Is Personalized Learning Meeting Its Productivity Promise? Early Lessons From Pioneering Schools

Blending computer-based and teacher-led instruction promises to help schools meet students' individual needs by organizing and prioritizing staff and technology in more productive ways. However, this fiscal analysis of eight new charter schools that implemented personalized learning this year finds that early difficulty in forecasting enrollment and revenue can undermine implementation of the model.As a result of missed enrollment and revenue projections:The schools spent less on technology and more on personnel than planned: instead of a combined $1.7 million on technology in the early stages, they spent just$650,000Student-to-computer ratios were higher and schools spent less than planned on instructional and performance reporting software.Projected budget deficits in five of the schools threaten their ability to sustain on public funding.Among the brief's recommendations for those hoping to implement personalized-learning models in the future:Invest in student recruitment efforts up front to ensure enrollment targets are met.Develop a 'worst-case scenario' budget where fundraising and enrollment estimates fall 20 -- 25 percent below target.Manage contracts proactively: be explicit about needs, establish performance requirements, and negotiate trial periods to make sure products meet the school's needs.The eight personalized-learning schools included in this analysis were chosen to receive Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) competitive start-up grants. CRPE is midway through a study of twenty personalized-learning schools that received NGLC grants. The study examines how the schools allocate their resources, how they manage the new costs of technology, and whether they can become financially sustainable on public revenues. CRPE will continue to track spending in all twenty schools this year and publish its findings next spring.This study is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Potential Long-Term Complications of Endovascular Stent Grafting for Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury

Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is a rare, but lethal, consequence of rapid deceleration events. Most victims of BTAI die at the scene of the accident. Of those who arrive to the hospital alive, expedient aortic intervention significantly improves survival. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been accepted as the standard of care for BTAI at many centers, primarily due to the convincing evidence of lower mortality and morbidity in comparison to open surgery. However, less attention has been given to potential long-term complications of TEVAR for BTAI. This paper focuses on these complications, which include progressive aortic expansion with aging, inadequate stent graft characteristics, device durability concerns, long-term radiation exposure concerns from follow-up computed tomography scans, and the potential for (Victims of Modern Imaging Technology) VOMIT

Distribution System Voltage Management and Optimization for Integration of Renewables and Electric Vehicles: Research Gap Analysis

California is striving to achieve 33% renewable penetration by 2020 in accordance with the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The behavior of renewable resources and electric vehicles in distribution systems is creating constraints on the penetration of these resources into the distribution system. One such constraint is the ability of present-­‐‑day voltage management methodologies to maintain proper distribution system voltage profiles in the face of higher penetrations of PV and electric vehicle technologies. This white paper describes the research gaps that have been identified in current Volt/VAR Optimization and Control (VVOC) technologies, the emerging technologies which are becoming available for use in VVOC, and the research gaps which exist and must be overcome in order to realize the full promise of these emerging technologies

Dyadic Perception of Communication Style

An experiment was designed to assess variations in perception of communication style by persons with differing Communication Style Measure (CSM) scores. Twenty-four dyads participated in an interpersonal encounter. Postinteraction data analysis indicates that subjects with low CSM scores do not report perceiving any appreciable difference between their communication style and that of subjects with high CSM scores. In contrast, subjects with high CSM scores report perceiving a significant difference. Clues about perceptual differences were investigated via step wise regression.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66529/2/10.1177_009365027500200103.pd

Preliminary Design and Concept of Operations for a Small Tactical Imaging Satellite

Tactical commanders could use a reconnaissance satellite which is survivable, flexible in operations, and able to provide real time direct data of high quality imagery. By design, the imaging satellite would be inexpensive and mutually beneficial to all the armed services. The imaging satellite is solar powered and 3 axis stabilized. A constellation of satellites in sun synchronous orbits will provide near worldwide coverage with revisit times of 90 minutes. Command and control will come from a single field unit, although many units may have receive capability. The satellite could be used during times of crisis or stored for future use when reconstitution of forces may be necessary. The satellite will use binary optics and charge coupled devices (CCD) in its imagery system. Data compression is necessary because of bandwidth constraints inherent in the Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS III)

10. The Academic Departments

Includes: Collective Bargaining, Labor Law, and Labor History: The Department of Economic and Social Statistics; Labor Economics and Income Security Department: A Parent Department: Human Resources and Administration; The Organizational Behavior Department; Evolution of the Human Resources and Administration Department