Teaching Critical Reflection to Graduate Students

Critical reflection is a highly valued and widely applied learning approach in higher education. There are many benefits associated with engaging in critical reflection, and it is often integrated into the design of graduate level courses on university teaching as a life-long learning strategy to help ensure that learners build their capacity as critical reflective teaching practitioners. Despite its broad application and learning benefits, students often find the process of engaging in critical reflection inherently challenging. This paper explores the challenge associated with incorporating critical reflection into a graduate course on University Teaching at the University of Guelph. Strategies for effectively incorporating critical reflection are presented, based largely on Arsonson’s (2011) framework for teaching critical reflection and the outcomes of a workshop offered at the 2013 STLHE Conference. The strategies discussed have multidisciplinary relevance, and can be broadly applied to improve how critical reflection is incorporated into post-secondary cours

Exploring the Context of Canadian Graduate Student Teaching Certificates in University Teaching

A growing number of Canadian universities offer graduate student certificate programs in university teaching. This paper examines such programs at 13 Canadian universities and presents a discussion of program structures and practices. The findings suggest that most programs were offered over one to two years, and upon successful completion, participants were issued a centre-approved certificate paired with a more formalized method of recognition, such as a transcript notation. The core focus of certificate programs appears to be divided between those that emphasize practical skill development (46%) and those that offer practical skill development along with a focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning (54%). Most certificates included active and authentic assessment methods, such as dossiers (69%), and practice teaching sessions (62%). These findings help to inform the continued evolution of graduate student teaching certificate programs

Intensi tidur cukup mahasiswa berdasarkan Theory Of Planned Behavior: Analisis Structural Equation Modelling

Abstract Adequate sleep is essential since short sleep duration can cause various adverse effects. Previous research found that college students often find it difficult and have low intentions to get enough sleep due to several factors. This study aims to see the role of adequate sleep intention factors based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in college students, namely attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Participants were 600 college students at a state university in Indonesia. The data was obtained through a questionnaire adapted from the Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire (α=0,793) and statistically analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling and Kruskal-Wallis. The results show that attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control had a significant role in predicting adequate sleep intention in college students. Furthermore, attitude toward behavior has the most substantial role among the other factors. Through this research, future interventions that aim college students’ sleep intention can focus on targeting students’ attitude toward sleep behavior. Keywords: adequate sleep; college students; sleep intention; structural equation modelling; theory of planned behavior   Abstrak Tidur cukup sangat penting bagi manusia dan kurangnya waktu tidur dapat menyebabkan berbagai dampak negatif. Pada penelitian sebelumnya, ditemukan bahwa mahasiswa sering mengalami kesulitan dan memiliki intensi yang rendah untuk tidur cukup karena berbagai faktor. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat peran faktor-faktor yang mendasari intensi tidur cukup berdasarkan Theory of Planned Behavior pada mahasiswa, yaitu attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, dan perceived behavioral control. Partisipan pada penelitian ini adalah 600 mahasiswa salah satu perguruan tinggi negeri di Indonesia. Data diperoleh dengan menggunakan kuesioner yang diadaptasi dari Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire (α=0,793) dan dianalisis secara statistik dengan Structural Equation Modeling serta Kruskal-Wallis. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, dan perceived behavioral control berperan secara signifikan terhadap intensi tidur cukup mahasiswa. Adapun faktor yang memiliki peran terbesar dalam memprediksi intensi tidur cukup pada mahasiswa adalah attitude toward behavior. Melalui hasil penelitian ini, para praktisi dapat menyasar sikap mahasiswa terhadap perilaku tidur cukup saat hendak merancang intervensi tidur cukup pada mahasiswa. Kata kunci: intensi; mahasiswa; structural equation modelling; theory of planned behavior; tidur cuku

The Educational Developer’s Portfolio

Educational Development Guide Series: No. 1.The Educational Developer’s Portfoliohttps://scholar.uwindsor.ca/ctlreports/1006/thumbnail.jp

