Factors That Influence Teachers\u27 Use, Or Non-Use, Of Small Group Discussion

ABSTRACT FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE TEACHERS’ USE, OR NON-USE, OF SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION by JULIANNE SNIDER August 2016 Advisor: Dr. Karen Feathers Major: Reading, Language, and Literature Degree: Doctor of Education This qualitative study explored teacher answers to one question: What factors influence teachers’ decisions to use, or not use, small group discussion. Research supports a variety of small group discussion approaches to meet a range of curricular goals. Despite the philosophical move to student-centered discussion approaches, and research supporting small group discussion as an effective literacy approach, teacher led whole class discussion continues as the dominant approach. An online teacher survey about teacher use of discussion generated fifteen teachers, grades two through eight, who were interviewed to gather data on their perspectives about student discussion. Three themes emerged from the interview data: (1) Teachers’ perspectives about their philosophy of education differed between teachers who used small group discussion and whole class discussion, (2) Teacher’s talk about students differed between teachers who used small group discussion and whole class discussion, and (3) Teachers’ talk about the teacher’s role or purpose differed between teachers who used small group discussion and whole class discussion. Based on the findings, the implications suggest that teachers who are successful at implementing small group discussion have reading related advanced degrees, they have adopted constructivist philosophies, perhaps through their advanced degrees in reading, and they benefit from administrative and collegial support. Without the reading education and the philosophy to support student-centered approaches, teacher comments revealed that even when school-wide literacy programs, designed to engage students in small group discussion, were implemented, teachers manipulated the program activities to fit their teacher-led style

Facilitating Rest for Victims of Sex Trafficking at Genesis Project Safe House

Anxiety management techniques are commonly used by occupational therapists in mental health settings to help reduce symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and facilitate participation in meaningful occupations. With a growing number of human trafficking victims in Washington state, local non-profit organizations have begun to team with health professionals and law enforcement to become involved in their rescue and reintegration. This is a current emerging practice area for occupational therapists. A “relaxation” kit and accompanying manual were created to assist staff at Genesis Project Safe-house of South King County in providing relaxing activities that facilitate participation in rest for trafficked youth suffering from posttraumatic stress. After an in-service training, 90% of staff demonstrated knowledge of the kit’s purpose and safe implementation. One hundred percent of feedback from staff was positive concerning usefulness. As this shelter transitions into a 24-hour shelter and residential facility, staff will have a resource to promote health and well-being for these girls as they begin the process of rescue and reintegration

Prospectus, January 18, 1984

HINTS FOR SURVIVING SPRING SEMESTER AT PARKLAND COLLEGE; News Digest; Blair, Henriksen ready for Olympics; Prospectus needs your ideas; PC Happenings: Election board news, Convocations director needed; Winter driving; New doll helps diabetics; I.D. cards; Staerkel tries to keep campus open despite Illinois\u27 unpredictable weather; Walsh helps in taking over advertising; Snow plows save cities in winter; Spring calendar; Classifieds; Question: Who or what influenced you the most in deciding what direction your life would take?; Flirting as an art still alive; Highway deaths down; Drinking hurts unborn; New rock band; Foreign students experience snow; Campus organizations at Parkland; The best and worst movies of the year 1983; Disney re-releases classic film; Endearment best picture; D.C. Cab is better than most; Campus Paperback Bestsellers; New & Recommended; The Keep, classic horror; In the library--paperbacks; Phase IV nears completion; New student grant; PC grad to Texas; Cobras win opener; Parkland loses close one; I.M. News; Second losshttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1984/1034/thumbnail.jp

Hydrologic and isotopic modeling of Alpine Lake Waiau, Mauna Kea, Hawai'i

Analysis of hydrologic, meteorologic, and isotopic data collected over 3 yr quantifies and explains the enormous variability and isotopic enrichment (δ18O = +16.9, δD = +50.0) of alpine Lake Waiau, a culturally and ecologically significant perched lake near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. Further, a simple one-dimensional hydrologic model was developed that couples standard water budget modeling with modeling of δD and δ18O isotopic composition to provide daily predictions of lake volume and chemistry. Data analysis and modeling show that winter storms are the primary source of water for the lake, adding a distinctively light isotopic signature appropriate for high-altitude precipitation. Evaporation at the windy, dry summit is the primary loss mechanism for most of the year, greatly enriching the lake in heavy isotopes

Arizona\u27s Vulnerable Populations

Arizona’s vulnerable populations are struggling on a daily basis but usually do so in silence, undetected by traditional radar and rankings, often unaware themselves of their high risk for being pushed or pulled into a full crisis. Ineligible for financial assistance under strict eligibility guidelines, they don’t qualify as poor because vulnerable populations are not yet in full crisis. To be clear, this report is not about the “poor,” at least not in the limited sense of the word. It is about our underemployed wage earners, our single-parent households, our deployed or returning military members, our under-educated and unskilled workforce, our debt-ridden neighbors, our uninsured friends, our family members with no savings for an emergency, much less retirement

SNPs Associated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Phospho-Tau Levels Influence Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial disease. While large genome-wide association studies have had some success in identifying novel genetic risk factors for AD, case-control studies are less likely to uncover genetic factors that influence progression of disease. An alternative approach to identifying genetic risk for AD is the use of quantitative traits or endophenotypes. The use of endophenotypes has proven to be an effective strategy, implicating genetic risk factors in several diseases, including anemia, osteoporosis and heart disease. In this study we identify a genetic factor associated with the rate of decline in AD patients and present a methodology for identification of other such factors. We have used an established biomarker for AD, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (ptau181) levels as an endophenotype for AD, identifying a SNP, rs1868402, in the gene encoding the regulatory sub-unit of protein phosphatase B, associated with CSF ptau181 levels in two independent CSF series . We show no association of rs1868402 with risk for AD or age at onset, but detected a very significant association with rate of progression of disease that is consistent in two independent series . Our analyses suggest that genetic variants associated with CSF ptau181 levels may have a greater impact on rate of progression, while genetic variants such as APOE4, that are associated with CSF Aβ42 levels influence risk and onset but not the rate of progression. Our results also suggest that drugs that inhibit or decrease tau phosphorylation may slow cognitive decline in individuals with very mild dementia or delay the appearance of memory problems in elderly individuals with low CSF Aβ42 levels. Finally, we believe genome-wide association studies of CSF tau/ptau181 levels should identify novel genetic variants which will likely influence rate of progression of AD

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo