• Gambling

    Data SGP for School Districts

    The data sgp package is designed to make it as simple as possible for users to run analyses and interpret results. There are two basic steps to running an SGP analysis, data preparation and the analyses themselves. The bulk of the time and effort spent on SGP analyses is in data preparation.

    Once the data has been properly prepared, the analyses can be done relatively quickly and easily. The vignettes provided on the wiki and the functions in the data sgp package help to guide users through this process.

    Data sgp is software that allows users to run analyses of student growth percentiles and student growth projections using large scale, longitudinal education assessment data. The analyses rely on quantile regression techniques to estimate the conditional density for each student and then use those matrices to calculate projected/achievement level trajectories.

    A number of different algorithms are available to perform these calculations. The most commonly used is a Gaussian Process Regression model, which uses the inversion of the covariance matrix K to estimate the probability distribution. However, this approach is computationally expensive (O(N3) in time and O(N2) in memory for N samples) and it is impractical to apply to large datasets.

    Instead, approximation methods such as sparse GP and variational inference have been developed to improve the efficiency of these models. These approaches reduce the number of model parameters and thereby increase its speed and reduce its memory cost.

    Another important factor in the performance of SGP analyses is the availability of data to train the models. While the research consortia and full community databases aggregate data from many different sources, they are not designed to be able to accommodate all of the data that could potentially be available in an operational setting. In addition, the models that are created to answer specific scientific questions will not always be fully compatible with larger community databases.

    As a result, it is important for school districts to ensure that they have the necessary hardware and software to run SGP analyses. The SGP package is designed to work with the open source program R. This program is available for Windows, Mac and Linux and can be downloaded from CRAN. SGP requires a version of R that supports the latest round of releases of the software.

    In most cases, a district will want to use the SGP packages with the sgptData_LONG data set. This data set contains 8 windows (3 windows per year) of assessment data in long format for 3 content areas. This data set contains the variables VALID_CASE, CONTENT_AREA, YEAR and ID (required if creating individual level student aggregates by the summarySGP function) along with the demographic/student categorization variables CLASS, SCALE_SCORE and GRADE.

    It is also recommended that the sgptData_WIDE data set be used for most other analyses, since it contains a subset of the same variables as the sgptData_LONG file but without the additional demographic and student categorization variables. These variables are required if the user wants to create Student Growth Plots, which utilize student aggregates calculated by the summarizeSGP function.

  • Gambling

    Hong Kong Pools

    When you think of Hong Kong, a couple of things pop into your mind, like dim sum and shopping, but swimming pools probably don’t. Yet, it turns out that – along with everything else we excel in – the city is loaded with fabulous swimming pools. From the world’s highest pool to a natural infinity pond on a mountainside, here are some of the city’s best spots to dip your toes in the water.

    HK’s municipal pools are great for some laps, but they can get pretty crowded during peak season. Fortunately, there are also a few hotels with their own swanky rooftop pools. However, they are often only open to guests and can cost hundreds of dollars for a day pass (which usually includes food and drinks).

    One such luxurious pool is Rosewood’s Asaya Pool. The 25 meter-long infinity pool lets any patron take in a one-of-a-kind view of Victoria Harbour’s calming waters. After a few laps, you can lounge poolside with a beverage or enjoy a bite to eat from the Asaya Kitchen.

    The W Hotel’s Wet Pool is another trendy pool that isn’t just surrounded by Hong Kong’s towering skyscrapers, but it also features a stylishly painted wall of beautiful butterflies. If you’re a guest of the hotel, don’t forget to check out the pool bar and jacuzzi as well.

    Island Shangri-La’s outdoor pool is one of the most picturesque pools in Hong Kong. Its avenue of palm trees, striped lounge chairs and glistening art deco design makes you feel like you’re in the middle of an underwater fantasy. The pool itself is a beauty, and its backdrop of the city’s most iconic buildings only adds to the experience.

    This is just one of the many awe-inspiring hongkong pools you can visit this summer. There are plenty of other options out there, including public swimming pools, pool facilities at residential complexes and even pools in members clubs. But if you’re ready for a truly unforgettable swim, we suggest booking a staycation with the help of Klook. We’ve got amazing deals on posh accommodations at a number of HK’s top hotels, complete with pool access and other fabulous amenities!

    Two days remain in the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship, and a pair of bookending contests highlight Monday’s action at Hong Kong Football Club Stadium and Shek Kip Mei Sports Park. Teams will be battling for the last eight playoff spots as they vie for a shot at a gold medal.