Teaching Strategies to Enhance Motor Skills Learning for Groups of Students: The Effects of Verbal and Visual Feedback on Performance in Pole Vault Practice

This paper contributes to enhancing a comparative study on a creative conduct of teaching method in physical education sessions. We search for determine the evolution of teacher representations related to the understanding of the particular practice of pole vaulting and its teaching by integrating a computer-video artifact into an educational environment. This study was done in two graduate classes of high school including (N = 44) students. These are two groups; aged between 15 and 18 (One group of students was provided with a verbal and gestural communication, while the other was asked to view an artifact video). The pole vole learning cycle consisted of 14 sessions, divided between two sessions per week. The findings were consistent with the difference between methods of teaching in line with tasks of learning. Through this experiment and lessons feedbacks, we have been able to conclude that the use of the Computer Communication Technology and precisely of the video image artifact, was source of progression of the motor learning for the large majority of the students from the all group study. This research is opened to understand and appreciate how to best design video lectures that encourage learning and developing knowledge. Keywords: physical education, artifact video, feedback, motor learning, skills DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-7-06 Publication date:March 31st 201

Investigating the effectiveness of a professional development program for secondary physics teachers

National studies have exposed a shortage of highly-qualified high school physics teachers, with over 25% of physics teaching vacancies in Iowa being very difficult to fill or unable to be filled. In an effort to improve the nation’s education system, there have been broad changes in the framework of what constitutes high-quality teaching which supports a trend away from traditional, lecture-based teaching methods and towards interactive, student-centered methods. This study analyzed the impact of a professional development program that aimed to prepare more high-quality high school physics teachers by building physics content knowledge through the use of reformed teaching techniques that could then be applied in their classrooms. The Iowa Physics Teacher Instruction and Resources (IPTIR) program was a three-year professional development program with a total of 35 high school science teacher participants. Program staff administered conceptual and pedagogical evaluation to teachers, and collected conceptual assessment data from their students. Analysis of this data provided insight into the program’s effectiveness as well as implications for future professional development programs. The IPTIR program enabled 20 out-of-field high school physics teachers to obtain a State of Iowa physics teaching endorsement, and improved the content knowledge of the teachers and their students through the use of interactive engagement techniques such as PRISMS PLUS learning cycles and Modeling Instruction. The results of this study reveal the effectiveness of programs such as IPTIR, and emphasize a need for further similar programs to produce more quality high school physics teachers

Usability Evaluation of E-Motion: A Virtual Rehabilitation System Designed to Demonstrate, Instruct and Monitor a Therapeutic Exercise Programme

The importance of systematic usability evaluation of virtual rehabilitation systems cannot be underestimated. We have developed a virtual rehabilitation system with the functionality to guide a user through a therapeutic exercise programme. Progression is determined by users’ ability to replicate movements as demonstrated by an on-screen character. Visual and auditory corrective feedback is provided during exercise in order to improve the user’s postural control and biomechanical alignment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usability of our system and subsequently implement modifications aimed at improving fidelity and ease of use. The first stage of our evaluation involved conducting an expert walkthrough with six experts currently researching in areas related to the system design. Following system refinement and modification we conducted a user evaluation study with twelve novice users using VRUSE, a computerised questionnaire-based usability evaluation tool for assessment of virtual environments. Results have provided a systematic evaluation of the system, provided information for guidance on system alterations and will allow comparison of usability levels with similar virtual rehabilitation systems tested with the same protocol

1st EFORT European Consensus: Medical & Scientific Research Requirements for the Clinical Introduction of Artificial Joint Arthroplasty Devices

Innovations in Orthopaedics and Traumatology have contributed to the achievement of a high-quality level of care in musculoskeletal disorders and injuries over the past decades. The applications of new implants as well as diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in addition to implementation of clinical research, have significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced complication rates and length of hospital stay in many areas. However, the regulatory framework is extensive, and there is a lack of understanding and clarity in daily practice what the meaning of clinical & pre‐clinical evidence as required by the MDR is. Thus, understanding and clarity are of utmost importance for introduction of new implants and implant-related instrumentation in combination with surgical technique to ensure a safe use of implants and treatment of patients. Therefore EFORT launched IPSI, The Implant and Patient Safety Initiative, which starting from an inaugural workshop in 2021 issued a set of recommendations, notably through a subsequent Delphi Process involving the National Member Societies of EFORT, European Specialty Societies as well as International Experts. These recommendations provide surgeons, researchers, implant manufacturers as well as patients and health authorities with a consensus of the development, implementation, and dissemination of innovation in the field of arthroplasty. The intended key outcomes of this 1st EFORT European Consensus on “Medical & Scientific Research Requirements for the Clinical Introduction of Artificial Joint Arthroplasty Devices”are consented, practical pathways to maintain innovation and optimisation of orthopaedic products and workflows within the boundaries of MDR 2017/745. Open Access practical guidelines based on adequate, state of the art pre-clinical and clinical evaluation methodologies for the introduction of joint replacements and implant-related instrumentation shall provide hands-on orientation for orthopaedic surgeons, research institutes and laboratories, orthopaedic device manufacturers, Notified Bodies but also for National Institutes and authorities, patient representatives and further stakeholders. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Scientific Committee members, all International Expert Delegates, the Delegates from European National & Specialty Societies and the Editorial Team for their outstanding contributions and support during this EFORT European Consensus

Minimalist versus conventional running shoes : effects on lower limb injury incidence, pain and muscle function experienced distance runners

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.The aim of this randomised clinical trial over 12 weeks was to determine if the gradual transition (accompanied by calf muscle training), from conventional to minimalist running shoes 1) increased the risk of lower limb pain or injury and 2) improved lower limb muscle function (endurance, flexibility and power) in experienced distance runners. In addition, the effects of the transition on runner satisfaction were studied. To determine whether there were significant differences in lower limb injury incidence and pain, calf endurance, lower limb muscle flexibility, lower limb muscle power, footposture index, hallux ROM and participants’ satisfaction with the type of running shoes and performance between an experimental group, that ran in minimalist shoes, and a control group that ran in conventional shoes. (b) To determine whether there were significant differences in lower limb injury incidence and pain, calf endurance, lower limb muscle flexibility, lower limb muscle power, foot posture index, hallux ROM and participants’ satisfaction with the type of running shoes and performance between groups over time