The effectiveness of a computer-assisted instruction package in high school chemistry

The attributes of a commercial microcomputer software package were evaluated as a supplement to traditional instruction in general chemistry classes in a suburban public high school. During a unit of study of writing and naming formulas and balancing chemical equations, the experimental group received reinforcement via microcomputer while the control group used parallel worksheet exercises over a period of three weeks for concept reinforcement. Analysis of achievement scores indicated significantly higher scores among the students in the control group. In order to ascertain any possible differential effects favoring either method for students at varying cognitive development levels, the study investigated the relationship between treatment (CAI versus worksheet) and development stage; no significant interactions were discovered.     

The DREAMS Team: Creating community partnerships through research advocacy training for diverse older adults

The DREAMS Team research advocacy training program helps clinical faculty and health students introduce basic clinical research concepts to diverse older adults to galvanize their active involvement in the research process. Older adults are frequently underrepresented in clinical research, due to barriers to participation including distrust, historical mistreatment, and their lack of health literacy. The DREAMS Team program aims to involve diverse older adults throughout all phases of research and increase research participation, thereby contributing to the growth of quality patient-centered, evidence-based health care. This course was developed for clinical faculty to deliver to diverse adults aged 55+ in eight 50-minute lectures, followed by half-hour small group discussions moderated by health students. A pilot cohort of 24 individuals was assessed for satisfaction post-program, and self-efficacy before and after the program. Older adult participants improved on a survey measure of self-efficacy, and indicated satisfaction on a post-program questionnaire. All agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed participating, and that classes enhanced knowledge/skills about the topics, were high quality, and provided useful information. Twenty-two out of 24 individuals who completed the program indicated they planned to get involved as research advocates. The DREAMS Team program can be offered either on its own, or as a follow-up program to a general health education course led by health students and/or professional researchers or clinicians. Educating older adults about the research process and advocacy through interactive seminars led by congenial and respectful researchers and health students may remove some barriers to research participation and involvement among diverse older adults.     

Development of the UK engagement survey

Student engagement has become a key feature of UK higher education, but until recently there has been a lack of data to track, benchmark and drive enhancement. In 2015 the first full administration ran in the UK a range of survey items drawn from the US-based National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This is the latest example of international adaptations of NSSE, and was prompted by the need to collect actionable data, related to core elements of learning and teaching, that can be used for institutional improvement efforts. This paper describes the background and development of the UK Engagement Survey, focusing on the two pilot years in 2013 and 2014 and the full administration phase in 2015. This involved a complementary mix of qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and engagement with students in the testing process. Cognitive testing was conducted with 85 students over two years and data from the full 2015 administration involved 24,387 students. The political context of student engagement in relation to national satisfaction surveys, and the implications of running a generalist-based survey in a subject-specific higher education context are discussed.     

Production and use of information. Characterization of informetric distributions using effort function and density function: Exponential informetric process

Statistical regularities observed in the production or use of information have been studied for a long time. In this article we define an exponential informetric process to formalize these stochastic process. It is defined by combining an effort function with a density function. Without using the powerful results of Price on the cumulative advantages process this characterization clarifies the principle of least effort. Some links between statistical theory of information and some informetric distributions are enhanced.     

Who We Are: (In)Visible African American Women Setting Traditions of Excellence and Paving Paths for Transformation

The purpose of this lecture is to provide the voice and visibility of African American women who have upheld the tradition of excellence set by Amy Morris Homans in the development of physical education in higher education for women and set pathways to transition our field to be more inclusive and diverse and have served as transformative leaders and role models for me and countless other teachers, scholars, and administrators. I used a combination of personal experiences and reflections on the legacy of Amy Morris Homans to describe how our collective wisdom, strength, and resilience in the face of social, political, and historical barriers have enabled us all to transform physical education and kinesiology in higher education. Final recommendations include continued commitment to facing our fears and making conscious efforts to embrace opportunities to be more inclusive in our programs.     

Constraints to Changing Pedagogical Practices in Higher Education: An example from Japanese lesson study

This article describes a qualitative study of college mathematics and science faculty (n?=?6) and their engagement in a reform-based program, Japanese lesson study (LS), to change their teaching practices. LS is a process in which a team of four to six teachers jointly design, teach, observe, analyze, and revise a single class lesson. A series of semi-structured, open-ended, interviews was completed with each of the faculty participants. Two sets of assertions were developed from analyses of the data and examples and explanations corroborating each assertion are provided. The results of the study identified issues related to organizational and faculty changes that need to be addressed if faculty responses to pedagogical innovations are to succeed. Implications of the findings for practice and future research are discussed.