novel mechanism whereby peroxynitrite could promote postischemic brain injury

Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Cognitive Deficits Are Mediated by NADPH Oxidase Activity in a Murine Model of Sleep Apnea

Background: In rodents, exposure to intermittent hypoxia (IH), a hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is associated with neurobehavioral impairments, increased apoptosis in the hippocampus and cortex, as well as increased oxidant stress and inflammation. Excessive NADPH oxidase activity may play a role in IH-induced CNS dysfunction. Methods and Findings: The effect of IH during light period on two forms of spatial learning in the water maze and well as markers of oxidative stress was assessed in mice lacking NADPH oxidase activity (gp91phox _/Y) and wild-type littermates. On a standard place training task, gp91phox _/Y displayed normal learning, and were protected from the spatial learning deficits observed in wild-type littermates exposed to IH. Moreover, anxiety levels were increased in wild-type mice exposed to IH as compared to room air (RA) controls, while no changes emerged in gp91phox _/Y mice. Additionally, wild-type mice, but not gp91phox _/Y mice had significantly elevated levels of NADPH oxidase expression and activity, as well as MDA and 8-OHDG in cortical and hippocampal lysates following IH exposures. Conclusions: The oxidative stress responses and neurobehavioral impairments induced by IH during sleep are mediated, at least in part, by excessive NADPH oxidase activity, and thus pharmacological agents targeting NADPH oxidase may provid

Defining the concept of business model: Searching for a business model framework

Business Model (BM) literature is growing with many contributions from academics and practitioners. Interestingly, despite a large number of studies focused on BM, we found a lack of consistency in the definition of what a BM is. Using content analysis, this study aims to investigate previous studies searching for a shared definition of BM. A relevance assessment allows understanding most common elements that shape BM, allowing us to draw a definition of BM. Four main dimensions are derived to define the BM: the value dimension, the modeling principles dimension, the functional dimension, the strategy dimension. Finally, results show further needs of development