CHAD 60: Child Development Course Redesign

Poster summarizing course redesign activities for CHAD 60: Child Development.https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/davinci_itcr2014/1014/thumbnail.jp

Language counts: Early language mediates the relationship between parent education and children\u27s math ability

Children\u27s early math skills have been hailed as a powerful predictor of academic success. Disparities in socioeconomic context, however, also have dramatic consequences on children\u27s learning. It is therefore critical to investigate both of these distinct contributors in order to better understand the early foundations of children\u27s academic outcomes. This study tests an integrated model of children\u27s developing math ability so as to (1) identify the specific skills and abilities most clearly linked to early math achievement and (2) measure the influence of children\u27s socioeconomic context on each of these skills. We first evaluated the early vocabulary, number word knowledge (knower level), and Approximate Number System (ANS) acuity of a diverse group of preschoolers. Then, approximately 1 year later as they entered Kindergarten, we administered a test of early math achievement. We find that children\u27s early language (general vocabulary and number word knowledge) fully mediates the relationship between parent education and math ability. Additionally, number word knowledge mediates the relationship between ANS acuity and early math. We argue that increased focus on number word knowledge, as well as general vocabulary, may help to minimize disparities in math ability as children enter kindergarten. We also highlight the role of parent education on children\u27s learning and note that this may be an important locus for intervention

Connecting numbers to discrete quantification: A step in the child’s construction of integer concepts

The present study asks when young children understand that number words quantify over sets of discrete individuals. For this study, 2- to 4-year-old children were asked to extend the number word five or six either to a cup containing discrete objects (e.g., blocks) or to a cup containing a continuous substance (e.g., water). In Experiment 1, only children who knew the exact meanings of the words one, two and three extended higher number words (five or six) to sets of discrete objects. In Experiment 2, children who only knew the exact meaning of one extended higher number words to discrete objects under the right conditions (i.e., when the problem was first presented with the number words one and two). These results show that children have some understanding that number words pertain to discrete quantification from very early on, but that this knowledge becomes more robust as children learn the exact, cardinal meanings of individual number words

Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in the ICU

A pressure ulcer is defined by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel as an injury to the skin usually localized over a bony prominence caused by sustained pressure at the site. Pressure ulcers are a widespread problem throughout hospitals, especially on intensive care units (ICU) where there is an increased acuity of the patient population. Their occurrence can result in many problems, including an increased financial burden to the hospital and an increased risk of mortality. The purpose of this project is to educate the staff on the ICU at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, a 473-bed hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, about preventative measures to be taken to reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers. By using evidenced based research, the causes of pressure ulcers and interventions to prevent their occurrence were investigated. An informational pamphlet was created depicting pressure ulcer prevention methods with the goal of reducing or eliminating the incidence of pressure ulcers on the ICU at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. The anticipated outcome of this educational tool will be measured by comparing data pre- and post-implementation of the educational pamphlet at St. Vincent’s Medical Center regarding the incidence of pressure ulcers

