Writer’s Workshop and Technology

Abstract The intent of this research was to determine what effect an increased use of technology, (meaning word processing, digital tools and use of websites) in Writer’s Workshop assignments would have on the quality of writing, engagement and enthusiasm for writing. A writer’s workshop is meant to expose students to the different genres and styles of writing. It is taught in a workshop format where there is a mini-lesson about a particular topic, time for the students to write independently and to receive feedback from both the teacher and peers. The research study took place at a private Montessori School in an Upper Elementary classroom. The sources of data collection used in this research included three writing samples, pre and post surveys of the children and other teachers in the classroom and observation sheets kept throughout the project. The data showed that the student’s engagement and interest increased with the addition of technology into the writer’s workshop. The data also showed that the scores on their writing also increased. The results of this research indicate that having a variety of technological tools to choose from when doing Writer’s Workshop assignments can benefit students’ ability to improve their writing skills. The specific skills that improved were better use of vocabulary, expanded choice of subject matter, basic grammar and punctuation, and the ability to assess one’s work

An Evolving Workforce, An Adapting Law: Title VII\u27s Coverage of Gender Identity and Criminal History

(Excerpt) In the half-century since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, workplace protections under the statute have expanded in a variety of ways. Legal theories that were once considered novel have increasingly been accepted in federal courts across the country, extending coverage to more employees than ever before. Yet, an analysis of these developing issues also exposes the limitations of federal antidiscrimination law. Below, this Article examines the ways that Title VII has been applied to two particularly vulnerable groups: transgender individuals and individuals with criminal records

Human Non-persons, Feticide, and the Erosion of Dignity

Feticide, the practice of terminating the life of an otherwise viable fetus in utero, has become an increasingly common practice in obstetric centres around the globe, a concomitant of antenatal screening technologies. This paper examines this expanding practice in light of the concept of human dignity. Although it is assumed from the outset that even viable human fetuses are not persons and as such do not enjoy full membership in the moral community, it is argued that the fact that these are nevertheless human fetuses affords them prima facie moral status. Thus even those who accept a liberal position with regard to therapeutic abortion, should be concerned about these more recent developments. Indeed, how we treat viable human fetuses has implications for our prospective treatment of other human non-persons and could undermine the common human dignity we all share

Lost in Translation? International Students and Non-English Information Literacy

The University of Pittsburgh has a substantial community of international students. The library has long been collaborating with the Office of International Students, which helps international students assimilate to university life, in order to provide them with information literacy training specific to their needs. Looking for innovation in addressing the changing needs of our users, librarians recently offered information literacy sessions in several languages to help alleviate stress experienced by international students due to their new environment and language skills so they can focus on addressing immediate research needs. Student demographics and availability of skilled librarians determine the choice of the target language. Four overall components are included in this service: identifying demographics of enrolled international students in order to select target languages, organizing and coordinating a team of librarians that can teach in these languages, developing supplementary materials in the target language, and assessing the impact of this service on student learning and their overall library experience. Surprisingly, international students continued to attend the non-English sessions along with the English sessions, refuting the notion that non-English sessions are counter productive to their acquiring English. Additionally, this service provided a great opportunity to market the library, specifically the East Asian collection. As a relatively new service, some of these components are still under development. Regardless, the service has been well received by the students and helped us open new doors to possibilities and build a positive relationship between the library and its international student community

Green Brewing: Part Two

In part one of our Green Brewing series, we started our journey down the rabbit-hole of beer production and the environment with a discussion about energy use and gas recovery. We took a glimpse into specific breweries in the region and studied how they address their energy demand and how they control their carbon dioxide and nitrogen release, depending on size, location, and other factors. Continuing in part two, we follow the theme of sustainability by examining the “greenness†of commonly used brewing ingredients, containers, and ancillary packaging in the beer supply chain. We look at how brewing companies at the forefront of sustainability initiatives are pushing the envelope to reduce the damaging effects of commodity-based agricultural practices and waste of natural resources