Fostering Transformative Learning in an Online ESL Professional Development Program for K-12 Teachers

This qualitative study examines evidence of transformative learning surrounding sociocultural issues in the K-12 classroom of in-service teachers, while participating in an online English as a Second Language (ESL) professional development program. Using inductive data analysis, precursors and catalysts to transformative learning were identified to understand the ways in which 24 purposefully sampled participants experienced learning. Areas explored included ways in which the candidates participated in critical reflection of their own perspectives, ways in which this process affected their meaning making of their experiences, potential for action in changing their practice as ESL educators, and transformative learning features present throughout their learning experiences. Findings reveal evidence of perspective shifts in this context that complement the professional dispositions identified as important for K-12 teachers: the importance of carefully choosing resource materials in professional development, and the necessity to encourage critical reflection in course activities

Adult Financial Literacy Education and Latina Learners: A Qualitative Case Study

This case study explored teaching and learning in an adult financial literacy program for Latina single mothers, using a framework informed by critical and Latina feminist sociocultural learning perspectives and the transtheoretical model of behavior change. Data included interviews with program administrators, educators, and learners; class observations; and analysis of documents, focusing on pedagogy and the roles of ethnicity, gender, and culture in learning. Thematic analysis was both manual and used the qualitative software, NVivo 8. Findings indicate use of holistic approaches to emphasize community, use of pedagogies emphasizing content, process, and personal stories, and promotion of financial behavior change

New Young Star Candidates in BRC 27 and BRC 34

We used archival Spitzer Space Telescope mid-infrared data to search for young stellar objects (YSOs) in the immediate vicinity of two bright-rimmed clouds, BRC 27 (part of CMa R1) and BRC 34 (part of the IC 1396 complex). These regions both appear to be actively forming young stars, perhaps triggered by the proximate OB stars. In BRC 27, we find clear infrared excesses around 22 of the 26 YSOs or YSO candidates identified in the literature, and identify 16 new YSO candidates that appear to have IR excesses. In BRC 34, the one literature-identified YSO has an IR excess, and we suggest 13 new YSO candidates in this region, including a new Class I object. Considering the entire ensemble, both BRCs are likely of comparable ages, within the uncertainties of small number statistics and without spectroscopy to confirm or refute the YSO candidates. Similarly, no clear conclusions can yet be drawn about any possible age gradients that may be present across the BRCs.Comment: 54 pages, 19 figures, accepted by A

Sociocultural Perspectives in an Online ESL Professional Development Program: Are There Transformative Features?

Colleges and universities across the country are looking for ways to increase accessibility as broad of an audience of learners as possible and are expanding into online formats (Allen & Searman, 2010). This is especially useful for programs designed for both working and non-working adults, who require a more flexible schedule for coursework, or who may not be able to attend courses located at a geographic distance. These institutions of higher education also maintain the larger educational objectives of their programs, including increasing the understanding of the world by the learners and expanding their ―habits of mind‖ (Cranton & King, 2003, p. 33). Academics are often likewise interested in maintaining the ―ideals of transformation and social change and the importance of these constructs for the public—outside of the university‖ (Moore, 2005, p. 77), indicating interest in transformative learning and critical reflection (Mezirow & Associates, 2000; Taylor, 2007)

Is Complexity Science Embedded in Transformative Learning?

This paper discusses evidence that Jack Mezirow’s (1991) seminal work on transformative learning drew heavily from the precursors of complexity science without making the connection explicit, a trend still present in the transformative learning literature. The use of concepts from complexity theory and its interdisciplinary contributors can improve our understanding of transformative learning and its development

Teaching with Media Violence to Explore a Public Health Problem: A Qualitative Study

This action research study engaged students in a collaborative examination of the construction of knowledge about violence, by introducing critical media literacy through viewing and analysis of a violent film in the context of a class considering multiple aspects of violence as a public health problem

Status of the UCNτ experiment

The neutron is the simplest nuclear system that can be used to probe the structure of the weak interaction and search for physics beyond the standard model. Measurements of neutron lifetime and β-decay correlation coefficients with precisions of 0.02% and 0.1%, respectively, would allow for stringent constraints on new physics. The UCNτ experiment uses an asymmetric magneto-gravitational UCN trap with in situ counting of surviving neutrons to measure the neutron lifetime, τ_n = 877.7s (0.7s)_(stat) (+0.4/−0.2s)_(sys). We discuss the recent result from UCNτ, the status of ongoing data collection and analysis, and the path toward a 0.25 s measurement of the neutron lifetime with UCNτ

First Observation of PP-odd γ\gamma Asymmetry in Polarized Neutron Capture on Hydrogen

We report the first observation of the parity-violating 2.2 MeV gamma-ray asymmetry $A^{np}_\gamma$ in neutron-proton capture using polarized cold neutrons incident on a liquid parahydrogen target at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. $A^{np}_\gamma$ isolates the $\Delta I=1$, \mbox{$^{3}S_{1}\rightarrow {^{3}P_{1}}$} component of the weak nucleon-nucleon interaction, which is dominated by pion exchange and can be directly related to a single coupling constant in either the DDH meson exchange model or pionless EFT. We measured $A^{np}_\gamma = [-3.0 \pm 1.4 (stat) \pm 0.2 (sys)]\times 10^{-8}$, which implies a DDH weak $\pi NN$ coupling of $h_{\pi}^{1} = [2.6 \pm 1.2(stat) \pm 0.2(sys)] \times 10^{-7}$ and a pionless EFT constant of $C^{^{3}S_{1}\rightarrow ^{3}P_{1}}/C_{0}=[-7.4 \pm 3.5 (stat) \pm 0.5 (sys)] \times 10^{-11}$ MeV$^{-1}$. We describe the experiment, data analysis, systematic uncertainties, and the implications of the result.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization: NPY signaling and histone acetylation in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of DBA/2J mice

Recent evidence indicates that neuropeptide Y (NPY) signaling modulates ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization. Additionally, a growing body of literature suggests that epigenetic mechanisms, including histone acetylation, may play important roles in drug addiction. In the present study, we used immunohistochemical techniques to investigate the expression of both NPY and the acetylation of histones H3 and H4 in the nucleus accumbens and striatum following the induction of locomotor sensitization. Mice sensitized to the locomotor stimulant effects of ethanol displayed increases in NPY in the dorsolateral striatum and increases in acetylated H3 in the nucleus accumbens shell. Interestingly, mice that received an acute injection of ethanol displayed decreases in NPY specific to the core of the nucleus accumbens. Finally, peripheral administration of Tricostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, augmented the acquisition, but not the expression, of locomotor sensitization. The present observations indicate involvement of NPY and histone acetylation in ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization