The Predict-Observe-Explain technique as a tool for students' understanding of electric circuits

This paper looks at the learning of the topic of electric circuits by 17-year-old students covering an advanced level course in physics, in Malta. Even if electric circuits are taught in schools both at primary and secondary level, many researchers have reported problems related to the understanding of circuits. The ideas presented during the teaching process are described as ‘abstract’ by students and the so-called ‘simple circuit’ is seen as anything but simple. This paper reports the results of a pilot study dealing with the learning of key concepts in electric circuits, focussing mainly on potential difference in simple parallel circuits. Students’ understanding was probed using a pre-test and a posttest. Interviews were then conducted using the Predict-Observe-Explain technique to further probe understanding of parallel circuits. The study indicated that all the interviewees made a visible effort to try to correctly explain how the circuit presented to them works. Moreover, about one third of these students managed to bridge the gap between their unscientific intuitions and the scientific view. The Predict-Observe-Explain technique helped students shift their thinking towards the scientific view regarding parallel circuits. The implication is that teachers must not ignore simple but effective teaching techniques which focus on putting the responsibility of learning on the student. Choosing a teaching strategy which helps to arouse students’ curiosity by creating cognitive conflicts to make students think, leads the way to a powerful and a qualitatively enriched teaching and learning experience.peer-reviewe

Can the domestic politics of small island states lead to international in/stability? A case study of Malta

Small islands states have an ambiguous role in the international arena; their political role has evolved from their pre-statehood days as naval outposts and “unsinkable aircraft carriers” to their post-independence role as sovereign states in the international arena. Nominally, each state enjoys sovereign equality both in regional and international institutions. In practice, however, their role has been more contentious and less clear cut. Recent literature makes reference to the “negative strategic value” that such states possess, thus turning these apparently-innocuous polities into potential sources of stability or instability. This paper seeks to outline the role of small island states in international relations. It analyses whether such states can be a source of stability or instability in a regional and international context. Malta is taken as its case study. Malta is both a border-state and the smallest EU member state. Questions over measures adopted by the Government of Malta, such as the Individual Investment Programme (IIP) scheme, and antimoney laundering legislation have intensified during the 2014 – 2019 period. On the reverse side, as an EU member state with a positive economic record, it has sometimes been hailed as an example of stability and a reliable partner in a troubled region. In addition, it managed to host the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time when Europe was experiencing a large wave of migration from Syria and Libya while attempting to deal with the the aftermath of the Brexit referendum. This case study argues that the role of small island states, though marginal, can become more critical as a result of political developments. Such developments can contribute both to stability and instability.peer-reviewe

Linked randomised controlled trials of face-to-face and electronic brief intervention methods to prevent alcohol related harm in young people aged 14–17 years presenting to Emergency Departments (SIPS junior)

Background: Alcohol is a major global threat to public health. Although the main burden of chronic alcohol-related disease is in adults, its foundations often lie in adolescence. Alcohol consumption and related harm increase steeply from the age of 12 until 20 years. Several trials focusing upon young people have reported significant positive effects of brief interventions on a range of alcohol consumption outcomes. A recent review of reviews also suggests that electronic brief interventions (eBIs) using internet and smartphone technologies may markedly reduce alcohol consumption compared with minimal or no intervention controls. Interventions that target non-drinking youth are known to delay the onset of drinking behaviours. Web based alcohol interventions for adolescents also demonstrate significantly greater reductions in consumption and harm among ‘high-risk’ drinkers; however changes in risk status at follow-up for non-drinkers or low-risk drinkers have not been assessed in controlled trials of brief alcohol interventions

Childbirth care practices in public sector facilities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A descriptive study

Objectives: To explore reported hospital policies and practices during normal childbirth in maternity wards in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess and verify whether these practices are evidence-based. Design: Quantitative design, in the form of a descriptive questionnaire, based on a tool extracted from the literature. Setting: Nine government hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These hospitals have varied ownership, including Ministry of Health (MOH), military, teaching and other government hospitals. Participants: Key individuals responsible for the day-to-day running of the maternity ward. Measurements: Nine interviews using descriptive structured questionnaire were conducted. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows (version 16.0). Findings: The surveyed hospitals were found to be well equipped to deal with obstetric emergencies, and many follow evidence-based procedures. On average, the Caesarean section rate was found to be 22.4%, but with considerable variances between hospitals. Some unnecessary procedures that are known to be ineffective or harmful and that are not recommended for routine use, including pubic shaving, enemas, episiotomy, electronic foetal monitoring (EFM) and intravenous (IV) infusion, were found to be frequently practiced. Only 22% of the hospitals sampled reported allowing a companion to attend labour and delivery. Key Conclusions: Many aspects of recommended EBP were used in the hospitals studied. However, the results of this study clearly indicate that there is wide variation between hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in some obstetric practices. Furthermore, the findings suggest that some practices at these hospitals are not supported by evidence as being beneficial for mothers or babies and are positively discouraged under international guidelines. Implications for practice: This study has specific implications for obstetricians, midwives and nurses working in maternity Units. It gives an overview of current hospital policies and practices during normal childbirth. It is likely to contribute to improving the health and well-being of women, and have implications for service provision. It could also help in the development of technical information for policy-makers, and health care professionals for normal childbirth care

Midwifery-led antenatal care models: mapping a systematic review to an evidence-based quality framework to identify key components and characteristics of care.

BACKGROUND: Implementing effective antenatal care models is a key global policy goal. However, the mechanisms of action of these multi-faceted models that would allow widespread implementation are seldom examined and poorly understood. In existing care model analyses there is little distinction between what is done, how it is done, and who does it. A new evidence-informed quality maternal and newborn care (QMNC) framework identifies key characteristics of quality care. This offers the opportunity to identify systematically the characteristics of care delivery that may be generalizable across contexts, thereby enhancing implementation. Our objective was to map the characteristics of antenatal care models tested in Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) to a new evidence-based framework for quality maternal and newborn care; thus facilitating the identification of characteristics of effective care. METHODS: A systematic review of RCTs of midwifery-led antenatal care models. Mapping and evaluation of these models' characteristics to the QMNC framework using data extraction and scoring forms derived from the five framework components. Paired team members independently extracted data and conducted quality assessment using the QMNC framework and standard RCT criteria. RESULTS: From 13,050 citations initially retrieved we identified 17 RCTs of midwifery-led antenatal care models from Australia (7), the UK (4), China (2), and Sweden, Ireland, Mexico and Canada (1 each). QMNC framework scores ranged from 9 to 25 (possible range 0-32), with most models reporting fewer than half the characteristics associated with quality maternity care. Description of care model characteristics was lacking in many studies, but was better reported for the intervention arms. Organisation of care was the best-described component. Underlying values and philosophy of care were poorly reported. CONCLUSIONS: The QMNC framework facilitates assessment of the characteristics of antenatal care models. It is vital to understand all the characteristics of multi-faceted interventions such as care models; not only what is done but why it is done, by whom, and how this differed from the standard care package. By applying the QMNC framework we have established a foundation for future reports of intervention studies so that the characteristics of individual models can be evaluated, and the impact of any differences appraised