bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE ROLES OF AGENCY AND STRUCTURE IN FACILITATING THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION OUT OF CARE AND INTO INDEPENDENT LIVING
Authors: Van Breda Adrian D
Published: April 2018

The vulnerability of young people leaving residential care has been widely noted in the literature, prompting research on the process of transitioning out of care and triggering debates between the roles of agency and structure in youth transitions. Care-leaving research and programmes from the West have tended to give primary attention to structural interventions, centred on the notion of â€˜corporate parentingâ€™. By contrast, South African research on care-leaving has tended to emphasise the agency of young people in exercising resilience in sub-optimal contexts. This article analyses findings from recent South African care-leaving research on the contributions of agency (particularly resilience at the micro level) and structure (particularly interventions at the macro level) to the successful transition out of care and into independent living. Evidence confirms the importance of considering both agency and structure, as well as the interaction between them.
Los Efectos de las Actividades Basadas en Videos en la Comprensión Auditiva de los Estudiantes Iraníes de Inglés Intermedio
Authors: Sarani Abdullah , Behtash Esmail Zare , Nezhad Arani Saieed Moslemi
Published: April 2018

El estudio tiene como objetivo conocer el efecto de usar actividades basadas en videos para mejorar la habilidad/destreza de comprensión auditiva de los estudiantes iraníes de inglés nivel intermedio. Después de determinar el nivel de inglés de los estudiantes, se crearon dos grupos, un grupo experimental y un grupo de control, cada uno conformado por 20 estudiantes, los cuales fueron seleccionados para contribuir al estudio. Desde el momento en que fue administrado el test diagnóstico a cada uno de los grupos; el grupo experimental recibió actividades basadas en videos para la enseñanza de la comprensión auditiva. El grupo de control recibió instrucción basada únicamente en materiales de audio. Para el cálculo de las muestras apareadas del test t se utilizó el programa de análisis estadístico (SPSS) versión 20, el cual permitió conocer el nivel de diferencias significativas en el test diagnóstico inicial y los posteriores. Los resultados revelan que la enseñanza de la destreza auditiva basada en actividades utilizando videos tiene un efecto significativo en la comprensión auditiva de los estudiantes para desarrollar y entender el idioma de una forma más auténtica y eficaz.
Autoevaluación y Evaluación Docente en una Clase de Escritura de Inglés como Lengua Extranjera
Authors: Baleghizadeh Sasan , Hajizadeh Tahereh
Published: April 2018

Este estudio investigó cómo 15 estudiantes iraníes de inglés como lengua extranjera desarrollaron la capacidad de evaluar sus escritos al tener acceso a las puntuaciones de los evaluadores. Los participantes fueron supervisados durante cuatro semanas al ser su primera experiencia en el proceso de autoevaluación. Se proporcionó una hoja de evaluación detallada a cada estudiante para que evaluara su trabajo y después de cada autoevaluación, los estudiantes pudieron tener acceso a las puntuaciones globales asignadas por el profesor. Los resultados indicaron una alta correlación entre la autoevaluación y la evaluación del profesor. Esto reveló que la autoevaluación de los estudiantes durante todo el estudio resultó estar altamente correlacionado con la evaluación docente. También se demostró que los estudiantes evaluaron diferentes componentes de su escritura de una manera comparable a la realizada por el profesor. Los resultados confirmaron que la autoevaluación podría no sólo ser vista como una herramienta útil para evaluar el rendimiento de los estudiantes sino también podría ser considerada como un instrumento eficaz para desarrollar sus destrezas de escritura.
Análisis del Proceso de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje en Educación Bilingüe en Madrid, España: Un Proyecto de Colaboración Fulbright Scholar
Authors: Gerena Linda , Ramírez-Verdugo Dolores
Published: April 2018

El presente estudio se llevó a cabo dentro del marco de un proyecto de investigación  colaborativo internacional, apoyado por una beca Fulbright, con el objetivo de investigar las actitudes y percepciones hacia la educación bilingüe y extraer los principales resultados sobre una metodología de prácticas pedagógicas eficientes en colegios bilingües de la región de Madrid, donde la implantación de los programas bilingües ha aumentado exponencialmente en las últimas décadas. El estudio pretendía identificar las actitudes de los profesores, asistentes de idiomas y estudiantes hacia el bilingüismo y el desarrollo del programa bilingüe. Además se identificaron ejemplos de buenas prácticas docentes y estrategias eficientes de enseñanza-aprendizaje en contextos bilingües. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto hallazgos fundamentales y sus posibles implicaciones que, se deberían tener en consideración para facilitar el futuro desarrollo y consolidación de programas bilingües que promuevan la excelencia educativa.
Fronteras Epistemológicas y la Experiencia Transnacional
Authors: Petrón Mary A. , Greybeck Barbara
Published: April 2018

Este artículo de reflexión se basa en un estudio etnográfico de cinco maestras transnacionales de inglés en México. Estas maestras aprendieron el inglés como hijas de inmigrantes  mexicanos en Estados Unidos. En el momento en que se realizó el estudio, ellas vivían y enseñaban en el lugar de origen de sus padres, el cual está localizado en zonas rurales de México. El propósito del artículo es examinar las maneras de conocer como las fronteras epistemológicas se reflejaban en su vida personal y profesional. Las experiencias transnacionales de vivir en y entre dos naciones aparecieron en la vanguardia de sus prácticas culturales y lingüísticas. Asimismo, estas maestras hablaban las lenguas del transnacionalismo empleando el translanguaging y consideraban el inglés como parte de su herencia cultural.  Se identificaron plenamente con otros transnacionales con antecedentes similares y como maestras de inglés transformaron su aula en autenticas lecciones de lenguaje y cultura. Así, las maneras de conocer sus  fronteras epistemológicas  revelaron su identidad y práctica docente.
Sensibilización Ambiental para Jóvenes Aprendientes del Idioma Inglés
Authors: Castillo Rigoberto , Rojas Maria del Pilar
Published: April 2018

Este artículo reporta un estudio de investigación acción cuyo propósito fue entender cómo sensibilizar a los estudiantes de quinto grado sobre el cuidado y la protección del medio ambiente. Se incentivó a los estudiantes a expresar sus ideas usando estrategias de escritura creativa. La intervención pedagógica siguió tres etapas: reconocimiento de los hechos, reflexión para finalmente plantear una solución al problema ambiental identificado. Los avances logrados en cada etapa fueron analizados y los resultados indican que a partir de las oportunidades de auto-expresión y de debate, los estudiantes avanzaron significativamente en el desarrollo del lenguaje y en la conciencia ambiental.
Una Investigación Narrativa sobre las Identidades Imaginadas de Profesores de Inglés en Formación
Authors: Sarasa María Cristina
Published: April 2018

Este trabajo explora procesos de co-construcción de la identidad profesional de docentes de ILI (inglés como lenguaje internacional) durante su formación como profesores de inglés en una universidad estatal argentina. El estudio se centra en el carácter profesional de las identidades de estos futuros docentesexpresados en las historias individuales compuestas conjuntamente con la autora que trabajó como investigadora participante en el proyecto. El diseño metodológico empleado fue la investigación narrativa cuyas técnicas permiten la recopilación de textos de campo dentro y fuera de las aulas de clase delprograma. El estudio completo incluyó 24 participantes cuyas identidades fueron concebidas de modo narrativo durante 18 meses. Este artículo presenta los relatos de cuatro estudiantes, resultado de la construcción conjunta de la futura identidad docente imaginada. Después de la interpretación de las historiasde los estudiantes, el artículo discurre brevemente sobre algunas implicancias de visualizar la identidad docente en la formación de profesores de inglés.
El Diseño e Implementación de un Modelo de Capacitación para Docentes de Inglés en Servicio en la Educación Pública Costarricense
Authors: Córdoba Cubillo Patricia , Rodríguez Ramírez Xinia , Hernández Gaubil Tatiana
Published: April 2018

En respuesta a los retos del siglo XXI y a la necesidad de la población estudiantil del sector público por poseer un nivel más alto en el dominio de la competencia lingüística en inglés, el idioma inglés fue declarado un asunto de interés nacional en Costa Rica en el año 2008. Por esta razón, el gobierno costarricense firmó el decreto Costa Rica Multilingüe, el cual permitió formular un proyecto para docentes de inglés como lengua extranjera. Este artículo aborda el diseño y el análisis de la implementación del modelo de capacitación profesional para docentes de inglés como lengua extranjera del sistema educativo público de Costa Rica, que condujo al mejoramiento de las habilidades lingüísticas aproximadamente del 80% de la población docente del sistema escolar público costarricense. El estudio describe los componentes del modelo de capacitación docente así como los resultados del desempeño lingüístico de los docentes en la prueba TOEIC©, aplicada antes de la capacitación y tres años después de la misma.
An Approach to Integration: The Integration of Language and Content to promote L2 Learner Autonomy at the College Level
Authors: Oliva Parera Pablo M. , Núñez Delgado María del Pilar
Published: April 2018

This article reports the preliminary findings of an action research on the effects of autonomy on a group of university students at the post-graduate level taking their first Spanish course through the Content and Language Learning (CLIL) methodology. The participants, whose Spanish was at the low/mid intermediate level (ACTFL, 2012), were exposed to content related to their Masters’ degrees at a university in the United States. The sample consisted of 13 students in the experimental group and 14 in the control group. Results showed that students in the experimental group who followed a CLIL class experienced more autonomy than students in the control group who followed a more traditional class with a textbook. Pedagogical implications reflect advantages of planning curriculum according to the students’ interests and career objectives.
A Baseline Study of Strategies to Promote Critical Thinking in the Preschool Classroom
Authors: Melo León Jenny
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the different incidents of critical thinking in five preschool classrooms in one school, and the instructional strategies preschool teachers employed in the development of children’s critical thinking. The participants in this study were five self-contained preschool teachers and their corresponding groups. The study explored teachers’ beliefs in regards to the role of critical thinking in their classrooms. Data collection techniques included classroom observations, document analysis, and interviews with teachers. Two over-arching findings include: a) it is possible to observe and describe numerous instances in which critical thinking is paid attention to explicitly by teachers, and b) it is possible to observe a range of classroom interactions and techniques that explicitly develop these skills among preschoolers.
The Differences between Spoken and Written Grammar in English, in Comparison with Vietnamese
Authors: Cao Thanh Nguyen
Published: April 2018

