Models Of Good Practice Research Articles

Repositories of Open Educational Resources: An Assessment of Reuse and Educational Aspects

<p class="3">This article provides an overview of the current state of repositories of open educational resources (ROER) in higher education at international level. It analyses a series of educational indicators to determine whether ROER can meet the specific needs of the education context, and to clarify understanding of the reuse of open educational resources (OER) provided by ROER. The aim of the study is to assess ROER by combining these two perspectives, and to form a basis for discussion among the universities that are responsible for these repositories.</p><p class="3">The method was based on content analysis and consisted of two phases: an exploration of international sources, and an analysis of 110 ROER using the proposed set of indicators. The results focus on data from the analysis of ROER websites and some models of good practices. They are presented according to three core dimensions for evaluating ROER: general factors to establish types of ROER, a focus on drivers for OER reuse, and a focus on educational aspects. It was found that most of the ROER that included one or more of the proposed reuse indicators were created exclusively for educational resources. Educational aspects are not yet firmly embedded into ROER. The few repositories that seem to have successfully included them are those that provide other educational metadata and use educational standards.</p>

Designing for operational efficiency: facility managers’ perspectives on how their knowledge can be better incorporated during design

ABSTRACTThere is a growing agreement among researchers and practitioners that the input of facility managers (FMs) can be a vital resource during the architectural design process. FMs are responsible for the everyday operations of buildings, and are therefore aware of many practical details of maintenance and efficiency that designers may overlook. However, despite the recognized benefits of collaboration between designers and FMs, there are significant obstacles that have so far prevented the widespread implementation of this partnership. The current study used data from 30 in-depth interviews and a widely distributed survey of FMs in three international regions to identify some of the obstacles that prevent collaboration between FMs and designers. Based on these data, the authors also developed specific recommendations for better incorporating the knowledge of FMs into the design process. Difficulties in communication and cultural barriers between the two fields were found to be the most pervasively reported obstacles, closely followed by the perception that designers are unaware or uninterested in the contributions that FMs can offer. Educational initiatives, technology training, and structural incentives were among the proposed solutions. The study resulted in a simple visual model of best practices for promoting collaboration, as well as a separate model for organizing the contributions of FMs during design.

“Beyond words”: a researcher’s guide to using photo elicitation in psychology

ABSTRACTThe use of photo elicitation is limited within the field of psychology despite its theoretical and practical potential. It offers significant benefits as a qualitative method that could present a new and interesting way of exploring previously understood topics within the discipline. Within our discussion, we present a step-by-step guide outlining the key practical stages and ethical assurances involved in photo elicitation research, using our ongoing research as an illustrative example. It is intended that this could be used as a model of good practice for developing research paradigms beyond those typically used within the psychology discipline.

Concise Review: Developing Best-Practice Models for the Therapeutic Use of Extracellular Vesicles.

Growing interest in extracellular vesicles (EVs, including exosomes and microvesicles) as therapeutic entities, particularly in stem cell‐related approaches, has underlined the need for standardization and coordination of development efforts. Members of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and the Society for Clinical Research and Translation of Extracellular Vesicles Singapore convened a Workshop on this topic to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with development of EV‐based therapeutics at the preclinical and clinical levels. This review outlines topic‐specific action items that, if addressed, will enhance the development of best‐practice models for EV therapies. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1730–1739

Experiencing Urban Mining in an Italian Municipality towards a Circular Economy vision

Selective waste collection in Italy has undergone significant changes over the last decade, highlighting very different approaches from one region to another. Research results presented in this paper are underlying differences between geographical regions and use them as a model of good practices to improve the less optimized systems. In the last decade, the Trento City Council has established a goal – the optimization of selective municipal solid waste collection – that led to a very low amount of recyclable materials in the residual fraction. More than that, for the first time sanitary textiles have been considered as a separable fraction at the source; for a long time this type of waste was considered negligible. These actions were transformed in a recycling program coordinated together with local recycling companies. This paper deals with factors associated with waste recycling, like specific criteria (waste containers selections for door-to-door collection, public awareness and tariff) and solutions (door-to-door bins, warnings, criteria for historic centers). The tourist characteristics of Trento makes it an interesting model for similar towns that are facing with the problem of optimization criteria. This opportunity is discussed referring to a Romanian case.

