4582 research outputs found
Sort by
Reviewing approaches and perspectives on "digital literacy"
No full textThis paper explores the purchase and usefulness of the notion of digital literacy. Comparing and contrasting theoretical formulations of digital literacy from the “top-down” and “bottom-up”, it reviews how the concept has been used across three research fields in Europe and Australia. An introductory section situates the ways in which digital literacy offers itself as a mean of empowerment in the tradition of the “new literacy studies” but at the same time exposes contradictions in terms of access and power. The first domain explored is media discourse, and this section of the paper examines ideas which have been circulating in Australia since the early 1990s about the need for children to become digitally literate. The second section examines how the concept of digital literacy has developed over the last decade in the domain of school policy, curriculum documents and practices in Norway; and the third section reviews transnational research to explore how the term digital literacy is used in the domain of children's and youth's out-of-school cultural digital practices. We argue that the term “digital literacy” incorporates more notions of exclusion and division than is commonly supposed, and that it exposes the contradictory politics of literacy education in new and provocative ways.
What are our boundaries and where can we play? : perspectives from eight- to ten-year-old Australian metropolitan and rural children
No full textThis study took place in an inner metropolitan Adelaide school and a rural school on Kangaroo Island off the South Australian coast. We compare 33 eight‐ to 10‐year‐old children’s accounts of what the area is like for them. What are the rules and boundaries and who sets them? Metropolitan children were found to have tighter boundaries and required adult supervision to use facilities that rural children could use unsupervised. Rural children negotiated freedom of movement by considering broad principles about safety. Findings increase our understanding of how children perceive movement within their communities, and suggest policies and environmental changes to increase freedom of movement. Study findings raise concerns about the way the environment is designed for social planning, and the importance of children’s engagement and interaction with the natural environment.
Upper airway reconstructive surgery long-term quality-of-life outcomes compared with CPAP for adult obstructive sleep apnea
No full textOBJECTIVE: To measure long-term quality-of-fife (QOL) improvement following contemporary multilevel upper airway reconstruction surgery, compared with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Secondary aims were to investigate factors determining clinical effectiveness and QOL impact of reported side effects.
DESIGN: Cohort Study.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Consecutive, simultaneously treated adult patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) having upper airway surgery (N = 77) or CPAP (N = 89) therapy were Studied by questionnaire. Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), change in snoring status and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Subjective CPAP compliance, and side effects in both groups were measured at mean +/- SEM 44.12 +/- 5.78 months (3.68 +/- 0.48 years) after commencement of therapy.
RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between Surgical Outcomes for GBI, snoring, or ESS and CPAP controls. Multivariate analysis showed reduction in Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) predicted postoperative snoring and ESS, but not GBI outcomes. Snoring control and GBI were related to CPAP compliance (P < 0.001). CPAP side effects (reported in 26%) significantly reduced the QOL benefit of treatment, independent of compliance. Surgical complications (occurring in 44%) did not affect QOL treatment benefit.
CONCLUSION: Patients with poor CPAP compliance and/or significant side effects of CPAP therapy (45% of cases in this series) should be evaluated for contemporary upper airway reconstructive surgery
Determining policy-relevant formats for the presentation of falls research evidence
No full textObjectives
Population modelling holds considerable promise for identifying the most efficient and cost-effective falls prevention measures, but the outcomes need to be in a readily useable form. This paper describes an iterative, collaborative process undertaken by researchers and falls prevention policy officers to develop such a format for falls prevention intervention evidence.
Methods
The researchers developed a draft template that underwent several iterations and improvements, through three collaborative consultations with policy officers.
Results
Although the researchers initially identified many key information needs, active engagement with policy officers ensured that policy requirements were met and that the value of the reporting formats for policy decision-making was maximised. Importantly, they highlighted the need to articulate underlying modelling assumptions clearly. The resulting formats, with complete data, were given to policy officers to inform their local jurisdictional policy decisions.
Conclusions
There is strong benefit in researchers and policy officers collaborating to develop optimal formats for presenting scientific evidence to inform policy decisions. Such a process can reduce concerns of researchers that evidence is not incorporated into policy decisions. They also meet policy officers’ needs for evidence to be provided in a way that can directly inform their decision-making processes.
