Knowledge and Perceptions of SLP Graduate Students Regarding Multiculturalism

Populations in the United States rise daily, as do the number of people who are considered multicultural. With this comes a greater need for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who are able to assess and treat such individuals – a training process that begins in graduate programs. The primary objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of graduate students in speech-language pathology as it pertains to multiculturalism. A survey was conducted to explore graduate students’ knowledge and perceptions of multicultural topics. Participants were recruited from programs in the southeastern United States via email. Just under 400 surveys were returned with 322 complete responses received. Most graduate programs are covering multicultural and multilingual topics across courses to prepare students to work with such populations in future careers. Students recognize the importance of these topics because the opportunities to work with multicultural and multilingual clients are becoming more frequent. A firm foundation can set the tone for an SLP’s career; without adequate training in the area of multiculturalism, many individuals may receive inadequate services whether the speech-language pathologist recognizes the gaps in care or not

Formative Research to Inform the Development of a Healthy Eating Social Marketing Campaign in Mississippi

Mississippi leads the nation in child obesity, chronic diseases, poverty, and food insecurity. Stemming the long-term consequences of high obesity rates will require a cultural attitude and behavioral shift towards healthy eating. This study explored the perceptions, beliefs, practices, and self-efficacy towards healthy eating among limited resource Mississippi parents to inform a SNAP-Ed social marketing campaign. A statewide telephone survey was conducted with income-eligible or current SNAP recipients who provided or prepared food for children in their household. Likert-type scale questions measured intrapersonal factors, self-efficacy, and practices regarding healthy eating, such as shopping and meal planning. A total of 206 surveys were analyzed. Seventy-nine percent (n=163) of participants were currently receiving SNAP benefits. Healthy eating was perceived as balanced meals and fruits and vegetables. Though 60% agreed that cost was a barrier to eating more fruits and vegetables, 90% of participants had positive attitudes and beliefs towards healthy eating. In summary, Mississippi parents with limited resources were interested in providing healthy balanced meals but faced cost as the major barrier. A social marketing message with this population can be effective in emphasizing affordable healthy meals

Fostering Infant and Toddler Music Competence at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center

This paper presents a creative research project that introduced musical instruments in an outdoor setting to infants and toddlers ages 0-to-3 years old. It was grounded in research suggesting that music plays a vital component in expanding development in the early childhood years, helping to promote learning across many domains. This project began with a survey distributed to 7 infant and toddler classroom educators, after which responses were analyzed for themes regarding perceived infant interests. Subsequent observations were conducted to evaluate the best fit for the implementation of an outdoor experiential music space. Based on the findings, a developmentally appropriate musical space was implemented on the infant and toddler playground of the University of Arkansas Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center. Key elements of the space included a design allowing for open exploration, comfortable seating for all ages, and promoting conversations and interactions. Finally, observations were conducted to evaluate the impact of this setting on infant and toddler interactions. Qualitative analysis suggested that the new outdoor music space promoted interactions and engagement, dramatic play episodes, and the expression of emotions, which are all critical to the development of self-esteem and social-emotional competence

Fostering Infant and Toddler Music Competence at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center

This paper presents a creative research project that introduced musical instruments in an outdoor setting to infants and toddlers ages 0-to-3 years old. It was grounded in research suggesting that music plays a vital component in expanding development in the early childhood years, helping to promote learning across many domains. This project began with a survey distributed to 7 infant and toddler classroom educators, after which responses were analyzed for themes regarding perceived infant interests. Subsequent observations were conducted to evaluate the best fit for the implementation of an outdoor experiential music space. Based on the findings, a developmentally appropriate musical space was implemented on the infant and toddler playground of the University of Arkansas Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center. Key elements of the space included a design allowing for open exploration, comfortable seating for all ages, and promoting conversations and interactions. Finally, observations were conducted to evaluate the impact of this setting on infant and toddler interactions. Qualitative analysis suggested that the new outdoor music space promoted interactions and engagement, dramatic play episodes, and the expression of emotions, which are all critical to the development of self-esteem and social-emotional competence

