scholarly journals How to Communicate Universal Design to Architects on a New Website? A Reflection on the Type of Knowledge Requested

Author(s):  
Sidse Grangaard

Based on experiences with the development of a new research-based website on Universal Design meant to inspire and qualify the work of the Danish building sector, this paper examines the types of knowledge requested by professionals in the building sector when working with Universal Design. The Danish Transport, Construction and Housing Authority commissioned a website with the aim of increasing the building sector’s knowledge of Universal Design and supporting a change in attitude towards universal design. The site is intended to function as a platform for disseminating knowledge about Universal Design that can support the regulatory system. The empirical material of the study consists of data from qualitative interviews with actors from the building sector and workshops with the advisory board of the website. The analysis shows that, on one hand, the sector requires good examples of Universal Design and knowledge about users and their needs and, on the other hand, it needs detailed help such as comprehensive checklists to ensure the appropriate process is undertaken. However, technical information about, for example, the gradient of a ramp, does not contribute to an architectural idea and will not change any mindsets in regard to Universal Design. This paper reflects on the duality of requests from the sector using the theoretical concept of liminality. The paper describes and argues for the chosen approach for the website, namely focusing on inspiring and assisting professionals in the building sector to enhance their level of knowledge and support a change in practice towards Universal Design.

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110165
Author(s):  
Kari Dahl ◽  
Ann Kristin Bjørnnes ◽  
Vibeke Lohne ◽  
Line Nortvedt

Globally, Philippine-educated nurses have made vital contributions to health care; however, there is a lack of in-depth knowledge about emigrating nurses’ initial motives to become nurses, their educational experience and their transition in the host country’s health care context. This research aimed to explore Philippine-educated nurses’ educational experience in their home country and their expectations of competence in Norway. The study utilized an explorative design consisting of qualitative interviews with 10 Filipino nurses. A hermeneutic approach was used to analyze and interpret the empirical material. The findings and interpretations underline that Philippine-educated nurses mainly are externally motivated; their educational program is very demanding, but their level of competence does not meet the competence expected in the host country. Although these nurses lack training in elderly care, the Philippine nursing curriculum emphasizes patient care and mastery of basic nursing skills, which are qualities that should be valued and utilized in host countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 3149-3158
Author(s):  
Álvaro Aranda Muñoz ◽  
Yvonne Eriksson ◽  
Yuji Yamamoto ◽  
Ulrika Florin ◽  
Kristian Sandström

AbstractThe availability of new research for IoT support and the human-centric perspective of industry 4.0 opens a gap to support operators in unleashing their creativity so they can provide improvements opportunities with IoT technology. This paper presents a case-study carried out in four Swedish manufacturing companies, where four different workshops were facilitated to support operators in the conceptualization of manufacturing improvements with IoT technologies. The empirical material gathered during these workshops has been analyzed in five different reflective sessions and discussed in light of previous research from industry 4.0, operators, and IoT support. Results indicate that operators can collaboratively create conceptual IoT solutions and that expressiveness in communicating their ideas and needs using IoT technology is more relevant than technical aspects and details of their proposed IoT solutions. This technological expressiveness is identified as a necessary skill to be cultivated on the shop floor and can potentially contribute to making a more effective and socially sustainable industrial landscape in the future.


Facilities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 825-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Andre Søraa ◽  
Håkon Fyhn ◽  
Jøran Solli

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the role of a particular energy calculator in enhancing the energy efficiency of existing homes by asking how this calculator was developed and how it is domesticated by craftspeople working as energy consultants.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on qualitative interviews with users and producers of the energy calculator (n= 22), as well as participation in energy consultation training.FindingsThe paper finds that, in the energy calculator, there is a striking lack of connection between the domestication and script because of lack of energy consultants’ involvement in the design and implementation process.Practical implicationsThe enrolment of energy consultants as energy calculator users earlier in and throughout the design process could be valuable in making the transition to an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building sector.Social implicationsThe paper argues for recognition of the role of energy consultants, especially craftspeople, as participants in the design process for tools of governance. This is a call to acknowledge the value of particular skills and experiences possessed by craftspeople doing home consultation.Originality/valueBy understanding the intricate developer–user synchronicity in tools developed for upgrading the building sector, energy mitigation can be made more effective.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
I. A. Burmistrova ◽  
A. G. Samoylova ◽  
T. E. Tyulkova ◽  
E. V. Vaniev ◽  
G. S. Balasanyants ◽  
...  

