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Unleashing greatness: a strategy for school improvement
No full textThere is a paradox at the heart of contemporary school improvement and system change in education. Why is it that despite the phenomenal increase in our recent knowledge about what works in schooling, standards still lag behind expectations and school level performance is far too variable? Unleashing Greatness addresses this paradox and concludes that, unless we focus unrelentingly on the quality of teaching in both our small and large-scale reform efforts, current practice will never meet society's expectations.Unleashing Greatness is a compilation of David Hopkins' writing into one concise manual to provide an eight-step strategy for unleashing greatness. Introducing a rational and conceptual framework for pedagogic improvement that has the potential for generating an increasingly specific language for teaching and learning, this book significantly aids consistency and precision in the quest for both excellence and equity for all students.Written for 'school improvement activists', particularly those who work in laboratory schools or who wish to emulate that ethos and way of working, the author himself has located his professional practice for over forty years, as well as this book, in the middle of that triangle bounded by the vertices of practice, research and policy
Examining the role of social media on the rise of radicalism a case study of the Kingdom of Bahrain
No full textThe Arab Spring started as a consequence of developments in Tunisia and spread to many countries including the Kingdom of Bahrain. Radical groups in those countries took advantage of the social problems and the prevailing instability at the time to encourage and empower individuals to fight for their cause. The concept was propagated by radical movements which used the social media to mobilise the masses against their governments. These radical groups saw these uprisings as an opportunity to achieve their aims. Following the emergence of Arab Spring, Bahrain witnessed a steady rise in the violence incited by the radicals. The groups involved initially acted as a peaceful movement but quickly revealed their radical ideology and used social media platforms as one of their tools to achieve their goals. This research explores how social media created a range of opportunities for established radical groups and also assesses the role of social media in promoting radicalism.Accordingly, this thesis aims to evaluate the influence of social media in aggravating the rise of radicalism in Bahrain, especially between 2011 and 2016, which led to the emergence of many radical movements.The thesis also answers questions related to this phenomenon and reviews the theories and literature related to the role social media may have played in spreading radicalism. Besides, it critically assesses the role of international media and radical organisations in destabilising security globally and in Bahrain through social media platforms, examines the impact of social media on public security in Bahrain during 2011-2016, evaluates the steps taken by the Bahrain government to counter the internal and external threats posed by social media to security between 2011 and 2016 and finally measures the impact of de-radicalisation programmes introduced in Bahrain to promote awareness among the Bahraini youth about those who promote radicalism through social media.The research findings would show the reader that the spread of fake news through social media platforms led to a significant escalation in the Bahrain crisis, resulting in a shift in public opinion and international media perception towards fake news. The thesis bridges a gap in the literature relating to the role of international media and radical organisations in destabilising the security globally as well as in Bahrain through social media platforms. The research findings show that social media platforms affected public security in the Kingdom of Bahrain to a great extent. Radical groups in Bahrain have been responsible for 22 deaths and more than 3,500 injuries among police personnel since 2011 beside the destruction of public property. However, the steps taken by the government have helped in limiting the spread of extremism and controlling the incidence of terrorist crimes. In terms of measuring the success of the de-radicalisation programmes, the findings have shown they were successful in achieving their primary goal of educating and strengthening society against the radical threats coming through social media and in educating the youth on the optimal use of social media.This study offers evidence and reference material relating to the basic causes which led to the rise in radical activities in Bahrain between 2011 and 2016, and explores the rationale behind the events of Bahrain in 2011 supported by academic theories. It is expected to help policymakers to formulate a map route to counter any potential threats posed by social media misuse, enhance the youth’s awareness about the effect of social media misuse on Bahrain’s security and promote the government’s awareness initiatives and its response to such actions, backed by empirical results of this research. The research puts together new information by way of a thesis, adding a comprehensive evaluation of the events in Bahrain in 2011 supported by academic theories