The fundamental point of this paper is to describe and evaluate some differences between spoken and written grammar in English, and compare some of the points with Vietnamese. This paper illustrates that spoken grammar is less rigid than written grammar. Moreover, it highlights the distinction between speaking and writing in terms of subordination and coordination. Further, the different frequency of adverbials and adjectivals between spoken and written language is also compared and analyzed.
Evidence of Intercultural Communication Competence in Tenth Grader’s Narrative Texts
Authors: Guerrero Moya María Eulalia , Muñoz Ortíz Liliana , Niño Díaz Ana María
Published: April 2018

This action research study explored the effects of an intervention linking both culture and citizenship in a tenth-grade English language class, and aimed at finding evidence of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) skills through the writing of narrative texts in English. Participants were 75 tenth-grade students, between the ages of 14 and 17 years old who attended three different public schools in Bogotá, Colombia. Through literature circles (discussion groups) and storytelling tools, learners played an active role, discovered similarities and differences among cultures, reflected upon their tolerance levels, and explored ways to face problems. Findings suggest that students were able to identify differences in cultures and how those differences helped them to build identity. In addition, they analyzed how they reacted in situations where their tolerance skills were challenged.
High School Students’ Attitudes and Experiences in EFL Classrooms Equipped with Interactive Whiteboards
Authors: Han Turgay , Okatan Semih
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine ninth grade EFL students’ experiences and attitudes towards classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards (IWB). The data were collected with a questionnaire about attitudes towards IWB use in EFL classes, and observations from three different classrooms in three different high schools. The study indicated that the EFL students were not fully aware of how to use IWBs in learning English although they had a background of IWB use. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the attitudes of the male and female students towards using IWBs. Overall, the results revealed that EFL students’ attitudes towards IWBs were positive although there were some technical challenges in IWB classrooms.
Efectos de las Prácticas de Evaluación en el Salón de Clase de un Curso de Lectura en Lengua Extranjera (LE)
Authors: Lopera Medina Sergio Alonso
Published: April 2018

Este artículo analiza los diferentes tipos de información de las prácticas de evaluación alternativa y la evaluación tradicional que se brindaron en un curso de lectura inglés como lengua extranjera ofrecido a estudiantes de postgrado en una universidad pública en Medellín, Colombia. Este estudio siguió los principios de una investigación cualitativa y se utilizó el estudio de caso como método de investigación. Se aplicaron cinco instrumentos para recolectar la información: cuestionarios, observaciones, pruebas, grupos focales y el diario del profesor. Los resultados indican que las prácticas de evaluación aplicadas en este curso ayudaron tanto al profesor como a los estudiantes a reconocer que se generó  aprendizaje. Las prácticas de evaluación también ayudaron a los involucrados a aprender más acerca  de los procesos de enseñanza/aprendizaje en lectura en (LE). Las conclusiones sugieren que la comunidad educativa debe incluir tanto la evaluación alternativa como la evaluación tradicional para obtener una mirada más amplia de los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje.
Lesson co-planning: Joint Efforts, Shared Success
Authors: Carreño Bolívar Laura , Hernandez Ortiz Luz Stella
Published: April 2018

The present article reports the results of a qualitative research study conducted at a higher education institution in Bogotá Colombia. The study aimed at examining the lesson planning practices conducted by English language teachers at the proficiency program of the institution. The participants were a mix of the mentors in charge of each level and teachers who agreed on being part of the study. Data was collected through two online surveys and one semi-structured interview; three categories were obtained from the data analysis; they focus on the planning stages, the impact of co-planning on teachers´ performance and the role of resources for lesson planning. The findings suggest that lesson planning collaboration among teachers provides them with the opportunity of improving their practices, and helped participants identify professional strengths and weaknesses.
IMPLEMENTASI PENDIDIKIAN INKLUSI: MANAJEMEN TENAGA KEPENDIDIKAN (GPK)
Authors: Setianingsih Eka Sari
Published: April 2018

