Barriers faced when eliciting the voice of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities for their Education,Health and Care Plans and Annual Reviews

Eliciting the views, wishes and feelings of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has been a primary element of the Children and Families Act 2014. Despite professional rhetoric that aims to ensure the voice of children and young people remains at the centre of assessments, SEND professionals often experience difficulties in ensuring meaningful participation during assessments for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and subsequent Annual Reviews. In this study, 36 SEND professionals from local authorities and 16 SEND professionals from specialist schools within England were asked their views on eliciting pupil voice through an online-based questionnaire, with a particular focus on the barriers they experience. This was then followed up with six in-depth semi-structured interviews. The findings identify two distinct categories of barriers; the barriers relating to children and young people that inhibit their ability to express their views meaningfully, and the barriers relating to professionals that impede on their ability to elicit views meaningfully within their role. The implications of the analysis for a person-centred approach during EHCP assessments and Annual Reviews are discussed.     

Assessement of Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Occupationally Exposed Workers of Jodhpur,Rajasthan

In spite of the established knowledge regarding their toxicities, occupational exposure to heavy metals like lead and cadmium still continues because of their wide distribution in environment. Due to lack of awareness, most of the workers usually eat, smoke, drink at their workplace which may aggravate the metal exposure. The present study was planned to assess the blood levels of lead and cadmium in occupationally exposed workers of Jodhpur (India). A total of 110 individuals working in different industrial set ups (furniture, metal handicraft, welders) of Jodhpur district (exposed group), aged between 20 and 60 years and 97 apparently healthy people (controls) with no history of occupational heavy metal exposure aged between 25 and 60 were recruited. Details of personal habits and demographics were recorded by means of self-developed questionnaire. 5 ml of whole blood was drawn from every individual. Metal levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism Software. Results showed that Blood Lead Level and Blood Cadmium Level (CdB) were significantly higher in the exposed group as compared to the non-exposed group. Significant age and gender-based differences were found in terms of blood cadmium levels but no such difference was observed in case of blood lead. The study also revealed that higher blood levels of these metals in workers are influenced by their occupational practices, lack of protection against workplace environment pollutants, thus increasing their susceptibility to metal toxicity.     

An Interesting Case of Polyuria in a Child

A 1 year old male child with increased frequency of urine associated with increased thirst was found to have some developmental delays. Laboratory investigations showed increased serum sodium level and serum osmolality with decreased urine osmolality. An empty sella turcica was seen in contrast brain MRI; however focal demyelinating lesion was not present. He was managed with intranasal desmopressin therapy. Developmental delays in such cases can be prevented by early referral to a tertiary health care center where laboratory and imaging facilities are available.     

Interpreting HbA1c in Presence of Deficiency Anemias

HbA1c is used extensively for the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus. It constitutes 80% of glycated HbA1(Glycated haemoglobin(GHb)A), and depends upon blood glucose and RBC life span. RBC life span varies with anemia, leading to a consequent alteration in the HbA1c value irrespective of the circulating blood glucose concentration. But to the best of our knowledge no Hb cut offs have been derived for appropriate interpretation of HbA1c. The prevalence of anemia in Indian population is nearly 40% as per its definition by WHO—Hb < 12 g/dL in females and < 13 g/dL in males—with most cases attributable to nutritional deficiencies. Hence, we aimed to identify Hb cut-off for accurate interpretation of HbA_1c in presence of deficiency anemias. Partial correlation between random blood glucose (RBG) and HbA_1c was studied in 1312 subjects, 470 of whom had deficiency-related anemia]. The data was adjusted for age, sex and Hb. Partial correlation between RBG and HbA1c was highly significant (p < 0.0001) till Hb of 8.1 gm/dL. Significance reduced to p = 0.003 and p = 0.006 as the cut off of Hb reduced to 7.1 gm/dL and 5.0 gm/dL, respectively, but was not lost. Hence, caution in interpretation of HbA_1c is not required till an Hb of 5 g/dL.     

