How Service Dogs Enhance Veterans’ Occupational Performance in the Home: A Qualitative Perspective

Background: This qualitative study explored the lives of veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) and how the partnerships with their service dogs supported improved occupational performance in their homes. Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six veterans with PTSD and/or TBI who graduated and received their service dogs from the Paws and Stripes Program in Albuquerque, NM. Home activities of daily living (self-care, household tasks, leisure activities, and family and friend relationships) guided the interview questions. The individual interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using qualitative data analysis software. Preliminary themes were independently developed by two graduate research assistants. Final themes and subthemes were generated by team consensus. Results: The overarching theme was veteran and service dog partnerships improved occupational performance in the home. Four primary themes arose that supported the overarching theme: (a) providing physical safety and peace of mind; (b) supporting healthy behaviors; (c) my service dog, my hero; and (d) influencing family and friend relationships. Discussion: Findings from this study support that veteran and service dog partnerships improved the veterans’ occupational performance in their homes. The service dogs assisted the veterans on physical and emotional levels and improved their healthy behaviors

How Service Dogs Enhance Veterans ’ Occupational Performance in the Home: A Qualitative Perspective

Background: This qualitative study explored the lives of veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) and how the partnerships with their service dogs supported improved occupational performance in their homes. Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six veterans with PTSD and/or TBI who graduated and received their service dogs from the Paws and Stripes Program in Albuquerque, NM. Home activities of daily living (self-care, household tasks, leisure activities, and family and friend relationships) guided the interview questions. The individual interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using qualitative data analysis software. Preliminary themes were independently developed by two graduate research assistants. Final themes and subthemes were generated by team consensus. Results: The overarching theme was veteran and service dog partnerships improved occupational performance in the home. Four primary themes arose that supported the overarching theme: (a) providing physical safety and peace of mind; (b) supporting healthy behaviors; (c) my service dog, my hero; and (d) influencing family and friend relationships. Discussion: Findings from this study support that veteran and service dog partnerships improved the veterans’ occupational performance in their homes. The service dogs assisted the veterans on physical and emotional levels and improved their healthy behaviors

Multiple Solutions to Implicit Symmetric Boundary Value Problems for Second Order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs): Equivariant Degree Approach

In this paper, we develop a general framework for studying Dirichlet Boundary Value Problems (BVP) for second order symmetric implicit differential systems satisfying the Hartman-Nagumo conditions, as well as a certain non-expandability condition. The main result, obtained by means of the equivariant degree theory, establishes the existence of multiple solutions together with a complete description of their symmetric properties. The abstract result is supported by a concrete example of an implicit system respecting D4-symmetries

Multiple Solutions to Implicit Symmetric Boundary Value Problems for Second Order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs): Equivariant Degree Approach

In this paper, we develop a general framework for studying Dirichlet Boundary Value Problems (BVP) for second order symmetric implicit differential systems satisfying the Hartman-Nagumo conditions, as well as a certain non-expandability condition. The main result, obtained by means of the equivariant degree theory, establishes the existence of multiple solutions together with a complete description of their symmetric properties. The abstract result is supported by a concrete example of an implicit system respecting D4-symmetries

Efficient Assessment:Streamlining online assessment and developing tools to improve student feedback

With growing student numbers and a limited staff, the Fashion with Business Studies team has had to re-think our approach to marking large volumes of assignments. At the Curriculum Development Review in 2019, assessment choices for students were expanded, introducing the option to give a live presentation to staff members instead of submitting a written report. In this presentation we will explore how this has helped students to develop key employability skills and offer a useful alternative for those who have traditionally struggled with written assessments. As a staff team, the presentation format has allowed us to explore more efficient models of assessment including marking during the live presentation itself using a paper-based marking matrix (developed by Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice Joanna Zara). We will discuss how we have moved from the initial pilot in 2019-2020 using a paper-based system which proved cumbersome to digitise to an online assessment method in 2020-2021.The online assessment coincided with the shift to remote teaching due to the pandemic. With an online course the live presentations were not possible. Instead, students pre-recorded their presentations. We will discuss how the flexibility for creating rubrics in Grade Centre, has allowed the team (with Learning Technologist Robin Englebright) to develop the paper-based marking matrix into a digital assessment tool which we have piloted again for module AGP491 in 2020-2021 and how this could be rolled out across all of our business modules in 2021-2022.This pre-recorded presentation charts the development of the digital assessment tool and our reflections on how it has streamlined assessing times and, in doing so, enabled us to provide improved feedback to students

Improving the assessment process for students:Reflections on using audio feedback in assessment as a tool improve the student learning experience for large student cohorts

In 2021 we piloted the use of audio feedback in Grade Centre and Turnitin during 2021/22 to assess the 106 Level 6 Business Plan assignments. This presentation will reflect on the responses from Level 6 students to receiving feedback in an audio format. We will discuss how audio feedback as a digital assessment tool has enabled the Business Studies team within the Fashion, Textiles & Fashion Communication programme to provide coherent and engaging feedback which is more accessible and useful to students. We will also explore how audio feedback can enhance formative assessment by minimising the misunderstandings which can happen with written assessments. The use of audio feedback enhances the digital assessment tool we implemented in 2020 which uses rubrics to streamline the assessment process and improve feedback for large student cohorts and represents a process of continual improvement