Designing for Ballet Classes: Identifying and Mitigating Communication Challenges Between Dancers and Teachers

Dancer-teacher communication in a ballet class can be challenging: ballet is one of the most complex forms of movements, and learning happens through multi-faceted interactions with studio tools (mirror, barre, and floor) and the teacher. We conducted an interview-based qualitative study with seven ballet teachers and six dancers followed by an open-coded analysis to explore the communication challenges that arise while teaching and learning in the ballet studio. We identified key communication issues, including adapting to multi-level dancer expertise, transmitting and realigning development goals, providing personalized corrections and feedback, maintaining the state of flow, and communicating how to properly use tools in the environment. We discuss design implications for crafting technological interventions aimed at mitigating these communication challenges

Graduate Recital: Debra Barford, Oboe; Judy Radell, Piano; April 13, 1977

Centennial East Recital HallWednesday EveningApril 13, 19778:00 p.m

How Does the Use of Phonemic Awareness Skill-Building Software in Conjunction with an In-School Literacy Program Benefit Students\u27 Literacy Skills?

This study examined how phonemic awareness skill building software benefited the literacy skills of school age children. Research was conducted through observation of two students, a kindergartener and third grader, using Earobics software. In addition to observation, informal interviews were also used to determine the necessity of the software and its possible benefits. The students demonstrated an increase in literacy skills, but not phonemic awareness skills specifically. The benefits of this software allow for students to develop their literacy skills more fully by providing a strong skill base when used as a supplement to a complete literacy program

Hankkeen vaikuttavuuden arviointi : Case: Sujuvat työnhakumarkkinat -hanke

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kuvata Sujuvat työnhakumarkkinat -hankkeen (ESR) vaikuttavuuden arvioinnissa huomioitavia asioita. ESR -rahoitteisten hankkeiden arviointivelvoitteen mukaisesti selvitettiin, miten Ammatillinen opettaja urasuunnittelun ohjaajana -valmennuksen vaikuttavuutta voidaan mitata ja arvioida. Tutkimuskohderyhmä arvioi, miten oma uraohjausosaaminen oli kehittynyt valmennuksen aikana. Tutkimus antaa myös tietoa ja kehittämisehdotuksia valmennuksen toteuttamiseen sekä vaikuttavuuden arviointiin. Tutkimukssa yhdistetttiin kvantitatiivistä ja kvalitatiivistä tutkimusotetta. Tutkimustietoa kerättiin Ammatillinen opettaja urasuunnittelun ohjaajana -valmennukseen osallistuneilta henkilöiltä kyselylomakkeella ja teemakeskusteluiden avulla. Teoreettinen viitekehys muodostui hankkeen arvioinnista, hankkeen vaikuttavuuden mittaamisesta ja koulutuksen tuloksellisuuden vaikuttavuudesta. Tulosten perusteella valmennukseen osallistuneet pitivät opiskelijaan kohdistuvaa uraohjausta merkityksellisenä opiskelijan työllistymisen näkökulmasta. Urasuunnitteluosaaminen koettiin haastavaksi puutteellisen osaamisen ja käytettävissä olevien resurssien suhteen. Verkostoituminen eri aloilla työskentelevien opettajien/kouluttajien kanssa nähtiin tulevaisuudessa tärkeäksi osaamisen kehittämisen menetelmäksi. Ammatillisen reformin myötä tulevat uudet toimintatavat ja opettajan työn muuttuminen valmentajaksi ja ohjaajaksi johtavat uudenlaisiin haasteisiin oman osaamisen kehittämisen suhteen. Opettajat tiedostavat koulutuksen vaikuttavuuden ja opiskelijoiden työllistymisen olevan yksi peruste oppilaitosten saamaan rahoitukseen. Koulutusorganisaatio voi käyttää tutkimuksen tuloksia ja johtopäätöksiä koulutusten kehittämiseen. Hanketoimija voi hyödyntää tutkimuksen tuloksia hankkeen vaikuttavuuden arvioinnissa.Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the factors that have to be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of the Sujuvat työnhakumarkkinat -project ESR [Flexible Job Seeking] -project. According to the evaluation obligation of ESR funded projects, I studied how the Ammatillinen opettaja urasuunnittelun ohjaajana [The Vocational Teacher’s Role in the Guidance of Career Planning] -programme’s effectiveness can be measured and evaluated. The study’s target group evaluated how their personal career guidance skills have developed during the programme. The study also gives information and development ideas on organizing the programme as well as evaluating it’s effectiveness. The study was conducted by using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data was collected from the participants of the Ammatillinen opettaja urasuunnittelun ohjaajana-programme via a questionnaire and a thematic conversation. The theoretic framework of the study consists of the evaluation of the project, measurement of the effectiveness of the project and the effectiveness of the training programme’s productiveness. Based on the results of the study the participants of the training programme considered the career guidance significant to the employment of students. Career guidance skills were considered challenging due to the lack of expertise and available resources. Networking among teachers/trainers of different subjects is seen to be a key method in developing knowledge in this area. The reform of the vocational education brings with it new methods of operation and the transformation of the teacher’s role to coach and supervisor leads to new challenges in terms of developing one’s own expertise. The teachers are aware of the effectiveness of the training and that the employment of students is one of the factors that affect the amount of funding the educational institution receives. The educational organization can use the results of the study and the conclusions to aid the development of the training programmes. The project co-ordinator can utilize the results in evaluating the effectiveness of the project

Development and Implementation of Dynamic Scripts to Support Local Model Verification at National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices

