Investigating Basic Quality of Service Design Possibilities for Regis University Academic Research Network Edge Routers

The Regis University Academic Research Network (ARNe) had network resources, such as VoIP, that required preservation their ability to receive near real-time forwarding treatment across the network. Quality of Service (QoS) design ideas were examined from four actual implementations described in research cases. Additionally, research involving surveys from Cisco certified professionals was examined, and Cisco technical literature was examined. Case study methodology, involving the study of multiple cases, was the primary tactic utilized in this research. Examination and triangulation of data from the research indicated that ARNe would benefit from moving forward with a basic QoS design and implementation, integrating concepts identified in the data. Additionally, data supported that a basic QoS design and implementation on ARNe would provide Computer Science and Information Science students an opportunity to more fully appreciate QoS through further research and hands-on experience

A Program Evaluation of the Implementation Process of a Phonics First® Initiative

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the Phonics First® program within one district to inform district level curriculum team decisions and program planning moving forward. As a level 4 Directed State Support district, the studied district was looking for ways to close the achievement gap and raise overall academic achievement in reading. To do so, the implementation of core reading program initiatives such as Phonics First® was assessed to determine how best to utilize and monitor the Phonics First® program to achieve the district’s desired outcomes. This study utilized a decision-oriented program evaluation using a mixed methods approach. A Phonics First® teacher survey, principal interviews, and archived records from fidelity walks were used to answer the following research questions: • How do certified staff understand the science of reading as it relates to phonics? • What perceptions, attitudes, and experiences influence the application of the science of reading as it relates to phonics? • How is the Phonics First® program being implemented and monitored in each school? The data were used to identify common themes regarding factors and barriers to implementation when moving from the science of reading (theory) to the delivery of a phonics program (practice) and to identify and understand building level processes for monitoring instruction and interventions to design and implement district level processes. Recommendations from this study include providing resources and support for administrators to grow as instructional leaders, creating a common district language for instruction and interventions, and implementing an effective professional development model

Innovation-Driven Local Economic Development: In Search of Best Practice Implementation for South Africa

The aim of this study is to investigate best practice implementation frameworks for the implementation of innovation-driven local economic development in South Africa. Local economic development planning is a critical aspect of the development landscape in South Africa. The most recent national framework is strongly influenced by interventions made by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) which has positioned innovation at the heart of development planning. The international experience concerning the challenges and implementation of innovation-led strategies was analysed through a literature survey. The material collected was extracted both from academic sources and from the policy works of a range of international development agencies. The results show an increasing convergence in perspectives concerning implementation frameworks around the need for a stage-based or evolutionary approach and that policies should be highly selective in terms of ‘entry points ’or interventions.  In moving forward with the South African agenda for innovation-driven local economies much can be drawn from international experience with accompanying potential benefits for the national tourism economy. &nbsp

The past, the present, and the future of the University of Mannheim's Open Science Office

Implementing open science practices is often shouldered by individual researchers without support from their institution. Now, at the University of Mannheim an institutional top-down approach has been adopted culminating in the installation of the Open Science Office (OSO). The OSO shares information about Open Science practices with the university's decision makers and external experts who also provide strategic advice back to the OSO. We aim to facilitate education and implementation of Open Science practices institutionally. Beyond collaborating with the pre-existing Open Access and Research Data Management services the OSO guides researchers on issues such as replication, pre-registration and reproducibility. Additionally, the OSO distributes its funds to grassroots initiatives (e.g., the Mannheim Open Science Meetup) and provides grants annually for projects related to Open Science across disciplines. Moving forward the OSO intends to expand knowledge exchange with other Open Science Offices/Labs/Centers, which can generate new ideas to achieve progress on some of the tricky challenges. For instance, would group peer review between institutions with an Open Science implementation be favourable? And would this facilitate knowledge exchange? At the Open Science Festival, we look forward to discussing our achievements and goals thus far and the future collaboration of OSOs

How do we change practice when we have the evidence?

Translating research findings into practice includes myriad pragmatic realities, including understanding the suitability of the data to a particular patient group, writing new guidelines for occupational therapy practitioners, facilitating adoption of the guidelines, and instituting new patterns of care for patients. The process is more than a matter of disseminating the information to practitioners and expecting immediate change in patient treatment. Indeed, the field of implementation science is devoted to the identification of the numerous barriers and supports that constrain or expedite practice change in response to research. Moving forward and adopting evidence-based findings will require a focused understanding of the particular setting where change is warranted. Among the issues to address are the health system levels involved in change (professional, legislative, administrative, practitioner, and patient and family members), the values and beliefs of the participants, and knowledge of the communication channels that exist in the setting and how information and new ideas make their way through the setting

Western Governors University: Implementation of the vision

This session will review factors that have impacted higher education and were considered by the governors of 17 states as they agreed to join the consortium to create Western Governors University. The institution was incorporated in Utah in January of 1997 and has since made significant progress toward implementation of the motivating vision of providing competency-based learning, using technology as a medium of delivery. Since its inception, WGU has been described as a metaphor for the future of higher education. Implementation has included moving forward on such issues as developing competencies for both an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of Applied Science degree as initial academic offerings, securing financial aid for students enrolled in a competency-based curriculum, seeking accreditation of an institution without an instructional faculty of its own, overcoming state licensure and registration barriers, and developing an appropriate fee structure for students and institutions providing academic content. Other issues include the imposing challenge of dealing with various constituencies in 16 states and 1 territory, creating a National Advisory Board of representatives from interested industries, and considering various non-profit/ profit structures for creating the necessary financing options for this private, educational institution

Citizen social science for more integrative and effective climate action: A science-policy perspective

Governments are struggling to limit global temperatures below the 2°C Paris target with existing climate change policy approaches. This is because conventional climate policies have been predominantly (inter)nationally top-down, which limits citizen agency in driving policy change and influencing citizen behavior. Here we propose elevating Citizen Social Science (CSS) to a new level across governments as an advanced collaborative approach of accelerating climate action and policies that moves beyond conventional citizen science and participatory approaches. Moving beyond the traditional science-policy model of the democratization of science in enabling more inclusive climate policy change, we present examples of how CSS can potentially transform citizen behavior and enable citizens to become key agents in driving climate policy change. We also discuss the barriers that could impede the implementation of CSS and offer solutions to these. In doing this, we articulate the implications of increased citizen action through CSS in moving forward the broader normative and political program of transdisciplinary and co-productive climate change research and policy

Citizen Social Science for more integrative and effective climate action: a science-policy perspective

Governments are struggling to limit global temperatures below the 2°C Paris target with existing climate change policy approaches. This is because conventional climate policies have been predominantly (inter)nationally top-down, which limits citizen agency in driving policy change and influencing citizen behavior. Here we propose elevating Citizen Social Science (CSS) to a new level across governments as an advanced collaborative approach of accelerating climate action and policies that moves beyond conventional citizen science and participatory approaches. Moving beyond the traditional science-policy model of the democratization of science in enabling more inclusive climate policy change, we present examples of how CSS can potentially transform citizen behavior and enable citizens to become key agents in driving climate policy change. We also discuss the barriers that could impede the implementation of CSS and offer solutions to these. In doing this, we articulate the implications of increased citizen action through CSS in moving forward the broader normative and political program of transdisciplinary and co-productive climate change research and policy

Improving Contractors' Practices of Industrialized Building System (IBS) Implementation in Construction Industry

Abstract: Nowadays, the Malaysian construction industry is moving forward to roll out technology advantage across project life-cycle for enhancing human development skills. Therefore, the government has adopted industrialized building systems (IBS) to enhance control and balance of workforce supply for overall project performance achievement. However, the challenges faced by the construction industry such as delay the completion of construction projects was due to poor contractors' practices. In addition, there are significant challenges related to contractors' practices for instance shortage of skill, practical know-how, worker capability, and financial difficulties in IBS implementation. Therefore the purpose of this study was to identify current practices and influencing factors of contractors' practices for IBS implementation in the construction industry. This study also determines the improved ways of contractors' practices for IBS implementation in the construction industry. The study was conducted in Johor Bahru, Johor where various development and construction activities are currently active. Quantitative method was conducted by distribution the questionnaires to Grade 7 (G7) contractors as study respondents which involved wide practices of IBS construction projects. Data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 22.0 software. The study reveals that, the problems faced by contractors in their practices of IBS implementation such as low productivity, management aspects, and financial problems. Therefore, training to labour, IBS instruction guideline and improving finance, and procurement mechanism are the top recommended factors to improve contractors' practices for successful IBS implementation. In conclusion, with the improvement of contractors' practices, the productivity of IBS implementation in the construction industry can be improved

When One Health Meets the United Nations Ocean Decade: Global Agendas as a Pathway to Promote Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research on Human-Nature Relationships

Strong evidence shows that exposure and engagement with the natural world not only improve human wellbeing but can also help promote environmentally friendly behaviors. Human-nature relationships are at the heart of global agendas promoted by international organizations including the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “One Health” and the United Nations (UN) “Ocean Decade.” These agendas demand collaborative multisector interdisciplinary efforts at local, national, and global levels. However, while global agendas highlight global goals for a sustainable world, developing science that directly addresses these agendas from design through to delivery and outputs does not come without its challenges. In this article, we present the outcomes of international meetings between researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from the United Kingdom and Brazil. We propose a model for interdisciplinary work under such global agendas, particularly the interface between One Health and the UN Ocean Decade and identify three priority research areas closely linked to each other: human-nature connection, conservation-human behavior, and implementation strategies (bringing stakeholders together). We also discuss a number of recommendations for moving forward