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Summative assessments are customarily used to evaluate ultimate student outcomes and typically occur less frequently during instruction than formative assessments. Few studies have examined how the use of summative assessments may influence student learning among at-risk groups of students. Summative assessments are typically used to evaluate how much learning has occurred. This study investigates how summative assessments could be used to reduce the achievement gap among at-risk groups of students in an introductory biology course. Students were given low-stakes practice exams between high-stakes midterm exams. These practice questions were delivered in different modalities throughout three semesters in an introductory biology course. Survey questions were also given out at the end of each semester to identify student preferences for different modes of practice questions' delivery. Students preferred the mixed model of delivering practice exam questions, that is, they completed some online and some during lecture; however, overall result shows that all students, including at-risk groups, had the greatest performance when practice questions were delivered face-to-face during lectures.

Summative assessments are customarily used to evaluate ultimate student outcomes and typically occur less frequently during instruction than formative assessments. Few studies have examined how the use of summative assessments may influence student learning among at-risk groups of students. Summative assessments are typically used to evaluate how much learning has occurred. This study investigates how summative assessments could be used to reduce the achievement gap among at-risk groups of students in an introductory biology course. Students were given low-stakes practice exams between high-stakes midterm exams. These practice questions were delivered in different modalities throughout three semesters in an introductory biology course. Survey questions were also given out at the end of each semester to identify student preferences for different modes of practice questions' delivery. Students preferred the mixed model of delivering practice exam questions, that is, they completed some online and some during lecture; however, overall result shows that all students, including at-risk groups, had the greatest performance when practice questions were delivered face-to-face during lectures.

As outlined in Vision & Change, developmental biology is one of the components that could be used to provide evidence for evolution. Teaching evolutionary-developmental biology (evo-devo) allows educators to use an interdisciplinary approach to help students connect concepts of the Modern Synthesis and developmental biology and better understand mechanisms of evolutionary change. Evaluating effective means of teaching evo-devo concepts requires the use of diagnostic tools to assess how student conceptual understanding changes post-instruction; however, no such tool exists. The following dissertation outlines the development of the EvoDevoCI, a concept inventory for gauging student understanding of evolutionary developmental biology. Concept inventories are tools which effectively gauge student understanding through the use of multiple-choice questions and responses rooted in associated conceptual difficulties students possess about particular concepts. Through the use of Q-methodology and surveys, major evo-devo concepts were identified for inclusion in the concept inventory. During the process of question development and conceptual difficulty identification, we find undergraduate biology majors, from freshmen to seniors, lack knowledge of basic developmental processes and tend to rely heavily on natural selection to explain all evolutionary phenomena. The final EvoDevoCI is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to provide insight into how we may best approach a pedagogical framework that targets the confrontation and prevention of conceptual difficulties. Lastly, the instrument is discusses as a means to assess hypothetical learning progressions for life-science degree programs and evaluating approaches to preparing students and instructors for integrated teaching and learning of sophisticated biological constructs.

While this country's divorce rate is alarmingly high, psychologists have made little headway in a search for effective couple therapy treatment until very recently. Susan Johnson pioneered a new and successful wave of couple therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, which uses emotions and attachment styles to heal couple distress. Often, this distress is also fueled by gender differences and misunderstandings, which is illuminated by John Gottman's couple laboratory. Thus, this dissertation is a study of how either gender uses social support depending on their romantic attachment style. Social support is an often-ignored element of couple interaction, as the ability to give and receive support it is the basis of one's attachment style. This dissertation concludes with a clinical vignette, which integrates Emotionally-Focused Therapy with a new understanding of gender differences in social support from a romantic attachment perspective. This integration will hopefully aid therapists in successfully treating previously vexing couple cases.

Climate activists are putting pressure on Dutch officials to reduce emissions at Europe’s most polluting port.

On Tuesday, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to resume talks late next month to cement a cease-fire in Gaza. Since the end of July, talk of an Israeli-Palestinian resolution has floated around the Security Council.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pleaded his case for Japan's acceptance as a permanent member of the Security Council. Since joining the UN in 1956, he said, Japan has worked tirelessly to advance the causes of the UN.

In November 2012, the General Assembly awarded the Palestinian Authority non-member observer status, making the territory eligible to apply for membership in the International Criminal Court, where it could bring war crimes charges against Israel.

Israeli solar power pioneer and CEO of Energiya Global Capital Yosef Abramowitz also took part in the parade, joining up with the interfaith coalition.