bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The genome sequence of the common mullein, Verbascum thapsus L.
Authors: Ruhsam Markus ,   Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Plant Genome Sizing collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: December 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual of Verbascum thapsus (the common mullein; Streptophyta; Magnoliopsida; Lamiales; Scrophulariaceae). The genome sequence has a total length of 346.30 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 18 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The multipartite mitochondrial genome assembly sequences have lengths of 324.47 and 157.43 kilobases, and the plastid genome assembly is 153.34 kilobases long. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 30,534 protein-coding genes.
Features of Helicobacter pylori virulence. Literature review
Authors: Avramenko A. , Shukhtina I. , Gozhenko A. , Shukhtin V. , Badiuk N.
Published: December 2024

The severity of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach and duodenum, caused by the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria depends on the degree of pathogenicity of the strains, as well as the presence of certain cytotoxic genes. The authors analyzed the literature data on the composition and properties of the bacteria.
Methods of Managing Postoperative Pain in Orthopedics
Authors: Kupczak Agata , Zając Kacper , Uchto Adrian , Kozioł Mateusz , Górka Dariusz , Palacz Karolina Alicja
Published: December 2024

Postoperative pain management is a critical concern for patients undergoing orthopedic procedures, impacting both recovery and overall patient satisfaction. Effective pain control is essential for minimizing complications such as limited mobility and delayed healing. This paper reviews contemporary strategies for managing postoperative pain in orthopedics, focusing on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Pharmacotherapy, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, is commonly utilized but must be carefully managed to prevent adverse effects such as dependence and gastrointestinal issues. Complementing these methods, non-pharmacological interventions such as physical therapy, cryotherapy, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, and music therapy offer holistic benefits without the associated risks of medication. The study emphasizes the importance of a multifaceted approach that includes early rehabilitation and patient education to enhance recovery outcomes. The combined use of diverse pain management techniques can optimize analgesic efficacy while promoting patient comfort and reducing hospital stays, ultimately leading to improved rehabilitation results.
9 Łódzka Brygada Obrony Terytorialnej: Współczesność – historia – tradycja
Authors: Grott Olgierd , Lasoń Marcin
Published: December 2024

Książka 9 Łódzka Brygada Obrony Terytorialnej. Współczesność – historia – tradycja ma do zrealizowania kilka zasadniczych celów. Pierwszy z nich to chęć pokazania w sposób kompleksowy 9 ŁBOT jako współczesnej, prężnie rozwijającej się jednostki wojskowej. Kolejnym jest chęć całościowego zaprezentowania elementów budujących etos 9 ŁBOT poprzez tworzenie pamięci zbiorowej oraz kultywowanie tradycji. Publikacja ma również zachęcić czytelników do bliższego zapoznania się z działalnością operującej w województwie łódzkim 9 ŁBOT, jej patronem gen. bryg. Stanisławem Sojczyńskim ps. „Warszyc” oraz oddziałami Armii Krajowej i Konspiracyjnego Wojska Polskiego, których tradycję brygada odziedziczyła.
Stochastic First-Order Methods for Average-Reward Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Li Tianjiao , Wu Feiyang , Lan Guanghui
Published: December 2024

We study average-reward Markov decision processes (AMDPs) and develop novel first-order methods with strong theoretical guarantees for both policy optimization and policy evaluation. Compared with intensive research efforts in finite sample analysis of policy gradient methods for discounted MDPs, existing studies on policy gradient methods for AMDPs mostly focus on regret bounds under restrictive assumptions, and they often lack guarantees on the overall sample complexities. Toward this end, we develop an average-reward stochastic policy mirror descent method for solving AMDPs with and without regularizers and provide convergence guarantees in terms of the long-term average reward. For policy evaluation, existing on-policy methods suffer from suboptimal convergence rates as well as failure in handling insufficiently random policies due to the lack of exploration in the action space. To remedy these issues, we develop a variance-reduced temporal difference (VRTD) method with linear function approximation for randomized policies along with optimal convergence guarantees, and design an exploratory VRTD method that resolves the exploration issue and provides comparable convergence guarantees. By combining the policy evaluation and policy optimization parts, we establish sample complexity results for solving AMDPs under both generative and Markovian noise models. It is worth noting that when linear function approximation is utilized, our algorithm only needs to update in the low-dimensional parameter space, and thus can handle MDPs with large state and action spaces.