Pendidikan inklusi adalah sekolah harus mengakomodasi semua anak tanpa memandang kondisi fisik, intelektual, sosial emosional, linguistik atau kondisi lainnya. Pendidikan inklusi adalah sebuah pelayanan pendidikan bagi peserta didik yang mempunyai kebutuhan pendidikan khusus di sekolah reguler yang tergolong luar biasa baik dalam arti kelainan, lamban belajar maupun berkesulitan belajar lainnya. Namun demikian pendidikan inklusi bukanlah satu-satunya cara dalam mendidik anak berkebutuhan khusus melainkan suatu program alternatif. Sekalipun sudah banyak sekolah yang menerapkan pendidikan inklusi dan mendeklarasikan sebagai sekolah inklusi, namun pada implementasinya masih banyak yang belum sesuai dengan konsep-konsep pendidikan inklusi yang baik salah satunya dilihat dari segi manajemen tenaga kependidikannya. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis implementasi pendidikan inklusi. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dilihat dari sisi manajemen tenaga kependidikan, cenderung tidak sedikit sekolah yang belum maksimal dalam penyediaan tenaga kependidikan di sekolah inklusi. Sehingga pemerintah maupun sekolah diharapkan dapat menelaah kembali implementasi pendidikan inklusi yang ada.
Pengembangan model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect-Explain) berbantuan electronic book (E-book) untuk mengembangkan karakter konservasi pada perkuliahan Pendidikan IPS SD di PGSD Universitas Negeri Semarang
Authors: Sukarjo Sukarjo , Purnomo Purnomo
Published: April 2018

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk : (1) menghasilkan model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan electronic book (e-book) yang efektif mampu mengembangkan karakter konservasi, (2) menguji tingkat efektivitas model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan electronic book (e-book) dalam mengembangkan karakter konservasi, (3) menguji tingkat efektivitas model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan electronic book (e-book) dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar Pendidikan IPS SD, (4) mendeskripsikan respon mahasiswa terhadap model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan electronic book.Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Research and Development. Teknik penelitian yang digunakan antara lain: (1) survey, (2) Delphi, (3) penelitian tindakan kelas, serta (4) eksperimen. Teknik pengumpulan menggunakan : (1) wawancara, (2) studi dokumentasi, (3) observasi, (4) skala sikap kepribadian, (5) tes prestasi belajar, (6) Tes Standard Progressive Matrics (SPM) buatan Raven. Teknik analisis hasil pengembangan model menggunakan: (1) Teknik Delphi, (2) Analisis Kualitatif, (3) Analisis Deskriptif, (4) Teknik t-test. Teknik analisis hasil uji validasi model menggunakan : (1) Teknik t-tes, (2) Analisis Kovarians, (3) Analisis Variance (ANAVA).Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan (1) Model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan e-book yang efektif memiliki prosedur : (1) tahap pendahuluan, (2) tahap Model, (3) tahap Observe, (4) tahap Reflect, (5) tahap Explain, dan (6) tahap penutup; (2) Dengan mengontrol variabel inteligensi dan pengetahuan awal, model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan e-book lebih efektif daripada model pembelajaran konvensional dalam mengembangkan karakter konservasi, dimana F hitung (Fo) = 3,934 dan F probabilitas (Fp) = 0,055; (3) Dengan mengontrol variabel inteligensi dan pengetahuan awal, model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan e-book lebih efektif daripada model pembelajaran konvensional dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar mahasiswa dalam perkuliahan, dimana F hitung (Fo) = 3,518 dan F probabilitas (Fp) = 0,069; (5) Sejumlah 76,32% mahasiswa PGSD Universitas Negeri Semarang memiliki respon yang sangat baik (skala 3 dan 4 lebih besar dibanding skala 1 dan 2) terhadap model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan e-book.Saran-saran yang diajukan terkait dengan hasil penelitian ini antara lain adalah untuk mengembangkan karakter konservasi mahasiswa serta meningkatkan hasil belajar dalam perkuliahan, khususnya di PGSD UNNES, dosen dapat menggunakan model pembelajaran MORE (Model-Observe-Reflect- Explain) berbantuan e-book sebagai salah satu model pembelajaran. .Kata kunci : e-book, karakter, konservasi, MORE
Barriers for service providers in the EU internal market
Authors: Stefaniak Joanna
Published: April 2018

The free provision of services in the European Internal Market is still being prevented from coming into fruition by serious obstacles. The crucial step to the elimination of barriers and liberalization of market access for service providers was to be the implementation of the Services Directive in 2009. However, the provision of services across the EU is still subject to restrictions stemming mostly from differences in the Member States’ national regulations and, therefore, service providers cannot exploit the potential of the EU Internal Market to the full extent. The aim of the paper is to identify barriers preventing service providers from free access to the European Internal Market and to present the most important ones. The paper is based on an analysis of the literature, especially of documents and reports of the EU institutions and other European research bodies. The obstacles facing service providers in the European Internal Market are mainly of a regulatory nature. The most significant ones include differences in legislation and a lack of initiative to simplify it, problems with access to information, differences in the recognitionm of qualifications resulting in restrictions on access to service activities, divergent and disproportionate regulations of service professions and, last but not least, problems with civil liability insurance for service providers.
Uwarunkowania rozwoju klastrów turystycznych w Polsce
Authors: Markiewicz Magdalena
Published: April 2018

Cel. Dokonanie analizy uwarunkowań rozwoju klastrów turystycznych w Polsce na podstawie istniejących inicjatyw klastrowych oraz naświetlenie czynników sprzyjających i zobrazowanie barier rozwojowych dzisiejszego klasteringu.

