Utility of the Youth Compendium of Physical Activities

Purpose: The purposes of this article are to: (a) describe the rationale and development of the Youth Compendium of Physical Activities (Youth Compendium); and (b) discuss the utility of the Youth Compendium for audiences in research, education, community, health care, public health, and the private sector. Methods: The Youth Compendium provides a list of 196 physical activities (PA) categorized by activity types, specific activities, and metabolic costs (youth metabolic equivalents of task [MET_y]) as measured by indirect calorimetry. The utility of the Youth Compendium was assessed by describing ways in which it can be used by a variety of audiences. Results: Researchers can use MET_y values to estimate PA levels and determine changes in PA in intervention studies. Educators can ask students to complete PA records to determine time spent in physical activities and to identify health-enhancing activities for classroom PA breaks. Community leaders, parents, and health care professionals can identify activity types that promote healthful behaviors. Public health agencies can use the MET_y values for surveillance and as a resource to inform progress toward meeting national physical activity guidelines. Applications for the private sector include the use of MET_y in PA trackers and other applications. Conclusion: The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research Web site presents the Youth Compendium and related materials to facilitate measurement of the energy cost of nearly 200 physical activities in children and youth. The Youth Compendium provides a way to standardize energy costs in children and youth and has application for a wide variety of audiences.     

Looking to the Future: Electronic Texts and the Deepening Interface

Since the initial appearance of rhetorical analysis of text-based and hypertext communication, the rhetoric of technology has evolved along with the new media forms it studies. This essay reviews critical consensus that calls for a move away from printcentric criticism. It advocates innovative methods for criticism of electronic texts, such as emphasis on comparative media analysis, visual representation, and attention to the programming and codification of electronic texts.     

Using the Expressive Writing Program to Improve the Writing Skills of High School Students with Learning Disabilities

Abstract. The complex nature of written expression presents difficulty for many students, particularly those with learning disabilities (LD). The literature in the area of written expression and students with learning disabilities indicates that explicit, rule‐based instruction can enhance the writing skills of struggling students. Research in Direct Instruction (DI) writing programs is promising, but limited at this time to a small number of group design studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the DI writing program, Expressive Writing, for high school students with learning disabilities using a single‐subject design methodology. Results indicated that the Expressive Writing program improved the writing skills of the students in this study. Students also were able to generalize and maintain the writing skills learned during intervention.     

Applications of Educational Measurement: I s Optimum Optimal?

What would you do if you were asked to design an “optimal” school testing program, but had doubts about the criteria to apply? What strategies might help us make more use of performance assessment and computer-adaptive testing in district-level testing programs? Can an NCME President be whimsical when delivering her presidential address?     

Factors Influencing Intrajudge Consistency During Standard-Setting

What factors influence judges when they set standards? How do judges, test questions, and the standard-setting process interact? How can we improve intrajudge consistency?     

美国科技编辑概况

体例手册和其他的资源在美国 ,科技编辑使用各种体例手册和其他的资源。一些最流行的体例手册和其他资源介绍如下。被广泛使用的手册《科技体例与版式》是为所有科技领域的作者、编辑和出版社设计的。它除提供关于科技出版写作形式和版式的一般性指导外 ,还包括广泛的各科技领域的科技规范 (如 :学术用语标准 )。《科技体例与版式》的新版本将在 2 0 0 4年出版。《芝加哥体例手册》被各种学术领域中的编辑广泛使用 ,尤其被广泛使用于学术图书出版社 ,包括科技出版社。该手册的一个新版本将在 2 0 0 3年下半年问世。在美国 ,还有在一些特殊的…