Book Review - Narratives of Learning through International Professional Experience

Narratives of Learning through International Professional Experience, edited by Fitzgerald, Parr and Williams (2017) provides compelling evidence that practicum placements in diverse cultural settings illuminate and inspire new understandings of participants including pre-service teachers, faculty facilitators and host mentor educators

Parental age at childbirth and children’s educational outcomes: evidence from upper-secondary schools in Italy

In the last decades, Western societies have been involved in huge demographic changes, amongst which one of the most important has been the increasing postponement of the transition to parenthood. This paper aims at analysing the consequences of later motherhood and fatherhood on children\u2019s participation in upper-secondary schools in Italy, considering both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of education. It also aims at highlighting the role of father-mother age difference and heterogeneity in the effects by parental SES and birth order. Using Italian labour force survey data (2005-2014), results show that late parenthood is positively associated with educational attainment, whereas teenage and early parenthood negatively affect children\u2019s educational outcomes, net of detailed information on parental SES. Age at parenthood affects the educational achievement mostly for children of low- and middle-educated parents, who are more penalized by early childbearing and more favoured by late parenthood than the offspring of the tertiary educated. Moreover, only children are less affected by age at parenthood, especially in comparison with later-born children. Finally, children\u2019s educational outcomes are worse when the mother is older than the father, independently from the educational outcome considered, whereas they are better in case of parental age homogamy or when the father is slightly older than the mother

The ethnic wage penalty in Western European regions: Is the European integration model confirmed when differences within countries are considered?

Background: The European model of integration of recent immigrants is characterised by a trade-off between employment and job quality, which takes different forms in Southern and Continental Europe. In Mediterranean countries, migrants have similar employment opportunities as natives, but they have high risks of entering the lowest strata of the occupational structure. In Continental Europe the trade-off is reversed: Migrants have lower employment opportunities, but once employed, they face a lower penalisation in terms of job quality than the one faced by immigrants living in Southern Europe. Objective: This work focuses on the regional heterogeneity of the model of inclusion of recent immigrants in the European labour markets, analysing how migrant-native gaps in wages and in the probability of (dependent) employment change across areas of the same country. Is the trade-off between employment and job quality confirmed when regional differences are considered? Are there gender differences in the models of inclusion? Methods: We used European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS, 2009-2016) data and applied probit models with sample selection, estimated separately by region and gender. Results: Results show substantial regional heterogeneity in the ethnic penalties in Germany and in Southern Europe, especially in Greece and Italy. Moreover, when regional differences within countries were considered, the trade-off model of inclusion was confirmed only among men, while immigrant women's model of inclusion turned out to be more mixed, with some European areas conforming to a 'double-penalty' model, whereas other areas showed patterns of immigrant disadvantage in line with an 'integration' model. Contribution: This work extends the literature by studying differences in the ethnic penalties at the regional level, focusing on both (dependent) employment probability and wage - an alternative indicator of migrants' economic integration. Our results also suggest the importance of taking gender differences into account

Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions of an International Practicum Experience in Italian Schools: Benefits of a Short-Term Placement with Faculty Support

This study examines the perceptions of teacher candidates (student teachers) participating in a faculty-supervised, international teaching placement in Italian schools. Survey responses and journal reflections, supported by faculty field notes indicate that the benefits could be categorized in four main areas such as: the development of resourcefulness and resilience; increased familiarity with the conditions of international teaching employment; a greater awareness of cultural literacy and comparative education; and an enhancement of language sensitivities and strategies for communicating and teaching. Recommendations suggest that professional growth of the teacher candidates is dependent on sufficient preparation, faculty support and immersion in the experience. Cette étude examine les perceptions des futurs enseignants (étudiants en enseignement) participant à un stage international d’enseignement dans des écoles italiennes, supervisé par la faculté. Les résultats d’enquêtes et réflexions de journal, appuyés par des notes de terrain des professeurs, indiquent que les avantages pourraient être classées dans quatre principaux domaines tels que : développement de débrouillardise et de résilience ; familiarité accrue avec les conditions d’emploi pour enseigner à l’étranger ; une plus grande sensibilisation à la littérarité cultuelle et à l’éducation comparative ; et une amélioration des sensibilités linguistiques et stratégies de communication et d’enseignement. Des recommandations suggèrent que le développement professionnel des futurs enseignants dépend d’une préparation adéquate, de support du corps professoral et d’une immersion dans l’expérience

Education for Innovation (E4I): Exploring the Developmental Process of a Canadian Curriculum Resource

