Adapting to the educational climate: Unleashing the potential of active learning in science education

In this keynote presentation, we delve into the transformative power of active learning and its seamless integration within the evolving educational climate. We explore the concept, practical implementation, and the myriad benefits and challenges of active learning in diverse Science educational settings. As participants, you'll have the unique opportunity to actively engage in learning activities, experiencing firsthand the dynamic nature of this pedagogical approach. We'll delve into how active learning can be effectively applied in practice, showcasing its remarkable adaptability across various educational environments, including traditional classrooms and the rapidly growing landscape of online learning. Drawing inspiration from real-world experiences, we'll highlight successful active learning initiatives at RMIT University, illuminating the institution's commitment to fostering an interactive and transformative learning environment. Central to our discussion will be RMIT's pioneering Active, Applied, and Authentic (AAA) Signature Pedagogy, a powerful framework that incorporates active learning methodologies into the very fabric of its curriculum. Together, we'll unlock the full potential of active learning, recognizing its ability to propel education forward in an ever-changing world. Be prepared to be inspired and equipped with practical insights on how to embrace and harness the power of active learning in Science Education

Brides in family or in institute: Dowry between customs, symbols and rituals in Southern Italy (18th-19th centuries)

This paper, mainly based on unpublished archival sources, focuses on marriage customs in Terra di Bari between the 18th and 19th centuries. Daughters in marriageable age and future brides become protagonists of a period of their life, prior to the celebration of marriage, in which family strategies, dotal systems, symbols and rituals were strongly conditioned by social belonging and the juridical status of the girl. The focus is, in fact, not only on the legitimate daughters “in the family”, but also on the orphans and institutionalized foundlings for whom the institutes also took on the role of their “welfare family” as regarding marriage

The Circadian Clock, the Immune System, and Viral Infections: The Intricate Relationship Between Biological Time and Host-Virus Interaction

Living beings spend their lives and carry out their daily activities interacting with environmental situations that present space-time variations and that involve contact with other life forms, which may behave as commensals or as invaders and/or parasites. The characteristics of the environment, as well as the processes that support the maintenance of life and that characterize the execution of activities of daily life generally present periodic variations, which are mostly synchronized with the light-dark cycle determined by Earth's rotation on its axis. These rhythms with 24-h periodicity, defined as circadian, influence events linked to the interaction between hosts and hosted microorganisms and can dramatically determine the outcome of this interplay. As for the various pathological conditions resulting from host-microorganism interactions, a particularly interesting scenario concerns infections by viruses. When a viral agent enters the body, it alters the biological processes of the infected cells in order to favour its replication and to spread to various tissues. Though our knowledge concerning the mutual influence between the biological clock and viruses is still limited, recent studies start to unravel interesting aspects of the clock-virus molecular interplay. Three different aspects of this interplay are addressed in this mini-review and include the circadian regulation of both innate and adaptive immune systems, the impact of the biological clock on viral infection itself, and finally the putative perturbations that the virus may confer to the clock leading to its deregulation

The Application of Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis to Address Blended Learning Design Challenges

Blended learning has proved to be more effective than either online learning or face-to-face instruction. For many researchers in higher education, it is almost certain that blended learning will be the new traditional model for course delivery. Despite this, designing blended learning courses is still a major challenge for many academics. Educational institutions’ lack of access to blended learning technical and pedagogical support, the large numbers of blended learning components that need to be considered when constructing a blended learning experience and the lack of a universally recognized formula or defined standards to guide the design process are examples of major challenges facing academics who want to implement a successful blended learning experience. To facilitate the design process, this paper discusses the different design challenges that face academics when designing their blended learning courses. It then discusses the applicability of using a multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach to address these challenges and facilitate the design

BLENDED LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: DELIVERY METHODS SELECTION

Blending online delivery methods with traditional face-to-face instruction has emerged in an effort to accommodate an increasingly diverse student population whilst adding value to the learning environ-ment. A large number of research studies have shown a positive effect of blended learning for teaching and learning. However, designing a successful blended learning course is still challenging for many academics in the higher education sector. A major design problem is selecting the most appropriate delivery methods to achieve the course outcomes. This study contributes to addressing this problem by: (i) identifying criteria that teachers should consider when selecting delivery methods for their blended learning courses; and (ii) rating the importance of each of these criteria. It employs a two-round online modified Delphi survey to achieve its aims