The review presents data on the frequency of detection of drug resistant (DR) tuberculosis mycobacteria (MTB) as well as on the change in DR patterns in Russia and abroad from the mid-50s of the 20th century till the present. Along with the well-known mechanisms for DR MTB development, it tells about new research describing mutations associated with drug resistance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Vivian Annicchini Forner ◽  
Elvira Cristina Martins Tassoni

O objetivo do artigo é apresentar a narrativa como recurso para a produção de material empírico com grande potencial reflexivo. O uso de narrativas se deu no contexto de uma pesquisa participante do tipo intervenção que investigou as contribuições da música para o desenvolvimento de conhecimentos específicos relacionados à linguagem escrita, em alunos de 4º ano do Ensino Fundamental indicados pela equipe gestora de uma escola pública estadual em Campinas (São Paulo-Brasil) com defasagens no processo de alfabetização. A pesquisa baseou-se no referencial teórico histórico-cultural e na perspectiva discursiva da alfabetização. Inicialmente, são apresentados os aspectos teóricos que envolvem a narrativa; o seu uso como instrumento metodológico; para em seguida discorrer sobre as análises evidenciando o potencial reflexivo das narrativas orais e escrita. A narrativa foi utilizada antes do início, durante e após o período em que os encontros de intervenção ocorreram – ao todo 22 encontros com sete alunos de 4º ano durante o segundo semestre de 2016, registrados por videogravação e seguidos de transcrição literal. Para este artigo, trazemos a experiência vivida – priorizando a narrativa – com um dos alunos do grupo. A narrativa permitiu que as crianças se conscientizassem dos saberes produzidos durante as intervenções realizadas no decorrer da pesquisa, assim como, possibilitou capturar os movimentos de mudanças desses alunos em relação ao processo de aprendizagem. Pode-se, portanto, assumir esse procedimento metodológico como um recurso para a produção de um material empírico reflexivo que possibilita a formação do sujeito.Palavras-Chave: Alfabetização. Letramento. Música. Mediação Pedagógica. Pesquisa Intervenção.THE NARRATIVE AS A METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL AND THE PRODUCTION OF EMPIRICAL REFLEXIVE MATERIALSAbstract The purpose of this article is to present the narrative as a great insightful potential resource when producing empirical material. In this research, the use of narrative is taken into a research-participant context, investigating the means which music contributes to the development of specific knowledges related to written language on 4th grade elementary students with delays in the literacy process, designated by the team manager of a public school in Campinas (São Paulo-Brazil). This research was based on the historical-cultural theoretical concept and on the discursive perspective of literacy. Initially, the theoretical aspects involving the narrative were presented as: its use as a methodological instrument; then running through the analysis as so to show its reflective potential of oral and written narratives. The narrative was used before, during and after the period in which the intervention meetings occurred – altogether, 22 meetings were held with seven fourth-year students during the second semester of 2016, recorded by videotape and followed by literal transcription. For this article, we convey the experience – prioritizing the narrative – with one of the students from the group. The narrative has allowed children to become aware of the knowledge produced during the interventions carried out through the research’s progress, as well as, has captured the movements of these student’s changes regarding their learning process. One can therefore assume this methodological procedure could be seen as a resource when producing empirical reflexive material that enables the foundation of a person.Keywords: Literacy. Reading-Writing Process. Music. Teaching Mediation. Intervention Research.LA NARRATIVA COMO PROPUESTA METODOLÓGICA Y LA PRODUCCIÓN DE MATERIALES EMPÍRICOS REFLEXIVOSResumenEl objetivo del artículo es presentar la narrativa como recurso para la producción de material empírico con gran potencial reflexivo. El uso de narrativas se dio en el contexto de una investigación participante del tipo intervención que investigó las contribuciones de la música para el desarrollo de conocimientos específicos relacionados al lenguaje escrito en alumnos de educación primária indicados por el equipo gestor de una escuela pública estadual en Campinas/SP con desfases en el proceso de alfabetización. La investigación se basó en el referencial teórico histórico-cultural y en la perspectiva discursiva de la alfabetización. Inicialmente, se presentan los aspectos teóricos que involucran la narrativa; su uso como instrumento metodológico; para luego discurrir sobre los análisis evidenciando el potencial reflexivo de las narrativas orales y escrita . La narrativa fue utilizada antes, durante y después del período en que los 22 encuentros de intervención ocurrieron con siete alumnos durante el segundo semestre de 2016, registrados por videograbación y seguidos de transcripción literal. Para este artículo, traemos la experiencia vivida – priorizando la narrativa – con uno de los alumnos del grupo. La narrativa permitió que los niños se dieron cuenta de los saberes producidos durante las intervenciones realizadas en el curso de la investigación, así como, posibilitó capturar los movimientos de cambios de esos alumnos en relación al proceso de aprendizaje. Así se puede asumir ese procedimiento metodológico como un recurso para la producción de un material empírico reflexivo que posibilita la formación del sujeto.Palabras Clave: Alfabetización. Letramento. Música. Mediación pedagógica. Investigación intervención.


