How Do Pre-Service Teachers Understand and Experience Participation in Teacher Education?

Teacher education (TED) alone cannot save democracy, but it can prepare teachers to teach their pupils about, for and through democracy. One of the crucial preconditions for teachers who work in a democratic society is the ability to foster pre-service teachers’ participation in their education. Research in this field is limited and our contribution is timely and significant in a Norwegian context. This study explores Norwegian second-year pre-service teachers’ understanding and experiences of democratic participation in the planning of seminar activities during one of the courses in their TED. Throughout the semester, the pre-service teachers evaluated seminar activities and suggested activities for the next seminars. At the end of the course, the pre-service teachers wrote reflection notes in which they expressed their understanding of participation in general and described their experiences participating in planning seminars. Thus, this study is based on the thematic analysis of 38 reflection notes. The results of this study demonstrate that students understand participation as an influence on seminar content and illustrate that their experiences of participation led to a feeling of being valued. Further, participation is possible only when teacher educators take the initiative and pre-service teachers themselves are willing to engage in decision making.publishedVersio

Non-formal citizenship education in Cape Town : struggling to learn or learning to struggle?

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.In the past, non formal education in South Africa was committed to supporting the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) in opposition to apartheid. Such non-formal political education was concerned with education for democracy, that is, preparing people for democracy. Post 1994, adult education policy has focused on vocational training, which has shifted the focus away from education for social purpose. My concern was that democracy is a process and a system that constantly needs to be nurtured. This requires citizens that know their constitutional rights and responsibilities, and how to put them into action. In view of this, I decided to enquire what kind of education exists that aims to build civil society by promoting social justice and social reconstruction in the new democracy. My research critically investigated and analysed the political education programmes in three organisations in Cape Town, Western Cape: an NGO, a trade union congress and a social movement registered as an NGO. They focused on supporting the efforts of people who are unemployed (Alternative Information and Development Centre), shop stewards (Congress of South African Trade Unions) and HIV positive people (Treatment Action Campaign). These programmes aimed to develop an „active. and „critical thinking. new layer of „leadership.. This thesis explores how participants in three organisations understand their roles and identities as participants, activists and as citizens; the spaces and dynamics through which they engage and participate to express their interests, the learning that happens in these spaces through education and collective action, and the participants. relationship to issues of democracy, participation, rights and accountability. This qualitative study employed a case study methodology. It used observation, document review and semi-structured interviews to gather data. The study used concepts drawn from citizenship education and popular education to analyse data. The education offered by these three organisations was popular education in theory, but not always popular education in practice. The participants started: acquiring knowledge and skills for campaigning: learning about the constitution; seeing that the personal is political; becoming more active; showing signs of critical thinking; evidencing active emancipation; and evidencing signs of critical emancipation. Due to a compromised facilitation process, my recommendations are that the facilitators start: putting process in focus; avoiding banking education; making follow-ups of report backs a priority; putting a sexist free education environment in focus; eradicating intimidating facilitator behaviour; and developing practical material. My study has shown that critical citizenship education, which raises participants. awareness about injustice and oppression, can help them voice their most immediate felt needs through solidarity and action