Michael Strobel, Problems and perspectives of archaeological heritage management in intensively used agricultural landscapes – best-practice models from Saxony (Germany)

Nowhere else is there a creeping and slow destruction of archaeological monuments as in intensively used agricultural landscapes. Sites are still degraded by erosion, cultivation and pollutant inputs to the soil. But the implementation of concrete measures needs more than sensitive archaeological institutions. Without the cooperation with farmers, agricultural administrations, nature conservation agencies and organisations as well as the mobilisation of agro-environmental funds archaeologists will never achieve an efficient heritage management on intensively cultivated areas. In order to protect the rural archaeological heritage in Saxony, various strategies have been developed since 2000. The paper presents best-practice models of managing monuments in intensively used agricultural landscapes. The conversion of ploughed sites into grassland alongside with the application of precision farming systems are especially effective approaches to a better conservation of archaeological remains at risk.

An Emerging Paradigm of Structural Indicators to Examine System Supports for Children’s and Adolescents’ Education and Wellbeing

This article argues that a distinct focus on background system supports can take place through structural indicators, at both national and institutional levels. Development of structural indicators is already taking place for the UN right to the highest attainable standard of health and in recent publications of the European Commission in education contexts. Structural indicators are generally framed as potentially verifiable yes/no answers, they address whether or not key structures, mechanisms or principles are in place in a system. As relatively enduring features or key conditions of a system, they are, however, potentially malleable. A systems of care focus is resonant with structural indicators and moves beyond isolated, fragmented service provision to an integrated whole system of supports. Structural indicators can aid such strategic planning for systems of care. This focus on structural indicators goes beyond a traditional qualitative/quantitative distinction and beyond reliance on sharing models of good practice to seek to identify key structural conditions for good practice. Structural indicators offer a bridge between central strategic direction and local flexibility. The weight of evidence required for a structural indicator may depend on its scope and purpose. Structural indicators can combine a rights, principles and strategic policy based focus with one that is informed by implementation science issues and evidence. They offer a policy relevant bridge between research and practice.

Establishing an academic biobank in a resource-challenged environment.

Past practices of informal sample collections and spreadsheets for data and sample management fall short of best-practice models for biobanking, and are neither cost effective nor efficient to adequately serve the needs of large research studies. The biobank of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience serves as a bioresource for institutional, national and international research collaborations. It provides high-quality human biospecimens from African populations, secure data and sample curation and storage, as well as monitored sample handling and management processes, to promote both non-communicable and infectious-disease research. Best-practice guidelines have been adapted to align with a low-resource setting and have been instrumental in the development of a quality-management system, including standard operating procedures and a quality-control regimen. Here, we provide a summary of 10 important considerations for initiating and establishing an academic research biobank in a low-resource setting. These include addressing ethical, legal, technical, accreditation and/or certification concerns and financial sustainability.

Situational prevention of domestic violence: A review of security-based programs

This paper assesses the effectiveness of security-based programs to reduce repeat domestic violence. A systematic search was conducted of the scientific literature, as well as an electronic newspaper database and the Internet, for published reports of domestic violence prevention programs involving security applications. The study was unable to identify cases with full experimental designs showing clear evidence of positive effects. However, five types of applications were identified with promising evidence of reduced violence – Offender GPS tracking, shelter security, home security, personal duress alarms, and combined home security and duress alarms. Within this framework the study identified six specific programs showing evidence of success. An emerging potential model of good practice – which requires further empirical investigation – involves the deployment of home security and mobile duress alarms within a coordinated program of professional support for clients.

