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A transformative model of continuing professional development in a day nursery: practitioners’ perspectives on the implementation of symbolic gesturing
Get PDFAbstract This paper reports on the introduction of a transformative model of CPD to implement symbolic gesturing into a day nursery. Drawing on Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning cycle the transformative model was based upon person-centred and co-constructivist approaches to learning to empower practitioners working with children under two years to have autonomy over their learning. Perspectives of the nursery staff about the CPD were captured in narrative semi-structured interviews pre- and post the three months of implementation and from reflective diaries used during this period. Practitioners concluded that the model was effective because it allowed symbolic gesturing to be introduced in a flexible way that could be navigated independently by each practitioner as part of their daily routine rather than as a specific, formal course of instruction requiring formulaic adoption. Findings also indicate that the CPD model had beneficial learning outcomes in both cognitive and affective domains for practitioners and the infants in their care. Limitations of the small-scale study are acknowledged but the study highlights implications for practice and theorising about effective CPD in early years settings. The model could be of interest to researchers and practitioners wishing to develop effective CPD in other day nurseries such as symbolic gesturing or other professional development initiatives. <br/
Women Against Authoritarianism: Women's Agency and Political Protest in Armenia
No full textIn spring 2018, street protests aimed at changing the government of Serzh Sargsyan swept across Armenia. While women and men participated in near equal numbers, for women it was the first time since 2008 that they had entered political spaces previously reserved for men, acting as leading figures of the protest movement, but also strategists, organizers and rank and file protesters. This chapter explores three facets of women’s agency during the protests. First, while some leaders played the ‘female card’ by using gendered ‘instruments of protest’ or by highlighting existing gender inequalities in their speeches, others purposely underplayed gender differences in order to remove the ‘male’ connotations associated with public speaking. Second, some women used their respectability as mothers to challenge the government and, third, some women used their bodies as sites of resistance during the protests. By exploring women’s activism, this chapter adds new insights to the growing literature on women’s agency during political protests in the post-socialist space
The care environment and risk of complications among home enteral tube feeding patients.
No full textEnteral nutrition (EN) refers to feeding patients directly into the gastrointestinal tract via a feeding tube [1]. Gastrointestinal complications including diarrhoea and constipation are common among enteral feeding patients [2,3]. Regular review of these patients is important to reduce the risk of complications and improve patient well-being. This audit aimed to use a standardised tool to describe tube-feeding related complications among home enteral nutrition (HEN) patients
Impacts of COVID-19 on Tourism Education: Analysis and Perspectives
Get PDFThough a lot of studies have analysed the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry and several suggestions have been made to revive the sector, tourism education is largely overlooked. Tourism and cognate courses offered by higher educational institutions are essentially a part of the tourism system. This study aims to emphasize the perspective of tourism educators with respect to upcoming challenges in the tourism discipline and ways to reinvent and reboot the tourism education in the post-COVID-19 phase. The study adopted a qualitative approach and a total of 22 responses were interpreted. A thematic analysis using the Nvivo 12 plus software was done. Even though there was variability in the respondents’ background, a significant emphasis on curriculum design, industry collaboration, and excellence in research was mutually suggested by the educators. The study suggests that ambidextrous management in tourism education be adopted in post-COVID-19 phase. In other words, educators must become adept at the delivery of courses in a variety of modalities that would enable them to cope with the short and medium-term impacts of teaching in a COVID-19 (incremental innovation), while providing by anticipation of future demands (from industry and students), cutting edge curriculum (radical innovation)
Politics of Technology or Technology of Politics?
Get PDFThe Western-based utopian dream of internet-enabled technology was to overcome distance, allow widespread participation, and forge a shared view of core political issues on complex matter such as justice, economy, and the environment. Politics increasingly takes to social media platforms, enlisting them as tools for gauging and influencing public opinion. This is the case for the Rousseau platform in Italy, designed by the popular anti-establishment party in Italy, ‘M5S’ or the Five Star Movement. In reference to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in particular his ‘Social Contract’, it promises to deliver politics more directly to the people by proposing legislation in the online space, allowing members to vote via the platform, educating on and discussing regulations, and more. It aligns well with political utopias envisioned by the internet pioneers. The emancipatory potential and political power that AI brings to these platforms, their political developers, and the membership, is immediately apparent. But is there not a darker side to these technologies, as they become more advanced in gathering and analysing data, making intelligent predictions, and subsequently manipulating cognitive tendencies for the purpose of politics? We discuss some of the critiques and technical functions that may cast reasonable doubt on the participatory ideals, particularly related to relational surveillance as a dystopian issue. This may remind us of the Cambridge Analytica effect; but the influence of AI on these political platforms is not (yet) a criminal offence. Can AI enable the direct democracy which internet pioneers envisioned, or is it actually bringing us the totalitarian nightmare of the ‘Brave New World’? If we harness AI to bring about greater democracy, individual empowerment, and emancipation of societies - this would bring about better worlds. But these tools so easily become corrupt. Is there not a darker side to these technologies, as they become more advanced in surveillance practices, making intelligent predictions, andsubsequently manipulating cognitive tendencies for the purpose of politics
Empirical evaluation of the new Haiti DMO logo: Visual aesthetics, Identity and Communication implications
Get PDFIn 2012, the Ministry of Tourism of Haiti decided to change its Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) logo. By conducting a survey amongst Haitians and non-Haitians, this study took advantage of the change to assess the new logo’s rebranding performance compared to the 1939 DMO logo. Using a Factor Analysis, three attributes were identified: ‘Visual Aesthetics’, ‘Cultural Identity’ and ‘Information about Destination’. Using these attributes as dependent variables, a 2 (Logos) x 2 (Ethnicity) factorial design indicated that ‘Information about Destination’ appeared to be the most poorly rated characteristic, ‘Visual Aesthetics’ in the new Logo was improved albeit its ‘Cultural Identity’ was somewhat compromised. A Conditional process analysis confirmed that both ‘Visual Aesthetics’ and ‘Cultural Identity’ moderated the effect of Logo on ‘Information about Destination’. Although Haitians and non-Haitians exhibited the same general pattern of appreciation, subtle differences were apparent. A pictorial analysis, with emphasis on colour symbolism, offers a possible explanation of the new logo’s weakness in conveying Haiti’s cultural identity. Implications for a DMO logo repositioning are considered