Products

Empathy is a widely used term, but it is also difficult to define. In recent years, the field of cognitive neuroscience has made impressive strides in identifying neural networks in the brain related to or triggered by empathy. Still, what exactly do we mean when we say that someone has—or lacks—empathy? How is empathy distinguished from sympathy or pity? And is society truly suffering from an "empathy deficit," as some experts have charged??

In Assessing Empathy, Elizabeth A. Segal and colleagues marshal years of research to present a comprehensive definition of empathy, one that links neuroscientific evidence to human service practice. The book begins with a discussion of our current understanding of empathy in neurological, biological, and behavioral terms. The authors explain why empathy is important on both the individual and societal levels. They then introduce the concepts of interpersonal empathy and social empathy, and how these processes can interrelate or operate separately. Finally, they examine the weaknesses of extant empathy assessments before introducing three new, validated measures: the Empathy Assessment Index, the Social Empathy Index, and the Interpersonal and Social Empathy Index.

Empathy is a widely used term, but it is also difficult to define. In recent years, the field of cognitive neuroscience has made impressive strides in identifying neural networks in the brain related to or triggered by empathy. Still, what exactly do we mean when we say that someone has—or lacks—empathy? How is empathy distinguished from sympathy or pity? And is society truly suffering from an "empathy deficit," as some experts have charged??

In Assessing Empathy, Elizabeth A. Segal and colleagues marshal years of research to present a comprehensive definition of empathy, one that links neuroscientific evidence to human service practice. The book begins with a discussion of our current understanding of empathy in neurological, biological, and behavioral terms. The authors explain why empathy is important on both the individual and societal levels. They then introduce the concepts of interpersonal empathy and social empathy, and how these processes can interrelate or operate separately. Finally, they examine the weaknesses of extant empathy assessments before introducing three new, validated measures: the Empathy Assessment Index, the Social Empathy Index, and the Interpersonal and Social Empathy Index.

The European currency crises of 1992-93, the Mexican crisis of 1994-95, and especially the Asian/global crisis of 1997-98, have all contributed to a heightened interest in the early warning signals of financial crises. This pathbreaking study presents a comprehensive battery of empirical tests on the performance of alternative early warning indicators for emerging-market economies that should prove useful in the construction of a more effective global warning system.

Not only are the authors able to draw conclusions about which specific indicators have sent the most reliable early warning signals of currency and banking crises in emerging economies, they also test the out-of-sample performance of the model during the Asian crisis and find that it does a good job of identifying the most vulnerable economies. In addition, they show how the early warning system can be used to construct a "composite" crisis indicator to weigh the importance of alternative channels of cross-country "contagion" of crises, and to generate information about the recovery path from crises.

This timely study comes on the eve of impending changes at the International Monetary Fund as that institution reexamines how it reacts to financial crises. Moreover, the study provides "... a wealth of valuable elements for anyone investigating and forecasting adverse developments in emerging markets as well as industrial countries," according to Ewoud Schuitemaker, vice president of the economics department at ABN AMRO Bank.

This collection is a resource book for those working with language disordered clients in a range of languages. It collects together versions of the well-known Language Assessment Remediation Screening Procedure (LARSP) prepared for different languages. Starting with the original version for English, the book then presents versions in more than a dozen other languages. Some of these are likely to be encountered as home languages of clients by speech-language therapists and pathologists working in the UK, Ireland, the US and Australia and New Zealand. Others are included because they are major languages found where speech-language pathology services are provided, but where no grammatical profile already exists.

This collection is a resource book for those working with language disordered clients in a range of languages. It collects together versions of the well-known Language Assessment Remediation Screening Procedure (LARSP) prepared for different languages. Starting with the original version for English, the book then presents versions in more than a dozen other languages. Some of these are likely to be encountered as home languages of clients by speech-language therapists and pathologists working in the UK, Ireland, the US and Australia and New Zealand. Others are included because they are major languages found where speech-language pathology services are provided, but where no grammatical profile already exists.

This chapter explores the concept of quality in organic milk. Quality encompasses many extrinsic properties of dairy production like animal welfare, the impact on biodiversity, climate change, and fair treatment of everybody along the supply chain. This chapter focuses on composition of the milk and asks how far organic milk varies from non-organic products and what potential there is to improve quality further. This chapter reviews key research relating to differences in protein, fatty acid and mineral composition between milk from organic and conventional production, as well risks from drug and pesticide residues. It also explores how implementation of calf-cow-contact (CCC) systems on welfare grounds affects milk quality.

