Application of flipped classroom models in higher education to creating blended learning environments combining innovative teaching methods

Higher education professors face the challenge of organizing teaching and learning in a way that responds to the educational needs and experiences of their students, which in recent years are influenced and co-shaped by technology. Flipped classroom is a modern instructional model of blended learning. According to this model, the traditional classroom transforms into an active learning environment transferring the lecture to pre-class time, and using teaching time in class to do activities that foster interaction among students. Τhis project focuses on the application of the flipped classroom model in Higher Education and explores issues that arise in the scientific fields of a) Teaching Methodology, b) Teacher Education and c) University Pedagogy. Α mixed methods research approach has been adopted (qualitative and quantitative data) and the study was carried out in four phases.First of all, needs analysis was conducted on a sample of 323 students and 20 members of the teaching staff who study and work respectively at the Pedagogical Departments of the University of Thessaly. The survey focused on exploring their perceptions concerning the way the courses are realised in university classrooms. The results highlighted the expanded, almost exclusive, use of the lecture, especially in the compulsory courses, which causes dissatisfaction mainly among the students. The teaching staff, whose teaching perspectives are characterized as mainly student-centered, acknowledge and adapt to the objective challenges (classroom layout, number of students) and choose commonly the lecture method. On the contrary, in the elective courses they enrich their teaching with more pedagogical methods. At a next stage, an on-site assessment of the classrooms was performed to assess the suitability of their infrastructure and educational equipment. The majority of the classrooms has an amphitheatric layout with fixed table seats on the floor. At the following phase of the project, the flipped classroom model was applied for a semester-long action research (6 months) to the module "Contemporary Pedagogical Approaches". The module is part of the curriculum of the Department of Special Education of the University of Thessaly and was attended by 131 students. The thematic analysis of students’ coursework, feedback questionnaires, interviews with the teacher (in two coding phases) and research observation of face to face teaching has lead to optimistic conclusions on a teaching and social level. More specifically, on a teaching level, students were found to be interested in participating more actively in the educational process by co-determining its content and procedures to a significant extent. On a social level, the model facilitated students’ interaction, cooperation and consequently their socialization inside and outside of the university classroom. Along with the positive findings, the data analysis also shed light to some concerning issues that regard all relevant stakeholders (Ministry of Education, teaching staff, students) and relate to the situation both on a technical level (infrastructure) and on a quality level (educational work, teacher’s competency and training) resulting in the continuation of traditional teaching practices.