Contours of Inclusion: Frameworks and Tools for Evaluating Arts in Education

This collection of essays explores various arts education-specific evaluation tools, as well as considers Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the inclusion of people with disabilities in the design of evaluation instruments and strategies. Prominent evaluators Donna M. Mertens, Robert Horowitz, Dennie Palmer Wolf, and Gail Burnaford are contributors to this volume. The appendix includes the AEA Standards for Evaluation. (Contains 10 tables, 2 figures, 30 footnotes, and resources for additional reading.) This is a proceedings document from the 2007 VSA arts Research Symposium that preceded the American Evaluation Association's (AEA) annual meeting in Baltimore, MD

AG Goppa Codes from Maximal Curves over determined Finite Fields of characteristic 2

In AG coding theory is very important to work with curves with many rational points, to get good codes. In this paper, from curves defined over F_2 with genus g ≥ 1 we give sufficient conditions for getting maximal curves over F_2^(2g

VLA Observations of H I in the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293)

We report the detection of 21-cm line emission from H I in the planetary nebula NGC 7293 (the Helix). The observations, made with the Very Large Array, show the presence of a ring of atomic hydrogen that is associated with the outer portion of the ionized nebula. This ring is most probably gas ejected in the AGB phase that has been subsequently photodissociated by radiation from the central star. The H I emission spreads over about 50 km/s in radial velocity. The mass in H I is approximately 0.07 solar masses, about three times larger than the mass in molecular hydrogen and comparable with the mass in ionized hydrogen.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figure

REACH Cost Analysis

In this report, we present a cost analysis of Raising Educational Achievement Coalition of Harlem (REACH), a partnership between Teachers College, Columbia University, and five high-needs schools in Harlem, New York City. A rigorous cost analysis can help illuminate the resources used to implement its theory of action, in addition to contextualizing the size of measured effects in a broader implementation framework and helping decision-makers select among alternative uses of scarce resources. REACH entails deep collaboration between schools and program staff in five key areas: Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Expanded Learning Opportunities, Physical and Mental Health, and Family and Community Engagement. The program supports schools in achieving their goals for student learning by utilizing university and community resources, including research from faculty, and graduate student assistants working as interns or volunteers in exchange for hands-on learning experiences. We used the ingredients method for cost analysis, documenting all resources utilized to operationalize the program’s theory of action regardless of whether each resource has a monetary cost or who pays for or provides the resource, in order to fully capture the economic or opportunity cost of the program. We obtained data on ingredients from program documentation, a detailed report on program implementation, and interviews and personal communications with program staff. In 2016-17, REACH cost $2,732,960, or$1,560 per student, with substantial variation by school site, domain of REACH, type of ingredient, and source of ingredient and associated funding. We supplement this analysis with a case study of the Teachers College Community School and sensitivity analysis. While the costs of REACH are substantial, the program itself is comprehensive and wide-reaching; further study should compare the costs of REACH to measured effects in a variety of areas, including student test scores, and behavioral, health, and socioemotional learning outcomes

A Prospective, Randomized Trial in the Emergency Department of Suggestive Audio-Therapy under Deep Sedation for Smoking Cessation

Objectives: In a sample of patients undergoing procedural deep sedation in the emergency department (ED), we conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial of audio-therapy for smoking cessation. Methods: We asked subjects about their smoking, including desire to quit (0-10 numerical scale) and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Subjects were randomized to either a control tape (music alone) or a tape with repeated smoking-cessation messages over music. Tapes were started with first doses of sedation and stopped with patient arousal. Telephone follow-up occurred between two weeks and three months to assess the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Study endpoints were self-reported complete cessation and decrease of half or more in total cigarettes smoked per day. Results: One hundred eleven patients were enrolled in the study, 54 to intervention and 57 to control. Mean desire to quit was 7.15 ± 2.6 and mean cigarettes per day was 17.5 ± 12.1. We successfully contacted 69 (62%) patients. Twenty-seven percent of intervention and 26% of control patients quit (mean difference = 1%; 95% CI: –22.0% to 18.8%). Thirty-seven percent of intervention and 51% of control patients decreased smoking by half or more (mean difference = 14.6%; 95% CI: –8.7% to 35.6%). Conclusion: Suggestive audio-therapy delivered during deep sedation in the ED did not significantly decrease self-reported smoking behavior

The Effect of Anthrax Bioterrorism on Emergency Department Presentation

Study Objective: From September through December 2001, 22 Americans were diagnosed with anthrax, prompting widespread national media attention and public concern over bioterrorism. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the threat of anthrax bioterrorism on patient presentation to a West Coast emergency department (ED). Methods: This survey was conducted at an urban county ED in Oakland, CA between December 15, 2001 and February 15, 2002. During random 8-hour blocks, all adult patients presenting for flu or upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms were surveyed using a structured survey instrument that included standard visual numerical and Likert scales. Results: Eighty-nine patients were interviewed. Eleven patients (12%) reported potential exposure risk factors. Eighty percent of patients watched television, read the newspaper, or listened to the radio daily, and 83% of patients had heard about anthrax bioterrorism. Fifty-five percent received a chest x-ray, 10% received either throat or blood cultures, and 28% received antibiotics. Twenty-one percent of patients surveyed were admitted to the hospital. Most patients were minimally concerned that they may have contracted anthrax (mean=3.3±3.3 where 0=no concern and 10=extremely concerned). Patient concern about anthrax had little influence on their decision to visit the ED (mean=2.8±3.0 where 0=no influence and 10=greatly influenced). Had they experienced their same flu or URI symptoms one year prior to the anthrax outbreak, 91% of patients stated they would have sought medical attention. Conclusions: After considerable exposure to media reports about anthrax, most patients in this urban West Coast ED population were not concerned about anthrax infection. Fear of anthrax had little effect on decisions to come to the ED, and most would have sought medical help prior to the anthrax outbreak