Good Teaching and Learning in the Academy

This paper is based on original research at five Queensland Universities. It compared the teaching strategies of law, education and science academics in an attempt to discover any relationship between teaching strategies and subject matter. It also examined the teaching policy at each university, specifically university definitions of good teaching and its relationship to use of technology. The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not specific understandings of good teaching in the academy prevailed, and whether or not this (dis)advantaged certain faculties. From an initial case study of QUT, the basic findings from our research were as follows: • good teaching was found to have two central features: it was student centred and technologically innovative, • irrespective of discipline, all lecturers espoused the importance of student centred learning as integral to good teaching, even though, in practice, teaching style appeared to be largely determined by subject matter, • the most innovative and technological units were the least student centred We conclude that what counts as good teaching is both contested and context bound. This has major implications for monolithic definitions of good teaching as espoused by university policy and teaching units. It also has clear ramifications for university measures of effective and innovative teaching and thus standardised procedures for both academic promotion and teaching practices across the university

Technology meets Student Centred Learning: "good practice" in university teaching

In tertiary institutions across Australia, good teaching increasingly means student centred and technological. In this paper, this is demonstrated by a case study of Queensland University of Technology, where recent policy on teaching, promoted by management and supported by teaching and learning services, suggests two things. The first that it is impossible for QUT academics to educate their students without using inclusive and dialogical methods of instruction. The second, that at QUT, effective use of technology is paramount to the success of such student centred learning. This relationship, given legitimacy through the QUT focus on flexible delivery, raises larger questions about the dominant assumptions regarding ‘good practice’ within the university setting. In this context, the dominant assumption is the superiority of progressive education and this in itself assumes further a humanistic notion of the self. This paper will suggest three things. First that such assumptions should be challenged within tertiary teaching theory and practice, as they have been within the wider domain of social and cultural theory. Second that the new valorised practices of progressive education actually depend upon old derogated practices, but that this reliance is either downplayed or disregarded. Third, that the resulting unified policy on good teaching, needs rethinking

Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, Heart Rate Variability, and Fitness in Obese African American Youth

Purpose. The purposes of this dissertation were to (1) explore the relationships among fitness, heart rate variability (HRV), inflammation and components of the Metabolic Syndrome in obese African American youth participating in a supervised weight management program, (2) examine the effect of change in severity of obesity on these variables, and (3) identify predictors of weight loss. Method. This study consisted of a post-hoc analysis of existing pre and post-intervention data obtained from 50 African-American youth (70% female, aged 7-18 years). Anthropometric assessment of height, weight, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, body mass index percentile ranges, and relative body mass index were conducted. Laboratory measures included high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein levels, and fasting and 2-hr postprandial insulin and glucose levels obtained during a mixed meal tolerance test for determination of impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Aerobic fitness was assessed by cardiopulmonary maximal treadmill exercise using the Branching Protocol (VO2max). Heart rate variability was measured with a 24-hour Holter monitor and measures of circadian fluctuation (SDNN), parasympathetic function (HF), and sympathetic/ parasympathetic balance (LF/HF ratio) were calculated. Measures were repeated at 6 months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, non-parametric t-tests and multiple linear regression. Metabolic Syndrome was defined based on World Health Organization definition with age, gender, and race-specific cut-points. Results. Baseline measures revealed the following means: age 12.9 ± 2.9, weight 92.2 kg ± 28.4, relative body mass index 195.5 ± 42.4, HF 5.9 [ln(ms2)] ± 0.9, SDNN 128.1(ms) ± 38.2, LF/HF ratio 1.1 ± 0.1, VO2max 18.8 ± 4.5 mg/kg/min, C-reactive protein 0.75 mg/L ± 1.34, fibrinogen 372.64 mg/dl ± 71.12. The prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome was 46% based on 39 subjects with complete data sets. The presence of the individual Metabolic Syndrome components, for the entire sample, was as follows: systolic blood pressure 44%, high density lipoprotein 20%, triglycerides 40%, impaired glucose tolerance 18%, insulin resistance 82%, and waist circumference 73%. Inflammation was common (elevated C-reactive protein 45%, elevated fibrinogen 42%). VO2max was positively correlated with HF (r = 0.41, p = 0.004) and SDNN (r = 0.39, p = 0.007) and negatively with fibrinogen (r =-0.53, p = 0.0002) and relative body mass index (r = -0.47, p = 0.0007). Relative body mass index was positively associated with C-reactive protein (r = 0.38, p = 0.01) and fibrinogen (r = 0.51, p = 0.003). Those with impaired glucose tolerance did not differ in HRV measures, fitness, or inflammation. Insulin resistance was associated with HF (p = 0.004) and fibrinogen (p = 0.02). Waist circumference was associated with LF/HF ratio (p = 0.02). Lower high density lipoprotein was associated with higher fibrinogen (p = 0.05). There were no significant differences in HRV, VO2max, or inflammation in youth with or without Metabolic Syndrome. Change in relative body mass index was associated with improved SDNN (r = 0.36, p = 0.04) and there was a trend toward better VO2max (r = -0.30, p = 0.07) and HF (r = 0.33, p = 0.07). Male gender and higher baseline fitness accounted for 28% of the variance in RBMI change. Conclusions. Metabolic Syndrome is common in obese youth, even in younger children. Insulin resistance, even in the absence of the Metabolic Syndrome, negatively affects HRV. Mild weight loss is associated with improvements in SDNN, a risk factor for sudden death. Strategies to improve weight loss and fitness in severely obese African American youth are needed

Chandra Detection of Highest Redshift (z~6) Quasars in X-rays

We report on Chandra observations of three quasars SDSSP J083643+005453, SDSSP J103027+052455, and SDSSP J130608+035626 at redshifts 5.82, 6.28 and 5.99 respectively. All the three sources are clearly detected in the X-ray band, up to rest frame energies of ~55 keV. These observations demonstrate the unprecedented sensitivity of Chandra to detect faint sources in relatively short exposure times (5.7--8.2 ksec). The broad band X-ray properties of these highest redshift quasars do not appear to be any different from their lower redshift cousins. Spectra of the sources could not be determined with only few counts detected. Observations with XMM-Newton will be able to constrain the spectral shapes, if they are simple. Determination of complex spectra in a reasonable amount of time, however, will have to await next generation of X-ray missions.Comment: Submitted to ApJ Letter