Calculated democracy—Explorations in gerrymandering

This paper describes a lesson centered around a metric for measuring partisan gerrymandering: the efficiency gap. We situate the efficiency gap in the current US political climate, describe the activity itself, and then provide recommendations for readers interested in adapting the lesson for their own classrooms.     

Assessment discourse and constructions of social reality in infant classrooms

The 1968 structural reform of the education system in Israel was part both of a global process of democratization of education launched after the Second World War and of a larger modernization project in which the social sciences played a crucial role. This dynamic was an expression of a conjunction of interests, in which political forces used research on educational matters in order to advance their socio‐political agendas, while researchers used the state's interest in their work and in the ‘social problems’ they elaborated in order to receive public funding and to obtain state recognition of their scientific contribution. This article traces the reformist discourse structuration—the process of institutionalization of the different social science discourses in state institutions, such as universities and national institutes—in order to disclose the social sciences/politics linkage in Israel. It also puts forward the argument that in order to understand discourse structuration at a national level, it is essential to consider an additional factor: global education networks. Global networks adopted a discourse inspired by the American school model that tended to be adopted by scholars in different countries. The article focuses on the processes in Israel whereby knowledge producers elaborated the ‘inequality of opportunity’ and ‘ethnic gap’ social problems, and proffered the 1968 structural reform as the solution.     

Authoring Student Voices on College Preparedness: A Case Study

African American students continue to attend college at much lower rates than their white, Asian, and Latino counterparts. Although researchers have examined this issue from a multitude of vantage points, the voices of students—particularly students of color—have been limited in this research. Using a counter-storytelling narrative approach, this study examines what urban African American high school students identify as the critical factors affecting their educational trajectory and college-going prospects. Findings from the current study reveal that students identified inadequate resources, tracking, lack of AP courses, and poor teachers as factors that influenced their high school to college transition. This study provides much needed insight into the discourse on school reform from the most important constituent in schools—the students.     

Graphene Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds

Many household consumables contain volatile organic compounds(VOCs)as the active ingredient.Long term exposure to VOCs could cause various health problems,especially to the respiratory system.Graphene has attracted a lot of attention recently for its potential to be used as sensing material for VOCs.In this project we have constructed graphene/PVA composite based gas sensors for VOC detection.It was perceived that the polymer could introduce better selectivity to the sensor.Results suggest that the proposed sensor is highly sensitive to low molecular weight VOCs and that the manner in which the sensor respond to the vapour depends on the polarity or hydrophobicity of the vapour.     

Fostering comprehension of risk and causation through media case studies

This paper describes a case study for introductory statistics courses that promotes critical thinking in relation to causation.     

Taku Manawa/My Human Rights,a Case Study in Partnership: Waikato Museum Working with the Human Rights Commission

Abstract Under the Human Rights Act, the Human Rights Commission is responsible for education and advocacy about human rights in New Zealand. In order to reach more people and ensure human rights education is ongoing, the commission initiated a human rights community development approach, creating the Taku Manawa (My Human Rights) program. Representatives from key community organizations were selected for a regional pilot program. These representatives were then trained in the knowledge and ability needed to undertake human rights advocacy and implement this advocacy in their communities. This paper explains how the Waikato Museum was first identified as a key community organization or a “human rights museum.” Exploring the relationship with the Human Rights Commission and leaders from local and national community organizations, this paper also examines how Taku Manawa has encouraged positive social change and greater awareness of human rights issues through the Waikato Museum’s community events, public programming, and exhibition planning.     

Telephone History

DISCONNECTING PARTIES—MANAGING THE BELL SYSTEM BREAK-UP: AN INSIDE VIEW by W. Brooks Tunstall (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1985--$17.95)

THE TELEPHONE ENTERPRISE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE BELL SYSTEM'S HORIZONTAL STRUCTURE, 1876-1909 by Robert W. Garnet (210 pp.---$22.50)

THE ANATOMY OF A BUSINESS STRATEGY: BELL, WESTERN ELECTRIC, AND THE ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE INDUSTRY by George David Smith (237 pp.---$20.00)

FROM INVENTION TO INNOVATION: LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE TRANSMISSION AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY by Neil H. Wasserman (160 pp.--$17.50)

THE TELEPHONE BOOK: BELL, WATSON, VAIL AND AMERICAN LIFE, 1876-1983 by H.M. Boettinger (available from AT&T Corporate Archives, 195 Broadway, New York, N.Y.---$35.00, paper)     

College Algebra: Past,Present, and Future

Issues within college algebra are well-documented. Over the past two decades, reform has brought about significant modifications in the course, yet to date there has been no synthesis of the efficacy of these efforts. This paper situates college algebra within a historical context, and synthesizes research on reform. I argue that, notwithstanding the successes brought about by change, the course is still not in a position to fulfill quantitative literacy requirements; that is, there exists nontrivial components of quantitative literacy that a college algebra course, by its nature, tends not to provide. I conclude with realistic steps forward for administrators and instructors.     

Historical perspective—weaving the lives of Florence Nightingale and Florence Nightingale David into the statistics classroom

This paper describes an activity to celebrate the lives of Florence Nightingale and Florence Nightingale David in statistics classrooms.     

Criterion validity of an isokinetic dynamometer to assess shoulder function in tennis players

Isokinetic dynamometry is used in the assessment and rehabilitation of shoulder function in tennis players. The aim of this study was to validate a newly installed Biodex III Isokinetic Dynamometer for internal and external shoulder rotation. A non-injured male performed this movement which replicates an integral section of the tennis service action (Cohen et al., 1994). Three maximal trials were performed at six randomly assigned angular velocities (0.52, 1.05, 1.57, 2.09, 2.62 and 3.14 rad x s(-1)) with 90 s rest between each set. Trials were recorded using an on-line motion analysis system and kinematic data were obtained. Kinematic angular displacement of the lever arm was slightly greater (> or = 0.01 rad x s(-1)) than for the isokinetic dynamometer at all test angular velocities. Mean angular velocities from the kinematic data were almost identical to those from the isokinetic dynamometer but less than the target values, and this difference (e.g. 2.55 rad x s(-1) at 3.14 rad x s(-1)) was greater at higher angular velocities owing to the greater acceleration phases required. Peak angular velocity was similar on the isokinetic dynamometer to the target values, but substantially less than those from the kinematic data (e.g. 0.68 rad x s(-1) at 0.52 rad x s(-1)). This suggests that the isokinetic data are over-smoothed and may mask important information. In summary, criterion validity of this isokinetic dynamometer is supported for displacement and mean angular velocity, but not for peak angular velocity. Shoulder rotations in tennis are often at angular velocities greater than the Biodex can reproduce, but for the purpose of monitoring the shoulder strength and range of motion of tennis players and providing safe functional rehabilitation, the use of slower angular velocities is acceptable.