Educating the creative workforce: New directions for 21st Century schooling

This article sets out reasons for arguing that creativity is not garnish to the roast of industry or of education—i.e. the reasoning behind Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi's insistence that creativity is not only about elites but involves everyone. This article investigates three key domains—scholarship, commerce and learning—to argue the importance of moving creativity from the margins of formal education to its centre. First, the article elaborates the scholarly work being done to bring definitional clarity to the concept of creativity, moving it from the realm of mystery, serendipity and individual genius to a definitional field that is more amenable to analysis. It then provides evidence about the extent to which creative capacity is being understood to be a powerful economic driver, not simply the province of the arts and the hobbyist. Finally, it examines new learning theory and its implications for formal education, noting both the possibilities and pitfalls in preparing young people for creative workforce futures

Older Australians and the Internet

In late 2009, Sandra Haukka secured funding from the auDA Foundation to explore what older Australians who never or rarely use the Internet (referred to as ‘non-users’) know about the types of online products and services available to them, and how they might use these products and services to improve their daily life. This project aims to support current and future strategies and initiatives by: 1) exploring the extent to which non-users are aware of the types and benefits of online products and services, (such as e-shopping, e-banking, e-health, social networking, and general browsing and research) as well as their interest in them b) identifying how the Internet can improve the daily life of older Australians c) reviewing the effectiveness of support and services designed to educate and encourage older people to engage with the Internet d) recommending strategies that aim to raise non-user awareness of current and emerging online products and services, and provide non-users with the skills and knowledge needed to use those products and services that they believe can improve their daily life. The Productive Ageing Centre at National Seniors Australia, and Professor Trevor Barr from Swinburne University provided the project with in-kind support

The Role of Structural Funds in Developing Learning Regions

The thematic background of learning regions is based on the concept of learning organisations and on the paradigm of the innovative milieu. The frame of reference of the learning regions can be seen as a synthesis of regional and organisational based definitions, which involve the process of learning. Compared to the theory of learning organisations, the most challenging question is to find the collective mission among a heterogeneous group of actors, which involves individuals, organisations, enterprises etc. The key processes of learning regions can be divided in the three categories. The first element in the concept of learning regions is producing and enhancing human capital in individual, organisational and regional level. The formation of new human capital plays an important role in innovation process and it is also closely linked to learning process, which can be realized through new technological and scientific innovations. The second element is the cooperation of regional actors and the diffusion of human capital and know-how in and between the organisations. This can be seen as an opportunity to gain agglomeration benefits. The third - and perhaps the most important - issue in the framework of learning regions is how human capital and new know-how can be transferred to practise. From regional point of view this means growing GDP, employment, better quality of services and welfare. The basic pillars of the European social fund are based on education, employment and know-how. Presumably, structural fund based acts on regional level have a catalytic influence on the key processes of learning regions. The basic processes which can be affected by ESF are the producing new human capital, subdividing the know-how and transferring it to practice. It is also clear that sustainable regional competitiveness needs social inclusion as a basement. The social inclusion is important part of ESF acts, and in that way the projects funded by ESF are also closely related to the concept of learning regions. In this paper, we explore what is the role of ESF interventions in developing regional competitiveness. The study is based on the concept of learning regions, and it is based on dissection of register based sample of ESF-projects, which covers over 30% of projects of ongoing ESF period 2000-2006 in Finland. Main purpose of this paper is to find out, how projects are integrated to the processes of learning region (enhancing human capital, the diffusion of human capital and transferring it to practise).

UPS-laitteen asennus ja virransyötön saneeraus

Insinöörityössä saneerataan Kouvolan rautatieliikenteenohjauskeskuksen virransyöttölaitteistoa vaihtamalla vanha nobreak-laite nykyaikaiseen ups laitteeseen. Muutostyössä säilytetään mahdollisimman paljon jo olemassa olevia sähköiseen ohjaukseen liittyviä komponentteja, kuitenkin tarkastaen ja korvaten huonokuntoiset sähköiset ja sähkömekaaniset osat samanarvoisilla uusilla komponenteilla. Tarkastus ja korjaus koskevat vain suoraan työhön liittyviä osia. Uusi UPS tarvitsee uuden syöttökaapelin ja sen mitoitus ja kaapelireittien toteutus kuuluu työhön. Vanhojen ja nyt käytössä olevien kaapeleiden soveltuvuus uuteen järjestelmään tarkistetaan ja tarvittaessa uusitaan. Työhön kuuluu myös toimintojen testaus, käyttöönottotarkastus muutetuilta osin, lyhytaikainen toiminnan tarkkailu ja vikaseuranta. Insinöörityön ulkopuolella vikaseurantaa jatketaan vuoden ajan valmistumisesta. Koska uusittavan UPS:n perässä on erittäin kriittistä kuormaa, on niiden siirto ja korvaavien jännitesyöttöjen järjestäminen ja asennus haastava tehtävä. Aikataulutus eri järjestelmien kunnossapitäjien, liikenteenohjauksen sekä rataliikennekeskuksen kanssa täytyy harkita tarkasti. UPS:n asentava urakoitsija on vastuussa tarvittavista ilmoituksista ja ennakkotietojärjestelmään laadittavan työselostuksen laatimisesta. Urakoitsijan tehtäväksi on määritelty myös lopullisen käyttöönoton järjestäminen ja vanhojen käytöstä poistuvien akkujen, kaappien ja purettavien kaapeleiden pois kuljettaminen sekä hävittäminen Liikenneviraston antamien ohjeiden ja määräysten mukaisesti. Ennen muiden laitteiden romuttamista selvitetään voiko niitä vielä käyttää ja tarvittaessa jättää varaosiksi. Insinöörityön tilaajana on Liikennevirasto ja työ suoritetaan normaalina työtehtävänä.In this thesis, new uninterruptible power system was measured and implemented replacing An old so called Nobreak UPS system in Kouvola Central Interlocking Center. In this project all the worn out and renewable equipment are replaced if necessary with modern and electrically equal components. Inspected and renewed components concern only parts which are related to the project directly. Planning cables and cable routes was included in the project as well. Cables currently in use will be checked if they are suitable for the new system and renewed if necessary. Also function testing, deployment process, short period function monitoring and fault inspecting were included in the project. There are very critical loads in renewable power system, therefore switching from old system to the new one will be a challenging task. The schedule between maintenance personnel, train dispatchers and railway agency needs to be properly combined. It is the contractors responsibility to make all the necessary announcements to the railway traffic controller. Also removing all the old batteries, cabins and cables in a proper way and according to the regulation of the Finnish Traffic Agency belongs to the contractors responsibility. Before destroying all the used equipment, it is necessary to consider if they can be used elsewhere. The project was commissioned by Finnish Traffic Agency and it was performed as a normal task

Working in Australia's digital games industry

The Working in Australia’s Digital Games Industry: A Consolidation Report is the outcome of a comprehensive study on the games industry in Australia by Dr Sandra Haukka from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) based at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. The study responds to concerns that Australia’s games industry would not reach its full potential due to a lack of local, highly skilled staff, and a lack of appropriately trained graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills. This is the first of two reports produced with the support of the Games Developers’ Association of Australia. Over coming months researchers will develop a future skills strategy report for the industry

Adherence to individualized recall intervals for oral health examinations

Objectives: The aim of this follow-up study was to investigate whether adults attend an oral health examination (OHE) based on their individual recall interval (IRI) without a reminder recall system.Methods: The study population included adults who were attending an OHE recommended by their dentists based on their IRI in public oral healthcare clinics of Helsinki City January 1, 2009-December 31, 2009. The inclusion criteria were as follows: alive until the end of IRI, length of the IRI of 12-60 months, and study participants had not been treated successfully by a dental specialist during the IRI period (n = 41,255). We used a multinomial model to identify the factors associated with the timing of OHE. The following predictors were included: oral health indices such as Decayed Teeth and the Community Periodontal Index, the length of the IRI based on an OHE in 2009, age, gender, socioeconomic status, presence of chronic diseases, and emergency appointment. Results were presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.Results: The OHE based on IRI occurred for 7505 individuals (18.2%) and the OHE was late for 9159 individuals (22.2%). A total of 24,591 (59.6%) adults did not undergo follow-up OHE based on the IRI period of on time or late. Those who came on time for follow-up OHE experienced less caries than those who came later. There was not much difference in periodontal health between the groups. The models indicated that having an emergency appointment was associated with a higher probability of having an OHE. A long IRI (37-60 months) was associated with a higher probability of not participating in OHE even late.Conclusions: It would be beneficial for patients to take appointments based on the recall interval. The results of this study indicated that more needs to be done to increase awareness in the adult population of the benefits and availability of follow-up OHEs based on their IRI in oral healthcare.Peer reviewe

