Achievement Predictors for a Computer-Applications Module Delivered Online

The program evaluation compared student achievement and self-report data in two types of learning environments - a traditional classroom environment and an online learning environment to examine the comparative effectiveness of online delivery, to identify characteristics of successful and unsuccessful distance learning students, and to gauge degree of satisfaction with online delivery. Undergraduate students (N = 93) enrolled in four sections of Business 100, Computer Fundamentals, were assigned by section to complete a 4-weeks long spreadsheet module either in class (control) or online (experimental). The online instruction was delivered via a website and was supplemented with e-mail and listserv discussion. Post test findings revealed no significant differences in knowledge gain between the control (M = .75) and online (M = .77) groups, indicating that this online module was at least as effective as the traditional classroom instruction. Post hoc analysis of achievement data showed that more capable students working online scored significantly better (p \u3c .01) than the more capable control group. Self-report measures compared to achievement indicated that frequent computer users benefited most from online delivery, while frequent computer use was not a factor in the control group\u27s performance. Also competitiveness had a negative correlation with achievement for the online group but not for the control group. In summary, this online instruction provided an effective standardized course delivery. However low-prior knowledge students who are less frequent computer users were not served well by this online instruction

The Distribution of the Burden of US Health Care Financing

The complex financing system that supports health care spending in the US makes estimation of the incidence of financing both daunting and important. A significant portion of financing is embedded in the tax system at all levels of government, while tax expenditures that subsidize private purchases implicitly transfer a large share of financing from private to public revenue sources. We compute and describe the final incidence of financing health care by major component and in total. We use the Kakwani measure of progressivity and find the overall incidence of US health care financing to be regressive although less so than in earlier years. This change is due in part to an increased federal role. We provide detail as to our methods and assumptions for benchmarking and assessment of the equity implications of financing health care in the future

Traditional Maori dress : rediscovering forgotten elements of pre-1820 practice.

This thesis examines evidence of traditional Maori dress from the mid-seventeenth century to 1820. It focuses on ephemeral and perishable elements of dress which previous research appears to have forgotten, overlooked or dismissed: hairstyle, head adornment, the use of bird and animal skins, and a former method of wearing cloaks. Twentieth century perceptions of traditional Maori dress were mainly derived from selected images published soon after the voyages of Captain Cook. Other available graphic evidence was deemed unreliable because of the perceived influence of late eighteenth century artistic practices. However, this research validates the work of contemporary graphic artists and establishes that many early European images of Maori, previously un-researched, offer a valuable and largely reliable source of ethnological data. The thesis uses multidisciplinary analysis to re-examine not only the graphic evidence but traditional, textual, and material sources, and brings to bear specialist knowledge of the construction of dress and related technology. The research seeks to employ a holistic perspective and to analyse dress in its cultural context to understand its significance more completely. The synthesis of these forms of evidence and the introduction of empirical procedures has elicited new information and ascertains that traditional Maori dress was more varied and more complex than formerly perceived

Revising a Doctor of Nursing Practice Program in Response to Student Focus Group Feedback

Throughout the history of professional nursing, changes in practice environments have guided changes in nursing educational systems. Over the past 50 years, advanced practice nurse roles have progressed in clinical practice and professional role requirements. The need to enhance the educational preparation in response to these requirements was addressed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2006). These formative years in the development of the DNP resulted in several programs across the country with varying approaches to both advanced practice specialization and doctoral degree education. Although extensive work was done by faculty to develop the program, prepare for accreditation, and provide a quality program, continued data collection and response to student feedback is a necessary component of quality education and continuing accreditation. The purpose of this project is to describe the continued data collection process of the program, specifically regarding the immersion hours and development of the final project

Every Day a New Discovery: Share History

This project aims to strengthen the sense of community and shared identity within VCU through a historical understanding of the interconnectedness of the formerly standalone institutions (i.e., the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute). Additionally, it will seek to cultivate a sense of pride and greater esteem for our community by facilitating knowledge of the significant contributions to innovation that were developed at VCU

The Vehicle, Fall 1973

Table of Contents Just the SameRick Hoblerpage 4 Gentle NightPatricia Christpage 5 Baby Makes TwoMarilyn Beckerpage 5 StephenMarilyn Beckerpage 5 Seventh AlarumKeith Fuerstpage 6 DallasKeith Fuerstpage 6 An Old Floor CandlePeggy Wallacepage 7 Without LoveRod Boehmerpage 7 No TouchJerilyn Jonespage 8 A BeginningJerilyn Jonespage 8 First Frost of AutumnMelvin Zaloudekpage 9 TrisetrieWilliam Uteschpage 9 EyesMarvinetta Woodleypage 9https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1030/thumbnail.jp

