bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial Literacy: Examining The Knowledge Transfer Of Personal Finance From High School To College To Adulthood
Authors: Yates Dan , Ward Chris
Published: February 2016

Many states are now requiring high school students to be competent in the areas of economic and financial literacy.  This is due to the recent escalation of bankruptcies, large credit card debt, and mortgage foreclosures in our society.  This study examines how financial knowledge is transferred from the high school level to the college level and finally to the adult level.  The authors reviewed the components of Blooms taxonomy at each level of learning.  The Jump$tart Survey, which is given to high school students, was evaluated.  College curricula regarding personal finance courses were examined to determine if personal finance was required for graduation, or an option for general education credit, and whether it was required in a major.  The final financial knowledge transfer can happen at the adult level through community programs.  Breakdowns in the transfer of financial learning were noted through the progression from high school to adulthood.  (Keywords: personal finance, financial literacy, high school students, college students, adult learning)
An Exploratory Study Of Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivators And Student Performance In An Auditing Course
Authors: Mo Songtao
Published: February 2016

The objective of this study is to investigate the association of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and student performance. This study performs an exploratory analysis and presents evidence to demonstrate that intrinsic motivators affect the connection between external motivators and student performance. The empirical tests follow the framework developed by Baron and Kenny (1986) and examine the mediation effect on the data collected from an undergraduate auditing course. The results indicate that there exists a partial mediation effect of voluntary online quizzes (a measure of intrinsic motivator) on the association between mandatory in-class quizzes (a measure of external motivator) and course performance. The findings offer basis for interesting implications, suggesting that mandatory external motivators (e.g., in-class quizzes) are of less value with the presence of other viable motivational techniques (e.g., online quizzes). Voluntary online quizzes help foster learner intrinsic motivation and hence bear more importance with student performance. Educators may consider using techniques that can boost intrinsic motivation in teaching practices.
Fostering Passion Among First Year Engineering Students
Authors: Mazumder Quamrul H. , Finney Mary Jo
Published: February 2016

Engineering is a complex field of study.  Declining enrollment in engineering programs in the United States is of concern and understanding the various factors that contribute to this decline is in order.   Fostering a higher level of student engagement with the content may foster passion towards engineering which could increase academic competency as well as sustained interest in remaining in the profession.  This study examined the role of passion toward engineering content on students’ overall academic performance in an introductory course taught to university and high school students.  A pre-test, post-test, weekly surveys and periodic classroom observation measured levels of passion in the student, classmates, and professor. Mid-semester feedback prompted the professor to adjust his teaching for the purpose of infusing greater student passion towards the content. Results suggest that student passion in both settings fluctuated widely from week to week perhaps due to variable interest in the specific topic.  Overall, high school students’ level of passion remained more stable than that of university students and they performed better academically. Among university students, higher passion was not linked to higher academic performance.  Professor’s passion was highly valued by students though it did not increase their own passion.
Assessment Of An Engineering Technology Outreach Program For 4th-7th Grade Girls
Authors: Dell Elizabeth M. , Christman Jeanne , Garrick Robert D.
Published: February 2016

This paper describes a workshop led by female Engineering Technology students, with support from female faculty, to provide an introduction to Engineering Technology to 4th – 7th grade girls through a series of interactive laboratory experiments. This outreach program was developed to improve attitudes towards science and engineering in middle school-aged girls by making science tangible and fun. The workshop takes place on a college campus and makes use of four different Engineering Technology laboratories. Each lab activity includes a hands-on experiment, beginning with an overview of the engineering technology discipline and a brief description of the theories related to the experiment. The day culminates with a panel session between the participants and the college students. An ancillary outcome of the program is that it serves as a community building event for female Engineering Technology college students. Connections are developed between the students and between students and faculty in the college. The college students gain the satisfaction of influencing the attitudes of participants and develop critical communication skills. An attitude survey given to participants before and after the workshop shows that participation in these workshops results in a more positive attitude towards science and technology. College student volunteers were also surveyed after the workshop to determine the impact of their participation. A full workshop description is given in this paper as well as analysis of the assessment results for the participants and the college students.
Capstone Design Project Course Pathways
Authors: Eppes Tom A. , Milanovic Ivana
Published: February 2016