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) in Ottawa, Canada selected the Schulich School of Education (SSoE) at Nipissing University to create educational resources to correspond with the release of two 2017 publications (Innovation Nation written for emergent readers; and Ingenious written for older readers. Both books were co-authored by The Right Honourable David Johnston (former Governor General of Canada) and Tom Jenkins as part of the Canada 150 sesquicentennial celebrations. The SSoE organized school teacher writing teams in summer 2017 and produced three cross-curricular Education for Innovation (E4I) resources (Early Learning; Grades 1-8; Grades 7-12) each of which included an Innovation Cycle model, sample key innovation learning experiences, and suggestions for culminating Innovation Celebrations. Teacher candidates from participating SSoE faculty classes also created curriculum-specific Innovation units which were subsequently revised by teacher teams and then implemented and reviewed by teachers from different educational contexts (e.g., public schools, private schools, homeschools). The E4I project collaboration involved university faculty, teachers, teacher candidates, and community partners. Based on participant survey data, researchers identified reported benefits and challenges relating to the overall developmental process. Findings indicate that the experiences of inquiring, ideating, incubating, and implementing the E4I resources closely reflected the phases found within the Innovation Cycle model. Feedback from teachers confirmed the usefulness of E4I for promoting innovation skills and mindsets in their students. Further themes emerging from the process survey data analysis include the evidence of, and need for: solid leadership, flexible support, iterative mindsets, and organic organizational structures. Key words: Innovation, Education, Curriculum, Interdisciplinary La Fondation Rideau Hall (FRH) à Ottawa, Canada, a sélectionné la Schulich School of Education (SSoE) de l’Université Nipissing pour élaborer des ressources didactiques dans le cadre de la publication de deux livres en 2017, Innovation Nation pour lecteurs débutants et Ingenious pour lecteurs plus âgés. Les deux livres ont été rédigés par le très honorable David Johnston, ancien Gouverneur général du Canada, en collaboration avec Tom Jenkins dans le cadre des célébrations du cent-cinquantenaire du Canada. La SSoE a organisé des équipes de rédaction pour enseignants à l’été 2017 et a produit trois ressources multidisciplinaires portant sur l’éducation pour l’innovation (E41), chacune comportant un modèle du cycle d’innovation, un échantillon des expériences d’apprentissage axées sur l’innovation et des suggestions axées sur les célébrations de l’innovation comme activité culminante. Des stagiaires suivant des cours avec l’équipe professorale de SSoE ont également créé des unités portant sur l’innovation alignées avec les programmes d’études. Par la suite, des équipes d’enseignants ont révisé les unités et des enseignants de divers contextes éducationnels (par exemple, écoles publiques, écoles privées, enseignement à domicile) les ont mises en œuvre et les ont commentées. Le projet E41 a impliqué la collaboration du personnel enseignant de l’université, d’enseignants, de stagiaires et de partenaires communautaires. À partir des données de sondages, les chercheurs ont identifié les avantages et les défis de l’ensemble du processus de développement. Les résultats indiquent que les expériences consistant à poser des questions, à imaginer, à réfléchir et à mettre sur pied les ressources E41 correspondent étroitement aux phases du modèle du cycle de l’innovation. La rétroaction des enseignants a confirmé l’utilité de E41 pour les compétences et les mentalités en innovation chez les étudiants. L’analyse des données du sondage a également fait ressortir la présence, et le besoin, d’un leadership solide, d’un appui souple, de mentalités itératives et de structures organisationnelles organiques.   Mots clés : innovation, éducation, curriculum, interdisciplinaire &nbsp

Chemical reactions on surfaces for applications in catalysis, gas sensing, adsorption-assisted desalination and Li-ion batteries: opportunities and challenges for surface science

The study of chemical processes on solid surfaces is a powerful tool to discover novel physicochemical concepts with direct implications for processes based on chemical reactions at surfaces, largely exploited by industry. Recent upgrades of experimental tools and computational capabilities, as well as the advent of two-dimensional materials, have opened new opportunities and challenges for surface science. In this Perspective, we highlight recent advances in application fields strictly connected to novel concepts emerging in surface science. Specifically, we show for selected case-study examples that surface oxidation can be unexpectedly beneficial for improving the efficiency in electrocatalysis (the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction) and photocatalysis, as well as in gas sensing. Moreover, we discuss the adsorption-assisted mechanism in membrane distillation for seawater desalination, as well as the use of surface-science tools in the study of Li-ion batteries. In all these applications, surface-science methodologies (both experimental and theoretical) have unveiled new physicochemical processes, whose efficiency can be further tuned by controlling surface phenomena, thus paving the way for a new era for the investigation of surfaces and interfaces of nanomaterials. In addition, we discuss the role of surface scientists in contemporary condensed matter physics, taking as case-study examples specific controversial debates concerning unexpected phenomena emerging in nanosheets of layered materials, solved by adopting a surface-science approach. © the Owner Societies 2020

L\u2019utilizzo dei farmaci analgesici oppiacei per il trattamento del dolore in Italia: un\u2019analisi empirica

The International association for the study of pain and the World medical association stated that receiving a fair treatment of pain is a right of each individual. Moderate or high intensity cases of pain are treated with opiates. In Italy, in 2010, a new legislation has been issued, one of the most advanced on the topic of the treatment of pain and the usage of opiates. Although the legislative progresses, the consumption of opiates is not so common and ranks far behind the other European countries. The analysis of the spread of opiates in the treatment of pain pointed out relevant differences in terms of gender, age, region, cancer, type of opioid prescribed. It should then take action to make consistent use of opiates in pain therapy, focusing in particular on cancer patients and territorial differences. The analysis of religiosity as a potential barrier to pain management and opiates usage allowed us to conclude, however, that it is a factor that influences the number of prescriptions of opiates, even if the moderate effect. Public policies should respect personal choices (also religious ones), but it is important broadcasting some appropriate information campaigns which allow to make independent and informed choices. Key words. Opioids, pain, religiosity. JEL classification. I18

Dual Mode NOx Sensor: Measuring Both the Accumulated Amount and Instantaneous Level at Low Concentrations

The accumulating-type (or integrating-type) NOx sensor principle offers two operation modes to measure low levels of NOx: The direct signal gives the total amount dosed over a time interval and its derivative the instantaneous concentration. With a linear sensor response, no baseline drift, and both response times and recovery times in the range of the gas exchange time of the test bench (5 to 7 s), the integrating sensor is well suited to reliably detect low levels of NOx. Experimental results are presented demonstrating the sensor’s integrating properties for the total amount detection and its sensitivity to both NO and to NO2. We also show the correlation between the derivative of the sensor signal and the known gas concentration. The long-term detection of NOx in the sub-ppm range (e.g., for air quality measurements) is discussed. Additionally, a self-adaption of the measurement range taking advantage of the temperature dependency of the sensitivity is addressed