scholarly journals Professional development opportunities for tutors of mathematics learning support

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
Michael Grove ◽  
Ciarán Mac an Bhaird ◽  
Ciarán O'Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Teaching Quality ◽  
Traditional Teaching ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
Mathematical Skills ◽  
Teaching Role ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Making A Difference ◽  
The Uk

Deficiencies in the mathematical skills of students entering university study are having a negative impact on their education, and more broadly have serious consequences for society as a whole. Research demonstrates that extra initiatives established to give these students an opportunity to succeed are making a difference, and that the staff who provide these supports play a fundamental role. Here we review two different models of structured training that were developed for these tutors, via two cases studies drawn from within the UK and Ireland. We discuss the key and transferrable skills that these tutors require, skills that are often not typically needed in a more ‘traditional’ teaching role. The majority of tutors remain in this crucial support role for only a short period of their careers, and so a fundamental question remains as to how they can receive appropriate recognition for their academic endeavours. Such recognition is important for both the institution, in demonstrating its commitment to teaching quality, and for the career progression of the tutors themselves.

Mathematics learning support centres in Germany—an overview

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Schürmann ◽  
Lara Gildehaus ◽  
Michael Liebendörfer ◽  
Niclas Schaper ◽  
Rolf Biehler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Additional Funding ◽  
Teacher Students ◽  
National Perspective ◽  
The Uk ◽  
German Universities

Abstract Mathematics learning support centres (MLSC) are widely established and evaluated in English-speaking countries (such as the UK, Ireland and Australia). In most of these countries, several national surveys on MLSCs exist. They give an overview of the number of MLSCs as well as their characteristics in these countries. In Germany, there is a lack of studies on MLSCs and the landscape of MLSCs has not been described yet. This article presents basic information concerning counts of MLSCs and their characteristics at universities. Based on a three-step approach of analysing university homepages and additional personal contact via email or phone calls, we gathered typical MLSC features (e.g. staff quantities and qualification, opening and support hours, supported study programmes). We analysed 190 universities from a web-based register on study programmes. In total, we found 61 MLSCs located at 51 German universities. Another 16 support centres were specialized on mathematics didactics, which means they focussed on didactical and methodological support for preservice teacher students and often provided different teaching materials. Thirty-eight centres were located at universities (62.3%) and 23 MLSCs at universities of applied sciences and comparable universities (37.7%). The MLSCs were different in their sizes of staff and opening hours, and both the numbers of staff and the service hours differed greatly. The student groups MLSCs at German universities focus on differ concerning characteristics like study programme or semester. We will provide the main categories describing these groups. We seek to answer research questions concerning the characteristics of MLSCs in Germany and discuss the results compared to international findings. This information is useful for further international collaborative research, for example a standardized international survey. From a national perspective, these findings support networking and collaborations between the MLSCs as well. As some German MLSCs are facing financial cuts, these results might help in gaining additional funding.

scholarly journals Mathematics instructors’ awareness of accessibility barriers for disabled students

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-200
Author(s):  
Emma Cliffe ◽  
Ciarán Mac an Bhaird ◽  
Eabhnat Ní Fhloinn ◽  
Clare Trott
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
Disabled Students ◽  
Barriers To Participation ◽  
Student Difficulties ◽  
Accessibility Barriers ◽  
Mathematics Instructors ◽  
The Uk

Abstract In this paper, we discuss the results of a staff survey on accessibility barriers to participation and success for disabled students in higher education in the UK and Ireland. We focus on the range and complexity of student difficulties encountered by staff involved either in the lecturing of mathematics or the provision of Mathematics Learning Support. We report on the range of supports available to both staff and students in these situations and their varying levels of awareness and implementation of these supports. We close with a brief overview of how we intend to use the results of this survey to both increase awareness of existing appropriate supports and develop additional services to improve student accessibility.

An Expert Ranked List of Pro-nature Conservation Behaviours for Public Use

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Barbett ◽  
Edward Stupple ◽  
Michael Sweet ◽  
Miles Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Short Paper ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Ranked List

The planet is facing an anthropogenic mass extinction of wildlife, which will have a grave impact on the environment and humans. Widespread human action is needed to minimize the negative impact of humans on biodiversity and support the restoration of wildlife. In order to find effective ways to promote pro-nature conservation behaviours to the general population, there is a need to provide a list of behaviours which will have worthwhile ecological impact and are worth encouraging. In a novel collaboration between psychologists and ecologists, 70 experts from practical and academic conservation backgrounds were asked to review and rate 48 conservation related behaviours. According to their judgement, this short paper presents a ranked list of pro-nature conservation behaviours for the public in the UK and similar landscapes. This includes behaviours people can engage in in their homes, their gardens, on their land, and in their roles as citizens.

scholarly journals Mental Health, Information and Being Connected: Qualitative Experiences of Social Media Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Trans-National Sample