Explaining participation in undeclared work in France: lessons for policy evaluation

PurposeFrance is a model of best practice in the European Union as regards policy to combat undeclared work. The purpose of this paper is to take the country as a case study to evaluate the competing explanations of why people engage in undeclared work which underpin such policy, namely, the dominant rational-economic-actor approach and the more recent social-actor approach.Design/methodology/approachTo evaluate these approaches, the results of 1,027 interviews undertaken in 2013 with a representative sample of the French population are analysed.FindingsThe finding is that higher perceived penalties and risks of detection have no significant impact on the likelihood of conducting undeclared work in France. In contrast, the level of tax morale has a significant impact on engagement in the activity: the higher the tax morale, the lower is the likelihood of participation in the undeclared economy. Higher penalties and risks of detection only decrease the likelihood of participation in undeclared work amongst the small minority of the French population with very low tax morale.Practical implicationsCurrent policy in France to counter undeclared work is informed principally by the rational-economic-actor approach based on a highly developed infrastructure for detection and significant penalties alongside incentives to declare small-scale own-account work. The present analysis suggests that this approach needs to be supplemented with measures to improve citizens’ commitment to compliance by enhancing tax morale.Originality/valueThis case study of a country with a well-developed policy framework to combat undeclared work provides evidence to support the social-actor approach for informing policy change.

Managing workplace stress in community pharmacy organisations: lessons from a review of the wider stress management and prevention literature.

Workplace stress in community pharmacy is increasing internationally due, in part, to pharmacists' expanding roles and escalating workloads. Whilst the business case for preventing and managing workplace stress by employers is strong, there is little evidence for the effectiveness of organisational stress management interventions in community pharmacy settings. To identify and synthesise existing evidence for the effectiveness of organisational solutions to workplace stress from the wider organisational literature which may be adaptable to community pharmacies. A secondary synthesis of existing reviews. Publications were identified through keyword searches of electronic databases and the internet; inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied; data about setting, intervention, method of evaluation, effectiveness and conclusions (including factors for success) were extracted and synthesised. Eighteen reviews of the stress management and prevention literature were identified. A comprehensive list of organisational interventions to prevent or manage workplace stress, ordered by prevalence of evidence of effectiveness, was produced, together with an ordered list of the benefits both to the individual and employing organisation. An evidence-based model of best practice was derived specifying eight factors for success: top management support, context-specific interventions, combined organisational and individual interventions, a participative approach, clearly delineated tasks and responsibilities, buy-in from middle management, change agents as facilitators and change in organisational culture. This literature review provides community pharmacy organisations with evidence from which to develop effective and successful stress management strategies to support pharmacists and pharmacy staff. Well-designed trials of stress management interventions in community pharmacy organisations are still required.

Family-centred care for children and young people with cerebral palsy: results from an Italian multicenter observational study.

Family‐centred care (FCC) is recognized as the model of best practice for the provision of services for children who have physical disabilities and their families. To assess the overall perception of FCC provided in an Italian network of 17 rehabilitation services, as perceived by parents of children with cerebral palsy and professionals, and to explore whether children, families, service providers and service‐related characteristics influence parent satisfaction regarding service provision in an FCC practice. The Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC‐20) for parents/caregivers and the Measure of Processes of Care for Service Providers (MPOC‐SP) for healthcare providers were used. For the purposes of the study, an ad hoc information form was developed to collect information concerning children, families, service providers and services. A total of 382 parents/caregivers and 269 healthcare providers completed the MPOC questionnaires. Parents and service providers both identified the domains for enabling partnerships and interpersonal sensitivity as a strength, while the domain relating to general information was always scored the lowest. An advanced maternal age, being a single parent, being unemployed and having lower socio‐economic status were factors identified as individually predictive of lower FCC scores on the MPOC‐20. Higher intensity treatment, inpatient services, primary healthcare settings and settings identified with limited financial resources and reduced space/time for each family were other variables significantly associated with less favourable MPOC‐20 ratings. The perception of FCC provided was fairly positive, with some areas of improvement, such as the domain of provision of information. Professionals should, therefore, provide better communication and take more time in giving information and attention to parents. Potential sources of variation in parent perceptions of FCC based on family characteristics and the organization of services highlight the importance the need to support services through the provision of greater financial and human resources.

Assessing the Validity of College Success Indicators for the At-Risk Student: Toward Developing a Best-Practice Model

This study assessed the feasibility of using precollege success indicators to identify at-risk students at a large 4-year public research university in the Midwest. Retention data from students who participated in an established student success program were examined. The findings affirm that the initial admissions assessment identifying at-risk students is a feasible predictor of academic success, including high school (HS) grade point average (GPA) could predict student success over and above the variance accounted for by American College Test alone; the semester in which students are admitted is a predictor of success; first-semester college GPA can predict academic success over and above chance; there is a significant positive relationship between cognitive ability (i.e., American College Test × HS GPA) and SUCCESS; HS GPA could be used as the single best predictor of student success; and using all three variables to identify student success appears warranted. A PASS model is offered to assist in the development of interventions and success programs.

Reynold, Suzanne. A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library at Holkham Hall, vol. 1: Manuscripts from Italy to 1500, part 1: Shelfmarks 1–399. Manuscripta Publications in Manuscript Research. Turnhout: Brepols, 2015. xxiv, 389 pp. Illus. €170.00 (ISBN 978-2-503-52900-4).

Reynold, Suzanne. <i>A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library at Holkham Hall, vol. 1: Manuscripts from Italy to 1500, part 1: Shelfmarks 1–399</i>. Manuscripta Publications in Manuscript Research. Turnhout: Brepols, 2015. xxiv, 389 pp. Illus. €170.00 (ISBN 978-2-503-52900-4).

DEKONSTRUKCIJA UREĐIVAČKE POLITIKE DNEVNOG LISTA „DANAS” U VREME PARLAMENTARNE PREDIZBORNE KAMPANJE U SRBIJI 2016

Način praćenja predizborne kampanje se smatra najboljim testom stepena profesionalnosti za koji se zalaže uređivačka politika nekog medija. Cilj rada je dekonstrukcija uređivačke politike dnevnog lista „Danas” u vreme predizborne kampanje za vanredne parlamentarne izbore 2016. Korišćena metoda je kvantitativno-kvalitativna analiza sadržaja. Korpus obuhvata 12 brojeva dnevnog lista „Danas” i isto toliko brojeva dodatka „Izborna Groznica: informiši se i glasaj!”, ukupno 330 tekstova. „Danas” je u izveštavanju o predizbornoj kampanji 2016. očuvao profesionalne standarde i u osnovnom izdanju i u dodatku. Uredništvo je izbalansirano predstavilo najznačajnije liste i kandidate, nije se bavilo marginalnim listama i kandidatima. Odabralo je važne događaje, a izbegavalo da izveštava o događajima koji su kvalifikovani kao otvoreno državno reklamiranje. U dodatku posvećenom izborima dominirala je medijska inicijativa i novi formati, te je tako izbegnut kliše u praćenju predizbornih aktivnosti stranaka. Najprisutniji pojedinačni subjekt je predsednik tehničke vlade. Muškarci dominiraju i kao subjekti i kao objekt. Najzastupljenija stranka je SNS, najzastupljenija tema su izbori kao takvi i proceduralna pitanja. Komentar se izdvaja kao najprisutniji žanr u inače dobroj ponudi različitih medijskih žanrova. Iako je „Danas” dnevna novina sa nacionalnom pokrivenošću, ostao je beogradocentričan.

Toward Harmonization of the Nutrition Care Process Terminology and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health−Dietetics: Results of a Mapping Exercise and Implications for Nutrition and Dietetics Practice and Research

Toward Harmonization of the Nutrition Care Process Terminology and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health−Dietetics: Results of a Mapping Exercise and Implications for Nutrition and Dietetics Practice and Research

Exploring the Factors and Effects of Non-Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment by People Living with HIV/AIDS

The aim of the study was to determine how the health of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is affected by social and structural factors conducive to non-adherence to antiretroviral treatment. In a qualitative study conducted at Victoria Hospital in Alice, a town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, 23 isiXhosa-speaking participants (including both men and women) between the ages of 18 and 60 years were interviewed. Guided by the social-ecological framework of Bronfenbrenner (1979), which is based on the notion that the health-seeking behaviour of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is influenced by their social, institutional and physical environments, the analysis of the data identified the following themes conducive to non-adherence to antiretroviral treatment: food insecurity, financial constraints, poor service from health workers, unfair dismissal, fear of the consequences of disclosure, and rejection by church members. Based on these findings, and given that there is no single model of best practice that can appropriately address the various social and structural factors complicating the treatment of HIV/AIDS and hence the containing of the pandemic, the study suggests the need for not only supportive community initiatives, but a collaborative approach at both local and national level, and particularly in impoverished communities, by the appropriate departments of state to promote adherence to anti-retroviral treatment by making treatment and counselling facilities more accessible to PLWHA and educating communities about the implications and prevention of the disease.

