The Self Organised Learning Environment (SOLE) School Support Pack.

This document is designed to support the implementation of Sugata Mitra’s Self Organised Learning Environment (SOLE) into multiple school contexts. It contains ‘whole school’ related information for Head Teachers and senior staff in addition to teaching and learning support for teachers and support staff. A kindle version of Sugata Mitra's "Beyond the Hole in the Wall: Discover the Power of Self-Organized Learning" is available here http://goo.gl/iaL4B

Framing the Genetic Engineering Debate: An Examination of Frames and Sources in Local Newspaper Reporting

The study contributes to understanding of how a scientific controversy – genetic engineering – is treated in news stories in local newspapers. The findings provide quantitative evidence that local newspaper coverage of genetic engineering issues is framed in diverse and complex ways. Additionally, the analyses reveal that oppositional viewpoints exist in some local newspapers, perhaps more so than in national news. In contrast to studies of biotechnology news content in the national, elite press, this study suggests that a range of voices and interpretations about biotechnology do in fact exist in news media coverage of biotechnology in the United States, at least in some local newspapers. The research specifically focuses on news media framing of genetic engineering and how stakeholders in the debate influence those frames. A computer-assisted content analysis was conducted on local newspaper coverage related to agricultural biotechnology. Semi-structured interviews with dominant stakeholders were conducted to augment quantitative evidence of news frames. Methodologically, the dissertation introduces and elaborates the use of computer-assisted content analysis to determine frames related to biotechnology. The WordStat computer program was employed to systematically identify and analyze frames and frame changes over time. Moreover, unlike previous framing studies that have used cluster analysis, this study details the usefulness of factor analysis in statistically validating frames. This study identifies and compares news frames in local newspapers in Northern California and in the St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch. News articles that contained keywords pertaining to genetically modified organisms (crops and food) from January 1992 to December 2004 were obtained for the analysis from the Lexis-Nexis Academic database. A total of 1,134 news articles from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was collected; 860 of these news articles were retained for analysis. A total of 508 news articles from four Northern California newspapers was collected; 296 of these news articles were analyzed. Additionally, quantitative analyses of dominant stakeholders mentioned in both the Missouri and Northern California news articles were conducted. To supplement the quantitative findings, interviews with nine of the dominant stakeholders, or news sources, identified in the news articles investigated the stakeholders’ involvement in shaping news media coverage of agri-food biotechnology issues. Substantively, this study offers some understanding of the place of dissenting voices in localized debates on genetic engineering. The discovery that local news frames stories on biotechnology in greater complexity raises larger questions about the importance and value of local and community news. Thus, the study addresses the vital need for investigating news content in local news media

CAN LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS BE USED TO IDENTIFY WHETHER ADOLESCENTS WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS ARE DEPRESSED?

Comorbid depression is common in adolescents with chronic illness. We aimed to design and test a linguistic coding scheme for identifying depression in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), by exploring features of e-consultations within online cognitive behavioural therapy treatment. E-consultations of 16 adolescents (aged 11–17) receiving FITNET-NHS (Fatigue in teenagers on the interNET in the National Health Service) treatment in a national randomized controlled trial were examined. A theoretically driven linguistic coding scheme was developed and used to categorize comorbid depression in e-consultations using computerized content analysis. Linguistic coding scheme categorization was subsequently compared with classification of depression using the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale published cut-offs (t-scores ≥65, ≥70). Extra linguistic elements identified deductively and inductively were compared with self-reported depressive symptoms after unblinding. The linguistic coding scheme categorized three (19%) of our sample consistently with self-report assessment. Of all 12 identified linguistic features, differences in language use by categorization of self-report assessment were found for “past focus” words (mean rank frequencies: 1.50 for no depression, 5.50 for possible depression, and 10.70 for probable depression; p &lt;.05) and “discrepancy” words (mean rank frequencies: 16.00 for no depression, 11.20 for possible depression, and 6.40 for probable depression; p &lt;.05). The linguistic coding profile developed as a potential tool to support clinicians in identifying comorbid depression in e-consultations showed poor value in this sample of adolescents with CFS/ME. Some promising linguistic features were identified, warranting further research with larger samples.</p

CBT repackaged or a novel treatment? The Lightning Process® compared with specialist medical care for paediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

RationaleUK specialist medical care (SMC) for paediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) includes behavioural approaches (Graded Exercise Therapy; Activity Management) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for fatigue (CBT-F). Treatment is suboptimal with a third of children not recovering after 6 months of SMC. Many families seek alternative treatments at personal cost, including the Lightning Process (LP). Evidence shows LP can improve patient outcomes, though this intervention is not widely known/understood.ObjectivesTo describe LP in comparison with SMC approaches in order to identify distinct elements, inform clinicians about treatment options, and generate hypotheses around effectiveness.MethodsTheoretical comparison including stakeholder consultation.ResultsWhile overlaps with SMC approaches were identified, and CBT-F in particular, distinct elements of LP were its focus on language style, neurophysiological rationale, affective/physiological change technique and mode of delivery.ConclusionThis theoretical comparison identified distinct elements of LP which could be explored in future interventions or research aiming to improve clinical outcomes for children with CFS/ME, and informs clinicians about treatment options available for families

Application rates to surgical residency programs in Canada

Purpose:&nbsp;The purpose of this study is to identify if the&nbsp;previously reported declining interest in surgery amongst medical students persists,&nbsp;and also&nbsp;to&nbsp;provide more descriptive analysis of trends by surgical specialty and medical school. Our hypothesis is that the previously reported decreasing interest in surgery remains constant for some surgical disciplines. Methods:&nbsp;The&nbsp;Canadian Resident Matching Service and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada provided&nbsp;data for this study.&nbsp;Several metrics of interest in surgery,&nbsp;including overall application trends, applications by discipline, and rankings by school of graduation were evaluated.&nbsp;Descriptive statistics and linear regression modeling&nbsp;were used.&nbsp; Results:&nbsp;Between 2007 and 2017 the number of non-surgical residency positions and Canadian medical graduates increased significantly. However, the number&nbsp;of surgical residency positions and&nbsp;applications to surgical programs did&nbsp;not change significantly. The number of rankings to orthopedic and vascular surgery decreased significantly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Likewise,&nbsp;applicants to general, orthopedic, plastic, otolaryngology, and vascular surgery decreased significantly.&nbsp;Vascular surgery saw a significant decrease in first choice rankings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Total rankings to surgical programs increased significantly at McGill, with no significant change at other Canadian institutions.&nbsp; Conclusions:&nbsp;The findings of this study suggest that while the number of applicants to surgical residency positions has been consistent, it is not keeping pace with the growing number of both CMGs and non-surgical residency positions. Furthermore, by using other measures of medical student interest in surgical specialties, such as the total number of rankings to a specialty through the residency matching process, the total number of applicants applying to a surgical discipline and the total number of first choice ranks that each surgical discipline received, we have demonstrated that there is a possible declining interest in some surgical disciplines.&nbsp