Mobile apps for reflection in learning: A design research in K-12 education

This study takes a design-based research approach to explore how applications designed for mobile devices could support reflection in learning in K-12 education. Use of mobile devices is increasing in schools. Most of the educational apps support single-person use of interactive learning materials, simulations and learning games. Apps designed to correspond to collaborative learning paradigms, such as collaborative progressive inquiry or project-based learning, are scarce. In these pedagogical approaches, reflection plays an important role. This paper presents a design-based research study of mobile device apps, ReFlex and TeamUp, that are specifically designed for use in student-centred and collaborative school learning, in which continuous reflection is an important part of the learning process. The design of the apps has relied on earlier research on digital tools for reflection and research about mobile devices in classroom learning. The design of the apps was accomplished as part of the qualitative design-based research conducted with a total of 165 teachers in 13 European countries. As a characteristic for a design-based research, the results of the study are twofold: practical and theoretical. The apps designed, ReFlex and TeamUp, are practical results of the qualitative research carried out in schools with teachers and students to understand the design challenges and opportunities in schools, to renew their pedagogical practices and to take new tools in use. To understand better the capacity of the apps to facilitate reflection, we analysed the apps in light of earlier studies concerning the levels of reflection that digital tools may support and categorisations of affordances that mobile device apps may provide for classroom learning. Our research indicates that there is potential for fostering the practice of reflection in classroom learning through the use of apps for audio-visual recordings.Peer reviewe

Met expectations and the well-being of ethnic remigrants: A longitudinal study

Peer reviewe

Relational aspects of meaning in life among older people - a group-interview gerontechnology study

Earlier studies show that experiencing life as meaningful in old age promotes holistic wellbeing and health among older people. As more and more people are living with reduced capacities in their own homes, there is an urgent need to find new ways of promoting holistic wellbeing of the ageing population. Analysing data gathered from existential discussion groups on Service TV (STV), we show how strongly relationality and meaning in life are intertwined for older people. Our findings indicate that respect and support for the autonomy of older people is very important: in order to continue living at home, and prepare for a future with reduced capacities, they need family members for support. Autonomy of ageing becomes relational as choices and wishes are negotiated with family members. Relationships also contribute to loss of meaning. When older people felt that they were not close enough to their family, longed for friends of the same age, were bereaved or widowed, the relational gap caused a violation of meaning. In contrast, participation and activities with peers brought deep joy and connectedness to the lives of the participants. STV provided a new channel for participants to find and form meaningful relationships. Therefore, it is concluded that relationality can be supported by technological means of care.Peer reviewe

Tiekartta Suomen proteiiniomavaraisuuden parantamiseksi

201

Surgery for degenerative cervical spine disease in Finland, 1999-2015

Background The incidence of surgery for degenerative cervical spine disease (DCSD) has risen by almost 150% in the USA in the last three decades and stabilized at slightly over 70 operations/100,000 people. There has been significant regional variation in the operation incidences. We aim to assess the diagnosis-based, age-adjusted trends in the operation incidences and the regional variation in Finland between 1999 and 2015. Methods Data from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register (FHDR), the Cause of Death Register, and the registers of the Social Insurance Institution were combined to analyze all the primary operations for DCSD or rheumatoid atlanto-axial subluxation (rAAS). Combinations of the operative and the diagnosis codes were used to classify the patients into five diagnostic groups. Results A total of 19,701 primary operations were included. The age-adjusted operation incidence rose from 21.0 to 36.5/100,000 people between 1999 and 2013 and plateaued thereafter. The incidence of surgery for radiculopathy increased from 13.1 to 23.3 operations/100,000 people, and the incidence of surgery for DCM increased from 5.8 to 7.0 operations/100,000 people. The rise was especially pronounced in surgery for foraminal stenosis, which increased from 5.3 to 12.4 operations/100,000 people. Of the five diagnostic groups, only operations for rAAS declined. Operations increased especially in the 40- to 65-year-old age group. The overall operation incidences varied from 18.3 to 43.1 operations/100,000 people between the university hospitals. Conclusions The age-adjusted incidence of surgery for DCSD has risen in Finland by 76%, but the rise has plateaued. Surgery for radiculopathy, especially for foraminal stenosis, increased more steeply than surgery for degenerative medullopathy, with vast regional differences in the operation incidences.Peer reviewe

Lukioiden ja ammatillisten oppilaitosten opiskeluterveydenhuollon terveystarkastuskäytännöt, työtavat ja -ympäristöt

OPTE-hank

Muistisairas ihminen liikenteessä

Ikääntyvien kuljettajien määrän lisääntyessä myös muistisairaiden ihmisten osuus ajokortin haltijoissa kasvaa. Artikkelissa tarkastellaan etenevää muistisairautta sairastavan ihmisen ajo-oikeutta hyödyntäen lainopin menetelmiä. Vaikka muistisairaus johtaa edetessään ajokortista luopumiseen, ei pelkkä diagnoosi sairauden lievässä vaiheessa tarkoita ajoluvan menettämistä kaikissa ajokorttiryhmissä. Onnettomuusriski kasvaa sairauden edetessä, mutta yksilölliset erot voivat olla merkittäviä, ja ajokyvyn arvioinnissa tulee kiinnittää huomiota muistisairaan kokonaistilanteeseen. Oikeus ajoneuvon kuljettamiseen on usein keskeinen osa sairastuneen identiteettiä ja osa hänen autonomiansa toteutumista. Ajo-oikeuden poistaminen voi kuitenkin olla välttämätöntä paitsi sairastuneen itsensä suojaamiseksi myös muiden turvallisuuden takaamiseksi. Artikkelin lopuksi pohditaan ratkaisuja muistisairaan ihmisen liikkumisen turvaamiseksi. Tutustuminen vaihtoehtoisiin ja turvallisiin liikkumisen keinoihin tulisi aloittaa riittävän ajoissa. Rajoitetun ajo-oikeuden mahdollisuutta tulisi edelleen maassamme selvittää erityisesti syrjäseuduilla asuvien varhaisvaiheen muistisairaiden näkökulmasta. Lisäksi muistisairaille ihmisille tulee taata muiden sairaus- ja vammaryhmien tavoin yhdenvertainen oikeus vammaispalvelulain nojalla myönnettäviin kuljetuspalveluihin.Peer reviewe