Predicting student progression: The influence of race and other student and institutional characteristics on college student performance

In this study of college student retention and progression, significant differences were found between black and white student cohorts in terms of their attrition rates, overall progression rates (defined as length of time to graduate), and tendency to follow the prescribed progression pattern (sophomore in the second year, junior in the third year, senior in the fourth year, and graduate after the fourth year). However, multiple regression analyses show that racial differences disappear when the effects of other student and institutional characteristics are statistically controlled. Therefore, colleges and universities would do well to rethink special retention and counseling programs designed especially to serve minority group students.     

Net forces during tethered simulation of underwater streamlined gliding and kicking techniques of the freestyle turn

We assessed the net forces created when towing swimmers while gliding and kicking underwater to establish an appropriate speed for initiating underwater kicking, and the most effective gliding position and kicking technique to be applied after a turn. Sixteen experienced male swimmers of similar body shape were towed by a motorized winch and pulley system. A load cell measured net force (propulsive force - drag force) at speeds of 1.6, 1.9, 2.2, 2.5 and 3.1 m x s(-1). At each speed, the swimmers performed a prone streamline glide, a lateral streamline glide, a prone freestyle kick, a prone dolphin kick and a lateral dolphin kick. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the gliding and kicking conditions at different speeds. The results demonstrated an optimal range of speeds (1.9 to 2.2 m x s(-1)) at which to begin underwater kicking to prevent energy loss from excessive active drag. No significant differences were found between the prone and lateral streamline glide positions or between the three underwater kicking techniques. Therefore, there appears to be no significant advantage in using one streamlining technique over another or in using one kicking style over another.     

The penalty throw in water polo: a cinematographic analysis

Three-dimensional (3-D) high-speed cinematography was used to record the penalty throw in water polo by six elite male (M) and six elite female (F) players. The direct linear transformation technique (DLT) was used in the 3-D space reconstruction from 2-D images recorded via laterally placed phase-locked cameras operating at 200 Hz. Five of the twelve subjects lifted the ball from underneath at the start of the throw whilst the remaining subjects opted for a rotation lift. As the ball was brought behind the head the females used very little hip and shoulder rotation compared to the male players so that four of the six female subjects were square on to the target at the rear point. At the completion of the backswing the wrist was flexed to a similar angle (M-162 degrees; F-158 degrees); the elbow angle showed significantly greater flexion for females (85 degrees) than males (107 degrees). During the forward swing, from rear point to release, the wrist joint of the female players flexed from a rear point angle of 158 degrees to 148 degrees at release. The wrist movement for male subjects was different from the females in that it flexed from 162 degrees to 147 degrees, 0.10 s prior to release and then extended to 159 degrees at palmar release before again flexing to 156 degrees at release. The amount of elbow extension during the forward swing was 48 degrees for both groups; however, the females actually released the ball with the forearm vertical (89 degrees) compared to the male forearm angle of 78 degrees. Maximum angular velocity of the wrist and elbow occurred at release for 9 of the 12 subjects. Both the wrist and elbow joints (F-148 degrees; M-156 degrees at wrist and F-126 degrees; M-148 degrees at elbow) demonstrated greater flexion at release in female subjects, compared with males. Maximum linear endpoint velocities for the forearm and hand segments occurred at ball release resulting in mean ball velocities of 19.1 m s-1 and 14.7 m s-1 for male and female subjects respectively.     

The effect of a fast bowling harness in cricket: an intervention study

The influence of a bowling harness, as a training aid, was assessed as a means of modifying bowling technique. Thirty-three 13-year-old bowlers received a standardized 15 min of bowling coaching twice a week for 8 weeks. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The 13 participants in the intervention group used the bowling harness throughout the coaching, while also receiving verbal and visual feedback. The 20 participants in the non-harness group received the same visual and verbal feedback. Three-dimensional videography (200 Hz) of each player's bowling action enabled the calculation of transverse plane shoulder alignment counter-rotation, separation angle, lateral flexion and hyperextension of the trunk before and after the intervention. The restriction applied by the harness produced a significant reduction (P= 0.006) in separation angle and forced the bowler to adopt a position at back-foot impact that reduced the 'twist' in the spine. However, it had no effect on restricting other aspects of trunk movement during the critical phases of the bowling action. No significant long-term modifications to technique were found after the coaching intervention when players were assessed without the harness.     