Capstones are open-ended undertakings where students are expected to creatively analyze, synthesize, and apply a wide-variety of learning outcomes from prior coursework. This paper discusses the structure, approach and evolution of the capstone project pathways within our College. Specifically two programs, MET and EET, have adopted different solutions towards the planning, organizing and execution. The areas of contrast among projects are: 1) sourcing, 2) type, 3) feedback and evaluation, 4) assessment methodology, 5) supplemental resources and 6) curricular strategy. For the first five, the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches are discussed along with the issues and benefits experienced by students, faculty and industry sponsors. In the sixth, a means to improve capstone readiness and performance is presented in which experiential courses within a topical area sequentially introduce challenging and open-ended assignments that foster cognitive learning.
An Integrated Approach To Recruiting And Retaining Appalachian Engineering Students
Authors: Winn Gary , Hensel Robin , Curtis Reagan , Taylor Lydotta M. , Cilento Gene
Published: February 2016

Recruiting and retaining Appalachian engineering students is difficult for a variety of ecological and cultural reasons. At West Virginia University an NSF STEP grant1* has allowed the development specific interventions to evolve from an ecological model we describe here. The interventions include web-based, realistic engineering design exercises linked to state and federal content standards and objectives; a week-long residential summer camp addressing social and academic challenges for rural and minority students; a full set of retention efforts including "rescue courses" targeting struggling college freshmen in early stages of academic difficulty coupled with required study labs to underscore time management and persistence skills early in a freshman's academic career. Process and impact measures suggest that this package of interventions is effective in building interest in engineering not only in high school teachers but in the high school students themselves. While freshman retention has improved remarkably to an all time high of 84%, we conclude that it may take longer than five years to establish among youth in Appalachia an "engineering identity" as a cultural norm. We discuss the key aspects of our 5 year NSF project along with findings and conclusions.
Active Learning Through The Use Of Virtual Environments
Authors: Mayrose James
Published: February 2016

Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) has seen explosive growth over the last decade. Immersive VR attempts to give users the sensation of being fully immersed in a synthetic environment by providing them with 3D hardware, and allowing them to interact with objects in virtual worlds. The technology is extremely effective for learning and exploration, and has been widely adopted by the military, industry and academia. This current study set out to study the effectiveness of 3D interactive environments on learning, engagement, and preference. A total of 180 students took part in the study where significant results were found regarding preference for this new technology over standard educational practices. Students were more motivated when using the immersive environment than with traditional methods which may translate into greater learning and retention. Larger studies will need to be performed in order to quantify the benefits of this new, cutting edge technology, as it relates to understanding and retention of educational content.
Collaborating For Success: Team Teaching The Engineering Technical Thesis
Authors: Keating Terrence , Long Mike
Published: February 2016

This paper will examine the collaborative teaching process undertaken at College of the North Atlantic- Qatar (CNA-Q) by Engineering and the Communication faculties to improve the overall quality of engineering students’ capstone projects known as the Technical Thesis. The Technical Thesis is divided into two separate components: a proposal stage (Tech Thesis 1- investigative) and a technical/presentation stage (Tech Thesis 2 - final written and oral communicative report). It involves a complex blending of experimentation, technical information and data with competent formal technical report writing skills. In an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) environment, this challenge is formidable for students as it involves high technical as well as linguistic competencies. In an effort to gain accreditation from the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB), a standing committee of The Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) which provides national accreditation for over 240 post-secondary engineering technology and applied technology programs in Canada, the School of Engineering realized student results on the Technical Thesis at CNA-Q needed marked improvement. A pilot project, started during the 2008- 2009 academic year, brought engineering faculty from various fields (Chemical Processing, Electrical, Mechanical, Process Automation and Telecommunications) together with writing faculty from the Communications Department to take on the task of improving final Tech Thesis results through co-delivery. Specifically, this paper will examine: the process of developing the collaborative teaching approach at CNA-Q;  its perceived value by the stakeholders (faculty and students);  the ongoing challenges associated with its delivery;  and the overall level of improvement in student performance on the Technical Thesis as a result of the collaboration.
Teambuilding, Innovation And The Engineering Communication Interface
Authors: Prescott David , El-Sakran Tharwat , Albasha Lutfi , Aloul Fadi , Al-Assaf Yousef
Published: February 2016