Οι διδάσκοντες της Τριτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης αντιμετωπίζουν την πρόκληση της οργάνωσης της διδασκαλίας και της μάθησης κατά τρόπο που να ανταποκρίνεται στις εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες και τις εμπειρίες των φοιτητών τους, οι οποίες τα τελευταία χρόνια επηρεάζονται και συνδιαμορφώνονται από την τεχνολογία. Η ανεστραμμένη τάξη (flipped classroom) είναι ένα σύγχρονο μοντέλο διδασκαλίας μικτής μάθησης. Σύμφωνα με αυτό, η παραδοσιακή τάξη αναδιαμορφώνεται σε ενεργό περιβάλλον μάθησης μεταφέροντας τα πεπραγμένα της διάλεξης εντός τάξης σε εξωσχολικό περιβάλλον και αξιοποιώντας τον διδακτικό χρόνο σε δραστηριότητες που κινητοποιούν την αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ των μαθητευομένων. Η παρούσα έρευνα εστιάζει στην εφαρμογή του μοντέλου στην Τριτοβάθμια Εκπαίδευση και διερευνά ζητήματα που προκύπτουν στους επιστημονικούς κλάδους της α) της Διδακτικής Μεθοδολογίας, β) της Εκπαίδευσης Εκπαιδευτικών και γ) της Πανεπιστημιακής Παιδαγωγικής. Υιοθετήθηκε η προσέγγιση της μικτής έρευνας (ποιοτικά και ποσοτικά δεδομένα) και η μελέτη πραγματοποιήθηκε σε τέσσερις φάσεις. Αρχικά, διεξήχθη ανάλυση αναγκών σε δείγμα 323 φοιτητών και 20 μελών ΔΕΠ που φοιτούν και δουλεύουν αντίστοιχα σε Παιδαγωγικά Τμήματα του Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας, η οποία επικεντρώθηκε στη διερεύνηση των απόψεών τους για τον τρόπο διεξαγωγής των μαθημάτων στις πανεπιστημιακές αίθουσες. Τα αποτελέσματα ανέδειξαν την αυξημένη και σχεδόν μονοπωλιακή χρήση της διάλεξης, ειδικότερα στα υποχρεωτικά μαθήματα, γεγονός που προκαλεί δυσαρέσκεια κυρίως στους φοιτητές. Οι διδάσκοντες, των οποίων τα διδακτικά προφίλ χαρακτηρίζονται κατά βάση μαθητοκεντρικά, αντιλαμβάνονται και συμβιβάζονται με τις αντικειμενικές δυσκολίες (διαρρύθμιση αίθουσας, αριθμό φοιτητών) και επιλέγουν κατεξοχήν τη διάλεξη. Αντίθετα, στα μαθήματα επιλογής εμπλουτίζουν τη διδασκαλία τους με περισσότερο σύγχρονες μεθόδους. Κατόπιν, πραγματοποιήθηκε επιτόπια αξιολόγηση των αιθουσών διδασκαλίας κατά την οποία αξιολογήθηκε η καταλληλότητα των υποδομών και του εξοπλισμού. Η πλειοψηφία των αιθουσών διδασκαλίας διαθέτει αμφιθεατρική διαρρύθμιση με σταθερά τραπεζοκαθίσματα στο δάπεδο. Στη συνέχεια, σχεδιάστηκε και διεξήχθη έρευνα δράσης που διήρκησε ένα ακαδημαϊκό εξάμηνο. Το μοντέλο της ανεστραμμένης τάξης εφαρμόστηκε στο μάθημα «Σύγχρονες Παιδαγωγικές Προσεγγίσεις», στο Παιδαγωγικό Τμήμα Ειδικής Αγωγής του Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας με συμμετέχοντες 131 φοιτητές. Η θεματική ανάλυση των εργασιών των φοιτητών, των ερωτηματολογίων ανατροφοδότησης, της συνέντευξης με τη διδάσκουσα σε δύο φάσεις κωδικοποίησης και η ερευνητική παρατήρηση των διά ζώσης συναντήσεων σκιαγράφησαν αφενός μια αισιόδοξη εικόνα τόσο σε διδακτικό επίπεδο με το αυξημένο ενδιαφέρον των φοιτητών να συμμετέχουν ενεργά στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία καθορίζοντας σε σημαντικό βαθμό την πορεία της, όσο και σε κοινωνικό επίπεδο συμβάλλοντας στην αλληλεπίδραση, τη συνεργασία και κατ’ επέκταση την κοινωνικοποίησή τους εντός και εκτός της πανεπιστημιακής αίθουσας. Επιπρόσθετα, αναπτύχθηκαν αρκετά ζητήματα που αφορούν όλους τους συμβαλλόμενους (Υπουργείο Παιδείας, μέλη ΔΕΠ, φοιτητές) τόσο σε επίπεδο τεχνικό (υποδομές) όσο και επίπεδο ποιοτικό (εκπαιδευτικό έργο, διδακτική κατάρτιση και επάρκεια) τα οποία φαίνεται ότι ενισχύουν ακόμη τη χρήση παραδοσιακών διδακτικών πρακτικών

Integrated Psychological Therapy and Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: Initial Findings

Objective: The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is to present the initial findings of a larger RCT study conducted internationally for the first time, regarding the hypothesis, when the Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) for individuals with schizophrenia is more and when it is less effective, regarding Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia (TRS) and nontreatment resistant schizophrenia (NTRS). Methods: Forty-eight outpatients with schizophrenia of an adult psychiatric department participated in this RCT study. Eleven outpatients of IPT and 11 of the Treatment as Usual (TAU) belong to TRS. Thirteen patients of IPT and 13 of TAU belong to NTRS. A test battery was given at baseline after therapy (10 weeks) and at 3 months’ follow-up. Neurocognition, social cognition, psychopathology, and functional outcome were assessed. The General Linear Model (GLM) for repeated measurements was used. Effect sizes, z-scores, and the sign test were calculated. Results: There was a statistical significance for verbal memory; positive, negative symptoms and general psychopathology; Global Assessment and Functioning scale (GAF) and quality of life favoring NTRS. Effect sizes showed superiority of NTRS in comparison to TRS. The sign test showed a significant improvement in Integrated Psychological Therapy treatment-resistant schizophrenia (IPTTRS) that was maintained in the follow-up, in Integrated Psychological Therapy nontreatment resistant schizophrenia (IPTNTRS) and in Treatment as Usual nontreatment resistant schizophrenia (TAUNTRS). Conclusion: The IPT is more effective in NTRS in comparison to TRS, although IPTTRS showed some improvements, maintained at follow-up. Further RCT studies with larger samples are needed. © 2019, © 2019 Washington School of Psychiatry

Media in the Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia: an evaluation of the media landscape of F.Y.R.O.Macedonia before and after the collapse of socialism.

Διπλωματική εργασία--Πανεπιστήμιο Μακεδονίας, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2014.The landscape of media in F.Y.R.O.Macedonia is the main issue that it is evaluated in this paper. By presenting the media landscape in the country, while it was still part of the Former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, and even after its independence that was gained in 1991; we are able to derive interesting elements towards state’s internal corpus. This paper firstly presents the means of massive information that are established in the country, from the period of socialism. In these chapters information towards media landscape are also presented for the overall territory of Yugoslavia, since F.Y.R.O.Macedonia was not an independent state by then. It continues with the analysis of the Legal and Political Framework which exist in the state, by presenting the development of the media legislation process. This chapter offers information until the first half of 2014. The paper finishes with the chapter that is consisted from the conclusions which the writer faces as the outcomes of the evaluation of the subject. At that point the reader easily estimates, at a degree, new eras of discussion that come out as new hypothesis able to contribute the incentive for future surveys

Efficacy and feasibility of the integrated psychological therapy for outpatients with schizophrenia in greece: final results of a RCT

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the feasibility of cognitive remediation group therapy in patients with schizophrenia in Greece. For this purpose, the cognitive part of the Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT), focusing on neuro- and social cognition, was compared in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with treatment as usual (TAU). 48 outpatients took part in the study. IPT groups received 20 biweekly 1-h-therapy sessions. A test-battery was assessed at baseline, after therapy, and at a 3-month follow-up. Regarding cognitive functioning, significant effects favouring IPT were found in working memory and social perception during therapy and at follow-up. No effects could be found in verbal memory and vigilance. Significant effects favoring IPT were found in negative symptoms, in in- sight and in general symptoms during therapy and at follow-up using the Positive and Negative Syn- drome Scale (PANSS). No effects were evident in positive symptoms and in psychosocial functioning. Significant effects favoring TAU were found in the quality of life assessment at follow-up. The study supports evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of IPT in psychiatric care in Greece and it hopefully will initiate the broader use of evidenced-based treatments like IPT in Greek Psychiatry

Homocysteine as a Predictor of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation-Related Events: A Scoping Review of the Literature