Exploring the Potential of Educational Developer Portfolios

There is growing interest in portfolios within the context of higher education, especially related to the use and integration of student learning portfolios, teaching portfolios, and eportfolios. Although little scholarly discourse has focused on educational developer portfolios, these have the potential to promote reflection on practice, showcase accomplishments, make explicit our approaches to practice, demonstrate impact, and support workplace personnel decisions. Despite these benefits, our community has not uniformly adopted the educational developer portfolio. Drawing from scholarly literature and based on findings from research gathered through World Cafés, this study explores the possibilities and potential for the educational developer portfolio. Findings demonstrate that these portfolios can be an authentic tool to communicate and substantiate the depth, breadth, and richness of our work. However, there is a need for a cultural shift throughout our community to further integrate and normalize educational developer portfolios in our practice

Innovative Certificate Programs in University Teaching and Learning: Experiential Learning for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

In response to a growing need for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to strengthen their teaching and learning skills, our university recently established innovative certificate programs that purposively incorporate experiential learning opportunities for deeper growth and development. Drawing on prior research and local needs assessments, we developed programs aimed to meet the identified needs of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. In this paper we describe how we planned, developed, and implemented these new certificate programs to engage graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from across our institution. Further, we discuss how these programs provide experiential learning opportunities for all participants

Seasonal variation in exploitative competition between honeybees and bumblebees.

Funder: University of SussexFunder: Charles Brian British Beekeepers Research TrustHoneybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus spp.) often undergo exploitative competition for shared floral resources, which can alter their foraging behaviour and flower choice, even causing competitive exclusion. This may be strongest in summer, when foraging conditions are most challenging for bees, compared to other times of the year. However, the seasonal dynamics of competition between these major pollinator groups are not well understood. Here, we investigate whether the strength of exploitative competition for nectar between honeybees and bumblebees varies seasonally, and whether competitive pressure is greatest in summer months. We carried out experimental bee exclusion trials from May to late September, using experimental patches of lavender, variety Grosso, in full bloom. In each trial, we compared the numbers of honeybees (HB) foraging on patches from which bumblebees had been manually excluded (bumblebee excluded, BBE) versus control (CON) patches, HB(BBE-CON). This measure of exploitative competition varied significantly with season. As expected, mean HB(BBE-CON) was significantly greater in summer trials than in spring or autumn trials. This was despite high nectar standing crop volumes in BBE patch flowers in spring and autumn trials. Mean HB(BBE-CON) was not different between spring and autumn trials. Our results show that nectar competition between honeybees and bumblebees varies seasonally and is stronger in summer than spring or autumn, adding to current understanding of the seasonality of resource demand and competition between bee species. This information may also help to inform conservation programs aiming to increase floral resources for bees by showing when these resources are most needed

Seasonal variation in exploitative competition between honeybees and bumblebees

Funder: University of SussexFunder: Charles Brian British Beekeepers Research TrustAbstract: Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus spp.) often undergo exploitative competition for shared floral resources, which can alter their foraging behaviour and flower choice, even causing competitive exclusion. This may be strongest in summer, when foraging conditions are most challenging for bees, compared to other times of the year. However, the seasonal dynamics of competition between these major pollinator groups are not well understood. Here, we investigate whether the strength of exploitative competition for nectar between honeybees and bumblebees varies seasonally, and whether competitive pressure is greatest in summer months. We carried out experimental bee exclusion trials from May to late September, using experimental patches of lavender, variety Grosso, in full bloom. In each trial, we compared the numbers of honeybees (HB) foraging on patches from which bumblebees had been manually excluded (bumblebee excluded, BBE) versus control (CON) patches, HB(BBE-CON). This measure of exploitative competition varied significantly with season. As expected, mean HB(BBE-CON) was significantly greater in summer trials than in spring or autumn trials. This was despite high nectar standing crop volumes in BBE patch flowers in spring and autumn trials. Mean HB(BBE-CON) was not different between spring and autumn trials. Our results show that nectar competition between honeybees and bumblebees varies seasonally and is stronger in summer than spring or autumn, adding to current understanding of the seasonality of resource demand and competition between bee species. This information may also help to inform conservation programs aiming to increase floral resources for bees by showing when these resources are most needed

Abstracts from the NIHR INVOLVE Conference 2017

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The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients