Untangling Web 2.0's influences on student learning

Today's college students are wired. Are we ready to harness the power of this connectedness to support their learning?     

Kinematics and kinetics of youth baseball pitching with standard and lightweight balls

Because youth athletes are smaller and weaker than their adult counterparts, smaller equipment and fields are often used in youth sports. Previous research has shown that youth baseball pitchers use similar motions to older pitchers, but generate lower kinetics and angular velocities at the shoulder and elbow. The purpose of this study was to determine potential biomechanical benefits for youth pitchers to use lighter baseballs. Thirty-four youth (11.1 ± 0.7 years) pitchers pitched both standard [5 ounce (142 g)] and lightweight [4 ounce(113 g)] baseballs in a laboratory setting. Kinematic and kinetic parameters were measured with a six-camera high-speed motion analysis system. Three repeated measures MANOVAs were used to compare (p > 0.05) position, velocity, and kinetic parameters between the standard and lightweight baseballs. Subjective data were also collected. Pitching the lightweight ball produced no difference in arm position, but greater shoulder, elbow, and ball velocities. With the lightweight ball, pitchers produced decreased kinetics.Post-hoc analysis of the kinetic data revealed significant decreases in elbow varus torque and shoulder internal rotation torque. The data suggest that playing with lightweight baseballs may reduce the risk of overuse injury in the youth pitcher and also help develop arm speed. However, before introducing lightweight baseballs into the youth game, the effect of lighter, faster pitched balls for the batters and fielders should also be considered.     

Computer game play as an imaginary stage for reading: implicit spatial effects of computer games embedded in hard copy books

This study compared books with embedded computer games (via pentop computers with microdot paper and audio feedback) with regular books with maps, in terms of fifth graders' comprehension and retention of spatial details from stories. One group read a story in hard copy with embedded computer games, the other group read it in regular book format with a map. Students received no reading directions, or notification of upcoming post‐tests. Dependent measures included a post‐test of spatial questions about the story. Some questions addressed story items in both text and games. Other questions addressed spatial items in the text, but not in games. Participants who read books with embedded games scored significantly higher on all the post‐test questions, including spatial questions not addressed in games. This suggests that game play helped readers to create a mental model of the story setting, used in subsequent reading to visualise spatial propositions.     

Ethnic Identity and Social‐Cognitive Maturity in a Multicultural Group Experience

This study examined a multicultural group experience on students' (N= 94) ethnic identity development and social‐cognitive maturity. Although no differences were identified between treatment and comparison group participants, group therapeutic factors scores were predictive of ethnic identity development and social‐cognitive maturity. Implications for counselor educators and future research are discussed.     

Book review

Abelman, B. (1995). Reclaiming the wasteland: TV & gifted children. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Neuman, S. B. (1995). Literacy in the television age: The myth of the TV effect (2nd ed.). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

Strasburger, V. C. (1995). Adolescents and the media: Medical and psychological impact. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Harrison, L. F., & Williams, T. M. (1986). Television and cognitive development. In T. M. Williams (Ed.), The impact of television: A natural experiment in three communities (pp. 87–142). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

Lehr, W. (Ed.). (1995). Quality and reliability of telecommunications infrastructure. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Teske, R. (Ed.). (1995). American regulatory federalism and telecommunications Infrastructure. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.     

Problems in finding qualified employees: A report from the APBE‐NAB employment study

The following report is one of a series based on People in Broadcasting, the initial report of a research study by the Association for Professional Broadcasting Education and the National Association of Broadcasters. An introductory article appeared in the Spring 1962 issue, and one on “Broadcasting Management” was published in the Summer 1962 issue of the Journal of Broadcasting. Glenn Starlin, Professor of Speech at the University of Oregon, is coordinating suggestions for additional analysis of the data collected in this study, and volunteers for conducting such additional analyses are urged to write Dr. Starlin.