Exploring Environmental Volunteers’ Perceptions of Health to Design a Health-Related Impact Measurement Tool

2021 ◽  
pp. 193672442199826
Author(s):  
Valentine Seymour ◽  
Mike Wood

This article aims to explore the use of the user-centered design (UCD) method, mental model approach, of those who engage in environmental volunteering to work toward the development of a health-related impact measurement tool. It reports a case study which explores the use of one UCD method, a mental model approach. This is an understudied area of research that would be considerably valuable for practitioners in the voluntary sector who wish to create their own health-related impact measurement tool. Focus group interviews are used to explore how volunteers perceive the term health, their conceptual understandings, terminology used, and the attributes to measure it. This study is reported from the perspective of U.K. environmental charity, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). Findings from this article can be used by other voluntary organizations and charities to help shape their own health-related impact measurement tool and the ways in which these tools can be tailored to suit their individual needs.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-290
Author(s):  
Valentine Seymour

This article aims to explore the nature of do-it-yourself (DIY) impact measurement tools used in the voluntary sector, using a contextual inquiry approach. This is an understudied area of research, knowledge that would be considerably valuable for practitioners in the sector who wish to create their own DIY impact measurement tool. Semi-structured interviews and observation sessions are used to explore an example of a DIY impact measurement tool, the processes of its creation and operation, and how it has been shaped, from the perspective of a UK environmental charity. The study identifies how and why the tool was created as well as which resources are being used to build it. Findings show that the functionality and requirements of the DIY impact measurement tool are mostly shaped by the charity’s social, cultural and organisational characteristics.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 537-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Nora Paton ◽  
Anna Smetanová ◽  
Tobias Krueger ◽  
Anthony Parsons

Abstract. The article reviews research perspectives and ambitions of connectivity scientists in order to facilitate and improve joint connectivity research efforts across disciplinary boundaries. The assessment of four very different viewpoints (pragmatic, conceptual, epistemological and ontological) on connectivity signifies the diversity of thought and practice in the connectivity community and calls for a structured way to ensure mutual understanding in collaborative settings. The shared mental model approach is introduced with an exploratory case study as a way to overcome persistent barriers in understanding by identifying gaps and overlaps of individual researchers' perspectives and knowledge that should help improve collaboration in this interdisciplinary environment.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Nora Paton ◽  
Anna Smetanová ◽  
Tobias Krueger ◽  
Anthony Parsons

Abstract. The article reviews research perspectives and ambitions of connectivity scientists in order to facilitate and improve joint connectivity research efforts across disciplinary boundaries. The assessment of four very different viewpoints (pragmatic, conceptual, epistemological and ontological) on connectivity signifies the diversity of thought and practice in the connectivity community and calls for a structured way to ensure mutual understanding in collaborative settings. The shared mental model approach is introduced with an exploratory case study as a way to overcome persistent barriers in understanding by identifying gaps and overlaps of individual researchers' perspectives and knowledge that should help improve collaboration in this interdisciplinary environment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-128
Author(s):  
Nang Randu Utama

This study aims to obtain a description of the supporting and inhibiting factors in the process of organizational change of education based on management perspective that occurs in the scope of higher health education of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. This study used a qualitative approach by conducting case study at Palangka Raya Health Polytechnic. The research results are as follows: (a) Supporting factor that must be there is the existence of a manual or technical guidance in organizing the organization; (b) Whereas the inhibiting factor is the old habits, the mindset, the mental model is still inhibiting from the organizers and members of the organization; (c) The inhibiting factor is the existence of selfishness of each highly visible party; (d) Inhibitors may also occur if there are still "little kings" and selfishness from each of the former institutions; (e) Other issues that support in this process of change are in terms of facilities and infrastructure, namely the availability of buildings and land; (f) Another inhibiting factor is that in terms of educational qualifications, there are departments that do not meet, for example in the midwifery department there are still many average teachers with Diploma IV education background and non-linear education; (g) Inhibiting factors may also occur if the reason of seniority is always carried around; (h) The inhibiting factor is lack of human resources in using modern health equipment, including the use of teaching aids in accordance with the progress of science and teaching and learning technology.   Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperolah gambaran mengenai faktor pendukung dan penghambat dalam proses perubahan organisasi pendidikan yang ditinjau dari perspektif manajemen yang terjadi di lingkup organisasi pendidikan tinggi kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan melakukan studi kasus pada institusi Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Palangka Raya. Hasil penelitian adalah sebagai berikut: (a) Faktor pendukung yang harus ada yaitu adanya buku pedoman atau petunjuk teknis dalam penyelenggaraan organisasi; (b) Sedangkan yang menjadi faktor penghambat itu adalah kebiasaan lama, mindset-nya, mental model-nya masih bersifat menghambat dari para pengelola dan anggota organisasi; (c) Faktor penghambat yaitu adanya keegoisan masing-masing pihak yang sangat tampak; (d) Penghambat juga dapat terjadi apabila masih ada “raja-raja kecil” dan keegoisan dari masing-masing institusi yang dulu; (e) Perihal lain yang mendukung dalam proses perubahan ini adalah dari sisi sarana dan prasarana, yaitu tersedianya gedung dan tanah; (f) Faktor penghambat lain yaitu dari sisi kualifikasi pendidikan ternyata ada jurusan yang tidak memenuhi, misalnya di jurusan kebidanan masih banyak rata-rata tenaga pengajar dengan latar pendidikan Diploma IV dan pendidikannya tidak linear; (g) Faktor penghambat juga dapat terjadi apabila alasan senioritas selalu dibawa-bawa; (h) Faktor penghambat yaitu masih kurang kesiapan sumber daya manusia dalam menggunakan alat-alat kesehatan modern termasuk penggunaan alat bantu belajar mengajar yang sesuai dengan kemajuan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi pengajaran dan pembelajaran.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Jan Amos Jelinek