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 735
Author(s):  
Schoultz Mariyana ◽  
Leung Janni ◽  
Bonsaksen Tore ◽  
Ruffolo Mary ◽  
Thygesen Hilde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Study ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
The Uk

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict national policies regarding social distancing behavior in Europe, America and Australia, people became reliant on social media as a means for gathering information and as a tool for staying connected to family, friends and work. This is the first trans-national study exploring the qualitative experiences and challenges of using social media while in lockdown or shelter-in-place during the current pandemic. Methods: This study was part of a wider cross-sectional online survey conducted in Norway, the UK, USA and Australia during April/May 2020. The manuscript reports on the qualitative free-text component of the study asking about the challenges of social media users during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, USA and Australia. A total of 1991 responses were included in the analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted independently by two researchers. Results: Three overarching themes identified were: Emotional/Mental Health, Information and Being Connected. Participants experienced that using social media during the pandemic amplified anxiety, depression, fear, panic, anger, frustration and loneliness. They felt that there was information overload and social media was full of misleading or polarized opinions which were difficult to switch off. Nonetheless, participants also thought that there was an urge for connection and learning, which was positive and stressful at the same time. Conclusion: Using social media while in a shelter-in-place or lockdown could have a negative impact on the emotional and mental health of some of the population. To support policy and practice in strengthening mental health care in the community, social media could be used to deliver practical advice on coping and stress management. Communication with the public should be strengthened by unambiguous and clear messages and clear communication pathways. We should be looking at alternative ways of staying connected.

scholarly journals Overt acts of perceived discrimination reported by British working-age adults with and without disability

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Emerson ◽  
Allison Milner ◽  
Zoe Aitken ◽  
Lauren Krnjacki ◽  
Cathy Vaughan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Exposure to discrimination can have a negative impact on health. There is little robust evidence on the prevalence of exposure of people with disabilities to discrimination, the sources and nature of discrimination they face, and the personal and contextual factors associated with increased risk of exposure. Methods Secondary analysis of de-identified cross-sectional data from the three waves of the UK’s ‘Life Opportunities Survey’. Results In the UK (i) adults with disabilities were over three times more likely than their peers to be exposed to discrimination, (ii) the two most common sources of discrimination were strangers in the street and health staff and (iii) discrimination was more likely to be reported by participants who were younger, more highly educated, who were unemployed or economically inactive, who reported financial stress or material hardship and who had impairments associated with hearing, memory/speaking, dexterity, behavioural/mental health, intellectual/learning difficulties and breathing. Conclusions Discrimination faced by people with disabilities is an under-recognised public health problem that is likely to contribute to disability-based health inequities. Public health policy, research and practice needs to concentrate efforts on developing programs that reduce discrimination experienced by people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Iron nutrition in the UK: getting the balance right

2004 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Fairweather-Tait
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Iron Nutrition ◽  
Fe Deficiency ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Single Meal ◽  
Fe Homeostasis ◽  
The Uk

Fe homeostasis is considered in the context of the UK diet, using information on Fe intake and status from the National Diet and Nutrition Surveys. The importance of assessing Fe availability rather than total Fe intake is discussed. Dietary and host-related factors that determine Fe bioavailability (Fe utilised for Hb production) are reviewed using information from single-meal studies. When adaptive responses are taken into consideration, foods associated with higher Fe status include meat (haem-Fe and the ‘meat factor’) and fruits and fruit juice (vitamin C). Foods that may have a negative impact include dairy products (Ca), high-fibre foods (phytate) and tea and coffee (polyphenols), but the effects are more apparent in groups with marginal Fe deficiency, such as women of childbearing age. Analysis of dietary intake data on a meal-by-meal basis is needed to predict the influence of changing dietary patterns on Fe nutrition in the UK. Current information suggests that in the UK Fe deficiency is a greater problem than Fe overload.

scholarly journals The perception of biopsychosocial impacts of COVID-19 during lockdown restrictions over time in the UK – a mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Special2) ◽  
pp. 402-414
Author(s):  
Samuel Grimwood ◽  
Kaz Stuart ◽  
Ruth Browning ◽  
Elaine Bidmead ◽  
Thea Winn-Reed
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Biological Domain ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Integrated Recovery ◽  
Biopsychosocial Health ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the health of individuals physically, mentally, and socially. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of this impact across the pandemic from a biopsychosocial stance. Methods: A survey created by the research team was employed between November 2020 and February 2021 across social media, relevant organizations, and networks. The survey incorporated 5-time points across the different stages of the pandemic, covering biological, psychological, and social. There were 5 items for each survey (Very Positive affect to Very Negative affect), and analysis was undertaken using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric Friedman and Wilcoxon Tests, as well as correlations between the three domains, were implemented. Results: This study included 164 participants (77.0% female and 35.0% male) across 24 out of 38 counties in the UK. The impact of COVID-19 on biological domain was significant across the five data points χ2(4) = 63.99, p < 0.001, psychological χ2(4) = 118.939, p <0.001 and socially χ2(4) = 186.43, p <0.001. Between the 5 data points, 4 out of 5 had a negative impact, however between the first stage of lockdown and the easing of restrictions, findings for biological (Z=-2.35, p <0.05), psychological (Z=-6.61, p < 0.001), and socially (Z = -8.61, p <0.001) were positive. Negative correlations between the three domains across the pandemic are apparent, but in later stages, the biological domain had a positive correlation r = 0.52, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The data shows a negative impact from the self-reported perception of wellbeing from a biopsychosocial stance over time, as well as perceiving the three domains to interact negatively. To address these biopsychosocial issues, the research implies a place-based integrated recovery effort is needed, addressing biological, psychological, and social issues simultaneously. Further research should investigate biopsychosocial health among a more generalizable population.