Funding: T. Li and G. Lan were supported in part by the National Science Foundation [Grant CCF-1909298] and the Office of Navel Research [Grant N00014-20-1-2089].
O CUIDAR PARA ALÉM DO EDUCAR
Authors: Manoel Antonio de Abreu Pestana dos Santos Douglas , Henrique Ferreira Guedes Murilo
Published: December 2024

É sabido que a inclusão de estudantes com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) no ambiente educacional regular, apesar de respaldada pela legislação brasileira, constitui um desafio significativo e ainda distante da plena efetivação. A inclusão efetiva não se restringe apenas à oferta de matrícula, mas também ao acesso integral ao currículo escolar, com as necessárias adaptações pedagógicas. Contudo, muitas vezes, este ideal inclusivo esbarra em práticas pedagógicas obsoletas, que perpetuam uma visão deficitária acerca da capacidade de aprendizado dos alunos com TEA, ignorando suas características e necessidades específicas. Diante desta problemática, o presente estudo visa desmistificar tal visão, explorando as potenciais contribuições das Tecnologias Digitais Educacionais para a aprendizagem matemática de estudantes com TEA. Adotando a metodologia de estudo de caso, esta pesquisa analisou dados coletados em encontros semanais com dois estudantes com TEA em fase inicial de escolarização, integrados ao sistema regular de ensino. Os resultados apontam para avanços significativos no desenvolvimento desses alunos, particularmente no que se refere à atenção compartilhada e à aquisição do conceito matemático de adição. Além disso, evidencia-se que o emprego de recursos tecnológicos pode servir como uma estratégia pedagógica eficaz no ensino de alunos com TEA, uma vez que a interação com atividades informatizadas favoreceu a construção de conceitos matemáticos que eram inacessíveis em contextos não digitais.
PROCESSOS DE FORMAÇÃO CONTINUADA NA CIBERCULTURA E A LUTA ANTICAPACITISTA NA EDUCAÇÃO SUPERIOR
Authors: Magalhães Tamara França de Almeida
Published: December 2024

Diferentes pesquisas evidenciam que uma das principais dificuldades enfrentadas pelas universidades na inclusão de PCD, concentra-se nas barreiras atitudinais apresentadas pelos servidores que atuam nestes espaços de ensino. Estes resultados indicam ainda, cursos de formação continuada como estratégias profícuas para traspor as barreiras atitudinais que limitam a inclusão destes sujeitos na educação superior. Desse modo, compreendendo que no contexto da cibercultura a tecnologia tem se apresentado como um instrumento potencializador de práticas inclusivas e acessíveis nos diferentes níveis de ensino, este estudo foi desenvolvido a partir do curso de formação continuada Inclusão e Acessibilidade no Ensino Superior. Esta formação, direcionada aos servidores da UFRRJ e realizada por meio da plataforma digital google classroom, teve como objetivo sensibilizar as concepções destes sujeitos sobre a deficiência, pois as percepções sobre esta especificidade podem potencializar ou dirimir as barreiras atitudinais direcionadas a PCD na educação superior. Intencionou-se com esta análise, desenvolvida por meio da metodologia da pesquisa-ação qualitativa em diálogo com a Abordagem Histórico-Cultural, investigar se as ações encaminhadas ao longo do curso, potencializadas por meio de um ambiente virtual de aprendizagem, propiciaram uma sensibilização nas concepções dos servidores sobre a deficiência, que concorram para dirimir as barreiras atitudinais que impedem a inclusão das pessoas com deficiência na educação superior. Os resultados revelaram que o curso propiciou uma sensibilização nas concepções sobre a deficiência, evidenciando uma discussão sobre o potencial transformador da tecnologia na promoção de uma educação verdadeiramente inclusiva, reflexões que contribuirão para a constituição de uma cultura anticapacitista na UFRRJ.
ALÉM DA SALA DE AULA
Authors: Ribeiro Vinicius Azambuja , Lopes Leticia Azambuja
Published: December 2024

Este estudo analisa uma formação continuada para professores em Aceguá, com um foco específico em práticas inclusivas nas disciplinas de ciências e matemática. A justificativa reside na necessidade de capacitar os educadores para promover a inclusão efetiva de alunos com deficiência, acarretando uma educação mais equitativa e de qualidade. Quanto à metodologia, a pesquisa adota uma abordagem participativa, envolveu 54 professores, e utiliza uma análise descritiva-interpretativa para avaliar a contribuição do programa para a prática docente. Os resultados ressaltam a relevância do acolhimento da pessoa com deficiência, da utilização da ficha diagnóstica e da adaptação de recursos como pilares fundamentais. A formação encoraja os educadores a adotarem uma postura reflexiva e crítica, passando a inclusão efetiva de alunos com deficiência. A participação ativa de professores de diversas disciplinas destaca a importância de uma abordagem interdisciplinar nesse contexto. A investigação enfatiza a responsabilidade partilhada na promoção da inclusão e sublinha a necessidade de formação continuada específica para a educação inclusiva e para as áreas específicas do ensino, como ciências e matemática.
Five Strokes of the Axe: Patronage and the Gawain -Poet
Authors: Cooper Helen
Published: December 2024

