Preservice Mathematics Teacher Professional Learning through Informal Field Experiences (pp. 37--46)

This study investigated the role that involvement in a program wide informal field experience had on the professional learning of preservice mathematics teachers at a university in the Midwestern portion of the United States.  Participants completed a survey as well as a semi-structured interview which was transcribed.  The qualitative coding and analysis was structured in accordance with a previously developed theoretical framework involving a reflexive inquiry model for preservice teacher education.  The framework was adapted to fit the specific context of the informal field experience and focused on the following three lenses; inquiry into self in relation to prior experience, inquiry into contexts and personnel roles, and inquiry into relationships.  Analysis revealed thirteen categories which demonstrated connections preservice teachers made between their programmatic informal field experience involvement and their professional learning as teachers.  Preservice teachers described positive aspects of impact from the informal field experience in areas including classroom management, rapport, planning, and collaboration. Implications for teacher educators are discussed

Chatbot for training and assisting operators in inspecting containers in seaports

The paper presents the chatbot applicability for the health and safety of workers in the container transportation context. Starting from a literature review of risks and hazardous activities in sea container terminals, the paper underlines the need of innovative systems to ensure the lowest level of risks for labours. An analysis of the 4.0 technologies solutions in sea container terminals shows the lack of empirical application of chatbots in such a context. Focus is given to the current chatbot applications, and on the conceptual methodology for the chatbot design, defining five models and presenting a taxonomy for the chatbot feature definition. A case study shows the possible application of the conceptual methodology and the taxonomy, introducing the Popeye chatbot, consisting of a voice service, spoken language understanding component and an image processing app, to cope with the hazards in the process of examining freight and containers in dock areas. The main application of Popeye is the training of new employees involved in container safety-critical quality inspection and controls operations

Preservice Mathematics Teacher Professional Learning through Informal Field Experiences

This study investigated the role that involvement in a program wide informal field experience had on the professional learning of preservice mathematics teachers at a university in the Midwestern portion of the United States.  Participants completed a survey as well as a semi-structured interview which was transcribed.  The qualitative coding and analysis was structured in accordance with a previously developed theoretical framework involving a reflexive inquiry model for preservice teacher education.  The framework was adapted to fit the specific context of the informal field experience and focused on the following three lenses; inquiry into self in relation to prior experience, inquiry into contexts and personnel roles, and inquiry into relationships.  Analysis revealed thirteen categories which demonstrated connections preservice teachers made between their programmatic informal field experience involvement and their professional learning as teachers.  Preservice teachers described positive aspects of impact from the informal field experience in areas including classroom management, rapport, planning, and collaboration. Implications for teacher educators are discussed

Associations among neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, physical activity facilities, and physical activity in youth during the transition from childhood to adolescence

BACKGROUND: This study aims to examine the longitudinal association of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation (SED) with physical activity in youth during the transition from elementary to middle school, and to determine if access to physical activity facilities moderates this relationship. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Transitions and Activity Changes in Kids (TRACK) study, which was a multilevel, longitudinal study designed to identify the factors that influence changes in physical activity as youth transition from elementary to middle school. The analytic sample for the current study included 660 youth with complete data in grades 5 (baseline) and 7 (follow-up). A repeated measures multilevel framework was employed to examine the relationship between SED and physical activity over time and the potential moderating role of elements of the built environment. RESULTS: Decreases in physical activity varied by the degree of neighborhood SED with youth residing in the most deprived neighborhoods experiencing the greatest declines in physical activity. Access to supportive physical activity facilities did not moderate this relationship. CONCLUSION: Future research studies are needed to better understand how neighborhood SED influences youth physical activity over time

Human-technology integration with industrial conversational agents: A conceptual architecture and a taxonomy for manufacturing

Conversational agents are systems with great potential to enhance human-computer interaction in industrial settings. Although the number of applications of conversational agents in many fields is growing, there is no shared view of the elements to design and implement for chatbots in the industrial field. The paper presents the combination of many research contributions into an integrated conceptual architecture, for developing industrial conversational agents using Nickerson's methodology. The conceptual architecture consists of five core modules; every module consists of specific elements and approaches. Furthermore, the paper defines a taxonomy from the study of empirical applications of manufacturing conversational agents. Indeed, some applications of chatbots in manufacturing are available but those have never been collected in single research. The paper fills this gap by analyzing the empirical cases and presenting a qualitative analysis, with verification of the proposed taxonomy. The contribution of the article is mainly to illustrate the elements needed for the development of a conversational agent in manufacturing: researchers and practitioners can use the proposed conceptual architecture and taxonomy to more easily investigate, define, and develop all the elements for chatbot implementation

Features and amenities of school playgrounds: A direct observation study of utilization and physical activity levels outside of school time