Recent engineering industry-based research has identified a number of skill deficiencies in graduating engineers. Emphasis on communication and teamwork informed by attributes of self management, problem solving and mutual accountability have been recognized as important needs by The Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET of the United States and are now required in undergraduate course material. The Engineering College at the American University of Sharjah has recognised this reality with the development of a course in language enhancement and professional communication centred on engineering multidisciplinary projects (EMDPs). This paper will outline four innovative practices that together inform this course; team-building, teamwork management, collaborative problem solving, resource management. Brief illustrative descriptions of: team-building through the use of the Belbin Team Role Inventory; management of teamwork development via planning and documentation; personnel and collaborative problem solving and interactive information sources hosted via a LibGuide will elaborate these innovative practices.
Examining Gender Inequality In A High School Engineering Course
Authors: Riegle-Crumb Catherine , Moore Chelsea
Published: February 2016

This paper examines gender inequality within the context of an upper-level high school engineering course recently offered in Texas. Data was collected from six high schools that serve students from a variety of backgrounds. Among the almost two hundred students who enrolled in this challenge-based engineering course, females constituted a clear minority, comprising only a total of 14% of students. Quantitative analyses of surveys administered at the beginning of the school year (Fall 2011) revealed statistically significant gender gaps in personal attitudes towards engineering and perceptions of engineering climate. Specifically, we found that compared to males, females reported lower interest in and intrinsic value for engineering, and expressed less confidence in their engineering skills. Additionally, female students felt that the classroom was less inclusive and viewed engineering occupations as less progressive. Gender disparities on all of these measures did not significantly decrease by the end of the school year (Spring 2012). Findings suggest that efforts to increase the representation of women in the engineering pipeline via increasing exposure in secondary education must contend not only with obstacles to recruiting high school girls into engineering courses, but must also work to remedy gender differences in engineering attitudes within the classroom.
K-12 Project Management Education: NASA Hunch Projects
Authors: Morgan Joe , Zhan Wei , Leonard Matt
Published: February 2016

To increase the interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) among high school students, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) created the “High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware” (HUNCH) program. To enhance the experience of the students, NASA sponsored two additional projects that require universities to design and implement educational modules to be delivered over two (fall and spring) semesters to the six high schools in the area of project management. These modules exposed the students to project management concepts and tools that can be applied in their HUNCH projects. The benefits of the project management modules are: 1) acquiring knowledge in project management, 2) timely, cost- effective execution of the HUNCH projects, and most important, 3) increased student interest in STEM. This article discusses the details of Texas A&M University’s design and implementation of the project management modules. The faculty members involved in the sponsored research projects designed and taught the educational modules. The educational modules were reviewed by the Project Management Institute-Clear Lake (PMI-CL) to ensure consistency with PMI’s project management standards. Texas A&M University partnered with three high schools during this project. Undergraduate students at Texas A&M University who were enrolled in a project management course using project management techniques to complete their capstone design projects mentored the high school students. The interactions between the undergraduate and high school students proved beneficial to both parties. Pre- and post- tests in project management were designed and conducted in each high school. The data are used to analyze the effectiveness of student learning.
The Impact Of A Cohort Model Learning Community On First-Year Engineering Student Success
Authors: Doolen Toni L. , Biddlecombe Erin
Published: February 2016

This study investigated the effect of cohort participation in a learning community and collaborative learning techniques on the success of first-year engineering students. Student success was measured as gains in knowledge, skills, and attitudes, student engagement, and persistence in engineering. The study group was comprised of students registered in an engineering orientation course. Two sub-groups were compared: a) a test cohort and b) a control group. Students registered in the test cohort shared four courses. The control group shared only one course, an engineering orientation course. An exit survey was used to measure gains in skills and attitudes, student engagement, and student perceptions of collaborative learning techniques. Participation in the learning community test cohort was not found to improve student success. Participation in the learning community test cohort model was, however, linked to more positive student attitudes towards engineering and higher levels of student satisfaction with the collaborative learning techniques used in the course.
The Use Of Peer Tutoring To Improve The Passing Rates In Mathematics Placement Exams Of Engineering Students: A Success Story
Authors: García Rolando , Morales Juan C. , Rivera Gloribel
Published: February 2016

This paper describes a highly successful peer tutoring program that has resulted in an improvement in the passing rates of mathematics placement exams from 16% to 42%, on average. Statistical analyses were conducted using a Chi-Squared (X2) test for independence and the results were statistically significant (p-value much less than 0.05). These encouraging results suggest that this type of initiative should be institutionalized at the end of the grant period that funds it. The paper describes the structure of the program, the conditions of the university in which it is being implemented, the details of the statistical analyses, and its impact in engineering education. This model may easily be replicated in academic institutions with similar conditions.
A Survey Of Career Pathways Of Engineering Deans In The United States: Strategies For Leadership Development
Authors: Hargrove S. Keith
Published: February 2016