Local modeling with a customized configuration is conducted at National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) to produce high-resolution numerical forecasts that can better simulate local weather phenomena and complement larger scale global and regional models. The advent of the Environmental Modeling System (EMS), which provides a pre-compiled version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and wrapper Perl scripts, has enabled forecasters to easily configure and execute the WRF model on local workstations. NWS WFOs often use EMS output to help in forecasting highly localized, mesoscale features such as convective initiation, the timing and inland extent of lake effect snow bands, lake and sea breezes, and topographically-modified winds. However, quantitatively evaluating model performance to determine errors and biases still proves to be one of the challenges in running a local model. Developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the Model Evaluation Tools (MET) verification software makes performing these types of quantitative analyses easier, but operational forecasters do not generally have time to familiarize themselves with navigating the sometimes complex configurations associated with the MET tools. To assist forecasters in running a subset of MET programs and capabilities, the Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has developed and transitioned a set of dynamic, easily configurable Perl scripts to collaborating NWS WFOs. The objective of these scripts is to provide SPoRT collaborating partners in the NWS with the ability to evaluate the skill of their local EMS model runs in near real time with little prior knowledge of the MET package. The ultimate goal is to make these verification scripts available to the broader NWS community in a future version of the EMS software. This paper provides an overview of the SPoRT MET scripts, instructions for how the scripts are run, and example use cases

Factors Underlying the Early Limb Muscle Weakness in Acute Quadriplegic Myopathy Using an Experimental ICU Porcine Model

The basic mechanisms underlying acquired generalized muscle weakness and paralysis in critically ill patients remain poorly understood and may be related to prolonged mechanical ventilation/immobilization (MV) or to other triggering factors such as sepsis, systemic corticosteroid (CS) treatment and administration of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA). The present study aims at exploring the relative importance of these factors by using a unique porcine model. Piglets were all exposed to MV together with different combinations of endotoxin-induced sepsis, CS and NMBA for five days. Peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) as well as biceps femoris muscle biopsy specimens were obtained immediately after anesthesia on the first day and at the end of the 5-day experimental period. Results showed that peroneal nerve motor conduction velocity is unaffected whereas the size of the CMAP decreases independently of the type of intervention, in all groups after 5 days. Otherwise, despite a preserved size, muscle fibre specific force (maximum force normalized to cross-sectional area) decreased dramatically for animals exposed to MV in combination with CS or/and sepsis. These results suggest that the rapid declines in CMAP amplitude and in force generation capacity are triggered by independent mechanisms with significant clinical and therapeutic implications

Diaphragm Muscle Weakness in an Experimental Porcine Intensive Care Unit Model

In critically ill patients, mechanisms underlying diaphragm muscle remodeling and resultant dysfunction contributing to weaning failure remain unclear. Ventilator-induced modifications as well as sepsis and administration of pharmacological agents such as corticosteroids and neuromuscular blocking agents may be involved. Thus, the objective of the present study was to examine how sepsis, systemic corticosteroid treatment (CS) and neuromuscular blocking agent administration (NMBA) aggravate ventilator-related diaphragm cell and molecular dysfunction in the intensive care unit. Piglets were exposed to different combinations of mechanical ventilation and sedation, endotoxin-induced sepsis, CS and NMBA for five days and compared with sham-operated control animals. On day 5, diaphragm muscle fibre structure (myosin heavy chain isoform proportion, cross-sectional area and contractile protein content) did not differ from controls in any of the mechanically ventilated animals. However, a decrease in single fibre maximal force normalized to cross-sectional area (specific force) was observed in all experimental piglets. Therefore, exposure to mechanical ventilation and sedation for five days has a key negative impact on diaphragm contractile function despite a preservation of muscle structure. Post-translational modifications of contractile proteins are forwarded as one probable underlying mechanism. Unexpectedly, sepsis, CS or NMBA have no significant additive effects, suggesting that mechanical ventilation and sedation are the triggering factors leading to diaphragm weakness in the intensive care unit

Valid and reliable instruments for arm-hand assessment at ICF activity level in persons with hemiplegia: a systematic review

Contains fulltext : 110141.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Loss of arm-hand performance due to a hemiparesis as a result of stroke or cerebral palsy (CP), leads to large problems in daily life of these patients. Assessment of arm-hand performance is important in both clinical practice and research. To gain more insight in e.g. effectiveness of common therapies for different patient populations with similar clinical characteristics, consensus regarding the choice and use of outcome measures is paramount. To guide this choice, an overview of available instruments is necessary. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, evaluate and categorize instruments, reported to be valid and reliable, assessing arm-hand performance at the ICF activity level in patients with stroke or cerebral palsy. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to identify articles containing instruments assessing arm-hand skilled performance in patients with stroke or cerebral palsy. Instruments were identified and divided into the categories capacity, perceived performance and actual performance. A second search was performed to obtain information on their content and psychometrics. RESULTS: Regarding capacity, perceived performance and actual performance, 18, 9 and 3 instruments were included respectively. Only 3 of all included instruments were used and tested in both patient populations. The content of the instruments differed widely regarding the ICF levels measured, assessment of the amount of use versus the quality of use, the inclusion of unimanual and/or bimanual tasks and the inclusion of basic and/or extended tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Although many instruments assess capacity and perceived performance, a dearth exists of instruments assessing actual performance. In addition, instruments appropriate for more than one patient population are sparse. For actual performance, new instruments have to be developed, with specific focus on the usability in different patient populations and the assessment of quality of use as well as amount of use. Also, consensus about the choice and use of instruments within and across populations is needed