Exposure to Media Violence and Young Children with and Without Disabilities: Powerful Opportunities for Family-Professional Partnerships

There is growing concern regarding the amount and type of violence that young children are exposed to on a daily basis. Through media, popular toys and video games violent images are consistently present in children’s lives starting at a very young age. This paper discusses (a) the growing presence of young children’s exposure to media violence, (b) the influence of media violence on early childhood development and well-being, (c) the impact of media violence on young children with disabilities, and (d) recommendations for addressing this national dilemma within the context of family-professional partnerships. A list of related web resources is also included.     

Educational research in Sweden: Reform strategies and research policy

Educational R & D in Sweden is to a large extent policy-oriented. It has been an integrated part of the Swedish educational reform system and has brought about a dialogue between politicians, administrators and researchers. Several circumstances have contributed to the Swedish model. One is the system with government-appointed committees in whichresearchers often play an active part. Another is that the Swedish educational system is highly centralized, with the National Board of Education (NBE) as the central authority, responsible for primary, secondary and adult education. A third — and a crucial one — is that, since 1962, the NBE has had increasing funds for educational R & D at its disposal. These funds account for the main part of the economic resources for R & D, along with resources allocated to research appointments at research departments of universities.Educational R & D, conducted primarily within the NBE funds, has recently been evaluated by a government-appointed committee. In its evaluations of the impact of educational R & D, the committee distinguished between theeffects of R & D and theeffect correlates. It concluded that the impact of R & D is more indirect than direct, more long-term than immediate. The effects are also more easily recognized at levels above the actual school situation. This finding could be interpreted as a consequence of the policy-orientation of educational R & D, which at the same time shows the difficulties in reaching the school level with research and development results.There are two general trends in Sweden, which will influence both research planning and research use. First, there is a trend towards the decentralization of decision-making and responsibility for the educational system. Secondly, there is a trend towards the sectionalization of the R & D system as a whole. This sectionalization will mean that research will to a great extent be planned to meet needs from different parts of society — labour market, social welfare, industrial development, etc. As a consequence, the question of the impact of research will be an even more debated one and will probably lead to the development of research on research as an increasingly important research area.

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Zusammenfassung Die Bildunsforschung und -entwicklung (R & D) in Schweden ist weitgehend politisch orientiert. Sie bildet einen integralen Bestandteil des schwedischen Bildungsreform-Systems und hat zu einem Dialog zwischen Politikern, Administratoren und Forschern geführt. Verschiedene Umstände haben zu dem schwedischen Modell beigetragen. Einer davon ist das System der von der Regierung ernannten Ausschüsse, in denen Forscher oft eine aktive Rolle spielen. Ein anderer ist die hochgradige Zentralisierung des schwedischen Bildungssystems, mit dem Nationalen Bildungsamt (NBE) als Zentralbehörde, die für die Primar-, Sekundar- und Erwachsenenbildung verantwortlich ist. Ein dritter — und ausschlaggebender — Umstand ist, daß das NBE seit 1962 über ständig wachsende Finanzmittel für Bildungs- R & D verfügt. Diese Mittel stellen den Hauptteil der für R & D verfügbaren Mittel dar, zusammen mit denen, die Forschungsabteilungen an Universitäten zur Einstellung von Forschungspersonal erhalten.Die hauptsächlich mit Hilfe der NBE Ressourcen durchgeführte R & D ist vor einigen Monaten von einem von der Regierung ernannten Ausschuß ausgewertet worden. In seiner Evaluation der Auswirkungen der Bildungs- R & D unterschied der Ausschuß zwischendirekter undkorrelierter Wirkung. Er kam zu dem Schluß, daß diese Wirkung mehr indirekt als direkt, mehr langfristig als unmittelbar ist. Außerdem ist sie deutlicher auf höheren Ebenen als auf der Schulebene erkennbar. Diese Feststellung könnte als Folge der bildungspolitischen Orientierung des R & D interpretiert werden. Gleichzeitig zeigt sie auf, wie schwierig es ist, die Ergebnisse von Forschung und Entwicklung auf die Schulebene zu übertragen.Zwei allgemeine Trends in Schweden werden sowohl die Planung als auch die Anwendung der Forschung beeinflussen. Dies sind: erstens, ein Trend zur Dezentralisierung der Entscheidungsbefugnisse und Verantwortlichkeit für das Bildungssystem, und zweitens, einer zur Sektionalisierung des R & D Systems als ganzen. Eine solche Sektionalisierung würde bedeuten, daß die Forschung weitgehend auf die Bedürfnisse verschiedener Sektoren der Gesellschaft — Arbeitsmarkt, Sozialwesen, Industrie-Entwicklung, usw. — abgestimmt wird. Infolgedessen wird die Frage nach den Wirkungen der Forschung noch stärker debattiert werden und wahrscheinlich zur Entwicklung von Forschungsforschung als immer wichtigerem Forschungsgebiet führen.