Abstract: There have been numerous attempts to identify the poet of the four poems in British Library, MS Cotton Nero A.x, or, failing an identification for the author, a patron or household from the right dialect area, or with the right dialect affiliations, who might have commissioned or at least taken an interest in the poems. Working from the widely favoured hypothesis that one man wrote all four poems, but with a concentration on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight , this paper considers the combined evidence for the cultural backgrounds of the possible poet and patron. In place of earlier suggestions, which have ranged from the royal court to the gentry, it explores the possibility of episcopal patronage. A plausible contender for such a role would be Richard Scrope, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, the diocese that included the dialect area of the poet. Lichfield was a major centre for the copying of devotional texts; the Scropes had emerged from the gentry class not long before, and Richard was closely associated with the king, who stayed on occasion in the bishop's palace at Lichfield. Other details, including his devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ and the family coat of arms, suggest a more specific link. Scrope's involvement with the royal council might also provide a missing London link with Saint Erkenwald . After his elevation to the archbishopric of York, he was involved in the Northumberland rebellion against Henry IV, and is reported as having requested execution with five blows of the axe. An English carol on what was perceived as his martyrdom resonates imaginatively with the romance, and perhaps contains faint echoes of it recast for a religious text.
Editorial: Reimagining citizenship and education in a changing world
Authors: Waghid Yusef
Published: December 2024

Any attempt to reimagine citizenship education in a changing world would be difficult to manifest if it fails to rethink the conception of citizenship education. Traditional approaches of citizenship education, often tied to national identity, seem to be inadequate for the contemporary global context, where interconnectedness and pluriculturalism play a significant role. In my work I accentuate the importance of deliberative democracy, which encourages active engagement, deliberation and responsible decision-making in education. A focus on ethical responsibility in relation to educational institutions is central to cultivate critical thinking, compassion and responsiveness among students. These values prepare them for active citizenship, not just within their immediate nation states but in a broader global society. It is argued that education must foster an inclusive environment where students are encouraged to challenge injustice and promote social cohesion across diverse communities. In this way, education becomes a necessary practice for cultivating a citizenship, whereby learners recognise their responsibilities to others across cultural and geographical boundaries. This transformative approach to citizenship education seems prudent in addressing the political, social and ethical challenges of the twenty-first century.
Reimagining citizenship: Findings and conclusions of a critical literature review of scholarship on citizenship education
Authors: Broom Catherine , Partridge Julie
Published: December 2024

Citizenship and citizenship education are complex terms, understood in multiple and diverse ways. After a brief introduction to conceptions of citizenship, this article discusses a literature review of citizenship education scholarship. The article focuses on exploring how the field has evolved since the work on citizenship education in the 1990s, identifying the emergence of six major themes or areas of study. The article concludes with a discussion that synthesizes the findings and recommends a reimagining of citizenship in and for the twenty-first century.
Aprender fazendo:
Authors: Baldi Neila
Published: December 2024

O texto discute como as ações de extensão universitária podem ser formativas para a produção cultural em cursos de Artes que não tenham disciplina específica para esta área. Parte do pressuposto que tanto a empregabilidade quanto a trabalhidade não são garantias a partir de uma formação universitária em Artes e que artistas precisam se tornar empreendedores/as culturais. Além disso, de que, como a formação universitária em produção cultural ainda é incipiente, apenas com oito cursos (tecnólogo ou de bacharelado) em todo o país, este é um mercado ocupado por pessoas formadas em diversas áreas, inclusive a artística. Deste modo, atividades extensionistas podem garantir esta formação inicial.
Influencers não atrapalham o jornalismo, pelo contrário, diz o professor Antônio Hohlfeldt
Authors: Golembiewski Carlos
Published: December 2024

Durante o 47 Congresso Brasileiro de Ciências da Comunicação - INTERCOM (2024), realizado em 2024 na Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - Univali, em Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, o jornalista, escritor e professor, Antônio Hohlfeldt foi homenageado pela sua trajetória acadêmica de quase 40 anos na área da Comunicação e por ter sido Presidente da INTERCOM. Desde 2008, pesquisa a história da Imprensa no Brasil e na América Latina. Nesta entrevista ao jornalista e professor Carlos Golembiewski, Hohlfeldt fala, entre outros temasL sobre a longevidade do Congresso da INTERCOM, da influência do Brasil na independência de vários países da região, do Jornalismo atual e da presença dos influencers.
Estilos de educación parental, horarios de alimentación y uso de dispositivos tecnológicos: Estudio transversal.
Authors: Rojas Rodriguez Ana Lizette , Toapanta Daniel , Córdova Rebecca , Bautista María , Quiroz Jestin
Published: December 2024

