An evaluation of factors influencing reading literacy across Italian 4th grade students

Questionnaire data from the PIRLS 2006 study in Italy provided a number of indices in order to summarize factors of educational context influencing reading achievement. The aim of the present paper is to study the relationships between school factors, teacher factors, family factors, student factors and reading achievement by means of multilevel regression analysis. Results show that pupils＇ attainment in reading is significantly related to： （1） home educational resources （home/student level effect）; （2） parents＇ attitudes toward reading （home/student level effect）; （3） students＇ attitudes toward reading; （4） students＇ reading self-concept; and （5） teacher career satisfaction （school/teacher level）.     

Applying participatory design and collaboration in digital public services for discovering and re-designing e-Government services

E-Government projects are currently service oriented, focusing on the implementation and diffusion of digital public services through one-stop points of access for citizens. E-Government strategic plans are political, directed at cost and time minimization during the execution of public services, and they do not take into account citizen needs or public administration operating procedures. Although these plans have led to the development of projects that have succeeded in cost and time savings for both citizens and public administration, surveys conducted around the world show that users evaluate digital public services and do not hesitate to return to traditional methods rather than using digital channels to transact with the public administration again; neither would they recommend the use of digital services to others. This article presents collaborative and participatory tools and methods designed to exploit the knowledge and experience of public servants in the improvement and execution of custom and non-automated public services. Collaborative tools can succeed in the development of real one-stop shops for e-Government, while on the other hand they can encourage both citizens and civil servants to participate in the e-Government era.     

Physical principles and efficiency of salt extraction by poulticing

The crystallization of soluble salts plays a significant role in the deterioration of porous cultural property. A common response to salt damage problems is to undertake treatments aimed at reducing the salt content of the affected object, most typically through the application of poultices. The process of poulticing is in theory relatively simple: the wet poultice material is applied to the surface of the object to be treated, and is kept in place for some period of time before being removed. However, in practice, the efficiency of the salt extraction, or even the location of salt accumulation post treatment is more difficult to predict. This paper examines the physical principles of salt ion and moisture transport by which poultices function, and shows how depending on the application methodology, these treatments can be divided into diffusion and advection-based methods. The maximum salt extraction efficiency, the depth to which this can be achieved, and the time scale required is estimated for each type of poulticing system, to gain a better understanding of their working properties and performance. Finally, the pros, cons and limitations of desalination treatments are discussed.     

Examination of the impact of information-skills training on the academic work of health-studies students: a single case study

AIM: To examine the impact of information-skills training on the academic studies of student midwives. Objectives include ascertaining whether student confidence increases, learning experiences are enhanced and academic standards are improved. METHODS: A student midwives' discussion group at a higher education institution, plus an in-depth interview with the students' course leader. RESULTS: Students reported increased confidence in using library and information resources. Appropriate and timely information-skills training embedded into health-studies curricula can lead to students becoming independent and lifelong learners, as well as improving the standard of their academic work. CONCLUSION: Information skills for health-studies curricula in higher education can be developed and delivered collaboratively by both library and academic staff. This can have very positive effects on both student perceptions and experiences and standards of teaching and learning.     

Human learning and audiovisual education

Conclusion We have presented some of the general principles of acquisition, transfer and retention which are supported by experimental research on human learning. As we suggested in the introduction to this paper, it is a reasonable working assumption that these principles apply to audiovisual instruction just as they do to the controlled procedures of the laboratory. On this assumption, the analysis of the process of audiovisual education does not call for the formulation of special principles; it calls for the application and elaboration of the general laws of human learning