Discovering which experiences physiotherapy students identify as learning facilitators in practical laboratories: An action research project

Purpose: Students enrolled in courses that focus on patient contact participate in practical laboratories to learn clinical skills but this can be challenging in a pre-clinical environment. A simulated case based format using role play in small groups is commonly undertaken. Students may find it difficult to actively engage in learning and effective role playing without prior clinical experience. The aim of this study was to discover what type of experiences facilitated student learning in practical laboratory sessions. Method: Design: Action research study. Participants: Thirty two undergraduate second year physiotherapy students who were engaging in practical laboratories. Data collection and analysis: Teacher observations, minute papers and semi structured interviews were conducted over a nine week teaching period to gain the student perspective on what facilitated their learning. Data from these three sources were categorised and coded. A concept mapping technique was then used to represent the construct of learning facilitators identified, from which the final survey was developed. Results: Learning facilitators identified by students were categorised under three key units: those provided by the teacher, those initiated by the students themselves and material resources. Concept mapping revealed three emergent themes: provide multiple opportunities for learning that address all learning styles, formative learning support and resources to consolidate learning. Students rated timely feedback from the teacher while they practiced the required skills and behaviours as the highest valued learning facilitator (strongly agreed 78.6%, agreed 21.4%) followed by watching the teacher modelling the skill or behaviour required (strongly agreed 67.9%, agreed 25.0%). Students also reported that using a peer feedback checklist constructed by the teacher clarified their expectations of engaging in observation and feedback (strongly agreed 32.1%, agreed 50.0%) and guided their performance in the skills and behaviours expected (strongly agreed 35.7%, agreed 53.6%). Conclusions: Students at a pre-clinical level can identify which experiences facilitate their learning in practical laboratories, if given the opportunity. While these students place the highest value on teacher feedback they can actively engage in peer learning if given constructive guidance on the skills and behaviours required. Discovering what students identify as facilitating their learning in practical laboratories can guide successful evaluation of laboratory teaching plans to modify and create new learning opportunities and resources. This has the potential to improve student satisfaction and achievement of intended learning outcomes

Movement demands and perceived wellness associated with preseason training camp in NCAA Division I college football players

The aims of this study were to examine the movement demands of preseason practice in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college football players using portable global positioning system (GPS) technology and to assess perceived wellness associated with preseason practice to determine whether GPS-derived variables from the preceding day influence perceived wellness the following day. Twenty-nine players were monitored using GPS receivers (Catapult Innovations, Melbourne, Australia) during 20 preseason practices. Individual observations (n = 550) were divided into offensive and defensive position groups. Movement variables including low-, medium-, high-intensity, and sprint distance, player load, and acceleration and deceleration distance were assessed. Perceived wellness ratings (n = 469) were examined using a questionnaire which assessed fatigue, soreness, sleep quality, sleep quantity, stress, and mood. A 1-way analysis of variance for positional movement demands and multilevel regressions for wellness measures were used, followed by post hoc testing to evaluate the relational significance between categorical outcomes of perceived wellness scores and movement variables. Results demonstrated significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater total, high-intensity, and sprint distance, along with greater acceleration and deceleration distances for the defensive back and wide receiver position groups compared with their respective offensive and defensive counterparts. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in movement variables were demonstrated for individuals who responded more or less favorably on each of the 6 factors of perceived wellness. Data from this study provide novel quantification of the position-specific physical demands and perceived wellness associated with college football preseason practice. Results support the use of position-specific training and individual monitoring of college football players

Hunting and sale of Pangolins across Sub-Saharan Africa: a preliminary analysis

Pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae) are hunted and traded for their meat and scales. We conducted preliminary analyses on the hunting and sale at markets of four species of pangolin across Sub-Saharan Africa based on data from the OFFTAKE database. Our analyses show that all four species of African pangolin are hunted and sold at markets throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa. The proportion of pangolins as part of the total vertebrates hunted has increased significantly during the 43 years, from 1972-2014, for which we have data

Creation's Praise of God: An Ecological Theology of Non-Human and Human Being

Please note, for copyright reasons an amended version of the thesis with images removed is available to view and download: CoadD_TPC.pdfThis thesis is the articulation of a doctrine of creation centred on the concept of creation’s praise. It aims to make care for the environment a habitual expression of Christian faith by fostering a kinship between human and non-human. The thesis attempts to achieve this by developing the claim that non-humanity and humanity are united in a joint project of praise. This argument is developed through bringing biblical texts into conversation with voices from the Christian tradition and, in so doing, trusting that Scripture might allow us to know the presence of God in our own context. Creation’s praise consists in its ontological relationship to God, the source of all being and sustainer of the cosmos. In the diverse particularity of each thing the glory of God is actively displayed as an offering of praise and there is no created thing in the cosmos which does not participate in this symphonic worship. Yet suffering and death are intrinsic to the character of living things and God actively resists natural evil which God did not will. Creation joins God in this resistance and suffering and death are transfigured into ever-greater flourishing which deepens creation’s praise. Evil, however, remains a painful mystery and its final resolution awaits the Eschaton. Creation’s praise, therefore, looks to a heavenly fulfilment. Such fulfilment will be found in Christ and be characterised by the final unity of all creation, a unity which will not dissolve its particularity. Anticipating this fulfilment, humanity act as priests of creation, summarising and uniting creation’s praise in themselves and presenting it to God. Humanity’s priesthood is a task of service which does not mask but rather highlights the particularity of non-human praise.AHR

Theoretical and experimental studies of the underlying processes and techniques of low pressure measurement Progress report, 1 Jun. 1966 - 31 May 1967

Construction, testing, and refining of vacuum gauges - ionization gauge cross section ratio

New venture survival and growth: Does the fog lift?

Does our ability to predict the performance of new ventures improve in the years after start-up? We investigate the growth and survival of 6247 new ventures that are tracked using the customer records at Barclays Bank. We put forward Gambler’s Ruin as a simple theory for understanding new venture growth and survival. Gambler’s Ruin predicts that the R2 remains low for growth rate regressions, but that the R2 increases in the years since start-up for survival regressions. The Nagelkerke R2 obtained from growth rate regressions decreases significantly in the years after start-up, which suggests that the fog gets thicker with respect to growth. When we focus only on firms surviving until the end of the period, however, there is no visible change in the R2 over time. In contrast, the Nagelkerke R2 of survival regressions increases in the years after start-up. Interestingly, a blip in year 5 suggests that macro-economic factors may have a strong effect on the amount of ‘fog’

Theoretical and experimental studies of the underlying processes and techniques of low pressure measurement Letter report, 1 Jul. 1967 - 31 May 1968

Ionization gage behavior in various gas mixtures and atmospheric composition

Pattern languages in HCI: A critical review

This article presents a critical review of patterns and pattern languages in human-computer interaction (HCI). In recent years, patterns and pattern languages have received considerable attention in HCI for their potential as a means for developing and communicating information and knowledge to support good design. This review examines the background to patterns and pattern languages in HCI, and seeks to locate pattern languages in relation to other approaches to interaction design. The review explores four key issues: What is a pattern? What is a pattern language? How are patterns and pattern languages used? and How are values reflected in the pattern-based approach to design? Following on from the review, a future research agenda is proposed for patterns and pattern languages in HCI