Learning to Performance at Larson‐Juhl: A Success Story

Often companies diagnose a performance gap, selecting training as the solution. Isolated training events that do not take a complete training approach produce less results, including value to the business, than a more comprehensive and integrated approach. What follows is a success story describing how Larson‐Juhl used a learning to performance approach to combine learning, leadership, and change management competencies to produce documented and sustainable results that added value.     

Emergency knowledge management and social media technologies: A case study of the 2010 Haitian earthquake

The US response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake was a large effort coordinated by three major agencies that worked in tandem with the Government of Haiti, the United Nations, and many countries from around the globe. Managing this response effort was a complex undertaking that relied extensively on knowledge management systems (KMS). For the first time, however, US government agencies employed social media technologies such as wikis and collaborative workspaces as the main knowledge sharing mechanisms. In this research we present a case study developed through action research of how these social media technologies were used, what influences they made on knowledge sharing, reuse, and decision-making, and how knowledge was effectively (and at times ineffectively) maintained in these systems. First-hand knowledge of the response is used, offering strategies for future deployment of social media and important research questions that remain regarding social media as knowledge management systems, particularly for disaster and emergency management.     

The effect of playing formation on high-intensity running and technical profiles in English FA Premier League soccer matches

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of playing formation on high-intensity running and technical performance during elite soccer matches. Twenty English FA Premier League games were analysed using a multiple-camera computerized tracking system (n = 153 players). Overall ball possession did not differ (P < 0.05) between 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 formations (50%, s = 7 vs. 49%, s = 8 vs. 44%, s = 6). No differences were observed in high-intensity running between 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 formations. Compared with 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formations, players in a 4-5-1 formation performed less very high-intensity running when their team was in possession (312 m, s = 196 vs. 433 m, s = 261 vs. 410 m, s = 270; P 5 0.05) but more when their team was not in possession (547 m, s = 217 vs. 461 m, s = 156 vs. 459 m, s = 169; P < 0.05). Attackers in a 4-3-3 performed ~30% more (P < 0.05) high-intensity running than attackers in 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations. However, the fraction of successful passes was highest in a 4-4-2 (P < 0.05) compared with 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 formations. The results suggest that playing formation does not influence the overall activity profiles of players, except for attackers, but impacts on very high-intensity running activity with and without ball possession and some technical elements of performance.     

Aggressive children in a day treatment program: changed outcome and possible explanations

An earlier study (Gabel, Finn & Ahmad, 1988) of severely disturbed children treated in a day hospital program, found that outcome was particularly poor for children with preadmission histories of severe aggressive/destructive behavior. The study reported here compares the outcome in a more recent group of children treated in the same setting with the earlier group's outcome. The recent group of children, like the earlier one, was made up of youngsters who were often from dysfunctional and abusive families. Outcome for aggressive children, including aggressive children with histories of suspected child abuse/maltreatment, was significantly improved. Possible reasons for this improvement in outcome in terms of programmatic changes that had occurred are discussed.     

Instructing Adolescents with Learning Disabilities: A Component and Composite Analysis

Instructional components that positively influence performance of adolescents are identified based on a comprehensive meta‐analysis of intervention studies for students with learning disabilities. Explicit practice and advanced organization are basic instructional components in a number of successful intervention programs. The purpose of this article is to identify the components of various instructional models that best predicted effect sizes for adolescents with learning disabilities. Three important findings emerged. First, 8 instructional factors (Questioning, Sequencing and Segmentation, Explicit Skill Modeling, Organization and Explicit Practice, Small‐Group Setting, Indirect‐Teacher Activities (e.g., homework), Technology, and Scaffolding) captured the majority of intervention programs for adolescents with LD. Second, only the organization/explicit factor contributed significant variance (16%) to effect size. This factor included only 2 instructional components: advanced organization and explicit practice. Finally, the single most important instructional component related to high effect sizes was explicit practice (treatment activities related to distributed review and practice, repeated practice, sequenced reviews, daily feedback, and/or weekly reviews).     