Discerning Migration In The Archaeological Record: A Case Study At Chichén Itzá

Migration, as a theory to explain aspects in the archaeological record, has fallen out of favor in Mesoamerican archaeology, possibly due to a lack of a standard definition or description of migration. Migration as an explanation of change in Maya civilizations has been around since the 1950\u27s and the culture-history era of American archaeology. Since the early 1990\u27s, migration has been treated as a process, one that can be discerned in pre-literate cultures as well as historical ones. Models of the migration process are being developed and tested. One type of migration, elite dominance migration, is a particularly suitable process to study in Mesoamerica. A model of elite dominance migration might include the following attributes: advance contact by the migrating culture, migration to a center, maintenance of contact with the sending population, spatial concentration of the incoming population, migration of a selected population of elites, and a cause or push factor. To find these attributes, the receiving population is studied to determine if there are multiple changes in the material record consistent with an intrusion of an outside group. And, there should be a rough chronological correlation between the sending and receiving populations. The Maya site of Chichén Itzá is a classic case study, and provides a starting point as a possible receiving population of an elite dominance migration. There is an abundance of scholarship devoted to the question of the relationship between Chichén Itzá and Tula, Hidalgo, in Central Mexico. The iconographic similarities between the two sites are numerous and have been thoroughly discussed in the literature. But, there is much more evidence that should be examined in applying a model of elite dominance, such as architecture, artifacts (including ceramics and obsidian), burial and caching practices, and site configuration. Comparing all of these categories at the two sites, one reaches two conclusions: there are multiple lines of evidence for change in the material record across the spectrum of categories at Chichén Itzá, and, to a lesser extent, at Tula, Hidalgo, indicating a population intrusion. And, secondly, there are abundant similarities in architecture, caching practices, ceramics, and other aspects of the material record that support the assertion of strong contacts between the two sites. Applying the model of elite dominance migration to Chichén Itzá, the majority of the markers for this type of migration can be seen in the material record of the site, as well as the site of Tula, Hidalgo. Chichén Itzá has the attributes of a receiving population, with an elite dominance migration of Central Mexican people taking place there, either from Tula, Hidalgo or from a third, as yet unspecified site that impacted both Chichén Itzá and Tula

Reducing Errors Through Implementation of Standardized Electronic Order sets in the Intensive Care setting

Healthcare facilities are constantly chasing through striving to meet interoperability and meaningful use requirements while still advancing the field through the concepts of evidence-based practice and value-based delivery modules. Healthcare facilities can encourage the healthcare team by utilizing computerized physician order entry using standardized ordersets. An orderset is a series of recommended orders based on different diagnoses, conditions, or treatments. It was noted that several errors and delays of care were occurring related to the paper process at a small Midwestern hospital. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to convert the remaining paper ordersets to electronic ordersets in the form of powerplans. After an extensive literature review was created, an interdisciplinary team was created to review the current paper ordersets, update and make changes as necessary and then build electronically. An orderset and protocol committee was the final approval process for the electronic validation before going live. Along with this project, the medical staff was re-educated on the use and intention of powerplans. Ultimately three paper ordersets were converted from paper to electronic. Two were placed on hold due to staffing and resourcing, and the Induced Hypothermia orderset was discontinued as it was found this is no longer a best practice treatment. Unusual occurrences were reviewed pre and post-implementation and found that delays of care, absence of orders, and errors were reduced when the paper was eliminated

Counting and Basic Numerical Skills

The following chapter outlines a typical developmental trajectory of children’s early number knowledge and counting skills. Using a series of anecdotal demonstrations of a young child’s emergent knowledge as a guide, the chapter first outlines the conceptual and procedural building blocks for counting and basic numerical skills (Section 4.1 and 4.2), proceeds to an extended discussion of major conceptual achievements in counting (Section 4.3), and concludes with a review of our emerging understanding on how to best support and facilitate the development of these skills (Section 4.4). Throughout each of these sections, seminal studies are discussed to more clearly demonstrate the role of children’s intuitive number sense in the construction of natural number concepts; specific challenges that children confront as they acquire the verbal count list (including several conceptual and linguistic obstacles that are often overlooked in early childhood curricula and assessments); and the effectiveness of low-cost, practical interventions that can be adopted by educators and parents to support and facilitate development

Ice Nuclei Inventory: Wasatch Weather Modification Experimental Area

Several large sources of 1ce nuclei were identified for the Wasatch Weather Modification Experimental Area. When stable air masses remained over the area for several days, ice nuclei concentrations as large as 1750 per liter (measured at -20 C) were found at the surface. ConcentralX tions as large as 6000 per liter were measured with an airborne 1ce nuclei counter over the smelter industry of the Salt Lake Valley. Ice nuclei concentrations during storm periods were usually less than 3 per liter, indicating an excellent potential for increasing precipitation amounts over the Wasatch Mountains through the release of artificial ice nuclei. Ice nuclei measurements taken during and following seeding activities indicate that nuclei are not being trapped in the Cache Valley and are not being funnelled into areas upwind of the seeding generators. The measurements also indicated that nuclei are getting into the seeding area, at least at the ground level. Residual lee nuclei were found in the experimental area--an average oF 7.5 hours for ground seeders and 4.6 hours For airborne seeders--following seeding activities. Stability, wind direction, and cloud top temperatures were found to be the meteorological conditions most closely related to ice nuclei concentrations although this could not be shown through the use of statistical tests

