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Teaching and Learning Clinical Phonetic Transcription
No full textThis chapter considers the expectations and challenges of teaching and learning clinical phonetic transcription to a requisite level of skill thereby supporting effective clinical practice. It considers how teaching and learning for pre-registration speech and language therapists (SLTs) programs could address the challenges posed by the expectations inherent in such a goal and reviews a solution-focused investigation into managing some of the key challenges identified. Once in the workplace, SLTs have the option to maintain and build their skills through independent revision of International Phonetic Alphabet symbols and participate in tutorials supporting revision online. However, in the main, these tools do not provide the supported, applied and active learning environment that therapists have identified as being most useful. SLTs appeared to use narrow transcription when they worked with specialist caseloads, that is, cleft lip and palate or hearing impairment but otherwise felt they did not have the time or confidence to use it
Children’s Learning in Early Childhood: Learning Theories in Practice 0-7 Years
No full textFocusing on the key skill of understanding and translating theory into practice, this book provides an in-depth exploration and analysis of the key theorists and theories that form the foundation of learning and development in early childhood.
The structure of the book mirrors the student learning journey, to compliment the course and seminar reading. The first parts of the book take a critical approach to learning theories, developing reflective and analytical skills through critical questions, photographs and discussion points, whilst the second part offers case studies to help students understand how theories can be applied in practice
The effects of training with High Speed Interval running on muscle performance are modulated by slope
No full textObjective: We examined changes in selected muscle performance parameters after 8 weeks of interval 20 training using two opposite running inclinations. We hypothesized that the uphill training will affect endurance muscle performance outcomes, while the downhill training will affect power muscle performance outcomes.
Methods: Fourteen physically active volunteers were randomly assigned into either the Uphill group (UG; n=7; uphill interval running at +10% incline) or the Downhill group (DG; n=7; downhill interval running at -10% incline) and completed 16 training sessions. Each session consisted of ten 30 s treadmill runs at 90% of maximum aerobic speed (MAS) with a work to rest ratio of 1:2. Vertical jump performance, isometric (MVC) and isokinetic torque of knee extensors and flexors, and fatigue of knee extensors were evaluated pre- and post-training. Moreover, body composition (via bio-impedance) and vastus lateralis muscle architecture (via ultrasonography) were assessed pre- and post-training.
Results: Relative lean tissue mass, relative fat mass and squat jump (cm) significantly (p<0.05) changed from baseline values by + 4.5 ± 4.0 %, - 11.5 ± 9.6 % and +9.5 ± 11.7%, respectively only in the DG. Similarly, DG improved absolute values of knee extension rate of torque development and impulse (p<0.05), while knee flexion peak torque angle significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, the UG increased the number of repetitions achieved during the fatigue protocol and total work by 21.2 ± 32.6 % and 13.8 ± 21.2%, respectively (p < 0.05). No differences were found between groups in muscle architecture.
Conclusion: Introducing variations in slope during HIIT could be used to induce specific improvements towards muscle endurance or power performance characteristics
Long-term intradialytic hybrid exercise training on fatigue symptoms in patients receiving hemodialysis therapy
No full textPurpose: Hemodialysis (HD) patients suffer from generalized weakness, exercise intolerance and muscle atrophy, all leading to generalized fatigue and lack of energy. HD patients spend at least 50% of their time in a functionally “switch off” mode with their fatigue sensations reaching a peak in the immediate hours after the dialysis session. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of a nine-month hybrid intradialytic exercise program on fatigue symptoms occurring during and after hemodialysis session.
Methods: Twenty stable hemodialysis patients were included in the study (59 ± 13.7 years; 16 males). All patients completed a 9-month supervised exercise training program composed of both aerobic cycling and resistance training during HD. Aspects related to physical and generalized fatigue were assessed via validated questionnaires, while physical performance was assessed by a battery of tests, before and after the intervention period.
Results: Exercise capacity and physical performance were increased by an average of 65 and 40%, respectively. Patients reported feeling better during post-dialysis hours in question 1 (p = 0.000), question 3 (p = 0.009) and question 4 (p = 0.003) after the 9-month intervention. In addition, exercise training improved scores in cognitive function (p = 0.037), vitality (p = 0.05), depression (p = 0.000) and fatigue (p = 0.039).
Conclusion: The present study showed that a 9-month hybrid (aerobic + resistance) exercise training program improved symptoms of post-dialysis fatigue and overall general perception of fatigue. Hybrid exercise training is a safe and effective non-pharmacological approach to ameliorate fatigue symptoms in HD patients
European Youth Work Policy and Young People’s Experience of Open Access Youth Work
Get PDFThis article examines young people’s experiences of open access youth work in settings in the UK, Finland, Estonia, Italy and France. It analyses 844 individual narratives from young people which communicate the impact of youthwork on their lives. These accounts are then analysed in the light of the European youth work policy goals. It concludes that it is encouraging that what young people identify as the positive impact of youth work are broadly consistent with many of these goals. There are however some disparities which require attention. These include the importance young people place on the social context of youth work, such as friendship, which is largely absent in EU youth work policy; as well as the importance placed on experiential learning. The paper also highlights a tension between ‘top down’ policy formulation and the ‘youth centric’ practices of youth work. It concludes with a reminder to policy makers that for youth work to remain successful the spaces and places for young people must remain meaningful to them ‘on their terms’
Teaching Environmental Sustainability in China: Opportunities and Challenges for Business and Economics Faculty in Higher Education
Get PDFEnvironmental sustainability constitutes an important part of the political and educational context in China as it strives to move towards an ecological civilization. However, there is limited literature documenting the ways in which sustainability is embedded in higher education teaching. This qualitative research involves interviews and focus groups with 30 faculty in Business and Economics disciplines at three high-ranked Chinese Universities and offers an original exploration of how they include environmental sustainability in their teaching, and the opportunities and challenges they encounter. The findings are significant in suggesting that a broad range of sustainability concepts and aligned pedagogies are incorporated but that political and institutional culture, limitations on obtaining research data, constraints on curriculum design, and individual beliefs are significant barriers to implementation. Strategies employed by faculty to embed sustainability are investigated and reviewed in the context of the ‘theory of the second best’, previously used in UK research
The Severe Asthma Questionnaire: sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference
Get PDFThe Severe Asthma Questionnaire (SAQ) is a validated measure of the health-related quality of life of people living with severe asthma [1]. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the SAQ has not been calculated. The MCID is useful for representing clinical as opposed to statistical significance. There are two main ways of calculating the MCID. Distribution methods define the MCID in terms of the relationship between the distribution of scores and mean change score. These methods are purely statistical and the relationship and formulae that constitute the MCID is determined by convention. By contrast, the anchor method [2] defines the MCID in terms of an independent anchor or criterion. When the anchor is the patient’s perception of a just noticeable difference in their condition, then the anchor method has two advantages over the distribution method. First, the MCID is defined by a criterion and, therefore, has criterion validity rather than being only a convention. Second, the MCID is defined in terms of the patient’s perception of treatment, and the patient’s perception of their treatment is recognised as being an important outcome for clinical decision-making [2]. In this letter we present the MCID of the SAQ using the anchor method
Enabling Empowerment: The Role of Adults in ‘Youth Led’ Climate Groups
Get PDFThis research explores young people’s attitudes towards adult involvement within ‘youth led’ youth climate groups. Young people were acutely aware of their marginalisation and overall, there was a consensus that adults played a useful role as a resource, as experienced adult activists possessed knowledge that they lacked, or in offering practical support on legal issues or liaising with the police. The attitudes of young people to adult involvement is at times paradoxical in that whilst they were aware of its necessity, adults altered the dynamics of the groups, as there was a ‘power gap’ and that adult’s views could take precedence. As a result, on some occasions the young people parted ways from the adults. A continual theme from the research was that young people’s involvement in ‘youth climate groups’ gave them a sense of empowerment and they were much more aware of how to effect change, and to some extent they did need the support of adults in this process, often due to their structural disempowerment. The findings suggest that adult involvement was most successful when adults were committed to empowering young people and the researchers suggest that Kirshner’s model of ‘cycles of fading’ is a useful framework for adult involvement
Autoethnographic stories for self and environment: a reflective pedagogy to advance ‘environmental awareness’ in student outdoor practitioner
Get PDFThere is increasing pressure on academic staff to enhance the graduate capabilities of students, rendering them employable as morally informed global citizens, in addition to enhancing their disciplinary knowledge, reflective practice and understanding. The BA Outdoor Adventure Education degree programme at Plymouth Marjon University, includes the module, Environmental Awareness through Adventure Sport, as one focus to engage students in the environmental ethics discourse of outdoor adventure and explore how adventure activities are managed with specific consideration to ethical environmental practices (Module Descriptor, 2016). We aim to achieve this through learning, teaching and assessment that includes journaling and autoethnography as pedagogy and research method. This approach enables students to experience nature through an adventure activity, in this instance, rock climbing. This is a human experience in a social and cultural context, in, of and for nature. Students are asked to engage with nature ‘making-meaning in, about, and for the various environments’ as outdoor practitioners and leaders. These lived experiences in nature have prompted us to develop a framework where future students and other outdoor leaders can develop understanding and interrogate, the multiple, complex and nuanced ways outdoor activities can engage people with nature
Reducing energy demand in China and the United Kingdom: The importance of energy literacy
Get PDFAs the impacts of climate change become increasingly visible across the globe, awareness of the need for cleaner energy and demand reduction is growing. Energy literacy offers a strong potential for explaining and predicting energy-related behaviours, yet research and policies focused on this topic remain limited. In this study, energy literacy was measured in a sample of 2806 university students in the United Kingdom and China, in addition to their wider environmental attitudes using the New Ecological Paradigm scale. Findings indicate that energy literacy was relatively high overall, but there were significant differences between the knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions of participants in the two countries. Whilst the UK respondents rated themselves significantly more highly on perceived knowledge of energy issues, Chinese respondents provided significantly more correct answers in a knowledge test. UK respondents demonstrated more positive attitudes towards energy conservation than those from China, and were more likely to report energy-saving behaviours. However, Chinese respondents exhibited higher levels of trust in government and businesses to take action on energy issues. This paper provides a novel insight into cultural differences which may be crucial to policy and practice, and evidences the potential benefits of utilising a combination of educational and structural change to support transition to a cleaner, low-energy society