Investigating children's musical interactions within the activities systems of group composing and arranging: An application of Engeström's Activity Theory

This article applies Engeström's Activity Theory (AT) as an analytical lens to identify defining characteristics of the collaborative creative music making activities of composing and arranging. Attention is paid to the complex interrelationships among the various elements of interaction in children's collaborative creative music making as evidenced in group composing (where the activity features generation and revision of new musical material) and arranging (where the activity features creative use of existing musical material) are differentiated tasks. These include, for example, tool use in response to different tasks, the rules that govern peer collaboration, and the division of labour experienced among key players in the co-construction of decisions. Exemplary cases are sampled from data sets drawn from two separate sites one of which features a group composing task with fifth graders in a USA urban school and the other a group arranging task with eighth graders in a UK urban school. This micro-analysis is less concerned with the differences of collaborative interaction in varying cultural settings than with exploring the micro-analysis of social and language processes that characterise these differentiated creative tasks and the related activity systems. The activity system, or systems of social relations, is the unit of analysis applied across comparison-group cases using ethnographic observation, and discourse and event analysis. Analysis of the data indicates that composing and arranging involve differentiated activity systems. Important defining characteristics of the collaborative interactions, as outcomes of the children's approach to the task activities, are identified. Conclusions indicate that the application of an activity theory research perspective can provide a useful framework to make sense of the interrelated elements that characterise interaction in peer collaboration.     

A model for the evaluation of search queries in medical bibliographic sources

The aim of this study was to develop a model to evaluate the retrieval quality of search queries performed by Dutch general practitioners using the printed Index Medicus, MEDLINE on CD-ROM, and MEDLINE through GRATEFUL MED. Four search queries related to general practice were formulated for a continuing medical education course in literature searching. The selected potential relevant citations from the course instructor and the 103 course participants together served as the basic set for the three judges to evaluate for (a) relevance and (b) quality, with the latter based on journal ranking, research design and publication type. Relevant individual citations received a citation quality score from 1 (low) to 4 (high). The overall search quality was expressed in a formula, which included the individual citation quality score of the selected and missed relevant citations, and the number of selected non-relevant citations. The outcome measures were the number and quality of relevant citations and agreement between the judges. Out of 864 citations, 139 were assessed as relevant, of which 44 citations received an individual citation quality score of 1, 76 of 2, 19 of 3 and none of 4. The level of agreement between the judges was 68% for the relevant citations, and 88% for the non-relevant citations. We describe a model for the evaluation of search queries based not only on the relevance, but also on the quality of the citations retrieved. With adaptation, this model could be generalized to other professional users, and to other bibliographic sources.     

Elbow joint kinematics during cricket bowling using magneto-inertial sensors: A feasibility study

Magnetic and inertial measurement units (MIMUs) may provide an accessible, three-dimensional, in-field alternative to laboratory-restricted marker-based motion capture. Existing upper limb MIMU models have predominantly been validated with low-velocity motion and their suitability for use with sport-based movements remains relatively untested. We propose a MIMU system approach to enable the estimation of anatomically meaningful and participant-specific elbow kinematics with considerations for use with cricket bowling. A novel standardised elbow reference posture of 90 degrees flexion and 0 deg pronation, and functional definition of elbow joint axes of rotation calibrated the MIMU method model before it was validated across three experiments: (1) simple elbow rotations with a mechanical linkage; (2) low-velocity elbow rotations in human participants; and (3) low-medium velocity sport-based movements in human participants. The proposed MIMU method demonstrated high elbow kinematic measurement agreement when compared with a criterion measure across all three conditions. However, during experiment 3, sensor components neared their measurement capacity and the MIMU method elbow flexion measurement variability increased. We conclude that the proposed MIMU method can estimate anatomically referenced, participant-specific joint angles, however, the hardware specifications of currently available systems may limit application in high-velocity/acceleration situations, preventing the measurement of cricket bowling in-field for now.     

Telematics-Supported Education for Traditional Universities in Europe

Telematics is the combination of information technology and communication technology. Telematics applications to support educational delivery and participation in traditional European universities are rapidly becoming part of the educational setting. Sometimes they are used specifically to increase distance flexibility in participation, but this is not their only value. Telematics applications are also associated with other forms of flexibility, as well as with heightened efficiency and enrichment of the learning process, both for those in full-time traditional attendance and those participating in increasingly variable ways. In this paper, we first give an overview of the pressures for change in traditional universities in Europe and then define the change domain as involving much more than distance. Then, an overview of a variety of ways that telematics applications are being used in traditional universities in Europe will be given, including categories relating to various aspects of the course-participation experience in the individual course (such as aspects relating to lectures, self-study, and project-type group work). This will be followed by examples of new forms of course organization involving one or more institutions and also of new forms of activities in which traditional universities are becoming involved outside of their core business of mainstream course delivery. The impact on a particular institution, the University of Twente in The Netherlands, will be discussed in more detail. Issues demanding serious attention include staff and student engagement and support and technical decisions relating to the infrastructure and interface of the technology needed to make the new flexibilities possible. These are described and illustrated with examples. The difficulties in supporting this evolution in traditional universities with cost-effectiveness analysis are also noted. Finally, a reflection is made on the changing state of the division between traditional universities and universities organized around distance and open delivery. In some ways, this division is rapidly loosing meaningfulness, but certain differences that are more profound than “distance” still remain.