Using Focus Groups to Evaluate Youth Development Program Direction

Focus groups are an efficient and effective assessment tool for youth development practitioners with limited time and resources. This article examines the practical use and limitations of focus groups to assess a county 4-H program\u27s response to a changing demographic profile. A complete description of the process is followed by a report of results and implications for program direction

Learning cycles: Enriching ways of knowing place

We share a story about a katitjin bidi, a learning journey in a bioregion with a multimillennial Aboriginal history. As part of this katitjin bidi, three environmental educators implemented a place-based pedagogy called ‘becoming family with place’, while a fourth participated in the preplanning and final reflective stages. Our story includes cycles of ways of knowing, resulting in an enriched practice of being-with our place. Our story is underpinned by Aboriginal epistemologies to reimagine regenerative futures linked with those of ‘the long now’ — the past, present and future here now. Ours is a particular story that lives in a particular southwest place. There are layers of meanings that live right across the landscapes in the southwest of Australia — and many of them are hiding in full view. You might like to try this pedagogy in school learning, teacher education, and community education contexts

Recovery From Alcohol or Drug Abuse: The Relationship Between Identity Styles and Recovery Behaviors

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between identity styles and recovery from substance abuse. Consistent findings have established a relationship be- tween identity diffusion and substance misuse, but no research has explored the influence of identity styles on recovery processes. Participants (N = 252) from treatment and recovery-based facilities and groups using a 12-step recovery model were assessed with the Identity Style Inventory (White, Wampler, & Winn, 1998) and self-report measures of pretreatment addiction, length of continuous abstinence, quality of recovery, and recovery progress. Those with a diffuse/avoidant style had shorter lengths of continuous abstinence, fewer recovery-oriented behaviors, lower quality of recovery, and less recovery progress than those with an information style, suggesting an important relationship be- tween identity styles and the process of recovery from substance abuse

The Ursinus Weekly, April 26, 1954

Class officer, MSGA petitions to start today • IRC delegates visit Alfred U. • Y retreat begins this weekend • Pre-med society sponsors advice for co-ed pre-meds • H. Smith elected \u2755 Lantern editor • Greek columns • Eugene P. Bentin to speak to FTA • Chi Alpha elects officers • Curtain Club elections to be held on May 3 • Fisher, Harris, Gillespie to lead WSGA, WAA, YW • Dr. Schoonover spoke; Moslem ideas, culture • U.C. debaters gain 14 wins, tie, drop 5 • Ethel Lutz elected pres. of Future Teachers • Beemer, German, Pasfield, McLaughlin U.C. bridge champs • Kampus Karnival a success • Spring play features comedy and confusion • Campus poll results • Queen, court, Cub & Key awards revealed at Jr. prom • Meistersingers\u27 Music for you fine presentation, well received • A professor says • Collegeville-Trappe story: Famous people • ZX edges APE tracksters in 50 3/4 - 47 4 event rally • Bears set records, win disputed game • Slotter\u27s 5-hit shut-out stalls Ford stickmen 7-0 • Ehlers, Carter shine on mound, beat E-town, F-M • Batsmen crush Pharmacy 20-0; Slotter victor • Strength in middle distance, dashes, gives Fords 70-56 win • Girls\u27 tennis team loses; Three matches this week • Elizabethtown first prey; Racquetmen lose opener • Softball league led by Curtis II, Brodbeck I teams • Playoffs begin tonight in girls\u27 intramural basketballhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1495/thumbnail.jp

Justice and the Mathematics Classroom: Realizing the Goals of the AMTE Standards for Preparing Teachers of Mathematics

This chapter is an introduction to justice in the post-secondary context of mathematics courses for prospective teachers. The chapter is a research-to-practice report (i.e., it describes an aspect of instruction and discusses how it is informed by, connects to, or is illustrative of findings from research). While the reader might be any type of mathematics teacher educator, the focus here is supporting those who teach mathematics content courses for elementary school teacher candidates. In addition to having an effect on discipline-specific knowledge, college mathematics classes contribute to the ways candidates communicate in/with/through mathematics in working with children. The chapter includes discussion of the keys of mathematical literacy: mathematics for and of justice and examples of what the ideas look like in practice. The examples include information from research and a reference case presented as the accumulation of experiences for Kara Thomas and Dr. Rhodes. The case is a means for exemplifying issues such as equity, agency, and identity in the mathematics classroom

Effectiveness of Holistic Interventions for People with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials

Despite a well-recognised burden of disabling physical symptoms compounded by co-morbidities, psychological distress and social isolation, the needs of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are typically poorly addressed.To assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to deliver holistic care for people with severe COPD.We searched 11 biomedical databases, three trial repositories (January 1990-March 2012; no language restrictions) and contacted international experts to locate published, unpublished and in-progress randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) that investigated holistic interventions to support patients with severe COPD in any healthcare context. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Quality assessment and data extraction followed Cochrane Collaboration methodology. We used a piloted data extraction sheet and undertook narrative synthesis.From 2,866 potentially relevant papers, we identified three trials: two RCTs (from United States and Australia), and one CCT (from Thailand): total 216 patients. Risk of bias was assessed as moderate in two studies and high in the third. All the interventions were led by nurses acting in a co-ordinating role (e.g. facilitating community support in Thailand, providing case-management in the USA, or co-ordinating inpatient care in Australia). HRQoL improved significantly in the Thai CCT compared to the (very limited) usual care (p<0.001), in two sub-domains in the American trial, but showed no significant changes in the Australian trial. Exercise tolerance, dyspnoea, and satisfaction with care also improved in the Thai trial.Some 15 years after reports first highlighted the unmet needs of people with severe COPD, we have been unable to find robust trial evidence about interventions that can address those needs. There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate holistic care interventions designed improve HRQoL for people with severe COPD.PROSPERO (CRD42012002430)

Focus, Vol. 1 No. 1

A literary magazine of student writing published by the Department of English of Stephen F. Austin State College.https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/focus/1000/thumbnail.jp

Crown gall in Oregon grapevines : biology and treatment of planting stock with hot water dips [1995-1996]

Oregon is a leader in production of premium wines in the United States and the industry has been expanding rapidly over the past few years. However, continued production and expansion of vineyards are threatened by infestation of phylloxera, Daktulospaira vitifoliae, an insect that feeds on roots. Most grapevines in Oregon are growing on their own roots and are susceptible to phylloxera. The use of phylloxera-resistant rootstocks has increased as growers and nurserymen are moving to replace susceptible plants. However, the grafting process provides wounds that can become infected by the crown gall bacterium, Agrobacterium vitis, naturally present within the vascular system of some grape rootstocks and/or scion wood. The goal of our research is to prevent crown gall in phylloxera-resistant grapevines. There are several potential ways to achieve this goal: 1) to eradicate tumorigenic bacteria within the plant material by hot water treatments, 2) to introduce biological control agents at the wound site in grafted plants, and 3) to select rootstocks and scion woods that are resistant to crown gall disease

Housing Needs in Rural Communities

This study explored housing in small rural communities in an attempt to understand the available housing stock, perceptions of the need for housing, and perceived barriers to housing development. Data were collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews with key community informants. Interviews included forced-choice as well as open-ended questions. Housing issues are described through the words of community leaders with the goal of understanding communities\u27 needs and constraints. Lower cost housing for both renters and owners and housing options for elderly individuals continue to be areas of need in rural communities