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Transferring knowledge and experiences from informal to formal learning contexts
No full textThe purpose of this track is to analyze problems experienced with the validation of informal learning and to propose alternative approaches. There is a mismatch between the enthusiasm of policy makers and other actors for informal learning initiatives, and the lack of adoption of systems in real workplaces. The use of managerial tools, such as validation and competence catalogues, has demonstrated the danger of constraining the scope for informal learning. We would like to advance and explore other different approaches to achieve the challenge of defining a very transparent framework in which both formal and informal learning are considering as important components of the own person’s knowledge base
A recession-proof Information Literacy strategy
No full textThis presentation will show how librarians at the University of Bolton met the challenge of increasing information literacy competencies throughout the university without additional resources. IL was incorporated into an established successful library service, utilising existing brand awareness, access and marketing channels
Approaches to the teaching and learning of English as an additional language in early years settings.
No full textThe work investigates the approaches to the teaching and learning of English as an additional language in primary education, and, identifies the most appropriate and effective means of achieving this. Appreciating that the ethnic diversity within individual schools may result in a varying range of strategies, the objective was to identify a consistency of approach.Additionally there is an examination of the role of learner support in classrooms, and the strategies employed by schools to develop effective communication with parents. The study is longitudinal in design and tracks a cohort of children from reception to year 2. Data collection draws on the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative paradigms and combines observations of children and staff, interviews with staff and, focus groups with parents. Alongside, are assessments of children, a review of records and policy documents, and an analysis of guidance and literacy strategies. The catalyst for the study came from comments made by practitioners, that parents from different ethnic backgrounds held differing views about how their children should be taught English as an additional language. Added to this, the researcher had observed the increasing numbers of children in local schools from differing language groups, and the concerns expressed by staff about the best way to tackle what at times seemed to be, an overwhelming problem in everyday practice. The one clear aim throughout the study was to throw useful light on effective teaching. Indeed, Evans (2002, p.228) raise the questions, ‘What use is educational research if it does not inform and impact upon what goes on in schools?
Exploring creativity : creativity, cognitive styles and learning styles among engineering and computing students
No full textThe purpose of the study was to understand and describe the level of nonverbal creativity and its relation to cognitive and learning styles of engineering and computing students. This might possibly provide engineering educators with knowledge of the above three factors and their adaptation to teaching and learning. The study was an exploratory-comparative study with one independent variable (engineering versus computing students) and three dependent variables [the Non-Verbal Test of Creative Thinking (Mehdi, 1973), The Group Embedded Figures Test, (Witkin et al, 1971); the Visual, Auditory, Read and Write Kinesthetic VARK Questionnaire , (Fleming, 1992) ]. The study aimed to compare the level of non-verbal creativity and influence of other attributes on the creativity of students of engineering and computing science. Additional aims were to see if there were significant differences in cognitive and learning styles of students from engineering and computing science. Data were collected by administering the three tests to engineering and computing students in three colleges in Bangalore (N=105). Data analysis was conducted using t-test, ANOVA, MANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. Findings indicated that engineering and computer students have above average levels of non-verbal creativity. Engineering students are more field-independent compared to computing students. Computing students are field-dependent in their cognitive style. Engineering and computer students focus more on the kinesthetic learning style. The implications of these findings for the education of engineering and computing students are discussed
Recruiting South Asians into a UK mental health randomised controlled trial: experiences of field researchers
No full textIntroduction:Despite a higher prevalence of mental disorders and poorer outcomes, ethnic minorities have low participation in mental health research in the UK. This restricts the generalisability of results and leads to health inequalities. It is important to identify barriers to recruitment and develop strategies to overcome them.Methods:Field researchers recruiting on the Northwest site of the CRIMSON trial kept research diaries on the recruitment process of the South Asians. Challenges in recruiting them were reflected on by researchers, and effective strategies employed were documented. Diary entries were kept for all participants and those who refused. Thematic analysis was carried out on the diary accounts and common themes documented.Results:There were 46 South Asian servicer users eligible to trial participation. Field researchers were able to approach 32 (70 %) service users and out of these 23 (50 %) were recruited. From these 23 recruited participants, 13 were deemed to have cultural issues requiring researchers to devise strategies beyond the standard recruitment procedures, remaining 10 did not present with any cultural issues. Diary entries for the 13 participants with cultural issues and 9 that refused to participate were available. Thematic analysis resulted in 12 themes with provision of translated materials, availability of interpreters and family involvement emerging as the main themes.Conclusions:The identified barriers and solutions can be used in designing future research. Staff training and strategies can be planned in advance thus pre-empting recruitment shortfalls. This will enhance ethnic participation and help bring down ethnic health disparities
