Blended learning internationalization from the commonwealth: An Australian and Canadian collaborative case study

This case depiction addresses the contentious issue of providing culturally and globally accessible teaching and learning to international students in universities in the Commonwealth nations of Australia and Canada. The chapter describes the university systems and cultures, the barriers to authentic higher education internationalization, and the problems frequently experienced by international students. Two university cases are presented and analysed to depict and detail blended learning approaches (face-toface combined with e-learning) as exemplars of culturally and globally accessible higher education and thereby ideologically grounded internationalization. Lessons learned are presented at the systems level and as teaching and learning solutions designed to address pedagogical problems frequently experienced by international students in the areas of communication, academic skills, teaching and learning conceptualization, and moving from rote learning to critical thinking. The blended learning solutions are analysed through the lens of critical theory

The Impact of Participation in Service-Learning on High School Students\u27 Civic Engagement

Recent evidence suggests that there is a growing problem of civic disengagement among youth in the United States. Young people in high school report having little interest in civic and political affairs and little knowledge of or trust in the political system (Levine & Lopez, 2002; National Commission on Service-Learning, 2001; Rahm & Transue, 1998; Torney-Purta, 2002). Results from a recent poll indicate that many young people do not feel they can make a difference, solve problems in their communities, or have a meaningful impact on politics or government (Lake Snell Perry & Associates and The Tarrance Group, Inc, 2002). Policymakers and educational leaders alike have noted the woeful lack of interest in civic activities among youth and express concern about the future of democracy (for example, Education Commission of the States, 2002; National Commission on Service-Learning, 2001). Lack of engagement in the political system is particularly pronounced for young women and urban youth (Niemi & Junn, 1998; Hart & Atkins, 1992). There are also differences between students based on achievement levels. Research has shown that students with a stronger record of academic achievement demonstrate greater political knowledge (Niemi & Junn, 1998), and higher rates of community participation (Nolin, Chaney, Chapman, & Chandler, 1997) than those with lower achievement levels

Bullying: An Age-Old Problem That Needs New Solutions

In recent years, bullying has begun to receive serious research attention within the scientific community, with the first systematic studies on bullying emerging in the 1970s by Norwegian researcher, Dan Olweus. Today, bullying is recognized as a worldwide issue for children and youth around the globe, and research on the topic increasing exponentially. Media attention to the tragic deaths of youth who were victims of bullying has raised public awareness in countries around the world, and our rapidly growing capacity for global communication has given rise to an unprecedented international exchange of information, as well as cross-national studies of the issue. Given such worldwide collaboration and attention, our understanding of the complexity and significance of the problem of school bullying has increased dramatically over the past two decades. Although questions still outnumber answers, we are beginning to unravel the many facets of bullying and victimization that our children are facing. With this knowledge, we are also beginning to find effective ways to reduce bullying. However, we still have much work to do to translate research knowledge into effective practice

Going electronic? Receipt of print journal issues and their electronic availability

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Round-up: 2013 GovInfo Day

The 2013 annual gathering of librarians interested in government and legal information focused on this year's unofficial theme of access: continued access to government information and imporved access to legal resources

Circulating RANKL is inversely related to RANKL mRNA levels in bone in osteoarthritic males

Introduction The relationship of circulating levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) with the expression of these molecules in bone has not been established. The objective of this study was to measure, in humans, the serum levels of RANKL and OPG, and the corresponding levels in bone of mRNA encoding these proteins. Methods Fasting blood samples were obtained on the day of surgery from patients presenting for hip replacement surgery for primary osteoarthritis (OA). Intraoperatively, samples of intertrochanteric trabecular bone were collected for analysis of OPG and RANKL mRNA, using real time RT-PCR. Samples were obtained from 40 patients (15 men with age range 50 to 79 years, and 25 women with age range 47 to 87 years). Serum total RANKL and free OPG levels were measured using ELISA. Results Serum OPG levels increased over the age range of this cohort. In the men RANKL mRNA levels were positively related to age, whereas serum RANKL levels were negatively related to age. Again, in the men serum RANKL levels were inversely related (r = -0.70, P = 0.007) to RANKL mRNA levels. Also in the male group, RANKL mRNA levels were associated with a number of indices of bone structure (bone volume fraction relative to bone tissue volume, specific surface of bone relative to bone tissue volume, and trabecular thickness), bone remodelling (eroded surface and osteoid surface), and biochemical markers of bone turnover (serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline). Conclusion This is the first report to show a relationship between serum RANKL and the expression of RANKL mRNA in bone.David Findlay, Mellick Chehade, Helen Tsangari, Susan Neale, Shelley Hay, Blair Hopwood, Susan Pannach, Peter O'Loughlin and Nicola Fazzalar