Improving our fitnesse: From concrete executions to partial specification

Fitnesse and FIT [5] allow systems tests to be written by non-programmers using a Wiki or HTML style of input. However, there is little support for syntactic and semantic checks as the tests are being designed. This paper describes a support tool for designing table-based test cases that gives deep semantic analysis about a set of test cases. It uses a variety of strategies such as pairwise analysis, boundary value analysis and test case subsumption to suggest missing test cases and to generalise concrete tests into more abstract tests. The goal is to interactively improve the quality of test suites during the test design phase

Evolving web-based test automation into agile business specifications

Usually, test automation scripts for a web application directly mirror the actions that the tester carries out in the browser, but they tend to be verbose and repetitive, making them expensive to maintain and ineffective in an agile setting. Our research has focussed on providing tool-support for business-level, example-based specifications that are mapped to the browser level for automatic verification. We provide refactoring support for the evolution of existing browser-level tests into business-level specifications. As resulting business rule tables may be incomplete, redundant or contradictory, our tool provides feedback on coverage

Feasibility of MyHealthAvatar mobile phone application for reducing prolonged sedentary behaviour in Type 2 diabetes

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters by Research.Objective: Time spent in a prolonged sedentary state can have detrimental health effects in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a mobile phone app, MyHealthAvatar, for reducing prolonged sedentary behaviour in people with T2DM. Methods: Twelve individuals with recently diagnosed T2DM were randomised to either an intervention or control group for 8 weeks. The intervention group utilised the app for 8 weeks and the control group continued their normal behaviour. Physical activity and sitting were measured at baseline and during the last intervention week. Health measures were taken at baseline and post-intervention. Semi-structured interviews were carried out post-intervention to gain participant feedback on the usability of the app. Results: The intervention group decreased total sedentary time by 50.52 minutes/day and increased number of breaks from sedentary time by 4.08 breaks per day, standing time by 41.76 minutes/day and light physical activity by 5.28 minutes/day from baseline to post-intervention compared to the control group. Conclusion: MyHealthAvatar has the potential to reduce prolonged sedentary behaviour in individuals with T2DM. The effectiveness of this app requires investigation in a fully powered randomised controlled trial

Assessment Strategies for Cataloging Managers (Presentation)

Qualitative assessment activities, when conducted regularly and methodically, can help managers and administrators understand the impact and value of the work that we do for our customers. Are we meeting our customers\u27 needs? Are there services that we could provide but currently do not? What are our customers’ priorities? Are we responsive to their questions and issues? Are we working as effectively as we can? This webinar will explore the use of customer service surveys, focus groups, quality initiatives, benchmarking, and other methods to evaluate and assess the work that we do

Assessment in Practice (Presentation)

This presentation provides some strategies that cataloging managers can use to evaluate and assess the services they offer

Technical Services Assessment in Pennsylvania Academic Libraries (Presentation)

Academic libraries regularly conduct assessment of library services through the use of rubrics or assessment tools such as LibQual™. Technical services activities are frequently assessed; however, the assessment is typically limited to the evaluation of specific processes. This study was designed to explore assessment activities in Pennsylvania’s academic libraries. The author designed a survey to investigate whether technical services activities are assessed, how they are assessed, who is responsible for assessment of technical services, how the results of assessment activities are shared with others, and how those results are used to improve services or for other purposes

Examination of the impact of a secondary school mental health and wellbeing promotion programme upon the physical self-perception, body image concerns and worries of early adolescent males

Poor mental health and wellbeing are salient issues among young male adolescents, with young males having high rates of mental health issues and lower help-seeking behaviours. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a secondary school-based mental health and wellbeing programme targeting 11- to 13-year-old male adolescents. The programme was designed in response to male adolescent mental health issues identified by school administrators, school counsellors and pastoral care coordinators, and utilises the input of students and school administration staff as a way to develop, analyse and improve the support for adolescent males during this time. Data were collected using a quantitative questionnaire at baseline, post-intervention and at a 16-month follow-up. The intervention programme was conducted among a cohort of secondary school males in Year 7 (n=160) at one school, and results were compared to an age-matched control group (n=43). Findings from this study illustrated the differences and similarities among female and male adolescents in terms of body image, self-perception and worries and concerns. In particular, male participants scored significantly higher than their female counterparts for all of the four categories using the Stunkard Scale Figure Perception Scale, indicating that a larger figure is both perceived and preferable. Results showed intervention participants increased in self-perception and decreased worries and stress. Body image did not change significantly in either group. The results of the current study bring an analytic focus to contextual influences of male adolescent mental health within school settings, offer a critical and comparative assessment of a school-based mental health and wellbeing programme specifically designed for male adolescents in liaison with school administration and school counsellor, and develop a sociologically grounded argument for the integral contribution of the school counsellor. In addition, results illustrate the need to understand that male adolescents represent a special population group with unique developmental and emotional needs. The results of this project are intended to guide future work within the secondary school setting for addressing mental health and wellbeing for male adolescents

Advocating for Technical Services through Assessment (Presentation)

This presentation discusses how managers can advocate for technical services through a variety of assessment activities

Staff Development: A Practical Guide [Book Review]

Book Review of Staff Development: A Practical Guide, 4th ed. Edited by Andrea Wigbels Stewart, Carlette Washington-Hoagland, and Carol T. Zsulya. ALA Editions, 2013, 219 pp., ISBN 978-0-8389-1149-5, $53.20 (paper)

Assessment Strategies for Technical Services (Presentation)

This presentation describes a number of qualitative assessment practices that can help technical services managers assess their effectiveness. Strategies include process improvement initiatives, customer service surveys, focus groups, benchmarking, and more