Metoda. Badania literaturowe przedmiotu, dane statystyczne oraz badania własne - ankietowe. Zastosowano metodykę tabelaryczno-liczbową oraz analizę porównawczą.

Wyniki. W toku pracy przeprowadzono badania literaturowe i empiryczne związane z klasteringiem jako zjawiskiem innowacyjności w gospodarce oraz jego oddziaływaniem na polskie podmioty gospodarcze, gremia naukowe oraz samorządy. Powyższe studia pozwoliły na dogłębne przeprowadzenie analizy tematu w zakresie uwarunkowań rozwojowych klastrów, a tym samym zrealizowanie celu pracy.

Idea klasteringu znana jest na świecie od wielu lat. W Polsce koncepcja klastra jest nadal pojęciem dość nowym, chociaż wzmianki na ten temat pojawiały się już pod koniec lat 90. ubiegłego wieku. Celem pracy było dokonanie analizy uwarunkowań rozwoju klastrów turystycznych w Polsce na podstawie istniejących inicjatyw klastrowych oraz naświetlenie czynników sprzyjających i zobrazowanie barier rozwojowych dzisiejszego klasteringu. W toku pracy przeprowadzono badania literaturowe i empiryczne związane z klasteringiem, jako zjawiskiem innowacyjności w gospodarce oraz jego oddziaływaniem na polskie podmioty gospodarcze, gremia naukowe oraz samorządy. Powyższe studia pozwoliły na dogłębne przeprowadzenie analizy tematu w zakresie uwarunkowań rozwojowych klastrów, a tym samym zrealizowanie celu pracy. Niniejszy artykuł jest oryginalny ze względu na zastosowanie stosunkowo nowego podejścia do sektora turystycznego, w którym podejście to nie było szerzej wykorzystywane.
Neck Circumference and Mallampati Classification
Authors: Brennan Patrick
Published: April 2018

Difficult and failed intubations contribute to morbidly and mortality in anesthesia practice. Mallampati is one of the most widely used airway assessments but research shows it is highly variable in its ability to predict difficult intubation. Neck circumference is an objective assessment not commonly used, but has been shown to assess the degree of difficulty with intubation. Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from both Charter Care and Rhode Island College, utilizing a descriptive design, 23 subjects had their neck circumference measured and Mallampati class assessed. The results revealed a relationship between increased neck circumference and Mallampati classification. The average neck circumference of the 23 subjects was 40.35 cm with an average Mallampati class of 2.54. The average neck circumference for Mallampati class 1 was 39.3 cm versus 42.8 cm for Mallampati class 4. Planning for a difficult airway and the assessments to use are highly variable. Practitioners pull from personal experiences as well as their training when it comes to how they provide care. Research has found that neck circumference is an objective assessment that correlates to difficult intubations. Mallampati is one of the standard airway assessments despite research showing that it does not accurately predict intubation difficulty. However, additional research is needed to understand the role neck circumference plays in everyday practice.
Nurses' Perception of Mobile Communication in an Acute Care Setting
Authors: Gardner David
Published: April 2018

Communication is at the center of providing health with care. Good communication between nurses, patients, and among members of the health care team is paramount in delivering patient-centered care. The literature has demonstrated that mobile communication devices can improve quality and efficiency of communication among clinicians, mobilize information, improve clinical workflow, improve response time, and provide cost savings. The research has also revealed unintended consequences such as interruptions in care, increase in errors, caregiver distractions, and reductions in workflow processes. There is currently limited evidence in the literature regarding the perceptions of nurses regarding the use and satisfaction of mobile communication devices. This study examined a convenience sample of nurses (n=64) working in an acute care setting. Donabedian’s process, structure, and outcome model was used to guide this exploratory research. Registered Nurses (RNs) participated in a self-reported one-time survey on perceptions of the use of wireless mobile communication devices. The survey consisted of a 34 response Likert questionnaire which included questions about the mobile devices’ impact on communication, the personal impact the device had on nurses, the perceptions of training and implementation, the devices’ involvement in patient safety, and the overall impact of using the device. The results suggest an increase in the speed and reliability of communication with the use of a mobile communication device, improved response time to patient issues, and improved communication. However, nurses responded unfavorably regarding the impact on patient safety. Trends in data demonstrated nurses with less experience scoring more favorably than nurses with more experience. Most nurses responded unfavorably to the overall impact these devices had.
The Effect of Head Inclination on Intraocular Pressure in the Prone Position
Authors: Marzilli Vanessa
Published: April 2018