The career pathways of deans in higher education seem to follow the traditional model in academia from a senior faculty position and/or department chair. This however may be different from deans in engineering education. The goal of this survey research is to assess the career paths of current Deans of Colleges/Schools of Engineering in the United States. The survey discovered that about two thirds follow the normative (traditional) career path for deans, suggest leadership attributes of good communication and fiscal management experiences are the most important, and indicate current and future challenges of fundraising and faculty development are critical issues in higher education.
Critical Thinking Development In Undergraduate Engineering Students From Freshman Through Senior Year: A 3-Cohort Longitudinal Study
Authors: Ralston Patricia A , Bays Cathy L
Published: February 2016

Critical thinking is considered a necessary learning outcome for all college students and essential for academic and career success.  There are many challenges to developing a comprehensive approach to teaching and assessing critical thinking skills. Although the literature has many examples of the incorporation of critical thinking and assessment into courses, longitudinal studies following engineering students through their undergraduate career are lacking.  This study assessed the impact of using the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework to enhance undergraduate students’ critical thinking skills with the hypothesis: There will be a significant increase in undergraduate students’ critical thinking abilities from the freshman to the senior year with the explicit and strategic incorporation of critical thinking assignments. The research question was, “How do the critical thinking skills of undergraduate engineering students change as they progress through the engineering program with the explicit and strategic incorporation of critical thinking assignments?” The study was a descriptive, longitudinal study of three engineering student cohorts as they progressed through the four year undergraduate program. The study was approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board. There was a statistically significant increase in critical thinking scores over the four years for each of the three cohorts. Integrating and evaluating critical thinking assignments into engineering curricula is possible, but a major challenge to critical thinking assessment using a holistic rubric is training engineering faculty in their use.  The results are encouraging, and participating faculty agree; but sustaining these efforts to imbed critical thinking assignments throughout the engineering college curriculum will require effort and administrative support.
Tracking Student Participants From A REU Site With NAE Grand Challenges As The Common Theme
Authors: Burkett Susan , Dye Tabatha , Johnson Pauline
Published: February 2016

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges provides the theme for this NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site. Research topics, with their broad societal impact, allow undergraduate students from multiple engineering disciplines and computer science to work together on exciting and critical problems. The approach to addressing the need for research in critical technical areas includes: providing research training in multi-disciplinary research fields; developing technical and professional skills; networking with fellow REU students and participating faculty advisors; and raising student interest and awareness in both graduate studies and our nation’s most critical problems. The Grand Challenges investigated by student participants include: making solar energy economical; providing access to clean water; advancing health informatics; securing cyberspace; restoring and improving urban infrastructure; engineering the tools of scientific discovery; engineering better medicines; and advancing personalized learning. Over a three-year period, 34 students participated in the REU Site and 58.8% were students underrepresented in engineering. The student participants published their work and gave presentations in regional and national conferences. Several graduate students gained leadership experience by assisting in program coordination. Based on surveys, overall, student participants value most the opportunity to contribute to a research group on exciting and relevant problems. Tracking efforts resulted in locating 100% of the student participants. We found 38.2% completed their undergraduate degrees and now have positions in industry; 38.2% are currently in graduate school and 8.8% have completed their graduate degrees; 14.7% are still pursuing engineering or computer science undergraduate degrees.
Mandating Obesity Testing Across the Curriculum: Lessons Learned
Authors: DeBoy James L. , Monsilovich Sally B.
Published: February 2016

In response to the obesity problem that has dramatically increased over the past 30 years, Lincoln University’s HPER faculty petitioned the University faculty to accept a somewhat radical approach: test all entering first year students using Body Mass Indices (BMI) data for placing students in a Fitness for Life class. This class would constitute the intervention for students with BMI scores of 30 or higher (obese rating). This paper describes the chronology of events that unfolded once the placement policy became known beyond the campus green. Arguments both for and against the controversial course are presented. While the placement policy has been modified, the aim of the intervention has not wavered: identify those students who are most at risk for hypokinetic disease and provide them with the appropriate resources to effectively address those amenable lifestyle factors that will rob them of quality and quantity of life.
Use Of Hand-Held Devices With First Year Associate Degree Nursing Students
Authors: Parker Vicky K. , Kauffman Lisa , McManus Charlotte , Buchman Sherleena , Miller Charmin , Vance Ronald
Published: February 2016

