New learning opportunities in a networked world : developing a research agenda on innovative uses of ICTs for learning and teaching; final report

The research aims to establish a relevant research agenda on issues of new digital learning opportunities. Experts in advanced technologies for educational purposes were consulted about how these could impact education in developing countries: open educational resources (OER); massive open online courses (MOOCs); social networking; learning analytics; mobile and seamless learning; serious games and open linked data. The ‘Integration of technology in classroom’ and ‘ICT‐enabled pedagogy’ clusters score high on importance. The group concept mapping (GCM) study supported results in the theme of open education: OER, MOOCs, networked learning and mobile technologies act as a hub for techno‐pedagogical innovations

New learning opportunities in a networked world: developing a research agenda on innovative uses of ICTS for learning and teaching

IDRC Project Title: Developing a Research Agenda on Expanding New Digital Learning Opportunities in Developing Countries;IDRC Project Number: 107628The report describes outcomes of the activities carried out for the project “New Learning Opportunities in a Networked World: Developing a Research Agenda on Innovative uses of ICTs for Learning and Teaching”. The research consists of three main activities, namely desk research, written expert consultation and group concept mapping study involving a 2-day workshop and a follow-up with experts who could not attend the workshop. These activities are interconnected elements of the consultative approach to establishing a research agenda.International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canad

Contributors to secondary osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases in patients presenting with a clinical fracture.

Background: Previously undetected contributors to secondary osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases (SECOB) are frequently found in patients with osteoporosis, but the prevalence in patients at the time they present with a clinical fracture is unknown. Methods: All consecutive patients with a recent clinical vertebral or nonvertebral fracture, who were able and willing to be investigated (n = 626: 482 women, 144 men, age range 50-97 yr) had bone mineral density and laboratory investigations (serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, creatinine, intact PTH, TSH, free T-4, serum and urine protein electrophoresis, and in men also serum testosterone). Results: Known SECOB contributors were present in 23.0% of patients and newly diagnosed SECOB contributors in 26.5%: monoclonal proteinemia (14 of 626), renal insufficiency grade III or greater (54 of 626), primary (17 of 626) and secondary (64 of 626) hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism (39 of 626), and hypogonadism in men (12 of 144). Newly diagnosed SECOBs, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D less than 50 nmol/liter (in 63.9%), and dietary calcium intake less than 1200 mg/d (in 90.6%) were found at any age, in both sexes, after any fracture (except SECOB in men with finger and toe fractures) and at any level of bone mineral density. Conclusion: At presentation with a fracture, 26.5% of patients have previously unknown contributors to SECOB, which are treatable or need follow-up, and more than 90% of patients have an inadequate vitamin D status and/or calcium intake. Systematic screening of patients with a recent fracture identifies those in whom potentially reversible contributors to SECOB and calcium and vitamin D deficiency are present. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96: 1360-1367, 2011