Introducción. La crianza juega un papel crucial en el desarrollo de los niños, moldeando su personalidad hábitos alimenticios y su relación con el medio que los rodea. Las preocupaciones de los padres sobre la alimentación en la infancia   y el uso de dispositivos electrónicos (DE) son cada vez más frecuentes por lo que comprender los aspectos comportamentales son fundamentales la salud escolar.
Metodología. El estudio transversal se llevó a cabo en dos instituciones educativas privadas utilizando una muestra de 400 representantes a quienes se les aplicó la Escala de Normas y Exigencias (ENE_P), en su versión para padres desarrollada por Bersabe y col, para caracterizar los estilos parentales. Los datos recopilados fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial.
Resultados. Los padres   inductivos fueron los más consistentes en mantener horarios, 86 %. Los tres estilos parentales mostraron una inclinación hacia la rigidez en cuanto a los horarios del desayuno, para el almuerzo y cena disminuyeron la exigencia. La tendencia a evitar ofrecer alimentos fuera de los horarios habituales fue mayor entre los padres inductivos con un 92,2 % y los padres con estilo indulgente mostraron una mayor inclinación en ofrecer alimentos fuera de los horarios establecidos en comparación con los demás estilos parentales en un 33,3 %. Los padres que usan (DE) durante la comidas fueron los indulgente 66,7 %. Y los que no le permiten el uso a sus hijos durante las comidas fueron los padres inductivos 72,2 %.
Conclusión. Se observó una asociación entre el estilo parental predominante, la formación de hábitos alimenticios y el uso de (DE) durante las comidas. Los estilos de educación parental son primordiales para comprender, las implicaciones que estos comportamientos pueden tener en la dieta y la nutrición infantil   que podría conllevar riesgos para la salud durante la etapa escolar.
Culinary Competencies Assessment Tool in the Spanish Adult Population: A Protocol for Development and Assessment of Validity and Reliability
Authors: Baladía Eduard , Cuadrado Vives Carmen , Del Pozo de la Calle Susana , Moñino Manuel , Miserachs Martina , Russolillo Giuseppe , Beltrán de Miguel Beatriz
Published: December 2024

Introducción. Las competencias culinarias son un conjunto de factores que se integran en el andamiaje de conocimientos, habilidades y comportamientos que configuran la alfabetización alimentaria y que en investigaciones recientes se han asociado positivamente con la calidad nutricional de la dieta. Las intervenciones dirigidas a mejorar las competencias culinarias han demostrado cambios positivos en el estado de salud. . El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir el protocolo diseñado para el desarrollo y validación de una herramienta que permita medir las competencias culinarias en adultos españoles y valorar el impacto de éstas en la calidad nutricional de sus dietas.
Metodología. Este protocolo contempla seis fases: (1) Primera fase: se realizará una revisión panorámica (scoping review) sobre conceptos clave y definiciones asociadas a las competencias culinarias , y se identificarán ítems existentes para el desarrollo inicial del cuestionario; (2) Segunda fase: se generará el conjunto inicial de ítems, adaptado al contexto español, con la colaboración de un panel de expertos que incluirá profesionales culinarios, expertos en técnicas culinarias y dietistas-nutricionistas; (3) Tercera fase: el comité de expertos evaluará la validez de contenido, empleando el índice de validez de contenido (CVI) para determinar la relevancia de los ítems; (4) Cuarta fase: se realizará un estudio piloto con 30 participantes de la población objetivo para evaluar la validez cognitiva y asegurar la comprensibilidad y pertinencia de los ítems; . (5) Quinta fase: se implementará la primera propuesta de la herramienta en una muestra ampliada de la población objetivo, y se evaluará la confiabilidad mediante análisis de consistencia interna (Cronbach’s alpha) y test-retest; se llevará a cabo un análisis factorial y un análisis de Rasch para validar la estructura del constructo; (6) Sexta fase: se examinará la validez de criterio comparando los resultados del cuestionario con otras herramientas validadas previamente identificadas en la scoping review. El análisis estadístico utiliza SPSS Statistics 20 para los datos recopilados en todas las fases del estudio.
Discusión y resultados esperados. El diseño, elaboración y validación de un cuestionario de competencias culinarias para la población española permitirá ofrecer a la comunidad científica una nueva herramienta estandarizada de medición en los estudios dieta-salud.
Aprovechando su potencial: Transformando excedentes agroalimentarios de un Mercado Mayorista Chileno en alimentos saludables y sustentables
Authors: Rodríguez Palleres Ximena , Correa Sebastián A , Castillo-Ruiz Mario , Rojas González Fancy , Castagnini Juan Manuel
Published: December 2024

