Innovation in Education: Renewed Perspectives Through Writer’s Conferences, Literary Theory, Supplements to the Western Literary Canon, and Representations of Fiction through Film

Education requires constant reevaluation and reflection, and this portfolio is Elizabeth DuBois’s final portfolio for a Master’s of Arts in English that demonstrates reflection and reevaluation of secondary English education. It includes a framing narrative that establishes the significance of the writing projects included within the portfolio. The four revised pieces demonstrate renewed perspectives regarding education. Education requires constant reevaluation and reflection. This portfolio demonstrates that process of reflecting on pedagogy and reevaluating it in order to best serve students. Writer’s conferences, literary theory, multicultural literature, and film representations of fiction are all aspects of high school pedagogy that I have reevaluated and changed in order to expand my students’ understanding of the writing process and literature. This portfolio focuses on renewed perspectives in education in order to better prepare high school students for the academic discourses expected of them in college

Star formation in the local environments of high-redshift ultraluminous infrared galaxies

We present ananalysis of the megaparsec scale environments of a sample of ultraluminous infrared galaxies(ULIRGs) at redshift 1.7, using far-infrared data from the Herschel Space Telescope. We compare their environments to those of a sample of fainter sources in the far-infrared which have comparable red shifts, in order to determine whether the environments of the ULIRGs host a net over density of star formation in comparison to that of galaxies in the field. An overdensity could indicate the presence of possible companions forming in the vicinity of the ULIRGs, which may imply that these objects reside in protocluster environments. We search for evidence for an excess of far-infrared flux on megaparsec scales around the ULIRGs compared to the field, where the excess is modelled by a power law. This excess flux is then converted to a star formation rate density in solar masses per year per cubic megaparsec. The presence of excess infrared flux around these objects is detected, indicating that there is an overdensity of star formation in their local environments which may be a rising from obscured objects in the vicinity

The Unequal Burden of Debt and Its Impact on Health

Average household debt in America has tripled in the past 30 years. Much of this burden is unequally borne by racial/ethnic minorities and those with lower incomes, who face discrimination in obtaining loans and must devote more household resources to paying off debts. Being indebted is a strong predictor of suicide, depression, and other adverse mental health outcomes. However, its impact on physical health is underexplored

You\u27re Hired: Examining Acceptance of Social Media Screening of Job Applicants

The paper examines attitudes towards employers using social media to screen job applicants. In an online survey of 454 participants, we compare the comfort level with this practice in relation to different types of information that can be gathered from publicly accessible social media. The results revealed a nuanced nature of people’s information privacy expectations in the context of hiring practices. People’s perceptions of employers using social media to screen job applicants depends on (1) whether or not they are currently seeking employment (or plan to), (2) the type of information that is being accessed by a prospective em-ployer (if there are on the job market), and (3) their cultural background, but not gender. The findings emphasize the need for employers and recruiters who are relying on social media to screen job applicants to be aware of the types of information that may be perceived to be more sensitive by applicants, such as social network-related information

Maintaining Quality in Online Learning Environments: Issues and Challenges

The online classroom continues to play an ever increasing role in higher education. There are proven, research-based pedagogical techniques available to instructors who want to create online courses that are both dynamic and engaging. With careful planning, online learning can provide students with a positive learning experience without sacrificing the academic quality of learning. Addressing security issues and challenges is vital to maintaining the desired academic rigor and quality. This paper discusses these important security issues and offers a variety of solutions for facilitating a secure learning environment

Fostering International Collaboration between WPI and HDU through Mixed IQPs

This project aimed to foster international collaboration, a rising standard for higher education in our increasingly global society, through sharing Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s well established project-based curriculum with Hangzhou Dianzi University in Hangzhou, China. Interviews, surveys, and focus groups determined that it is mutually beneficial and possible for WPI and HDU students to jointly conduct sponsored, interdisciplinary research projects concerning the relationship between technology and society. The project produced recommendations to implement collaborative research in the Fall of 2015, allowing students from WPI and HDU to fully experience the long-term benefits of cross-cultural, project-based, and interdisciplinary learning

Protecting Patients from Physicians Who Inflict Harm: New Legal Resources for State Medical Boards

State medical boards (SMBs) protect the public by ensuring that physicians uphold appropriate standards of care and ethical practice. Despite this clear purpose, egregious types of wrongdoing by physicians are alarmingly frequent, harmful, and under-reported. Even when egregious wrongdoing is reported to SMBs, it is unclear why SMBs sometimes fail to promptly remove seriously offending physicians from practice. Legal and policy tools that are targeted, well-informed, and actionable are urgently needed to help SMBs more effectively protect patients from egregious wrongdoing by physicians.Past reviews of SMB performance have identified features of SMBs associated with higher rates of severe disciplinary actions against physicians, including political and professional independence and adequate funding and staffing. However, there has been little attention paid to elements of the state level legal framework that governs SMB licensing and disciplinary function, or what legal or policy tools would make SMBs more effective at protecting patients in serious cases.This Article offers solutions in the form of model language with commentary for five high-impact statutory provisions that address board composition and function, reporting to the board, and adjudication of disciplinary matters. It brings together consensus recommendations from an expert panel, the results of legal mapping of relevant state laws, and original legal and policy analysis. The model provisions and commentary are intended to serve as a new resource for SMBs, state legislatures, and other policymakers to encourage and support examination of existing medical practice acts to improve SMB function and better protect patients from harmful physicians. Note:Funding Information: The research was supported by a grant from the Greenwall Foundation..Declaration of Interests: None to declare