Empirical Study in Teaching First-Year Database Students

This paper describes the authors’ experience in team teaching two occurrences of a first-level undergraduate ‘Database Applications’ module. An analysis of the two occurrences revealed a difference in attendance, marks, seminar participation and attitude. This paper attempts to identify some reasons for this difference as well as reviewing some of the teaching activities that were used in this module. It analyzes the success of these activities and the perception and feedback from each group of students, and some possible recommended changes to the module

Student Academic Representatives: we did it our way

Worcester Business School (WBS) responded pro-actively to the University led changes to the StARs system and the introduction of Institute Reps. The move to City Campus flagged up the possibility of a period of isolation and detachment for the students. Staff therefore took a pro-active approach in ensuring that the student voice was heard loud and clear. WBS therefore instigated a system whereby there would be a dedicated academic contact for the undergraduate StARs irrespective of their course of study. The University actively encourages feedback from students so we are keen to ensure the results of this feedback are relayed back to the other students, effectively closing the loop. This session will outline our approach taken since 2010 in an attempt to avoid any bottlenecks in future communication. It is envisaged that this session will result in a portfolio of good practice for dissemination across Institutes

The Extent to Which the Use of Accounting Software and Excel is Incorporated in HE Accountancy Courses

The accounting practitioner will almost inevitably use accounting software packages in their working life. The first aim of this project was to review the extent to which such skills are taught as part of HE accounting courses and then propose whether and how such skills should be included in UMS modules as part of the proposed degree in Accountancy in Worcester Business School. The research motivation here was simply to ensure that our curriculum was fit for purpose. A second aim was to review the use of Excel in teaching accounting courses. As with accounting software, the use of Excel or similar spreadsheets is part and parcel of an accountant’s working life. In addition some seminar activities are based in computer labs and depend on a certain level of expertise in using Excel to solve accounting problems. Marriott (2004) discusses some of the pedagogical benefits of using spreadsheets to enable learning of accounting concepts, stressing the role of experiential learning. The research motivation here was twofold; to give some measure of students’ expertise in Excel for business use and to investigate whether learning outcomes were compromised by the level of expertise

CAPTCHA Accessibility Study of Online Forums

The rise of online forums has benefited disabled users, who take advantage of better communications and more inclusion into society. However, even with accessibility laws that are supposed to provide disabled people the same equal access as non-disabled users, sites have erected technical barriers, such as CAPTCHAs, that prevent users from taking full advantage of site capability. This study analyzes 150 online forums to determine if sites use CAPTCHAs, and what types are used. Each variety presents accessibility problems to disabled users and the results of the research show that most sites use text-based CAPTCHAs, but rarely provide alternatives that would help users with visual disabilities. The research presents alternatives that site designers may wish to consider in order to allow more disabled users to access their sites

Supporting and Enabling Scholarship: Developing and Sharing Expertise in Online Learning and Teaching

In a highly competitive, rapidly changing higher education market, universities need to be able to generate pedagogical expertise quickly and ensure that it is applied to practice. Since teaching approaches are constantly evolving, partly responding to emerging learning technologies, there is a need to foster ways to keep abreast on an ongoing basis. This paper explores how a small-scale project, the Teaching Online Panel (TOP), used scholarship investigations and a bottom-up approach to enhance one particular aspect of academic practice – online learning and teaching. The experiences of TOP are useful for identifying: - how a scholarship approach can help develop academic expertise - its contribution to enhancing understanding of staff’s different roles in the University - ways of developing the necessary supportive network for those undertaking such scholarship - the effectiveness of staff development which is peer-led rather than imposed from above - how practical examples can stimulate practice development - the relevance of literature on communities of practice and landscapes of practice for scholarship - the important role of ‘brokers’ to facilitate the dissemination of scholarship findings - the benefits to the brokers’ own professional roles - the challenges of sustaining such an approach and lessons learnt. This study has relevance for those involved in supporting scholarship or delivering staff development in Higher Education

The ring of invariants of the orthogonal group over finite fields in odd characteristic

Let $V$ be a non-zero finite dimensional vector space over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ of odd characteristic. Fixing a non-singular quadratic form $\xi_0$ in $S^2(V^*)$, the symmetric square of the dual of V we are concerned with the Orthogonal group $O(\xi_0)$, the subgroup of the General Linear Group $GL(V)$ that fixes $\xi_0$ and with invariants of this group. We have the Dickson Invariants which being invariants of the General Linear Group are then invariants of $O(\xi_0)$. Considering the $O(\xi_0)$ orbits of the dual vector space \vs we generate the Chern Orbit polynomials, the coefficients of which, the Chern Orbit Classes, are also invariants of the Orthogonal group. The invariants $\xi_1, \xi_2, \dots$ are be generated from $\xi_0$ by applying the action of the Steenrod Algebra to $S^2(V^*)$ which being natural takes invariants to invariants. Our aim is to discover further invariants from these known invariants with the intention of establishing a set of generators for the the Ring of invariants of the Orthogonal Group. In particular we calculate invariants of $O(\xi_0)$ when the dimension of the vector space is $4$ the finite field is $\mathbb{F}_3$ and the quadratic form is $\xi_0=x_1^2+x_2^2+x_3^2+x_4^2$ and we are able to establish an explicit presentation of $O(\xi_0)$ in this case

Human factors in the emergency department CBRNe response: How is technology used?

A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the current understanding and practices of ED first receivers for CBRNe events and establish how technology is used in the ED CBRNe response for detection, decontamination, and diagnosis. 67 papers were included, with 5 specifically on co-ordination and communication technologies. The current use of technologies in the ED CBRNe response is not without limitations, for example, lack of reception for mobile phones, walkie-talkie dysfunction and overwhelming IT systems

Emergency Department response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and explosive events: a systematic review

Introduction A Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) event is an emergency which can result in injury, illness, or loss of life. The emergency department (ED) as a health system is at the forefront of the CBRNe response with staff acting as first receivers. Emergency departments are under-prepared to respond to CBRNe events - recognizing key factors which underlie the ED CBRNe response is crucial to provide evidence-based knowledge to inform policies and, most importantly, clinical practice. Problem Challenges in detection, decontamination, and diagnosis are associated with the ED CBRNe response when faced with self-presenting patients. Methods A systematic review was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). An in-depth search strategy was devised to identify studies which focused on the ED and CBRNe events. The inclusion criteria were stringent in terms of the environment (ED), participants (first receivers), situation (CBRNe response), and actions (detection, decontamination, and diagnosis). Fifteen databases and topic-specific journals were searched. Studies were critically appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Papers were thematically coded and synthesized using NVivo 10 (QSR International Ltd, Melbourne, Australia). Results Sixty-seven full-text papers were critically appraised using the MMAT; 70% were included (n = 60) as medium- or high-quality studies. Data were grouped into four themes: preparedness, response, decontamination, and personal protective equipment (PPE) problems. Discussion This study has recognized the ED as a system which depends on four key factors - preparedness, response, decontamination, and PPE problems - which highlight challenges, uncertainties, inconsistencies, and obstacles associated with the ED CBRNe response. This review suggests that response planning and preparation should be considered at three levels: organizational (policies and procedures); technological (decontamination, communication, security, clinical care, and treatment); and individual (willingness to respond, PPE, knowledge, and competence). Finally, this study highlighted that there was a void specific to detection and diagnosis of CBRNe exposure on self-presenting patients in the ED. Conclusion: The review identified concerns for both knowledge and behaviors which suggests that a systems approach would help understand the ED response to CBRNe events more effectively. The four themes provide an evidence-based summary for the state of science in ED CBRNe response, which can be used to inform future policies and clinical procedures