The Effects of a Directed Reading-Thinking Approach in the Teaching of Reading on the General Reading Comprehension Scores and Inferential Comprehension Scores of Third Grade Students

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of a directed reading-thinking approach in the teaching of reading on the general and inferential comprehension scores of third grade students of average reading ability. The subjects consisted of 32 third grade students, 17 males and 15 females, of average reading ability. The subjects were divided into two comparable average reading groups. One group was assigned as the control group and followed a regular basal reading program. The other group was designated as the experimental group and was taught by this investigator using a directed reading-thinking approach in the teaching of reading. The experimental group received directed reading-thinking activities to help foster higher-order levels of thinking. General comprehension and inferential comprehension scores for both groups were obtained from the comprehension section of The Stanford Achievement Test. The mean raw scores for both groups in regard to general and inferential comprehension were tested for significance at the .05 level using an independent t-test of correlated means. The data failed to reject both null hypotheses. A directed reading-thinking approach did not significantly augment general and inferential comprehension. Despite the fact no significant difference were achieved between the two groups, the experimental group did perform better than the control group. The findings suggest that perhaps under optimal testing conditions a directed reading-thinking approach could significantly help to increase general and inferential comprehension

Nitrogen oxides in the arctic stratosphere: Implications for ozone abundances

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1994In the high latitude winter stratosphere, NO\sb2 sequesters chlorine compounds which are extremely efficient at destroying ozone. During the nighttime, NO\sb2 reacts with ozone to form \rm N\sb2 O\sb5 which acts as a reservoir of NO\sb2. Under heavy aerosol loading, \rm N\sb2O\sb5 may react with water on aerosol surfaces to form HNO\sb3, a reservoir more resistant to photolysis. This heterogeneous reaction results in reduced NO\sb2 concentration when the sun returns at the end of the winter. A spectrograph system has been developed to measure scattered zenith skylight and thereby determine stratospheric NO\sb2 slant column abundance. Conversion of the measured slant column abundance to vertical column abundance requires dividing by the air mass. The air mass is the enhancement in the optical path for the scattered twilight as compared to a vertical path. Air mass values determined using a multiple scattering radiative transfer code have been compared to those derived using a Monte Carlo code and were found to agree to within 6% at a 90\sp\circ solar zenith angle for a stratospheric absorber. Six months of NO\sb2 vertical column abundance measured over Fairbanks during the winter 1992-93 exhibited the daylight diminished and increased as the sunlight hours lengthened. The overall seasonal behavior was similar to high-latitude measurements made in the Southern Hemisphere. The ratios of morning to evening column abundance were consistent with predictions based on gas-phase chemistry. The possible heterogeneous reaction of \rm N\sb2O\sb5 on sulfate aerosols was investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer measurements of \rm HNO\sb3 column abundance and lidar determinations of the aerosol profile. Using an estimated \rm N\sb2O\sb5 column abundance and aerosol profile as input to a simple model, significant \rm HNO\sb3 production was expected. No increase in \rm HNO\sb3 column abundance was measured. From this set of data, it was not possible to determine whether significant amounts of \rm N\sb2O\sb5 were converted to \rm HNO\sb3 by this heterogeneous reaction. Better estimates of the \rm N\sb2O\sb5 and aerosol profile, and a more continuous set of \rm HNO\sb3 measurements, are needed to determine if \rm HNO\sb3 was actually produced