Undergraduate Conferences enhance the Student Research Experience: An Application of the Community of Inquiry Framework

On-campus Higher Education is often assumed to be educationally richer than online learning due to opportunities for face-to-face interactions with students and instructors. However, the assumption that the presence of other learners enhances educational experiences requires formal interrogation. In this study, we use the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework to evaluate the nature of social presence at a 500 delegate undergraduate conference that is the culmination of capstone final year dissertation projects. We find that students do not perceive social presence to their learning during their dissertation work, but that presentation of dissertations in the conference environment can initiate educationally valuable social interactions. Notably meaningful interactions occur between students of different year groups, allowing students insight into future tasks and to reflect on the progress they have made over their course. We encourage educators to consider the opportunities that undergraduates have for meaningful interaction in all on-campus experiences, as social components of learning cannot be assumed.

Shaping Policy Discourse in the Public Sphere: Evaluating Civil Speech in an Online Consultation

The ability of the Internet to function as a public sphere, where citizens can come to public agreement and make recommendations that affect government decisions, has recently come under question. The aggressive style of discourse so prevalent in online discussion has been cited as a significant barrier to the deliberative and open discussion necessary for a effective public sphere. This paper focuses on web-based discussion in a online policy consultation called the Canadian Foreign Policy Dialogue, and examines specific discourse features to evaluate whether the moderated online policy discussion was civil, and whether that civility promoted meaningful interaction among citizens, and between citizens and government. The study results revealed that citizen participants in the dialogue were successful at developing, maintaining, and enforcing norms of civil discourse, and that these norms helped to promote understanding, tolerance, and consensus-building. The study also cautions that civil dialogue alone cannot ensure effective communication between governments and citizens.

Shaping Policy Discourse in the Public Sphere: Evaluating Civil Speech in an Online Consultation

The ability of the Internet to function as a public sphere, where citizens can come to public agreement and make recommendations that affect government decisions, has recently come under question. The aggressive style of discourse so prevalent in online discussion has been cited as a significant barrier to the deliberative and open discussion necessary for a effective public sphere. This paper focuses on web-based discussion in a online policy consultation called the Canadian Foreign Policy Dialogue, and examines specific discourse features to evaluate whether the moderated online policy discussion was civil, and whether that civility promoted meaningful interaction among citizens, and between citizens and government. The study results revealed that citizen participants in the dialogue were successful at developing, maintaining, and enforcing norms of civil discourse, and that these norms helped to promote understanding, tolerance, and consensus-building. The study also cautions that civil dialogue alone cannot ensure effective communication between governments and citizens.

Chunking by social relationship in working memory

Working memory (WM) uses knowledge and relations to organize and store multiple individual items in a smaller set of structured units, or chunks. We investigated whether a crowd of individuals that exceeds the WM is retained and, therefore, recognized more accurately, if individuals are represented as interacting with one another –i.e., they form social chunks. Further, we asked what counts as a social chunk in WM: two individuals involved in a meaningful interaction or just spatially close and face-to-face. In three experiments with a delayed change-detection task, participants had to report whether a probe-array was the same of, or different from a sample-array featuring two or three dyads of bodies either face-to-face (facing array) or back-to-back (non-facing array). In Experiment 1, where facing dyads depicted coherent, meaningful interactions, participants were more accurate to detect changes in facing (vs. non-facing) arrays. A similar advantage was found in Experiment 2, even though facing dyads depicted no meaningful interaction. In Experiment 3, we introduced a secondary task (verbal shadowing) to increase WM load. This manipulation abolished the advantage of facing (vs. non-facing) arrays, only when facing dyads depicted no meaningful interactions. These results show that WM uses representation of interaction to chunk crowds in social groups. The mere facingness of bodies is sufficient on its own to evoke representation of interaction, thus defining a social chunk in WM; although the lack of semantic anchor makes chunking fainter and more susceptible to interference of a secondary task.

Contextual Approaches In Kaiwa Learning (Speaking) Japanese Language

Speaking as one of the productive language skills and is an important activity in daily activities as meaningful interaction between humans is still not optimal in the Japanese language study program from an explanation before, this purpose of this study is to achieve the goal of speaking skills; the permitted curriculum in the Japanese Language Education study program, the development competency based curriculum in 2009 provides courses: Kaiwa 1 (会話 １) Conversation 1、 Kaiwa 2 (会話 ２) Conversation 2、 Kaiwa 3 (会話 ３) Conversation 3、 Kaiwa 4 (会話 ４) Conversation 4、 Kaiwa Enshuu （会話 演習） Conversation Deepening and one special course for Japanese speech skills, Nihongo Supiichi (日本語 ス ピ ー チ) Japanese Language Speech. In line with that idea, an important strategy in this learning is to teach students to be able to connect each concept with reality rather than emphasizing how much knowledge must be remembered and memorized. This research used CTL approaches which is contextual learning can be applied in any curriculum, any subject or field of study with a class regardless of the circumstances. In line with what was discussed by the Ministry of National Education, there are Seven (7) main principles that must be developed by teachers in the CTL approach. The contextual approach in Kaiwa learning is also expected to facilitate the achievement of learning goals, namely the aim of speaking Japanese skills to improve students' speaking abilities and provide many opportunities for the practice of talking with friends while making students actively involved in the learning process. Therefore, it is recommended that in Kaiwa learning (the name of the course for speaking skills in Japanese), I - IV this contextual approach can be used even maximized. The researcher realizes that this learning model is not the only one that is most suitable and relevant in teaching Japanese speaking skills courses but can be used as enrichment material.Keywords: Contextual Approaches; Kaiwa Learning; Speaking; Japanese Language.