Introducción. El desperdicio de alimentos es un problema global grave con impactos en el medio ambiente, la sociedad y la economía. Alrededor de 1.300 millones de toneladas de alimentos producidos para el consumo humano se pierden o desperdician, siendo las frutas y verduras las que tienen las tasas más altas de desperdicio. Los aspectos morales y sociales del desperdicio de alimentos son igualmente esenciales de considerar, ya que afectan la seguridad alimentaria, principalmente en las poblaciones más vulnerables. El objetivo de este estudio fue agregar valor a las frutas y verduras, o parte de ellas, descartadas desde el principal mercado mayorista de Santiago, Chile.
Metodología. Se desarrollaron 17 prototipos de concentrados salados a partir de excedentes de brócoli, apio, remolacha y tomates, los cuales fueron sometidos a evaluación sensorial.
Resultados. Se produjeron 79,3 kilos de concentrado verde y 63 kilos de concentrado rojo. Finalmente, se seleccionaron y produjeron dos prototipos. Para ello, se diseñó una planta piloto ubicada al interior del mercado mayorista con fin de poder acceder inmediatamente a la materia prima. Por último, los alimentos generados fueron distribuidos de forma gratuita a adultos mayores a través de un banco de alimentos.
Conclusión. Este estudio representa una iniciativa social, ambiental y empresarial única e innovadora en Chile basada en la valorización de excedentes alimentarios a través del desarrollo de nuevos alimentos que puede ser replicada de manera global.
Educating the independent: the shifting paradigms in Chinese film-maker training
Authors: Ren Yutian
Published: December 2024

Since the 1990s, Chinese independent cinema has undergone remarkable transformations, transitioning from a period marked by a robust political stance to adopting a more conciliatory approach in the post-2000s era. This article explores the relationship between these changes and the evolving education of independent film-makers. The focus is on how educational paradigms adapt to support independent film-makers in a dynamic external environment, and how innovative teaching models contribute to the diversity and sustainability of Chinese independent cinema. The article analyses three practice-based education models: institutionalised film schools, alternative film schools and film-maker incubation projects. It assesses their unique values, challenges and impacts, providing insights into the influence of practice-based film education on China’s independent cinema landscape.
Strategies for activating youth film education: focusing on the achievements and limitations of the Korea Film Council (2018–2022)
Authors: Jang Seulki , Cho Heeyoung
Published: December 2024

This article proposes possible directions for the long-term development of film education based on an analysis of the achievements and limitations of the Korean Film Council’s Youth Film Education Activation Project from its seventh (2018–21) and eighth (2021–2) terms, as well as the background and nature of the project and its budgetary trends. Since 2018, the Korean Film Council has reviewed the discourses about film education that have arisen from various fields, and, in particular, it has conducted research into overseas film education case studies. Furthermore, it has supported film education teacher research groups, directly operated a pool of film education practitioners, and taken active steps to publicise the importance of film education. However, due to the freezing of the Film Council’s budget from 2021, and the extent to which its 2022 budget was allocated for the operation of pilot schools, overarching visions for the activation of Korean film education have yet to be realised. The article adopts a reflective, critical perspective on the council’s activities during this period, while considering the future of film education in South Korea more generally.
Derecho humano al agua: narrativa y consumo institucional de agua embotellada en seis ciudades mexicanas (2012-2018)
Authors: Santacruz de León Germán , Jacobo Marín Daniel
Published: December 2024

El objetivo del artículo es analizar el acceso al agua potable como derecho humano en México. Se elabora un estudio que documenta la narrativa institucional y la erogación económica que realizan entidades del sector hidráulico para adquirir agua embotellada en seis ciudades mexicanas. La metodología empleada consta de dos partes: primero, una revisión documental, bibliográfica y hemerográfica; y, segundo, la sistematización de datos obtenidos de los organismos analizados. Los resultados muestran que las dependencias seleccionadas destinan recursos públicos para adquirir agua embotellada para el consumo al interior de sus oficinas. Se concluye que para efectos de la hipótesis propuesta, el derecho humano al agua es una prerrogativa de difícil consecución en las ciudades, incluso en el ámbito operativo de las autoridades que deberían garantizarlo.
Pedagogía jurídica y métodos de enseñanza de los derechos humanos y el derecho internacional humanitario a través del estudio de casos
Authors: Lucero Rojas Juan Carlos
Published: December 2024

Las ventajas y desventajas del método de enseñanza y aprendizaje del derecho, se ve permeado por diversos componentes internos y externos tanto del estudiante como del docente. En lo que a la transmisión y creación del conocimiento jurídico concierne, no ha sido pacifica la línea que determina cuál es “la mejor manera de enseñar o aprender derecho”, mucho menos, si se trata de definir el método adecuado para enseñar derechos humanos y derecho internacional humanitario, pues en este último campo, no solo se trata de trasmitir contenidos teórico-jurídicos a los estudiantes, sino también de cultivar su sensibilidad y humanización, pues de nada sirve comprender conceptos como la dignidad humana si se desconoce su esfera emocional y afectiva; componente que puede ser abordado a través del estudio de caso como herramienta sensibilizadora.
Distributed leadership for integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in schools
Authors: Tan Seng-Chee , Aloysius Ong Kian-Keong
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the distributed leadership practices and system differentiation strategy in technology integration among three Singapore schools. These schools have achieved different levels of technology-related outcomes and are embarking on ICT integration of different scale and complexity. Luhmann's (1995) system theory was adopted to characterise the leadership distribution and differentiation strategies among the schools. Our findings showed that one school adopted a top-down leadership approach while the other two schools demonstrated leadership distribution. These two schools differed in their organisational differentiation strategy: one adopted segmentation differentiation while the other demonstrated functional differentiation. These variations in leadership practices seemed to be associated with the scale and complexity of ICT integration in the schools. We offered a preliminary explanation for the plausible relationship that exists between the level of complexity of ICT integration and the type of system differentiation.
Engaging the online learner
Authors: Spies Maria
Published: December 2024

