Firm-provided Training in Europe and the Limits of National Skills Strategies

This article addresses cross-country and cross-period differences in average levels of training activity from an institutional perspective. Firm-provided training in Europe between 1999 and 2010 is scrutinized in order to explore whether diverse institutional arrangements that can be linked to welfare state regimes can yield discernible cross-country patterns. An emphasis is placed on the limits of national skills strategies that are not well embedded in wider institutional environments. This is grounded in a view that policy efforts to influence training activity, involves nothing less than ‘reforming’ societies. Insights of this research should contribute both to a critical reflection of the EU's targets in the field of lifelong learning as well as supporting policy learning between member states.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHSTAGES: A UNIQUE UNIVERSITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT COLLABORATION TO ENHANCE SUCCESSFUL AGING

HealthStages is a health promotion program of OASIS, a national arts and humanities, health, and volunteer organization for older adults. It was developed by a unique not-for-profit organization and university collaboration using state-of-the art curricula and current research to enhance successful aging. Rowe and Kahn's (1997) model of successful aging provided the overall framework for the project, and Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) Stages of Change component of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change guided our curriculum development, research questions, and program evaluation. HealthStages uses evaluations of individual courses to assess participant expectations, new areas of interest, and appropriateness of courses. Outcome measures assess participants' changes as a result of particular courses within the program. Using a longitudinal survey design, a sample of HealthStages participants is compared to a random sample of older adults not involved in the program, comparisons are made on their health, health behavior, healthcare utilization, activity, and functioning over time. HealthStages is a comprehensive health promotion program designed to provide courses in a variety of topic areas at differing levels of readiness to change and to measure changes over time. The unique collaboration offers benefits to OASIS and its members as well as to faculty and students of Washington University.     

To use Films in Learning

“In the beginning there was the word.” Speech the means ofcommunication, creates the foundation for all human relationships with one another. Verbalismus and the abstract formation of an idea were expressions for overvaluation of speech. Natural scientists showed, from translations of ancient works, that this was something to watch for or a process already completed: further investigation through personal experiment orobservation test are unnecessary.     

Emancipation in cross-cultural IS research: The fine line between relativism and dictatorship of the intellectual

Critical research is becoming increasingly accepted as a valid approach to research in information systems. It is deemed to be particularly suitable for situations where researchers want to address conspicuous injustice, such as in areas of development or the digital divide. Critical research in information systems (CRIS), I will argue, is a possible approach to some of the ethical problems arising in the context of information and communication technology (ICT). It can be sensitive to the question of culture and therefore suitable for researching cross-cultural ethical questions in ICT. It is often unclear, however, what exactly critical research stands for and to what extent critical approaches are applicable across cultural boundaries. This paper will address these problems by proposing a definition of critical research as focused on changing the status quo and aiming for emancipation. It will then look at the question whether different cultures are compatible and comparable and what the role of culture in research on information systems is. The paper will then return to the question whether the critical intention to emancipate and empower humans is an expression of cultural imperialism or whether there are valid ways of promoting emancipation across cultural divides.     

Recommendations for the use of e‐tools for improvements around assignment marking quality

This article reports on selected aspects of a larger study on the use of electronic tools in the context of the management and marking of assignments. The study comprised a literature review, interviews and a review of e‐tools. The article briefly summarises the findings from the literature on what comprises quality in assignment marking. The focus then shifts towards the analysis of the interviews on e‐tool use for assignments that were conducted with 90 lecturers across five higher education institutions in New Zealand, selected purposively for engagement in this area. The article shows how these lecturers are using e‐tools to support the management and marking of assignments. Special emphasis is given on grounding the e‐tool use in educational theories on assignment marking. An important issue with high quality assignment marking is the time required. The article shows how e‐tools are used to increase efficiency, with the time freed‐up being invested into quality improvements, again supported by e‐tools.     

Cycling power output produced during flat and mountain stages in the Giro d'Italia: a case study

Until recently, the physiological demands of cycling competitions were mostly reflected by the measurement of heart rate and the indirect estimation of exercise intensity. The purpose of this case study was to illustrate the varying power output of a professional cyclist during flat and mountain stages of a Grand Tour (Giro d'Italia). Nine stage recordings of a cyclist of the 2005 Giro d'Italia were monitored using a mobile power measurement device (SRM Trainingssystem, Julich, Germany), which recorded direct power output and heart rate. Stages were categorized into flat (n = 5) and mountain stages (n = 4). Data were processed electronically, and the overall mean power in flat and mountain stages and maximal mean power for various durations were calculated. Mean power output was 132 W +/- 26 (2.0 W x kg(-1) +/- 0.4) for the flat and 235 W +/- 10 (3.5 W x kg(-1) +/- 0.1) for the mountain stages. Mountain stages showed higher maximal mean power (367 W) for longer durations (1800 s) than flat stages (239 W). Flat stages are characterized by a large variability of power output with short bursts of high power and long periods with reduced intensity of exercise, whereas mountain stages mostly require submaximal, constant power output over longer periods.     

Is it possible to voluntarily increase hamstring muscle activation during landing from a snow jump in alpine skiing? - a pilot study

Activation of the hamstrings has been discussed as a measure for reducing strain on the ACL during jump landings in alpine skiing. The current study tested the hypothesis that hamstring and quadriceps activation can be voluntarily increased by the athlete. Specifically, two different instructions – to increase hamstring activation or to increase upper-leg co-contraction – were compared to normal landings. Eight members of the German national and junior national squad in freestyle skiing (age 19.6 ± 3.8 years; weight 66.1 ± 13.2 kg; height 172.2 ± 7.7 cm) performed 12 jump landings on a prepared run, 4 with no specific instruction, 4 with the instruction to generally activate the thigh muscles, and 4 with the instruction to specifically activate the hamstrings. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded on the biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF) and vastus medialis (VM). EMG activation levels were integrated over three landing phases and analysed with a repeated measures ANOVA. The instruction produced a significant main effect in ST (p = .026), VM (p = .032) and RF (p = .001). Contrary to previous research, the current study suggests that hamstring muscle activation levels can be voluntarily increased during jump landing, particularly in co-activation with its antagonists.     

Identification and fostering of mathematically gifted students

In a three year research project, annual mathematics talent searches for highly able and motivated twelve year old students were conducted. Of these, 150 took part in a long term Saturday enrichment program to train their mathematical abilities in problem finding and problem solving. The article first discusses the educational and organizational constraints of programs for gifted children. Mathematical giftedness is defined by high achievement in two tests: The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT-M) and the HTMB, a set of seven problems specially devised for the talent search. The philosophy of the teaching program is explained and illustrated by examples. Preliminary results indicate the considerable success of the program. Possible consequences for normal classroom teaching are indicated.