The use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held devices and/or IPod Touches, is becoming widespread in the health care field. Many medical and nursing schools require their students to purchase a PDA prior to the beginning of their classes. PDA’s can carry information directly to the patient’s beside for instant retrieval of information. What does this mean to nursing students and clinical instructors? It means that up-to-date information is available to the student and clinical instructor in seconds, as opposed to searching for a reference book only to find it is outdated and 10 to 15 minutes of valuable time lost. This study identified associate degree nursing students’ use and application in the clinical using PDAs. Results of this study indicated that associate degree nursing students are very satisfied with the use of PDAs in the clinical setting. This study was funded by the Ohio University Regional Faculty Research Fund.
An Overview Of Consumer Perceptions And Acceptance As Well As Barriers And Potential Of Electronic Personal Health Records
Authors: Pirtle Brett , Chandra Ashish
Published: February 2016

Healthcare industry leaders, government agencies and the general public are beginning to see the value that Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems bring through increased quality, reduced medical error rates, and improved care coordination. One subset of the EHR, known as the electronic personal health record (PHR), is gaining in popularity. Before PHRs will be widely adopted, many barriers to their use must be overcome. These include the costs to the developer, host, and patient. Patient access to electronic resources is a concern. Interoperability is another problem. It is not practical for physicians to convert different data formats so that different PHRs may be adopted. Finally, privacy and security concerns also impact EHR adoption. Patients want assurance that their data is secure and not used for marketing purposes. Despite these barriers, there is high consumer interest in PHR products. In future, it is expected that PHR programs will be certified, security and privacy will be enforced by legislation, and standards for interoperability will be developed. PHR will also incorporate additional decision support aids and may become part of a social network that promotes peer support for positive behavior change. This paper will provide an overview of all these issues pertaining to PHR.
Developing Benchmarks For Prior Learning Assessment: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Day Malcolm
Published: February 2016

Prior Learning Assessment (or PLA) has assumed a new importance for Nurse Education in the UK as the Nursing and Midwifery Council has recently indicated that up to 50% of the pre registration nursing programme could be achieved by an individual –through an assessment of their prior learning. [1]. However, despite the emergence of PLA guidelines for higher education institutions [2], the assessment of prior learning in UK universities is still: "Characterized by inconsistency and lack of coherence.” [3] .This paper discusses the results of an exploratory study, which attempted to make the practice of PLA in UK Schools of Nursing clearer and much more explicit. A benchmarking approach is used, based on original work conducted within North America [4]. The findings show that benchmarks for PLA can identify the key purpose; functions and activities associated with the PLA Adviser and PLA Assessor role. Also, contrary to the literature PLA methodology is not based on any particular ideology. Rather, it appears to be context dependent and is more likely to be influenced by: (a) the needs of the individual; (b) the time and resources that are available; and (c) university regulations. This finding suggests that a more eclectic approach towards PLA might now be emerging within UK Schools of Nursing. Each of these findings is now the subject of further study.
Managing Disruptive Events: How To Create Interdepartmental Responses
Authors: Priesmeyer H. Richard , Murray Mary Ann
Published: February 2016

This article describes new concepts and methods that have been successfully applied to manage disruptive events in a large scale hospital setting. Specifically it addresses problems with service quality that emerge from disruptive events and introduces the concept of wholism as a conceptual foundation for fostering interdepartmental responses. Finally, it presents an instructional method for teaching interdepartmental interdependency in corporate or university settings.
Developing Of Health Promotion Of District Hospitals In Thailand
Authors: Kumpalanon Jutarat , Ayuwat Dusadeee , Sanchaisuriya Pattara
Published: February 2016

