The Impact of Interdisciplinary Project Work on Student Engagement in Mathematics Learning

This study examines the impact of interdisciplinary project work on student engagement in mathematics learning. Students in a multiage first and second grade classroom participated in both interdisciplinary and traditional math work. Data were collected through observation, field notes and student work and were analyzed to determine whether sfudent engagement improved during the interdisciplinary project work. Indicators of engagement were identified, and found to coincide with connection, a social context, active learning and challenge. Interdisciplinary project work was found to be likely to include those elements of engagement. Finally, embedded and standardized assessments indicated a strong correlation between interdisciplinary project work, engagement, and achievement in mathematics learning

Decision-Making in Italian Local Politics

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67919/2/10.1177_009539977400600203.pd

Binary classification of dyslipidemia from the waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index: a comparison of linear, logistic, and CART models

BACKGROUND: We sought to improve upon previously published statistical modeling strategies for binary classification of dyslipidemia for general population screening purposes based on the waist-to-hip circumference ratio and body mass index anthropometric measurements. METHODS: Study subjects were participants in WHO-MONICA population-based surveys conducted in two Swiss regions. Outcome variables were based on the total serum cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. The other potential predictor variables were gender, age, current cigarette smoking, and hypertension. The models investigated were: (i) linear regression; (ii) logistic classification; (iii) regression trees; (iv) classification trees (iii and iv are collectively known as "CART"). Binary classification performance of the region-specific models was externally validated by classifying the subjects from the other region. RESULTS: Waist-to-hip circumference ratio and body mass index remained modest predictors of dyslipidemia. Correct classification rates for all models were 60–80%, with marked gender differences. Gender-specific models provided only small gains in classification. The external validations provided assurance about the stability of the models. CONCLUSIONS: There were no striking differences between either the algebraic (i, ii) vs. non-algebraic (iii, iv), or the regression (i, iii) vs. classification (ii, iv) modeling approaches. Anticipated advantages of the CART vs. simple additive linear and logistic models were less than expected in this particular application with a relatively small set of predictor variables. CART models may be more useful when considering main effects and interactions between larger sets of predictor variables

Book reviews

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45936/1/357_2005_Article_BF01896816.pd

Florida is a Blessed Country : Letters to Iowa from a Florida Settler

Letters from settlers have provided information and insights into the early history of our country. The letters here are about Gainesville and Charlotte Harbor, Florida, between 1885 and 1887, and were written by J. Albert Erickson, who had moved from north central Iowa to Florida in 1874. Erickson’s letters were sent to John A. Lindberg, editor of the Dayton (Iowa) Review, who published them