Effective models of employment-based training

Evolving models of employment-based training (EBT) are responding to skill shortages and the need to develop technical skills at a level higher than a certificate III—the benchmark qualification level considered by many as the minimum for ensuring sustainable job outcomes (Stanwick 2004). This research explored a variety of current employment-based training models and proposed five enhancements for higher-level qualifications. These changes concentrate on maintaining a balance of learning experiences between educational institutions and the workplace. The project was based around case studies in process manufacturing and child care. Thirty-three individuals, representing employers, employees/apprentices, vocational education and training (VET) providers, industry bodies and training package developers were interviewed. The issues and views expressed by those interviewed from both industries were consistent with what was found in the literature review. Current models of employment-based training can usefully be grouped as: two forms of 'fast-tracking' options in a formal apprenticeship model, especially at certificate III level, to address immediate skills shortages. These are accelerated progression models (shorter durations linked to a truly competency-based approach) and intensive up-front training, followed by work-based learning to ensure immediate productivity of the learner in the workplace higher-level VET qualifications gained either through an apprenticeship or by undertaking a vocational course the design of new skill sets/qualifications at various levels of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) alternative provisions for young people. Although these models continue to make a significant contribution to the skilling of the Australian workforce, their full potential is limited by certain persistent issues. These include inconsistent regulatory arrangements, non-compliance by employers and registered training organisations, poor audit processes, variations in the interpretation and practice of competency-based training, and wages and awards. These various factors mean poor completion rates and losses for individuals, employers, governments and other stakeholders. Recent changes in policy direction are attempting to address some of these issues and simultaneously increase interest and growth in the uptake of employment-based training. Any new models of employment-based training should address existing problems, as well as take into account the emerging needs of industry for skilled labour. The design of the models must also address an ageing workforce and allow flexible entry points for all age groups. Furthermore, future employment-based training models also need to keep pace with how work is organised in an environment characterised by increased competition, outsourcing, casualisation and an emphasis on specialisation and innovation. What is becoming apparent is the need for a compendium of models, rather than a 'one size fits all' approach

Design of analog predistorter

Abstract. In this thesis, two analog predistorter circuits are designed for linearizing the CMOS power amplifier in MIMO transceivers. The first circuit uses two parallel transistors as conventional derivative superposition, where derivatives of the transistor drain currents are biased to have opposite phases for 3rd-order distortion components. This results in the cancellation and thus providing a very linear 3rd-order response. The other design, using complementary derivative superposition topology, has p- and n-type transistors with a common drain self-biasing to achieve expansive power gain. This is used to improve the 1-dB compression point of the CMOS power amplifier. Simulation results of conventional derivative superposition circuit show over 25 dB improvement in distortion level, while still providing a fair amount of power gain. Implementation with a CMOS power amplifier shows a 2.6 dB improvement in 1 dB compression point. With the circuit having expansive characteristics, adjustable gain-expansion behaviour is achieved. With the implemented digital bias control, expansion between 2.5 dB and 4 dB is achieved, with gain variation between -2.4 dB and 1 dB. With a CMOS power amplifier, 3.5 dB improvement in 1 dB compression point is achieved, allowing the power amplifier to be used with greater efficiency. Both circuits are implemented using 22nm CMOS SOI technology and submitted to fabrication

Cancer is associated with a 2.7 higher risk for intravitreal injection therapy in patients with age-related, diabetic, or vascular occlusive macular edema

Non peer reviewe

Soome tervise- ja sotsiaalregistrid ning epidemioloogilised uuringud*

Soomes võeti isikukoodisüsteem kasutusele 1964. aastal ja pärast seda kanti isikukood peaaegu kõikidesse administratiivregistritesse. Praegu kehtivad Soomes ranged andmekaitseseadused, mis keelustavad delikaatse tervise- ja sotsiaalinfo kogumise. Terviseandmeid, mis sisaldavad isikut tuvastavaid tunnuseid, võib koguda patsientide või klientide informeeritud nõusoleku korral või eriseaduste alusel. Eesti Arst 2004; 83 (8): 543–55