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Thinking through the lens of dialogical self, I positions and intersectionality for exploring how Hungarian kindergarten pedagogues experienced the new Curriculum Framework
Get PDFIn 2018 a new, more inclusive concept, of preschool education was adopted in Serbia with plans to implement the change from September 2019 to 2022. This paper examines how the national reform in Early Childhood Education (ECE) was perceived by Hungarian kindergarten pedagogues, who are the largest ethnic minority group in Vojvodina, Serbia. To consider the possible impact this change has on both kindergarten pedagogues and children the research aims were to explore, and to increase scholarly awareness of, potential issues Hungarian ethnic kindergarten pedagogues are facing in their understanding of the new approach. Narratives from Hungarian kindergarten pedagogues who were working with preschool age children were collected. To illuminate different understandings, we propose to apply dialogical self, I positions and intersectionality as a fruitful approach for analysing personal and cultural positioning. Findings show uncertainty, resistance, and sentient ways educators interpret the new programme. Findings also demonstrated many kindergarten pedagogues applied a reflexive method of professional practice that remained unchanged for decades. It was demonstrated that in the professional context, the interactions between different selves, and intersection between different cultures contribute to different positions, and storylines, cumulatively resulting in new we and they positioning. Our recommendation is that further opportunities need to be developed to advance the kindergarten pedagogues’ competencies how to deal with change
Health education in conservatoires: what should it consist of? Findings from workshops with experts (Part II)
Get PDFAlthough health education programmes have been implemented in higher music education (HME) and their evaluations published in peer-reviewed journals, guidelines as to what ought to be included in these programmes are still missing. This study aimed to document expert discussions on the content of an ideal health education curriculum for HME students in the
UK, integrating critical thinking. Four interdisciplinary workshops were conducted, where 67 experts in relevant fields took part, and were asked to discuss four lists of topics and concepts created based on literature reviews (cognitive biases, logical fallacies, critical appraisal tools, and health topics). Only the list on health topics is relevant here. Notes taken by the participants and ourselves were thematically analysed. Four themes were identified, two of which are reported in this paper: 1) The health education curriculum; and 2) A settings-based approach to health. Part I of this project (published elsewhere) is focused on the critical thinking content of health education for conservatoire students. The present paper focuses on the ideal health education curriculum and its implications for the wider context of health promotion
Heritage in DMOs Branding Strategies
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussion and debate, and to draw attention to the extent that ‘heritage’ is used as a branding strategy in Caribbean destinations’ logo designs. A visual methodology was used to analyse the logo designs of 21 Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) member countries representing the English, French, Spanish and Dutch speaking Caribbean. The branding strategies of each destination were analysed, compared and contrasted. The analysis found that member countries of the CTO mainly used a neutral branding strategy in their logos. 52% of the DMO logos analysed adopted a neutral position in their branding strategy. 38% of DMOs have based their branding on heritage and 10% on sun-and-sea
The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review
Get PDFHeart rate variability (HRV) is a psychophysiological measure of particular interest in esports due to its potential to monitor player self-regulation. This study aimed to systematically review the utilisation of HRV in esports. Consideration was given to the methodological and theoretical underpinnings of previous works to provide recommendations for future research. The protocol was made available on the Open Science Framework. Inclusion criteria were empirical studies, examining HRV in esports, using esports players, published in English. Exclusion criteria were non-peer-reviewed studies, populations with pre-existing clinical illness other than Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), opinion pieces or review papers. In November 2022 a search of Web of Science, PubMed and EBSCOHost identified seven studies using HRV in esports. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Narrative review identified two primary uses of HRV, investigating stress response and IGD in esports. A lack of theoretical and methodological underpinning was identified as a major limitation of current literature. Further investigation is necessary before making recommendations regarding the use of HRV in esports. Future research should employ sound theoretical underpinning such as the use of vagally mediated HRV and the robust application of supporting methodological guidelines when investigating HRV in esports
Improving attitudes towards adders (Vipera berus) and nature connectedness in primary‐age group children
Get PDFAdder ( Vipera berus ) populations are experiencing declines in many countries, including the United Kingdom. Perceptions of adders and other venomous snakes are generally negative, making conservation of these species a challenge, and persecution remains within the top five perceived causes for adder declines in the United Kingdom. Improved understanding and attitudes are needed to support current conservation efforts. However, ensuring these positive attitudes continue into the future relies on addressing children's loss of connection to nature, and intervention at this early attitude‐formation stage can be crucial for traditionally ‘unpopular’ species, such as snakes. An adder‐focussed public engagement project, Adders are Amazing !, was carried out in Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom, in 2018–19 to improve understanding and attitudes towards adders using a blended science‐creative arts approach. The project included half‐day primary school‐based workshops to inform 111 pupils aged 8–11 about adder ecology, alongside creative art experiences. Questionnaires were used to measure the children's attitudes towards adders and their nature connectedness both before and after the workshops and these were compared with equivalent questionnaires carried out at a control school (57 pupils) where no workshops were conducted. The project demonstrated that engagement that blends both art and science can significantly change attitudes towards adders without any direct contact with the animals themselves; specifically, participants' scores for ‘Wonder’, ‘Learning Interest’ and ‘Conservation Concern’ increased. The workshops also significantly increased measures of the children's general connectedness to nature (specifically, ‘Enjoyment of Nature’ and ‘Responsibility for Nature’). We recommend conservation bodies focus on, and not shy away from, so‐called ‘unpopular’ species, to promote understanding and acceptance of these species and support their conservation. Blended arts–science initiatives, which can be easily adapted to suit a wide range of species and the artistic practices of local communities, are an effective way to achieve this. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog
Paradigm Shift in Qualitative Inquiry: Impact of Higher Education on students studying Early Childhood Studies (ECS) Degree in SE England and Isle of Wight
Get PDFEarly Childhood Education and Care in England is provided for young children between the ages of birth to five years. Over the past fifteen years successive government policy has focussed on professional qualifications for those who care for young children, and the impact these have on children’s development and learning. This presentation focuses on the findings of two research projects. One was funded by the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network and one was funded by the University of Chichester. Both projects explored perspectives of: a new undergraduate degree pathway which included the study of the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (ECGPCs); and, the impact of Higher Education on students studying the Early Childhood Studies (ECS) degree programmes. Previous research has already highlighted the benefits of a graduate workforce and its impact on the provision of high-quality education and care which achieves the best outcomes for young children. However, there has been limited appetite for policy makers to reflect the wider need for graduates in non-compulsory provision. Policy mandates that a level 3 vocational accreditation (equivalent to high- school leaving certificates/qualifications) is sufficient to work with young children (DfE, 2021), which contrasts with other age phases of education where a graduate level qualification is required (Mikuska, 2021)
Topical Imiquimod in primary Cutaneous Extramammary Paget’s Disease: a systematic review
Get PDFSimple Summary: The main treatment for extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is still surgery, but this neoplasm usually spreads beyond the clinical surroundings of the lesion, and achieving histopathologically free margins can be challenging and requires mutilating surgery. Moreover, the recurrence rate of the disease is high, reflecting its multifocal nature. Topical immunotherapy could be an alternative treatment for EMPD. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of topical imiquimod in the clinical response of EMPD patients and to describe the management of topical imiquimod in EMPD. Learning about non-surgical treatments such as topical imiquimod can help clinicians manage EMPD and find a balance between disease resolution and treatment morbidity. Abstract: Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is subclinical in extent and multifocal in nature. There is no global consensus for treatment, so its management represents a challenge in clinical practice. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review through the main electronic databases to assess the effectiveness of topical imiquimod in cutaneous EMPD and to discuss its management. Finally, 24 studies involving a total of 233 EMPD patients treated with topical imiquimod were selected. The topical imiquimod response rate was 67%, and the complete response (CR) rate was 48%. Patients were treated with a three–four times a week regimen in most cases, ranging between 2 to 52 weeks. In addition, imiquimod was applied as an adjunctive treatment in 21 patients, achieving a CR rate of 71%. Consequently, imiquimod therapy could achieve a good response ratio as a first-line treatment, as adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy, and as a treatment for recurrent disease. The heterogeneity between studies and the lack of a control arm made it impossible to conduct a meta-analysis. To improve the quality of evidence on EMPD, multicenter studies are essential to collect a larger number of patients and, consequently, obtain high-quality evidence to standardize treatment. The Prospero registration number is CRD42023447443
Rev. of Image of a Man A. BELSEY, Liverpool University Press, 2020, 262 pp., £90.00, (Hardback), ISBN 9781789620290
No full textA process-based analysis of cognitive defusion in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Get PDFCognitive defusion is among the main components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a contextual behavioral approach to psychotherapy. Defusion serves as a middle-level term, and, as such, may be useful for applying and disseminating behavior science, despite its lower precision. However, some authors argue that for middle-level terms in psychotherapy to be useful to clinicians, they need to be clearly linked to basic behavioral concepts, with higher precision; and that this is not currently the case with defusion. Our objective is to increase the pragmatic utility of the concept of “cognitive defusion” by providing a more nuanced, multi-faceted and process-based definition of the term. In order to do this, we surveyed the ACT literature regarding defusion and critically examined it through the lens of conceptual analysis. This culminated in a revised and updated conceptualization of defusion in terms of its relationship to basic behavioral concepts, in which defusion is an outcome that may be achieved through different processes
Agreement in Squat Jump Force-Time Characteristics Between Smith Machine and Free-Weight Squat Jump Force-Time Characteristics
Get PDFKotani, Y, Lake, J, Guppy, SN, Poon, W, Nosaka, K, and Haff, GG. Agreement in squat jump force-time characteristics between Smith machine and free-weight squat jump force-time characteristics. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2023-The purpose of this study was to determine whether squat jump (SJ) force-velocity (FV) and load-velocity (LV) profiles created using free-weights agree with profiles created with a Smith machine. Fifteen resistance-trained male subjects (age = 26.4 ± 2.5 years; height = 1.75 ± 0.09 m; body mass = 82.6 ± 13.4 kg) participated in this study. All subjects completed 2 familiarization and 2 experimental sessions using both the Smith machine and free-weight SJs each separated by 48 hours. During the experimental trials, progressively loaded SJs were performed in a quasi-randomized block order with loads between 21 kg and 100% of the subject's body mass. Agreement between exercise mode was determined with a weighted least products regression analysis. No fixed or proportional bias was noted between exercise modes when using peak velocity (PV) and mean velocity (MV) to create an FV profile. There was no fixed and proportional bias present for the LV profile when the profile was created with PV. When the LV profile was calculated from MV, fixed and proportional bias were present, indicating that MVs were significantly different between exercise modes. In addition, the free-weight FV and LV profiles exhibited poor to good relative and good to poor absolute reliability. Furthermore, when created using the Smith machine, both profiles exhibited poor to moderate relative and absolute reliability. Based on these data, caution should be used when interpreting LV and FV profiles created with these 2 methods