The Vehicle, Fall 1973

Table of Contents Just the SameRick Hoblerpage 4 Gentle NightPatricia Christpage 5 Baby Makes TwoMarilyn Beckerpage 5 StephenMarilyn Beckerpage 5 Seventh AlarumKeith Fuerstpage 6 DallasKeith Fuerstpage 6 An Old Floor CandlePeggy Wallacepage 7 Without LoveRod Boehmerpage 7 No TouchJerilyn Jonespage 8 A BeginningJerilyn Jonespage 8 First Frost of AutumnMelvin Zaloudekpage 9 TrisetrieWilliam Uteschpage 9 EyesMarvinetta Woodleypage 9https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1030/thumbnail.jp

Integrating the little talks intervention into Early Head Start: An experimental examination of implementation supports involving fidelity monitoring and performance feedback

Enriching home visiting services by incorporating scientifically-supported interventions is a means for improving their effectiveness in promoting child development. However, deliberate efforts to ensure that home visitors are fully knowledgeable and supported to implement interventions with parents of young children are necessary. In this experimental study, a randomly-assigned group of Early Head Start home visitors monitored the fidelity of their provision of a scientifically-based intervention, Little Talks, and the program\u27s general child development services. On a bi-weekly basis, home visitors received performance feedback specific to their implementation of Little Talks and based upon the fidelity data. Findings demonstrated that home visitors showed immediate and consistent mastery of the Little Talks content, while the quality of their implementation, including their clinical decision-making and collaborative processes, improved to adequate levels over time. The Little Talks home visitors showed generalized improvements in their ability to obtain Parent Input while providing the program\u27s typical child development services were detected. In fact, Little Talks home visitors\u27 were superior in obtaining Parent Input relative to comparison home visitors. Further, parents for whom low-quality intervention implementation was observed discontinued their enrollment in home visiting prematurely, while high-quality implementation was associated with sustained enrollment. Limitations for this study are identified, leading to future directions for advancing home visitors\u27 incorporation of evidence-based practices

Perspectives on Andean Prehistory and Protohistory: Papers from the Third Annual Northeast Conference on Andean Archaeology and Ethnohistory

This volume represents eight of the eighteen papers presented at the Third Northeast Conference on Andean Archaeology and Ethnohistory held at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst on October 27 and 28, 1984. It also includes a paper presented at the Second NCAAE held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 19-20, 1983. The papers include: Wandering Shellfish: New Insights from Southeastern Coastal Ecuador by Patricia Netherly, Late Prehistoric Terracing at Chijra in the Collca Valley, Peru: Preliminary Report I by Michael A. Malpass, The Topara Tradition: An Overview by Dwight T. Wallace, The Peruvian North Central Coast During the Early Intermediate Period: An Emerging Perspective by Richard E. Daggett, A Sequence of Monumental Architecture from Huamanchuco by John R. Topic, Duality in Public Architecture in the Upper Zena Valley by Patricia J. Netherly and Tom D. Dillehay, Piruru: A Preliminary Report on the Archaeological Botany of a Highland Andean Site by Lawrence Kaplan and Elisabeth Bonnier, Analysis of Organic Remains from Huamachuco Qollqas by Coreen E. Chiswell, Aspects of Casting Practice in Prehispanic Peru by Stuart V. Arnold, and Representations of the Cosmos: A Comparison of the Church of San Cristobal de Pampachiri with the Coricancha Drawing of Santacruz Pachacuti Yamqui Salcamaygua by Monica Barnes.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/andean_past_special/1000/thumbnail.jp

Human-made structures, vegetation, and weather influence ferruginous hawk breeding performance

Studies of anthropogenic impacts on wildlife may produce inconclusive or biased results if they fail to account for natural sources of variation in breeding performance and do not use probabilistic sampling at a scale functional for management. We used stratified random sampling and generalized linear mixed models to test hypotheses on relationships of daily nest survival rate (DSR) and fledgling production with anthropogenic and environmental factors that influence reproduction in the ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis). We conducted the study across ferruginous hawk range in Wyoming, USA, 2010–2012. We performed extensive field surveys of prey, vegetation, and nest substrates, and used spatially explicit data to quantify weather, and the most widespread forms of anthropogenic infrastructure (i.e., roads, oil and gas well pads) in ferruginous hawk territories. We found strong evidence that DSR and productivity were greater for nests on anthropogenic structures (i.e., artificial nest platforms, gas condensation tanks, abandoned windmill platforms, power poles) compared to natural substrates (i.e., trees, cliffs, rock outcrops). Additionally, ferruginous hawks produced more fledglings at territories with greater shrub cover and fewer severe storms during the June brood‐rearing period. Amount of oil and gas development and prey was not associated with either measure of breeding performance. Our results suggest that artificial nest platforms are an effective tool to improve breeding success of ferruginous hawks and nesting on anthropogenic structures does not constitute an ecological trap for this species. Although ferruginous hawks nested in some areas with very little vegetative cover, territories with greater amounts of shrub cover produced more fledglings. The negative impact of severe spring storms on fledgling production illustrates the importance of including future weather scenarios in management planning for this species because storms are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA