Design, Development, Implementation, and Support (DDIS): A Curriculum Supporting Online Doctoral Candidates

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively describe and justify the case design of an approach for the integration of synchronous virtual meetings to support nontraditional online doctoral candidates. As more nontraditional doctoral students are completing their degree programs virtually through online universities, the nature of their degree progression and the development of critical knowledge and skills differ from traditional on-campus programs. Method: The case design of an approach to integrating synchronous online interactive meetings to support these learners is identified and justified through references to research in the learning sciences including sociocultural learning, heutagogy, and constructivist instructional design methods. The instructional design process resulted in a scaled schedule of interactions linked to the development of specific cognitive processes, academic skills, and expert knowledge required by doctoral candidates for successful completion of their degree programs. Results: This case design study resulted in identification of developmentally phased synchronous interactions designed to support online nontraditional doctoral candidates. The interactions identified were linked to the development of critical processes, skills, and knowledge to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the candidate’s progress. Conclusions: The results identified how the integration of synchronous virtual meetings to support online nontraditional doctoral candidates throughout their programs can both increase the development of the advanced knowledge required by these learners and the collaboration needed between mentor and mentee for the online learners to be successful

Decentralized Sewer Unit Packages as an Alternative for Bulloch County to Manage Fast Growth

Throughout the state of Georgia, rural areas rely on septic tanks to dispose of bodily waste for small commercial, industrial, and residential construction. Septic tanks act as the most conventional system when properties fall outside the service areas of municipal and private wastewater treatment facilities. Bulloch County has a vast number of rural dwellings within its boundaries. Moreover, the County experienced a steady 3 to 5% annual growth over the last several years. Therefore, an examination of alternatives to the traditional septic systems is warranted if the County wishes to maintain continued sustainable growth. This study focuses on the factors driving growth in Bulloch county including: population, housing, commercial and industrial development, subdivision development, assessed property values, and future development projections. Next, we compare two waste disposal systems that could substitute for traditional septic systems: a Small Diameter Gravity System (SDGS) and the Bioclere Onsite Wastewater Treatment System. Working Paper Number 2005-001

Purinergic receptor mediated calcium signalling in urothelial cells

Non-neuronal ATP released from the urothelium in response to bladder stretch is a key modulator of bladder mechanosensation. Whilst non-neuronal ATP acts on the underlying bladder afferent nerves to facilitate sensation, there is also the potential for ATP to act in an autocrine manner, modulating urothelial cell function. The aim of this study was to systematically characterise the functional response of primary mouse urothelial cells (PMUCs) to ATP. PMUCs isolated from male mice (14-16 weeks) were used for live-cell fluorescent calcium imaging and qRT-PCR to determine the expression profile of P2X and P2Y receptors. The majority of PMUCs (74-92%) responded to ATP (1 μM-1 mM), as indicted by an increase in intracellular calcium (iCa2+). PMUCs exhibited dose-dependent responses to ATP (10 nM-1 mM) in both calcium containing (2 mM, EC50 = 3.49 ± 0.77 μM) or calcium free (0 mM, EC50 = 9.5 ± 1.5 μM) buffers. However, maximum iCa2+ responses to ATP were significantly attenuated upon repetitive applications in calcium containing but not in calcium free buffer. qRT-PCR revealed expression of P2X1-6, and P2Y1-2, P2Y4, P2Y6, P2Y11-14, but not P2X7 in PMUCs. These findings suggest the major component of ATP induced increases in iCa2+ are mediated via the liberation of calcium from intracellular stores, implicating functional P2Y receptors that are ubiquitously expressed on PMUCs.Russell Chess-Williams, Donna J. Sellers, Stuart M. Brierley, David Grundy, Luke Grund

Utilizing the "Experience Sampling Method" to Monitor Communicative Quality of Life During Treatment for a Single Subject with Chronic Aphasia

Research in chronic aphasia typically incorporates Quality of Life measures to determine functional outcomes of treatment. This single subject study utilizes the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) in which the 75 year old, one year post CVA subject responds to 4-5 questions on a Palm Tungsten Personal Data Assistant (PDA) at the end of each activity during an intensive treatment program. Comparison of responses to the 10 treatment activities suggests that responses regarding the perception of communication and stress were the most negative, but, that less structured activities were more stressful than those communicatively focused. Theoretical and clinical findings will be discussed

Assessing Writing at Western Washington University

A \u27White Paper\u27 exploring possible options for the future of writing assessment and the design of a writing program at Western, with an empahsis on embedding writing across the curriculum

Seven exercises planned to stimulate the flow of ideas in creative composition

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Straight from the Horse(man)\u27s Mouth: Innovative 4-H Camps

As 4-H evolves to include a wide breadth of youths\u27 modern interests, innovative educational opportunities and evaluation practices become necessary. Horsemanship and safety-based horse camps were created in response to a statewide challenge to develop competitive 4-H members and retain those members as they approach adolescence. This article addresses the development, implementation, and review of Arkansas\u27s horse 4-H camps. The article content includes a practical example of Kirkpatrick\u27s evaluation model and a description of how a goal-based evaluation led to planned program modifications