Patient safety relies on effective and efficient communication among healthcare providers. Tools, such as standardized checklists, ensure information sharing in a consistent, predictable format. In the perioperative setting, where handoffs occur at several points and among various disciplines, high reliability is essential. This systematic review focused on the impact of standardized communication practices on perioperative staff satisfaction as it relates to sustainability of the new practice. The electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar were used. Six articles met inclusion for the systematic review and of these six, four were determined to be of high quality through the application of The CASE Worksheet. The handoff tools implemented in these four studies were the electronic anesthesia information management system (AIMS), I-PASS mnemonic that described the illness, patient summary, action list, situation awareness and synthesis by receiver, Peri-op Handoff Protocol and a variation of the ‘Surgical Safety Checklist’ originally developed by WHO. Results of this systematic review suggest that these standardized communication methods are effective in improving perioperative staff satisfaction. Further research may prove helpful to determine if one handoff tool design is superior to the others. While future research could be performed to provide a larger sample size, the limited data gathered from this systematic review shows promising results. Implementing a standardized approach to perioperative communication and patient handoff has been shown in these studies to be beneficial in terms of staff satisfaction. Furthermore, it would be valuable to examine the indirect impact these communication tools have on patient care. Healthcare providers have the responsibility and opportunity to improve patient care through the adoption of standardized communication processes.
Preoperative Forced-Air Warming of Patients to Minimize Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sadlers Devin
Published: April 2018

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) occurs in many patients during surgery and can potentially carry serious complications, including cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, increased bleeding, impaired drug metabolism, impaired wound healing and increased risk of wound infection. There are many different techniques to minimize hypothermia during the perioperative period, but forced-air warming is used for many surgical patients. Forced-air warming has been shown to be effective during the intraoperative period; however, many institutions do not utilize this therapy in the preoperative setting. A systematic review was conducted to assess the use of preoperative forced-air warming and its’ effects on minimizing IPH. Databases were searched for pertinent articles regarding the topic of study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to finalize the articles to be included in the systematic review. A total of six studies were critically analyzed. Overall, forced-air prewarming of patients undergoing surgery helped to minimize IPH in adult surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia. Even in studies that did not demonstrate statistically significant results, findings demonstrated that patients that were preoperatively forced-air warmed were less hypothermic than those not prewarmed. Maintaining intraoperative forced-air warming, educating other health care providers about the effects of IPH, and advocating for preoperative warming are important topics that the advanced practice nurse, particularly the CRNA, can lead.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and the Effectiveness of Endotracheal Tubes Coated with Silver Sulfadiazine
Authors: Van Hueveln Nathaniel
Published: April 2018

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a consequence of intubation and mechanical ventilation. Bacteria colonize the inner-lumen of endotracheal tubes (ETT) and develop into a biofilm. One method to reduce/eliminate the develop of biofilms within the ETT is lining the inner-lumen with silver-sulfadiazine. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of silver-coated ETTs for patients that develop VAP. Multiple databases were searched to identify key literature related to silver-coated ETTs and VAP. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified to finalize the studies that were included in this systematic review. Five key studies were included in this review. Studies were further evaluated with PRISMA, a data collection table, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and the Critical Appraisal for Summaries of Evidence (CASE) worksheet. All studies found either a reduction or elimination of bacteria within the ETT, breathing circuit, or lungs of the study subjects. In addition to the reduced colonization found across the studies, one study found a reduction in the mortality rate for the intervention group following a diagnosis of VAP. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) play an important role in educating staff about the impact silver-coated ETTs have on patient outcomes throughout periods of intubation and mechanical ventilation. Additionally, CRNAs are well positioned to identify patients pre-operatively that may require prolonged intubation following surgery. By advocating for silver-coated ETTs for these patients, CRNAs can improve patient outcomes by reducing the likelihood of these patients developing VAP.
Assessing Registered Nurses Knowledge of Comfort Measures Only: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Ventura-Medeiros Priscilla
Published: April 2018

End of life care is a growing specialty in healthcare and requires specialized knowledge and care by the nurse. Many patients end their life in an acute care setting which may be lacking in providers who are well versed in end of life care, specifically comfort measures. Therefore, assessing the registered nurses knowledge of comfort measures only, as a component of end of life care, is a critical first step in improving end of life patient and family experience. By identifying current provider knowledge of comfort care and the understanding of practice guidelines, a specific and relevant educational program can be developed. This project will evaluate the level of self-reported knowledge of registered nurses who are caring for patients designated with comfort measures only orders. With successful completion of this project, the educational needs for these registered nurses will be identified and utilized to improve education and care delivery for patients who are on comfort measures only.
Debriefing in the Emergency Department
Authors: Weathers Faithe
Published: April 2018

