The Impact of a Summer Bridge Program on Nontraditional Student Development: Teacher Care Matters

Summer bridge programs (SBPs) improve the likelihood that students will succeed in postsecondary education. The majority of SBP research has focused on programs designed for underprepared high school graduates rather than nontraditional populations (i.e., older, [General Education Diploma] GED-holders, parents, etc.). This study sought to address this literature gap by taking a qualitative approach to discover how nontraditional students felt they had developed, both academically and personally, during their respective experiences with a technical and vocational SBP. Results showed that students reported growing personally and affectively (64%) more than academically (36%), and they attributed the majority of growth to instructors (77%) rather than program content (23%). Findings are discussed in terms of SBP curriculum and instructional practices that may promote nontraditional students’ college preparation and persistence to award attainment.     

Fathers’ Role in Play: Enhancing Early Language and Literacy of Children with Developmental Delays

Fathers and paternal role models make a unique contribution to children’s development. There is some research to suggest that the types of play males engage in with children is typically more active and thus offers unique possibilities for embedding activities for language and literacy development. In this article, we offer suggestions for how preschool special education teachers can assist fathers and paternal role models as they work and play to enhance the language and literacy skills of their children through reading activities, dramatic play, and pretend or free play.     

“Let Me Be Direct”: Using Direct Assessments With Student Leaders

Nathan Lindsay, Aimee Hourigan, Jennifer Smist, and Larry Wray discuss the benefits of direct assessment of student learning in a variety of co‐curricular programs.     

The effects of an increasing versus constant crank rate on peak physiological responses during incremental arm crank ergometry

Abstract

We examined the effects of concomitant increases in crank rate and power output on incremental arm crank ergometry. Ten healthy males undertook three incremental upper body exercise tests to volitional exhaustion. The first test determined peak minute power. The subsequent tests involved arm cranking at an initial workload of 40% peak minute power with further increases of 10% peak minute power every 2 min. One involved a constant crank rate of 70 rev · min^?1, the other an initial crank rate of 50 rev · min^?1 increasing by 10 rev · min^?1 every 2 min. Fingertip capillary blood samples were analysed for blood lactate at rest and exhaustion. Local (working muscles) and cardiorespiratory ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded at the end of each exercise stage. Heart rate and expired gas were monitored continuously. No differences were observed in peak physiological responses or peak minute power achieved during either protocol. Blood lactate concentration tended to be greater for the constant crank rate protocol (P = 0.06). Test duration was shorter for the increasing than for the constant crank rate protocol. The relationship between local RPE and heart rate differed between tests. The results of this study show that increasing cadence during incremental arm crank ergometry provides a valid assessment of peak responses over a shorter duration but alters the heart rate–local RPE relationship.     

The effects of carbohydrate ingestion on the badminton serve after fatiguing exercise

Abstract

The badminton serve requires great skill and may be affected by fatigue. The aim of the present study was to determine whether carbohydrate ingestion affects badminton performance. Nine male badminton players (age 25 ± 7 years, mass 80.6 ± 8.0 kg) attended the laboratory on three occasions. The first visit involved an incremental exercise test to exhaustion to determine peak heart rate. Participants were given 1 L of a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink or a matched placebo during the experimental trials. The accuracy of 10 long and 10 short serves was determined before and after exercise. The fatiguing exercise was 33 min in duration (83 ± 10% and 84 ± 8% peak heart rate for the placebo and carbohydrate trial respectively). Capillary blood samples (20 μL) were taken before and after exercise for determination of blood glucose and lactate. There was deterioration in long serve accuracy with fatigue (P = 0.002), which carbohydrate ingestion had a tendency to prevent (P = 0.077). There was no effect of fatigue (P = 0.402) or carbohydrate ingestion (P = 0.109) on short serve accuracy. There was no difference in blood glucose concentration between trials (P = 0.851). Blood lactate concentration was higher during the placebo trial (P = 0.016). These results suggest that only the long serve is influenced by fatigue and carbohydrate had a tendency to prevent the deterioration in performance.     

Evaluation of an Embedded Program Through the Embedded Ecosystem Framework and Toolkit

This article provides a theoretical model for understanding embedded librarianship by introducing an Embedded Ecosystem Framework (EEF) and toolkit to evaluate the health of an embedded program in an academic setting. The toolkit measures the tangible services and the intangible relationships with users in embedded programs under the framework's four facets: Actions, Awareness, Perceptions, and Impact. The Actions facet is measured by traditional library reference metrics, while Awareness, Perception, and Impact measures such as program awareness, self-reported academic gains, or service satisfaction are measured by a survey as well as individual and class evaluations. Analysis of data trends can indicate gaps in services provided or utilization of services by specific user groups to encourage more active engagement with their communities. The toolkit is customizable to fit other embedded librarian programs.     

Partnering to Analyze Selection of Resources by Medical Students for Case-Based Small Group Learning: A Collaboration between Librarians and Medical Educators

Librarians and medical educators analyzed the quality of information resources used by first- and second-year medical students in their case-based small group learning summaries. Librarians provided instruction on using library resources and gave formal feedback to students about appropriate resources for basic science and clinical questions. The team found that students used a high number of clinical and basic science journal articles and textbooks with a number of factors influencing their resource choices. The study demonstrates numerous areas where librarians can play a key role in assisting students to find and assess information to answer clinical questions.