GTA: Groupware task analysis Modeling complexity

The task analysis methods discussed in this presentation stem from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Ethnography (as applied for the design of Computer Supported Cooperative Work CSCW), different disciplines that often are considered conflicting approaches when applied to the same design problems. Both approaches have their strength and weakness, and an integration of them does add value to the early stages of design of cooperation technology. In order to develop an integrated method for groupware task analysis (GTA) a conceptual framework is presented that allows a systematic perspective on complex work phenomena. The framework features a triple focus, considering (a) people, (b) work, and (c) the situation. Integrating various task-modeling approaches requires vehicles for making design information explicit, for which an object oriented formalism will be suggested. GTA consists of a method and framework that have been developed during practical design exercises. Examples from some of these cases will illustrate our approach

Coping strategies for staff involved in assessment of laboratory write-ups

Laboratory-based practical exercises, which are an important and time-consuming part of many science degree courses, may be directed towards a variety of learning objectives. Some of these have traditionally been assessed by staff marking the student's written account of the laboratory experiment (the laboratory write-up) but increasing student numbers, which may have doubled or quadrupled on some modules, have made it difficult to sustain this approach. In addition, there is evidence that the formative element of the assessment (i.e. the comments written by staff on the laboratory write-up) is not fully utilized by students who are often only interested in the mark given. This paper reports on experience with the various strategies which may be used to cope with the increased marking load while maintaining or improving the learning gain from the formative element of the assessment. The adoption of a balanced mixture of strategies may present the best solution to the problem but must be tailored to local circumstances

The Effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation on Balance Related Impairments among Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Systematic Review

Background: Balance related dysfunction remains a debilitating clinical manifestation among people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) causing significant morbidity and reduced quality of life. Imbalance is found to stem primarily from neurophysiological causes. Current management strategies have shown to have small but clinically insignificant results with little consideration towards vestibular sources of postural instability. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) provides a promising treatment strategy to mediate balance dysfunction among people with pwMS.Design: Systematic Review, guided by PRISMA guidelines and presenting a best evidence synthesis.Data sources: 10 electronic databases were searched from inception until September 2019.Eligibility criteria for study selection: Article of original research, population of patients with multiple sclerosis aged over 18, interventions detailing VR protocols, measurement of outcomes pre-VR/post-VR.Results: Seven articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. 6/7 studies were rated as high quality and regarded as level one evidence. 5 studies consisted of standardised VR protocols while 2 studies consisted of customised VR. All studies identified improvements of mixed significance in balance, fatigue and dizziness outcomes post VR. Heterogeneity among VR prescription patterns limited optimal prescription guidelines.Conclusions: The available evidence shows promise that VR is a safe and ef- fective strategy to provide short term benefits in balance related dysfunction in pwMS. Recommendations of mixed strength are made based on the quality of current literature. Current evidence for optimal prescription and long-term effects of VR is limited. Further high-level studies evaluating the effects of VR in patients with multiple sclerosis with vestibular and/or balance dysfunction are required

CHEMISTRY LEARNING WITH APPLICATION OF THE ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF CONCEPTUAL MAPS IN THE CHEMISTRY LAB

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo.The present study focuses on the deficient learning of health science students in the General Chemistry course in the first level higher education, specifically regarding the topic of aqueous dissolutions in terms of the meaning of pH and how to determine it. The causes of this problem are: i) the difficulty relating the theory to the practice, ii) the lack of strategies that help and motivate learning, iii) the inability to underst and and resolve problems or exercises, and iv) a deficiencyon basic mathematical aptitudes for application in resolving problems and exercises, among others. The research considered the academic results obtained bystudents of various careers in the area of health sciences students in the past, to subsequently determine the research group, resulting it the career of nursingstudents. To achieve this type of learning, the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) was applied, together with the metacognitive strategy of Conceptual Maps (CM) and feedback & self-correction in practical laboratory activities. This study was carried out at a university and involved nursing students because they havemany difficulties learning experimental sciences, especially chemistry, because the students of other careers do not have many weaknesses in this science, beingevidenced in the results at end of the semester-The sample experimental group consisted of 336 nursing students and the control group 420 students of nutrition and dietetics and dentistry taking the unit "General Chemistry", who provided all the information for this study.http://www.scielo.cl/pdf/jcchems/v61n1/art02.pd

The THREAT-ARREST Cyber-Security Training Platform

Cyber security is always a main concern for critical infrastructures and nation-wide safety and sustainability. Thus, advanced cyber ranges and security training is becoming imperative for the involved organizations. This paper presets a cyber security training platform, called THREAT-ARREST. The various platform modules can analyze an organization’s system, identify the most critical threats, and tailor a training program to its personnel needs. Then, different training programmes are created based on the trainee types (i.e. administrator, simple operator, etc.), providing several teaching procedures and accomplishing diverse learning goals. One of the main novelties of THREAT-ARREST is the modelling of these programmes along with the runtime monitoring, management, and evaluation operations. The platform is generic. Nevertheless, its applicability in a smart energy case study is detailed

Policy into practice: Adoption of hazard mitigation measures by local government in Queensland:A collaborative research project between Queensland University of Technology and Emergency Management Queensland in association with Local Government of Queensland Disaster Management Alliance

The focus of the present research was to investigate how Local Governments in Queensland were progressing with the adoption of delineated DM policies and supporting guidelines. The study consulted Local Government representatives and hence, the results reflect their views on these issues. Is adoption occurring? To what degree? Are policies and guidelines being effectively implemented so that the objective of a safer, more resilient community is being achieved? If not, what are the current barriers to achieving this, and can recommendations be made to overcome these barriers? These questions defined the basis on which the present study was designed and the survey tools developed.\ud \ud While it was recognised that LGAQ and Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) may have differing views on some reported issues, it was beyond the scope of the present study to canvass those views.\ud \ud The study resolved to document and analyse these questions under the broad themes of: \ud \ud • Building community capacity (notably via community awareness).\ud • Council operationalisation of DM. \ud • Regional partnerships (in mitigation/adaptation).\ud \ud Data was collected via a survey tool comprising two components: \ud \ud • An online questionnaire survey distributed via the LGAQ Disaster Management Alliance (hereafter referred to as the “Alliance”) to DM sections of all Queensland Local Government Councils; and\ud • a series of focus groups with selected Queensland Councils\u

Training for digital preservation in the context of the European project PLANETS

This paper outlines a training programme jointly developed and organised by the Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (‘HATII’) at the University of Glasgow and the British Library, in collaboration with a number of European partner institutions, on behalf of the Preservation and Long Term Access Through Networked Services (‘Planets’) project. It describes the background to the programme and the series of events which took place during the final year of the project, focussing on the feedback received from the participants, the lessons learned from the implementation of the events, and the perceived long-term impact of the programme on future digital preservation training activities