The aim of this research is to investigate the health promotion services provided by district hospitals in the northeast of Thailand in order to improve health promotion guideline for district hospitals. The qualitative research was conducted from January 2009 to March 2010. Informants were the managers, the staff members responsible for developing and providing services of health promotion from 19 small, medium and large-sized district hospitals in the Northeastern region of Thailand. The in-depth interview was employed to gather the information analyzed by using content analysis. It was found that the new health promotion trends in district hospitals in the northeast were as follows. The organizational structures for promoting health were obviously defined while active services inside and outside the hospitals were clearly developed which bring health promotion practices to serviced users. Public policy for health was offered in the form of quality control, information management and active services while environmental management emphasized on creating comfort and learning environments for the hospital staff members and serviced users. Collaborations between professional organizations and multi-level networks had been established by district hospitals resulting in services with more accessibility and strengthening local communities. In addition, personal skill development and public health education yielded change to the health behaviors of hospital staff members, serviced users and people in local communities. For health service reorientation, there was emphasis on development of the quality of local community services in forms of professional standard development and assessment of health behavior outcome. The forms of health promotion provided by district hospitals in the northeast that were found were public policy for health promotion, active services, environmental management for health, community strengthening in form of collaboration networks, personal skill development and public health education for changing behavior, and change of health services. In order to improve health promotion, health promotion policies must be clearly defined and collaboration between stakeholders both inside and outside hospitals must be supported.
Obesity Prevention In Infants, Children And Adults: An Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: McMahan Shari , Amaya Graciela
Published: February 2016

The Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles and Obesity Prevention, housed in the College of Health and Human Development, at California State University Fullerton promotes interdisciplinary research and community outreach in areas related to children’s health and weight management. Three research projects presented below offer a comprehensive multi-level approach that guides us in developing current and future programs that are effective for addressing obesity in infants, children, and adults. These projects range from creating and testing a telenovela, designing a healthy eating program emphasizing breakfast nutrition and physical activity, and finally looking at the role of the environment in terms of commute times and obesity patterns.
Developing Benchmarks For Prior Learning Assessment: The Case For Nurse Education
Authors: Day Malcolm
Published: February 2016

This report discusses the results of a benchmarking study that examined how prior learning assessment (PLA) is conducted within UK nursing faculty and discusses how this might impact on the career of the PLA practitioner. A screening survey was administered to 66 UK Schools of Nursing. This initial survey identified a cohort of 22 experts and 12 novices from 34 Schools of Nursing who were actively involved in the practice of PLA. This cohort was subjected to a benchmarking survey to determine whether their practice complied, or did not comply, with international benchmarks for PLA. Respondents were asked to justify their responses by making additional written comments. These comments were further explored using focus group and depth interviews in order to identify emergent themes and categories, which were then subjected to analysis using modified grounded theory. This enabled the researcher to identify factors influencing PLA practice and how these might shape the career of the PLA practitioner. Methods of assessment were also identified - when optimal resources are available, the PLA practitioner usually adopts an assessment method that is based on the individual needs of learners, rather than the administrative requirements of the institution. These methods are holistic. They are also inclusive, rather than exclusive, or specific to, a competency or developmental approach to PLA. Finally, the importance of "bottom up" rather than "top down" or institutional approaches is justified as a mechanism for PLA policy development and the importance of emerging benchmarks in supporting the career life cycle of the PLA practitioner is also discussed.
Scholarship In Real Time: Use Of Assignments To Achieve Scholarship Of Teaching
Authors: Emery Catherine
Published: February 2016

In higher education, Boyer’s work “Scholarship Revisited” has regained attention as a greater number of academic programs are applied fields where scholarship defined solely as research is too limited in concept. While discovery of knowledge is critical to the academic enterprise, effective teaching is acknowledged as equally important in the age of outcome-focused education, such as in allied health fields. The time required balancing teaching loads that require 12 hours in the classroom, plus office hours and committee participation can present quite a challenge to the tenure-track faculty member trying to also build and grow a body of research. In the Boyer Model, the Scholarship of Teaching is defined as means of not only educating students but also enticing them to be future scholars (Boyer, 1990). This scholarship demands that teachers be well- informed in the knowledge of their fields. In Allied Health fields, this can be another time challenge as research agendas often follow particular niches within the broader field of study while classroom expertise requires generalist information dissemination. And while continued clinical practice can be informative to the educational enterprise, practice alone does not provide best evidence based information for the classroom. This article will describe the use of assigned course work that bridges the time gap created by these conflicting demands. The assignment calls for the student learners to be critical appraisers of information as it is presented in public formats by requiring that they find the scientific source and analyze the accuracy of the publically presented information. It facilitates the teacher-learner in completing a literature review of emerging topics within the field of study to meet the requirement to be well-informed. Further information on how to make these efforts obvious for the tenure process is discussed.
Structure Modeling Of Improvement In The Quality Of Welfare Service And Research Trends On Welfare Industry In Japan
Authors: Oura Ayako , Yamaji Manabu , Ogihara Atsushi
Published: February 2016