Autoethnographies in psychology and mental health New voices
No full textThis autoethnographic volume gathers a multiplicity of different voices in autoethnographic research from across psychology and mental health disciplines to address topics ranging from selfhood, trauma, emotional understanding, clinical psychology, and the experience of grief. Edited by two leading figures, this volume broadens the concept of psychology beyond its conventional, mainstream academic boundaries and challenges pre-conceived and received notions of what constitutes 'psychology' and 'mental health'. This book collects new autoethnographic writers in psychology and mental health from across as diverse a range of disciplines and in doing makes a strong case for the legitimacy of subjectivity, emotionality and lived experience as epistemic and pedagogic resources. The collection also troubles the related concept of 'mental health.' In contemporary times, this is either biomedically over-colonised (welcomed by some but resisted by others), often regarded by lay and professional people alike in terms of an 'ordered or disordered' binary (comforting for some but associated with stigma and othering for others), or, at worst, is reduced to a set of hackneyed memes - the stuff of Breakfast television (well-intentioned and undoubtedly reassuring and helpful for some but patronising and naïve for others). Overall, the volume promotes the subjective and lived-experiential voices of its contributors - the hallmark of autoethnographic writing. Autoethnographies in Psychology and Mental Health will be of interest to psychology and mental health students and professions with an interest in qualitative inquiry as it intersects with autoethnography and mental healt
The civilizing discourse interviews with Canadian poets
No full text“If I can impart one final message, beyond the usual declarative to read poetry and buy poetry books,” writes Evan Jones in his introduction to The Civilizing Discourse, “it is to listen to poets. The real ones offer wisdom and a perspective at odds with prevalent visions.”In a series of passionate, enlightening, frank, engaging, and sometimes astonishing conversations, thirteen poets—many acknowledged masters—open up about their writing processes, their childhoods and marriages, their regrets, as well as their hopes for and frustration with poetry. From Norm Sibum describing his affinity with a waitresses and cabbies to Nyla Matuk’s wrenching investigations into the Palestinian side of her family; from Don Coles’s obsession with alternative universes to Robyn Sarah’s praise for discarded things; from Elise Partridge describing her shift in priorities after a cancer diagnosis to Steven Heighton’s interest in remaining childlike, The Civilizing Discourse is not only a highly readable record of the literary scene today, but, in its celebration of language, will appeal to poetry readers and poets alike.Poets included: Daryl Hine, Norm Sibum, Marius Kociejowski, Don Coles, Elise Partridge, Steven Heighton, Robyn Sarah, A.F. Moritz, Robert Bringhurst, Anne Compton, Nyla Matuk, Iman Mersa
Games-based learning in Business Management Programmes – a reflective analysis of students’ experience.
No full textGames-based learning constitutes integrating games into learning experiences to create effective learning environments by applying some common characteristics which improve intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Using an exploratory study design and reflexive thematic analysis, this paper shares insights from a research study conducted between September 2021-April 2023, to co-evaluate the effectiveness of a co-created games-based learning application, for formative assessment of learning on a business undergraduate programme. Potential benefits of games-based learning in higher education institutions (HEI) include introduction of a structured rewards system and goals in a fun and focused way into learning that can act as a powerful motivator to enhance engagement and promote participative interaction It offers an alternative opportunity to HEIs to redefine learner experience by re-evaluating contemporary pedagogies.Findings from this study indicate, application of games-based learning as a pedagogical intervention, can improve learning experience of students on business management programmes by allowing students to take ownership of learning. The co-created application piloted in this study, helped students to recall contents learned and track their performance through instant feedback received upon completion of a game. It also supported students in identifying weaknesses in their grasp of knowledge related to particular topics within a module and motivated them to work on areas of improvements. A key challenge identified by the students was expectation of a variety of games within GBL approaches to keep intrinsically motivated to use such applications for learning
Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis for medical inpatients: decision analysis modelling study
