Cognitive Profile of Students Who Enter Higher Education with an Indication of Dyslexia

For languages other than English there is a lack of empirical evidence about the cognitive profile of students entering higher education with a diagnosis of dyslexia. To obtain such evidence, we compared a group of 100 Dutch-speaking students diagnosed with dyslexia with a control group of 100 students without learning disabilities. Our study showed selective deficits in reading and writing (effect sizes for accuracy between d = 1 and d = 2), arithmetic (d≈1), and phonological processing (d>0.7). Except for spelling, these deficits were larger for speed related measures than for accuracy related measures. Students with dyslexia also performed slightly inferior on the KAIT tests of crystallized intelligence, due to the retrieval of verbal information from long-term memory. No significant differences were observed in the KAIT tests of fluid intelligence. The profile we obtained agrees with a recent meta-analysis of English findings suggesting that it generalizes to all alphabetic languages. Implications for special arrangements for students with dyslexia in higher education are outlined

Measurement imperatives and their impact: Academic staff narratives on riding the metric tide

Higher education is in the grip of an unprecedented level of attention to quantitative performance indicators. The recent trajectory of government policy discourses position such measures as necessary in enabling students to have more and better information to inform their choices, in ensuring that institutions are more transparent in their offer, and in justifying to the public that government funding for higher education is well-spent. Measurement imperatives are, therefore, positioned in policy discourses as key to the generation of market competition and institutional differentiation. But beyond government policymakers, many are sceptical about their use and value. Some consider that the measures themselves are flawed instruments; some are concerned about their role in increasing surveillance of staff; and some feel they have little value in relation to enhancing knowledge and knowing, improving pedagogic relationships and developing learning communities. This chapter uses a narrative approach to explore these tensions. It includes five academics’ accounts of their personal responses to measurement imperatives. In tracing how individual narratives intersect with broader discourses of marketisation, equity and differentiation, the chapter activates the sociological imagination (C. Wright Mills, 1959) to bring into closer view some vital questions about the aims, purpose and value of contemporary higher education

Effects of music therapy on the level of anxiety of patients undergoing hemodialysis

The study utilized a quasi-experimental research design, which involved 15 subjects with no age limit. The research settings were De La Salle University Medical Center, Asia Medic Diagnostic and Specialty Center, Bacoor Dialysis Center, and University of Perpetual Help Rizal Hospital-Hemodialysis Department. The Overt Anxiety Response Rating Scale (OARRS) and the Vital Signs Anxiety Response Rating Scale (VSARRS) formulated by Laurente (1995) were used as observation guides in this study. Data was analyzed through frequency distribution and t-test. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The level of anxiety of respondents before hemodialysis without music therapy was low based on the observation of their gestures/verbalization, movement and vital signs. The respondents experienced no anxiety after hemodialysis without music therapy upon observation of their gestures/verbalization and movements. They had low anxiety based on their vital signs; 2) The level of anxiety of respondents was low before hemodialysis with music therapy based on the observation of their gestures/verbalization and vital signs. They had no anxiety upon observation of their movements. After hemodialysis with music therapy, the respondents had no anxiety based upon observation of their gestures/verbalization and movements. They experienced moderate anxiety based on their vital signs; 3) There was no significant difference between patients undergoing hemodialysis with and without music therapy before treatment. There was no significant difference between patients undergoing hemodialysis with and without music therapy after treatment. Generally, no significant difference was found between the level of anxiety of patients before and after hemodialysis treatment with or without music therapy. Among the factors that may have affected the result could include the patient’s perception of illness. Intervention measures that were implemented probably had no effect on the patient’s level of anxiety due to the perceived thought of having a devastating condition that could worsen in time. The patients may be in a stressful situation due to financial constraints and family concerns. The different environmental settings of the hemodialysis unit where data gathering was conducted, duration of the hemodialysis procedure, duration and frequency of the music therapy employed, the presence of staff nurses and other health team members and the diagnoses of the patients may have affected the results

Estudo micrometeorológico com cenouras (var. nantes) I- Influência da temperatura do ar Micrometebeologic study with carrots (var. nantes). I- Influence of air temperature

Analisou-se o efeito da temperatura do ar sobre o desenvolvimento de cenouras (var. Nantes), cultivadas em latossolo roxo sob quatro condições: com cobertura de plástico sobre a cultura em solo nu; sem cobertura de plástico sobre a cultura e solo com cobertura morta; com cobertura de plástico sobre a cultura e solo com cobertura morta; e sem cobertura de plástico sobre a cultura e solo nu. O tratamento com cobertura de plástico e solo eom cobertura morta foi o que apresentou maior produtividade, além de diminuir o ciclo da cultura. As variações térmicas mostraram-se correlacionadas com o tipo de cobertura a que esteve sujeita a cultura, sendo que o tratamento com cobertura de plástico e solo com cobertura morta apresentou maiores valores da temperatura do ar, e o tratamento sem cobertura conservando o solo nu apresentou menores valores da temperatura do ar.<br>The effect of air temperature on the development of carrots (var. nantes) was analysed under four conditions: with polyethylene cover over the crops, and bare soil: without polyethylene cover over the crop, and soil with mulch; with polyethylene cover over the crops, and mulch; and without polyethylene cover over the crop, and bare soil. The treatment with polyethylene cover over the crop and soil with mulch increased the yields and shortened the maturity date. The thermal variations of air were correlated with the type of mulch, and the yields were correlated with air temperature too

A specialist peer mentoring program for university students on the autism spectrum: A pilot study

The provision of peer mentoring may improve tertiary education outcomes of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study evaluated the pilot year of the Curtin Specialist Mentoring Program (CSMP), a specialised peer mentoring program for university students with ASD aimed at improving self-reported well-being, academic success and retention in university studies.A single group pre-test, post-test design was employed. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations were undertaken with 10 young adults with ASD to explore the effectiveness and acceptability of the CSMP program. Students completed a battery of questionnaires focused on general anxiety, state communication apprehension, perceived communication competence, and communication apprehension both prior to, and five months after commencing enrolment in the CSMP. Information regarding academic success and retention was also obtained. Interviews with participants provided further insight into their experience of the program.Students enrolled in the CSMP showed significant improvement in social support and general communication apprehension assessment scores. Interviews revealed key features of the CSMP that may have contributed to these positive outcomes.The current study provides preliminary evidence that a specialised peer mentoring program can improve the well-being of students with ASD, and highlights the importance of interventions which are individualised, flexible, based on a social model, and target environmental factors such as social support