Information literacy skills of occupational therapy graduates: promoting evidence-based practice in the MOT curriculum

Are Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) graduates more successful than BS graduates in accessing and analyzing research literature? This retrospective cohort study used a survey sent to Ohio State University MOT graduates, asking why they need information for their practice, what types of information they seek, and how they search for and use it. Results suggest that the MOT program has fostered higher-level skills than did the BS program in independent writing, a greater focus on evidence-based practice, and the use of bibliographic databases. The MOT graduates report high confidence in their ability to apply research to practice and high satisfaction with the lifelong learning skills they learned. The survey findings support the importance of collaboration between Occupational Therapy faculty and medical librarians in developing MOT educational programs.     

When to intervene in selective mutism: The multimodal treatment of a case of persistent selective mutism

An identification and treatment model differentiating Transient from Persistent Selective Mutism is proposed. The model incorporates treatment recommendations for Persistent Selective Mutism and suggests that interventions are not usually warranted for Transient Selective Mutism. The case study of a 6-year-old female manifesting Persistent Selective Mutism is presented. A multimodal treatment approach combining behavioral techniques with play therapy and family involvement was applied to improve her verbal interactions. Pre- and posttreatment evaluations were conducted. During pretreatment evaluations the child was manifesting Persistent Selective Mutism, immaturity, and withdrawal behaviors. At posttreatment evaluations she was talking in a manner consistent with her peers without problematic behaviors displayed. Results of a 6-month follow-up completed after the child had entered first grade showed that she was continuing to speak in a manner consistent with her peers without behavioral concerns.     

Innovaton and Emulation: Lessons from American Universities in Selling Private Rights to Public Knowledge

American universities are purported to excel at technology transfer. This assumption, however, masks important features of American innovation. Attempts to emulate the US example must recognize the heterogeneity of its industries and institutions of higher education. Stanford University and the biomedical cluster in Boston, Massachusetts, illustrate the diversities that characterize this dynamic system.     

Realising the Value of Self-assessment: The influence of the Business Excellence Model on teacher professionalism

In the UK across all phases of education very different models of self-assessment are being introduced. The paper identifies three 'grammars' of self-assessment. The Business Excellence Model currently being implemented in UK schools is characterised by the 'creative' grammar. This paper examines the value of this self-assessment model, and its impact on teacher professionalism. The findings are that teachers using this model are compelled to redefine their professional roles. Self-assessment can offer a structure, and a language for understanding the critical process of continuing professional development. Au Royaume-Uni, à tous les niveaux d'éducation, des modèles très distincts d'évaluation commencement à être introduits. Cet article contient les trois 'grammaires' de l'auto-évaluation. Le 'Business Excellence Model' que l'on emploie actuellement dans les écoles du Royaume-Uni est caractérisé par 'une grammaire créatrice'. L'article examine la valeur de ce modèle d'auto-évaluation et son impact sur l'aspect professionnel de l'enseignement. Les résultats font apparaître que les enseignants utilisant ce modèle sont obligés de remettre en question leur rôle professionnel. L'auto-évaluation est en mesure d'offrir une structure et un langage pour mieux comprendre le processus critique du développement professionnel continu. En el Reino Unido, al interior de todas las fases de la educación, nuevos y distintos modelos de autoevaluación empiezan a introducirse. El artículo identifica tres 'gramáticas' de autoevaluación. El modelo de 'Business Excellence Model ' implementado actualmente en escuelas británicas se caracteriza por una gramática 'creativa'. El presente artículo estudia la validez de este modelo de autoevaluación, y su impacto en el profesionalismo de los maestros. Se concluye que los profesores que emplean este modelo se ven obligados a redefinir su rol profesional. La autoevaluación puede ofrecer una estructura y un lenguaje que permitan comprender plenamente el proceso crítico de un desarrollo profesional continuo. In Großbritannien werden in allen Ausbildungsphasen sehr unterschiedliche Modelle der Eigenbewertung eingeführt. Dieser Artikel identifiziert drei verschiedene 'Grammatiken' der Eigenbewertung. Das 'Business Excellence Model', welches momentan an britischen Schulen eingeführt wird, kennzeichnet sich durch sogenannte kreative Grammatik. Der Artikel prüft den Wert dieses Modells und untersucht die Auswirkungen auf den Profes sionalismus der Lehrer. Es scheint, daß Lehrer, die dieses Modell benutzen, gezwungen sind, ihre Rolle als Lehrfachkräfte neu zu definieren. Eigenbewertung kann eine Struktur und eine Sprache für das Verständnis des kritischen Prozesses der fachlichen Weiterbildung bieten.     

Intensive Intervention in Mathematics

Students who demonstrate persistent mathematics difficulties and whose performance is severely below grade level require intensive intervention. Intensive intervention is an individualized approach to instruction that is more demanding and concentrated than Tier 2 intervention efforts. We present the elements of intensive intervention that teachers should consider when planning for, implementing, and monitoring intensive intervention in mathematics. Each of these elements is based on evidence from validated interventions. We also highlight strategies for intensifying instruction. We provide two examples of intensive intervention, one of which launches from a Tier 2 intervention platform and the other which is completely generated by a teacher. We conclude with considerations for intensive intervention in mathematics.     

The governmentality of childhood obesity: Coca-Cola,public health and primary schools

In this paper, we examine the emergence of what might seem an unexpected policy outcome – a large multinational corporation, frequently blamed for exacerbating childhood obesity, operating as an officially sanctioned driver of anti-obesity initiatives in primary schools across the globe. We draw on Foucault's notion of governmentality to examine the pedagogical work of two international programmes devised and funded by Coca-Cola. We demonstrate how these programmes work simultaneously as marketing campaigns and as governmental strategies to position children as responsible for their own health, conflate (ill)health with body weight and strategically employ the concept of energy balance. We argue that these programmes not only act to unite the interests of corporations, governments and schools, but also seek to use schools to reshape the very ideas of health and a ‘healthy life’. We conclude by considering two sets of ethical and political issues that come sharply as corporations like Coca-Cola continue to exploit the policy space created by the ‘obesity epidemic’.