scholarly journals Maximizing the impact of digital supports in Mathematics Learning Support in Higher Education – An overview of the 9th Annual IMLSN Workshop

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Gerard Cronin ◽  
Cormac Breen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Short Description ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Successful Event

In this article we give a short description of the 9th Annual Workshop of the Irish Mathematics Learning Support Network (IMLSN) Workshop. The workshop theme was ‘Maximizing the impact of digital supports in Mathematics Learning Support in Higher Education’. We briefly describe the Irish Mathematics Learning Support Network (IMLSN) and outline the factors that motivated this workshop theme. We will also discuss the presentations, some of the issues that were raised during the workshop and we close with some brief conclusions on this very successful event.

scholarly journals Categories of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) among young women and men: Latent Class Analysis of psychological, physical, and sexual victimisation and perpetration in a UK birth cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Herbert ◽  
Abigail Fraser ◽  
Laura D. Howe ◽  
Eszter Szilassy ◽  
Maria Barnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Variable Impact

AbstractBackgroundIn the UK, around one-third of young people are exposed to IPVA by 21 years old. However, types of IPVA victimisation in this population (psychological, physical, sexual), and their relationship with impact and perpetration are poorly understood.MethodsParticipants in a UK birth cohort reported IPVA victimisation and perpetration by age 21. We carried out a latent class analysis, where we categorised IPVA by types/frequency of victimisation, and then assigned individuals to their most probable class. Within these classes, we then estimated risks of reported: 1) types of negative impacts (sad, upset/unhappy, anxious, depressed, affected work/studies, angry/annoyed, drank/took drugs more); 2) types/frequency of perpetration.ResultsAmong 2,130 women and 1,149 men, 32% and 24% reported IPVA victimisation (of which 89% and 73% reported negative impact); 21% and 16% perpetration. Victimisation responses were well represented by five classes, including three apparent in both sexes: No-low victimisation (characterised by low probabilities of all types of victimisation; average probabilities of women and men belonging to this class were 82% and 70%); Mainly psychological (15% and 12%); Psychological & physical victimisation (4% and 7%), and two classes that were specific to women: Psychological & sexual (7%); Multi-victimisation (frequent victimisation for all three types; 4%). In women, all types of negative impact were most common in the Psychological & sexual and Multi-victimisation classes; for men, the Psychological & physical class. In women, all types of perpetration were most common for the Mainly psychological, Psychological & physical, and Multi-victimisation classes; in men, the Mainly psychological and Psychological & physical classes.DiscussionIn this study of young people, we found categories of co-occurrence of types and frequency of IPVA victimisation associated with differential risks of negative impact and perpetrating IPVA. This is consistent with emerging evidence of IPVA differentiation and its variable impact in other populations.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF EU STRUCTURAL FUND SUPPORT AND PROBLEMS OF ITS ABSORPTION

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiva Jurevičienė ◽  
Jūratė Pileckaitė
Keyword(s):  
National Economy ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Structural Fund ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Structural Support ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Eu Support

Targeted allocation of EU support in Lithuania can help resolving a number of problems and achieving significant results in a variety of areas. However, rush to absorb support may lead to a little, zero or even negative impact on national economy. In addition, EU support opportunities may distort investment motivation. This paper deals with issues related to the impact of EU support and problems of its absorption. The impact of EU support on the national economy has been established in three areas: attraction of foreign direct investment state investments into capital formation, and experience of companies, which are EU support beneficiaries. The paper proposes using regression analysis in search and evaluation of relations while obtaining more information about programmes, priorities and the impact of structural support on different indicators. In addition, it focuses on ascertaining the effectiveness of governmental and company spending. Furthermore, as companies – EU support beneficiaries – are engaged in different economic activities, their experience cannot be ascertained from statistical data; consequently, findings of an expert survey are presented to demonstrate the experience acquired by business companies as well as problems they face. Limitation of research was a short period of time to evaluate (only four years of the current funding period)

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