Semiyu Aderibigbe, Donald S. Gray and Laura Colucci-Gray
Mentoring is widely recognised as an effective strategy for supporting the professional learning of teachers and student teachers across different educational contexts. Yet, its…
Abstract
Purpose
Mentoring is widely recognised as an effective strategy for supporting the professional learning of teachers and student teachers across different educational contexts. Yet, its effectiveness in initial teacher education (ITE) may be more widely conceived to take account of mentoring as a cultural practice, contributing to a change of professional learning habits and relationships towards collegiate and collaborative reflexivity. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of mentoring experiences between teachers and student teachers, how these are embedded within the established professional learning culture of the school and the opportunities for mentoring to affect professional learning.
Design/methodology/approach
Set within the context of a teacher education reform project in Scotland, involving student teachers, mentors and university tutors, the study adopted a critical constructivist theory stance to explore mentoring relationships. A sequential mixed methods approach informed the collection and analysis of data.
Findings
Quantitative data point to a diversity of experiences of mentoring amongst teachers and student teachers. Qualitative data provide a nuanced account of participants’ views of their mentoring experiences, pointing to opportunities for revisiting assumptions about learning in the classroom as well as questioning established professional learning patterns.
Practical implications
The authors conclude that mentoring relationships cannot be disentangled from a critical interrogation of the modes of relationships and values supporting professional learning in ITE. Practical implications centre upon preparation and resources to develop mentoring as a tool for learning, embedded within the professional culture of the school.
Originality/value
This study reframes the concept of mentoring as a practice that does not simply reinforce professional expectations but seeks to redefine teacher professional learning, pedagogy and social relationships in school contexts.
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Ashley Colby and Emily Huddart Kennedy
Research has established a connection between industrially-produced food and negative health outcomes. Scholars have also shown a significant link between poor food environments…
Abstract
Purpose
Research has established a connection between industrially-produced food and negative health outcomes. Scholars have also shown a significant link between poor food environments and health. This paper explores the experiences of university extension program agents in order to initiate greater dialogue about the role of extension in lessening the deleterious health impacts of unequal access to high quality and sufficient quantity foods. Specifically, we consider the role of food self-provisioning instruction (e.g., food gardening, preservation).
Methodology/approach
The paper draws on semi-structured interviews with 20 university extension program officers in the state of Washington.
Findings
Although our participants report that demand for education in food production skills is on the rise across Washington, there are barriers to the equitable distribution of self-provisioning skills.
Practical implications
There is considerable promise for extension programs to have positive implications for health and nutrition for communities struggling to access quality foods. To meet this progress, extension must be more aware of serving the entire public either through hiring agents mirror their constituencies or funding a more diverse array of programming.
Originality/value
Little existing research examines or evaluates using university extension programs as a vehicle for teaching food self-production, though these topics have been taught since the founding of extension.
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Chuan Shi, Rajesh Jugulum, Harold Ian Joyce, Jagmet Singh, Bob Granese, Raji Ramachandran, Donald Gray, Christopher H Heien and John R. Talburt
This paper aims to propose a funnel methodology that selects business data elements for data quality improvement practices at a financial company. Data quality is crucial in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a funnel methodology that selects business data elements for data quality improvement practices at a financial company. Data quality is crucial in post-crisis recovery of the financial services industry. This allows the bank to monitor its critical data assets and improve its business operation by Six Sigma engagement that benefits from the good quality of data.
Design/methodology/approach
A funnel methodology is invented. It utilizes a rationalization matrix and statistical methods to identify critical data elements (CDEs) for data quality efforts from numerous candidates across business functions. The “Voice of the Customer” is achieved by including subject matter experts, whose knowledge and experience contribute to the entire process.
Findings
The methodology eliminates redundancy and reduces the number of data elements to be monitored, so that attention becomes focused on the right elements. In addition, the methodology ensures that the conduct of the data quality assessment is framed within a context of the functional area’s business objectives.