No full textObjective To determine the balance of costs, risks, and benefits for different thromboprophylaxis strategies for medical patients during hospital admission.Design Decision analysis modelling study.Setting NHS hospitals in England.Population Eligible adult medical inpatients, excluding patients in critical care and pregnant women.Interventions Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis (low molecular weight heparin) for all medical inpatients, thromboprophylaxis for none, and thromboprophylaxis given to higher risk inpatients according to risk assessment models (Padua, Caprini, IMPROVE, Intermountain, Kucher, Geneva, and Rothberg) previously validated in medical cohorts.Main outcome measures Lifetime costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Costs were assessed from the perspective of the NHS and Personal Social Services in England. Other outcomes assessed were incidence and treatment of venous thromboembolism, major bleeds including intracranial haemorrhage, chronic thromboembolic complications, and overall survival.Results Offering thromboprophylaxis to all medical inpatients had a high probability (>99%) of being the most cost effective strategy (at a threshold of £20 000 (€23 440; $25 270) per QALY) in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, when applying performance data from the Padua risk assessment model, which was typical of that observed across several risk assessment models in a medical inpatient cohort. Thromboprophylaxis for all medical inpatients was estimated to result in 0.0552 additional QALYs (95% credible interval 0.0209 to 0.1111) while generating cost savings of £28.44 (−£47 to £105) compared with thromboprophylaxis for none. No other risk assessment model was more cost effective than thromboprophylaxis for all medical inpatients when assessed in deterministic analysis. Risk based thromboprophylaxis was found to have a high (76.6%) probability of being the most cost effective strategy only when assuming a risk assessment model with very high sensitivity is available (sensitivity 99.9% and specificity 23.7% v base case sensitivity 49.3% and specificity 73.0%).Conclusions Offering pharmacological thromboprophylaxis to all eligible medical inpatients appears to be the most cost effective strategy. To be cost effective, any risk assessment model would need to have a very high sensitivity resulting in widespread thromboprophylaxis in all patients except those at the very lowest risk, who could potentially avoid prophylactic anticoagulation during their hospital stay
A Private Function: Independent Providers of Vocational Education and Training in Post-War England
No full textThis paper focuses on independent training providers (ITPs) - in other words, private companies - as suppliers of vocational education and training in post-war England. Whilst acknowledging the central role of further education (FE) colleges in delivering vocational learning, it draws attention to a large, diverse sector of ITPs operating alongside FE colleges, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. Data suggest that around 15-20% of vocational learners were enrolled as fee-paying customers with private providers at that time - a figure broadly similar to today. There are, it is argued, three related reasons for this. First, the post-war policy environment, and the varied and uneven nature of colleges at that time, allowed significant room for ITPs to operate as alternative providers of vocational education. Second, the far-reaching 'efficiency' gains required since FE colleges left local authority control have largely attenuated the space in which ITPs previously operated. Third, neoliberal assumptions about the superiority of private enterprise mean that ITPs now receive significant funding from the state, largely to deliver Apprenticeships and other programmes of work-related learning - which has, somewhat perversely, reduced the incentive for them to act as bone fide commercial providers of a broader range of vocational learning
Suicide risk assessment and prevention tools in the UK: current landscape and future directions
No full textSuicide is a major global public health problem, with profound implications for individuals, families, and communities. In the United Kingdom (UK), despite efforts to detect and manage suicidal ideas, suicide rates persist, especially among middle-aged men and women, particularly those aged 45 to 54 years. Recent global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflict, and the environmental crisis, have raised concerns about an increase in suicide rates, particularly among young people. As a result, a population-wide preventive approach based on evidence is imperative to mitigate the projected increase in suicides. To evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention strategies, there is a need for an objective and universally accepted risk assessment approach that does not currently exist. This review examines the current landscape of suicide prevention in the United Kingdom and evaluates the strengths and limitations of existing suicide risk assessments tools. The current suicide prevention tools used, including machine learning and mobile applications are discussed. Also, the epidemiological trends in the various regions of the UK, risk factors including age, sex, and socio-economic status are assessed to provide context. Through this discourse, we hope to provide valuable insight for clinicians, researchers, and policy makers about the current landscape of suicide, especially within the United Kingdom, while presenting recommendations regarding areas that require further research and improvement. Accordingly, suicide prevention is and will continue to be a major focus of both the national health service and research in the UK in the strive to reduce the rate of suicide across all regions. Indeed, headways have been made in the use of technology in preventing suicide both locally and globally. However, research should in the future investigate the value of personalized interventions tailored to the various risk factors of suicide and based on appropriate screening and assessment tools