Women’s health priorities and interventions

Over the past decades, governments have taken steps towards improving women’s health in line with commitments made in key international summits. Progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality,1 which accelerated with the launch of the United Nations secretary general’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health in 2010. Use of maternal healthcare and family planning has increased in some countries.2 Progress has also been seen on two determinants of women’s health—school enrolment rates for girls and political participation of women—but not for others such as gender based violence.3 However, societies are still failing women in relation to health, especially in low resource settings. Discrimination on the basis of their sex leads to health disadvantages for women.4 Structural determinants of women’s health, along with legal and policy restrictions, often restrict women’s access to health services. This paper elaborates the health problems women face, and priority interventions to overcome them, as a background for and informing the updating of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Healt

Command Center Training Tool (C2T2)

This abstract presents the training approach taken to create a management-centered, experiential learning solution for the Virginia Port Authority's Port Command Center. The resultant tool, called the Command Center Training Tool (C2T2), follows a holistic approach integrated across the training management cycle and within a single environment. The approach allows a single training manager to progress from training design through execution and AAR. The approach starts with modeling the training organization, identifying the organizational elements and their individual and collective performance requirements, including organizational-specific performance scoring ontologies. Next, the developer specifies conditions, the problems, and constructs that compose exercises and drive experiential learning. These conditions are defined by incidents, which denote a single, multi-media datum, and scenarios, which are stories told by incidents. To these layered, modular components, previously developed meta-data is attached, including associated performance requirements. The components are then stored in a searchable library An event developer can create a training event by searching the library based on metadata and then selecting and loading the resultant modular pieces. This loading process brings into the training event all the previously associated task and teamwork material as well as AAR preparation materials. The approach includes tools within an integrated management environment that places these materials at the fingertips of the event facilitator such that, in real time, the facilitator can track training audience performance and resultantly modify the training event. The approach also supports the concentrated knowledge management requirements for rapid preparation of an extensive AAR. This approach supports the integrated training cycle and allows a management-based perspective and advanced tools, through which a complex, thorough training event can be developed

Absence of Dwarf Galaxies at High Redshifts: Evidence from a Galaxy Group

The galaxy group NGC 5044 consists of a luminous giant elliptical galaxy surrounded by a cluster of approximately 160 low luminosity and dwarf galaxies, mostly of early type. The cumulative projected radial distribution of dwarf galaxies in the NGC 5044 group, unlike distributions of more luminous galaxies in rich clusters, does not follow a projected dark matter (NFW) profile. Instead, a deficiency or absence of low luminosity galaxies is apparent in NGC 5044 within about 350 kpc, about one third of the current group virial radius. Most of the dwarf galaxies identified in NGC 5044 entered the virial radius at redshifts less than about 2 or 3, and very few entered at higher redshifts. The peculiar, non-NFW shape of the projected cumulative dwarf galaxy distribution in NGC 5044 within 350 kpc resembles the characteristic shallow cumulative distribution of dark subhalos that are also known to be relatively young. Dynamical friction is unlikely to explain the apparent lack of group member galaxies at small radii in NGC 5044.Comment: 11 pages (emulateapj5) with 4 figures; accepted by The Astrophysical Journa

Higher Education Exchange: 2008

This annual publication serves as a forum for new ideas and dialogue between scholars and the larger public. Essays explore ways that students, administrators, and faculty can initiate and sustain an ongoing conversation about the public life they share.The Higher Education Exchange is founded on a thought articulated by Thomas Jefferson in 1820: "I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."In the tradition of Jefferson, the Higher Education Exchange agrees that a central goal of higher education is to help make democracy possible by preparing citizens for public life. The Higher Education Exchange is part of a movement to strengthen higher education's democratic mission and foster a more democratic culture throughout American society.Working in this tradition, the Higher Education Exchange publishes interviews, case studies, analyses, news, and ideas about efforts within higher education to develop more democratic societies

Elusive Catch: Using Aquaponics to Grow Sturgeon and Wild Rice

James E. (Jim) Thompson (1880-1976) was a noted photographer, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast who played a major role in promoting a national park in the Southern Appalachians. In the 1920s, up to the park's dedication in 1940, Thompson was often referred to as the "Official Photographer of the Great Smokies National Park Movement." His work was reproduced in brochures and reports promoting the idea of a park and many of his photographs depict the landscape before park construction. Several of Thompson's photographs, which illustrate locations in today's Great Smoky Mountains National Park, were reproduced and captioned for distribution