Second language learners often produce language forms resembling those of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). At present, professionals working in language assessment and education have only limited diagnostic instruments to distinguish language impaired migrant children from those who will eventually catch up with their monolingual peers. This book presents a comprehensive set of tools for assessing the linguistic abilities of bilingual children. It aims to disentangle effects of bilingualism from those of SLI, making use of both models of bilingualism and models of language impairment. The book’s methods-oriented focus will make it an essential handbook for practitioners who look for measures which could be adapted to a variety of languages in diverse communities, as well as academic researchers.

Second language learners often produce language forms resembling those of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). At present, professionals working in language assessment and education have only limited diagnostic instruments to distinguish language impaired migrant children from those who will eventually catch up with their monolingual peers. This book presents a comprehensive set of tools for assessing the linguistic abilities of bilingual children. It aims to disentangle effects of bilingualism from those of SLI, making use of both models of bilingualism and models of language impairment. The book’s methods-oriented focus will make it an essential handbook for practitioners who look for measures which could be adapted to a variety of languages in diverse communities, as well as academic researchers.

The preservation of genetic diversity is particularly important because human selection processes have resulted in a small number of commercial breeds and a large number of small, residual populations. This chapter looks at ways of analyzing pig genetic diversity. It then reviews what these techniques show about the current state of genetic diversity in traditional, local breeds. As the chapter suggests, optimal contribution selection (OCS), genomic selection (GS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques represent valid strategies for maintaining genetic diversity. In the future, strategies in swine epigenomics and microbiomics will play an important role, especially in improving animal resilience.

This overview briefly examines some of the semen evaluation techniques and fertility determination procedures used currently on breeder farms. The later procedures were included as both provide rapid feedback on flock fertility, the best indicator of semen quality. To better understand both the rationale behind and the significance of the data gleaned from these evaluation procedures a brief overview of the fate of sperm in the oviduct after its transfer to the vagina through fertilization is presented. Also addressed were the benefits of introducing standard operating procedures to ensure precision and uniformity in performing the procedures leading to less test-to-test variability of the data within and between farms. The semen evaluation procedures were categorized into subjective and objective categories based on how the data is obtained. It was concluded that only two different objective tests should be considered to provide information on sperm fecundity.

This edited volume investigates the nature and possible applications of an expanded and reconceptualized theoretical construct of speaking as a dynamic socially-constructed endeavour. It addresses both theoretical perspectives and methodological procedures to define and circumscribe the assessment of contextualized speaking. The chapters focus on the complexity brought about by actual interactional competence in speaking tasks and discuss how testing and assessment models and practices can incorporate recent research findings on the inherently dynamic and situated nature of language use. The volume presents research on language assessment in a variety of languages other than English, including French, Chinese and Japanese. It also examines the role that embodied action (gaze, gesture, orientation to materials and texts in the environment) plays in assessment practices, an area that has heretofore remained under-explored.

Chapter 6 is free to download as an open access publication under a CC BY NC ND licence. You can access it here: https://zenodo.org/record/5163340#.YQvJ0IhKjcs

This edited volume investigates the nature and possible applications of an expanded and reconceptualized theoretical construct of speaking as a dynamic socially-constructed endeavour. It addresses both theoretical perspectives and methodological procedures to define and circumscribe the assessment of contextualized speaking. The chapters focus on the complexity brought about by actual interactional competence in speaking tasks and discuss how testing and assessment models and practices can incorporate recent research findings on the inherently dynamic and situated nature of language use. The volume presents research on language assessment in a variety of languages other than English, including French, Chinese and Japanese. It also examines the role that embodied action (gaze, gesture, orientation to materials and texts in the environment) plays in assessment practices, an area that has heretofore remained under-explored.

Chapter 6 is free to download as an open access publication under a CC BY NC ND licence. You can access it here: https://zenodo.org/record/5163340#.YQvJ0IhKjcs

The importance of student assessment, particularly for summative purposes, has increased greatly over the past thirty years. At the same time, emphasis on including all students in assessment programs has also increased. Assessment programs, whether they are large-scale, district-based, or teacher developed, have traditionally attempted to assess students using a single instrument administered to students under the same conditions. Educators and test developers, however, are increasingly acknowledging that this practice does not result in valid information, inferences, and decisions for all students. This problem is particularly true for students in the margins, whose characteristics and needs differ from what the public thinks of as the general population of students. Increasingly, educators, educational leaders, and test developers are seeking strategies, techniques, policies, and guidelines for assessing students for whom standard assessment instruments do not function well.