High levels of homocysteine (Hcy) have been linked with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as arrhythmias and stroke. In the context of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), hyperhomocysteinemia has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of future events. The aim of this report was to address the potential value of Hcy levels in predicting future paroxysms of atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as to identify the potential mechanisms of action. We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Database on 16 January 2022. Keywords used were homocysteine or hyperhomocysteinemia paired with a total of 67 different keywords or phrases that have been implicated with the pathogenesis of AF. We included primary reports of clinical and non-clinical data in the English language, as well as systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses. We placed no time constraints on our search strategy, which yielded 3748 results. Following title review, 3293 reports were excluded and 455 reports were used for title and abstract review, after which 109 reports were finally used for full-text review. Our review indicates that Hcy levels seem to hold a predictive value in PAF. Herein, potential mechanisms of action are presented and special considerations are made for clinically relevant diagnostic procedures that could complement plasma levels in the prediction of future PAF events. Finally, gaps of evidence are identified and considerations for future clinical trial design are presented

A Rare Manifestation of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Due to Brown Tumors: A Case Report

Maria Boudina,1 Eleana Zisimopoulou,1 Pantelitsa Rakitzi,1 Sotirios Barbanis,2 Eleni Syndouka,3 Chrysanthi Zouli,1 Aimilia Fotiadou,1 Mariana Stamati Stamati,1 Chrysanthi Balodimou,1 George Christantoniou,1 Alexandra Chrisoulidou1 1Department of Endocrinology, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2Department of Pathology, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 3Department of Radiology, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, GreeceCorrespondence: Maria Boudina, Department of Endocrinology, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece, Email [email protected]: Brown tumors, also known as cystic fibrosa, are rare, benign, osteolytic, fibrotic lesions of the bones that occur secondary to hyperparathyroidism. They are caused by increased osteoclastic activity leading to an abnormal bone metabolism.Case Description: Here, we present the case of a 58-year-old male, who presented with painful bony lesions, initially attributed to metastatic disease. After biochemical workout, imaging and biopsy, the nature of the lesions was revealed. We discuss the differential diagnosis and clinical management of the disease.Conclusion: Patients with brown tumors should be assessed in the differential diagnosis of bony lesions and should always be tested for hyperparathyroidism. An early diagnosis is crucial for the successful treatment of such patients.Keywords: brown tumor, hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, case repor

Vitamin D Alleviates Anxiety and Depression in Elderly People with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Study

Older people are prone to frailness, present poor adherence to pharmacotherapy, and often have adverse drug effects. Therefore, it is important to develop effective and safe interventions to mitigate the burden of anxiety and depression disorders in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the anxiety and depression status of elderly people with prediabetes. Participants were randomly assigned a weekly dose of vitamin D3 of 25,000 IU (n = 45, mean age 73.10 ± 7.16 years) or nothing (n = 45, mean age 74.03 ± 7.64 years), in addition to suggested lifestyle measures. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory subscales (STAI-T and STAI-S) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate anxiety and depression levels, respectively, at baseline, 6, and 12 months. A total of 92.68% of the participants in the vitamin D group and 97.14% of the controls exhibited vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) at baseline. Mean STAI-T scores were lower in supplemented individuals than in the control group at 6 (38.02 ± 9.03 vs. 43.91 ± 7.18, p = 0.003) and 12 months (32.35 ± 7.77 vs. 44.97 ± 7.78, p < 0.001). The same pattern was evident for STAI-S scores at 6 (37.11 ± 7.88 vs. 43.20 ± 9.33, p = 0.003) and 12 months (32.59 ± 6.45 vs. 44.60 ± 9.53, p < 0.001). Supplemented participants demonstrated lower mean PHQ-9 scores compared to controls at 6 (15.69 ± 6.15 vs. 19.77 ± 8.96, p = 0.021) and 12 months (13.52 ± 5.01 vs. 20.20 ± 8.67, p < 0.001). Participants with deficiency and insufficiency at baseline experienced equal benefits of supplementation in terms of anxiety and depression scores. In conclusion, in a high-risk population, a weekly vitamin D supplementation scheme was effective in alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms. More studies are needed to elucidate the relevant mechanisms