Developing a Performance Assessment System From the Ground Up: Lessons Learned From Three Linked Learning Pathways

This document is designed to offer practitioners -- teachers, principals, and central office administrators -- models, tools, and examples from the Linked Learning field for developing a performance assessment system. This document describes the challenges and successes practitioners encountered when developing and implementing authentic performance-based assessment practices and systems in Linked Learning pathways as well as the conditions that enabled this work. It is the product of a 1-year study of three grade-level teams, located in three different Linked Learning pathways across California. These teams participated in a 2-year performance assessment demonstration project led by ConnectEd and Envision

Interbasin Water Transfers and Water Scarcity in a Changing World: A Solution or a Pipedream?

The world is increasingly forced to face the challenge of how to ensure access to adequate water resources for expanding populations and economies, whilst maintaining healthy freshwater ecosystems and the vital services they provide. Now the growing impacts of climate change are exacerbating the problem of water scarcity in key regions of the world. One popular way for governments to distribute water more evenly across the landscape is to transfer it from areas with perceived surpluses, to those with shortages.While there is a long history of water transfers from ancient times, as many societies reach the limits of locally renewable water supplies increasingly large quantities of water are being moved over long distances, from one river basin to another. Since the beginning of dam building that marked the last half of the 1900s more that 364 large-scale interbasin water transfer schemes (IBTs) have been established that transfer around 400 km³ of water per year (Shiklomanov 1999). IBTs are now widely touted as the quick fix solution to meeting escalating water demands. One estimate suggests that the total number of largescale water transfer schemes may rise to between 760 and 1 240 by 2020 to transfer up to 800 km³ of water per year (Shiklomanov 1999).The wide range of IBT projects in place, or proposed, has provoked the preparation of this review, including seven case studies from around the globe. It builds on previous assessments and examines the costs and benefits of large scale IBTs. This report assesses related, emerging issues in sustaining water resources and ecosystems, namely the virtual water trade, expanding use of desalination, and climate change adaptation. It is based on WWF's 2007 publication "Pipedreams? Interbasin water transfers and water shortages".The report concludes that while IBTs can potentially solve water supply issues in regions of water shortage - they come with significant costs. Large scale IBTs are typically very high cost, and thus economically risky, and they usually also come with significant social and environmental costs; usually for both the river basin providing and the river basin receiving the water

Perceived Teaching Style and Academic Growth in an International School Setting

The presence of international schools has grown significantly around the world to accommodate a growing need for academic instruction that differs from that provided in local schools and to meet the rapid demands of globalization. As demands for international schools increase, demands for student performance are also increasing. This quantitative correlational study seeks to determine if correlations exist between teaching style and student academic growth in mathematics within an international school setting. The study also determines if a dominant teaching style exists and if correlations between teacher grade level and teaching style can be made among international teachers who teach in the 37 international schools in the Quality Schools International (QSI) organization. A number of studies have investigated factors affecting student achievement and examined teaching styles. However, little research on teaching style has been performed in an international school context. Research has consistently identified the teacher as the most important external factor affecting student achievement. The body of research outlined in the literature review of this paper suggested that external or background factors do not significantly affect student growth and achievement. Furthermore, the literature reviewed indicates teaching style significantly affects student adjustment, performance, engagement, and outcome. While a statistically significant dominant teaching style was not evident, the Personal Model Teaching Style was the most dominant among overall respondents. Additionally, trends between teaching style and grade level were identified. The Expert and Formal Authority Teaching Styles were evenly distributed among upper elementary school teachers, while the Personal Model and Facilitator Teaching Styles seemed to be most common among lower elementary teachers. The Facilitator Teaching Style, followed by the Personal Model Teaching Style, yielded the highest academic achievement growth in mathematics among elementary teachers who teach in the QSI organization

Examining the Effects of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on the Irrational Beliefs of Blue-Chip Professionals

The extant literature reveals a scarcity of research applying rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) in business settings. Against the backdrop of severe market conditions and inevitable involuntary job loss, the application of psychological interventions to reduce mental and physical health issues is highly pertinent and potentially valuable. This paper reports the effects of an intensive REBT programme on the irrational beliefs of staff undergoing redundancy from a Blue-Chip organisation. A repeated-measures single-group intervention design was adopted so that changes in irrational beliefs could be assessed over the course of the REBT programme. Results indicated significant reductions in total irrational beliefs, other-depreciation, need for achievement, and demand for fairness from pretest to posttest phases. Social validation data indicated perceived psychological and performance benefits underpinned by shifts in irrational beliefs. Results are discussed with reference to mechanisms of change, study limitations, and applied research issues

Rearrangement of {α-P2W15} to {PW6} moieties during the assembly of transition-metal-linked polyoxometalate clusters

We report the formation of two polyoxotungstates of the general formula [M6(PW6O26)(α-P2W15O56)2(H2O)2]23− (M = CoII or MnII), which contain {PW6} fragments generated from the [P2W15O56]12− precursor, which demonstrates for the first time the transformation of a Dawson lacunae into a Keggin lacunary building block. Solution analysis of the clusters has been conducted via electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Comparative Analysis of Systems of Domestic Taxation of Controlled Foreign Corporations

This Note outlines the existing law and practice of the domestic taxation of CFC\u27s in the United States, United Kingdom, France, West Germany, and Japan, each of which exhibits a high level of economic and industrial advancement. United States developments are important because the statutory provisions of Subpart F have been adopted, with modifications, by other nations, including West Germany and Japan. The United Kingdom and France, on the other hand, have not yet adopted an integrated statutory scheme providing for domestic taxation of CFC\u27s. These countries attack tax evasion schemes utilizing foreign controlled companies primarily through general laws, exchange controls, and the requirement of government consent for certain international transactions

Negotiation, bargaining, and discounts:generating WoM and local tourism development at the Tabriz bazaar, Iran

This paper examines the effects of negotiation intention, bargaining propensity, and discount satisfaction on word-of-mouth (WoM) behaviours for tourists visiting Tabriz bazaar, Iran. Data from 615-survey respondents highlight that tourists are motivated to conduct WoM behaviour when they are experientially satisfied with the opportunity to negotiate and bargain, and when they are satisfied with the discount they receive. This paper makes theoretical contributions to social exchange theory and presents managerial implications for policy-makers to generate tourism development

Development and Formative Evaluation of a Bilingual Interactive Multimedia Dietary Assessment Tool

A bilingual interactive multimedia dietary recall was developed for use in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. This recall was evaluated by nutrition professionals to determine effectiveness of the introduction, food groupings, graphics, audio, and program flow. Users first report food choices from 167 graphically represented foods. Then, food variety, cooking techniques, and portion sizes are displayed. Last, users can add and delete foods. A nutrient profile comprised of 20 dietary constituents is generated. This recall provides potential for stimulating food recall with audio and visual cues, promoting more honest reports of food intake and saving staff time