New Initiatives for Building Education for Sustainability in Initial Early Childhood Teacher Education in Sweden – Critical Aspects and Noticeable Needs

There is an identified need for research capable of enhancing understanding of effective practice in the embedding of Education for Sustainability (EfS) in Initial Early Childhood Teacher education (IECTE). Research further finds that innovative teaching strategies are needed to build new teachers’ capacity to prepare future citizens to manage critical sustainability challenges. This study meets this need by investigating how EfS is implemented in two IECTE programmes at two Swedish universities where EfS is embedded throughout the years of study, and the learning students demonstrate at the end of the programmes in relation to EfS. Findings reveal that students demonstrate a range of understandings related to EfS and the role of the early childhood teacher in EfS. Findings further suggest there is an overall need to deepen IECTE students’ EfS theoretical and pedagogical content knowledge to enable them to close a gap between the theory and teaching of EfS in early childhood education settings

Exploring power shifts as an enabler for a strengthened patient role in quality improvements: A Swedish survey study

Objectives This study examined the relationship between professionals\u27 perceptions of a strengthened role for the patient and of patient involvement in quality improvement (QI) and whether professionals\u27 experiences in improvement science were a moderator on such a relationship. Design From a predominantly close-ended, 44-item questionnaire, 4 questions specifically concerning professionals′ perception on patient involvement in QI were analysed. Setting Three Swedish regions. Participants 155 healthcare professionals who had previously participated in courses in improvement science. Results The covariate patient involvement was significantly related to a perceived strengthened patient role. There was also a significant interaction effect between degree of patient involvement and professionals\u27 experience in the area of improvement science on a strengthened patient role. The result shows that there is a relationship between the perceived level of patient involvement in improvements and professionals\u27 perceptions of a strengthened patient role. In this study, the covariate, perceived patient involvement, was significantly related to experiences of more equal relationships between patients and healthcare professionals. There was also a significant interaction effect between the degree of patient involvement and professionals\u27 experience in the area of improvement science, for a more equal relationship between patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusion Increased patient involvement in QI is a means of strengthening the patient role and supporting a more equal relation between patients and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, empirical evidence shows that the healthcare professionals\u27 experiences in the area of improvement science support a strengthened patient role and a more equal power relationship, but for this to happen, the mindset of professionals is key. Future research is needed to capture and investigate the experiences from patients and relatives about being involved in QI in healthcare, and to study the effects on quality in care processes

Exploring the phase for highest impact on radicality: a cross-sectional study of patient involvement in quality improvement in Swedish healthcare

Objectives Involving patients in quality improvement is often suggested as a critical step for improving healthcare processes. However, this comes with challenges related to resources, tokenism, validity and competence. Therefore, to optimise the use of available resources, there is a need to understand at what stage in the improvement cycle patient involvement is most beneficial. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the phase of an improvement cycle in which patient involvement had the highest impact on radicality of improvement.Design An exploratory cross-sectional survey was used.Setting and methods A questionnaire was completed by 155 Swedish healthcare professionals (response rate 34%) who had trained and had experience in patient involvement in quality improvement. Based on their replies, the impact of patient involvement on radicality in various phases of the improvement cycle was modelled using the partial least squares method.Results Patient involvement in quality improvement might help to identify and realise innovative solutions; however, there is variation in the impact of patient involvement on perceived radicality depending on the phase in which patients become involved. The highest impact on radicality was observed in the phases of capture experiences and taking action, while a moderate impact was observed in the evaluate phase. The lowest impact was observed in the identify and prioritise phase.Conclusions Involving patients in improvement projects can enhance the quality of care and help to identify radically new ways of delivering care. This study shows that it is possible to suggest at what point in an improvement cycle patient involvement has the highest impact, which will enable more efficient use of the resources available for patient involvement

De novo intrachromosomal gene conversion from OPN1MW to OPN1LW in the male germline results in Blue Cone Monochromacy

X-linked cone dysfunction disorders such as Blue Cone Monochromacy and X-linked Cone Dystrophy are characterized by complete loss (of) or reduced L- and M- cone function due to defects in the OPN1LW/OPN1MW gene cluster. Here we investigated 24 affected males from 16 families with either a structurally intact gene cluster or at least one intact single (hybrid) gene but harbouring rare combinations of common SNPs in exon 3 in single or multiple OPN1LW and OPN1MW gene copies. We assessed twelve different OPN1LW/MW exon 3 haplotypes by semi-quantitative minigene splicing assay. Nine haplotypes resulted in aberrant splicing of ≥20% of transcripts including the known pathogenic haplotypes (i.e. ‘LIAVA’, ‘LVAVA’) with absent or minute amounts of correctly spliced transcripts, respectively. De novo formation of the ‘LIAVA’ haplotype derived from an ancestral less deleterious ‘LIAVS’ haplotype was observed in one family with strikingly different phenotypes among affected family members. We could establish intrachromosomal gene conversion in the male germline as underlying mechanism. Gene conversion in the OPN1LW/OPN1MW genes has been postulated, however, we are first to demonstrate a de novo gene conversion within the lineage of a pedigree

Kvalitet i barnehagelærerutdanning i naturvitenskap: En fellesnordisk studiemodul

This article presents a new joint Nordic study module consisting of a theoretical framework, the kindergarten teacher students’ case study and a reflection talk, in natural science for the kinder-garten teacher education. The module is developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration in the Nordplus network: Learning of science concepts by kindergarten children: Nordic study module for the kindergarten teacher education (NATGREP), with science and quality in the kindergarten teacher education in focus. The introduction describes the Nordic kindergartens shortly, and concepts as quality and competence are shortly discussed. It is followed by the module’s theoretical framework. Then the study module’s development process is described accompanied by reflections of the student’s case studies in relation to the theoretical framework. At the end, the work with the study module is summarised, and the main conclusion is that the study module contributes positively to the students’ skills development, both in science and quality

Co-occurrence of diabetes and hopelessness predicts adverse prognosis following percutaneous coronary intervention

We examined the impact of co-occurring diabetes and hopelessness on 3-year prognosis in percutaneous coronary intervention patients. Consecutive patients (n = 534) treated with the paclitaxel-eluting stent completed a set of questionnaires at baseline and were followed up for 3-year adverse clinical events. The incidence of 3-year death/non-fatal myocardial infarction was 3.5% in patients with no risk factors (neither hopelessness nor diabetes), 8.2% in patients with diabetes, 11.2% in patients with high hopelessness, and 15.9% in patients with both factors (p = 0.001). Patients with hopelessness (HR: 3.28; 95% CI: 1.49-7.23) and co-occurring diabetes and hopelessness (HR: 4.89; 95% CI: 1.86-12.85) were at increased risk of 3-year adverse clinical events compared to patients with no risk factors, whereas patients with diabetes were at a clinically relevant but not statistically significant risk (HR: 2.40; 95% CI: 0.82-7.01). These results remained, adjusting for baseline characteristics an

BLIVANDE YRKESLÄRARES BESKRIVNINGAR AV YRKESÄMNETS DIDAKTIK

The vocational education in upper secondary school contains general and vocational subjects.Its aim is to give the students relevant vocational competence and employability. This study investigates the nature of didactical choices in vocational subjects as described bystudent teachers (future vocational teachers). Social cultural approach and pedagogic content knowledge (PCK) are used as theoretical perspective and analysing model, respectively. The analysis shows that the choice of content in vocational subjects is the specialised vocational content as it relates to the general content. Teaching also focuses on silent knowledge as a useful competence. In the pedagogical practice the student and the students’ needs are central for teachers´ choices of methods and also the approach. The vocational teacher emphasises that the students develop relevant and useful vocational competence. Employability is related to the student´s possibility to succeed in the coming profession

Improvements in neonatal care using experience-based co-design

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to identify and improve patient care processes by collaborating patients, relatives and healthcare professionals. Design/methodology/approach– To identify and improve patient care processes by collaborating patients, relatives and healthcare professionals. Findings– Healthcare problems captured from collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals fall into simple, complicated and complex problems. Healthcare staff and patient experiences with patient processes differ, and a collaborative approach is needed to capture all areas needing improvement. Research limitations/implications– The conclusions are drawn from a project with few participants in a context that probably influenced the results. In contrast, other studies in the same area confirm the results. Practical implications– The study outcomes have direct implications for healthcare professionals who can learn from patients involved in quality improvements such as this experience-based co-design (EBCD) project. Originality/value– The paper contributes to limited studies on EBCD involving patients in healthcare quality improvements

Simulering i yrkesutbildning: Didaktiska samtal om simulatorstödd undervisning

This study addresses the use of driving simulators in vocational education. The aim of the study is to use the experiences of vocational teachers and questions to identify critical aspects of simulator-assisted teaching. The Background section contains a description of studies regarding digitalisation within other educational contexts and teaching with simulators in other contexts as well as teacher competencies and the school’s quality measures. The study’s empirical evidence consists of observations and discussions with vocational teachers. The Results section contains an account of the vocational teacher’s questions in the form of identified problem areas. The Conclusions section of the study highlights simulator-assisted teaching and the importance of substantive aspects, as well as the connection to professional knowledge and competency, the possibility of adapting the teaching based on the needs of the student, and the consequences of the teaching for the professional skills and knowledge acquired by the student. The Discussion section addresses aspects such as teaching-related issues regarding transfer, the work of the vocational programme and the school with regard to the implementation of new technology in the teaching process, and the vocational teacher’s role and situation. In order to further develop knowledge about simulator-supported teaching in vocational education, more practice related studies of students' learning process and how the teaching contributes to the development of vocational skills are required.Studien behandlar körsimulatorer i gymnasial yrkesutbildning. Syftet är att via yrkeslärares erfarenheter och frågor identifiera möjligheter och utmaningar när simulatorer implementeras i undervisningen. I bakgrunden beskrivs studier om digitalisering i utbildning, samt mer specifikt studier om simulering i yrkesutbildning. Studiens empiri utgörs av deltagande observationer av undervisning och utbildning för yrkeslärarare samt samtal med yrkeslärare i anslutning till undervisningen. Som analysverktyg används det teoretiska ramverket TPACK med perspektiven innehåll, pedagogik och teknik. Studiens slutsatser belyser betydelsen av att synliggöra yrkeslärarens didaktiska resonemang i ett kollegialt sammanhang, som ett led i ett systematiskt kvalitetsarbete. De tre perspektiven innehåll, pedagogik och teknik balanseras i yrkeslärares resonemang om simulatorstödd undervisning, där fokus på yrkeskunnande ger innehållsfrågan en central betydelse. Vidare uttrycks hur pedagogiken och tekniken behöver varieras för att eleverna ska ges förutsättningar att uppnå yrkeskunnande. I diskussionen behandlas yrkesutbildningens och skolans arbete med implementering av ny teknik i undervisningen, samt yrkeslärarens roll och situation. För att ytterligare utveckla kunskap om simulatorstödd undervisning i yrkesutbildning krävs mer praktiknära studier av elevers lärandeprocess och hur undervisningen bidrar till utveckling av yrkeskunnande