This paper examines how the learning environment in primary education can be enhanced by stimulating the use of innovative ICT applications. In particular, this discussion focuses on mind tools as a means of leveraging ICT for the development of cognitive skills. The stimulating effect of mind tools on the thinking skills and thinking attitudes of students is examined. The various types of mind tools and a number of specific examples are closely examined. We consider how mind tools can contribute to the establishment of an ICT-rich learning environment within the domain of technology education in primary schools. We illustrate two specific applications of such mind tools and discuss how these contribute to the development of thinking skills.
De lerarenopleiding speelt een belangrijke rol bij de voorbereiding van leraren in opleiding op het gebruik van technologie voor onderwijzen en leren. Uit de literatuur blijkt echter dat lerarenopleiders vaak moeite hebben om een doeltreffende ICT-integratie te modelleren. De bereidheid om ICT in het onderwijs te gebruiken heeft betrekking op het verwerven van kennis, vaardigheden en attitudes over het gebruik van technologie voor onderwijzen en leren. Wanneer deze bereidheid tot uiting komt in het feitelijke gebruik van technologie in de klas, en het vermogen om op dit gebruik te reflecteren, past dit in de conceptualisering van 'didactische ICT-competentie'. Een curriculumherziening op vijf locaties van de Lerarenopleiding Basisonderwijs (Pabo) van Hogeschool Inholland in Nederland vormde de aanleiding voor deze studie. Het doel van dit onderzoek is het meten van de perceptie van leraren in opleiding van de strategieën die lerarenopleiders gebruiken om de ontwikkeling van effectief gebruik van informatie- en communicatietechnologie (ICT) in de klas te ondersteunen. Het Synthesis of Qualitative Data (SQD) model definieert zes kernstrategieën voor de ondersteuning van leerkrachten in opleiding om ICT in het onderwijs te gebruiken, namelijk (1) rolmodellering; (2) reflectie over de rol van technologie;(3) leren van technologie door (her)ontwerpen van lessen; (4) samenwerken met collega's; (5) authentieke Teaching, Learning & Technology en (6) voortdurende feedback. De centrale vraag van dit onderzoek luidt: Hoe percipiëren leraren in opleiding van vijf lerarenopleidingen deze strategieën die lerarenopleiders gebruiken om de ontwikkeling van hun didactische ICT-competenties te ondersteunen? Er werd gebruik gemaakt van een mixed-methods onderzoeksopzet. De SQD-vragenlijst met 24 items (zespunts Likert-schaal) werd vertaald naar het Nederlands en uitgebreid met zes open vragen, die verdere uitwijding bij elk van de kernstrategieën mogelijk maakten. Vijf locaties van de Lerarenopleiding Basisonderwijs (Pabo) van Hogeschool Inholland in Nederland waren erbij betrokken. De strategieën "authentieke technologie-ervaring" en "rolmodellering door de lerarenopleider" worden het meest herkend. Het geven van voortdurende feedback was de minst erkende strategie omdat feedback vooral als summatief werd ervaren. De meerderheid van de lerarenopleiders werd niet herkend als rolmodel voor ICT-integratie. Lerarenopleiders in digitale geletterdheid echter wel. Hoewel de stages een ruimte bieden om te oefenen, worden de zittende leerkrachten niet erkend als inspirerende voorbeelden van ICT-integratie. Als leerkrachten in opleiding te weinig rolmodellen zien die vakspecifieke ICT-integratie tonen, ontwikkelen zij zelf geen doeltreffende ICT-integratie. Verder onderzoek zou zich moeten richten op de vraag hoe het aantal erkende strategieën kan verhoogd worden, te beginnen met het "geven van continue feedback".
BackgroundThe world’s population is aging, and with aging population comes an increase of chronic diseases and multimorbidity. At the same time a shortfall of trained health care professionals is anticipated. This raises questions on how to provide the best possible care. The use of Information and communication technology (ICT) and e-health has the potential to address the challenges that healthcare is facing. ICT applications and e-health, such as videophones, telemedicine and mobile devices, can benefit the healthcare system. Nonetheless, ICT is not used to its full potential. One of the key factors is the low adoption rate by nursing professionals. The nursing profession is characterized by teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration. Nurses often work in nursing teams and collaboration between different disciplines is necessary for providing health care. Thus, collaboration is necessary when implementing ICT innovations.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted in online databases PubMEd, CINAHL and IEEE, using key words related to innovation, nursing teams and adoption.ResultsThe result of the systematic review is that little is known about the relation between ICT adoption by nurses and the nature of collaboration by nurses in teams and in interdisciplinary networks. This leads to further research questions and a need for further research in this subject.
Due to societal developments, like the introduction of the ‘civil society’, policy stimulating longer living at home and the separation of housing and care, the housing situation of older citizens is a relevant and pressing issue for housing-, governance- and care organizations. The current situation of living with care already benefits from technological advancement. The wide application of technology especially in care homes brings the emergence of a new source of information that becomes invaluable in order to understand how the smart urban environment affects the health of older people. The goal of this proposal is to develop an approach for designing smart neighborhoods, in order to assist and engage older adults living there. This approach will be applied to a neighborhood in Aalst-Waalre which will be developed into a living lab. The research will involve: (1) Insight into social-spatial factors underlying a smart neighborhood; (2) Identifying governance and organizational context; (3) Identifying needs and preferences of the (future) inhabitant; (4) Matching needs & preferences to potential socio-techno-spatial solutions. A mixed methods approach fusing quantitative and qualitative methods towards understanding the impacts of smart environment will be investigated. After 12 months, employing several concepts of urban computing, such as pattern recognition and predictive modelling , using the focus groups from the different organizations as well as primary end-users, and exploring how physiological data can be embedded in data-driven strategies for the enhancement of active ageing in this neighborhood will result in design solutions and strategies for a more care-friendly neighborhood.
The project’s aim is to foster resilient learning environments, lessen early school leaving, and give European children (ages 4 -6) a good start in their education while providing and advancing technical skills in working with technology that will serve them well in life. For this purpose, the partnership has developed age appropriate ICT animation tools and games - as well as pedagogical framework specific to the transition phase from kindergarten to school.
Due to the existing pressure for a more rational use of the water, many public managers and industries have to re-think/adapt their processes towards a more circular approach. Such pressure is even more critical in the Rio Doce region, Minas Gerais, due to the large environmental accident occurred in 2015. Cenibra (pulp mill) is an example of such industries due to the fact that it is situated in the river basin and that it has a water demanding process. The current proposal is meant as an academic and engineering study to propose possible solutions to decrease the total water consumption of the mill and, thus, decrease the total stress on the Rio Doce basin. The work will be divided in three working packages, namely: (i) evaluation (modelling) of the mill process and water balance (ii) application and operation of a pilot scale wastewater treatment plant (iii) analysis of the impacts caused by the improvement of the process. The second work package will also be conducted (in parallel) with a lab scale setup in The Netherlands to allow fast adjustments and broaden evaluation of the setup/process performance. The actions will focus on reducing the mill total water consumption in 20%.