Peccatrici. Il controllo sociale sulle donne nel Mezzogiorno moderno

ItNell'Italia moderna l'intervento reclusorio-assistenziale destinato alle donne più fragili, relegate ai margini della società, si snoda attraverso rigidi parametri di classificazione fondati sul codice di stratificazione dell'onore femminile. Il saggio punta l'attenzione su una specifica categoria di donne - le peccatrici, le fallen women - attraverso la ricostruzione di alcuni tra i principali istituti per donne ree e pentite nel Mezzogiorno moderno. Un intervento di controllo sociale, moralizzante e redentivo, fondato sulla valenza teologica del peccato, che non ha eguali nel panorama assistenziale maschile. Tuttavia, come si evince dalla documentazione archivistica analizzata, a partire dalla seconda metà dell'Ottocento, all'interno di tali istituti l'eredità ideologica e culturale della devianza femminile legata al peccato e, quindi, stigmatizzata prevalentemente per reati attinenti alla sfera sessuale, convive con una nuova concezione della pena e della correzione dai contorni più laici. Istituiti con lo scopo principale di redimere le pubbliche meretrici, tali enti, nei fatti, si trasformeranno tra XIX e XX in carceri femminili.EnIn modern Italy the reclusive intervention designated for fragile women unravel itself on labeling women's honor and classification. Evaluating major institutes for repentances in Southern Italy, this paper points the attention toward a specific category of women, the sinners. The solution to this problem was socially perpetuated throughout moral control based on the sin's theological relevance. As analyzed archive documents indicate, starting from the second half of the 19th century the ecclesiastic conception of purification shares the same institutes with slightly laic way of correction. As a way to divide sins from crimes, and socially absolve these women, starting from the 19th - 20th century, specific prisons for women were established

Brides in family or in institute : dowry between customs, symbols and rituals in Southern Italy, 18th-19th centuries

This paper, mainly based on unpublished archival sources, focuses on marriage customs in Terra di Bari between the 18th and 19th centuries. Daughters in marriageable age and future brides become protagonists of a period of their life, prior to the celebration of marriage, in which family strategies, dotal systems, symbols and rituals were strongly conditioned by social belonging and the juridical status of the girl. The focus is, in fact, not only on the legitimate daughters “in the family”, but also on the orphans and institutionalized foundlings for whom the institutes also took on the role of their “welfare family” as regarding marriage

Access barriers to medical facilities for people with physical disabilities: the case of Peru

People with disabilities (PWD) face several challenges accessing medical services. However, the extent to which architectural and transportation barriers impede access to healthcare is unknown. In Peru, despite laws requiring that buildings be accessible for PWD, no report confirms that medical facilities comply with such regulations. Thus, we aim to provide an association between these barriers and access to medical facilities. Data from a Peruvian disability survey were analyzed. Participants were 18 years of age and older people who reported having a physical disability. Accessibility was defined by reported struggles accessing medical facilities (health or rehabilitation centers). Absence of ramps, handrails, elevators, adapted bathrooms, and information counters in medical facilities were reported as architectural barriers. The transportation barriers analyzed included struggles using buses or trains. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and to control for confounding variables. 20,663 participants were included, their mean age was 66.5 years and 57.5% were females. Architectural and transportation barriers reported were 40% and 61%, respectively. All barriers reported were more prevalent in rural compared to urban areas (p 0.05). Architectural and transportation barriers represent a hindrance to seeking treatment at rehabilitation centers. Actions to improve this situation are needed

Beyond employability skills: Developing professional purpose

Rapid transformation of the workplace and a highly competitive labour market has changed the nature of graduate employability. In addition to discipline related knowledge, students now need to be proactive and adaptable in identifying career opportunities.  This paper presents a conceptual model that views employability as determined by an overarching professional purpose mindset.  This mindset reflects a person’s commitment to developing a professional future aligned to personal values, professional aspirations and societal outlook. Four specific mindsets are encapsulated within professional purpose (curiosity, collaboration, action and growth) and relate to three domains of development (self and social awareness; navigating the world of work and networks). Two studies were conducted to explore the professional purpose model.  Study one was a qualitative study in which 33 undergraduate students (19 female; 14 male) explored their career decision making.  Focus group and interview data showed that each of the four positive mindsets operated in many students’ proactive career related behaviours.  However, for other students, alternative mindsets negatively influenced their career related behaviour.  In the second study, 42 academics (28 male; 14 female)  identified unit learning outcomes in existing curricula related to the three domains of development.  All domains were evident but outcomes for navigating the world of work received most emphasis.  Implications of the findings for further development of the professional purpose model are discussed