An interdisciplinary analysis of microteaching evaluation forms: how peer feedback forms shape what constitutes “good teaching”

Microteaching, a standard method for developing teaching skills, places high importance on peer feedback, which is guided by post-session feedback forms. This paper focuses on how feedback forms can shape what becomes understood as important to teaching. A sample of 10 microteaching evaluation forms drawn from North American postsecondary education institutions were examined using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Through a mixed-methods, interdisciplinary approach combining quantitative form classification based on distinct teaching elements with qualitative analysis drawing on Foucauldian and post-structural feminisms, key challenges are identified in the way that peer feedback forms may shape perceptions of what constitutes “good teaching”. We interpret that the close attention paid to the management of the body and the disproportionate focus on presentation and style may foreclose other modes of teaching beyond a conventional lecture-based class. This leads to a discussion on the ways in which the evaluation forms can be enhanced to provide a more effective educational tool.     

‘If the child cannot come to the school,then the school must go to the child’: The railway station platform schools in Odisha,India

Despite its constitutional obligation of ensuring universal primary education, the Indian Government has not been able to find a way to educate its 18 million street children. It is widely accepted that the government lacks the capacity – financial, managerial and human resource – to provide meaningful education to those who are left out of the formal education system. Many civil society organisations across India are trying to bridge the gap by educating children living in high-risk settings. One such initiative, the Railway Platform School started by Ruchika, proves that quality bridge or condensed courses are an effective way of encouraging children to access the formal education system. This article argues that the government needs to appreciate and support this kind of innovative initiatives, and also government and other civil society actors needs to operate under a collaborative framework to ensure reach out to children, who have been left out of the Government schooling system.     

The major players in adaptive immunity

Our immune system, by and large, does a fine job in protecting us from opportunistic and infectious microbes, potential carcinogens and allergens. It is therefore crucial to understand the organization of the immune network. This article focuses on some important features and key players involved in adaptive immune response. The first part of the article dealt with the humoral immune response mediated mainly by immunoglobulins produced by the B cells. The second part deals with T cells, the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)-encoded molecules, and Recombination Activating Genes (RAG) responsible for generating diverse B-cell receptors (BCR) and T-cell receptors (TCR). With the advent of newer and smarter infectious agents, it is important to understand the working of the immune network as more research in this area may facilitate the development of better protective strategies.     

Social media in higher education: A literature review of Facebook

The rapid adoption of social media technologies has resulted in a fundamental shift in the way communication and collaboration take place. As staff and students use social media technologies in their personal lives, it is important to explore how social media technologies are being used as an educational tool. The aim of this paper is to analyse the role of social media, in particular, Facebook, as an educational tool in higher education. Through a review of the literature, this paper explores the myriad ways in which Facebook is being used as an educational instrument for learning and teaching. Multiple benefits of Facebook usage for learning and teaching have been identified such as increased teacher-student and student-student interaction, improved performance, the convenience of learning and higher engagement. The paper also highlights the potential problems and limitations of Facebook usage ranging from educators’ dominance to privacy concerns. Finally, Facebook usage guidelines that can be adopted by educators to encourage social media adoption are proposed. As social media usage continues to grow in higher education, future empirical research is warranted.     

GENI的设计原则(一)分布式需求定义GENI的重心

2006年8月,GEN(I网络创新的全球化环境)公布其项目的设计原则。来自普林斯顿大学、麻省理工大学、华盛顿大学等学校的十二位专家编写了这份报告。该报告阐述了GENI的研究范围、用户的需求、需求的内在压力以及工程设计的原则。报告指出了GENI的价值主张,广泛的部署、多样化可扩展的网络技术集合、对真实用户流量的支持仍是GENI关注的原则和方向。本刊将分两期连载这一报告,从“分布式需求定义GENI的重心”、“解决分布式需求的内在冲突”等两部分,将这一报告与大家共享。     

Alleviating cross-cultural challenges of Indian subcontinent students: University staff perspectives

Tertiary Education and Management - The growth in student numbers from the Indian subcontinent countries has increased exponentially in the Australian higher education system over the past decade....     

Thymus

The immune system protects our bodies against infections and cancers. This review introduce readers to the thymus – a primary lymphoid organ – which is the site of development and maturation of functional T lymphocytes. Progenitor stem cells arise from the bone marrow and undergo sequential development in the thymus where non-self-reactive T cells are selected. Subsequently, post selection and maturation, the mature T cells exit the thymus as naïve T cells into the peripheral lymph nodes. Studies on the thymus are likely to enhance our understanding of T cell development and reduce disease burdens by improving the cellular immune response.     

Assessment of Vitamin D status In Patients of Chronic Low Back Pain of Unknown Etiology

Low back pain is very disabling and dispiriting because of the physical impediment it causes and its psychological effects. Innumerable factors have been implicated in its etiology. In spite of improvements in diagnostic modalities, a considerable number of such cases fall in the ambiguous zone of unknown etiology or ‘idiopathic.’Early diagnosis of low back pain will allow effective prevention and treatment to be offered. This study was conducted to assess the contribution of vitamin D levels and other biochemical factors to chronic low back pain in such cases. All patients attending the orthopedics OPD for low back pain in whom a precise anatomical cause could not be localized, were prospectively enrolled in this study. We measured serum levels of glucose, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, rheumatoid factor, C reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin and 25 (OH) D concentrations in 200 cases and 200 control samples. The patients showed significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to controls with p value < 0.0001. The maximum number of low back pain patients were in the age group of 31–50 years (42 %).The average BMI was 23.27 ± 5.17 kg/sq m, 73 % of total patient population were females and 27 % were known case of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Calcium, alkaline phosphatase, was positively correlated with vitamin D and glucose showed a negative correlation with vitamin D in the patient population. The problem of low back pain provides a challenge to health care providers. The problem in developing countries is compounded by ignorance to report for early treatment and occupational compulsions in rural areas and sedentary lifestyle in urban youth. The authors strongly recommend early frequent screening for vitamin D along with glucose, protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, CRP as part of general health checkup for non-specific body pain, especially low back pain.     

Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium levels in patients with preeclampsia/eclampsia

Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium levels were estimated in preeclampsia and eclampsia. Mean plasma as well as erythrocyte magnesium concentrations were found to be significantly lowered than the controls. Hypomagnesemia was directly related with the severity of the disease. Plasma calcium concentration however, was not significantly altered.     

Plasma vitamin E status in head and neck cancers

Plasma vitamin E and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were estimated in a group of 25 patients (17 males and 8 females) with head and neck cancer and the results were compared with a group of normal healthy controls. Plasma vitamin E levels were found to be significantly reduced while MDA levels were increased in patients than the controls. The fall in vitamin E was nearly same in all the patients studied irrespective of the site, TNM stage, histopathology and character of lesion. The levels did not vary immediately after radiotherapy but were significantly increased 3 months after the radiotherapy. These preliminary data suggest that the cancer patients have suboptimal vitamin E status which may be a contributory factor for increased lipid peroxidation in such cases.