Workplace stress is a common hazard in many occupations, especially in healthcare. Workplace stress has physical and psychological impacts and can lead to burnout. Nurses exhibit high levels of stress and burnout, especially those working in the emergency department (ED). Strategies to combat stress and burnout are vital to preserve the overall heath and retention of staff in the workplace. One strategy is to incorporate debriefing sessions following traumatic events. The purpose of this study was to explore ED nurses’ opinions of debriefing sessions in the ED. The design was a qualitative survey. The study site was in the emergency department at Newport Hospital, in Newport, Rhode Island. The survey was anonymous and voluntary and consisted of six open-ended questions regarding the use and effectiveness of debriefings sessions following traumatic events in the emergency department. Twenty-one RN’s chose to complete and submit surveys (n=21). The results revealed that ED RN’s have a well-defined understanding of the purpose of debriefing sessions, and believe they are important to use following stressful events. While traumatic events, particularly those involving children and young persons, are most often debriefed, the nurses believe debriefing is underutilized in this department. Therefore, strategies should be taken to increase the use of debriefing sessions. Hospital guidelines may help identify what incidents require a debriefing, and may lead to an increase in their use in the future.
An Exploration of Potential Gender Differences in the Discipline of Nurse Anesthetists
Authors: Kane Jedidiah
Published: April 2018

Great diversity exists in the US population, therefore the US Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] has called for increased diversity among healthcare professionals as a means of improving public health outcomes. Males are consistently a minority group within the nursing profession and are disproportionately disciplined. The disproportionate discipline of male nurses and the loss of licensure often resulting from censure may have an impact on efforts to diversify the nursing sector of healthcare. Among certified registered nurse anesthetists [CRNAs], the ratio of males to females is more equal and little data exists examining the characteristics of disciplined CRNAs. The purpose of this study was to describe formal licensure discipline against CRNAs practicing in select states during a 33-year period (1983-2017). This descriptive study is a retrospective cohort study involving secondary data analysis of public records information. Disciplinary list data was generated via the database tools accessible on the government websites provided by each state department of health and/or BON. The disciplinary list data was then cross-referenced against the Nursys database maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) for greater detail and analysis. Of the CRNA licenses in the sample (n=4401), the rate of sanction was 1.20% (n=53). Males (n=26) were disciplined more often than women (n=27) at a ratio of 1.6:1. CRNAs in this study were six times more likely to commit an infraction related to substance abuse than any other single infraction type at 66% (n=35). Loss of licensure in some form resulted in approximately 51% (n=27) of cases.
Embedding Outreach into the Undergraduate Science Curriculum – Everyone's a Winner
Authors: Aspinall Helen , Qualter Anne , Rushworth Elisabeth D
Published: April 2018

This article summarizes the authors' experience of developing and delivering undergraduate modules in Science Communication. The modules address two needs: resourcing science outreach activities for children in Years 5-7, and developing transferable skills (oral and written communication, team working, time management) to enhance student employability and engagement.Keywords:  Employability, outreach, transferable skills
Understanding student motivations and career aspirations so that we can effectively support our graduates
Authors: Page Nigel , Steeds Emma , Carey Louise , Siaw Evelyn , Gurnett Kelly , Ait Belkacem Lydia , Ghatora Baljit
Published: April 2018

With graduate employability existing at the heart of the Higher Education (HE) agenda, we review student motivators, and the aspirations of life science, pharmacy and chemistry students for entering into HE. We evaluate this particularly in reference to Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students, as their career aspirations and motivators for studying may play an important role in determining degree attainment and consequent graduate opportunities.Keywords: Employability; Black and Minority Ethnic; attainment
Student at Risk Identification and Remedial Action System for Improving Retention on Computer Science Programmes
Authors: Green Stewart , Plant Nick , Chan Courtney
Published: April 2018

Retention has been a serious problem for computing programmes in the Computer Science and Creative Technology Department (CSCT) at the University of the West of England (UWE): for example in 2013-14 the BSc (Hons) Computer Science programme lost 18% of its year-one intake. Addressing this, CSCT developed a three-pronged strategy comprising retention research, the monitoring of module performance and the development of a student-at-risk-identification-and-remedial-action-system (SRIRAS). The last initiative was prioritised in 2015-16. An intern team was recruited to run a system to monitor student attendance and academic performance across seven CSCT programmes, identify those students most at risk and then, with the collaboration of programme leaders and year-tutors, help them. Help included phone calls, email warnings, and face-to-face meetings. The latter led to problem identification, advice on non-academic problems, encouragement to attend more lectures, tutorials and peer assisted learning (PAL) sessions, encouragement to engage with module staff, setting up special PAL sessions, and advice to attend catch-up programming sessions. Results indicated that many of those most at risk are struggling with non-academic concerns such as starting the programme late due to a visa problem, or not being able to attend due to a grant not arriving. Results also indicate that some students seem to be being “saved” while others do not. But overall, they indicate that the introduction of the retention system was mixed.
Flexible Learning in Computer Science
Authors: Gordon Neil Andrew
Published: April 2018

