Letter from Engward Ohlson

Letter concerning a copy of the catalogue for Utah Agricultural College

Working With Me: Revisiting the Tutorial as Academic Care

Tutoring in one form or another is a consistent feature in the higher education learning experience. However, the tutorial relationship involves an intricate mix of intra and interpersonal dynamics which influence short and long-term learning. In this paper, work from a phenomenological study of distance learning students provides transferable insights about the immediate and lasting impact of the tutorial relationship. Ideas from Heideggarian hermeneutic phenomenology are translated to the context of contemporary higher education to establish how achieving a sense of being-with has affective implications to help students to strengthen resilience and the capacity to challenge, confirm and develop confidence in their new learning, thinking and actions. The discussion introduces and unravels the nature of academic care in relation to working with learner vulnerability to enhance ability. Re-conceptualizing the tutorial as a form of academic care can provide support and security for learners at a time of unsettlement without lessening their autonomy. We argue that by creating an atmosphere of academic care, learners are empowered and inspired to be courageous and curious, both in the immediate and longer-term. The discussion refocuses the tutorial relationship through ideas and applied strategies for successful future-facing tutoring practices, without major upheaval to the existing operational tutoring infrastructure within the HEI

In defence of the Viva Voce: Eighteen Candidates’ Voices

Background: The doctoral viva voce is an under-researched field, particularly from the point of view of doctoral candidates. With increasing numbers of health care professionals undertaking doctoral study, we can develop practice by listening to their ‘living voices’. Objective: To explore doctoral candidates’ experiences of their viva. Design and methods: Using exploratory research and purposive sampling, eighteen participants who had undergone examination of their doctorate within the last five years were identified. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore these participants’ experiences of their viva. Results: Thematic analysis of the data demonstrated that: Candidates wanted to engage in academic argument but were not always provided the opportunity to do so; The viva voce examination was frequently an emotional experience, even for candidates who did not regard themselves as subject to such emotions, examiners were sometimes able to moderate the effect of these emotions; Practical aspects of the examination were not always considered; Issues of fairness were raised, both by successful candidates and by those who were required to resubmit. Conclusions: The viva voce examination, as experienced by candidates, is not always a fair one. We recommend engagement of the academic community to promote best practice in the ‘living voice’ examination

Ethics in the interface between multidisciplinary teams: a narrative in stages for inter-professional education

An ethically problematic clinical case is used to illustrate the potential importance of understanding clinical ethics in an interdisciplinary context. Whilst much has been written on ethics education for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams, we argue that it is important that both healthcare professions and healthcare teams are able to look outside their own disciplinary ethos and sometimes outside their formal teams when considering the ramifications of an ethical issue. A complex (fictional but based on the authors’ pooled experiences) case involving the delivery of a new-born from a mother with HIV is used to illustrate this, because multiple clinical teams will be involved at different times and in parallel with one another

Caring and Coping: The Family Perspective on Living with Limb Loss

This report presents findings of research into how veterans with limb loss, and their families, live with limb loss. Using Grounded Theory, data has been collected from 72 veterans and family members using unstructured interviews, structured questionnaires and closed question telephone interviews. Findings indicate, firstly, that the central concern of veterans with limb loss, and families, is coping during living with limb loss, and that the veteran with limb loss and their carer/s may experience differing levels of coping (low, mid, high) during any specific time period. Each coping level is characterised by behaviours/characteristics to which appropriate support can be aligned; secondly, there are distinct time periods where certain types of Blesma/organisational support are more likely to effectively support coping ability. This report presents these findings, which are developed into a practical Living with Limb Loss Support Model (LLSM). The LLSM identifies specific periods where timely support is more likely to be relevant and effective in supporting individual needs and coping levels, as further explained in the ‘Practical Application of Findings’ (see pages 14-20). Conclusions suggest recommendations for support and practices Blesma and other support organisations could develop, suggestions for future research, and development of an evidence base, that will underpin policy making and service delivery, to enable sustained and positive change for veterans and their families. Furthermore, although this research was carried out with veterans and their family members, the recommendations are intended to be transferable to other persons with limb loss (PWLL) and their families. This is a collaborative study between Blesma and The Veterans & Families Institute for Military Social Research (VFI), at Anglia Ruskin University, and is funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT)

Examining the effects of acquired limb loss on the family network: a grounded theory study

Background: Individuals with acquired limb loss are faced with various challenges. Family networks become important in facilitating coping and recovery, but the limited research into their own experiences has so far only examined spousal and parental carers. Aims: This research aimed to: understand the experiences of acquired limb loss from the perspective of the family network; and to develop a theoretical model to explain how they experience limb loss of the other. The use of ‘network’ was adopted to include kin self-identified as family. Method: Participants (n = 14) were recruited nationally. Interviews were conducted in a process moving from unstructured, semi-structured and structured interviews, using Grounded Theory method. Findings: A theoretical model was developed around the interaction of five core categories. Families witness the difficulties faced by the person with limb loss, leading to a responsibility to provide support. Families subsequently experience various challenges of limb loss; together with numerous emotional reactions. Various forms of coping are used in order to resolve these experiences. Conclusions: Families are involved in the processes and challenges of an amputation in another family member, regardless of aetiology, gender or relationship structure. The theoretical model can be understood through the integration of existing research. The issues identified indicate potential considerations for services supporting such families.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION The challenges and emotions experienced by family members have potential consequences for the support offered to the person with limb loss. This could ultimately influence the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the person with limb loss. Services should support families in witnessing difficulties in the person with limb loss, adjusting to relational changes and managing health care systems

Arts activity and well-being for visually impaired military veterans: a narrative discussion of current knowledge

Objectives: The objective of this study was to offer an overview of literature relating to the topic of arts as activity within the context of military and veteran health and to consider the implications of current knowledge on future research with visually impaired veterans. Study design: A search for literature addressing the topic of visual art activities with visually impaired veterans was undertaken. No research addressing this topic was identified. A review of literature on the related topics of mental health and well-being in military veterans, visual impairment and mental health and well-being, and art therapy for veteran populations was carried out to offer an overview of current knowledge. Results: While there is growing evidence of the benefits of arts engagement among both general and military populations, the role of the visual arts in the everyday lives of broader veteran samples, and the impact of these activities on holistic well-being, remains underexplored. The current article highlights the need for art as activity to be differentiated from art as therapy and argues that the former might offer a tool to positively impact the holistic well-being of visually impaired veterans. Conclusions: Future research relating to the use of visual art activities in the context of veteran health and well-being should endeavour to explore the potential impacts of engagement on holistic well-being. Research is needed to build on anecdotal evidence of the positive impact of arts engagement on visually impaired veterans by systematically exploring if, and how, holistic well-being in this population may be impacted by engagement with visual art activities

Togetherness in Separation: Practical Considerations for Doing Remote Qualitative Interviews Ethically

This discussion paper considers some of the practical and ethical aspects of doing qualitative interviews using synchronous online visual technologies within a shifting research context. It is argued that the immediate access to potential participants and subsequent data collection necessitate adjustment to the ways in which qualitative researchers understand and apply ethics, accountability, and responsibility in their data collection processes. We examine the parallels between interviewing face-to-face and interviewing using technology from a practical and integral perspective. In the online environment researchers require a heightened sensitivity and awareness of their attitudes, knowledge, and skills before, during, and after the interview to ensure that the process is safe, rigorous, and meaningful for collecting comprehensive qualitative data. To do this, we consider how to plan, conduct, and end online interviews using voice over internet protocol (VolP)