134,759 research outputs found

    PortisHEad: portfolios in successful Higher Education admissions

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    The PortisHEad project developed tools to support applications to UK higher education through learner-owned e-portfolios; including the ability to target unique e-portfolios to different institutions. The original demonstration tool helped address the recommendations of the Schwartz report for fairer admissions to higher education. However, despite good learner feedback and a strong sectoral imperative, the tool was not implemented by UCAS, the application service. Despite the withdrawal of UCAS from the project the remaining partners developed a generic application toolkit which allows any e-portfolio user to auto-complete educational or employment-related ‘application-type’ forms using learner-owned data from their e-portfolio. The toolkit is consistent with the ‘thin e-portfolio model’ propounded by the JISC-funded e-Portfolio Reference Model project. It uses an ‘open standard’ web-service which is easily implementable by ‘form-owners’; access to data is managed by the learners and remains secure. The toolkit is easy to deploy and has already generated significant interest not only from admissions tutors but also for its utility to teachers and staff developers. This paper points to how learner-controlled technologies, and learner-owned data, can be meaningfully utilized to engage with intra- and extra-institutional systems using open standards and web services. It also illustrates that technological difficulties are less critical than organisational ones

    Smart School Budgeting: Resources for Districts

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    In an era of aggressive public education reform, school districts face increasing pressure to produce higher levels of student performance with increasingly limited resources. The economic downturn has forced many districts to tighten their belts, and careful thought must be given to how each and every dollar is spent. Optimally, district leaders should work with stakeholders in their communities to set goals, analyze current spending, provide transparency in their budgeting, and consider cost-saving and reallocation strategies. The Rennie Center has created a toolkit, Smart School Budgeting: Resources for Districts, aiming to assist district leaders in decision-making about school budgeting. Smart School Budgeting is intended to push school leaders to take a more deliberative approach to school budgeting. The resources presented in the toolkit act as a starting point for districts examining their own budgeting processes. The document is designed as a user-friendly summary of existing literature and tools on school finance, budgeting, and resource allocation that directs district leaders and school business officials to practical and useful information to shape resource decisions. Each section includes an overview of a critical topic in school budgeting, summaries of useful documents and resources, relevant case studies (if available), and a resource list with hyperlinked documents for easy access. The toolkit is organized around the following topics: introduction and context for school budget analysis; setting goals; types of budgets; strategies for analyzing spending; tools for budget analysis; and cost-saving strategies.This toolkit was released at a public event on October 3, 2012

    A Toolkit for Developing, Implementing and Monitoring Adult Education Strategies

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    Participation in adult education varies significantly across states and regions of Europe! Why? Evidence and literature suggests a wide disparity in policy making, programming and implementation skills in the adult education sector across Europe. It is imperative that policy makers and programme managers address this disparity to foster life-long learning for a smart-sustainable Europe (see EU2020 https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-semester/framework/europe-2020-strategy_en) and to achieve a European target of 15% of the adult population engaged in learning. In response to this challenge, the ERASMUS+ DIMA project (See https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/, 2015 to 2017) developed a practical and innovative toolkit to guide adult education policy and practice. The DIMA toolkit (See https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/toolkit) introduces tools for developing, implementing, and monitoring adult education policies, strategies, and practices. Working through six (6) partners in five (5) countries over two (2) years the DIMA project is in line with the Erasmus+ horizontal priority of "… contributing to the development of a European Area of Skills and Qualifications" and with the specific priorities of enhancing and aligning European adult education policies, strategies and practices. For further information on the DIMA project visit https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/. To download the toolkit visit https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/ To access the DIMA project site online training course visit https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/e-learnin

    Obesity Prevention Toolkit to Combat Weight Gain Related to Sedentary Behavior and Dietary Habits in College Students: An Evidence-Based Project

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    Abstract Background: Forty percent of the US population ages 20-39 are categorized as obese, their BMI is over 30, and 35% of college age students are obese or overweight. Issues related to obesity cost the US $147 billion annually. Between 40%-50% of college students are reported to be inactive. Inactivity can lead to increased morbidity and mortality related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, musculoskeletal issues, and depression. Providing dietary and physical activity education and access to nutritional information promotes behavior change in young adults. Aims of Service Change: This evidence-based project proposal aims to provide a toolkit that can be utilized in higher education institutions with incoming students to increase self-efficacy related to positive dietary choices and increased physical activity amongst college age students. Ultimately, this has the potential to reduce the incidence of poor outcomes later in life. Details of Innovation: This toolkit includes: dietary education using online resources, physical activity recommendations in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and access to nutritional information digitally. This will be offered over a three-month period and results will be tracked throughout the term.Outcomes: Implementation of an evidenced-based structured toolkit can provide benefits to higher education institutions by proactively addressing the ramifications of unhealthy lifestyles, weight gain and sedentary behavior which in turn has medical cost saving potential and increased retention rates

    Weathering the storm: supporting students through co-producing a resilience toolkit in Higher Education.

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    It is generally recognised that student wellbeing and mental health are key issues in Higher Education. COVID and lockdown led to unpreceded challenges and increased wellbeing concerns, yet students often do not access support for mental health issues. The aims of this study is to investigate if students are aware of the support resources available, if there are any barriers to facilitating student resilience and preventing student access to support and to co-produce an interactive, online resilience toolkit

    Culture Connect: Diversity Resource Toolkit

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    Culture Connect: Diversity Resource Toolkit Globally, refugees are displaced at high rates and must integrate into a society where they are an ethnic minority. Since 2016, the International Rescue Committee has resettled over 300 refugees in Missoula; about 20% of which are school-aged children. Therefore, it is important that schools facilitate refugee inclusivity and intercultural competence within student peer groups. To aid in solving this global problem, we developed a project using the three steps of Human-Centered Design that aimed to enhance teacher competence, knowledge and increase the access to resources needed to address this global problem in the classroom setting. For the inspiration phase, we reviewed relevant literature and interviewed experts. During ideation, we integrated ideas and insights collected to develop and design our project, which includes a print and online diversity resource educational toolkit for use by pre-service and in-service teachers in elementary classrooms. The implementation intended to involve piloting the toolkit for six weeks in Missoula elementary classrooms with potential adaptation for school settings with similar characteristics beyond the Missoula community. Our five objectives that guide the development of the toolkit components are to 1) reduce prejudice in schools with daily exposure and practice; 2) enhance multicultural education and widen cultural representation in classrooms; 3) supplement existing language acquisition support for refugee students/parents and teachers; 4) enhance classroom introductory period for refugee students by including diverse representation in the classroom and inspiring students to be welcoming of refugee children; 5) streamline access to educational resources for teachers. As part of the implementation, we conducted pre/post-surveys to assess attitude change among students and teachers. In addition, we obtained feedback from teachers globally on toolkit improvements for its sustainable implementation. The expected learning outcomes are to decrease prejudice and enhance intercultural competence necessary for welcoming communities for refugees in a diverse society

    Prototyping The Open Textbook Toolkit: Digital Infrastructure that Connects Libraries, Disciplinary Faculty, and University Presses to Support Open Education

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    If you care about access to information, student success, or transformative education you’re probably thinking about the potential of open educational resources (OERs). As a profession, librarians have embraced open education but so far, we have not given faculty instructors the tools or infrastructure needed to drive wide engagement. Faculty are interested in creating customized resources that empower their instruction but barriers around creation, hosting, and remix of OERs are too high. This session introduces the Open Textbook Toolkit, a project designed to reduce those barriers and grounded in deep research about the unmet needs of instructors and students. Currently in development, the Toolkit will leverage a partnership between libraries and university presses to offer concrete supports that empower faculty to develop open educational resources at all levels. Join Will Cross and Mira Waller, co-PI’s on an IMLS grant currently in the second stage of review for a discussion about the Toolkit as a case study in developing infrastructure that supports OERs. Participants will leave the session with an understanding of the project as well as preliminary data and actionable recommendations on the development of support for OERs. Whether designing your own platforms and tools, looking to leverage the Toolkit on your own campus, or just seeking an understanding of the state of the art in OER development, you will leave this session better-prepared to develop a library ecosystem that supports OERs

    An Evidence-Based Toolkit for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Education of Female Adolescents in the School Setting

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    A new vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus infection was approved in 2006 in the United States (U.S.). Uptake of the vaccine has been less than optimal (CDC, 2010c). New venues for promoting vaccine acceptance are needed (Middleman & Tung, 2010). The goal of this capstone clinical project is to create an evidence based toolkit for use by school nurses in educating female adolescents, parents, communities and other healthcare providers about the HPV vaccine. Schools nurses have daily access to young people in the target group for HPV immunization. A vital component of vaccine acceptance is education of those who are involved in making decisions for vaccine recipients (Cates et al, 2010). School nurses are in a prime position to educate due to their exposure to students and others. Students, teachers and parents value their opinions (NASN, 2010b). A Clinical Practice Model for HPV Vaccine Programming guided the development of a toolkit for school nurses to use in educating individuals and groups about the HPV vaccine. A survey was posted on a school nurse list-serve to gather recommendations for the toolkit contents. Influenced by the Health Belief Model, the toolkit was assembled to contain information in various formats to answer questions which adolescents, parents, communities and health care providers have about HPV and the vaccine. After the toolkit prototype was complete, a focus group of school nurses formatively evaluated it by examining and discussing its contents

    The Development and Implementation of Evidence-Based Preanesthesia Assessment Tools for LVAD Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Procedures

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    Abstract A university-affiliated tertiary medical center with a newly developed Advanced Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support program identified the need to implement a more systematic approach to the preanesthesia assessment process for patients with a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) undergoing noncardiac procedures and standardized guidelines to determine the best blood pressure monitoring system for patients with an LVAD during these noncardiac procedures. A multidisciplinary panel of clinical experts developed an LVAD Preanesthesia Toolkit using standard recommendations identified via evidence-based literature and expert opinion. The Toolkit included an LVAD Preanesthesia Assessment (VaPA) tool and an LVAD Blood Pressure Monitoring Decision Tree. The Toolkit initiative utilized a checklist to promote safety and enhance access to LVAD-specific resource tools for anesthesia providers. An online education module outlining the details of the initiative was distributed to targeted users prior to a pilot implementation of the VaPA tool into clinical practice. Data collection concerning education dissemination revealed that 27.2% of anesthesia providers had reviewed and verbalized their understanding of the initiative. An analysis of the effectiveness of the VaPA tool was conducted in a 5-month retrospective review of electronic health records for LVAD patients undergoing noncardiac procedures. Outcome data revealed 100% accuracy in preanesthesia assessment documentation. Results indicated improved consistencies in documenting the LVAD specific components of the preanesthesia assessment
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