A Single Case Study of Blended Learning in a Colorado Middle School

The purpose of this single case study was to investigate the perceptions of teachers and administrators on the impact of a three-station rotation model of blended learning in a Colorado middle school. The study includes any benefits and drawbacks realized through “Hazleton” Middle School’s instructional shift to blended learning, specifically whether there is evidence that teachers and administrators perceive an improvement with students’ ability to grasp academic concepts, develop self-advocacy and self-efficacy skills, increase engagement, and reduce and prioritize teacher preparation time. The study was conducted using a focus group interview with three school administrators, interviews with 16 teachers, and observations of twelve of those teachers’ classrooms at a middle school in Colorado. The self-efficacy theory framed this study as it connects student learning with providing opportunities for students to believe in themselves. The collected data was compiled, triangulated, and analyzed. Academic conceptual grasp, self-advocacy, self-efficacy, engagement, teacher preparation time, and device appropriation were the six themes that emerged during the data analysis. While some participants perceptions differed, a positive trend was seen from the first four. Most agreed teacher preparation time has increased, but expect it to decrease with experience in managing the data and learning objectives to create lesson plans. An unexpected but important finding was the importance of device appropriation for implementation of a blended learning model using devices in classrooms is having a plan for distribution then following up with teachers and the leadership team to determine if any adjustments are needed

Investigative empathy: a strength scale of empathy based on European police perspectives

A growing body of research suggests that empathy may play a major role in establishing and maintaining rapport during police interviews. The benefits of rapport include not only increased cooperation from interviewees, but also gaining more accurate investigation-relevant information. However, despite a large amount of research on empathy which already exists, there still is, unfortunately, no universally agreed-upon definition and very little research on operationalizing and implementing appropriate forms of empathy, especially within the realm of investigative interviewing. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the goal of better understanding empathy from a police perspective and developing a way to assess and operationalize empathy for use in police interviews with suspects of high risk crimes (particularly with sex offences). The study considers police interviewers’ varying definitions of empathy in seven European countries, along with other factors. It analyzed police interviewers’ self-reports regarding their (i) training and methods employed during interviews, (ii) application of empathy in interviews, and (iii) definitions/understanding of empathy. Based on their answers, the various definitions of empathy were compiled and then placed on a new strength scale. It was found that officers in all participating countries varied within each country in their use of accusatory or information-gathering interview styles, suggesting that the methods employed were not systematically and uniformly taught and/or applied. The majority of participants in each country claimed to currently employ empathy in their interviews with suspects, yet they varied on their strength of the definitions provided. In no country was empathy considered useless in interviews and in no country was empathy defined as having aspects that may not be conducive to investigative interviewing.N/A

Dialogue: Clarified and Reconsidered

Controversies about constitutional “dialogue” often stem from disagreement over the concept itself. The metaphor’s meaning and attendant consequences differ depending on whether it reflects the assumptions of judicial interpretive supremacy or coordinate interpretation. By combining that distinction with the contrast between weak-form and strong-form rights review, this article creates an integrated framework for clarifying dialogic variation across such jurisdictions as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. We apply this framework most intensely to the Canadian case and bring differences between several dialogic forms—especially the difference between “clarification dialogue” and “reconsideration dialogue”—into sharper relief than is common in the literature. The classification of dialogic types revealed by the Canadian experience can, we suggest, illuminate analysis in other jurisdictions

Guest Editorial: Measure E is a Hoax by OC Supervisors

Measure E is a hoax, It is moot and deceptive

Corticosteroid injections for non-spinal musculoskeletal conditions: consideration of local and systemic adverse drug reactions and side effects

Following specialist training, physiotherapists in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Norway perform landmark, and ultrasound guided, soft tissue and joint injections for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Whether they inject or not, physiotherapists may wish to recommend injections, and people requiring care commonly seek physiotherapist’s opinions on injection therapy. Globally, there has been a substantial increase in the use of corticosteroid injections to treat musculoskeletal conditions. Those performing injections or providing advice need be cognisant of the possible harms of the procedures and communicate this information sensitively to those considering the procedures. This review synthesises evidence for local and systemic adverse reactions and side effects related to corticosteroid injections in the treatment of non-spinal musculoskeletal conditions. Multiple databases including PubMed, Medline, PEDro, Cinahl were searched, and all levels of evidence were included if they added to the review. Serious adverse events appear to be rare, possibly in part, due to under-reporting of side effects. Where available, suggestions for minimising risk and aftercare have been made. As substantial gaps in the evidence were found, areas for further research are suggested and a decision-making tool is included to facilitate whether to proceed to injection, proceed with precaution or no injection

Steady-State Contrast Response Functions Provide a Sensitive and Objective Index of Amblyopic Deficits

Purpose. Visual deficits in amblyopia are neural in origin, yet are difficult to characterize with functional magnetic resonance imagery (fMRI). Our aim was to develop an objective electroencephalography (EEG) paradigm that can be used to provide a clinically useful index of amblyopic deficits. Methods. We used steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) to measure full contrast response functions in both amblyopic (n = 10, strabismic or mixed amblyopia, mean age: 44 years) and control (n = 5, mean age: 31 years) observers, both with and without a dichoptic mask. Results. At the highest target contrast, the ratio of amplitudes across the weaker and stronger eyes was highly correlated (r = 0.76) with the acuity ratio between the eyes. We also found that the contrast response function in the amblyopic eye had both a greatly reduced amplitude and a shallower slope, but that surprisingly dichoptic masking was weaker than in controls. The results were compared with the predictions of a computational model of amblyopia and suggest a modification to the model whereby excitatory (but not suppressive) signals are attenuated in the amblyopic eye. Conclusions. We suggest that SSVEPs offer a sensitive and objective measure of the ocular imbalance in amblyopia and could be used to assess the efficacy of amblyopia therapies currently under development