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Polish Telemedicine and eHealth Society tribute to Ryszard Mężyk (1948-2021)
Full text linkThe Polish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth expresses last farewell to Ryszard Mężyk, a colleague and former longtime Treasurer. His cooperation with the Polish Society of Telemedicine and e-Health (formerly the Polish Telemedicine Society), a national member of ISfTeH - International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth, started in 2006. He was a modest and noble person and very valuable and devoted to promoting telemedicine, eHealth, and digital health in his region and throughout Poland. After joining the Association in 2010, he was twice elected and served as the Association's Treasurer. He was honoured successively with the Bronze, Silver, and Gold "Bene Meritus" Badge of the Polish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth. Despite having retired on November 1, 2018, he was still an active member of the Association. 
A dental pre-screening system: usability and user perception
Full text linkBackground: Accessing dental treatment is still a challenge in several countries. In Brazil, there is a deficit in the provision of dental services by the public health system, with an emphasis on specialised treatments. The poorest are most affected and usually have to travel long distances for treatment in other regions, with the associated costs of travel, food, and often the loss of a day's work. Aiming to improve care for this public, the Dental Pre-Screening System (in Portuguese, Sistema de Pré-Triagem Odontológica - STO) was developed, which is responsive (mobile) and aims at remotely pre-screening these patients by an oral health professional. Objective: This pilot study was developed to analyse the system's usability by developers and patients and the subjects' perceptions during the use of the STO through semi-structured interviews. Methods: A convenience sample (35 patients and 10 developers) with a mixed methodology was used to evaluate usability (System Usability Scale) and to measure the user's perception (semi-structured interview) of the components of the Dental Pre-Screening System. Results: The system's overall System Usability Scale (SUS) score was 76.9. Among the patients, Twenty-four patients found the system easy to use, 83% agreed or completely agreed that they would like to use this system frequently" and 83% agreed or strongly agreed that people would learn to use it quickly. Qualitative data suggest that all of the patients would recommend using the system, and the patients' perception of the system was positive and optimistic. However, it is also possible to identify points to be improved, such as changing the calendar format. Conclusions: The results of the SUS and semi-structured interview showed that the Dental Pre-Screening System was well accepted and that it can optimise the face-to-face screening process, reducing unnecessary trips and saving money.
 
The The inclusion of critical thinking in an accounting curriculum: Students’ perceptions
No full textRepeated calls from employers and professional bodies were to include critical thinking in the curriculum of higher education courses. Therefore, researchers should actively engage in developing course material to fill the existing gap to include critical thinking in the curriculum. The purpose of this paper was to explore students’ perceptions with the inclusion of critical thinking in an accounting curriculum that may develop and/or foster students’ critical thinking in a first-year course in accounting studies. Research questions; How will students’ perception of self-evaluation and their concept of critical thinking assist them to acquire or develop critical thinking? and How will Critical Thinking contribute to assist students in their studies? Exploratory research was used in collecting data using on-line questionnaires over two years. The findings reveal positive results and promising perceptions that most students benefitted from the inclusion of critical thinking in the curriculum. The study contributes to students’ preparedness and readiness for the workplace and/or gaining lifelong skills through formal education
Shadow Education in Africa: Private Supplementary Tutoring and its Policy Implications (2021) by Mark Bray
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Trends and challenges of higher education in Nigeria: Fine and applied arts technological literacy
Full text linkThis study explores the trends and challenges of teacher educators in the Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) and the impact on technological literacy. In Nigeria, internet facilities and digital technologies have changed the method of instruction and levels of student involvement in art education. Visual art educators use multimedia software in Nigeria to provide challenging and authentic learning materials that develop the student’s potential and creativity through exploration, discovery and creativity. This study investigates the availability, accessibility and usability of ICT technological tools. Furthermore, it explores the strengths and challenges of pedagogical approaches used in the context of two higher education institutions in Nigeria. In this regard, the study focuses on the trends and challenges of higher education in Nigeria: art, design and technological literacy in perspective. A fundamental technology-based theoretical framework, namely, van Dijk’s (2005) resource and appropriation theory (RAT) formed this study's theoretical framework. The study was conducted at two higher education institutions considered to be the oldest tertiary institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria. It adopts a qualitative research approach, using a multiple case study, purposively selecting participants, comprising twenty student teachers and four lecturers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and classroom observations. The data collected were transcribed, coded and analysed using content analysis to generate relevant themes for discussion. The findings of this research can inform curriculum planners, improve the models for advancing the technological literacy of FAA lecturers and students and can equip lecturers and students to meet the present and future needs of art education in a global society.
