Adaptive and maladaptive motivational responses in online learners

The speed at which on-line technologies are being adopted in the learning of English as a second or foreign language creates an urgent need to establish links between theoretical positions and professional practice in the digital realm. As far as issues in motivation studies are concerned, much of what is known about the way learners of English behave is classroom and print-based and may not illuminate operational matters on-line to their fullest extent. This thesis describes the trial of English academic reading skills materials designed for Chinese scholars attending a tertiary-level Institution overseas and attempts to Identify and understand the variables that affected their performance on-line. The data collected from both quantitative and qualitative sources were considered within a framework that Identifies distinct patterns of behaviour, classified either as adaptive or maladaptive, Insofar as they affect the ways learners use their talents In the classroom. Analysis of the data showed that some participants seemed to obstruct their own learning on-line through their negative affective responses to the technology, materials and pedagogy used on the course. Others were able to achieve to a certain extent personally challenging and valued achievement goals. The data also highlighted challenges facing language tutors on-line In relationship building, fostering reflective practice and promoting Independence, and self-direction. Such areas of research are considered to be of particular value to practitioners who work In on-line contexts and have difficulty In Identifying and managing the dynamics of the environment they are involved in. Several implications are drawn from this study concerning the exploitation of online learning environments with Chinese students. Chief among these concerns the claim that cultural factors have a powerful Influence on the manner in which these students study and react on-line. In particular, Issues of 'face-management' and the operation of the 'self-worth motive' are highlighted and commented upon

Wisdom as an Outcome of Critical Thinking in the School Curriculum

This article considers a way of enacting critical thinking in the school curriculum. An alternative to adopting a formal framework of critical thinking which may not be exhaustive or include desirable components, involves working towards the generation of wisdom—defined as the quality of having the experience, knowledge and insight to think and act aptly in a specific context for a particular purpose—as a way for learners to make meanings that potentially have personal and social significance. The article uses a real-world example to illustrate how critical thinking can be driven by inquiry and underpinned by explanation to demonstrate practical knowledge and understanding in specific circumstances. Keywords: wisdom, critical thinking, curriculum, instruction, task design, classroom practic

Involving the public in decision-making about large-scale changes to health services: a scoping review

BACKGROUND: Public involvement in large-scale changes (LSC) to health services is strongly promoted - and even mandated - in several health systems. This scoping review aimed to describe the evidence about how public involvement is conceptualised and conducted in LSC, with what impact, and how different stakeholders perceived this process. METHODS: After searching eight databases, 34 publications were included. Data were extracted and charted using a standardised form. Findings from the literature were discussed with frontline stakeholders. RESULTS: Public involvement remains poorly defined and its aims lack clarity in LSC. Public meetings are most often used to gather public views but raise the issue of representativeness. However, evidence in the literature is scarce about which involvement methods - informative and deliberative - are appropriate for the different stages of the LSC and with what impact. In several cases, the involved public felt they had no influence on decision-making regarding LSC proposals, sometimes leading to an environment of mistrust. In those instances, the public understood the technical arguments for change and actively questioned them, opposed LSC plans and sought alternative routes to voice their views. CONCLUSION: More research and consideration are needed regarding who should be involved, with what purpose and how. We argue that in practice two models of involvement, invited and uninvited participation, coexist and therefore interactions between the two should be given further consideration in LSC

Factors affecting fertility in Aklan, Philippines

The Survey was carried out in Aklan province, Philippines from March to September 1971. Two poblaciones, Kalibo and Ibajay, together with five barrios, Aslum, Capilijan, Sta Cruz, Pook and Tinigao formed the Survey universe. The interviewing was carried out in two stages, first round being Household interviews and Pregnancy History interviews and the second round being KAP/Socio-economic interviews with women who completed Pregnancy History interviews, and a small number of their husbands. Self administered questionnaires were given to a number of unmarried college students in Kalibo in August 1971. The aims of the Survey were to collect accurate and detailed information on pregnancy and birth performances from currently married women aged from 15 to 44 years; this data was collected during the Pregnancy History interviews. In order to understand some of the factors associated with the fertility patterns detected in the Pregnancy History data, a number of biological, socio-economic and psychological variables were examined by means of the second stage KAP interviews. The selection of the biological factors in fertility was based on the Davis-Blake set of intermediate variables and the data was analyzed under four sections, fecundity phase, coital phase, conception phase and the gestation/parturition phase. The socio-economic variables were suggested from the models constructed by Freedman and Hill, Stycos and Back. These variables covered the general areas of urban/rural residence, urban/rural birthplace, education, occupation, economic status religion, household type and family planning clinic usage. A number of opinion and attitude questions on such topics as marriage, children, family size and family planning were incorporated into the second stage interviews. These opinion questions formed the basis of an analysis of psychological factors in fertility. The unmarried students completed a questionnaire dealing with some of the same attitude questions given to the married women and the responses of the students give some indication of different perceived ideals and desires relating to children and family size. The outcome of the study showed the surveyed Aklanons to have quite high fertility behavior and general background characteristics and ideas which generally supported such high fertility patterns. There was little evidence to suggest an appreciable fertility decline in the near future in the area

Three IoT Wearables in Six European Cities! Reality and Perception

In the last decade, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology has attracted lots of attention. This paper evaluates the impact of three different IoT technologies represented in three types of wearables; Smart Glasses, Tracking Devices, and Crowd and Staff Wristbands. The deployment of these devices took place in a number of cultural and sports events in six European counties, as part of the European Commission funded project; MONICA. The analysis focused on the usability of the wearables and their impact on safety and security

“It’s my diabetes”: Co-production in practice with young people in delivering a ‘perfect' care pathway for diabetes

This paper considers how young people can help commissioners and providers better understand and address the options and barriers of delivering a perfect care pathway. This applied health study was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) in England and a local clinical commissioning group (CCG) responsible for the organisation and delivery of NHS services in a socially deprived, ethnically diverse urban locality. . The research team was mixed –in terms of age, ethnicity, faith-identities and backgrounds - and worked together over one year to co-produce commissioning guidance. Guidance is intended for use by clinical commissioning groups to support them in commissioning health services. Our goal was to work with young people to help us understand the options and barriers they face when given a diagnosis of diabetes and using health services. While our health partners can provide the latest medical and academic input in to managing diabetes, young people have first-hand experience of managing diabetes, the highs and the lows, and only they can provide the inspiration for what would make the service better, now and in the future. With this focus in mind young people joined the research team to help shape and implement new commissioning guidance. This paper offers the opportunity to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses in involving young people in health service design

Patient involvement in questionnaire design: tackling response error and burden.

Questionnaires capture patient perspectives succinctly and at relatively low cost, making them a popular data collection tool for health researchers. However, questionnaire data can be affected by response error and response burden. Patient involvement during questionnaire design can help reduce the effect of response error and burden. This paper describes a novel approach for patient involvement during questionnaire design, combining methods from cognitive interviewing (Think Aloud Tasks) with an open-ended follow-up discussion to collate and act on patient feedback, while also taking account of the common challenges in questionnaire design (i.e. response error and burden). The strengths and limitations of this approach are discussed, and recommendations are made for future use