Recent Articles
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Detracking math classrooms in San Francisco: A model for all?
Brian Stack EducationEducation Week’s Stephen Sawchuk recently highlighted an initiative now four years old in San Francisco schools where middle and high school students are heterogeneously grouped for math instruction. The city has leveled the playing field by enrolling all students in math courses of equal rigor in middle school all the way through Algebra 1 in high school. There are no "honors" classes. There are no accelerated programs where students can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade. This practice was not implemented without controversy.
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An undetachable burden
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationGames, small group work, puzzles, funny videos, my dancing, and goodies, lots and lots of goodies: candies of all sorts, cookies, minicakes. No matter how student-centered and engaging a class I prepare and present, there are always students who are disinterested, some to the point of slumber, with chins touching their chests and occasionally their heads bobbing. Some are disinterested to the point of doing absolutely nothing and feigning a search of their book bag for their text, materials, and homework when they and I know full well that they do not have them.
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New research shows further connection between Alzheimer’s, retinal nerve…
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareResearchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that nerve fibers in the eye are an early indication of Alzheimer’s disease. The eye, and particularly the retina as an extension of neurologic tissue, can provide information about disease status in the brain. The concept is not new, but the means to capture images with enough optical resolution to visualize the axons and ganglion cells has been evolving over the last two decades.
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K-12 schools should act as new net neutrality era arrives
Bambi Majumdar EducationIn May, the U.S. Senate voted to restore net neutrality rules, and school districts are hopeful that the bill will eventually become law, overturning the Federal Communication Commission’s December 2017 vote. The possibility of an open internet ensures access to high-quality educational resources. If the bill dies in the House, or on President Trump’s desk, then K-12 schools should brace themselves for the new era of no net neutrality, which officially began on June 11.
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GIS plays expanding role at the Centers for Disease Control
Bill Becken Medical & Allied HealthcareIn the last few years, geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geospatial science and visualization have been applied much more often in the public health work of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A major operating component of the federal, cabinet-level Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CDC is the principal government agency charged with conducting and maintaining a wide range of critical public health activities.
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WHO lists ‘gaming disorder’ as mental health condition
Joan Spitrey Mental HealthcareIn response to international pressure, the World Health Organization (WHO) has now listed "gaming disorder" in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Released on June 25, the new ICD-11 listing hopes to create awareness and potential treatment options for those who may be suffering from this often-mocked condition. The main characteristics are very similar to substance-use or gambling disorders in that the patient’s life choices become severely impaired.
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New report: Some Medicare money won’t last past next decade
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationMedicare spending was 15 percent of total federal spending in 2017, and is projected to rise to 18 percent by 2028. Based on the latest projections, the Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) trust fund is projected to be depleted in 2026, three years earlier than the 2017 projection, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) points out in its new report, "The Facts on Medicare Spending and Financing."
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How extending hours can benefit your practice and patients
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationAs a busy primary care provider, you're no doubt always looking for ways to maximize the care options you can provide your patients. Yet there never seem to be enough hours in the day to do so. The simplest solution? Make more hours and extend your practice's daily appointment times. There are multiple upsides to adding additional office availability each week, as research has shown that patients, physicians and staff can all benefit from a practically planned expansion.
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Is the ‘freemium’ model a death knell for brands?
Dr. Michael Solomon MarketingMost of us live in a state of sensory overload. We are exposed to far more information than we can process. That means the fight for your attention — or what some marketers refer to as an eyeball economy — gets tougher all the time. That’s essentially the statement that one version of the popular "freemium" business strategy makes to marketers. Sure, a freemium often delivers additional functionality for a fee compared to what the free version does. But for many, the real attraction of an upgrade is the chance to shop, play or work in an ad-free environment.
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A healthcare facility’s magic wand
Keith Carlson Healthcare AdministrationFor healthcare facilities — hospitals, nursing homes, surgical centers, etc. — there are plenty of issues that impact the financial bottom line and an organization’s overall well-being. If you were a healthcare executive with a magic wand, what are the things you would want to pull out of the proverbial magic hat in order to ensure your organization’s survival and success? Here are some ideas to consider.