156 research outputs found
In Jenâs Shoes â Looking Back to Look Forward: An Autoethnographic Account
This paper discusses the monumental events in my life that have shaped my two professional identities, teacher and researcher. I used autoethnography as a research methodology to traverse my personal life narratives across two different countries: Vietnam and Australia to seek and to examine my dual cultural identities, and how they shaped me. I am a passionate teacher who believes that teaching can change the world through the causes that I care about such as anti-racism and equity in education for students from all backgrounds. In this case study, data were collected by semi-structured interview and reflection on journals. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The findings are reported under four themes that reflected the stages of my life: designed in Vietnam, made in Australia was the first phase, growing up in Australia, my schooling years and professional years. By making sense of the narratives and involved, it helped me to understand myself better, who I am as a teacher and the causes that I believe in. As an Australian with hybrid cultural identities, I am the norm in contemporary culture
Pencil or Keyboard? Boysâ Preferences in Writing
Handwriting is an important subject in primary schools, especially in the Early Years. The importance of writing skill is now seen as a debate with the increasing demand on children to learn technology skills to help them with 21st Century learningâhow to write on the keyboard effectively. The topic is important because handwriting is an essential life skill to have with or without technology. In this study, I looked at the importance of both in the context of the qualitative case studies in three schools in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of the research is to explore how do students understand the learning of handwriting and keyboarding in schools? This qualitative case study employed a Thematic Analysis approach in which the central intention was to understand the lived experience of six Year 6 boys across three schools and their attitudes to writing and technology. In this article, I addressed the importance of teaching handwriting to primary school students, especially in the first four years of their school life from Foundation to Year 3. The findings suggest that teachers should continue explicitly teaching handwriting to their students despite the heavy reliance on technology in todayâs lifestyle
Inclusion for a Student with Vision Impairment: âThey accept me, like, as in I am there, but they just wonât talk to me.â
We explore the experiences of Nick, a secondary school student with vision impairment in an Australian mainstream school in this study, and we particularly focus on whether he perceived his education as inclusive. We have used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in this single individual case as this approach explores our participantâs understandings which may be revealed by close examination of mindful experiences. The âgemâ spoken by Nick (pseudonym), our 16-year old participant, was âThey accept me, like as in I am there, but they just wonât talk to me.â This statement summarises his sense of not belonging, of being other, and of being bullied. The inability of his school to provide an inclusive education was apparent to him, and his often-unfulfilled need for access to specialist teachers of vision impairment is explored. Our study includes vivid quotes from Nick to bring his voice to our phenomenological interpretation
Qualitative study of five FSL teachers using constructivism to support second language learning
This qualitative study concerns how five participants who teach French use
constructivism as a theory of learning in their classrooms and how this effects their
studentsâ learning. In a constructivist classroom, learning experiences are based on the
construction of knowledge, prior knowledge, and social context. Students make sense
of what they are learning in relation to what they already know and new knowledge is
gained by sharing of ideas with others. A snowball sampling technique was used to
generate a list of five participants. The interview process involved a semi-structured
question format, allowing for probes to explore the responses further. The participantsâ
own words and experiences are used to illustrate how their students acquire a second
language. The findings reveal how active learning helps students make sense of what
they are learning, assume ownership of their education and have fun in the classroom
Examining barriers and facilitators in using teachersâ journals for critical space
Among the varying ways to reflect on practice, learning journals capture the stories and
lived experiences of teachers and help the writer to learn from experience about an event,
an idea, or emotions.
What does critical space in learning journals look like and under
what conditions is it accessed? This needs to be understood to develop strategies to assist
teachers in their journaling. The key finding was that teachers use journals for many
different purposes, not all of which are critical. âCritical spaceâ is a place for teachers to
critique and challenge their practice. It is found in journaling when privacy is assured or
there is a trusted audience. Time and place are key to supporting teachersâ critical
reflections. Teachers must believe that change is possible and that this change brings
professional growth. Necessary mechanisms put in place at the classroom, school, and
government level would support this practice.
