Theory and Practice ‐‐Two Fundamental Categories in the Philosophy of Teacher Education

Taking the Swedish teacher education as its point of departure, two related problems are discussed in the article. 1) Practice is often understood as completely immersed in itself. Consequently there arises the problem if and how it can get out of this enclosedness and get some perspective on itself. Three ways are proposed of introducing distance into practice and, thereby, of establishing knowledge about practice: self‐reflection, dialogue, and scientific research. 2) Sometimes theory and practice are regarded as absolutely different and incompatible. According to this kind of dualism it is not possible to integrate any kind of theoretical knowledge into teachers professional actions. By showing how distance can be eliminated from theory and transformed into practical skill, it is argued that this dualism is not maintainable.     

Muscle coordination during breaststroke swimming: Comparison between elite swimmers and beginners

The present study aimed to compare muscle coordination strategies of the upper and lower limb muscles between beginners and elite breaststroke swimmers. Surface electromyography (EMG) of eight muscles was recorded in 16 swimmers (8 elite, 8 beginners) during a 25 m swimming breaststroke at 100% of maximal effort. A decomposition algorithm was used to identify the muscle synergies that represent the temporal and spatial organisation of muscle coordination. Between-groups indices of similarity and lag times were calculated. Individual muscle patterns were moderately to highly similar between groups (between-group indices range: 0.61 to 0.84). Significant differences were found in terms of lag time for pectoralis major (P < 0.05), biceps brachii, rectus femoris and tibialis anterior (P < 0.01), indicating an earlier activation for these muscles in beginners compared to elites (range: ?13.2 to ?3.8% of the swimming cycle). Three muscle synergies were identified for both beginners and elites. Although their composition was similar between populations, the third synergy exhibited a high within-group variability. Moderate to high indices of similarity were found for the shape of synergy activation coefficients (range: 0.63 to 0.88) but there was a significant backward shift (?8.4% of the swimming cycle) in synergy #2 for beginners compared to elites. This time shift suggested differences in the global arm-to-leg coordination. These results indicate that the synergistic organisation of muscle coordination during breaststroke swimming is not profoundly affected by expertise. However, specific timing adjustments were observed between lower and upper limbs.     

Is university internationalization bad for performance? Examining two different types of diversity

While most studies on diverse organizations have been directed at business organizations, the academic sector has also become increasingly international and heterogeneous. Few large-scale studies have investigated multicultural academic departments and none of those have dealt with diversity and group processes. Therefore, a survey was directed towards academics in 16 science departments in three large universities in Denmark. Results based on the response from 489 academics showed that cultural diversity, as a deep level heterogeneity, was positively related to performance and satisfaction, whereas gender diversity, as a surface level heterogeneity, was negatively associated with satisfaction. Implications of these findings are discussed in detail.     

‘The Event That Shook the Whole World Up’: Historicizing the 1983 Pan-American Games Doping Scandal

Abstract

In August of 1983 at the Pan-American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, a multi-faceted doping crisis occurred that overshadowed all other aspects of the games. This essay marks the first attempt to historicize the events surrounding this watershed moment in the fight against drug use in sport. Doping was revealed in three ways in Caracas: by the large number of positive tests that resulted in the first loss to doping of medals in the history of the Pan-American Games, by the exodus of the 12 American track and field athletes who flew home rather than be subject to testing in the sophisticated lab run by Dr Manfred Donike, and by a rash of ‘injuries’ and unexpectedly poor performances that kept athletes out of the medals and thus out of Donike’s lab. In the aftermath of the games, the United States Olympic Committee implemented new policies to ensure that Americans competing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games would not run the risk of similar public embarrassment.     

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF HIGHLY GIFTED DYSLEXIC CHILDREN

The article reports on a single case study involving neuropsychological treatment of a highly gifted dyslexic boy. First the relationship between cerebral lateralization and reading (dis)ability is outlined. Remedial perspectives for weak readers on the basis of the amenability of hemispheric control by external factors are illustrated with this case. The experimental phases, method, materials and design of the treatment, as well as the result of pre‐ and posttesting, including a pre‐ and post‐BEAM, are reported. One of the results discussed is that the neuropsychological changes during the treatment period appear to parallel, to a large extent, improvement in reading strategy and level.