Originality/value
Measuring and improving data quality form a solid foundation of every Six Sigma engagement. When presented with large data elements, determining what to measure can be an arduous task. Having a proven systematic and valid process to reduce the CDE candidate pool becomes an operational necessity of paramount importance, and this justifies the value of the proposed methodology. Its implementation is described by a Basel II case study. The methodology is not restricted to financial services industry, and can be used readily in any other industry that requires data quality improvement.
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Shanthi Johnson, Bill McLeod, Sabyasachi Gupta and Katherine McLeod
A six-month randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the impact of a home-based nutrition and exercise intervention on functional capacity to prevent falls among rural…
Abstract
Purpose
A six-month randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the impact of a home-based nutrition and exercise intervention on functional capacity to prevent falls among rural seniors. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Men and women (n=134), aged 60 and older were assigned to one of four groups: exercise, nutrition, exercise-nutrition, and control. Participants in the exercise and exercise-nutrition groups performed a home-based exercise program (Home Support Exercise Program), and the nutrition and exercise-nutrition groups received a liquid nutritional supplement (Ensure®) for six months. Participants were assessed at baseline and six months on functional mobility, balance, flexibility and endurance.
Findings
There were significant group differences over time for functional reach and the Timed Up and Go test, with significant differences existing between exercise and nutrition-exercise, and exercise and nutrition groups respectively. Overall, the exercise group out-performed the other groups in terms of functional capacity and psychological well-being.
Research implications
Improvement of functional health among rural seniors is achievable through the delivery of a home-based intervention focusing on exercise and nutrition.
Practical implications
The study also shows that the effective delivery of an intervention to successfully address a fundamental and persistent problem is possible using existing resources; however, it requires a commitment of focus and energy over considerable time.
Social implications
The approach and findings helps seniors to age in place in a rural context. It shows feasibility of delivering a practical intervention in the rural setting through the health care infrastructure of home care.
Originality/value
Apart from the rural context, the study was innovative at many levels. Specifically, this intervention addressed a significant health issue (functional capacity, falls and injuries), involved frail rural seniors (often hard to reach through community-based programs), provided a feasible intervention (multiple component exercise program), used existing infrastructure (e.g. home care), and espoused community development principles (active involvement of community partners, researchers, and trainees). As well, the study had built-in mechanisms for monitoring and support through the involvement of home service workers who received training. This approach created a strong research to practice connection (another innovation) and was critical for the credibility of the investigation, as well as the sustainability of the intervention. Another innovation was the inclusion of a population health perspective as the study framework. From the population health perspective, this research addressed several determinants of health in rural and urban areas that include: physical environment (intervention within people’s home and rural context), social environment and social support networks (through existing infrastructures of home support workers), health services (availability of health promotion strategy delivered through the health care system) and personal health practices and coping skills (exercise).
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Abstract
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Interpon D — International Paint Ltd's polyester powder coating for factory finished architectural metalwork — has been used in the major refurbishment of the imposing Gothic…
Abstract
Interpon D — International Paint Ltd's polyester powder coating for factory finished architectural metalwork — has been used in the major refurbishment of the imposing Gothic Crown Courts Building at Wood Green in North London.
Canons have been of interest to librarians dating back to the days when Robert Maynard Hutchins instituted the Great Books program at the University of Chicago. Hutchins did so at…
Abstract
Canons have been of interest to librarians dating back to the days when Robert Maynard Hutchins instituted the Great Books program at the University of Chicago. Hutchins did so at the suggestion of the popular philosopher, Mortimer Adler. When Adler later helped to popularize the program with the public, public libraries around the country became the sites for meetings of Great Books discussion groups.
It has been the custom for many years to preserve foodstuffs by drying, smoking, salting and pickling, and by the addition of sugar. The more modern methods include…
Abstract
It has been the custom for many years to preserve foodstuffs by drying, smoking, salting and pickling, and by the addition of sugar. The more modern methods include pasteurisation, sterilisation by heat or other means, refrigeration and the addition of chemical substances having an antiseptic action to a greater or less degree.