Booderee National Park Management: Connecting science and management

A 10-year science-management partnership has focussed on three key issues within Booderee National Park in eastern Australia: the impacts of fire on native biota, the response of vertebrates to feral animal control and the control of Bitou Bush. What ha

A framework for mixed reality free-choice, self-determined learning

In this article, we present a theoretical framework for mixed reality (MR/XR) self-determined learning to enhance ecological literacy in free-choice educational settings. The framework emerged from a research study in New Zealand which aimed to explore how learning experiences which incorporate mobile technologies within free-choice learning settings can be designed to enhance learner development of marine ecological literacy. An understanding of how mobile technology can be integrated into the teaching and learning of sustainability education that incorporates free-choice learning contexts, such as visitor centres, is of strategic importance to both education outside the classroom and adult learning. Following a design-based research methodology, the framework is presented in the form of a set of design principles and guidelines, informed by key theories in ecological literacy and free-choice learning, heutagogy, bring your own device and self-determined learning. We briefly describe how the framework provided the foundation for an educational intervention. This paper aims to assist researchers and developers of MR/XR immersive learning environments to consider design principles and processes that can enhance learning outcomes within free-choice settings, such as museums and visitor centres

Neuromuscular fatigue and muscle damage following a simulated singles badminton match

Purpose: To understand muscle damage in badminton, changes in neuromuscular function were investigated after simulated badminton singles matches performed by ten state-level male players. Methods: Each participant played eight matches and measurements were taken before, immediately after, and 1 and 24 h after each match. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque of the knee extensors and flexors, voluntary activation (VA) during MVC and torques generated by doublet (TDoublet), 20 (T20) and 80 Hz (T80) electrical stimulations of the knee extensors were measured from the dominant leg (the racket-hold arm side). Muscle soreness was assessed by a 100-mm visual analogue scale from both legs. The number of lunges performed by each participant in each match was analysed by videos, and its relations to other measures were examined. Results: Pre-match knee extensor and flexor MVC torques were 278.4 ± 50.8 Nm and 143.0 ± 36.2 Nm, respectively. Knee extensor MVC torque of the dominant leg decreased immediately (12.0 ± 2.9 %) and 1 h post-match (16.0 ± 3.2 %), but returned to baseline at 24 h post-match. VA (11.4 ± 2.9 %), TDoublet (13.1 ± 6.0 %), T20 (31.1 ± 12.3 %) and T80 (25.5 ± 7.9 %) decreased (p \u3c 0.01) immediately post-match but recovered by 24 h post-match. A significant correlation (r = − 0.64, p \u3c 0.01) was observed between the total number of lunges performed in a match (160 – 240 times) and the magnitude of decrease in MVC torque (6.4 – 14.7 %). Muscle soreness developed more (p \u3c 0.05) for the dominant (51.5 ± 11.6 mm) than the non-dominant leg (18.8 ± 8.6 mm). Conclusion: Muscle damage induced by singles badminton matches was minimal, but the more the lunges are performed, the greater the neuromuscular fatigue

Small Area and Individual Level Predictors of Physical Activity in Urban Communities: A Multi-Level Study in Stoke on Trent, England

Reducing population physical inactivity has been declared a global public health priority. We report a detailed multi-level analysis of small area indices and individual factors as correlates of physical activity in deprived urban areas. Multi-level regression analysis was used to investigate environmental and individual correlates of physical activity. Nine individual factors were retained in the overall model, two related to individual intentions or beliefs, three to access to shops, work or fast food outlets and two to weather; age and gender being the other two. Four area level indices related to: traffic, road casualties, criminal damage and access to green space were important in explaining variation in physical activity

A mobile ecology of resources for Covid-19 learning

Mobile devices and a vast array of accompanying applications offer significant affordances to create, consume, share, collaborate and communicate—affordances that could be easily leveraged to facilitate meaningful learning. A positive disruption arising from Covid-19 that aligns with the affordances of mobile learning is the uncoupling of time and space in the learning process. Traditionally formal learning is a process that is predominately viewed as an experience that is ‘timetabled’— scheduled to eventuate at a ‘place’—lecture or a tutorial (or similar) in a room or lecture theatre. In this concise paper, an ecology of resources is discussed along with guiding principles for designing and facilitating uncoupled authentic and student-determined learning post the emergency remote teaching phase