A model for dynamic allocation of human attention among multiple tasks

The problem of multi-task attention allocation with special reference to aircraft piloting is discussed with the experimental paradigm used to characterize this situation and the experimental results obtained in the first phase of the research. A qualitative description of an approach to mathematical modeling, and some results obtained with it are also presented to indicate what aspects of the model are most promising. Two appendices are given which (1) discuss the model in relation to graph theory and optimization and (2) specify the optimization algorithm of the model

Modeling human decision making behavior in supervisory control

An optimal decision control model was developed, which is based primarily on a dynamic programming algorithm which looks at all the available task possibilities, charts an optimal trajectory, and commits itself to do the first step (i.e., follow the optimal trajectory during the next time period), and then iterates the calculation. A Bayesian estimator was included which estimates the tasks which might occur in the immediate future and provides this information to the dynamic programming routine. Preliminary trials comparing the human subject's performance to that of the optimal model show a great similarity, but indicate that the human skips certain movements which require quick change in strategy

A BRIEF TEACHER TRAINING ON USING MUSIC TO SUPPORT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN PRESCHOOL: TRAINING MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT

Music in early childhood can provide valuable support for developing social emotional learning in preschool children. Preschool teachers often lack training in how to incorporate music-based activities to support social emotional learning in the classroom. This thesis involves three steps. First, I developed the materials for one-day training that presents music-based experiences for social emotional learning in preschool. The training materials are centered around two learning objectives: 1) Identify at least 1 music-based experience that can support each of the five SEL competencies for children, and 2) increase knowledge of music-based experiences to support SEL in the preschool classroom. Second, I gathered content expert feedback from three individuals. The experts were an early childhood music provider, a local preschool teacher, and a nationally certified music educator. Finally, I examined the feedback from the content experts and refined the training materials. Throughout this project I used the CASEL framework and concepts from anti-racist social emotional justice learning to help inform training materials and refinement. Results of this project expanded our knowledge of the benefits of preschool teacher training for music-based social emotional learning. The refinement of the training materials provided insight for potential future research on preschool teacher training and music-based approaches to social emotional learning

Quality of life for deafblind individuals: Comparing the effect of living with and without support service providers

In this paper, the quality of life for DeafBlind individuals who have Support Service Providers (SSP) available will be compared to DeafBlind individuals who do not. SSPs are trained individuals who assist the DeafBlind population with tasks such as a communication support, environmental information, and mobility support; in addition, they typically possess at least some fluency in American Sign Language. The availability of SSP services varies between DeafBlind individuals depending on a variety of factors. This study explores possible differences in quality of life reported by DeafBlind individuals who currently have SSP services available and those who do not. In consideration to the responses provided by the DeafBlind community, a new discussion emerges attempting to identify ways to achieve an accessible world for these community members. The 56 participants in this study are comprised of female and male individuals, 18 years or older, from a variety of ethnic and social groups across the United States who have a combination of hearing and visual loss. The methodology for this research is a quantitative survey. This study used KIDSCREEN Group’s (2004) pre-existing survey. The survey respondents are divided into two groups: those with SSPs and those without SSPs. Each group had 28 respondents who filled out a similar survey. The group that had the higher percentage of positive responses was identified as possessing a higher quality of life. It was concluded that DeafBlind individuals with SSPs consistently had higher positive responses than the other group, DeafBlind individuals without SSPs

Targeting S1P receptors in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice improves early deficits in locomotor activity and increases ultrasonic vocalisations

Fingolimod (FTY720) is an oral therapy for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and targets sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs). FTY720 also rescues animals from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. The protective effects of FTY720 in EAE are primarily scored manually by examining weight loss and limb paralysis that begins around 10-12 days after immunisation. To our knowledge, pre-clinical effects of FTY720 on animal behaviour early in EAE have not been explored. Here, we developed an automated behaviour monitoring system to examine the early effects of FTY720 on subtle pre-symptomatic behaviour of mice induced with EAE. Our automated home-cage monitoring system (AHC-MS) enabled non-contact detection of movement and ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) of mice induced with EAE, thus allowing detection of subtle changes in mouse behaviour before paralysis occurs. Mice receiving FTY720 emit longer USVs and display higher levels of motor activity than vehicle-treated EAE mice before clinical symptoms become apparent. Importantly, this study promotes the 3Rs ethics (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the EAE animal model and may also improve pre-screening of potentially novel MS therapies. In addition, this is the first report showing the early effects of FTY720 in EAE which underscores its protective effects

Community engagement using World Café: The Well London experience

In 2006, the Big Lottery advertised a call for proposals for intervention programmes to promote well-being in communities, with a special focus on increasing the uptake of healthy eating choices, increasing levels of healthy physical activity, and enhancing mental health and well-being. The London Health Commission brought together a partnership (the Well London Alliance) including the University of East London, which prepared and delivered a proposal called Well London. The aim of the Well London programme was to use community engagement and development approaches to design and deliver a three year programme of coordinated project interventions targeted at twenty of the most deprived Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) across twenty London boroughs. In July 2007, funding of £9.4m was awarded. The first stage of the programme was to design and deliver the Well London Community Engagement Process (WLCEP) to involve the targeted communities in identifying the important challenges they faced in improving their wellbeing and in developing a portfolio of projects which would address these. The first phase of the Well London programme was launched across twenty boroughs in London during late 2007. Following the successes of Phase 1, a second phase of the Well London programme began in 2012 in 9 new areas. Well London employed a multistage community engagement process which informed the overall project strategy for each intervention area. The Community Engagement Team (CET) at The Institute for Health and Human Development at UEL developed an approach which built on best practice, and the experience of key organisations with a reputation for effective models of engagement and relationship building including the Bromley-by-Bow centre in Tower Hamlets. WLCEP used elements of Whole Systems thinking and Future Methods including the World Café and Appreciative Inquiry. This process has been further refined in Phase 2 to include an element of Participatory Budgeting in commissioning projects identified during the community engagement process. The CET established and used key principles to guide the design of this innovative community engagement process. Principles included building collaborative partnerships, working with whole-systems, privileging community knowledge and working with the deficit of experience in each area. These principles were then operationalised throughout the preparation and delivery of almost 60 World Cafés, which were the first open community activities of the Well London community engagement process. Our research reflects on and summarises the lessons learned when employing innovative, inclusive and transparent community engagement for health promotion

A flexible framework for evaluating the socio-cultural impacts of a small festival

The increasing popularity of festivals and events, coupled with their positive and negative impacts on host communities, has led to a growing body of research on the impacts of festivals and events. As a substantial amount of this research has focused on assessing the economic impacts of festivals, there is growing demand for the measurement of the socio-cultural impacts of these festivals and events. To address this issue a study was conducted that developed a framework for the social impact evaluation of festivals and piloted a tool that measured the community perceptions of socio-cultural impacts

“Fitting into the Teaching Profession”: Supervising Teachers’ Judgements During the Practicum

This study explores supervising teachers’ judgements about pre-service teachers during a practicum experience. Making judgements is a complex, subjective process with judgements being conscious and intuitive, influenced by individual beliefs, contextual expectations and personal learning biographies. This research draws on Social Judgement Theory to guide the analysis of data collected from interviews with experienced supervising teachers. Analysis indicated that the supervisors placed most emphasis on ‘personal qualities’ of pre-service teachers. This has implications for the selection of candidates for teaching, the importance of non-academic capabilities in teaching and the development of pre-service teachers’ personal qualities within initial teacher education programs

Exploring Bluetooth based Mobile Phone Interaction with the Hermes Photo Display

One of the most promising possibilities for supporting user interaction with public displays is the use of personal mobile phones. Furthermore, by utilising Bluetooth users should have the capability to interact with displays without incurring personal financial connectivity costs. However, despite the relative maturity of Bluetooth as a standard and its widespread adoption in today’s mobile phones, little exploration seems to have taken place in this area - despite its apparent significant potential. This paper describe the findings of an exploratory study nvolving our Hermes Photo Display which has been extended to enable users with a suitable phone to both send and receive pictures over Bluetooth. We present both the technical challenges of working with Bluetooth and, through our user study, we present initial insights into general user acceptability issues and the potential for such a display to facilitate notions of community