The topic of high attrition rates in distance courses is well documented (Holder, 2007; Patterson & McFadden, 2009) and a lack of personal interaction and support are cited as contributing factors for student drop out (Carr, 2000; Street, 2010). New technologies provide opportunities to personalise the experience for students studying at a distance (Lee, Tan & Goh, 2004) and there is a growing body of research on the use and effectiveness of audio and video podcasts in higher education (Bolliger, Supanakorn & Boggs, 2010; Taylor & Clark, 2010). This study explores the effectiveness of audio podcasting as a tool to engage students studying by flexible delivery at a dual sector tertiary institution in Australia. Surveyed students reported that educators used the audio podcasts to announce weekly requirements, explain complex concepts, provide guidance about assessment and to add information related to the unit content. The study suggests that the use of audio podcasts may be effective as a way of personalising the learning experience for students studying off campus. Students reported that they felt more connected to the educator through listening to the podcasts and appreciated the variation in technology as a way of keeping their attention. The low cost and technical simplicity of recording and listening to audio podcasts suggests that it may be an accessible and cost effective method of engaging students studying at a distance.
Equity in a digital world
Authors: Reedy Alison
Published: December 2024

This paper reports on an action research project investigating whether the integration of computer-based homework with face-to-face delivery can enhance learning opportunities for 36 Indigenous adult learners enrolled in Certificate III in Spoken and Written English at Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in the Northern Territory. The impetus for the project was concern over learners' slow rate of progress through the course in the two years prior to the project. Four action research cycles were conducted during the 2008 academic year to investigate student levels of participation in, and responses to, computer-based homework. The findings show that the use of computer technology enhances opportunities for homework participation; however, these opportunities are mitigated by factors linked to three thematic areas: access to computer technology; lifestyle factors; and attitudes towards learning and homework.
 
 
Keywords: Indigenous, action research, English language, literacy, technology, engagement, equity
From face-to-face teaching to online teaching
Authors: Redmond Petrea
Published: December 2024

This paper will share the experiences of two instructors as they moved from teaching in a face-to-face environment to blended teaching and then to online teaching. It will describe the four-year journey and shed light on the issues, perspectives and practices as the instructors reflected on the changes to their pedagogical practice and the resulting online student engagement. Data included three 1-hour interviews and an analysis of online discussion postings. The instructors reflected on their values, beliefs and assumptions about teaching and learning. As higher education has embraced online education as a way to reduce costs, increase flexibility, and enhance access to students it is important to gain an understanding of the perceptions of instructors moving into online teaching. This study found a change in the beliefs and teaching presence of the instructors from their initial resistance to online teaching to an approach which is mindful of the student experience and promotes a dialogical approach to online learning.
Leading change
Authors: Quinn Diana , Amer Yousef , Lonie Anne , Blackmore Kim , Kane Lauren , Pettigrove Malcolm
Published: December 2024

The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) have embarked on Federally-funded project to collaborate in the design, development and delivery of a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering. The collaboration investigates new ways to bring together the strengths and discipline expertise of each institution to the students of both universities, utilising blended teaching and learning approaches. The collaboration brings much change - at the organisational level in the blending of programs, at the staff level in their approaches to teaching and at the students' level in their approaches and engagement with cross- institutional blended learning. This paper focuses on how change management principles were used to guide a systematic approach to engaging students into the learning culture associated with the Engineering Hubs and Spokes Project's theme - 'Advanced Collaboration for Excellence'.
 
Keywords: cross-institutional, engineering, blended, change, learning approaches, engagement
Learning analytics and study behaviour
Authors: Phillips Rob , Maor Dorit , Cumming-Potvin Wendy , Roberts Pauline , Herrington Jan , Preston Greg , Moore Elizabeth , Perry Laura
Published: December 2024

The analysis of student access to learning management systems and web-based lecture capture systems is a growing area of interest for teachers in higher education wishing to improve the student learning experience. The data trails left by students as they engage in these environments can be accessed and analysed for meaning. This paper describes a study conducted as part of a wider multi-university study into student study behaviour. It offers a detailed snapshot of four students whose access to Lectopia recordings were tracked and analysed, and who were subsequently interviewed to confirm or disconfirm assumptions made about their study methods from the analysis. The data revealed that a surface analysis using learning analytics was largely insufficient to determine student study characteristics, but qualitative data provided rich information to supplement the analysis. Suggestions are made for further research into how this emerging methodology can be further developed and strengthened.
An institutional study of the influence of 'onlineness' on student evaluation of teaching in a dual mode Australian university
Authors: Palmer Stuart
Published: December 2024