Whether used for high-stakes decisions or classroom-based formative decisions, the most critical element of any educational assessment is validity. Developing and administering assessment instruments that provide valid measures and allow for valid inferences and decisions for all groups of students presents a major challenge for today’s assessment programs. Over the past few decades, several national policies have sparked research and development efforts that aim to increase test validity for students in the margins. This book explores recent developments and efforts in three important areas. The first section focuses on strategies for improving test validity through the provision of test accommodations. The second section focuses on alternate and modified assessments. Federal policies now allow testing programs to develop and administer alternate assessments for students who have not been exposed to grade-level content, and thus are not expected to demonstrate proficiency on grade-level assessments. A separate policy allows testing programs to develop modified assessments that will provided more useful information about achievement for a small percentage of students who are exposed to grade-level content but for whom the standard form of the grade-level test does not provide a valid measure of achievement. These policies are complex and can be confusing for educators who are not familiar with their details. The chapters in the second section unpack these policies and explore the implications these policies have for test design. The third and final section of the book examines how principles of Universal Design can be applied to improve test validity for all students.

Collectively, this volume presents a comprehensive examination of the several issues that present challenges for assessing the achievement of all students. While our understanding of how to overcome these challenges continues to evolve, the lessons, strategies, and avenues for future research explored in this book empower educators, test developers, and testing programs with a deeper understanding of how we can improve assessments for students in the margins.

The importance of student assessment, particularly for summative purposes, has increased greatly over the past thirty years. At the same time, emphasis on including all students in assessment programs has also increased. Assessment programs, whether they are large-scale, district-based, or teacher developed, have traditionally attempted to assess students using a single instrument administered to students under the same conditions. Educators and test developers, however, are increasingly acknowledging that this practice does not result in valid information, inferences, and decisions for all students. This problem is particularly true for students in the margins, whose characteristics and needs differ from what the public thinks of as the general population of students. Increasingly, educators, educational leaders, and test developers are seeking strategies, techniques, policies, and guidelines for assessing students for whom standard assessment instruments do not function well.

Whether used for high-stakes decisions or classroom-based formative decisions, the most critical element of any educational assessment is validity. Developing and administering assessment instruments that provide valid measures and allow for valid inferences and decisions for all groups of students presents a major challenge for today’s assessment programs. Over the past few decades, several national policies have sparked research and development efforts that aim to increase test validity for students in the margins. This book explores recent developments and efforts in three important areas. The first section focuses on strategies for improving test validity through the provision of test accommodations. The second section focuses on alternate and modified assessments. Federal policies now allow testing programs to develop and administer alternate assessments for students who have not been exposed to grade-level content, and thus are not expected to demonstrate proficiency on grade-level assessments. A separate policy allows testing programs to develop modified assessments that will provided more useful information about achievement for a small percentage of students who are exposed to grade-level content but for whom the standard form of the grade-level test does not provide a valid measure of achievement. These policies are complex and can be confusing for educators who are not familiar with their details. The chapters in the second section unpack these policies and explore the implications these policies have for test design. The third and final section of the book examines how principles of Universal Design can be applied to improve test validity for all students.

Collectively, this volume presents a comprehensive examination of the several issues that present challenges for assessing the achievement of all students. While our understanding of how to overcome these challenges continues to evolve, the lessons, strategies, and avenues for future research explored in this book empower educators, test developers, and testing programs with a deeper understanding of how we can improve assessments for students in the margins.

Implementation of tree-based land management strategies, such as agroforestry, can provide greater benefits for mitigating climate change through increased carbon sequestration in soils and plant biomass. However, the carbon sequestration benefits of temperate agroforestry practices at the system-level have not been well-documented. This chapter evaluates the potential for carbon sequestration in temperate agroforestry systems by analyzing existing data from different agroforestry practices in temperate regions worldwide. The authors analyze carbon sequestration rates for aboveground standing biomass, belowground biomass in roots and soil and contribution to long-term SOC stabilization. Based on their analysis of available data, they project that agroforestry practices could annually offset 20%, 18%, 12%, and 8% of total CO2 emissions in the UK, Europe, Canada, and the USA, respectively. Due to the lack of sufficient information to accurately estimate reliable data, they emphasize these projections should be regarded as such.

The health of soils is at stake due to climate change and unsustainable management practices, thus maintaining soil health has become an existential task for humanity. In this chapter, the authors show that cropland agroforestry strongly promotes the biological components of soil health. This includes enhanced population densities and activities of soil microorganisms and fauna, as well as increased diversity of soil fauna under agroforestry systems as compared to open croplands. They argue that land-use change from open cropland to alley cropping and shelterbelt systems provides substantial environmental benefits that outperform those of many sustainable agricultural management practices. Still, sustainable management practices can be applied in the crop component of cropland agroforestry, offering additional benefits. Overall, agroforestry can make major contributions to restoring, improving, and maintaining soil health as well as to the agroecological transition of agriculture.Therefore, agroforestry should be promoted as a priority land-use system.

Buffer strips are one of the most widely utilised mitigation measures to reduce sediment and nutrient transfer from soil erosion and surface runoff on fields to neighbouring surface waters. Their effectiveness in terms of retaining sediment and nutrients has been documented by numerous experimental studies, with buffer strip width and soil type the most important factors influencing their performance. A recent review of more than 270 experimental studies on the effectiveness of buffer strips showed an average sediment retention amounting to 72%. Similarly, the average retention for total phosphorus and total nitrogen in buffer strips amounted to 75% and 32%, respectively. Newly developed engineered buffer strips have proven to be increasingly efficient at retaining dissolved nutrients transported via tile drainage water. This chapter looks at the history of buffer strips in countries including Denmark, Scotland and Norway, offering valuable insights in to how to improve the uptake of buffer strips.

A prerequisite to improving the sustainability of agriculture are reliable methods to identify and quantify types of environmental impact. This collection summarises current research on the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) and other modelling techniques to measure and improve the sustainability of agriculture.

Part 1 looks at current best practice and key methodological challenges in life cycle assessment. Part 2 reviews ways of modelling particular types of impact, from nutrient and carbon cycles to freshwater balances, energy use, pesticide use and biodiversity. Part 3 reviews the environmental assessment and optimization of sectors such as crops, ruminant and other livestock production as well as by-products.

Assessing the environmental impact of agriculture will be a standard reference for researchers in agricultural and environmental science concerned with understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of agriculture.

A prerequisite to improving the sustainability of agriculture are reliable methods to identify and quantify types of environmental impact. This collection summarises current research on the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) and other modelling techniques to measure and improve the sustainability of agriculture.

Part 1 looks at current best practice and key methodological challenges in life cycle assessment. Part 2 reviews ways of modelling particular types of impact, from nutrient and carbon cycles to freshwater balances, energy use, pesticide use and biodiversity. Part 3 reviews the environmental assessment and optimization of sectors such as crops, ruminant and other livestock production as well as by-products.

Assessing the environmental impact of agriculture will be a standard reference for researchers in agricultural and environmental science concerned with understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of agriculture.

A prerequisite to improving the sustainability of agriculture are reliable methods to identify and quantify types of environmental impact. This collection summarises current research on the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) and other modelling techniques to measure and improve the sustainability of agriculture.

Part 1 looks at current best practice and key methodological challenges in life cycle assessment. Part 2 reviews ways of modelling particular types of impact, from nutrient and carbon cycles to freshwater balances, energy use, pesticide use and biodiversity. Part 3 reviews the environmental assessment and optimization of sectors such as crops, ruminant and other livestock production as well as by-products.

Assessing the environmental impact of agriculture will be a standard reference for researchers in agricultural and environmental science concerned with understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of agriculture.

This chapter draws attention to assessing the environmental impact of commercial cultivated meat production. To provide some context, the chapter first focuses on the environmental impacts of livestock production, specifically the impact of land use and biodiversity, climate change as well as the effect of water use and emissions to waterways. The chapter moves on to examine the use of life cycle assessment and how this practice can be used to estimate the environmental impact of cultured meat products. This is then followed by an overview of the potential environmental impacts of cultivated meat. Similarly to the section on livestock production it discusses the impact of land use and biodiversity, climate change, water use and emissions to waterways whilst also assessing how energy is used during cultivated meat production processes.

Because of their importance as pollinators of wild and cultivated plants, little concern has been paid to alien bees when entering a new ecosystem. Hence, approximately 80 alien bee species worldwide have spread outside their native ranges. Here, we explored the main impacts of alien bees on native bees through competition for food or nesting resources, interference, pathogen spillover, and genetic contamination. Implications for native bee conservation are also discussed. In addition, in this chapter, we developed a particular focus on the first alien bee that colonised Europe, Megachile sculpturalis. We emphasised the main knowledge gaps and important trends for future research. Finally, avenues for managing alien bee species and preventing their introduction are provided.