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A significant amount of research has examined whether park or playground availability is associated with physical activity. However, little research has examined whether specific features or amenities of parks or playgrounds, such as the number of unique types of playground equipment or the safety of the equipment is associated with utilization of the facility or physical activity levels while at the facility. There are no studies that use direct observation and a detailed park assessment to examine these associations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty urban schoolyards in the Midwest, ten of which were renovated, were included in this study. Using a detailed environmental assessment tool (i.e., Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces), information on a variety of playground attributes was collected. Using direct observation (i.e., System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth), the number of adults, girls and boys attending each schoolyard and their physical activity levels were recorded. Each schoolyard was observed ten times for 90 minutes each time outside of school hours. Clustered multivariable negative binomial regressions and linear regressions were completed to examine the association between playground attributes and utilization of the schoolyard and the proportion active on the playground, respectively. Effect modification by renovation status was also examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At renovated schoolyards, the total number of play features was significantly associated with greater utilization in adults and girls; overall cleanliness was significantly associated with less utilization in girls and boys; and coverage/shade for resting features was significantly associated with greater utilization in adults and boys. At unrenovated schoolyards, overall safety was significantly associated with greater utilization in boys. No playground attribute was associated with the proportion active on the playground after adjusting for all other significant playground attributes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Having a large quantity of play features and shade at renovated playgrounds were positively associated with utilization of the schoolyard. Modifying playgrounds to have these features may increase the utilization of these facilities outside of school time. Additional research should explore what features and amenities are associated with increased physical activity levels of children and adults who utilize the facilities.</p

Examining the Impact of the Walking School Bus With an Agent-Based Model

We used an agent-based model to examine the impact of the walking school bus (WSB) on children’s active travel to school. We identified a synergistic effect of the WSB with other intervention components such as an educational campaign designed to improve attitudes toward active travel to school. Results suggest that to maximize active travel to school, children should arrive on time at “bus stops” to allow faster WSB walking speeds. We also illustrate how an agent-based model can be used to identify the location of routes maximizing the effects of the WSB on active travel. Agent-based models can be used to examine plausible effects of the WSB on active travel to school under various conditions and to identify ways of implementing the WSB that maximize its effectiveness

Co-varying Patterns of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Their Long-Term Maintenance Among Adolescents

Background: We examined the covarying patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviors among adolescents and their long-term maintenance. Methods: Data came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1995-2002). We used latent class analysis to identify distinct covarying patterns in adolescence. Logistic regression models were used to predict odds of meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations (≥5 bouts/week) and exceeding screen time guidelines (\u3e2 hours/day) 6 years later based on their adolescent class profile. Results: Five classes for each gender were identified and labeled as low physical activity (PA)/low sedentary behaviors (SED), moderate (Mod) PA/high (HI) SED, Mod PA/low SED, HI PA/low SED, and HI PA (except skating/biking)/low SED. Compared with low PA/low SED, males and females in Mod PA/low SED, HI PA/low SED, and HI PA (except skating/biking)/low SED classes had increased odds of meeting MVPA recommendations in young adulthood. Mod PA/HI SED had higher odds of exceeding screen time guidelines in young adulthood (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for females: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.00-2.81; AOR for males: 3.31, 95% CI: 1.80-6.09). Conclusions: Findings are useful to aid the development of multifactorial interventions that promote physical activity and reduce screen time among adolescents transitioning to adulthood

Validity of environmental audits using GigaPan® and Google Earth Technology

Abstract Background Health behaviors are shaped by the context in which people live. However, documenting environmental context has remained a challenge. More specifically, direct observation techniques require large investments in time and resources and auditing the environment through web-based platforms has limited stability in spatio-temporal imagery. This study examined the validity of a new methodology, using GigaPan® imagery, where we took photos locally and, stitched them together using GigaPan® technology, and quantified environmental attributes from the resulting panoramic photo. For comparison, we examined validity using Google Earth imagery. Methods A total of 464 street segments were assessed using three methods: GigaPan® audits, Google Earth audits, and direct observation audits. Thirty-seven different attributes were captured representing three broad constructs: land use, traffic and safety, and amenities. Sensitivity (i.e. the proportion of true positives) and specificity (i.e. the proportion of true negatives) were used to estimate the validity of GigaPan® and Google Earth audits using direct observation audits as the gold standard. Results Using GigaPan®, sensitivity was 80% or higher for 6 of 37 items and specificity was 80% or higher for 31 of 37 items. Using Google Earth, sensitivity was 80% or higher for 8 of 37 items and specificity was 80% or higher for 30 of 37 items. The validity of GigaPan® and Google Earth was similar, with significant differences in sensitivity and specificity for 7 items and 2 items, respectively. Conclusion GigaPan® performed well, especially when identifying features absent from the environment. A major strength of the GigaPan® technology is its ability to be implemented quickly in the field relative to direct observation. GigaPan® is a method to consider as an alternative to direct observation when temporality is prioritized or Google Earth imagery is unavailable.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144541/1/12942_2018_Article_147.pd

Stepping It Up: Walking Behaviors in Children Transitioning from 5th to 7th Grade

The purpose of this study was to (1) describe children’s walking behaviors in 5th to 7th grade and change over time and (2) examine associations between walking behaviors and Walk Score®. Participants consisted of n = 586 students from the Transitions and Activity Changes in Kids (TRACK) Study. Children reported any walking behavior (e.g., exercise and transportation) over the past five days. Walk Score was calculated based on children’s home address. Descriptive statistics summarized walking behaviors by gender and time, and repeated measure mixed models examined the relationship between walking behaviors and Walk Score. Approximately 46.8% and 19.2% of 5th grade children reported walking for exercise and transportation, respectively, and these percentages declined through 7th grade. Girls reported higher levels of total walking behavior and walking for exercise than boys (p \u3c 0.001). Girls with a higher Walk Score had 63% higher odds of reporting walking for transportation than girls with a lower Walk Score (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.62). Walking behaviors among children were infrequent with significant declines over time, and of the nine associations examined with Walk Score, only one was significant. Efforts should prioritize frequent walking behavior and community design to increase children’s physical activity