Measuring e-learning program effectiveness : a stakeholder approach to scorecarding performance

The ability of learning executives to understand how effectively their e-learning programs are contributing towards corporate business goals is a necessary and critical activity within organizations today. This research project investigated how different stakeholders within a corporate environment could develop key performance criteria (KPCs) that could be integrated into Thomas Gilbert's (1996) performance requirements model and was used to evaluate the effectiveness of an organizational e-learning program with the result being an e-Learning Effectiveness Index (e-LEI) scorecard. Concept mapping and pattern matching techniques was used in a single case study involving 39 employees that included performance designers, e-learning end-users and managers from a large retailing company to investigate stakeholder variation. End-user of the e-learning program responded through a survey to answer their perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the e-learning program and a scorecard was created called the e-learning effectiveness index (e-LEI). The central focus for the research involved answering the following three questions: (1) What key performance criteria (KPC) could contribute to developing a procedure to measure the effectiveness of an e-learning program within an organization? (2) To what extent do stakeholder groups differ in their perceptions about the KPCs and their importance in evaluating e-learning programs? (3) What and how could key performance indicators (KPI) integrated into Gilbert's performance model be used in the development of an e-Learning Effectiveness Index (e-LEI) scorecard? The results of the study to question 1 showed that through the use of Trochim's concept mapping procedure, KPCs could be identified and ranked by importance then used as metrics in which to measure the effectiveness of an e-learning program. With regards to question 2, the study found clear differences between stakeholders perceptions on the importance of KPCs used for measurement benchmarks. Finally the results showed in answering question 3 that KPCs integrated into Gilbert's model of performance requirements can be used in the development of a balanced scorecard that provides management with insight on how effective their e-learning programs are operatin

LpL^p-Spectral theory of locally symmetric spaces with QQ-rank one

We study the $L^p$-spectrum of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on certain complete locally symmetric spaces $M=\Gamma\backslash X$ with finite volume and arithmetic fundamental group $\Gamma$ whose universal covering $X$ is a symmetric space of non-compact type. We also show, how the obtained results for locally symmetric spaces can be generalized to manifolds with cusps of rank one

It Takes a System to Build an Affordable Content Program

First Name: Bradley Last Name: Severa Department: Information Technology Services UNL Campus: UNL Email: [email protected] Phone: 4024720606 Track: Emerging Technology Title: Academic Tech Support Spec Session Type: Panel Discussion Session Title: It Takes a System to Build an Affordable Content Program Availability: Anytime Presenters: Brad Severa, M.A., Academic Technology Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jane L. Petersen, Director, Academic Technology and Client Services, University of Nebraska-Kearney Dr. Kimberly Carlson, Professor & Assistant Chair, Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-Kearney Mrs. Betty Jacques, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-Kearney Dr. Brian Moore, Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, Glenn Korff School of Music, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Andrew J. Cano, Virtual Learning Librarian (Assistant Professor) University Libraries, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Michael R. Jolley, M.A., Instructional Design Technology Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Presentation Abstract: Since 2006, the price of textbooks has dramatically exploded, with the cost of a college text book increasing more than four times the rate of inflation. This cross-campus panel includes Faculty, an Instructional Designer, Librarian and ITS Staff discussing how to build an affordable textbook program. The UNK members will share learning outcomes from the Kelly Grant project including; using OER materials in courses, converting to digital textbooks, lessons learned and helpful hints for success. The UNL members will introduce the Digital Materials Initiative opportunities at the Lincoln campus. A UNL faculty member will discuss his years of experience in creating and using an iBook in his course, and how it has evolved over the years in his department. This is an open panel conversation for the audience to ask questions about OER and for faculty to share their experience with teaching and using OER materials in their course. It takes many people from different specialties, working across campuses to create real impact for students. This large panel represents just a portion of the many people needed to implement all the tools and methods required to create positive change for the University of Nebraska system. Importance: 1. Open Educational Resources (OERs) 2. Affordability 3. Resources for Faculty 4. Improving Learning Outcomes Suggested Audience: Faculty Presentation Needs: No special requirements for this session

Improving follow-up of abnormal cancer screens using electronic health records: trust but verify test result communication

BACKGROUND: Early detection of colorectal cancer through timely follow-up of positive Fecal Occult Blood Tests (FOBTs) remains a challenge. In our previous work, we found 40% of positive FOBT results eligible for colonoscopy had no documented response by a treating clinician at two weeks despite procedures for electronic result notification. We determined if technical and/or workflow-related aspects of automated communication in the electronic health record could lead to the lack of response. METHODS: Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, we evaluated positive FOBT communication in the electronic health record of a large, urban facility between May 2008 and March 2009. We identified the source of test result communication breakdown, and developed an intervention to fix the problem. Explicit medical record reviews measured timely follow-up (defined as response within 30 days of positive FOBT) pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Data from 11 interviews and tracking information from 490 FOBT alerts revealed that the software intended to alert primary care practitioners (PCPs) of positive FOBT results was not configured correctly and over a third of positive FOBTs were not transmitted to PCPs. Upon correction of the technical problem, lack of timely follow-up decreased immediately from 29.9% to 5.4% (p\u3c0.01) and was sustained at month 4 following the intervention. CONCLUSION: Electronic communication of positive FOBT results should be monitored to avoid limiting colorectal cancer screening benefits. Robust quality assurance and oversight systems are needed to achieve this. Our methods may be useful for others seeking to improve follow-up of FOBTs in their systems