This chapter focuses on assessing the impact of climate change on soil erosion by water. It begins by first describing the influence of climate change on event and annual erosivity, then moves on to discuss the influence of climate change on the protective effect of crops. A section on snowmelt erosion is also provided, before the chapter concludes with an overview of the multiple influences that climate change has on soil erosion.

Pests and pathogens are a major factor in the health and wellbeing of pollinators. We provide a brief review of the major pests and pathogens of three important insect pollinator taxa of crop plants: honey bees (Apis spp.), bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and other wild bees. For honey bees, the varroa mite (Varroa destructor)-Deformed wing virus (ectoparasitic vector-pathogen) nexus is likely the major cause of poor health and survival. For bumble bees and other wild bee species, pests and pathogens also play an important role in determining the health of individuals, though their impact on host populations is poorly known. Pathogen spillover, the interspecific transmission of pathogens, is a current and future threat to all three pollinator taxa. We highlight some of the current methods and approaches to controlling pests and pathogens. Disease-causing organisms need to be taken seriously in the management and promotion of pollinators and their pollination services.

This review aims to demonstrate the influence of farming systems on biological indicators that are relevant to soil health. Empirical data from published studies informs the hypothetical model that soil health outcomes are related to more diverse cropping systems, coupled with high inputs of organic amendments and less frequent and shallow tillage, due to the ability of such practices to promote soil organic carbon accumulation. This view is supported by the fact that conservation agriculture promotes soil health under diverse climatic conditions.

Pesticides used prophylactically in intensive farming negatively affect non-target organisms, contributing to the acceleration of species extinction. This chapter considers key issues of pesticide toxicity that harm biodiversity and the natural world, including the adjuvant problem and the cocktail effect. The chapter examines these issues and the pesticide authorisation process, and asks whether these mechanisms provide the protection necessary for wildlife, the soil and the wider natural environment. The case study explores the effect of pesticide use on endangered hedgehog.

This chapter provides an overview of the history of pollination biology, it begins by discussing the basics of pollination and goes on to discuss pollinators and their diversity. Sections also cover the ecology and evolution of floral traits, domestication and its impact on plant-pollinator relationships and how pollinators can impact agriculture. A section on modern agriculture and pollinators is also provided.

The book presents the current state of the art for assessing the overheating risk of buildings. This includes the main effects and correlations related to site climate (including meso- and microclimate), comfort assessment, building-occupant interaction, and building design. Findings and action strategies are summarised.

Economic impact assessments are performed as part of a pest risk analysis to determine whether the introduction of a plant pest will result in unacceptable economic consequences. This often triggers phytosanitary measures to reduce the economic risk to an acceptable level. Appropriate techniques to assess the various economic impacts consist of partial budgeting, partial equilibrium models, input-output models, and computable general equilibrium models. These methods differ in width of economic scope and, consequently, in their ability to assess the economic effects of a pest introduction. In this chapter, each method is evaluated in terms of its economic concepts, scope, and required data and skill, followed by a general reflection on the question of how to choose the most appropriate technique, considering the trade-off between completeness in economic scope and required resources. The chapter concludes with two case studies to illustrate the potential of the methods that are most often applied.

Do presidents inevitably lose support the longer they are in office? Does the public invariably rally behind presidents during international crises? What are the criteria by which the public forms its judgment about whether or not the president is doing a good job? And what is the role of daily news reporting and elite opinion in shaping the public's perception of the president's performance? This book addresses these questions and many others surrounding the dynamics of fluctuating public support for the president of the United States. Drawing its case material from the modern presidency from Kennedy through Reagan, with looks backward as far as Truman, this innovative work shows how the standing of the president with the American people has come to have a political life of its own. The author first examines two seemingly distinctive periods of opinion formation: the 'honeymoon' at the beginning of a presidential term and the 'rally' of presidential support that accompanies international crises. He then analyzes two previous explanations of public support - length of term in office and the state of the economy - and concludes that these explanations are, respectively, incorrect and incomplete. The author presents a model of information processing that ties public support to indications of policy success or failure brought to the attention of the public through daily news reporting by the media. The model is tested initially for the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford; it is then refined and tested further for the Carter and Reagan presidencies.

