40 research outputs found
DeLeT: Graduates' Perceptions of the Program and Their Preparedness for Teaching: An Evaluation Report
This report focuses on how DeLeT graduates from both programs perceive their preparedness for day school teaching, as well as how they perceive the DeLeT faculty and the programs' strengths and weaknesses. It also examines similarities and differences between the two programs and offers possible explanations for the handful of differences we identified. Such an in-depth examination of graduates' perspectives provides valuable formative feedback to both programs. In addition, we anticipate that this report will be useful to funders and faculty at other Jewish teacher education programs who may be interested in using the evaluation tools and procedures we have developed to learn about their graduates and identify areas for program improvement
The Effects of Teacher Preparation on Student Teachersâ Ideas about Good Teaching
Utilizing a mixed method approach, this study focuses on the perceptions of good teaching held by graduates of a teacher education program in the U.S. Specifically, this paper examines whether graduates embrace their programâs vision of good teaching and core standards as a guide to their self-reported teaching practice. Six cohorts of graduatesâ responses were recorded and analyzed upon arrival and completion of preparation to examine whether studentsâ ideas changed during the course of the program. Findings suggest mixed results suggesting that teachers adopted several ideas about good teaching that are related to the core standards of the program (e.g., collaborating with a colleague, encouraging risk taking, and asking open-ended questions)
The Missing Link of Jewish European Ancestry: Contrasting the Rhineland and the Khazarian Hypotheses
The question of Jewish ancestry has been the subject of controversy for over
two centuries and has yet to be resolved. The "Rhineland Hypothesis" proposes
that Eastern European Jews emerged from a small group of German Jews who
migrated eastward and expanded rapidly. Alternatively, the "Khazarian
Hypothesis" suggests that Eastern European descended from Judean tribes who
joined the Khazars, an amalgam of Turkic clans that settled the Caucasus in the
early centuries CE and converted to Judaism in the 8th century. The Judaized
Empire was continuously reinforced with Mesopotamian and Greco-Roman Jews until
the 13th century. Following the collapse of their empire, the Judeo-Khazars
fled to Eastern Europe. The rise of European Jewry is therefore explained by
the contribution of the Judeo-Khazars. Thus far, however, their contribution
has been estimated only empirically; the absence of genome-wide data from
Caucasus populations precluded testing the Khazarian Hypothesis. Recent
sequencing of modern Caucasus populations prompted us to revisit the Khazarian
Hypothesis and compare it with the Rhineland Hypothesis. We applied a wide
range of population genetic analyses - including principal component,
biogeographical origin, admixture, identity by descent, allele sharing
distance, and uniparental analyses - to compare these two hypotheses. Our
findings support the Khazarian Hypothesis and portray the European Jewish
genome as a mosaic of Caucasus, European, and Semitic ancestries, thereby
consolidating previous contradictory reports of Jewish ancestry.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, 7 supplementary figures, 7
supplementary table
Evaluating Efficiency-Effectiveness-Equality Trade-Offs: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach
This paper presents a resource allocation model based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The model extends the original objective of the DEA methodology from measuring efficiency to include the evaluation of various aspects of effectiveness and equality considerations. The model is formulated as a linear program that can be solved by means of a Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition algorithm. Theoretical properties of the model are compared with those corresponding to the model developed by Mandell (Mandell, M. B. 1991. Modelling effectiveness-equity trade-offs in public service delivery systems. Management Sci. 37(4) 467--482.) to evaluate the trade-off between equity and effectiveness. A numerical example is used to illustrate the comparison between the models.DEA, efficiency, effectiveness, equality
Using performance art to promote intergroup prosociality by cultivating the belief that empathy is unlimited
Empathy is important for resolving intergroup conïŹicts. However, people often tend to feel less empathy toward people who do not belong to their social group (i.e., outgroup members). We propose that this tendency is due, in part, to the belief that empathy is a limited resource. To overcome this issue, we develop an intervention synthesizing psychology and art to increase the belief that empathy is unlimited. In six studies (n = 2118), we ïŹnd that the more people believe empathy is limited, the less outgroup empathy they experience. Moreover, leading people to believe that empathy is unlimited increase outgroup empathy, leads to greater support for prosocial actions toward outgroup members, and encourages more empathic behaviors toward outgroup members in face-to-face intergroup interactions. These intervention effects are observed across various intergroup contexts involving different ethnic, national, religious, and political groups. Thus, changing beliefs about empathy may improve intergroup relations, and conveying this belief through art may promote social change.Peer reviewe
Surgical offloading procedures for diabetic foot ulcers compared to best non-surgical treatment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcers are frequently related to elevated pressure under a bony prominence. Conservative treatment includes offloading with orthopaedic shoes and custom made orthotics or plaster casts. While casting in plaster is usually effective in achieving primary closure of foot ulcers, recurrence rates are high. Minimally invasive surgical offloading that includes correction of foot deformities has good short and long term results. The surgery alleviates the pressure under the bony prominence, thus enabling prompt ulcer healing, negating the patientâs dependence on expensive shoes and orthotics, with a lower chance of recurrence. The purpose of this protocol is to compare offloading surgery (percutaneous flexor tenotomy, mini-invasive floating metatarsal osteotomy or Keller arthroplasty) to non-surgical treatment for patients with diabetic foot ulcers in a semi-crossover designed RCT. Methods One hundred patients with diabetic neuropathy related foot ulcers (tip of toe ulcers, ulcers under metatarsal heads and ulcers under the hallux interphalangeal joint) will be randomized (2:3) to a surgical offloading procedure or best available non-surgical treatment. Group 1 (surgery) will have surgery within 1Â week. Group 2 (controls) will be prescribed an offloading cast applied for up to 12Â weeks (based on clinical considerations). Following successful offloading treatment (ulcer closure with complete epithelization) patients will be prescribed orthopaedic shoes and custom made orthotics. If offloading by cast for at least 6Â weeks fails, or the ulcer recurs, patients will be offered surgical offloading. Follow-up will take place till 2Â years following randomization. Outcome criteria will be time to healing of the primary ulcer (complete epithelization), time to healing of surgical wound, recurrence of ulcer, time to recurrence and complications. Discussion The high recurrence rate of foot ulcers and their dire consequences justify attempts to find better solutions than the non-surgical options available at present. To promote surgery, RCT level evidence of efficacy is necessary. Trial registration Israel MOH_2017â08-10_000719. NIH: NCT03414216