Knowledge,knowledge, who's got the knowledge? The male contraceptive career

A pilot study was conducted to explore some initial family planning concerns of men who sought to obtain reproductive health services. In-depth contraceptive histories were obtained by interviewing 30 men attending the Men's Reproductive Health Clinic in San Francisco over the 1977-1978 period. The men ranged in age between 19-37. The average respondent was white, 27, and single, with some college. Respondents included married and divorced men, and black, Latin, and European men. The research methodology was that of comparative analysis. Preliminary study findings indicate that men perceive they are left out of family planning services and are finding out what they can do despite these circumstances. 4 areas of special concern to the men interviewed, in their search for information and services, were the following: 1) the changing social milieu which includes specifically the effect of the ecological and women's movements; 2) the degree of visibility, or the extent to which men view themselves as invisible in family planning clinics; 3) the nature of the terrain, or the characteristics of family planning clinics that make men feel unwelcome; and 4) accessibility, or the difficulty they experienced gaining contraceptive information and services. Despite the fact that men feel that they are excluded from family planning services, they strategize to handle their concerns. 3 emerging patterns men use to interact with their partners in the practice of family planning are described. These patterns are directing, encountering, and assuming. The patterns reflect how men see themselves in relation to family planning. The directing pattern is based on the man's perception of himself as an outsider, who is directing or managing the process alone. Men are usually willing to direct the process, but they are aware of the many advantages women have over men such as ready access to services, and they strategize to overcome this barrier to them. The pattern of encountering was the most common pattern among men in this study. In this instance the man becomes increasingly involved in the family planning process. This man has access to knowledge through his partner and enters a process of determining what he needs to know and, in turn, finding out how he can use what he has gained to insure a more satisfactory outcome. These men put much effort into increasing their understanding of their partner's family planning experience. The assuming pattern is based on the man's perception of himself as an outsider who makes the assumption that his partner is managing family planning alone. He is less involved than men in the other 2 patterns.     

The impact of an intensive multisensory reading program on a population of learning-disabled delinquents

The high prevalence of learning disabilities in the juvenile delinquent population has been well documented, but attempts to remediate and have an impact on recidivism of this population of delinquents has produced limited results. The present study is a replication of the remediation phase of the 1976 LD/JD Project with methodological refinements to control for treatment integrity and strength of treatment. Delinquents in two detention facilities were screened for a developmental reading disorder. Subjects were selected for the study based on normal intelligence, full English proficiency, and a discrepancy of 15 points between reading achievement and IQ. Subjects in the treatment group received 90 minutes of remedial reading instruction per day using a multisensory (Orton/Gillingham) approach. A comparison group received 45 minutes of daily reading instruction in the regular classroom. There was no significant difference between the two groups in mean age of first arrest, mean age, and mean hours of reading instruction. Based on pre- and posttesting in reading and arrest records one year following release, the treatment group made significantly greater growth in reading (.33 year growth vs −.05 year growth per 10 hours of instruction) and had a significantly lower rate of recidivism (41 percent vs 63 percent) than the comparison group. Results were discussed in terms of hours of instruction necessary to improve reading, intervening treatment variables, and cost effectiveness of remedial program.     

Transforming student engagement in COVID-19 remote instruction: a research perspective

This paper was developed in response to the article titled, “A design framework for enhancing engagement in student-centered learning: Own it, learn it, share it,” by Eunbae Lee and Michael J. Hannafin (2016). Their work is examined through a research perspective. The authors’ discovery of the lack of a comprehensive framework to guide the design, development, and implementation of student-centered learning prompted them to develop the model. The result advances a three-stage model known as, Own It, Learn It, and Share It. The impact of the model can be understood through the simplicity of the OLSit model by how it affords educators a clear pathway for transforming instructional planning. Given the many uncertainties associated with the “shift to digital” as a result of COVID-19, the OLSit model is very applicable for action research by teachers, student teachers, and teacher educators. A critique of the model is provided along with suggested applications to extend the OLSit research base.

     

The Role of Demographics,Personality Variables and School Stress on Predicting School Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: Review of the literature and research findings

The importance in studying Quality of School Life (QSL) lies predominantly on research findings concerning its relationship with educational outcome. Although some studies have focused on factors affecting QSL, no study so far has assessed various factors of QSL simultaneously, with regard to secondary education, in order to construct a QSL model and establish its best predictors. The present research has attempted to study correlates of QSL including demographic, personality variables and school stress, and construct a consistent model of QSL, using data derived from pupils in two Scottish secondary pupils (n = 425). The model constructed was found able to account for 56% of the QSL variance. Overall results indicated that QSL is predominantly associated with personality factors, in particular school self-esteem. Results are discussed in relation to the 'trait' character of QSL and the educational implications of the model.