Barriers to recruiting ethnic minorities to mental health research: a systematic review
No full textDisparities in the prevalence of mental illness are widely reported for people from ethnic minorities. Unlike the United States, there is no legislation for clinical research in the UK to mandate the inclusion of ethnic minorities and they are underrepresented in European trials compared with those conducted in the United States. This restricts generalization of research findings.This systematic review of the barriers to the recruitment of ethnic minority participants into psychiatric research is based on a comprehensive literature search. Nine included papers explore such barriers based on the authors’ and participants’ experiences of research. These barriers are mainly categorized as: participant related, practical issues, family/community related, health service related and research process issues.This review provides a compilation of important barriers to recruitment which can facilitate future research. The barriers that were identified are not all unique to participants from ethnic minorities, although the way in which they manifest themselves is often distinct in minority groups. It is important that these barriers are considered when designing research design so that solutions to overcome such obstacles can be incorporated in research protocols from the start and appropriate resources allocated
On David Yezzi
No full textDAVID YEZZI, Birds of the Air (Carnegie Mellon University) US$15.95 The differences between absurd youth and wizened adulthood, between what could have been and what has been, are the great themes of David Yezzi's third collection, Birds of the Air. For Yezzi's speaker in 'Tomorrow & Tomorrow', the significance of dramatic and literary moments is apparent - if at all - only years later. Yet this is not so simple as a real-life break-up while studying Romeo & Juliet, a real-life bear attack while performing The Winter's Tale
Examining the impact of formative assessment strategies (peer and self-assessment) embedded in the initial teacher education course on students’ learning and teaching skills
No full textThis report evaluates the outcomes of a small scale action research that investigated the impact of formative assessment strategies (peer and self-assessment) embedded in the initial teacher education course on pre-service trainee teachers’ learning and teaching skills. The research was conducted with a cohort of students studying on the postgraduate initial teacher education programme (ITE) for lifelong learning sector (PGDE/PDE) at the University of Bolton.The study confirmed the considerable impact of learning cultures on the ways the trainees implemented formative assessment strategies in their practice. If peer and self-assessment were part of the trainees’ delivered curriculum (as in case of the BTEC Performing Arts), the motivation to develop one’s own formative assessment strategies was high. Likewise, if the institution used a particular formative assessment strategy, the trainees were more confident to embrace it. Conversely, if the trainees did not experience any practical application of peer and self-assessment in their teaching institution, they either refused it or considered it inappropriate for their particular subject, regardless of their own experiences with these on the ITE course. This was the case with trainees working with vulnerable and disengaged groups. Equally, it seems that trainees teaching high stakes subjects, such as GCSE English, experienced more controlled teaching and assessment regimes than trainees teaching vocational BTEC courses (Performing Arts). The GCSE English sessions were much more teacher centred with no evidence of peer or self-assessment, though there seems to be a change in the trainees’ attitudes and practice once the GCSE course entered a revision stage.It can therefore be concluded that though the trainees value the positive impact of peer and self-assessment on their own learning, they seem to require much more focused training to apply these to their own classroom practice
Development of flame retardant synthetic fibres using novel technologies
No full textThe dispersion of clays at the nanometer level is known to induce a significant improvement in mechanical properties, flame resistance and barrier properties, compared with pure polymer. Application of ultrasound in polymer processing can be used to improve additive dispersion in polymer melts and solutions but may also initiate chemical reactions and modify the rheological and mechanical properties.This thesis studies the effects of applying ultrasound to the molten fibre-forming polymers, polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) containing nanoclay and flame retardant additives in order to assess whether improved dispersion generates improved flame retardant properties of derived fabrics.Initially, ultrasound was applied to polypropylene during compounding with up to 5 wt% of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as flame retardant and 2 wt% of Nanomer 1.3T (Nanocor Inc) as nanoclay. Two ultrasonic probes were used having a power of 50 W at 10, 30, 50 and 100% amplitude and 100W at amplitudes of 20 and 90%. For polyamide 6, the additive selected as flame retardant was aluminium phosphinate (Al-Phos) (Exolit OP 935, Clariant) and the nanoclays, Nanomer 1.3T and Cloisite 25A (Southern Clay Products, USA). Compounded polymer chips of the various formulations were extruded into filaments and tapes by using the Labline extruder