Out there and in here: design for blended scientific inquiry learning

One of the benefits of mobile technologies is to combine ‘the digital’ (e.g., data, information, photos) with ‘field’ experiences in novel ways that are contextualized by people’s current located activities. However, often cost, mobility disabilities and time exclude students from engaging in such peripatetic experiences. The Out There and In Here project, is exploring a combination of mobile and tabletop technologies in support for collaborative learning. A system is being developed for synchronous collaboration between geology students in the field and peers at an indoor location. The overarching goal of this research is to develop technologies that support people working together in a suitable manner for their locations. There are two OTIH project research threads. The first deals with disabled learner access issues: these complex issues are being reviewed in subsequent evaluations and publications. This paper will deal with issues of technology supported learning design for remote and co-located science learners. Several stakeholder evaluations and two field trials have reviewed two research questions: 1. What will enhance the learning experience for those in the field and laboratory? 2. How can learning trajectories and appropriate technologies be designed to support equitable co-located and remote learning collaboration? This paper focuses on describing the iterative linked development of technologies and scientific inquiry pedagogy. Two stages within the research project are presented. The 1st stage details several pilot studies over 3 years with 21 student participants in synchronous collaborations with traditional technology and pedagogical models. Findings revealed that this was an engaging and useful experience although issues of equity in collaboration needed further research. The 2nd stage, in this project, has been to evaluate data from over 25 stakeholders (academics, learning and technology designers) to develop pervasive ambient technological solutions supporting orchestration of mixed levels of pedagogy (i.e. abstract synthesis to specific investigation). Middleware between tabletop ‘surface’ technologies and mobile devices are being designed with Microsoft and OOKL (a mobile software company) to support these developments. Initial findings reveal issues around equity, ownership and professional identity

Joining the dots: hydrology, freshwater ecosystem values and adaptation options

AbstractThe objective of this research was to investigate and test the necessary steps in developing an adaptation planning framework for freshwater biodiversity. We used Tasmania as a test case to demonstrate how downscaled climate model outputs could be integrated with spatially resolved hydrological models and freshwater biodiversity data. This enabled us to scope adaptation actions at local, regional and state scales for Tasmania, and to explore how priorities might be set.To achieve this integration we quantified how different climate change scenarios could affect the risks to biodiversity and ecosystem values (‘biodiversity assets’) in freshwaters, the scope and types of adaptation actions, and assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the policy and planning instruments in responding to climate change.We concluded that downscaled climate modelling, linked with modelling of catchment and hydrological processes, refines projections for climate-driven risks to aquatic environments. Spatial and temporal hazards and risks can now be compared at a variety of scales, as well as comparisons between biodiversity assets (e.g. relative risk to riparian vegetation v. in-stream biota). Uncertainties can be identified and built into adaptation processes. Notwithstanding this progress, we identified a number of issues that need to be addressed in order to increase confidence in this process.The main issues for improved and timely modelling are: frameworks for using and downscaling outputs from improved global climate models as they become available; better data on thermal tolerances of freshwater biota; and, improved methods for predicting key water temperature variables from air temperature and other biophysical predictors. Improvements are also needed in updating and maintaining high quality biodiversity data sets, and better spatially explicit information on the contributions of groundwater to surface waters and rates of recharge.The list of adaptation options available is extensive, but the key challenge is to organise these options so that stakeholders are not overwhelmed. Scenario modelling that incorporates explicit tools for comparing costs, benefits, feasibility and social acceptability should help with setting priorities but require further development.A review of current Australian policies revealed a variety of responses driven by both water reform and climate change agendas. Many agencies are actively revising their policies to accommodate adaptation. However, we note that much of the reform of the water sector in the last 10–15 years has aimed to improve certainty for non-environmental water uses. Under the National Water Initiative, governments have agreed that entitlement holders should bear the risks of reduced volumes or reliability of their water allocations as a result of changes in climate. The key opportunity for adaptive uptake of climate adaptations is by developing and periodically reviewing water management planning tools. Pathways need to be developed for integrating the traditional evolution of planning and policy with the needs for climate change adaptation for aquatic ecosystems. Formal mechanisms for the uptake of knowledge about identified risks into policy and legislative instruments remain under-developed. An even bigger challenge is to integrate multiple adaptation strategies (sometimes at different scales) to achieve specific adaptation objectives within regions or catchments—especially where a mix of water management and non-water management is required

Prescribing opioids in general practice

In this scenario you are working as a practice nurse in a large GP practice. Your local formulary recommends morphine as the first line strong opioid analgesic. Your practice pharmacist has analysed your prescribing data to check whether prescribing is in accordance with the formulary. The analysis reveals that the practice is prescribing a large proportion of non-formulary or second line strong opioids. In the average UK practice, morphine makes up 30% of all strong opioids prescribed. In your practice, it makes up just 20% of all strong opioids prescribed. Your pharmacist has identified a list of 50 patients on non-formulary or second line strong opioids, all for chronic pai

Over-use of short-acting inhalers for uncontrolled asthma

Why asthma still kills is the National Review of Asthma Deaths' first national investigation of asthma deaths in the UK and the largest study worldwide to date (Royal College of Physicians (RCP), 2015). The primary aim was to understand the circumstances surrounding asthma deaths to identify avoidable factors and make recommendations to improve care and reduce the number of deaths. Some of the recommendations involve prescribing and medicines use. One of these specifically states, ‘All asthma patients who have been prescribed more than 12 short-acting reliever inhalers in the previous 12 months should be invited for urgent review of their asthma control, with the aim of improving their asthma through education and change of treatment, if required’ (RCP, 2015). The reason for this is that over-use of short-acting relievers can be an indication of uncontrolled asthma. An additional concern due to over-use can be explained by the pharmacology of short-acting relievers. These medicines, such as salbutamol and terbutaline, are beta-2 receptor agonists, and their over-use can lead to the ‘down-regulation’ of receptors, which can result in an insufficient therapeutic effect in an emergency situation (Joint Formulary Committee, 2016). Furthermore, the over-use of medicines can lead to side effects (e.g. palpitations or anxiety), and is a waste of NHS resources

Claiming Space

The self-portraits in Claiming Space are presented as large, glossy full-color posters, pinned directly to the gallery wall. The photographs are photographs of me, a plus-sized woman, as I want to be seen confronting and challenging the ideals of beauty, desire, and representation in contemporary culture and media. Using an active and direct gaze, I present a plus-sized woman with power and strength even in vulnerability. I am challenging the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of women, especially fat women, and asserting the right to be seen