The Earth’s shape concept develops as consecutive cognitive problems (e.g., the location of people and trees on the spherical Earth) are gradually resolved. Establishing the order of problem solving may be important for the organisation of teaching situations. This study attempted to determine the sequence of problems to be resolved based on tasks included in the EARTH2 test. The study covered a group of 444 children between 5 and 10 years of age. It captured the order in which children solve cognitive problems on the way to constructing a science-like concept. The test results were compared with previous studies. The importance of cultural influences connected to significant differences (24%) in test results was emphasised. Attention was drawn to the problem of the consistency of the mental model approach highlighted in the literature. The analysis of the individual sets of answers provided a high level of consistency of indications referring to the same model (36%), emphasising the importance of the concept of mental models.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-97
Author(s):  
Zenobia C.Y. Chan

Abstract This study explored students’ perspectives on the abilities acquired through a subject called Health Management and Social Care (HMSC), which was launched under Hong Kong’s new senior secondary curriculum. The first public examination for the subject was conducted in 2012. A qualitative design was adopted in the present study, with focus group interviews carried out with 123 students recruited from seven schools. Two major themes were identified via content analysis: (i) critical thinking and creativity in HMSC; and (ii) applications of critical thinking and creativity in HMSC with two subthemes (a) health/social care promotions on campus and (b) social services in communities. Both the implications and limitations of the study for health-related subjects were discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7543
Author(s):  
Carla Pestana ◽  
Luísa Barros ◽  
Sabrina Scuri ◽  
Mary Barreto

The adoption of energy efficiency practices and increased penetration of renewable energy sources in the power system are estimated to play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately fight climate change. To foster energy transition, energy education initiatives should primarily target the citizens and be designed adopting a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach and HCI methodologies. This paper describes how UCD/HCI can inform the design of citizens’ energy education initiatives by presenting a case study—the development of an information platform targeting Madeiran citizens. The article describes the design process, from ideation to prototype and validation. Methods used in each phase (card sorting, semi-structured interviews, brainstorming sessions, think-aloud protocol and surveys) are described. Results of each phase and how they have informed the following steps are presented, together with a detailed description of the resulting information platform and initial results in terms of acceptance and interaction with the system. Our initial results support the hypothesis that adopting an HCI perspective can nurture the development of energy education initiatives targeting citizens, bringing a user-centered approach to the design of such initiatives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 278
Author(s):  
Pihel Hunt ◽  
Äli Leijen ◽  
Marieke van der Schaaf

While there is now extensive research on feedback in the context of higher education, including pre-service teacher education, little has been reported regarding the use of feedback from teachers to other teachers. Moreover, literature on the potential advantages that the use of technology, for example electronic portfolios and learning analytics, has in improving feedback in the in-service workplace practices, is also sparse. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory case study was to explore how in-service teachers perceived the peer feedback they received and provided through a web-based electronic portfolio during a professional development course carried out in their workplace. Questionnaire and interview data were collected from 38 teachers who received feedback through a learning analytics enhanced electronic portfolio and from 23 teachers who received feedback only by the electronic portfolio. Additionally, one individual and four focus group interviews were conducted with 15 teachers who were the feedback providers. Several common topics were identified in the interviews with the feedback receivers and providers, involving the benefits and challenges of human interaction and the flexibility of the feedback process that the electronic portfolio offered. The results also revealed better feedback experience within the group of teachers who received extra feedback by means of learning analytics. It is concluded that although an electronic portfolio provides a useful tool in terms of flexibility in the provision and receipt of feedback, the need for human interaction was acknowledged.


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