In Japan, the quality of service provided in elder care facilities is drawing special attention after the enforcement of the Long-term Care Insurance Act in 2000. This study is aimed at proposing a structure model on improvement in quality of welfare service and clearing a research trend on welfare industry in Japan by systematic review. At first, Key words regarding to the quality of welfare service were taken by related papers. And then we discussed those key words using KJ method and developed the structure model composed of four areas and three-layer structure. Second, a literature search was exhaustively performed with 12 keywords on Cinii and Google Scholar databases for papers published between 1991 and 2010. From the papers returned by the search, the 63 original papers were examined. This study showed that the staff’s care burden and nursing consciousness were featured themes. On the other hand, there were few researches as a customer satisfaction or information management. In addition, these researches only considered short-term effects.
Well-Being Measurement Scale For Farmers In Northeast Thailand
Authors: Krobbuaban Banjong , Phompakping Buapun
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this research study was to develop a well-being scale for the farmers of the northeastern region of Thailand. This descriptive research employed a workshop for ten qualified representatives of the personnel—selected by purposive sampling—from both the government and private sectors working with farmers in Chaiyaphum Province. The workshop was designed to find solutions for meanings, factors, indicators, and a scale of well-being of the farmers in the Northeast based on data from previous research on the meanings and well-being indicators of northeastern farmers. Our Scale was drafted and then examined in terms of its content validity, construction validity, reliability and the norm of the scale. Twenty-one experts evaluated the content validity. Data were collected from 1,600 farmers living in Chaiyaphum Province by multi-stage random sampling. Factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were performed. The Northeastern Farmers’ Wellbeing Scale (NFW Scale) was successfully completed and included 79 items in 12 domains with 49 indicators; including: illness (2), physical and health services (6), mental state (3), mental power (3), social (4), spiritual and beliefs (7), knowledge (4), family (5), economics (4), financial (4), housing (4) and environmental management (3). The reliability was 0.93. The overall scores of the NFW Scale were assigned to 3 groups using a normative model: ‘better well-being’ ≥ 299; average between 260 and 298 ; and, ‘below average’ ≤ 259.
A Comparative Study Of Certification Systems Based On Ethical Codes Of Medical Information On The Internet
Authors: Ueda Asae , Eura Akiko , Yamaji Manabu , Mitani Hiroaki , Ogihara Atsushi
Published: February 2016

Access to medical information has increased all over the world with the increase in Internet usage. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure the quality of medical information on the Internet. In this study, nine organizations having ethical codes relating to medical information on the Internet were subjects. Of these, ethical codes were compared on the basis of form and content. The certification systems were compared on the basis of number of certified websites, number of certified countries, cost to certify, process of certification and term of certification. As this result, here were only a few differences in form although each ethical code emphasized different content. It is unclear which certification system was the best, as all had advantages and disadvantages. The promotion of a certification system needs support from governments or other organizations. In conclusion, we propose three steps to ensure quality and control medical information online: (1) update the ethical code at least annually, (2) work with other organizations to enforce ethical codes and certification systems, and (3) raise awareness of these approaches.
Social Environment As A Determinant Of Coping Self-Efficacy In Men And Women Living With HIV Under The Auspice Of A Large Healthcare Provider In Kenya
Authors: Kamau Thomas Matenjwa , Olson Valerie G. , Zipp Genevieve Pinto , Clark MaryAnn
Published: February 2016

Kenya faces a severe, generalized HIV epidemic that continues to have a devastating impact on men and women living with HIV and, generally, all sectors of the population. HIV-related stress based on living with HIV, fear of progression of HIV to AIDS or to death, stigma, and discrimination among others are constant stressors afflicting people living with HIV. There are two ways to help people face these stressors - changing the internal characteristics of a person or changing the social environment. A major healthcare provider engages a therapeutic coping model based on stress, appraisal, and coping theory that aims not only directly at changing internal dynamics of the person, but also changing these dynamics by altering the environment of men and women living with HIV. The interplay of a person’s effort with a socially supportive environment is believed to foster coping self-efficacy (CSE). However, the efficacy of this therapeutic model has not been assessed and documented. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the social environment in shaping CSE among men and women living with HIV enrolled in the treatment and care program under the auspices of a large healthcare provider in Kenya. Three types of social support are: 1) emotional, which reduces anxiety and promotes self-esteem; 2) informational, which provides needed knowledge and skills useful in solving problems; and 3) belonging, which helps to distract a distressed person from disturbing thoughts significantly predicted CSE. The results support interventions that strengthen a person’s character while encouraging family members, friends, and other social ties to act and react favorably, thereby creating a supportive environment. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Jet Lag From A Physics Point Of View
Authors: Abdul-Razzaq Wathiq , Biller R. Dale
Published: February 2016

