Location-Based Games Enhancing Education: Design and Implementation Lessons Learnt Location-Based Games Enhancing Education: Design and Implementation Lessons Learnt

Abstract Location-based games supported by a mobile technology seem to be promising tool for facilitating situated learning and enhancing cognitive and sensory engagement. The objectives of this paper are to provide a deep insight into process of development and implementation of educational location-based game, and to bring recommendations for such games' designers and educators. We created "Veltrusy: Treasure Island" the game providing an adventure educational experience in the location of chateau park Veltrusy. The Android application is freely available for its visitors but primarily it is intended for young children and parents. The story leads them throughout 10 locations in the park and presents cultural and natural heritage through logic riddles and activities demanding users' interaction with the environment. The educational aim was to provide an understanding of the local specific biotops (protected by NATURA 2000). The paper presents remarks from the process of creation the educational locationbased experience and brings the results from its implementation and critical evaluation with two groups of teachers; one group (N=7) of elementary school teachers and second group (N=10) of environmental educators. They tested the final version of the game individually or in pairs, the participant observers recorded all their activities and comments into structured forms. The findings from this study highlight number of practical reflections and recommendations important for successful educational design as well the interaction design. Besides other findings, motivation and situated learning can be enhanced by an interactive story supported by discovery of material cues in location. From the technical point of view, the design need to count with not only one but a group of players and provide them by engaging collaborative activities. Furthermore the on-screen and off-screen activities need to be batched in order to provide an efficient situated learning experience while the off-screen activities should outweigh the on-screen ones

Financial competencies as investigated in the nursing field: Findings of a scoping review

Aim(s): This study aims to map the extent of the research activity in the field of financial competencies and nursing and identify main patterns, advances, gaps, and evidence produced to date. Background: Financial competencies are important indicators of professionalism and may influence the quality of care in nursing; moreover, these competencies are the basis of health care sustainability. Despite their relevance, studies available on financial competencies in the nursing field have not been mapped to date. Evaluation: A scoping review was guided according to (a) the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review and (b) the Patterns, Advances, Gaps and Evidence for practice and Research recommendations framework. Key issue(s): A total of 21 studies were included. Main research patterns have been developing/evaluating the effectiveness of education programmes and investigating the nurse's role in the context of financial management, challenges and needs perceived by them, and tool validation to assess these competencies. The most frequently used concept across studies was ‘financial management competencies’ (n = 19). Conclusion(s): The sparse production of studies across countries suggests that there is a need to invest in this research field. Implications for nursing management: Nurses with managerial roles should invest in their financial competencies by requiring formal training both at the academic and at the continuing education levels. They should also promote educational initiatives for clinical nurses, to increase their capacity to contribute, understand, and manage the emerging financial issues

MORN5 expression during craniofacial development and its interaction with the BMP and TGFB pathways

MORN5 (MORN repeat containing 5) is encoded by a locus positioned on chromosome 17 in the chicken genome. The MORN motif is found in multiple copies in several proteins including junctophilins or phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase family and the MORN proteins themselves are found across the animal and plant kingdoms. MORN5 protein has a characteristic punctate pattern in the cytoplasm in immunofluorescence imaging. Previously, MORN5 was found among differentially expressed genes in a microarray profiling experiment of the chicken embryo head. Here, we provided in situ hybridization to analyse, in detail, the MORN5 expression in chick craniofacial structures. The expression of MORN5 was first observed at stage HH17-18 (E2.5). MORN5 expression gradually appeared on either side of the primitive oral cavity, within the maxillary region. At stage HH20 (E3), prominent expression was localised in the mandibular prominences lateral to the midline. From stage HH20 up to HH29 (E6), there was strong expression in restricted regions of the maxillary and mandibular prominences. The frontonasal mass (in the midline of the face) expresses MORN5, starting at HH27 (E5). The expression was concentrated in the corners or globular processes, which will ultimately fuse with the cranial edges of the maxillary prominences. MORN5 expression was maintained in the fusion zone up to stage HH29. In sections in situs, MORN5 expression was localised preferentially in the mesenchyme. We examined signals that regulate MORN5 expression in the face based on a previous microarray study. Here we validated the array results with in situ hybridization and QPCR. MORN5 was downregulated 24h after Noggin and/or RA treatment. We also determined that BMP pathway genes are downstream of MORN5 following siRNA knockdown. Based on these results, we conclude that MORN5 is both regulated by and required for BMP signalling. The restricted expression of MORN5 in the lip fusion zone shown here supports the human genetic data in which MORN5 variants were associated with increased risk of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate