Supporting project teams: A framework used in a university‐community collaborative initiative

As commonplace as teams are in today's organizations, so too are the frustrations reported by members of many teams. Some of this frustration may be attributed to the lack of organizational support for team efforts. In this article, we draw on Kolb's components of clear direction and accountability, appropriate staffing and training, adequate information and resources, and rewards for team effort to describe and discuss a framework that was developed to support a series of 29 project teams. We use case study methodology to examine a university‐community initiative designed to increase collaboration between members of a university community and stakeholders external to the university. This design resulted in a continuous learning and feedback cycle that encouraged reflective thinking and improvement in procedures and outcomes. The focus is on the framework that was developed and executed to select, support, and evaluate these teams.     

Effectiveness of hand cooling and a cooling jacket on post-exercise cooling rates in hyperthermic athletes

This study compared the effects of a hand cooling glove (～16°C water temperature; subatmospheric pressure of ?40 mmHg) and a cooling jacket (CJ) on post-exercise cooling rates (gastrointestinal core temperature, Tc; skin temperature, Tsk) and cognitive performance (the Stroop Colour–Word test). Twelve male athletes performed four trials (within subjects, counterbalanced design) involving cycling at a workload equivalent to 75% ?O₂max in heat (35.7?±?0.2°C, 49.2?±?2.6% RH) until a Tc of 39°C or exhaustion occurred. A 30-min cooling period (in 22.3?±?0.3°C, 42.1?±?3.6% RH) followed, where participants adopted either one-hand cooling (1H), two-hand cooling (2H), wore a CJ or no cooling (NC). No significant differences were seen in Tc and Tsk cooling rates between trials; however, moderate effect sizes (d?=?0.50–0.76) suggested Tc cooling rates to be faster for 1H, 2H and CJ compared to NC after 5 min; 1H and CJ compared to NC after 10 min and for CJ to be faster than 2H at 25–30 min. Reaction times on the cognitive test were similar between all trials after the 30 min cooling/no-cooling period (p?>?.05). In conclusion, Tc cooling rates were faster with 1H and CJ during the first 10 min compared to NC, with minimal benefit associated with 2H cooling. Reaction time responses were not impacted by the use of the glove(s) or CJ.     

Navigating complexity,culture, collaboration,and emotion: student perspectives on global justice and global justice education

Recent years have seen increasing scholarly attention to the ways in which colleges and universities might contribute to educating ‘global citizens’ who work toward addressing injustice and inequity. The present study examines the experiences and perspectives of students participating in an upper level ‘global justice inquiry’ course designed to help meet this goal. Drawing from interviews with students and reflections submitted as part of their course assessment, we explore participants’ developing understanding of global justice and their experiences of learning about this topic. This investigation reveals key issues that students highlight and with which they sometimes struggle, including the complexity of global challenges, the importance of collaboration in attempting to address such challenges, the significance of navigating cultural considerations, and the potential influence of emotion on understanding and action. Implications of these findings, including the potential value of considering these issues as threshold concepts in global justice education, are discussed.     

(Re)affirming identities: implementing a play-based approach to learning in the early years of schooling

Learning through play has traditionally been a central tenet in early childhood education, however, in recent times primary schools have begun to consider the benefits of introducing a play-based approach into early years classrooms to support young children’s learning, especially in the areas of language and literacy. This study focuses on the introduction of a play-based approach to a Foundation classroom (first year of formal schooling) in one Catholic primary school in Victoria, Australia. Taking a qualitative approach, drawing on interpretivist theory, data collection methods included group interviews with two Foundation teachers and their Early Years Coordinator at different points during the year, and two classroom observation sessions. This paper considers some of the challenges these teachers experienced and how they interpret and make sense of their work and the consequences this has for their identities as teachers. The data highlight tensions for these teachers that relate to issues of accountability and legitimisation.     

Learning From Others: Developing Preservice Teachers’ Workplace Skills

Being a teacher requires the ability to work with difficult behaviors—not just of students and parents but also of colleagues. Preservice teachers need the opportunity to develop and practice collaboration and communication skills in school settings. This essay draws on research from organizational psychology to offer a framework for understanding challenges to workplace collaboration in school settings and strategies for developing these skills in preservice teachers.     

Environmental Education across the Tertiary Curriculum: a process

There are many examples of environmental courses in tertiary institutions, but the integration of environmental education across the range of courses has generally not occurred. The article describes a project to introduce waste minimisation education into four disciplinary‐based courses. Since waste minimisation was introduced in the context of ecological sustainability, the project provides a model for the introduction of the broader concepts of environmental education. The project began with the assumption that adequate materials were already available if staff wanted to include waste minimisation, but what was needed was a process that would guide them in the revision of their course content, and would support them in making changes. Based on the experiences of the project, approaches for integrating waste minimisation, and more generally environmental education, across tertiary curricula are presented.     

Social processes and creative collaboration in children

Although there is an extensive body of literature that investigates the process and outcomes of children’s collaboration on scientific reasoning tasks, very little work has focussed on the nature and quality of children’s collaboration on creative tasks. One study reported here used a questionnaire to music teachers to ask about their typical design of musical tasks in the classroom and the factors that influenced these decisions. A further study reported here investigated the effects of friendship, gender and previous musical experience upon the interactional processes and musical outcome of children’s collaborative compositions. The design included comparison between friendship pairs and non-friendship pairs and also between males and females, with 11–12 year old children at an English middle school. All pairs consisted of one child with previous musical experience and one child without. All compositional sessions were video taped and the musical and verbal elements were coded with reference to the proportion of transactive and non-transactive elements present. Results demonstrated that the communication (both verbal and musical) between the friendship pairs was qualitatively different from the communication in the non-friendship pairs. Specifically, the friendship pairs showed more transactive communication and, when a teacher rated the final compositions, the friendship pairs scored significantly higher. Multiple regression analysis highlighted that the amount of transactive communication was a significant predicator of the quality of the children’s composition. The results are discussed with reference to the nature of communication, the impact of friendship and the assessment of creative work.     

The Micropolitics of Gender in the Learning Society

Why, the author asks, despite the women's movement, policy initiatives, the enhanced participation of women in higher education, particularly as students, are women so under-represented in the higher strata of higher education and in the e ´lite professions in general. She seeks the answer to her question in an analysis of micropolitics, particularly the micropolitics of gender in organizations in general and in higher education and the learning society, in particular. Through the manipulation of gendered power relationships at micropolitical level the traditional, and flawed, power structures of higher education persist and graft themselves onto the new concept of the learning society. Notions of leadership, superiority, and academic excellence continue to be characterized as masculine.     

Differences in Resting Metabolic Rate between BodyMetrix™ and Indirect Calorimetry in South African Adults

Accurate assessment of resting metabolic rate (RMR) is necessary for calorie-based recommendations in diet and exercise training interventions. BodyMetrix? is an ultrasound-based device that provides an estimate of RMR based on body composition, but has not been proven valid or reliable. Therefore, we evaluated the agreement between Katch–McArdle prediction equation used by BodyMetrix?, with indirect calorimetry, Harris–Benedict, WHO, and Sabounchi prediction equations of RMR. In total, 32 men and 22 women were measured for body composition via BodyMetrix? and RMR via indirect calorimetry. All prediction equations demonstrated significantly lower RMR values (p < .001) relative to indirect calorimetry. Katch–McArdle equation strongly correlated with other prediction equations (p < .001), and had a moderate (r = .658, p < .001) correlation with indirect calorimetry. There was a tendency toward underestimation for obese individuals. Therefore, we suggest that estimates from BodyMetrix? may be used as a relative, rather than an absolute measure of RMR.     

Nutrition for distance events

The goal of training is to prepare the distance athlete to perform at his or her best during major competitions. Whatever the event, nutrition plays a major role in the achievement of various factors that will see a runner or walker take the starting line in the best possible form. Everyday eating patterns must supply fuel and nutrients needed to optimize their performance during training sessions and to recover quickly afterwards. Carbohydrate and fluid intake before, during, and after a workout may help to reduce fatigue and enhance performance. Recovery eating should also consider issues for adaptation and the immune system that may involve intakes of protein and some micronutrients. Race preparation strategies should include preparation of adequate fuel stores, including carbohydrate loading for prolonged events such as the marathon or 50-km walk. Fluid and carbohydrate intake during races lasting an hour or more should also be considered. Sports foods and supplements of value to distance athletes include sports drinks and liquid meal supplements to allow nutrition goals to be achieved when normal foods are not practical. While caffeine is an ergogenic aid of possible value to distance athletes, most other supplements are of minimal benefit.