Do presidents inevitably lose support the longer they are in office? Does the public invariably rally behind presidents during international crises? What are the criteria by which the public forms its judgment about whether or not the president is doing a good job? And what is the role of daily news reporting and elite opinion in shaping the public's perception of the president's performance? This book addresses these questions and many others surrounding the dynamics of fluctuating public support for the president of the United States. Drawing its case material from the modern presidency from Kennedy through Reagan, with looks backward as far as Truman, this innovative work shows how the standing of the president with the American people has come to have a political life of its own. The author first examines two seemingly distinctive periods of opinion formation: the 'honeymoon' at the beginning of a presidential term and the 'rally' of presidential support that accompanies international crises. He then analyzes two previous explanations of public support - length of term in office and the state of the economy - and concludes that these explanations are, respectively, incorrect and incomplete. The author presents a model of information processing that ties public support to indications of policy success or failure brought to the attention of the public through daily news reporting by the media. The model is tested initially for the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford; it is then refined and tested further for the Carter and Reagan presidencies.

Through an examination of more than 30 countries and several U.S. municipalities that have implemented a land value tax as an alternative to the traditional property tax, this reports helps officials create better tax reform packages for their jurisdictions. The report's recommendations include using best assessing practices, adding a tax credit feature in communities where land-rich but income-poor citizens might suffer from land value taxation, and phasing in dual tax rates over several years.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have become the main sanction for dealing with anti-social behaviour in the UK. This book provides one of the first assessments of this sanction, which has become widely used but remains extremely controversial.

The report is based on detailed interviews with ASBO recipients, practitioners and community representatives in areas affected by anti-social behaviour. Examining its use and impact from these various perspectives, the book assesses the effects of ASBOs on the behaviour and attitudes of recipients as well as examining the various issues which arise in relation to their implementation.

The report should be read by academics and students who want to make sense of ASBOs, practitioners who are involved in implementing them as well as policy makers who are responsible for designing this sanction. It will also be of interest to all those who have an interest in addressing the issue of anti-social behaviour.

The revised and expanded edition of this bestseller is a comprehensive, easy-to-read resource that explores the theory and practice of ESL assessment. Written for anyone working with English-language learners (elementary and secondary, mainstream and ESL), this new edition of Assessment and ESL presents ideas and tools for alternative assessment. The authors offer methods of documenting the learning and progress of second-language learners—learning and progress that may not always be apparent at first glance. Like the previous edition, the new edition is filled with real stories about students who take baby steps, progress in leaps and bounds toward proficiency, and eventually learn to fly on their own.

The revised and expanded edition of this bestseller is a comprehensive, easy-to-read resource that explores the theory and practice of ESL assessment. Written for anyone working with English-language learners (elementary and secondary, mainstream and ESL), this new edition of Assessment and ESL presents ideas and tools for alternative assessment. The authors offer methods of documenting the learning and progress of second-language learners—learning and progress that may not always be apparent at first glance. Like the previous edition, the new edition is filled with real stories about students who take baby steps, progress in leaps and bounds toward proficiency, and eventually learn to fly on their own.

This volume provides a detailed account of the practical use of Assessment for Learning (AfL) in primary language classrooms. It gives an in-depth account of the ways in which eight experienced primary language teachers incorporated this type of assessment into their practice and discusses the possible impact of AfL on primary language learning. Key themes discussed in the volume include the relationship between AfL and language learning in childhood, which assessment methods are appropriate for primary-aged language learners, which methods support learner agency and engagement in the learning processes, and possible paths for future action, with a focus on implementation and researching AfL in primary language contexts. The findings of this book are relevant to global contexts and it will be of interest to postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of language education, language assessment and teacher education, as well as to primary and language teachers and school leaders.

This volume provides a detailed account of the practical use of Assessment for Learning (AfL) in primary language classrooms. It gives an in-depth account of the ways in which eight experienced primary language teachers incorporated this type of assessment into their practice and discusses the possible impact of AfL on primary language learning. Key themes discussed in the volume include the relationship between AfL and language learning in childhood, which assessment methods are appropriate for primary-aged language learners, which methods support learner agency and engagement in the learning processes, and possible paths for future action, with a focus on implementation and researching AfL in primary language contexts. The findings of this book are relevant to global contexts and it will be of interest to postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of language education, language assessment and teacher education, as well as to primary and language teachers and school leaders.

This best-selling text explains the basic principles of psychological assessment and measurement and guides students and practitioners in the appropriate selection, interpretation, and communication of test results. Danica Hays introduces more than 150 assessment instruments used to evaluate mental health, intelligence, career development, wellness, personality, and interpersonal relationships. This latest edition covers new or expanded content on assessment use in schools, colleges/universities, and telehealth platforms; interprofessional collaboration to support assessment practices and procedures; qualitative assessment approaches and how they can be infused throughout counseling and assessment; cultural and social justice considerations and practices; and crisis and trauma assessment.

Numerous in-text features facilitate teaching and learning, including chapter pretests, trainee-centered reflective and field activities, practitioner perspectives, tip sheets on major concepts and practices, sample assessment items and tools, and case examples. A supplemental Instructor's Guide is available by request that consists of a test bank, PowerPoint slides, and a sample syllabus.

This volume examines the assessment of higher order thinking skills from the perspectives of applied cognitive psychology and measurement theory. The volume considers a variety of higher order thinking skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, argumentation, decision making, creativity, metacognition, and self-regulation.

Fourteen chapters by experts in learning and measurement comprise four sections which address conceptual approaches to understanding higher order thinking skills, cognitively oriented assessment models, thinking in the content domains, and practical assessment issues. The volume discusses models of thinking skills, as well as applied issues related to the construction, validation, administration and scoring of perfomancebased, selected-response, and constructed-response assessments.

The goal of the volume is to promote a better theoretical understanding of higher order thinking in order to facilitate instruction and assessment of those skills among students in all K-12 content domains, as well as professional licensure and cetification settings.

This volume examines the assessment of higher order thinking skills from the perspectives of applied cognitive psychology and measurement theory. The volume considers a variety of higher order thinking skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, argumentation, decision making, creativity, metacognition, and self-regulation.

Fourteen chapters by experts in learning and measurement comprise four sections which address conceptual approaches to understanding higher order thinking skills, cognitively oriented assessment models, thinking in the content domains, and practical assessment issues. The volume discusses models of thinking skills, as well as applied issues related to the construction, validation, administration and scoring of perfomancebased, selected-response, and constructed-response assessments.

The goal of the volume is to promote a better theoretical understanding of higher order thinking in order to facilitate instruction and assessment of those skills among students in all K-12 content domains, as well as professional licensure and cetification settings.

This book examines assessment, testing and evaluation within English-medium education contexts globally. It explores how assessments can effectively measure learning outcomes, integrating both content mastery and language proficiency in multilingual and multicultural classrooms. It features contributions from diverse experts worldwide and offers a comprehensive analysis of assessment practices, emerging trends and their implications for teaching and learning. The authors emphasise inclusivity, equity and effectiveness in English-medium instruction (EMI) assessment. The chapters address a range of topics within assessment, including designing assessments for both content and language goals; addressing challenges in EMI assessment; and incorporating emerging practices such as formative assessments and translanguaging. The book also discusses policy influences on EMI assessment, teacher assessment literacy and the role of innovative technologies like AI in EMI assessments. It provides practical examples and strategies, aiming to enhance EMI assessment practices and bridge the gap between theory and classroom implementation.

If your asset data is not reliable, you need to convince the organization of the enormous potential that is locked away. To accomplish this, you need to understand the breadth of the problem and the value of solving it. A viable business case for action is needed-so let's get started!

Physical asset data integrity is a critical aspect of every business, often the most valuable asset on the balance sheet, yet it is often overlooked. The data that we have about our assets collectively creates information, provides for accurate analysis and facilitates sound business decisions.

Without accuracy of asset data there is a strong potential for poor decisions and their negative consequences. This book will not only provide an appreciation of this fact, it will also provide a road map to achieving value out of something most CEOs, managers, and workers often overlook.

Features

• Relies on the authors’ decades of experience and hands-on expertise that cannot be obtained elsewhere.
• Includes an assessment tool enabling the reader to easily recognize areas of improvement once a problem is detected.
• Features a valuable practical “how to” information.
• Focuses on the entire management spectrum, allowing everyone to see the value of data integrity within the context of their own responsibilities.

With contributions from leading advisers, industry experts and academic researchers, Asset Management, Second edition is an essential reference on the practicalities of adopting asset management principles, methods and techniques. The book demonstrates how asset management can transform the prospects of infrastructure and asset dependent businesses, by reducing risks and costs, and generating increased value for shareholders and stakeholders.

Fully updated, this second edition contains a collection of short, authoritative and multi-disciplinary contributions which together provide an accessible and comprehensive overview of asset management best practice that is applicable to all sectors. Individual chapters examine the achievements and future potential of Asset Management, including opportunities posed by digitalisation, climate change and smart cities. This collection will challenge asset management professionals to engage more effectively with business leaders and academia.

Asset Management, Second edition is a key reference for practitioners and decision makers working in infrastructure and asset dependent businesses, and will also appeal to students and practitioners new to this area.

Most other titles on asset management tend to describe the practice and related ISO standards in a rather clinical manner. In contrast, this work focuses on concrete situations experienced by those who have implemented the concepts, discusses how, and when and WHY they failed, and how they adapted their practices in order to succeed.

Features

• Packed with stories from professionals and companies that highlight aspects of different functions, tools and elements of asset management from a variety of different industries, including infrastructure (water, energy, transportation), public service (post offices, hospitals), manufacturers, public, and private companies.
• Guides readers to explore the essential actions to be undertaken, and the major pitfalls to avoid.
• Organized in parts and chapters that address individual topics of asset management according to the sequence of life cycle segments of any asset belonging to an infrastructure or industry. This allows the reader to follow asset-related questions throughout their lives or to choose to study specific life segments (chapters).

What are the legal risks of my activities? Is liability insurance enough?
How do I stay out of court? What laws are unique to me as a Georgian? These are likely all questions that have crossed your mind—detailed questions that delve into a legal system that may seem daunting to an unfamiliar eye. But there’s good news: You can protect your assets. You can stay out of court. You can learn the suggestions and techniques for you as a Georgian.
Here’s how: In Asset-Protection Planning for Business Owners, Real Estate Operators, Professionals, and Investors in Georgia, Harold Hudson provides general information to you—a Georgia business owner or resident—on how to structure your affairs to help protect your assets by covering: •Georgia Comprehensive Asset Protection Planning; •how to avoid fraudulent transfers; •the importance of choosing a lawyer who understands specific laws in Georgia; •how certain contract provisions can keep you out of court and minimize your liability to others; •the decision to reduce or eliminate liability and/or malpractice insurance; •and more . . .
Don’t let lack of planning and preparedness prevent your future success. Protect your assets, understand the rules you operate under, and take action!

Reporting on China has long been one of the most challenging and crucial of journalistic assignments. Foreign correspondents have confronted war, revolution, isolation, internal upheaval, and onerous government restrictions as well as barriers of language, culture, and politics. Nonetheless, American media coverage of China has profoundly influenced U.S. government policy and shaped public opinion not only domestically but also, given the clout and reach of U.S. news organizations, around the world.

This book tells the story of how American journalists have covered China—from the civil war of the 1940s through the COVID-19 pandemic—in their own words. Mike Chinoy assembles a remarkable collection of personal accounts from eminent journalists, including Stanley Karnow, Seymour Topping, Barbara Walters, Dan Rather, Melinda Liu, Nicholas Kristof, Joseph Kahn, Evan Osnos, David Barboza, Amy Qin, and Megha Rajagopalan, among dozens of others. They share behind-the-scenes stories of reporting on historic moments such as Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking visit in 1972, China’s opening up to the outside world and its emergence as a global superpower, and the crackdowns in Tiananmen Square and Xinjiang. Journalists detail the challenges of covering a complex and secretive society and offer insight into eight decades of tumultuous political, economic, and social change.

At a time of crisis in Sino-American relations, understanding the people who have covered China for the American media and how they have done so is crucial to understanding the news. Through the personal accounts of multiple generations of China correspondents, Assignment China provides that understanding.

Reporting on China has long been one of the most challenging and crucial of journalistic assignments. Foreign correspondents have confronted war, revolution, isolation, internal upheaval, and onerous government restrictions as well as barriers of language, culture, and politics. Nonetheless, American media coverage of China has profoundly influenced U.S. government policy and shaped public opinion not only domestically but also, given the clout and reach of U.S. news organizations, around the world.

This book tells the story of how American journalists have covered China—from the civil war of the 1940s through the COVID-19 pandemic—in their own words. Mike Chinoy assembles a remarkable collection of personal accounts from eminent journalists, including Stanley Karnow, Seymour Topping, Barbara Walters, Dan Rather, Melinda Liu, Nicholas Kristof, Joseph Kahn, Evan Osnos, David Barboza, Amy Qin, and Megha Rajagopalan, among dozens of others. They share behind-the-scenes stories of reporting on historic moments such as Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking visit in 1972, China’s opening up to the outside world and its emergence as a global superpower, and the crackdowns in Tiananmen Square and Xinjiang. Journalists detail the challenges of covering a complex and secretive society and offer insight into eight decades of tumultuous political, economic, and social change.

At a time of crisis in Sino-American relations, understanding the people who have covered China for the American media and how they have done so is crucial to understanding the news. Through the personal accounts of multiple generations of China correspondents, Assignment China provides that understanding.