The Impact of a Modified Cooperative Learning Technique on the Grade Frequencies Observed in a Preparatory Chemistry Course

This dissertation explored the impact of a modified cooperative learning technique on the final grade frequencies observed in a large preparatory chemistry course designed for pre-science majors. Although the use of cooperative learning at all educational levels is well researched and validated in the literature, traditional lectures still dominate as the primary methodology of teaching. This study modified cooperative learning techniques by addressing commonly cited reasons for not using the methodology. Preparatory chemistry students were asked to meet in cooperative groups outside of class time to complete homework assignments. A chi-square goodness-of-fit revealed that the final grade frequency distributions observed were different than expected. Although the distribution was significantly different, the resource investment using this particular design challenged the practical significance of the findings. Further, responses from a survey revealed that the students did not use the suggested group functioning methods that empirically are known to lead to more practically significant results

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy

In order to facilitate the use of electric vehicles at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), charging stations should be made available to LaRC employees. The implementation of charging stations would decrease the need for gasoline thus decreasing CO2 emissions improving local air quality and providing a cost savings for LaRC employees. A charging station pilot program is described that would install stations as the need increased and also presents a business model that pays for the electricity used and installation at no cost to the government

What if and What More: disturbing habits of thought about playwork ‘re-search’

This short article reports on a presentation given at an International Journal of Playwork Practice seminar in 2018. It describes an approach to evaluating the work of an adventure playground using Participative Action Research and a critical cartographic method for producing documentation that shows the unique nature of playwork

Liberating Trapped Cash: A Case Study of Trapped Cash at Apple and Microsoft

The topic of trapped cash, or cash permanently reinvested overseas to avoid tax upon repatriation, has become a hot topic in accounting, finance and policy circles over the past two years. This case study analyzes the activities of two major technology firms, Microsoft and Apple, to liberate enormous holdings of trapped cash. The case prompts a discussion of the topic of trapped cash, stakeholder considerations and tools available to manage cash balances held outside the United States. The focus is to examine the strategies available and those selected by Microsoft and Apple to meet or at least appease stakeholder demands while freeing trapped cash

RSK tableaux and the weak order on fully commutative permutations

For each fully commutative permutation, we construct a "boolean core," which is the maximal boolean permutation in its principal order ideal under the right weak order. We partition the set of fully commutative permutations into the recently defined crowded and uncrowded elements, distinguished by whether or not their RSK insertion tableaux satisfy a sparsity condition. We show that a fully commutative element is uncrowded exactly when it shares the RSK insertion tableau with its boolean core. We present the dynamics of the right weak order on fully commutative permutations, with particular interest in when they change from uncrowded to crowded. In particular, we use consecutive permutation patterns and descents to characterize the minimal crowded elements under the right weak order.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure

Runs and RSK tableaux of boolean permutations

We define and construct the "canonical reduced word" of a boolean permutation, and show that the RSK tableaux for that permutation can be read off directly from this reduced word. We also describe those tableaux that can correspond to boolean permutations, and enumerate them. In addition, we generalize a result of Mazorchuk and Tenner, showing that the "run" statistic influences the shape of the RSK tableau of arbitrary permutations, not just of those that are boolean.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

Community Engagement Evidence Synthesis : A final report for Alzheimer’s Society

Goodman C, Buswell M, Russell B, Bunn F, Mayrhofer A (2016). Community Engagement Evidence Synthesis: A draft report for Alzheimer’s Society. Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care (CRIPACC), University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. © 2016. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.This report presents a review of the evidence that demonstrates where there is robust evidence for community engagement activities, what is important to think about and consider when planning new or revised activities and additionally outcomes that can inform current work and future service development. We wanted to understand, the dominant approaches to promoting community engagement with and awareness of dementia in the UK, the underlying assumptions/theories about how they work and how impact is assessed. The first phase provided an overview of what is known about community engagement activities specifically focussed on dementia. We found these clustered around the following activities: awareness raising to normalise living with dementia, co-ordination and integration of services to be dementia aware and responsive, promoting inclusion in culture and leisure activities to reduce social isolation, environmental adaptation and, digital technology to support orientation and involvement. We found three key motivations for community engagement that all need to be underpinned by awareness and understanding of dementia. Compassion: ‘we must do something’ driven by concern for the wellbeing of people affected by dementia Utilitarian: ‘we must do something’ driven by practical cost-benefit or utilitarian analysis Rights-based: ‘we should not be excluded’ driven by a social justice/disability rights/citizenship based perspective In phase two, we focused on the proposition that Community Engagement that is grounded in a rights based approach is likely to be more effective in achieving the short and long term goals of the inclusion of people with dementia in their local community and wider society. There is good evidence that empowerment approaches work and are the most sustainable. Participation is key, yet we must remember that presence does not necessarily equate to participation and measuring impact needs to account for this, (for example counting who attends an event or service does not tell you about a person’s involvement or if it is an activity they benefit from and want to do)

What can we learn from trial decliners about improving recruitment? Qualitative study

Background Trials increasingly experience problems in recruiting participants. Understanding the causes of poor recruitment is critical to developing solutions. We interviewed people who had declined a trial of an innovative psychological therapy for depression (REFRAMED) about their response to the trial invitation, in order to understand their decision and identify ways to improve recruitment. Methods Of 214 people who declined the trial, 35 (16 %) gave permission to be contacted about a qualitative study to explore their decision. Analysis of transcripts of semi-structured interviews was informed by grounded theory. Results We interviewed 20 informants: 14 women and six men, aged 18 to 77 years. Many interviewees had prior experience of research participation and positive views of the trial. Interviewees’ decision making resembled a four-stage sequential process; in each stage they either decided not to participate in the trial or progressed to the next stage. In stage 1, interviewees assessed the invitation in the context of their experiences and attitudes; we term those who opted out at this stage ‘prior decliners’ as they had an established position of declining trials. In stage 2, interviewees assessed their own eligibility; those who judged themselves ineligible and opted out at this stage are termed ‘self-excluders’. In stage 3, interviewees assessed their need for the trial therapy and potential to benefit; we term those who decided they did not need the trial therapy and opted out at this stage ‘treatment decliners’. In stage 4, interviewees deliberated the benefits and costs of trial participation; those who opted out after judging that disadvantages outweighed advantages are termed ‘trial decliners’. Across all stages, most individuals declined because they judged themselves ineligible or not in need of the trial therapy. While ‘prior decliners’ are unlikely to respond to any trial recruitment initiative, the factors leading others to decline are amenable to amelioration as they do not arise from a rejection of trials or a personal stance. Conclusions To improve recruitment in similar trials, the most successful interventions are likely to address patients’ assessments of their eligibility and their potential to benefit from the trial treatment, rather than reducing trial burden