A framework for leveraging the incorporation of AI, BIM, and IoT to achieve smart sustainable cities
No full textThis study investigates the significance of leveraging the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modeling (BIM), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to Achieve smart sustainable cities. Understanding their applications for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) projects.The study encompasses three key dimensions: Design Optimization and Performance Simulation, Material and Life Cycle Sustainability, and Operational Efficiency and Environmental Impact. By leveraging BIM and AI, the research explores the integration of renewable energy, sustainable material selection, and smart building controls. BIM and AI experts were given a structured questionnaire, which was then analysed using SPSS. Descriptive and correlation analyses reveal significant positive correlations between energy efficiency and design visualization, construction sustainability visualization, as well as adaptability and education through visualization. The proposed framework deepens the capabilities of the combination of different technologies towards Smart Sustainable Cities.This work not only contributes theoretical insights to the field but also provides practical implications for industry professionals striving to enhance sustainable practices in AEC projects. Further studies to encourage a combination of other recent technologies to improve smart sustainable cities' performance
Innovative solutions to improve cities’ air quality through AI-based applications in contribution to sustainable development A case study of the Emirate of Ajman, UAE
No full textThis study investigates the potential for artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems to improveair quality in smart cities towards sustainable development. To achieve this aim, the studydevelops a systematic literature review (SLR)-backed conceptual framework, empiricallyevaluates the perception of Ajman residents based on this framework and develops a novelAI-based solution capable of monitoring and controlling air quality for smart cities based ondata from seven selected environmental stations across the Ajman Emirate. A positivistworldview is considered in a multi-method quantitative methodological orientationinvolving a survey and AI experiment to test the SLR-backed framework. The studyconsiders a case study of seven neighbourhoods within the Ajman Emirate; these includeAjman Industrial Area 1 (Al Sinaiyah 1), Al Jerf / Jurf Industrial Area 1, Masfout (Allsuburbs), Al Bustan (Liwarah 1), Manama (All suburbs), Mushairif and Hamadiyah. Theseneighbourhoods harbour approximately 20% of the Ajman population to the tune of 100,918residents. Whilst a sample of 383 residents is considered generalisable based on Slovin’sformula, this sample was adjusted for non-response, and an equal quota was allocated toeach of the neighbourhoods. For the experiment, an air quality monitoring station wasmounted in each of the neighbourhoods to gather data on SO2, O3, NO, CO, PM2.5, andPM10 from 2017 to 2023. Upon a critical analysis of 455 papers in support of the conceptualframework, key gaps were identified in the degree to which AI has been observed as a toolto monitor and control air quality in dedicated smart city contexts. An even more acute gapwas observed in the number of studies that consider SDG goals to benchmark AI-air qualityresearch. Survey evidence supports the impact of meteorological factors and populationgrowth on air pollution, the impact of climate change and AI on air quality, and the impactof AI and air quality on sustainable development. The moderating role of AI on air qualityand SDG outcomes was not statistically significant in the test for the role of smart city in themodel. AI experiment results also reveal that pollutant trends exist in seasonal patterns withhigh correlations between them. Evidence also shows that SO2 is more dominant and thatthe Al Jurf station has the highest levels of air pollution. As part of the AI experiment, theartificial neural network (ANN) tool evolved as the optimal tool for air quality monitoringand control based on the collated data. Following evidence from these three phases, datavalidation is critically discussed in the areas of conceptual model specification, modelverification, and model validation. The present study makes an immense contribution toknowledge as it is one of the first of its kind to consider AI for air quality monitoring andcontrol towards SDG air quality goals. A unique contribution to knowledge also exists as itdraws in the smart city context and employs an innovative methodology which includes anSLR, survey research, and AI experimentation. It is recommended that such future researchconsider traffic data, residents’ perceptions, and a case study of Al Jurf in the Emirate ofAjman in an investigation into the use of ANN to improve smart city transportation throughair quality monitoring and control in contribution to sustainable development