While the common believe is that dark/light timing causes jet lag, we argue that physics, not the biological clock, may be the main reason for this air travel disorder. We explored the change in voltage in the human brain due to the added voltage induced by flying over the magnetic field of the Earth, and we think that this induced voltage in the brain is significant enough to cause neurological changes that may trigger jet lag or other illnesses.
Problems Affecting Gifted Children In Jordanian Schools
Authors: Shihab Ibrahim Al
Published: February 2016

It is clear that there is a need for more attention to the social and emotional needs of the gifted students, as well as for increased attention to the affective needs of special populations of gifted students, such as underachievers, who are at risk for failure to achieve their potential. There is also a need for more empirical studies on the needs of these students, both in terms of preventative strategies such as affective curricula, and with regard to more intensive interventions such as individual, group, or family therapy. Good counseling models have been developed, but they need to be rigorously evaluated to determine the conditions under which they are most effective. In fact, researchers in the field of gifted education need to collaborate with researchers from affective fields such as personal and social psychology, counseling psychology, family therapy, and psychiatry, working together so the society can learn how to intervene most effectively with gifted individuals who have mental health problems and how to help all gifted persons achieve optimal social, emotional, and personal development.
Resource Allocation Using Queuing Theory In A Walk-In Clinic
Authors: Wilder Coleen R.
Published: February 2016

The objective of this research is to produce a simple tool to assist health care management in quantifying the tradeoffs between different resource allocations. In many cases, intuition results in an appropriate selection; the quandary, however, is typically over the magnitude of improvement. The problem addressed herein uses queuing theory in the context of a hypothetical walk-in clinic. Different resource allocations are compared on the basis of the expected number of patients in the waiting room. Without comparative numbers, managers are forced to guesstimate the difference in expected queue lengths. Fact-based decisions not only improve quality but give the decision maker a sense of comfort.
Assessing The Impact Of Wellness Programs Across Multiple Worksites: An Alternative To Return On Investment
Authors: Larwin Karen H.
Published: February 2016

The current case study looks at an innovative approach to assessing the impact of a large-scale workplace wellness program across seven different employer locations. Unlike many reports on the effectiveness of workplace wellness programs, this study does not use return on investment (ROI), which is limited in its ability to provide good estimates of insurance cost savings. The case study looks at a multi-year workplace wellness programs’ impact on clinical measures from baseline through year two data collection. As a unique approach, meta-analytic results provide estimates that are both valid and reliable. Additionally, these measures are standardized, making them assessable for comparisons across different program implementations.
Obesity Prevention In Urban Settings: Creating Healthy Environments
Authors: McMahan Shari , Amaya Graciela
Published: February 2016

The Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles and Obesity Prevention, housed in the College of Health and Human Development, at California State University, Fullerton promotes interdisciplinary research and community outreach in areas related to children’s health and weight management. Two studies focusing on the built environment are showcased. The first study, “Commuting Patterns and Obesity Risk” demonstrates that students with longer commute times are more likely to have a body mass index (BMI) over 25, which is considered overweight. The second study, “Increasing Physical Activity with a Mobile Physical Activity Unit” turned a parking lot into a playground. This was created to provide children in Santa Ana, one of the densest cities in Orange County, California, a place to play. The built environment can have a profound effect on physical activity and if given the opportunity, is important to address in the design stages for the health of our communities.
Managing Planned Change: The Transition From A Nationalized Organization To A Fragmented Network
Authors: Candy Val
Published: February 2016

Organizational change literature has traditionally concentrated on how organizations realign internal resources in an effort to predict and match the needs of the external environment. This paper examines how managing the change process can influence organizational performance measures such as voluntary turnover. The underlying causes of resistance to change and person-organization fit are discussed as the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom continues to experience upheaval as it shifts from a nationalized institution to a fragmented network of trusts charged with visibly increasing efficiencies. This paper argues that middle managers may be better placed to communicate the vision of the future to nursing professionals as they simultaneously receive leadership communications and engage in sensemaking activities to interpret, manage, and respond to events. Ultimately, they play the critical role in mitigating a loss of experienced professionals and knowledge capital.