Interactive theatre: drama as social intervention

In the book Performing Communities, Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of US-based Cornerstone Theater Company, is quoted as saying: You cannot predict what art changes. You’re naïve if you think you know you’re going to change the world with the art you create. It’s equally naïve and irresponsible even to acknowledge that art changes the world … (Leonard and Kilkelly, 2006, p. 72). Although I do not argue the impossibly extreme position that art can ‘change the world’ I disagree with the basic tenet behind Rauch’s comment. As a theatre-maker who for many years has created dramatic experience which has the express intention of bringing about change, I am convinced that, when shaped, targeted and delivered in particular ways, theatre and other forms of drama excite change. In order to achieve this, the dramatic intervention must consist of artistic output of the highest quality embedded in relevant pedagogic, sociological and dramatic approaches. The trick is to balance efficacy with artistic merit. This article examines the theoretical underpinnings for this kind of drama and theatre and provides examples of this work in action

Paradigm and Pluralism: Using Theory from Occupational Sociology and the Sociology of the Professions to Frame an Identity for IS

Concern that high levels of pluralism within IS have frustrated the development of a strong identity are evident in the literature. Rather than proposing an identity for IS, this paper uses theory and research from occupational sociology and the sociology of professions to analyze the processes involved in establishing boundaries for the field, for defining errors of inclusion and exclusion, and for shaping an IS identity. It is argued that prior work misapplies an organizational metaphor to IS and this misspecification excludes important processes in the evolution of professions including level of paradigm development, culture and control within professions, and the role of professions in social status hierarchies. The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges facing IS and suggestions for addressing them

Expanding School Enrollment by Subsidizing Private Schools: Lessons from Bogotá

Many countries use tax revenues to subsidize private schools. Whether these policies meet social objectives depends, in part, on the relative quality of education provided by the two types of schools. We use data on elementary school students and their teachers in Bogotá, Colombia to examine difference in resource mixes and differences in the relative effectiveness of public and private schools. We find that, on average, the schools in the two sectors are equally effective. However, they produce education using very different resource combinations. Moreover, there are large differences in the effectiveness of schools in both sectors, especially in the private sector. The results of our analysis shed light on the quantity-quality tradeoff that governments in many developing countries face in deciding how to use scarce educational resources.

Interpreting Price Response in Enrollment Decisions: A Comparative Institutional Study

While national research has shown that student financial aid has a positive, direct effect on the first-time enrollment of students, there has been little published research that examines the impact of the aid strategy on whether students enroll at a single institution. This article analyzes the influence of aid on the enrollment decisions of all accepted applicants at four institutions and interprets this research. In most instances, the amount of aid offered was negatively associated with first-time enrollment, indicating that aid offers were insufficient to promote enrollment for the otherwise-average applicant. This suggests that institutions need to study carefully the use of their own funds as a means of increasing yield

Assessing the Impact of Financial Aid Offers on Enrollment Decisions

Historically, colleges and universities have lacked models for systematically assessing the impact of their financial aid strategies on the enrollment decisions of admitted applicants. This study tests a model for assessing the impact of aid offers on enrollment decisions. The analysis demonstrates that: 1) financial aid strategies have a substantial influence on enrollment; and 2) the systematic analysis of student enrollment decisions can help institutional administrators refine their financing decisions

Co-Learning with Patricia A. Somers: Rising from Humble Beginnings to Become an Academic Leader

In 1990, Patricia A. Somers was a quick-witted and brilliant mid-career student affairs administrator who finally decided to complete a doctorate at the University of New Orleans. Before taking the position at the University of Texas, specializing in research on college access, Pat became an outstanding professor and mentor at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In a short reflective essay, Pat tells her family story of rising from humble beginnings to a career studying access and supporting students starting their careers through doctoral study. After her inspiring message, I reflect on our collaboration over more than three decades as professors in higher education.Educatio

Base heating methodology improvements, volume 1

This document is the final report for NASA MSFC Contract NAS8-38141. The contracted effort had the broad objective of improving the launch vehicles ascent base heating methodology to improve and simplify the determination of that environment for Advanced Launch System (ALS) concepts. It was pursued as an Advanced Development Plan (ADP) for the Joint DoD/NASA ALS program office with project management assigned to NASA/MSFC. The original study was to be completed in 26 months beginning Sep. 1989. Because of several program changes and emphasis on evolving launch vehicle concepts, the period of performance was extended to the current completion date of Nov. 1992. A computer code incorporating the methodology improvements into a quick prediction tool was developed and is operational for basic configuration and propulsion concepts. The code and its users guide are also provided as part of the contract documentation. Background information describing the specific objectives, limitations, and goals of the contract is summarized. A brief chronology of the ALS/NLS program history is also presented to provide the reader with an overview of the many variables influencing the development of the code over the past three years