Non-invasive MRI quantification of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Developing novel therapeutic agents to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been difficult due to multifactorial pathophysiologic processes at work. Intrathecal drug administration shows promise due to close proximity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to affected tissues. Development of effective intrathecal pharmaceuticals will rely on accurate models of how drugs are dispersed in the CSF. Therefore, a method to quantify these dynamics and a characterization of differences across disease states is needed. METHODS: Complete intrathecal 3D CSF geometry and CSF flow velocities at six axial locations in the spinal canal were collected by T2-weighted and phase-contrast MRI, respectively. Scans were completed for eight people with ALS and ten healthy controls. Manual segmentation of the spinal subarachnoid space was performed and coupled with an interpolated model of CSF flow within the spinal canal. Geometric and hydrodynamic parameters were then generated at 1 mm slice intervals along the entire spine. Temporal analysis of the waveform spectral content and feature points was also completed. RESULTS: Comparison of ALS and control groups revealed a reduction in CSF flow magnitude and increased flow propagation velocities in the ALS cohort. Other differences in spectral harmonic content and geometric comparisons may support an overall decrease in intrathecal compliance in the ALS group. Notably, there was a high degree of variability between cases, with one ALS patient displaying nearly zero CSF flow along the entire spinal canal. CONCLUSION: While our sample size limits statistical confidence about the differences observed in this study, it was possible to measure and quantify inter-individual and cohort variability in a non-invasive manner. Our study also shows the potential for MRI based measurements of CSF geometry and flow to provide information about the hydrodynamic environment of the spinal subarachnoid space. These dynamics may be studied further to understand the behavior of CSF solute transport in healthy and diseased states

Retrograde semaphorin-plexin signalling drives homeostatic synaptic plasticity.

Homeostatic signalling systems ensure stable but flexible neural activity and animal behaviour. Presynaptic homeostatic plasticity is a conserved form of neuronal homeostatic signalling that is observed in organisms ranging from Drosophila to human. Defining the underlying molecular mechanisms of neuronal homeostatic signalling will be essential in order to establish clear connections to the causes and progression of neurological disease. During neural development, semaphorin-plexin signalling instructs axon guidance and neuronal morphogenesis. However, semaphorins and plexins are also expressed in the adult brain. Here we show that semaphorin 2b (Sema2b) is a target-derived signal that acts upon presynaptic plexin B (PlexB) receptors to mediate the retrograde, homeostatic control of presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila. Further, we show that Sema2b-PlexB signalling regulates presynaptic homeostatic plasticity through the cytoplasmic protein Mical and the oxoreductase-dependent control of presynaptic actin. We propose that semaphorin-plexin signalling is an essential platform for the stabilization of synaptic transmission throughout the developing and mature nervous system. These findings may be relevant to the aetiology and treatment of diverse neurological and psychiatric diseases that are characterized by altered or inappropriate neural function and behaviour

West Nile Virus Infections Projected from Blood Donor Screening Data, United States, 2003

Routine donor nucleic acid amplification testing is a valuable surveillance screening tool

Triggering MSR1 promotes JNK-mediated inflammation in IL-4 activated macrophages

Alternatively activated M2 macrophages play an important role in maintenance of tissue homeostasis by scavenging dead cells, cell debris and lipoprotein aggregates via phagocytosis. Using proteomics, we investigated how alternative activation, driven by IL-4, modulated the phagosomal proteome to control macrophage function. Our data indicate that alternative activation enhances homeostatic functions such as proteolysis, lipolysis and nutrient transport. Intriguingly, we identified the enhanced recruitment of the TAK1/MKK7/JNK signalling complex to phagosomes of IL-4-activated macrophages. The recruitment of this signalling complex was mediated through K63 polyubiquitylation of the macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1). Triggering of MSR1 in IL-4-activated macrophages leads to enhanced JNK activation, thereby promoting a phenotypic switch from an anti-inflammatory to a pro-inflammatory state, which was abolished upon MSR1 deletion or JNK inhibition. Moreover, MSR1 K63 polyubiquitylation correlated with the activation of JNK signalling in ovarian cancer tissue from human patients, suggesting that it may be relevant for macrophage phenotypic shift in vivo Altogether, we identified that MSR1 signals through JNK via K63 polyubiquitylation and provides evidence for the receptor's involvement in macrophage polarization