Multiple data sources were used including
convergent interviews, email correspondence, and journal excerpts
Dry Gas Seal Retrofit.
LecturePg. 221-230Conventionally lubricated shaft sealing systems have long been known to be unreliable, high in maintenance and in some cases hazardous in centrifugal compressors. Labyrinth sealing systems, while generally low in maintenance, are extremely high in operating costs (product loss and steam costs). Dry gas lubricated sealing systems retrofitted into centrifugal compressors are now recognized as a cost effective means of improving equipment performance. Step by step requirements for a successful retrofit of a centrifugal compressor with dry running gas lubricated seals is presented based upon experience and the review of numerous retrofit projects in which dry gas seals are now operating. A description and the advantages of dry gas seals are provided, along with a feasibility study to determine whether or not a retrofit is technically, environmentally, and economically desirable. A detailed proposal request narrative and steps suggested in awarding the contract are shown. This is followed by installation procedures for the dry gas seals along with the commissioning of the newly retrofitted machine. The significant issues presented are based on actual case histories
Opportunistic pathology-based screening for diabetes
OBJECTIVE To determine the potential of opportunistic glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) testing of pathology samples to detect previously unknown diabetes. DESIGN Pathology samples from participants collected for other reasons and suitable for HbA1c testing were utilised for opportunistic diabetes screening. HbA1c was measured with a Biorad Variant II turbo analyser and HbA1c levels of â„6.5% (48 mmol/mol) were considered diagnostic for diabetes. Confirmation of previously unknown diabetes status was obtained by a review of hospital medical records and phone calls to general practitioners. SETTING Hospital pathology laboratory receiving samples from hospital-based and community-based (CB) settings. PARTICIPANTS Participants were identified based on the blood sample collection location in the CB, emergency department (ED) and inpatient (IP) groups. Exclusions pretesting were made based on the electronic patient history of: age <18 years, previous diabetes diagnosis, query for diabetes status in the past 12 months, evidence of pregnancy and sample collected postsurgery or transfusion. Only one sample per individual participant was tested. RESULTS Of the 22 396 blood samples collected, 4505 (1142 CB, 1113 ED, 2250 IP) were tested of which 327 (7.3%) had HbA1c levels â„6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Of these 120 (2.7%) were determined to have previously unknown diabetes (11 (1%) CB, 21 (1.9%) ED, 88 (3.9%) IP). The prevalence of previously unknown diabetes was substantially higher (5.4%) in hospital-based (ED and IP) participants aged over 54 years. CONCLUSIONS Opportunistic testing of referred pathology samples can be an effective method of screening for diabetes, especially in hospital-based and older persons.This project was supported by a grant from the Canberra Hospital
Private Practice Trust Fund
The role of social capital in participatory arts for wellbeing: findings from a qualitative systematic review
BACKGROUND:Social capital is often cited as shaping impacts of participatory arts, although the concept has not been systematically mapped in arts, health and wellbeing contexts. In wider health inequalities research, complex, differential, and sometimes negative impacts of social capital have been recognised. METHODS:This paper maps of social capital concepts in qualitative research as part of the UK What Works for Wellbeing evidence review programme on culture, sport and wellbeing. RESULTS:Studies often cite positive impacts of bonding and, to a lesser extent, bridging social capital. However, reported challenges suggest the need for a critical approach. Forms of linking social capital, such as reframing and political engagement to address social divisions, are less often cited but may be important in participatory arts and wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS:Future research should further specify dimensions of social capital as well as their nuanced effects in arts, and wellbeing contexts
The Melbourne epidemic thunderstorm asthma event 2016: an investigation of environmental triggers, effect on health services, and patient risk factors.
