Blazing new trails in the area of reporting and transparency? Required and voluntary reporting of student data to external agencies has increased in volume, quantity, and complexity, and understanding the scope of reporting requirements and the associated burden is critical to higher education practitioners. This volume focuses on new directions in institutional reporting--and the associated burden. The convergence of increased reporting coupled with the demand to be more efficient with resources in a saturated and competitive higher education market make this a timely and needed volume for higher education administrators. This is the 166th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Timely and comprehensive, New Directions for Institutional Research provides planners and administrators in all types of academic institutions with guidelines in such areas as resource coordination, information analysis, program evaluation, and institutional management.

The book provides a thorough overview of Institutional Research (IR) ? i.e. applied higher education research undertaken within universities ? in South Africa. It is a collection of essays focusing on the character and institutional setting of IR; how IR is embedded into the mechanisms of steering, shaping and reforming higher education; and what the major results were of IR in select thematic areas. The book is a valuable resource for higher education researchers and social researchers in South Africa interested in higher education. It ÿalso deserves to be read by practitioners and policymakers in the field of higher education in South Africa. It serves as an interesting case study for higher education researchers all over the world.

As technology and technological advancements become a more prevalent and essential aspect of daily and business life, educational institutions must keep pace in order to maintain relevance and retain their ability to adequately prepare students for their lives beyond education. Such institutions and their leaders are seeking relevant strategies for the implementation and effective use of new and upcoming technologies and leadership strategies to best serve students and educators within educational settings. As traditional education methods become more outdated, strategies to supplement and bolster them through technology and effective management become essential to the success of institutions and programs. The Handbook of Research on Modern Educational Technologies, Applications, and Management is an all-encompassing two-volume scholarly reference comprised of 58 original and previously unpublished research articles that provide cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research and expert insights on advancing technologies used in educational settings as well as current strategies for administrative and leadership roles in education. Covering a wide range of topics including but not limited to community engagement, educational games, data management, and mobile learning, this publication provides insights into technological advancements with educational applications and examines forthcoming implementation strategies. These strategies are ideal for teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, educational software developers, and information technology specialists looking to promote effective learning in the classroom through cutting-edge learning technologies, new learning theories, and successful leadership tactics. Administrators, educational leaders, educational policymakers, and other education professionals will also benefit from this publication by utilizing the extensive research on managing educational institutions and providing valuable training and professional development initiatives as well as implementing the latest administrative technologies. Additionally, academicians, researchers, and students in areas that include but are not limited to educational technology, academic leadership, mentorship, learning environments, and educational support systems will benefit from the extensive research compiled within this publication.

In June 2012, the Committee on National Statistics (sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau) convened a Workshop on the Benefits (and Burdens) of the American Community Survey (ACS)-the detailed demographic and economic survey that began full-scale data collection in 2005 and that replaced the traditional "long form" in the 2010 census. ACS data are used by numerous federal agencies to administer programs, yet the ACS only moved from abstraction to reality for most users in 2010, when the first ACS estimates for small areas (based on 5 years of collected data) were made available. Hence, the workshop marked the opportunity to develop a picture of the breadth of the nonfederal user base of the ACS-among them, the media, policy research and evaluation groups (that distill ACS results for the media and broader public), state and local agencies, businesses and economic development organizations, and local and regional planning authorities-and to gather information on users' experiences with the first full releases of ACS products. In addition to covering innovative uses of the information now available on a continuous basis in the ACS, the workshop gave expression to the challenges and burdens associated with the survey: the time burden places on respondents, the challenges of explaining and interpreting estimates with increased levels of variability, and the privacy and confidentiality implications of some of the ACS content. Benefits, Burdens, and Prospects of the American Community Survey: Summary of a Workshop provides a factual summary of the workshop proceedings and hints at the contours of the ACS user constituency, providing important input to the ongoing review and refinement of the ACS program.

Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most significant health risks contributing to the global decline in mental health and physical performance. Occupations with high physical work demands, such as patient handling in nursing, are associated with high rates of long-term absenteeism and disability due to musculoskeletal pain and disorders. Robotic assistance systems are revolutionizing bedside care and could provide a healthy future for caregivers. For the first time, the potential of a collaborative robotic system to assist nurses in a manual patient handling scenario has been quantified. Using the system significantly reduced the maximum effort required, resulting in physical relief. It demonstrates the feasibility of robot-assisted patient repositioning and highlights the need for interdisciplinary research to adaptively respond to the individual needs and functional abilities of nurses. This work provides a foundation for future research and practical implementation. The use of robotics is innovative, contemporary, widely applicable, and promising for reducing existing risk factors in nursing care.

Looking for accurate, up-to-date data on development issues? 'World Development Indicators' is the World Bank's premier annual compilation of data about development. This indispensable statistical reference allows you to consult over 900 indicators for some 150 economies and 14 country groups in more than 80 tables. It provides a current overview of the most recent data available as well as important regional data and income group analysis in six thematic sections: World View, People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links. World Development Indicators 2009 presents the most current and accurate development data on both a national level and aggregated globally. It allows you to monitor the progress made toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals endorsed by the United Nations and its member countries, the World Bank, and a host of partner organizations. These goals, which focus on development and the elimination of poverty, serve as the agenda for international development efforts.