Cost analysis of prenatal care using the activity-based costing model: a pilot study

The cost of prenatal care in a private nurse-midwifery practice was examined using the activity-based costing system. Findings suggest that the activities of the nurse-midwife (the health care provider) constitute the major cost driver of this practice and that the model of care and associated, time-related activities influence the cost. This pilot study information will be used in the development of a comparative study of prenatal care, client education, and self care.     

Carnival visions: digital creativity in teacher education

This paper is a theoretical and analytical account of a digital video‐editing project with student teachers. The work was part of a wider study known as ‘Creative Teachers for Creative Learners’, and investigated how creativity could be integrated within existing structures and courses of initial teacher education. The paper draws on notions of multimodality to explain how resources such as gesture, image, speech, narrative and music were used by student teachers to create meaning within video productions. Participants noted that the digital video project allowed them to think about how to use these resources in formal schooling contexts and how this could contribute to further work on introducing creativity and agency into their teaching practices.     

Standing on the Shoulders of Libraries: A Holistic and Rhetorical Approach to Teaching Google Scholar

ABSTRACT

In order to understand better and explain the practices of Google Scholar, this essay takes a rhetorical and holistic look at the search technology, language, and sociopolitical implications of the Google Scholar interface as well as the connection between Google Scholar and the actions of the Google Corporation. The relationship between Google Scholar and the academic library is also explored. In addition, the essay offers ways to encourage students to undertake this kind of critique in the information literacy classroom.     

Eligibility and classification decisions in educational settings: Issuing “Passports” in a state of confusion

Eligibility and classification decisions have become an integral part of the American educational system, but the process of making these decisions remains poorly understood. Subjects for this investigation of this decision-making process were 223 educational professionals. Each was given referral and assessment information reflecting average performance for a hypothetical student and asked to make decisions about that student. In their decisions, 51% declared the student eligible for special services; 61% indicated the presence of mental retardation, learning disabilities, and/or emotional disturbance. Several subjects indicated eligibility for services, but did not classify, or indicated ineligibility for services, but classified the student. Learning disabilities was the most popular classification. Student characteristics and the subjects' professional roles and knowledge of assessment/ measurement principles affected decisions made; however, greater training and knowledge did not lead to significantly better decisions. It is apparent that more care must be taken by decision makers in the use and interpretation of assessment information.     

Antisocial behaviors in television entertainment: Trends and profiles

This study replicates the content analysis of antisocial acts on entertainment programming conducted by Greenberg and his colleagues in the mid 1970s. Our purpose is to determine if the frequency of antisocial behavior has changed. We found an overall rate of 42.1 antisocial acts per hour which is very similar to Greenberg's rate of 40.8 acts per hour. However, we found that the rate of verbal aggression had increased, especially on situation comedies and action/adventures programs.     

Clustering in Small Primary Schools: an organisational case study

Small primary schools are frequently perceived as having a discrete organisational problems which are intensified when such schools are located in rural areas. We report a study conducted in a Welsh local education authority which established clustering arrangements as a solution to some managerial, administrative and curriculum problems. The study comprises a questionnaire survey and a more detailed investigation of two clusters.