Skoleovertakelse som praksisform

Skoleovertakelse er en velkjent praksisform både i norsk grunnskolelærerutdanning og i praktisk pedagogisk utdanning, men ikke i praktisk pedagogisk utdanning for yrkesfaglærere. Det finnes lite forskning hverken nasjonalt eller internasjonalt på skoleovertakelse i lærerutdanninger. Derfor er vårt eksperiment om hvorvidt skoleovertakelse kan brukes som praksisform i praktisk pedagogisk utdanning for yrkesfaglærere betimelig. Som faglærere ønsket vi å tilføre praktisk pedagogisk utdanning for yrkesfag, en sterk yrkesdidaktisk tilknytning. Vi antok at en skoleovertakelse ville ligge nær opp til den yrkesdidaktiske konteksten studentene ville møte i sitt fremtidige yrke som lærere i videregående skole. Forskningsspørsmålet er: Hva er lærerstudenters perspektiver på skoleovertakelse i praktisk pedagogisk utdanning for yrkesfag? De kvalitative dataene fra to refleksjonsgrupper og ett fokusgruppeintervju ble analysert gjennom innholdsanalyse. Banduras konsept om «self-efficacy» (mestringstro) blir brukt som teoretisk rammeverk i analysen og diskusjonen av datamaterialet. Resultatene fra en undersøkelse i SurveyXact indikerer hvordan studenter opplevde skoleovertakelsen. Sentrale funn er at studentene, på tross av forvirring i starten, opplevde økt autonomi og vekt på egne erfaringer. Til slutt, foreslår vi forbedringer til skoleovertakelsen som praksisform i praktisk pedagogisk utdanning for yrkesfaglærere

The importance of microbiota and terrestrial inflows in controlling seston C:N:P:O:Si:Ca:Mn:Mg:Fe:K:Na:Cl:S:Cu:Zn stoichiometry of a deep coastal fjord

Comprehensive fjord-systems represent major extensions of the coastline and are therefore important transfer zones of materials from land to ocean. Despite increased terrestrial inflows to fjords due to climate changes, we know little about the effects on the ecosystem, especially biogeochemical cycling. We present novel data on spatiotemporal variations of seston multielement stoichiometry in the Sognefjord, the second longest (204 km) and deepest (1308 m) fjord in the world, relative to environmental conditions and microbiota. Concentration of major elements was highest in the upper brackish layer whereas trace metals and minor elements were highest close to the bottom. Seasonally varying microbiota was an important part of the seston in surface waters. None of the seston C:N:P (molar) annual means at specific depths corresponded to the Redfield ratio (106:16:1). At 5 m, annual means of N/P and C/N were 8.4 and 6.5, respectively, while at depth (50–1220 m) N/P were on scale 3 times higher (21–31) and C/N 3 times lower (1.6–2.6), suggesting alternative N-sequestration mechanisms. Overall, correlations between C-Ca and C-S indicate a strong influence from calcite (CaCO3) and organosulfur producing microorganisms, while correlations between particulate Si and Mg–K–Ca–O at depth are consistent with clay and sinking diatom frustules. Mn concentrations increased strongly towards the bottom, likely from resuspension of MnO2 rich sediments and clay particles. Based on seston concentrations, we arrived at the following stoichiometric relationship: C55N16P1Si3.6Ca3.4O16Fe0.74Mn0.51Zn0.33S0.21Cu0.08Cl1.7Na0.68Mg0.71K0.37, although rarely measured, such information is a prerequisite for evaluating environmental impact on coastal ecosystems, biogeochemical cycling, pollution risk analysis and monitoring guidelines.publishedVersio

Comparing EPA production and fatty acid profiles of three Phaeodactylum tricornutum strains under western Norwegian climate conditions

Microalgae could provide a sustainable alternative to fish oil as a source for the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However, growing microalgae on a large-scale is still more cost-intensive than fish oil production, and outdoor productivities vary greatly with reactor type, geographic location, climate conditions and microalgae species or even strains. The diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum has been intensively investigated for its potential in large-scale production, due to its robustness and comparatively high growth rates and EPA content. Yet, most research have been performed in southern countries and with a single commercial P. tricornutum strain, while information about productivities at higher latitudes and of local strains is scarce. We examined the potential of the climate conditions in Bergen, western Norway for outdoor cultivation of P. tricornutum in flat panel photobioreactors and cultivated three different strains simultaneously, one commercial strain from Spain (Fito) and two local isolates (M28 and B58), to assess and compare their biomass and EPA productivities, and fatty acid (FA) profiles. The three strains possessed similar biomass productivities (average volumetric productivities of 0.20, 0.18, and 0.21 g L− 1 d− 1), that were lower compared to productivities reported from southern latitudes. However, EPA productivities differed between the strains (average volumetric productivities of 9.8, 5.7 and 6.9 mg L− 1 d− 1), due to differing EPA contents (average of 4.4, 3.2 and 3.1% of dry weight), and were comparable to results from Italy. The EPA content of strain Fito of 4.4% is higher than earlier reported for P. tricornutum (2.6–3.1%) and was only apparent under outdoor conditions. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the relative FA composition revealed strain-specific profiles. However, including data from laboratory experiments, revealed more significant differences between outdoor and laboratory-grown cultures than between the strains, and higher EPA contents in outdoor grown cultures.publishedVersio

Innspill til høring - Forslag til program for konsekvensutredning for mineralvirksomhet på norsk sokkel

Rapporten er et høringssvar sendt til Olje- og Energidepartementet i forbindelse med et forslag til konsekvensutredningsprogram for mineralvirksomhet på norsk kontinentalsokkel. I høringssvaret påpeker Havforskningsinstituttet at det er stor mangel på kunnskap, både med hensyn til biomangfold og økologiske forhold, men også når det gjelder teknologien som vil anvendes for utvinning av mineraler og metaller på havbunnen. Denne kunnskapsmangelen representerer en usikkerhet som bør synliggjøres i konsekvensutredningen, blant annet gjennom en risikoanalyse. Havforskningsinstituttet påpeker også at ulike initiativ når det gjelder kunnskapsinnhenting burde vært ferdigstilt før gjennomføringen av høringen. En grundigere oppsummering av rapportens innhold er gitt i første kapittel.publishedVersio

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio

Prevalence of chronic cough, its risk factors and population attributable risk in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study: a multinational cross-sectional study

Background: Chronic cough is a common respiratory symptom with an impact on daily activities and quality of life. Global prevalence data are scarce and derive mainly from European and Asian countries and studies with outcomes other than chronic cough. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough across a large number of study sites as well as to identify its main risk factors using a standardized protocol and definition. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 33,983 adults (≥40 years), recruited between Jan 2, 2003 and Dec 26, 2016, in 41 sites (34 countries) from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We estimated the prevalence of chronic cough for each site accounting for sampling design. To identify risk factors, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis within each site and then pooled estimates using random-effects meta-analysis. We also calculated the population-attributable risk (PAR) associated with each of the identified risk factors. Findings: The prevalence of chronic cough varied from 3% in India (rural Pune) to 24% in the United States of America (Lexington, KY). Chronic cough was more common among females, both current and passive smokers, those working in a dusty job, those with a history of tuberculosis, those who were obese, those with a low level of education, and those with hypertension or airflow limitation. The most influential risk factors were current smoking and working in a dusty job. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that the prevalence of chronic cough varies widely across sites in different world regions. Cigarette smoking and exposure to dust in the workplace are its major risk factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence of chronic cough, its risk factors and population attributable risk in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study: a multinational cross-sectional study

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Background: Chronic cough is a common respiratory symptom with an impact on daily activities and quality of life. Global prevalence data are scarce and derive mainly from European and Asian countries and studies with outcomes other than chronic cough. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough across a large number of study sites as well as to identify its main risk factors using a standardised protocol and definition. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from 33,983 adults (≥40 years), recruited between Jan 2, 2003 and Dec 26, 2016, in 41 sites (34 countries) from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We estimated the prevalence of chronic cough for each site accounting for sampling design. To identify risk factors, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis within each site and then pooled estimates using random-effects meta-analysis. We also calculated the population attributable risk (PAR) associated with each of the identifed risk factors. Findings: The prevalence of chronic cough varied from 3% in India (rural Pune) to 24% in the United States of America (Lexington,KY). Chronic cough was more common among females, both current and passive smokers, those working in a dusty job, those with a history of tuberculosis, those who were obese, those with a low level of education and those with hypertension or airflow limitation. The most influential risk factors were current smoking and working in a dusty job. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that the prevalence of chronic cough varies widely across sites in different world regions. Cigarette smoking and exposure to dust in the workplace are its major risk factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected