Evaluation of Online, On-Demand Science Professional Development Material Involving Two Different Implementation Models

This report presents pilot-test results for a science professional development program featuring online, on-demand materials developed by the National Science Teachers Association. During the spring 2006 semester, 45 middle school teachers from three different school districts across the United States participated in a professional development program designed to facilitate content knowledge and skills in the area of Newtonian force and motion. Participants from one of the school districts experienced a full-day instructor-led workshop along with two web-based seminars with a content-area expert. This was followed by a 4-week period of time in which they had access to self-directed, online, on-demand instructional materials that included activities, information, simulations, examples, and practice with immediate feedback over the targeted outcomes. Participants from the two other school districts only had access to the online materials with no instructor-led experience. This report documents positive gains in achievement as well as levels of confidence in teaching the material within all of the professional development groups. Data about the use of specific features within the online material are included, as well as completion rates and attitude survey results. Recommendations for future study are also included.     

Global and regional cardiac function in lifelong endurance athletes with and without myocardial fibrosis

The aim of the present study was to compare cardiac structure as well as global and regional cardiac function in athletes with and without myocardial fibrosis (MF). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement was used to detect MF and global cardiac structure in nine lifelong veteran endurance athletes (58?±?5 years, 43?±?5 years of training). Transthoracic echocardiography using tissue-Doppler and myocardial strain imaging assessed global and regional (18 segments) longitudinal left ventricular function. MF was present in four athletes (range 1–8?g) and not present in five athletes. MF was located near the insertion points of the right ventricular free wall on the left ventricle in three athletes and in the epicardial lateral wall in one athlete. Athletes with MF demonstrated a larger end diastolic volume (205?±?24 vs 173?±?18?ml) and posterior wall thickness (11?±?1 vs 9?±?1?mm) compared to those without MF. The presence of MF did not mediate global tissue velocities or global longitudinal strain and strain rate; however, regional analysis of longitudinal strain demonstrated reduced function in some fibrotic regions. Furthermore, base to apex gradient was affected in three out of four athletes with MF. Lifelong veteran endurance athletes with MF demonstrate larger cardiac dimensions and normal global cardiac function. Fibrotic areas may demonstrate some co-localised regional cardiac dysfunction, evidenced by an affected cardiac strain and base to apex gradient. These data emphasize the heterogeneous phenotype of MF in athletes.     

Strategies to increase the representation ofwomen on the academic staff of the Faculty of Medicineat Monash University

This study used focus groups to develop strategies toincrease the representation of women in the seniorlevels of academia in the Medical Faculty at MonashUniversity. The aims of the study were to: raiseawareness of a wide group of Faculty members on issuesassociated with equal opportunity; achieve greaterinvolvement in implementation of equal opportunitystrategies; and to obtain a broad base of opinions andideas from which to develop strategies that wouldincrease the representation of women on the academicstaff of the Faculty. The focus group method of datagathering resulted in `faculty ownership' ofaffirmative action and an implementation plan that hashigh priority and incorporates a number of peoplecommitted to achieving the target outcomes.     

Infant Visual Attention and Stimulus Repetition Effects on Object Recognition

This study examined behavioral, heart rate (HR), and event-related potential (ERP) correlates of attention and recognition memory for 4.5-, 6-, and 7.5-month-old infants (N = 45) during stimulus encoding. Attention was utilized as an independent variable using HR measures. The Nc ERP component associated with attention and the late slow wave (LSW) associated with recognition memory were analyzed. The 7.5-month-olds demonstrated a significant reduction in Nc amplitude with stimulus repetition. This reduction in Nc was not found for younger infants. Additionally, infants only demonstrated differential LSW amplitude based on stimulus type on attentive trials as defined by HR changes. These findings indicate that from 4.5 to 7.5 months, infants’ attentional engagement is influenced by an increasingly broader range of stimulus characteristics.     

Internet 2 Commons: a collaborative environment

Partnerships among the educational community provide the substance and catalyst for future generations of teachers and students. The Internet 2 Commons provides a collaboration framework for the advancement of research and education. This effort incorporates technological advancements in support of research and pedagogical activities. Available to Internet 2 members are advanced networking and application services, which include collaborative data services and videoconferencing.