Youth unemployment and entrepreneurship

High level of youth unemployment, a global problem ever since the world economic crisis has started, poses a serious problem in our society as well. Public policy makers are seeking to find solutions to this problem by stimulating the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, with special emphasis being placed on youth entrepreneurship development. Several strategies defining incentivizing measures have been adopted at the national level, yet there is an evident lack of a systematic and consistent development approach supported across all relevant sectors. An analysis of the position of young entrepreneurs in Serbia indicates that in order to develop youth entrepreneurship, the first necessary step should be systematic work on fostering entrepreneurial culture in the society through the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, the public sector, business community, the civil society. High-quality education, along with entrepreneurship education, is considered to be a key factor for the development of entrepreneurship. Research at the global level has shown that non-formal forms of education lead to particularly favorable effects in entrepreneurship education, whereas the 'Student Company' model has been recognized as the best model of good practice. For us, a particular barrier in the development of youth entrepreneurship is observed in the limited funding modalities. Therefore, it is necessary to improve legal frameworks and develop mechanisms to facilitate access to funds. In addition to this, it is important to reduce the fiscal and parafiscal load for young entrepreneurs in the initial stages of their business operations. In order to increase the degree of innovativeness of the economy as a prerequisite for the development of entrepreneurship in general, it is necessary to change the system of management of science and innovation in Serbia, increase the level of investment in this sector, increase the relevance of scientific research for the development of the economy and develop incentivizing financial mechanisms, along with an institutional framework for linking science and economy.

APPLIED THEATRE AS AN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN AFRICA

One of the major challenges in Africa’s rural communities is whether people at grassroots level are fully aware of development or “social change” initiatives since many African governments and their agents rely on the use of conventional Euro-American media to communicate with these people. Blake (1997) and other communication researchers have frowned at contemporary Africa’s over-reliance on the Western mode of electronic and print media communication. Blake states that Africa possesses significant communication forms that are gravely neglected or minimally utilised. He makes a case for “dance, drama, song, and ritual” as media of effective communication in rural communities. This article advocates for the adoption of a development communication model that uses applied theatre praxis in the conscientisation of those at grassroots level about development initiatives/projects and the possible impacts these would have on their livelihood. The article suggests applied theatre as method to problematise, identify and challenge major constraints on development as an empowering weapon against ignorance and as a safety harness in the war against disease and poverty. Discussions of models used by practitioners worldwide serve as reference points to highlight applied theatre as “a model of good practice”.

Clinical Education in Athletic Training

Context: Clinical education is a foundational component of healthcare education by which students acquire, practice, and demonstrate competency in clinical proficiencies through classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences. Currently, the most common practice of clinical education in athletic training is clinical integration. Objective: The purposes of this article are to describe how athletic training and similar health professions implement clinical education and to present clinical immersion as an alternative to clinical integration. Background: Clinical education is delivered differently across healthcare disciplines. Some disciplines use clinical immersion, while others use clinical integration. Some professions have specific requirements, while others are left to the discretion of the program administrators. However, few professions are measuring the effectiveness of each, leading to questions about best-practice models in clinical education. Description: Clinical integration occurs when students complete clinical and didactic course work concurrently, while in the clinical immersion model, students are immersed in patient care full time with little or no didactic course work. A hybrid model of clinical education includes both integration and immersion. Clinical Advantage(s): Preliminary research within nursing suggests that students engaged in clinical immersion perform better on certification examinations than do those from an integration model. The clinical immersion model is enhanced by the implementation of standardized patients and simulations to prepare students for immersive experiences. These encounters provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate competency before engaging in patient care, which promotes patient safety. Conclusion(s): Program administrators have the opportunity and professional responsibility to explore different curricular models and to ultimately develop better methods of preparing future athletic trainers. Moreover, educators have a responsibility to measure and report outcomes to help provide a body of knowledge regarding best practices in clinical education.