Active Learning in Library Instruction: Using Piktocharts to Engage Faculty

Librarians know it is a common theme throughout the literature that library instruction does not necessarily leave audiences riveted. Attention can be typically lost early on, and therefore the information we intend to impart never seems to hit its mark. Librarians, therefore, must find a way to be more engaging within their own realm of teaching. We must strive to create active learners within all patron populations, including faculty. One method of engaging faculty, in particular, involves the introduction of Piktocharts in the library classroom. Piktocharts enables the user to create a visual representation of basic information given or used in a classroom setting. In our own library workshop with faculty, attendees are encouraged to create one Piktochart that contains basic library services information as well as specific information about a single database related to their field. This acts as both a means of engaging the faculty member in the learning process directly as well as fostering the creation of handouts that can then be used by faculty personally and within their own classrooms. Faculty are also encouraged to exchange their Piktocharts with colleagues in other departments. Because the Piktocharts are simplistic in nature and meld visual with prose, they are beneficial for a number of learning styles thus making them perfect for students and faculty alike. In addition to a basic presentation on Piktocharts in the library classroom, we will discuss best practices for a similar seminar that both academic and public librarians can use at their own institutions

Investigating the Role of MED12, Notch1, and Notch3 Interactions in the Self-Renewal and Adipogenesis of hASCs and their Integrated use in Public Educational Materials

The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

I Want To Know Why

In this article, an early childhood coach and her mentor coach tell one story of their year of joint reflective work together. They follow the topic of outdoor play in birth-to-three and early childhood family-based care programs as it surfaced at the beginning of the year. This inquiry expanded into the coach’s burgeoning understanding of the meaning of experience for very young children, which became a parallel process in the coach’s work with practitioners. Together, the coach and mentor coach describe the ways in which they created a more authentic and meaningful way to think about outdoor time and environments for young children and how Bank Street’s developmental-interaction approach could inform the coach\u27s practice with early care practitioners

Use of mobile phones as a vehicle to increase internet use to improve health and wellbeing in South Australia

A report on research conducted under the Health in All Policies Health Lens Initiative for the Department of Health South Australia and the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & TechnologyThis report is written to help inform policy directions to achieve the Broadband Usage target in the South Australian Strategic Plan while supporting improved population health under the SA Government’s Health In All Policies program. This report details potential solutions to increase broadband use via mobile phones for lower-income and socioeconomically disadvantaged South Australians. Solutions were suggested in late 2009 by 30 Adelaide residents in three focus groups (age range 25 to 55). Additional solutions come from an associated project in late 2008 with 55 Adelaide residents on general digital technology use, and from a literature scan in late 2009 of solutions to increase mobile internet use elsewhere in the world, particularly for lower-income and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups

The Impact of Gender and Agentic-Communal Orientations on Consumer Skepticism about Corporate Social Responsibility

Companies are increasingly emphasizing corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, consumers are often skeptical of the sincerity of companies’ CSR claims, particularly when the claim comes directly from the company. This research examines how the gender and genderrelated characteristics of a company’s spokesperson can alleviate CSR skepticism. Study 1 finds that consumers are less skeptical of a company’s CSR claim when it is made by a female (vs. male) spokesperson. Study 2 expands on this by finding that female consumers are less skeptical of a company’s CSR efforts when they are promoted by a communal spokesperson. In contrast, male consumers are less skeptical of a company’s CSR efforts when they are promoted by an agentic spokesperson. These findings should guide companies and their brands in choosing ideal spokespeople for making CSR claims, depending on the target market

Episodic versus Continuous Care in Outpatient Pediatric Clinics

UW Medicine Valley Medical Center, Children’s Therapy (VMC-CT) has experienced difficulties with consistent service delivery schedules for their clients. Long waitlists, absences, and scheduling and insurance constraints have impeded client ability to receive standard, continuous therapy. Thus, this critically appraised topic (CAT) paper addresses a research question developed in conjunction with Kari Tanta, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, the Rehabilitation Manager at VMC-CT, to understand the most effective methods of service delivery: episodic therapy (i.e. high frequency over a short duration) or continuous therapy (i.e., low frequency over a longer duration). The following research question was developed: Is episodic pediatric care as effective as continuous care for children (birth to 21 years old) with orthopedic conditions or developmental delays? From a review of twenty articles and one master\u27s thesis, it appears that this modest amount of evidence (most from children with cerebral palsy) is inconclusive regarding which service delivery model is more effective. Thus, therapists can feel confident that scheduling treatment around reasonable real-world constraints will still provide no less effective care for their clients. Due to increased clinician concern regarding scheduling issues, Dr. Tanta felt that two knowledge translation activities would be appropriate: a concise handout outlining our CAT findings for use at a staff in-service, and a case study article from VMC-CT, combined with our CAT evidence, for dissemination to the greater clinician community. As a means of assessing the impact of this article, we will track how many times the article is accessed. Based on the results of this CAT paper, it is clear that future research should focus on a broader array of diagnoses, and clinics should seek to track outcomes after changes in service delivery

The behaviour of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) in captivity

The European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) established for the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) has aimed to sustain a viable captive population but has faced a number of difficulties. This research provides insight into how the captive environment affects the behaviour of lion-tailed macaques and makes recommendations on how zoos can improve their care and management of these macaques. A comparative study undertaken on lion-tailed macaque groups across four European zoos revealed that group size and enclosure complexity had the greatest impact on behaviour. The importance of both the physical and social environment were then examined in the lion-tailed macaque group at Fota Wildlife Park. Relocating the macaque group to a new, larger enclosure increased behavioural diversity, while further research found that visitor level and visitor noise did not negatively impact this group of macaques, with enclosure design potentially a key factor. Examining four undergraduate studies undertaken on the lion-tailed macaques in Fota Wildlife Park over a period of six years, revealed how alterations to the size and composition of a captive group can have significant effects on behaviour. The introduction of three new males into the lion-tailed macaque group at Fota emphasized the importance of slow and careful methods when introducing unfamiliar individuals. The introduction of another male to a singly-housed male macaque highlighted the benefits of pair- housing, even in a species where males typically do not tolerate one another. Four simple and cheap water-based enrichments were also assessed for a pair-housed male and female lion-tailed macaque. Several recommendations are made on the husbandry and management of lion-tailed macaques in captivity

Digital technology use among disadvantaged Australians: implications for equitable consumer participation in digitally-mediated communication and information exchange with health services

The considerable variation in ICT access and use within lower income and disadvantaged groups must be acknowledged and accommodated by health initiatives and services when delivering digitally-mediated consumer-provider interaction, online health information, or online self-management of health conditions. If services require consumers to participate in digitally-mediated communication exchange, then we suggest they might support skills and technology acquisition, and/or provide non-ICT alternatives, in order to avoid exacerbating health inequities

Vicious cycles: digital technologies and determinants of health in Australia

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Health promotion International following peer review. The version of record [Baum F, Newman L, Biedrzycki K (2014), ‘Vicious cycles: digital technologies and determinants of health’. Health Promotion International, 29 (2), 349-360.] is available online at: http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/The use of digital technologies continues to bring rapid changes to personal and institutional forms of communication and information. Digital technologies are becoming increasingly important as ways to gain access to most of the important social determinants of health including employment, housing, education and social networks. However, little is known about the impact of the new technologies on opportunities for health and well-being. This paper reports on a focus group study of their impact on people from low socio-economic backgrounds. It uses Bourdieu’s theories of social inequities and the ways in which social, cultural and economic capitals interact to reinforce and reproduce inequities to examine the ways in which digital technologies are contributing to these processes. Six focus group discussions with 55 people were held to examine their access to and views about using digital technologies. These data are analysed to determine what factors facilitate access to digital technologies and what the implications of exclusion from the technologies is likely to be for the social determinants of health. The paper concludes that some people are being caught in a vicious cycle whereby lack of digital access or the inability to make beneficial use reinforces and amplifies existing disadvantage. The paper concludes with a consideration of actions health promoters could take to interrupt this cycle and so contribute to reducing health inequities