Keywords: Fine and Applied Arts (FAA), Technological Literacy, Higher Education Art Education Trends in Art Teacher Education
Including learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Voices of mainstream teachers
Full text linkThe global shift toward inclusive education is in pursuit of creating a more equal and just society. This has lead schools worldwide to experience an increase in the number of learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) entering the general classroom. At the first level of contact, teachers play an important role in the implementation of inclusive education. It is therefore crucial to acknowledge their experiences. Their voices need to be heard as their experiences can contribute to doing justice to the policies on inclusive education. In search of teachers’ subjective experiences, this interpretive qualitative phenomenological research study was framed by a social constructivist paradigm. Participants were purposefully selected from an international school in Cape Town, South Africa. Data was collected through an online open-ended questionnaire, followed by an in-person focus group discussion at the school. The findings indicated that while teachers are in favour of inclusion, they experience many challenges which result in a policy-implementation-gap. 
Trends and insights on multiple intelligences in Islamic schools: A bibliometric analysis
Full text linkThis research aims to explore the potential of multiple intelligences in Islamic schools through bibliometric analysis. The concept of multiple intelligences was developed by Howard Gardner and includes emotional, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, naturalistic, and spatial intelligences in addition to intellectual or logical intelligence. However, education in Islamic schools often only emphasizes academic and spiritual intelligence. Therefore, it is important to explore and analyze information about the application of multiple intelligences in Islamic schools. Bibliometric analysis methods are used to identify trends, patterns, and relationships between publications relevant to the topic of multiple intelligences in Islamic schools. The data source used is the Scopus scientific database. The results show that the concept of multiple intelligences has become a popular topic in educational research in recent decades, but there are not many studies that systematically explore the potential of multiple intelligences in Islamic schools through bibliometric analysis. Network visualization of author and country collaborations shows who frequently collaborates in research and which countries are involved. Keyword network visualization is used to identify the main topics and trends in the research field. Visualization shows that the study of multiple intelligences has shifted from creativity, learning, and assessment towards broader concepts such as inclusive education, Islamic schools, and Islamic education. Qualitative analysis shows that teachers can apply teaching strategies that load multiple intelligences through linguistic and interpersonal intelligence stimulation. They can also develop teaching materials based on multiple intelligences for students that accommodate multiple intelligences
A A systematic review of the literature on change laboratory interventions: Lessons from Africa
No full textChange Laboratories (CL) are formative problem-solving initiatives that have been used extensively in Europe but have only recently been applied in the African context. This review thus offers an original insight into their use and value in the African context. The laboratories are classified into partial, classic or augmented varieties, all of which are shown to assist participants’ learning to work with pressing local problems. Some of the CLs expanded their remit into addressing grand societal challenges, such as sustainable practices and responses to climate change, which are particularly pressing issues in the continent. The findings suggested that CL work in Africa, as well as contributing overall to understanding the efficacy of the CL methodology, may also be taking a leading role in addressing some of the grand challenges affecting societies globally
Prominent discourses in South African education from the perspective of community psychology: Challenges and opportunities for youth liberation and well-being
Full text linkCommunity psychology takes an explicitly political stance by identifying where power lies and how it is exercised in ways that maintain privilege and discrimination against particular groups. From this perspective, we consider the challenges facing school education in South Africa today. Education is positioned as an important site for the liberation and well-being of our country's majority; however, the state of education is marked by persistent inequalities. From a Foucauldian perspective, we conduct a meta-synthesis of school education literature and identify prominent discourses circulating around the country’s basic education sector: the discourses of democracy, human rights, and good governance; rights; development; scarce skills; the crisis in education; and privatisation are discussed. We consider the role of these discourses in wider social processes of legitimation and power in education, and subjective implications for youth. We argue for the role of counter-discourses and a collective emancipatory perspective to advance transformational educational change and embrace the opportunities in the future