and filaments were knitted into fabrics, where possible. Nanoclay dispersion was studied by optical imaging, scanning electron microscopic and electron dispersive scattering or SEM-EDS imaging in terms of silicon or Si-dot mapping for selected tape sample areas using the Datacell software. This calculated the number of Si dots and hence clay particles within a given area and a reduction in Si dot intensity following ultrasound exposure was taken as a measure of increased dispersion in that dispersed particles at the nanolevel were now no longer visible because they are beyond the resolution of the SEM instrument. Results indicated that the 100 W probe with 90% amplitude (ie 90 W power) showed greatest dispersion, so this power was selected for further study.Flammability of the PP tape samples was studied by limiting oxygen index and a modified UL-94 test. Results showed that, in the case of polypropylene, LOI values of samples containing clay and / or flame retardant were not significantly affected by additive or the presence of ultrasound.However, the modified UL-94 test showed that presence of nanoclay and / or flame retardant decreased burning rate which further decreased with ultrasonification. Knitted fabrics were tested for vertical flame spread using the sample ignition test rig described in BS 5438 and results showed rate of burning and burning drips reduced for the ultrasonificated samples. In the case of PA6, the same 100W ultrasonic probe with 90% amplitude was used in the compounding stage. Of particular note was that the LOI of the PA6/25A(2 wt%)/Al-Phos(5 wt%) sample increased more than others and the same sample showed reduced flammability in the vertical flame spread test. However, quality of the filaments was poor due to the extrusion process and some of the samples failed to extrude using the Labline extruder. Subsequent work used the recently acquired Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) extruder.Based on the above results, PA6 containing 2 wt% of nanoclay and 10 wt% of same flame retardant was used with and without presence of 100 W ultrasonic power at 90% amplitude.Compounded samples were extruded into filaments and tapes and filaments were knitted into fabrics. Properties were characterised as above and the PA6/25A(2%)/AlPhos(10%) sample showed superior performance compared to the others in terms of reduced flammability and this performance was enhanced by ultrasonification during compounding. In order to assess whether chemical degradation had occurred during ultrasonification, the relative viscosity of these samples was measured using a ASTM D 445 Ubbelohde viscometer.The results indicated that chemical degradation is negligible or absent at the probe power used. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the degree of crystalinity and values decreased with the addition of clay and flame retardant and further decreased in samples exposed to ultrasound.To extend this PA6 study, ammonium sulphamate (2.5 wt% AS) and dipentaerythritol (1 wt% DP) were selected as flame retardants and various nanoparticles including fumed silica were added. Samples were compounded and extruded into filaments and knitted into fabrics. Of special note is that the PA6/AS(2.5 wt%)/DP(1 wt%)/25A(2 wt%) combination was found to have superior tensile properties as filaments and significantly reduced flame spread in fabric form.In the final part of the thesis, the effect of ultrasound during compounding on core-sheath bicomponent fibres containing combinations of nanoclays and flame retardants was considered. Results showed that the addition of nanoclay or flame retardant to either the core (C) or sheath (S) of the fibres slightly reduced their tensile modulus and elongation-at-break values with respect to a control PA6-C/PA6-S yarn and there was little improvement observed with the ultrasound-exposed samples. The result of vertical flame spread testing showed that the PA6-C / PA6/25A(2 wt%)/Al-Phos (10 wt%)/90W-S sample was superior to all others in terms of their reduced flammability properties defined as minimal burn time, although its values of burn length, flame spread rate and number of drops were not the lowest values
The impact of a diagnosis of personality disorder on service usage in an adult Community Mental Health Team
No full textPatients with a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) have multiple and diverse needs. It has been noted that individuals with personality disorder are high users of health care resources, especially psychiatric services, ambulance services and emergency departments. In addition PD has been shown to be a significant predictor of disability and mental health consultations independent of Axis I disorders and physical conditions. This study aimed to compare the patterns of service usage, clinical ratings of symptoms and functioning, as well as demographic and clinically relevant historical variables between a group of patients with PD and a random sample of all other patients registered with a South London Community Mental Health Team.A case-control design was used to examine service usage patterns over a one-year period for 73 cases and 96 controls. Diagnoses were established by clinician discussion. Clinical outcomes were measured with Health of the Nation Outcome Scales and Global Assessment of Functioning, while service use was recorded using ten variables obtained from case note review.People with a diagnosis of PD were more often white and had a history of abuse, particularly childhood emotional abuse. They were higher users of some aspects of the service as compared to controls, and had significantly higher severity of symptoms and poorer functioning on clinician-rated measures.This study confirms previous findings that people with PD have more severe symptomatology and greater degrees of functional impairment when compared to those without. Community clinicians should routinely screen attenders to predict likely difficulties that might arise and to make provision for these difficulties in the treatment and management of clients