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Résumé La recherche et le développement en éducation (R & D) en Suède est en grande partie orientée politiquement. Elle a été une partie intégrante du système de réforme de l'éducation suédoise et a conduit à un dialogue entre politiciens, administrateurs et chercheurs. Plusieurs circonstances ont contribué au modèle suédois. L'une d'elles est le système des comités nommés par le gouvernement, où leschercheurs jouent souvent un rôle actif. Une autre est la puissante centralisation du système d'éducation suédois avec, comme autorité centrale responsable de l'enseignement primaire, secondaire, et de l'éducation des adultes, le Conseil national d'éducation (NBE). La troisième circonstance (essentielle celle-là) est que, depuis 1962, le NBE dispose de fonds sans cesse accrus pour la recherche et le développement en matière d'éducation. Ces fonds constituent la majeure partie des ressources économiques de la R & D avec les crédits affectés à la nomination de chercheurs aux départements de la recherche dans des universités.La R & D en éducation, menée d'abord avec les seuls fonds du NBE a été récemment évaluée par un comité nommé par le gouvernement. Dans ses évaluations de l'impact de la R & D, le comité a établi une distinction entre leseffets directs de la R & D et leseffets corrélatifs. Il a conclu que l'impact de la R & D est plus indirect que direct, plus à long-terme qu'à court-terme. Ces effets sont plus facilement vérifiables aux niveaux supra-scolaires que dans l'école même. Cette constatation pourrait être interprétée comme une conséquence de l'orientation politique de la R & D, ce qui montre, par la même occasion, les difficultés à faire passer les résultats de la R & D dans la pratique scolaire quotidienne.Il existe en Suède deux courants généraux qui influenceront la plantification et l'utilisation de la recherche. Tout d'abord, le courant vers une décentralisation des prises de décisions et de responsabilités. Puis le courant en direction d'un sectionnement du système de la R & D dans son ensemble. Par ce sectionnement la recherche se trouvera, en grande partie, planifiée pour répondre aux différents besoins de la société — marché de l'emploi, protection sociale, développement industriel etc. La conséquence en sera une discussion accrue de la question de l'impact de la recherche et conduira probablement au développement de la recherche sur la recherche comme d'un nouveau domaine d'étude d'importance croissante.

     

Rationalising for and against a policy of school-led careers guidance in STEM in the U.K.: a teacher perspective

This paper reports on teacher attitudes to changes in the provision of careers guidance in the U.K., particularly as it relates to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It draws on survey data of n?=?94 secondary-school teachers operating in STEM domains and their attitudes towards a U.K. and devolved policy of internalising careers guidance within schools. The survey presents a mixed message of teachers recognising the significance of their unique position in providing learners with careers guidance yet concern that their ‘relational proximity’ to students and ‘informational distance’ from higher education and STEM industry may produce bias and misinformation that is harmful to their educational and occupational futures.     

Heart rate prescribed walking training improves cardiorespiratory fitness but not glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effects of a supervised, heart rate intensity prescribed walking training programme on cardiorespiratory fitness and glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. After receiving local ethics approval, 27 individuals (21 males, 6 females) with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to an experimental (“walking”) or control group. Participants completed a Balke-Ware test to determine peak heart rate, peak oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O_2peak), and peak gradient. The walking group then completed a 7-week (four sessions a week) supervised, heart rate prescribed walking training programme, whereas the control group continued daily life. After training, participants completed another Balke-Ware test. Fasting blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin were measured at rest. The results showed that walking training elicited 80% (s = 2) of peak heart rate and a rating of perceived exertion of 11 (s = 1). Peak heart rate and [Vdot]O_2peak were higher in the walking than in the control group after training (P < 0.05). Based on the peak gradient before training, the respiratory exchange ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05) and there was a strong trend for [Vdot]O₂ (P = 0.09) and heart rate (P = 0.09) to be lower after training at the same gradient in the walking compared with the control group. These improvements increased walking peak gradient by 5 min (s = 4 min) compared with the control (P < 0.05). There was no change in fasting blood glucose or glycosylated haemoglobin after training. Despite no change in glycaemic control, heart rate prescribed walking improved peak and sub-maximal cardiorespiratory responses. The beneficial adaptations support the use of heart rate monitoring during walking in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Interactions among Dietary Pattern,Physical Activity and Skinfold Thickness

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effects of a specifically designed perceptual-motor training program on the level of perceptual-motor development, self-concept, and academic ability of kindergarten children. Subjects for the study were 40 kindergarten children randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Each group received the same kindergarten program with one exception, the experimental group was exposed to a specifically designed perceptual-motor program 30 min daily for 5 mo, while the control group received a free play period for 30 min daily. Results of the study indicated that the data tended to support the specificity of training concept. The variables showing the greatest change were the perceptual-motor tests which measured changes on specific aspects of the training program. There appeared to be some immediate transfer to academic abilities but this was not pronounced enough to suggest that perceptual-motor training was of real benefit in developing academic abilities for normal kindergarten children. In addition the follow-up test indicated no long term effects on academic performance.     

Gender and digital divide 2000-2008 in two low-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Kenya and Somalia in official statistics

The Beijing World Conference on Women held in 1995 by the United Nations member states, approved strategies for improving women's access to and use of new communication technologies. The aim of this paper is to retrieve official statistics for the years 2000-2008 with regard to sex differences, gender and digital divide (specifically concerning telecommunication technologies) in two low-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya and Somalia. This paper reveals that official statistics on sex discrepancies and, the gender divide regarding access, use and benefits of telecommunications are still almost totally lacking for the countries in view. However, the digital divide is successively closing, and the telecommunication process in Kenya was quite rapid at the end of the period. Official statistics from Somalia are difficult to comprehend due to the absence of official data and a lack of evidence-based knowledge. Fifteen years after the Beijing Conference in 1995 there is still a lack of comprehensive statistics regarding new communication technologies for low-income economies such as Kenya and Somalia.