Area or Perimeter: Using Representations for the Real World

Teachers in third through eighth grade teach area and perimeter simultaneously to their students every year and expect the students to know the difference. Recognizing the concern that teachers have for the lack of knowledge for area and perimeter, as well as their units, we share a lesson that allows the students to connect the terminology and mathematics to the real world. Specifically, we use an enactive, iconic, and symbolic lesson to find the cheapest fence for our garden

Local Marketing and Promotional Efforts of Florida Extension Agents

The purpose of the study reported here was to gain a better understanding of what Florida Extension agents do to promote and market programs in their counties. The objectives of the study were to determine the perceptions of current Florida Extension agents as to specific methods or materials used to market Florida Extension programs and activities. A total of 175 Florida Extension agents responded in this study, for an overall response rate of 54.18%. Results indicated that Extension agents would benefit from the development of marketing and promotional tools that would help them to disseminate information to the public

Using Implicit Associations to Reveal Hidden Biases Toward Robots

Previously, the Implicit Associations Test (IAT) has been used to measure attitudes toward different human variables (i.e. race, religion, age) (Fazio, R. H., & Olson, M. A., 2003). In this present study, we extend this research to examine biases toward robots by assessing the association between humans and robots with negative and positive stimuli. Participants were recruited at a large southeastern university in the U.S. (n = 23, Mage = 19). The IAT was created in the Qualtrics survey engine where it contains 7 tasks. An improved scoring algorithm was used to examine reaction times from tasks 3, 4, 6, and 7 (Greenwald, 2009). Tasks 3 and 4 measured the association between humans with negative stimuli, and robots with positive stimuli. Tasks 6 and 7 measured the association between humans with positive stimuli, and robots with negative stimuli. As the mean gets smaller, the reaction time increases leading to a stronger association. We hypothesized that people may hold stronger negative associations toward robots than toward humans. Therefore, the reaction time for Tasks 3 and 4 will be significantly larger than for Tasks 6 and 7. As predicted, our results indicate a higher mean for Tasks 3 and 4 (M = 1.09, SD = 0.49) compared to the mean for Tasks 6 and 7 (= 0.71, SD = 0.20). By implementing the IAT in the novel field of robotics, useful information about user’s implicit perceptions toward robots may aid in future human robot interaction

Intergenerational Socialization: Assessing Mindfulness, Anxiety and Depression While Painting With Water Colors

The overall intent of this mixed methods study was to assess intergenerational socialization while measuring elders\u27 health and well-being in association with depression, anxiety and mindfulness assessments while painting with watercolors. Undergraduate- researchers interviewed elders, administered quantitative assessments before and after painting together with watercolors. The qualitative results showed health and well-being through a primary theme of resilience and underlying themes of acceptance combined with secondary themes of family and friends, parenting (children), personal accomplishments, hobbies and home. Elders’ results showed positive changes in depression, anxiety and mindfulness, and undergraduate researchers were somewhat in awe of the richness of elders’ responses relating to resilience and acceptance

Do You Know if You Trust a Robot? Influences that Mediate Implicit and Explicit Trust

With the widespread expansion in fields of technology, the use of robotics in the average person’s everyday life continues to increase. This fast paced shift has brought about issues related to user trust. Here we investigate the effects of robot appearance and reliability on a user’s level of trust. Traditionally trust in the field of robotics has measured explicit trust, primarily through the use of self-report questionnaires. While we maintain this paradigm in our current work, we also expand on it by including a measure of implicit trust. This was achieved through the use of the Implicit Associations Test (IAT), administered prior to the experimental trials and aimed at evaluating participant’s implicit trust differences between humans and robots. Explicit trust was evaluated by measuring participant response to three different robot forms. Additionally, each robot could behave reliably or unreliably during a series of three experimental trials. A final fourth trial was also used, where we evaluated choice by allowing participants to choose their preferred robot. Explicit trust was measured through the use of two questionnaires: the Trust in Automation Scale (TAS) and the Human-Robot Trust Scale (HRTS). Results from the IAT showed implicit reservations related to trusting a robot over a human. Results from the explicit trust metrics showed differences based on the reliability of the robot, as well as when the participant chose to interact with the robot. We conclude that reliability remains a dominant driver of trust, yet other contextual factors do prove influential

Discussion of Bar Applicants Taking Noncommunist Oath

With responses from two Bar members

Vermont Healthy Kids\u27 Meals: Parents\u27 Perspectives

Introduction. Childhood obesity has increased for decades. Options on kids’ menus in restaurants typically involve unhealthy choices such as fries, chicken fingers, and grilled cheese, with soda as the drink. When healthy options are the default choice, children are more likely to eat them. Though initially skeptical of modifications, restaurants will enact changes to maintain customer satisfaction and profits, and there is no significant difference in price of healthier kids’ meals.Methods. 187 paper and electronic surveys were administered throughout Vermont to explore attitudes towards availability, cost, and importance of healthy kids’ meals, as well as income, education, and children in the household. Open-ended questions sought parental opinions.Results. 69% of parents believe healthier food options at restaurants would cost more; however, 95% were willing to pay more. 89% of parents reported feeling concerned or highly concerned about sugary drinks, and 62% of parents were very likely to choose the healthier food option at a restaurant. The majority of parents who reported difficulty in finding healthy meals felt the amount of fruits/vegetables was the most important nutritional factor. Low income Vermonters were most concerned about cost.Conclusions. The majority of parents are concerned about kids’ meal nutrition and are likely to purchase healthier options, even at increased prices. If restaurants enact changes to kids’ menus, prices should remain the same to ensure families of all socioeconomic classes will be able to purchase healthier meals. Priority modifications to meals should include increased amounts of fruits/vegetables and elimination of added sugar.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1236/thumbnail.jp

The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS):Development and psychometric evaluation in US community women and men

Body functionality has been identified as an important dimension of body image that has the potential to be useful in the prevention and treatment of negative body image and in the enhancement of positive body image. Specifically, cultivating appreciation of body functionality may offset appearance concerns. However, a scale assessing this construct has yet to be developed. Therefore, we developed the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) and examined its psychometric properties among three online community samples totalling 1042 women and men (ns = 490 and 552, respectively). Exploratory factor analyses revealed a unidimensional structure with seven items. Confirmatory factor analysis upheld its unidimensionality and invariance across gender. The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, criterion-related, and construct (convergent, discriminant, incremental) validity of its scores were upheld. The FAS is a psychometrically sound measure that is unique from existing positive body image measures. Scholars will find the FAS applicable within research and clinical settings

Neighborhood sampling: how many streets must an auditor walk?

This study tested the representativeness of four street segment sampling protocols using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) in eleven neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments in Houston, TX. The following four street segment sampling protocols were used (1) all segments, both residential and arterial, contained within the 400 meter radius buffer from the center point of the housing development (the core) were compared with all segments contained between the 400 meter radius buffer and the 800 meter radius buffer (the ring); all residential segments in the core were compared with (2) 75% (3) 50% and (4) 25% samples of randomly selected residential street segments in the core. Analyses were conducted on five key variables: sidewalk presence; ratings of attractiveness and safety for walking; connectivity; and number of traffic lanes. Some differences were found when comparing all street segments, both residential and arterial, in the core to the ring. Findings suggested that sampling 25% of residential street segments within the 400 m radius of a residence sufficiently represents the pedestrian built environment. Conclusions support more cost effective environmental data collection for physical activity research

Comparing the Impact of Heat Activation and Ammonium Chloride on the Germination of Bacillus anthracis Spores

The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button