Coalescence of Research: Urban Advantage as a Learning Organization Structured to Support a Culture of Inquiry

This dissertation is a mixed methods study of the Urban Advantage Program- a Middle School Science Initiative formed by the New York City Department of Education and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in collaboration with New York City’s science culturally rich institutions – the Bronx Zoo, the Staten Island Zoo, the Hall of Science, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Queens Botanical Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, and the New York Aquarium. Unprecedented in size and scope, UA brings together the largest school system in the largest city in the United States in a partnership with eight large independent science cultural institutions toward supporting teachers and students in implementation of science inquiry. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how the program is structured to support all stakeholders involved. The main argument is that UA is a learning organization when viewed through the lens of Senge’s Learning Organization Theory. Senge argues that all learning organizations incorporate and enact five disciplines, also known as component technologies: systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, building shared vision, and team learning (Senge, 1990). The findings of this study map UA practices and structure directly onto each of the five disciplines. Systems thinking is evidenced in the program design, policy and direction and involves two change leaders at the helm. Using one partner institution as a unit of analysis personal mastery is evidenced via interviews and observations of a partner and lead teacher. Mental models of UA teachers and lead teachers are surfaced through a survey and interviews. Building shared vision is evidenced in a two day retreat of UA in 2011 as well as a Middle School Leadership Institute held at AMNH in the spring of 2009. Arguably, team learning is present throughout all of UA activities, however is markedly evident in the evolution of a UA designed tool, the Rubric for Long-Term Science Investigations. UA changed the rubric incorporating the changes in the national standards including National Science Education Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. Analysis of the rubric changes involved rubrics from a ten year period. A reflective rubric designed for use by UA teachers to evaluate student long-term investigations brought to an annual Science Expo held at AMNH in 2011, was a tool used to analyze 112 student work projects as well as teacher understanding of the component parts of an inquiry investigation. The analysis was submitted to UA shortly after it was completed and was used to inform professional development and instructional practices. While a UA National initiative, using the UA model is already underway for Middle School Science in several cities, recommendations for further research include examining the UA model for use in NYC for high school students and for other disciplines including ELA, Social Studies and Art

Marianne Williams to Susan Kean, March 24, 1796

Marianne wrote from Mount Pleasant to Susan, care of Ricketts Esq, Elizabeth Town, NJ. Her boys recovered from measles, they visited friends “in the Delaware,” then became ill for an extended time. The roads are in poor condition, preventing her female friends from visiting. Marianne inquired about Jane Grove Corvaisier, who lived in Germantown when Mr. Bradford died [U.S. Attorney General William Bradford 1755-1795]. Corvaisier was melancholy and recently moved in with Mrs. Duponseau (?). Names included: Mr. Williams, Christine Williams, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Ricketts, and Peter Kean.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1790s/1344/thumbnail.jp

Marianne Williams to Susannah Kean, August 23, 1795

Marianne Williams wrote to Susannah Kean, addressed at Elizabeth, NJ. Marianne wished Susan well in the face of her recent challenges and informed her that her night clothes are at her place but the weather was preventing them from being sent. Marianne\u27s sons both had the measles. People included: Mr. Petrie, Mr. Gray, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Williams, Peter Kean, Marianne Williams\u27 children, Mrs. Corvaisier, Mr. Biddle.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1790s/1280/thumbnail.jp

Sustainability: An Analysis of Organizational Reporting and Implications for ERP systems

Given the increasing interest in sustainability, many companies are voluntarily producing sustainability reports for the general public. Companies generate these reports as a mechanism to signal environmental and global commitment to the public. Individuals use information from these reports to form thoughts on whether to purchase products or services from companies or whether to invest in the company. There is much variation in what sustainability means in the context of a business; therefore, reporting processes differ between companies. This paper presents the results of a content analysis of 15 sustainability reports which yielded 145 unique activities. These results are assisting us as we develop and validate an instrument of the most important activities in various sustainability dimensions. Using the finalized activities we will make inferences for ERP vendors in designing functionality to capture sustainability measures. Our findings will guide researchers and practitioners in measuring the dimensions of sustainability and using ERP systems to support sustainability reporting

Profiling micro-organic contaminants in groundwater using multi-level piezometers

The presence of micro-organic pollutants, including ‘emerging contaminants’ within groundwater is of increasing interest. Robust protocols are required to minimise the introduction of contamination during the sampling process. Below we discuss the sampling protocols used to reduce inputs of plasticisers during the sampling process, as well as the techniques used to characterise the distribution of micro-organic pollutants in the subsurface. In this study multi-level piezometers installed into the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer in the suburban area of Doncaster, Yorkshire, were used to look at the changes in micropollutants with depth and lithology. Two different methods of pumping groundwaters were employed, and sampling campaigns were undertaken in February and July 2014, under contrasting hydrological conditions

Cluster Sampling with Referral to Improve the Efficiency of Estimating Unmet Needs among Pregnant and Postpartum Women after Disasters

Introduction and Background—Women of reproductive age, in particular women who are pregnant or fewer than 6 months postpartum, are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters, which may create stressors for caregivers, limit access to prenatal/postpartum care, or interrupt contraception. Traditional approaches (e.g., newborn records, community surveys) to survey women of reproductive age about unmet needs may not be practical after disasters. Finding pregnant or postpartum women is especially challenging because fewer than 5% of women of reproductive age are pregnant or postpartum at any time. Methods—From 2009 to 2011, we conducted three pilots of a sampling strategy that aimed to increase the proportion of pregnant and postpartum women of reproductive age who were included in postdisaster reproductive health assessments in Johnston County, North Carolina, after tornadoes, Cobb/Douglas Counties, Georgia, after flooding, and Bertie County, North Carolina, after hurricane-related flooding. Results—Using this method, the percentage of pregnant and postpartum women interviewed in each pilot increased from 0.06% to 21%, 8% to 19%, and 9% to 17%, respectively. Conclusion and Discussion—Two-stage cluster sampling with referral can be used to increase the proportion of pregnant and postpartum women included in a postdisaster assessment. This strategy may be a promising way to assess unmet needs of pregnant and postpartum women in disaster-affected communities

Mapping Modernisms: Art, Indigeneity, Colonialism

Review of Mapping Modernisms: Art, Indigeneity, Colonialism, Reviewed May 2019 by Marianne R. Williams, Librarian-in-Residence, University of Arkansas, [email protected]

An exploration of father-child relationships, current attachment styles and self-esteem amongst adults

This study explored and described the relationship between early attachment to the father figure and self-esteem and current adult attachment style. Specifically, the present study explored and described the impact of the internal working model of early paternal attachment upon adult attachment styles and levels of self-esteem. The data for this study was obtained by utilizing the following four questionnaires: The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) Part 2 as a retrospective measure, the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) and Battle’s Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventory (CFSEI). An exploratory descriptive design using a non-probability, convenience sampling method was employed for the present study. A sample of 105 adult participants from a religious institution within Port Elizabeth was selected. Participants, including both males and females, representative of all cultures and socio-economic status, were interviewed using the above self-report measures. The data for this study was analyzed using descriptive and correlational and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that the majority of the sample had a preoccupied attachment style, with Intermediate self-esteem levels

Berlin

Review of Berlin, Reviewed June 2019 by Marianne R. Williams, Librarian-in-Residence, University of Arkansas, [email protected]

Tastemaker: Elizabeth Gordon, House Beautiful, and the Postwar American Home

Review of Tastemaker: Elizabeth Gordon, House Beautiful, and the Postwar American Home, Reviewed November 2017 by Marianne R. Williams, Librarian-in-Residence, University of Arkansas, [email protected]