BACKGROUND: A multidisciplinary collaboration investigated the world's largest, most catastrophic epidemic thunderstorm asthma event that took place in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov 21, 2016, to inform mechanisms and preventive strategies. METHODS: Meteorological and airborne pollen data, satellite-derived vegetation index, ambulance callouts, emergency department presentations, and data on hospital admissions for Nov 21, 2016, as well as leading up to and following the event were collected between Nov 21, 2016, and March 31, 2017, and analysed. We contacted patients who presented during the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event at eight metropolitan health services (each including up to three hospitals) via telephone questionnaire to determine patient characteristics, and investigated outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. FINDINGS: Grass pollen concentrations on Nov 21, 2016, were extremely high (>100 grains/m3). At 1800 AEDT, a gust front crossed Melbourne, plunging temperatures 10°C, raising humidity above 70%, and concentrating particulate matter. Within 30 h, there were 3365 (672%) excess respiratory-related presentations to emergency departments, and 476 (992%) excess asthma-related admissions to hospital, especially individuals of Indian or Sri Lankan birth (10% vs 1%, p<0·0001) and south-east Asian birth (8% vs 1%, p<0·0001) compared with previous 3 years. Questionnaire data from 1435 (64%) of 2248 emergency department presentations showed a mean age of 32·0 years (SD 18·6), 56% of whom were male. Only 28% had current doctor-diagnosed asthma. 39% of the presentations were of Asian or Indian ethnicity (25% of the Melbourne population were of this ethnicity according to the 2016 census, relative risk [RR] 1·93, 95% CI 1·74-2·15, p <0·0001). Of ten individuals who died, six were Asian or Indian (RR 4·54, 95% CI 1·28-16·09; p=0·01). 35 individuals were admitted to an intensive care unit, all had asthma, 12 took inhaled preventers, and five died. INTERPRETATION: Convergent environmental factors triggered a thunderstorm asthma epidemic of unprecedented magnitude, tempo, and geographical range and severity on Nov 21, 2016, creating a new benchmark for emergency and health service escalation. Asian or Indian ethnicity and current doctor-diagnosed asthma portended life-threatening exacerbations such as those requiring admission to an ICU. Overall, the findings provide important public health lessons applicable to future event forecasting, health care response coordination, protection of at-risk populations, and medical management of epidemic thunderstorm asthma. FUNDING: None
A simplified (modified) Duke Activity Status Index (M-DASI) to characterise functional capacity: A secondary analysis of the Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery (METS) study
Background
Accurate assessment of functional capacity, a predictor of postoperative morbidity and mortality, is essential to improving surgical planning and outcomes. We assessed if all 12 items of the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) were equally important in reflecting exercise capacity.
Methods
In this secondary cross-sectional analysis of the international, multicentre Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery (METS) study, we assessed cardiopulmonary exercise testing and DASI data from 1455 participants. Multivariable regression analyses were used to revise the DASI model in predicting an anaerobic threshold (AT) >11 ml kg â1 min â1 and peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 peak) >16 ml kg â1 min â1, cut-points that represent a reduced risk of postoperative complications.
Results
Five questions were identified to have dominance in predicting AT>11 ml kg â1 min â1 and VO 2 peak>16 ml.kg â1min â1. These items were included in the M-DASI-5Q and retained utility in predicting AT>11 ml.kg â1.min â1 (area under the receiver-operating-characteristic [AUROC]-AT: M-DASI-5Q=0.67 vs original 12-question DASI=0.66) and VO 2 peak (AUROC-VO2 peak: M-DASI-5Q 0.73 vs original 12-question DASI 0.71). Conversely, in a sensitivity analysis we removed one potentially sensitive question related to the ability to have sexual relations, and the ability of the remaining four questions (M-DASI-4Q) to predict an adequate functional threshold remained no worse than the original 12-question DASI model. Adding a dynamic component to the M-DASI-4Q by assessing the chronotropic response to exercise improved its ability to discriminate between those with VO 2 peak>16 ml.kg â1.min â1 and VO 2 peak<16 ml.kg â1.min â1.
Conclusions
The M-DASI provides a simple screening tool for further preoperative evaluation, including with cardiopulmonary exercise testing, to guide perioperative management
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