Author(s):  
Laura L. Pană

Contemporary society is an information society, based on Information Sciences and Information Technology. Technical information is therefore the most accessed and further promoted. This article aims to push toward completeness the study of information by analyzing the variety of information types and by presenting the hierarchy of information levels of existence. Specific features of natural, social and human information are highlighted. The internal information structure of distinct domains and levels of natural and social existence is explored. Information types such as structural information, systemic information, functional information or free information are characterized and defined, from various perspectives. An interdisciplinary study of information is thus accomplished, by using findings from several scientific and philosophical disciplines, from Information Epistemology or Information Aesthetics to Neuroinformatics and Neurorobotics. New research topics such as information values, information efficiency and information responsibility are proposed at the end of article.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Diaz-Vega ◽  
Ricardo Moreno-Rodriguez ◽  
Jose Luis Lopez-Bastias

Universal design for instruction (UDI) is a teaching strategy that has proved its value in the process of educational inclusion, resulting in a fundamental tool for the achievement of objective 4 of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The lack of time of university professors and the scarce training offered in this subject make it difficult to know and implement UDI in university classrooms, increasing the risk of exclusion of students with some kind of disability. This study analyses the level of knowledge and implementation of the principles and strategies of UDI by university professors. Those professors did not have prior training, but they had access to the Curricular Adaptations of University Students with Special Educational Needs (CAUSSEN) tool as guide to implement different guidelines. The CAUSSEN tool is a document, developed by the Unit of Attention to People with Disability, in which there is information about UDI guidelines and accommodations referring to students with special educational needs. Results show a wide implementation of the UDI principles, despite the low level of previous knowledge its principles. This study concludes that there are practical alternatives to the lack of training, and that teachers’ self-perception of their own effectiveness and ability to cope with the inclusion of all students should be strengthened.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 592-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Fersch ◽  
Karen N. Breidahl

Purpose Migrants constitute an interesting case concerning the question of how trust in welfare state institutions can emerge, as one can study their newly built relationships with such institutions in a distinct way. The Danish welfare state can be considered a “high trust” context. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of qualitative interviews with migrants on how institutional trust in the welfare state can emerge with migrants in Denmark as a case. Design/methodology/approach With the help of a multi-dimensional theoretical concept, this paper provides an analysis of qualitative interviews with migrants on how institutional trust in the welfare state can emerge. Findings A perceived experience of distributive justice appears to be of crucial importance for building trust. Furthermore, strong trust in the systemic checks and balances of the welfare state can “override” negative experiences at its access points, that is, welfare state professionals. Research limitations/implications Taking into account the relatively limited number of interviews, the presented claims drawn from the empirical material are limited. The aim is to reveal some (new) tendencies that can be investigated in future research. Originality/value The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexity of trust-generating mechanisms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Herslund ◽  
Gry Paulgaard

The paper investigates how refugees settled in rural Norway and Denmark experience and interact with their new rural places of residence. Theoretically, the paper finds inspiration in “phenomenology of practices” (Simonsen, Prog. Hum. Geogr., 2012, 37, 10–26), which emphasizes the bodily and sensory experiences of daily life that spur feelings of, for example, “orientation” or “disorientation”. The empirical material is based on fieldwork and qualitative interviews with refugees and local volunteers in 2016/2017/2019 in small towns in the rural north of Norway and rural Denmark. There are several differences between the Norwegian and Danish rural areas, in relation to distances, climate and population density. Nonetheless, the ways in which the rural areas are experienced from within, by refugees settled there, show surprisingly many similarities. Many of the informants, in both the Norwegian and Danish cases, initially expressed frustration at being placed in rural areas without having any say in the matter. Those who were former city-dwellers especially experienced moments of disorientation, as their encounters with Nordic rural life were experienced as the opposite of their urban backgrounds. Limiting structural conditions very much shape the everyday lives of refugees in the first years, when they do not have a car or the financial capacity to find their own house. They feel stressed, with busy everyday lives made up of long commuting hours on public transport. In these first years of uncertainty, the dark and harsh weather very much adds to the feeling of stress and insecurity. What seem to add “orientation” are social relations with other refugees and local volunteers organizing activities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin H. Näsholm ◽  
Tomas Blomquist

Purpose – Little attention has been paid to the initial development of programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore co-creation as an alternative strategic approach for program management. Co-creation of programs means that the projects within the program are created by the users and producers of the projects. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a case study of the co-creation approach of the Umeå 2014 European Capital of Culture program. The empirical material analyzed consists of qualitative interviews with members of the Umeå 2014 team and the politicians involved, as well as secondary data on the program. Findings – The Umeå 2014 Capital of Culture program takes the form of a platform that makes meetings and interactions possible. Co-creation allows for creative cultural projects to emerge, but the program becomes reliant on the different actors involved. Balancing dilemmas of multiple stakeholders and maintaining control while enabling the emergence of ideas is key. Practical implications – These findings have practical implications for the management of more emergent program structures. A flexible organization with guiding values and criteria to balance the different projects can be used to achieve program goals when multiple stakeholders have their own agendas. Originality/value – This paper contributes to research on program management by introducing the concept of co-creation as a strategic approach for program management. The creative and innovative benefits of co-creation can be reached in the development of programs but other challenges for their management are involved.


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