This paper outlines the concept of Flexible Pedagogy and how it can assist in addressing some of the issues facing STEM disciplines in general, and Computer Science in particular. The paper   considers what flexible pedagogy is and how technologies developed by Computer Science can enable flexibility. It then describes some of the issues facing STEM education, with a particular focus on Computer Science education in Higher Education. Finally, it considers how flexible approaches to teaching and learning are particularly pertinent to the issues faced in Computer Science and future opportunities.Keywords:  Computer Based Instruction; Adaptive eLearning; Flexible Pedagogy
Does group assessment impact BME attainment?
Authors: Hill Natasha , Denholm Price James , Atkins Nigel , Tojal Dourado Luis , Nimoh Owuraku , Page Nigel
Published: April 2018

Assessment of student learning is fundamental in Higher Education (HE) reflecting academic standards and impacting on student satisfaction, position in league tables and graduate employment.  Nonetheless, there is a BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) attainment gap, the difference in the proportion of BME and White students who attain a first class or 2.1 honours degree (even when controlled for prior attainment and entry profile), which is persistent across the HE sector. As assessment strategies play an essential role in determining degree attainment, we have reviewed the role of group assessment and whether this form of assessment specifically impacts on the BME attainment gap. Overall, this study provided evidence that assessed group work does not adversely impact BME students. In addition, the performance in BME/non-BME/mixed groups did not suggest any consistent difference, suggesting that the demographic composition of groups does not affect BME performance. Therefore, group work would appear to be an inclusive form of assessment that does not appear to lead or contribute to exacerbating the BME attainment gap.Keywords: Group assessment; attainment; Black and Minority Ethnic
Where am I now and where do I want to be? Developing awareness of graduate attributes in pre-honours students.
Authors: Swingler Maxine V , Armour Sarah , Bohan Jason , Cleland-Woods Heather , Curry Gordon B , Roy Archie W N
Published: April 2018

There is increasing emphasis on the importance of making Graduate Attributes (GAs) explicit to students as part of their degree programme and the role of students themselves in proactively developing GAs. The aim of the present project was to encourage students to actively develop and reflect upon curricular and extra-curricular attributes at an earlier stage in their degree programme. To this end we developed and evaluated short-self-reflection exercises in second year (pre-honours) psychology practical classes which asked students to reflect on their curricular and extra-curricular activities and on how the practical skills gained from these activities are linked to graduate attributes.  Activities were followed by careers workshops focused on gaining confidence in communicating graduate attributes in an interview context, and the benefits of engaging with professional networking sites. We evaluated the impact of these activities on: 1) students’ levels of self-efficacy in specific GAs before and after the in-class exercises; 2) students' confidence in presenting their GAs in an interview situation; 3) student awareness of professional networking sites.  The activities resulted in increased self- efficacy ratings after the GAS reflection, increased confidence in presenting their GAs after the careers workshops, and an increased awareness of professional networking sites. The effectiveness of these activities as a method to increase student engagement in developing their GAs will be discussed in the wider context of embedding GAs and employability in pre-honours programmes across STEM disciplines. Keywords: Graduate attributes, employability, self-efficacy, pre-honours, professional networking
Making the most of the University campus for teaching ecology
Authors: Bacon Karen L , Peacock Julie
Published: April 2018

University campuses provide an accessible, cheap and useful means of teaching ecology to undergraduate students.  We describe a short campus-based activity that was trialed in the 2015-16 academic year to engage first year physical geography students with both ecology and urban ecology. Students undertook a 40-minute investigation of the campus to identify niches and ecosystems and were asked to relate their findings to previous lecture material. Overall, the activity was enjoyed by students and considered useful by both students and staff in supporting students’ engagement with ecology.Keywords: Field work; practical work; urban ecology; campus
An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM teaching
Authors: Lancaster Simon
Published: April 2018

MOOC REVIEW: An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM teaching
Peer Knowledge Sharing Outside the Undergraduate STEM Classroom
Authors: Gess Ashley , Li Songze , Zhou Shihao , Doak Samuel
Published: April 2018

Student interest is associated with persistence in STEM courses of study (Maltese, Melki, & Wiebke, 2014). If peers decide, of their own accord, to discuss knowledge among each other outside of the classroom context, the behavior is indicative of deepening interest in the information being shared (Renninger & Hidi, 2002). Understanding outside classroom knowledge sharing behaviors among peers involved in a STEM course may help educators construct learning contexts that promote interest and persistence in STEM subjects. To that end, this study examined two important research questions: (1) what are the key factors that influence peer to peer knowledge sharing outside the classroom? and (2) what are the methods the student use to share content knowledge? In order to explore these questions, a qualitative study was designed to explore knowledge sharing between peers outside the classroom. A semi-structured interview protocol with eight students from a Mid-Atlantic community college was conducted to explore students’ perceptions of knowledge sharing between peers. Data were coded and analyzed by a group of researchers and themes were identified and theoretical and practical implications of the study were recorded. Several key facilitators of knowledge sharing were identified: self-efficacy, interpersonal relationships, interpersonal similarity and media richness. Implications for teachers are presented. Limitations and future research are included in the end of the study. Keywords: knowledge sharing, peer to peer, peer learning, knowledge transfer, content knowledge, college science teaching, community college