Student evaluation of teaching (SET) is now commonplace in many universities internationally. The most common criticism of SET practices is that they are influenced by a number of non- teaching-related factors. More recently, there has been dramatic growth in online education internationally, but only limited research on the use of SET to evaluate online teaching. This paper presents a large-scale and detailed investigation, using the institutional SET data from an Australian university with a significant offering of wholly online units, and whose institutional SET instrument contains items relating to student perceptions of online technologies in teaching and learning. The relationship between educational technology and SET is not neutral. The mean ratings for the 'online' aspects of SET are influenced by factors in the wider teaching and learning environment, and the overall perception of teaching quality is influenced by whether a unit is offered in wholly online mode or not.
Working collaboratively in a group assignment using a Mediawiki for an architecture and construction management undergraduate unit
Authors: Osman-Schlegel Linda , Fluker Gail , Cheng Sin Tie
Published: December 2024

This paper describes an architecture and construction management unit which implements Mediawiki in teaching and learning. The main objective of using the Mediawiki is to engage students to work collaboratively online in a group assignment. It also aims to further develop student information technology skills and thus enhance their learning experience. One of the learning objectives of the unit is to develop the ability to communicate the results of student research in construction technology using appropriate digital media from which Mediawiki was chosen. This paper outlines the challenges and issues faced in the implementation of Mediawiki as a collaborative tool in a group assignment of an architecture and construction management unit. It also discusses how academic staff and students were supported through the process of learning to use the Mediawiki. Finally, potential future directions of using Mediawiki in teaching and learning are explored based on students' comments and feedback.
Academic analytics in a medical curriculum
Authors: Olmos Martin , Corrin Linda
Published: December 2024

The developing field of academic analytics seeks to turn data from educational systems into actionable intelligence for the improvement of teaching and learning. This paper reports on the implementation of analytics in a new medical school with an integrated curriculum and clinical focus. Analytics addressed two challenges in the curriculum: providing evidence of appropriate curriculum coverage and assessing student engagement and equity while on clinical placement. The paper describes the tools and approaches used, and it outlines the lessons learnt. These lessons include the risk of a simplistic use of visualisations, their potential to generate important questions, the value of a flexible approach to tool selection, the need for relevant skills, and the importance of keeping the audience central. Although there is much further potential for the school to realise, academic analytics have already been a critical enabler of educational excellence.
Riding the seismic waves
Authors: Mackey Julie , Breeze Des , Buckley Philippa , Dabner Nicki , Gilmore Fiona
Published: December 2024

Blended learning plays an important role in many tertiary institutions but little has been written about the implementation of blended learning in times of adversity, natural disaster or crisis. This paper describes how, in the wake of the 22 February Canterbury earthquake, five teacher educators responded to crisis-driven changing demands and changing directions. Our narratives describe how blended learning provided students in initial teacher education programmes with some certainty and continuity during a time of civil emergency. The professional learning generated from our experiences provides valuable insights for designing and preparing for blended learning in times of crisis, as well as developing resilient blended learning programmes for the future.
Negotiating the twin goals of student learning and teacher learning in a professional learning team
Authors: Lee Judy Lai Har , Tan Seng-Chee
Published: December 2024

Student learning often forms the key focus of teachers. In professional learning teams (PLTs), teachers engage in collaboration and inquiry with the aim of improving their students' learning. However, teachers who take on the role of facilitating their fellow teachers' learning in PLTs need to simultaneously manage the goals of student learning as well as of teacher learning. This paper discusses issues that teachers face in negotiating the twin goals of student learning and teacher learning in the process of meeting the challenges of technology integration. It argues for a reconceptualisation of professional learning that hinges upon the design of learning tasks offered to teachers in a PLT to help them address issues related to student learning without losing focus of their own professional learning.
Using collaborative peer feedback and supervision to support doctoral research at a distance
Authors: Lai Kwok-Wing
Published: December 2024

This paper documents a collaborative peer-support and supervision model with peers and supervisors provide critical feedback to doctoral thesis proposals within an online learning community in a New Zealand university. A content analysis was conducted on 26 online presentations from 10 EdD proposals to investigate the nature and types of feedback provided by a group of 10 students and 10 supervisors engaged in this collaborative learning and supervision process. Six students were also interviewed. Findings from this study show that the online feedback process was helpful in supporting revisions of thesis proposals, and was a valuable component of this new approach to thesis supervision.
Understanding the reasons academics use - and don't use - endorsed and unendorsed learning technologies
Authors: Kennedy Gregor , Jones Deb , Chambers Dianne , Peacock Jon
Published: December 2024