Development and validation of a short form of the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practices Scale (TEIP-SF)

High self-efficacy is a marker of successful teaching and is, therefore, a subject of great interest to research on inclusive education. One of the most frequently used instruments to assess such beliefs is the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practice (TEIP) scale. Although used widely, some studies did not precisely replicate the original factor structure, and no short form of the TEIP scale currently exists, although this could enhance measurement efficiency. This study (1) systematically assessed the TEIP scale's factor structure and psychometric properties, (2) identified potentially problematic items and developed a more concise short form of the scale, and (3) evaluated its dimensionality and criterion and convergent validities using three validation samples of teachers in three different countries (486 in Switzerland, 189 in Australia and 276 in Canada). Compared to the full-length TEIP scale, the TEIP-SF uses half the items, demonstrates better model fit and reveals a clearer distinction of domain-specific factors. In conclusion, the TEIP-SF represents a concise, efficient means of assessing teachers' self-efficacy about teaching in inclusive classrooms.     

Programming skills: Visualization,interaction, home language and problem solving

Education and Information Technologies - As a novice, learning computer programming is challenging. It requires learners to be inquisitive and acquire skills to analyze problems to get to solutions...     

Interactive Distance Education for In-service Teachers In India

English: This paper discusses the interactive television technologies that are under development and experimentation in India. India, has developed Satellite based analogue and digital transmission systems for training and development purposes. The National Council of Educational Research and Training and Indira Gandhi National Open University have successfully conducted several experiments in training of in-service teachers using one-way video and two-way audio system. Use of VSAT and ISDN delivery channels is under experimentation, which provide two-way audio and video interaction during the teaching-learning process. The success of these programmes in teacher training has far reaching implications for teacher education in India.

Français: Cet article décrit les technologies de télévision interactive qui sont développées et experimentées en Inde. L'Inde a mis au point des systèmes de transmission analogues et digitaux par satellite. Le Conceil National pour la Recherche et la Formation en Èducation et l'Université Ouverte Nationale Indira Ghandi ont conduit avec succès plusieurs expériences sur la formation continue des enseignants utilisant la vidéo et un système émetteur-récepteur. L'utilisation des systèmes de diffusion VSAT et ISDN est expérimentée, ce qui fournit un système audio emetteur-récepteur et une interaction vidéo durant le processus de formation. Le succès de ces programmes dans la formation des mâitres a des implications à longue échéance pour l'éducation en Inde.

Deutsch: In diesem beitrag werden die interaktiven fernsehtechnologien, die in Indien gegenwärtig entwickelt und erprobt werden, vorgestellt. Indien hat satelliten-basierte analoge und digitale Übertragungssysteme für Aus-und Weiterbildungsswecke gebaut. Der National Council of Educational Research and Training und die Indira Gandhi National Open University haben mehrere lehrerfortbildungsprojekte erfolgreich mit mono-direktionalem fernsehen und bi-direktionalem audiosystem durchgefuhrt. Der erfolg dieses programmes in der lehrerfortbildung wird weitreichende folgen für die lehrerausbildung in Indien haben.     

Multi-analytical Investigation of the Composition and Binders Used in the Earthen Support Layer of Fifth–Fourteenth Century CE Painted Fragments From Bezeklik,China

ABSTRACT

Composition, microstructure, and binding media of the decorative earthen plaster fragments from the Buddhist cave temple of Bezeklik (fifth–fourteenth century CE), China, were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, sieve analysis, and other methods. In addition, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used for identification of the organic adhesive found mixed in the earthen plaster. Studies indicated the presence of proteinaceous material, mainly beeswax, with animal glue, pine resin, and plant sterol mixed in the earthen plaster as the biopolymer. The organic additives improved the basic qualities of the mud by acting as stabilizers, hardeners, and water proofers. The loamy sand soil sourced for Bezeklik plasters shows low cohesion and disaggregation of grains occurred for want of clay-sized particles in the plaster. Due to frequent handling and transportation, the fragments are now showing distress in the form of loss of earthen support and paint layers. Based on the analytical findings, traditional binders such as sepiolite clay, slaked lime, and fish glue were introduced and fragments consolidated for display.