Social diversity within multiliteracies: complexity in teaching and learning

English: This study examines the efficiency of the Imen-Delphi (ID) technique as an electronic procedure for conferencing. Originally the ID procedure (Passig, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) was designed in order to facilitate a discussion among a group of panellists sharing a common future interest. The goal of the ID is to help the participants clarify their opinions and expectations regarding their preferable and possible futures, thus helping them commit themselves to the task of implementing the desirable agreed upon future. This study conducted an electronic version of the original ID procedure and tested its efficiency in reaching an agreement among a group of experts on Virtual Reality (VR) and education.

Français: L'article étudie l'efficacité de la technique iD comme une procédure électronique pour les conférences. À l'origine la procédure iD (Passig, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) a été conçue pour faciliter une discussion entre une groupe de personnes participant à une table ronde qui partagent un même intérêt pour l'avenir. Le but de l'iD est d'aider les participants à clarifier leurs opinions et attentes concernant l'avenir préféré et possible, et de les aider à s'impliquer dans l'avenir tel qu'il est souhaité d'un commun accord. Cet article décrit une version électronique de la procédure originale de l'iD, et teste son efficacité pour aboutir à un accord au sein d'un groupe d'experts sur réalité virtuelle (RV) et l'éducation.

Deutsch: In dieser studie wird die wirksamkeit der Imen-Delphi (ID)-Technik als elektronische möglichkeit für konferenzen untersucht. Ursprünglich war diese technologie (Passig, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) entworfen worden, um die kommunikation einer gruppe von diskussionsteilnehmern zu unterstutzen. Ziel von ID ist, den teilnehmern zu helfen, ihre meinungen und erwartungen zu erklären in bezug aug ihre gewünschte oder mögliche zunkunft, wodurch sie sich selbst besser in die angestrebte zukünftige Form einbringen können. Diese studie führte zu einer elektronischen version des original ID-verfahrens. Seine wirksamkeit wurde bei der erzielung einer, vereinbarung zwischen einer expertengruppe zum thema ‘Virtual Reality und Erziehung’ erwiesen.     

Effects of added elastic tubes on open-chain knee extensor strength training

Attaching elastic tubes (ETs) to resistance training machines can affect the exercise load profile. The purpose of this study was to assess the training effects of added ETs, which were strategically attached to provide additional loads only during the deceleration phase of the knee extension exercise. Twenty-two healthy participants, assigned to either an experimental group (with ETs) or a control group (without ETs), participated in a 12-week strength-training program using a knee extension exercise machine. The acceleration effects were quantified and a method of attaching the ETs to the knee extension machine was developed. The effects of the added ETs were analysed by testing dynamic and isometric maximum contractions at four knee flexion angles (10°, 30°, 50°, and 80°). Analyses of covariance with the initial values as the covariate were used to examine the ET effects. A greater increase in isometric maximum strength was found in the experimental group than in the control group at knee flexion angles of 10° [effect size (ES) = 2.25] and 30° (ES = 1.18). No significant difference in the dynamic maximum strength was found between the groups. The use of ETs increased strength at smaller knee flexion angles with quadriceps that were relatively short.     

Essential skills for creative writing: Integrating multiple domain-specific perspectives

The aim of this work was to gather different perspectives on the “key ingredients” involved in creative writing by children – from experts of diverse disciplines, including teachers, linguists, psychologists, writers and art educators. Ultimately, we sought in the experts’ convergence or divergence insights on the relative importance of the relevant factors that may aid writing instruction, particularly for young children. We present a study using an expert knowledge elicitation method in which representatives from five domains of expertise pertaining to writing rated 28 factors (i.e., individual skills and attributes) covering six areas (general knowledge and cognition, creative cognition, conation, executive functioning, linguistic and psychomotor skills), according to their importance for creative writing. A Many-Facets Rasch Measurement (MFRM) model permitted us to quantify the relative importance of these writing factors across domain-specific expertise, while controlling for expert severity and other systematic evaluation biases. The identified similarities and domain-specific differences in the expert views offer a new basis for understanding the conceptual gaps between the scientific literature on creative writing, the writer's self-reflection on the act of writing creatively, and educators’ practices in teaching creative writing. Bridging such diverse approaches–that are, yet, relatively homogeneous within areas of expertise – appears to be useful in view of formulating process-oriented writing pedagogy that may, above all, better target the skills needed to improve children's creative writing development.     

Going, going, gone. Exit forms and the innovative capabilities of firms

Although innovation is essential to build a competitive advantage and survive in the long run, some firms choose to exit, through mergers and acquisitions (M&As), or radically change their business portfolio and identity. This paper examines how innovative capabilities influence the decision of a firm to exit, among business closure, M&A, and radical restructuring. Using an analysis of a large and rich panel of Dutch manufacturing firms, we find that product and process innovation are equally important to lower the probability to close down activities, and this effect is stronger when product and process innovations are pursed in combination. We also find that process innovation reduces the probability of exit by radical restructuring, while product innovation, when not supported by process innovation, especially increases the probability of exit by M&As. Our findings suggest that exit strategies are intimately bound to the nature and synergies of innovative efforts.     

Research, development, and firm growth. Empirical evidence from European top R&D spending firms

Following recent literature, we present a model of endogenous firm growth with R&D investment as one of the main mechanisms of growth. Our study evidences a positive effect of R&D intensity on the sales growth by using OLS, quantile regressions, and GMM system estimators for a sample of 754 European firms for the 2003-2007 period. We also find this association is more intense in high-growth firms and is especially significant when referring to high-technology sectors. This paper gives empirical support to those recommendations from policy makers and business leaders for maintaining the R&D expenditures especially in high-technology sectors even when facing a recession.     

Laser scanning and digital imaging for the investigation of an ancient building: Palazzo d’Accursio study case (Bologna,Italy)

This paper describes a scientific approach aimed at studying the ancient part of Palazzo d’Accursio (Bologna, Italy), a masonry building which is part of the Italian cultural heritage. Laser scanning and the inspection of digital images are used to detect traces of restoration works and other interesting features related to both architectural marks and natural or anthropic events. One of the main elements of the method is the analysis of residual maps, obtained by computing the differences between the point coordinates of the façade and reference fit planes. The obtained results, based on both radiometric and geometrical analysis, are used to provide a reasonable hypothesis as to the original configuration of the studied building, while taking into account the available historical information about the constructive phases of the building.     

The public relations strategy of Alexander Herzen state pedagogical university in St. Petersburg: The dialogue between the heritage and the present of a University

The author begins by outlining the history of Alexander Herzen State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, the oldest teacher training institution in the Russian Federation. Given its age (it was founded in 1797) and its location in the historical center of St. Petersburg, the university places its history and traditions at the center of its public relations activities. These activities are the responsibility of a Department of Marketing that has been operating for more than three years. Several public relations activities are outlined. Because the university is a national and public institution, its public relations strategy cannot be overly aggressive.