Educational researchers have a longstanding interest in the reasons why academic staff use technologies in their teaching. The investigation presented in this paper considered drivers and barriers to the use of technology in a higher education context where it is increasingly possible for academics to not only rely on endorsed, university-based systems and tools, but also on unendorsed tools available 'outside' the university. The findings from this study showed that most staff were using a relatively standard, endorsed technology tool-set and, in most cases, there was limited use of external or emerging technologies and tools in learning and teaching. Five clear profiles of academic staff were established that represented diverse motivations for using or not using technologies in teaching. The implications of the results of this study are discussed in terms of staff training, support and professional development.
Wins and hurdles
Authors: Kelly Jacqui , Singh Kuki , Schrape Judy
Published: December 2024

Strategically aligning staff development to facilitate exploration and innovation in the application of learning technologies is a complex balancing act that integrates the influences of technological change, shifting institutional priorities and conditions, and uneven uptake among staff. In this paper we focus on (one aspect of) a multi pronged staff development strategy in a university context. As an evidence base, we draw on staff participation and evaluation data for an 18 month period to explore some of the factors that have contributed to how the professional development (PD) program has evolved in response to local conditions while deploying good practice guidelines. Quantitative and qualitative data from staff surveys are analysed to determine the impact and effectiveness of the program and to explore the factors that have influenced the evolution of the program.
Leading an evidence-based, multi-stakeholder approach to evaluating the implementation of a new online learning environment
Authors: Holt Dale , Palmer Stuart , Dracup Mary
Published: December 2024

An Australian institutional case study is presented on the evaluation approach being adopted for the implementation of a new online learning environment. Well conceived and inclusive evaluation is seen as essential for the quality management of online learning environments. The focus is on identifying and reconciling the informational needs of various stakeholder groups in the institution, and developing a plan of action covering the key period of implementation. The significant judgements required to carry out evaluation in a multi-campus environment cannot be under-estimated. This is particularly the case given the more recent move to devolving resources and responsibility for the successful implementation of the environment to faculties in the institution concerned. It calls for a more sophisticated conception and set of practices around distributed leadership, as aided by institutions' teaching and learning centres. A set of strategic recommendations are offered to help with the evaluation task.
Is reflective writing an enigma?
Authors: Hegarty Bronwyn
Published: December 2024

Documenting reflective practice would be easier if practitioners were in agreement about the meaning of reflection for practice. Even though evidence exists to support the links between reflection, professional learning and reflective practice, agreement about how to effectively facilitate the reflective process for deeper levels of reflection is not yet established. The reflective writing of postgraduate teacher education students was scaffolded using a Three-Step Reflective Framework. Written reflections were prepared for an electronic design portfolio and assessed by the subject lecturer. All participants demonstrated three levels of reflection in their writing, namely, Descriptive, Explanatory and Supported. There was a degree of critical reflection although this was not directly scaffolded by the framework. All participants found the Reflective Framework useful for assisting them to write reflectively, and the majority intended to carry on using it to assist in constructing a professional portfolio.
Bridging the Gap between OER Initiative Objectives and OER User Needs in Higher Education
Authors: Hanna Amal , Wood Denise
Published: December 2024

The Open educational resources (OER) movement is a new phenomenon in the field of education. Increasing use of Web 2.0 technologies along with growing competition between educational institutions have accelerated interest in the potential of such 'open' educational resources. Some educational institutions have made their learning resources available online for learners for the purpose of encouraging knowledge sharing and improving effectiveness of teaching and learning. Furthermore, some community organisations are also hosting and supporting OERs. However, at least some reports from educational institutions indicate that the motivation behind this move to OERs might be driven more by a desire to enhance their reputation and attract new students to their programs, rather than the promotion of OERs. This paper presents the findings of a content analysis of a sample of OER websites undertaken to identify whether 'Net Gen' learner needs are adequately addressed by current OER initiatives. The findings suggest that although many educational institutions state that their OERs allow learners to share knowledge and extend critical thinking and interactivity, the OER community organisation sites reviewed appear to be offering learners greater opportunities for online interaction, critical thinking, and reflective learning practices than the formal educational institutions reviewed. The findings of the content analysis also suggest that OER initiatives do not necessarily meet learners/users' needs. The findings from this analysis are discussed and the implications for future uptake of OERs as a strategy for supporting widening access to education in response to the changing needs of learners are explored.
A community approach to the development of widgets to support personalised learning for disabled students
Authors: Gkatzidou Voula , Pearson Elaine
Published: December 2024

The rapid pace of change of the knowledge intensive era, supported by the emergence of Web2.0 and the consequential growth of personalised applications, has fuelled debate on the notion of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs). The concept of personalisation, adaptability and accessibility is particularly pertinent in terms of creating a learning environment that meets the individual needs of disabled learners that cannot be met by standard approaches and could affect the student's ability to access learning at all. This has led us to explore the potential of the personalised development of learning applications to provide the choice of tools, applications or services to support the learning experience of disabled students. This paper examines a community approach to the design, development and evaluation of open source widgets, through a project funded as part of the JISC Distributed Learning Environments initiative: Widgets for Inclusive Distributed Environments (WIDE).