Plymouth Marjon University Repository
Not a member yet
930 research outputs found
Sort by
Teaching for Sustainable Learning in an Uncertain Future
No full textThis chapter stresses the importance of teaching in establishing a sustainable learning mindset in preparing students for employment in an uncertain future. The building and nurturing of social, emotional and psychological aspects of self in students is crucial to sustainability and can be established through embedding innovation, creativity and enterprise into teaching for learning. It highlights how mindset changes in teacher educators, student teachers and teachers that support the enabling of innovation, creativity and enterprising behaviours in learning can encourage confident, resilient and imaginative students. The chapter draws on a case study, the Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise House project, to illustrate key concepts and review practical strategies to sustain this approach in learning through teaching
Entomofauna of buried remains: Motter's 1898 "Fauna of the grave" revisited.
No full textA metadata analysis was conducted on data that were presented in a past paper that appears to have gone largely unnoticed save for occasional comment of an uncritical nature. Data were derived from 123 graves of 150 disinterments that included invertebrate grave fauna, which Dr Murray Galt Motter carried out in 1898 form the City of Washington cemeteries. Approximately 75 taxa (including some undetermined to species) were assessed in Motter’s tables, from which the most informative group of thirteen species were extracted (representing the top 80.2% relative abundance). The remaining long tail of “singleton’s”, were mostly adventive species and incidental records that provide little context. The data analysis demonstrated clear patterns in faunal structure for the following parameters: month of interment, duration of interment, presence or absence of Adipocere, depth of grave, soil type and moisture content. These results confirm the prevalence of a small number of species restricted to particular conditions, which are discussed with reference to known ecological or behavior preferences for these species as well as a comparison with more modern research recorded in scientific literature.
Adipocere generally excludes insects and those species prevalent in graves where it is absent sometimes occur in much lower abundance (sig. p < 1%). Lepismatidae and Eleusis pallida LeConte 1863 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Osoriinae) demonstrated a preference for 1.52m grave depth, sandy-clay soil, wet to submerged grave conditions and burial in crypts (all sig. p < 1%). As is to be expected faunas are higher from interments conducted in summer months (April to June) with a secondary peak of activity in autumn months (August – October). The occurrence of the two most abundant taxa (Lepismatidae and Eleusis pallida) at a duration of interment of 8 years and Lepismatidae peaked a second time at 11 years. Gamasid mites (Uropoda depressa Banks in Motter 1898) peak at 5 years duration of interment and the Staphylinid Actobius umbripennis LeConte 1863 peaked twice at 5 and 8 years. Most other species fluctuated and demonstrated several or non-significant peaks. The prevalence of Lepismatidae, Eleusis pallida, U. depressa and Actobius umbripennis together with the less abundant members of this guild, suggest an association with fungal hypha, which may be the main food source for these species, rather than direct products of decomposition. Even so, the presence or absence of this guild helps inform forensic instances of burial taphonomy
An examination of the perceived skills required to develop effective school-based mentoring relationships.
No full textChapter 3: Involving the environment
No full textThis chapter embraces Bruce's idea that the environment is the mechanism by which the Early Childhood Educator brings the child and different aspects of knowledge together'. It is impossible to consider the physical learning environment as discrete or separate to the emotional environment. Each setting that values parental partnership will demonstrate their commitment. Wood cautions against basing a curriculum on children's interests as these interests may be transitory and may privilege the play of the dominant children. The environment should be considered as a whole; not just the physical environment but the social and emotional atmosphere created in the setting. A preschool pride themselves on their provision for free play. Since teachers in pre-school consciously started using involvement and well-being as guidelines for their practice. It is important to provide inclusive learning environments that embrace the diversity of the setting and local community. This can be considered with reference to Cskszentmihlyi's concept of flow
Efficacy of inspiratory muscle training as a practical and minimally intrusive technique to aid functional fitness among adults with obesity.
Get PDFObjective: To examine the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) as a non-intrusive and practical intervention to stimulate improved functional fitness in adults with obesity. As excess adiposity of the chest impedes the mechanics of breathing, targeted re-training of the inspiratory muscles may ameliorate sensations of breathlessness, improve physical performance and lead to greater engagement in physical activity.
Methods: Sixty seven adults (BMI = 36 ±6.5) were randomized into either an experimental (EXP: n=35) or placebo (PLA: n=32) group with both groups undertaking a 4-week IMT intervention, comprising daily use of an inspiratory resistance device set to 55% (EXP), or 10% (PLA) of maximum inspiratory effort.
Results: Inspiratory muscle strength was significantly improved in EXP (19.1 cmH20 gain; P<0.01) but did not change in PLA. Additionally, the post training walking distance covered was significantly extended for EXP (P<0.01), but not for PLA. Bivariate analysis demonstrated a positive association between the change (%) of performance in the walking test and BMI (r = 0.78; P<0.01) for EXP.
Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest IMT provides a practical, self-administered intervention for use in a home setting. This could be a useful strategy for wider scale public health implementation and concurrent application of physical activity initiatives
Aquaticity: A discussion of the term and of how it applies to humans
No full textThe relationship between humans and water and the effects on aspects related to human performance has never been studied scientifically. The aim of the current systematic review is to attempt to define the term “aquaticity”, present the factors that describe it and reveal the form in which it presents itself in today's society, in order to become a distinct scientific field of study. A systematic review of the literature has been conducted using anecdotal reports from the internet and forums as well as scientific articles and books from databases on issues related to aquatic sports.
To the best of our knowledge there are no scientific articles dealing with human's aquaticity. In the current systematic review, four factors have been recognized that are closely related to human aquaticity. Those are related to physical condition in the water, to apnea and ability to immerse, to mental health and to parameters related to body composition.
According to our findings, “Aquaticity is the capacity of a terrestrial mammalian organism to function and habitualise in the aquatic environment. The level of aquaticity depends on mental and physical characteristics and can be improved by frequent exposure to the water element”. The ideal state of aquaticity is achieved through the activation of the diving reflex, when the human body is totally immersed in water. The development of knowledge regarding the aquatic environment leads humans to an improved state of aquaticity
The balancing act: combining higher level study with work and family life
Get PDFThis research investigates the strategies employed by part-time postgraduate students to overcome the challenges associated with undertaking study alongside full-time teaching careers and busy family lives. Using purposeful sampling, qualitative data was collected via telephone interviews with participants on two masters’ programmes in the UK, both primarily aimed at school teachers. The findings strongly suggest that students were able to overcome the perceived challenge of balancing the demands placed on their time and energy to achieve a work-life-study balance by developing specific time management,
personal organisation and self-reward strategies. Similarly, a range of support mechanisms, both formal and informal, were utilised or constructed with particular value placed by the study’s participants on the collaborative networks and discussions that they were able to have with fellow students. These collaborative encounters are represented as communities of practice (Lave and Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998) in this paper. The strategies and mechanisms identified through this
research are offered as a heuristic to other students who are invited to consider them as possibilities in navigating their own way through similar, challenging terrain. There are also implications for educators supporting part-time postgraduate learners which, again, are offered for heuristic consideration
Psychosocial factors associated with outcomes of sports injury rehabilitation in competitive athletes: a mixed studies systematic review
Get PDFBackground The prime focus of research on sports injury has been on physical factors. This is despite our understanding that when an athlete sustains an injury it has psychosocial as well as physical impacts. Psychosocial factors have been suggested as prognostic influences on the outcomes of rehabilitation. The aim of this work was to address the question: are psychosocial factors associated with sports injury rehabilitation outcomes in competitive athletes?
Study design Mixed studies systematic review (PROSPERO reg.CRD42014008667).
Method Electronic database and bibliographic searching was undertaken from the earliest entry until 1 June 2015. Studies that included injured competitive athletes, psychosocial factors and a sports injury rehabilitation outcome were reviewed by the authors. A quality appraisal of the studies was undertaken to establish the risk of reporting bias.
Results 25 studies were evaluated that included 942 injured competitive athletes were appraised and synthesised. Twenty studies had not been included in previous reviews. The mean methodological quality of the studies was 59% (moderate risk of reporting bias). Convergent thematic analysis uncovered three core themes across the studies: (1) emotion associated with rehabilitation outcomes; (2) cognitions associated with rehabilitation outcomes; and (3) behaviours associated with rehabilitation outcomes. Injury and performance-related fears, anxiety and confidence were associated with rehabilitation outcomes. There is gender-related, age-related and injury-related bias in the reviewed literature.
Conclusions Psychosocial factors were associated with a range of sports injury rehabilitation outcomes. Practitioners need to recognise that an injured athlete's thoughts, feelings and actions may influence the outcome of rehabilitation