Lessons learned from adapting a remote area health placement from physical to virtual: a COVID-19-driven innovation

Objectives: To investigate the acceptability and the effectiveness of a virtual adaptation of a well-established, mandatory, community-based pre-clinical remote area health placement in which medical students learn about the social and environmental determinants of health in remote Australia; and make recommendations to guide the delivery of future learning experiences. Methods: A mixed-methods convergent design was used. All 99 students, 36 placement hosts and 10 staff were invited to complete an online survey and 27(27%), 12(33%) and 10(100%), respectively, contributed data. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews from four students, four hosts and six staff. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and open-ended responses summarised to provide supporting contextual evidence. Interview transcripts were analysed and coded independently, then corroborated to identify and summarise common themes using thematic analysis. Results: Survey and interview data indicated that the virtual placement was acceptable to students and hosts and enabled students to achieve intended learning objectives. Virtual activities enabled students and hosts to develop authentic, genuine interpersonal relationships, which in turn were facilitated when hosts and students had practiced videoconferencing beforehand with good high-speed internet connections via mobile devices. Pastoral care and access to IT support were essential. Conclusions: Virtual placements can be used in combination with and are an option for students and hosts who cannot attend/courses that cannot fund physical placements. Careful design and further research is required to ensure that virtual placements enable "head, heart and hands" learning and do not create/reinforce inequities

Characteristics of Effective Leaders in Economic Development: An Exploratory Study

Donna K. Fisher, Ph.D., is an assistant professor, School of Economic Development, College of Business Administration, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460-8152. Russell Kent, Ph.D., is a professor, Department of Marketing & Logistics. College of Business Administration, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460-8154. Linda Nottingham, ABD, is an instructor, Central Florida College, Winter Park, FL 32789. J Robert B. Field, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of marketing, Algoma University College, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 2G4, Canada

Diamondback Terrapin Bycatch Reduction Strategies for Commercial and Recreational Blue Crab Fisheries

Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is considered a keystone species for its influence on community structure of tidal marshes. Terrapins exhibit strong habitat and nest site fidelity, and have relatively small home ranges (\u3c 2 km), so that sub-populations tend to be spatially discrete. Terrapins rely on open water, wetlands, and adjacent uplands at various stages of their life-cycle, so the quality and connectivity of these habitat patches is critical to population persistence. Terrapin is listed in Virginia as a species of Very High Conservation Need based on threats due to nest predation and drowning of adults in crab pots. Terrapin population declines, reduced growth, and changes in sex ratios have been directly attributed to bycatch mortality in commercial crab pots. Our overall project goal was to characterize essential terrapin habitats toward development of bycatch reduction strategies for managing commercial and recreational blue crab fisheries. In a pilot study area surrounding the mouth of the York River, Virginia, our approach was to 1) geospatially define suitable terrapin habitat based on natural features, 2) integrate spatial datasets to develop a Vulnerability Index of terrapin habitats and define potential resource conflict areas where crab pots correspond to essential terrapin habitat, and 3) conduct terrapin and crab pot counts in habitats with varying suitability to test predictions. Suitable terrapin habitat (full connectivity among habitat metrics) accounted for over 50% of all terrapin observations, and another 45% of observations occurred in areas where only one habitat metric was absent. In 96% of these cases, the absent metric was SAV presence. In contrast, full habitat connectivity was determined for only 5% of areas where terrapins were absent. Within the pilot study area during a two year retrieval program, 2872 derelict pots were removed. Of these, 22% were within shallow waters (≤ 2 m) where terrapins typically reside. Of the suitable terrapin habitat (70km2 ), 21% (15 km2 ) was considered vulnerable to crabbing pressures (10% highly and 11% moderately vulnerable). Approximately 15% of the study area was considered to be potential resource conflict areas for terrapin and crabbing. Candidate zones for the targeted application of blue crab fishery management actions to reduce terrapin bycatch include the Severn River, Perrin River, Guinea Marshes, and south of Gwynn Island. The integration of spatial information on terrapin habitat and crabbing pressure in a single framework will allow managers to identify areas where terrapins are most likely to encounter threats and target conservation efforts in those areas. In resource conflict areas, there are several management options that can be used in combination 1) Require use of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on commercial & recreational crab pots 2) Avoid particular habitats (e.g. small tidal creeks) or establish fishing exclusion zones 3) Educate – design public education programs to • promote the voluntary use of BRDs, and • communicate to recreational boaters the ramifications of severing buoy lines of active crab pots 4) Promote proper use of gear (e.g. retrieving pots regularly to minimize terrapin mortality). With further refinement to improve the predictability of terrapin occupancy, the terrapin habitat vulnerability model is transferable to all coastal areas where diamondback terrapins occur and where blue crabs are commercially and recreationally fished—from southern New England to Texas