An online testing system developed for entry-skills testing of first-year university students in algebra and calculus is described. The system combines the open-source computer algebra system Maxima with computer scripts to parse student answers, which are entered using standard mathematical notation and conventions. The answers can involve structures such as: lists, variable-precision-floating-point numbers, integers and algebra. This flexibility allows more sophisticated testing designs than the multiple choice, or exact match, paradigms common in other systems, and the implementation is entirely vendor neutral. Experience using the system and ideas for further development are discussed.

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According to the Administration of Aging, 40.4 million (13.1 percent) of the US population or more than one in every eight Americans are 65 or older. Approximately 600 million people worldwide are aged 60 or older, and by 2050, this number will grow to 1.2 billion. Improvement and maintaining reported life-satisfaction can be linked to many co-occurring health benefits. The present manuscript addressing the potential life-satisfaction changes that seem to be associated with active participation in a chair resistance band exercise program in a residential facility for older individuals.

Recreational therapists employ different techniques to facilitate changes in health status and behaviors of patients. One concept which is often overlooked is the potential collaborative process between recreational therapy (RT) and the patient, which is fostered by agreements on treatment goals, consensus on tasks of therapy, and a positive bond between the patient and therapist. RT, in general, appears to be beneficial to advancing a patient to greater wellness; however, patients may still have issues with compliance, dropout, and maintenance of change. To address issues of dropout, compliance, and maintenance, it may be important to investigate motivation for RT. The purpose of this study was to determine if Therapeutic Alliance (TA) was correlated with motivation, as described by Self-Determination Theory, and where possible differences occurred. The results of the study confirm that a correlation exists between TA and motivation, and if a recreational therapist is able to develop and maintain a stronger TA with an individual or patient, intrinsic motivation for participation in RT sessions may exist. The results also indicate that patients reporting weaker TA also have higher amotivation correlation and external regulation. Amotivation and external regulation result in high levels of reported extrinsic motivation toward participation in RT session. Further research is needed to determine if length of time participating in RT treatment impacts the development of TA resulting in changes in reported intrinsic motivation for RT treatment.

Idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD) affects multiple aspects of a person’s daily functioning. The current study examined the effects of a multidisciplinary intervention program, including recreational therapy (RT) and speech therapy, among individuals with IPD or PD plus conditions over 16 weeks. The study included six participants with IPD and a participant with progressive supranuclear palsy (PD plus condition). Participants with IPD attended a weekly LOUD Crowd® program consisting of different speech and cognitive activities. In addition, all seven participants attended an RT intervention focusing on fall prevention education and implementing balance, strength, and endurance routines. Results indicated improvements in dynamic balance, reduced fall risk, cognition, swallowing, and voice-related outcomes. In conclusion, a multidisciplinary intervention program is beneficial for individuals with PD or PD plus conditions.