“It makes me feel not so alone”: features of the Choose to Move physical activity intervention that reduce loneliness in older adults

Background Despite the well-known health benefits of physical activity (PA), older adults are the least active citizens. Older adults are also at risk for loneliness. Given that lonely individuals are at risk for accelerated loss of physical functioning and health with age, PA interventions that aim to enhance social connectedness may decrease loneliness and increase long-term PA participation. The objectives of this mixed-method study are to: (1) evaluate whether an evidence-based PA intervention (Choose to Move; CTM) influenced PA and loneliness differently among self-identified ‘lonely’ versus ‘not lonely’ older adults and (2) to describe factors within CTM components most likely to promote social connectedness/reduce loneliness. Methods CTM is a flexible, scalable, community-based health promoting physical activity intervention for older adults. Two community delivery partner organizations delivered 56 CTM programs in 26 urban locations across British Columbia. We collected survey data from participants (n = 458 at baseline) at 0 (baseline), 3 (mid-intervention) and 6 (post-intervention) months. We conducted in depth interviews with a subset of older adults to understand how CTM facilitated or impeded their PA and social connectedness. Results PA increased significantly from baseline to 3 months in lonely and not lonely participants. PA decreased significantly from 3 to 6 months in lonely participants; however, PA at 6 months remained significantly above baseline levels in both groups. Loneliness decreased significantly from baseline to 3 and 6 months in participants identifying as lonely at baseline. Factors within CTM components that promote social connectedness/reduce loneliness include: Activity coach characteristics/personality traits and approaches; opportunity to share information and experiences and learn from others; engagement with others who share similar/familiar experiences; increased opportunity for meaningful interaction; and accountability. Conclusion Health promoting interventions that focus on PA and social connectedness through group-based activities can effectively reduce social isolation and loneliness of older adults. Given the ‘epidemic of loneliness’ that plagues many countries currently, these kinds of interventions are timely and important. Research that further delineates mechanisms (e.g., sharing experiences vs. lectures), that modify the effect of an intervention on social connectedness outcomes for older adults engaged in community-based PA programs would be a welcome addition to the literature.

Voclosporin: a novel calcineurin inhibitor without impact on mycophenolic acid in patients with SLE

Background An open-label phase 1 study was conducted to evaluate the effect of voclosporin on blood levels of mycophenolic acid (MPA, active moiety) and mycophenolic acid glucuronide (MPAG, pharmacologically inactive metabolite) following dosing with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to assess the safety and tolerability of the combination. Methods MMF was orally administered at a dose of 1 g BID for at least 28 days prior to the study and continued at the same dose throughout the study. Voclosporin was orally administered at a dose of 23.7 mg BID for seven consecutive days (Day 1 to Day 7), starting in the evening of Day 1 and ending with the morning dose on Day 7. Dense PK blood samplings were collected pre-dose in the morning and from 0.25 to 12 hours post-morning doses. Analyses were derived by non-compartmental methods. Results In 24 patients, MPA exposure (Cmax and AUC0-12) was similar in the presence and absence of voclosporin, with treatment ratios of 0.94 and 1.09, respectively (Cmax: 16.5 μg/mL [Day 1] vs.15.8 μg/mL [Day 7], AUC0-12: 39.1 μg.h/mL [Day 1] vs. 40.8 μg.h/mL [Day 7]. MPAG exposure showed a small increase in the presence of voclosporin (12% for Cmax and 27% for AUC0-12). Combination therapy was well tolerated. Conclusions There is no clinically meaningful interaction between voclosporin and MMF. As changes in exposure to MPA may affect efficacy and safety, these data confirm that voclosporin and MMF can be given concomitantly without the need for dose adjustment.

‘Even a smile helps’: Exploring the interactions between people experiencing homelessness and passersby in public spaces

Background: Many people experiencing homelessness dwell, panhandle, or congregate in public spaces where they frequently cross paths with others. In these spaces, they can be recipients of acts of kindness or emotional and physical insult, but there is little research on the quality, nature, or value of interactions between people living on the street and those who pass them by. Aim: This study explored the lived experiences of unhoused people who panhandle and their interactions with passersby in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Methods: Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who were approached while panhandling and asked to describe their experiences asking for help in public and accessing homelessness services, as well as what they wished to share with passersby. Interviews were coded and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Results: Participants described being ignored and subjected to violence, leading them to crave meaningful interaction with passersby. They also described experiences of receiving kindness and support while panhandling. Many shared personal histories of tragedy and called for greater empathy and compassion from passersby, as well as society as a whole, for people experiencing homelessness. Conclusion: Participants’ experiences were consistent with loneliness, as characterized in the literature as distress at lack of social connection, and were also notable for the verbal and physical violence endured in public spaces. Social isolation and trauma are detrimental to mental health in this vulnerable group, so interventions to support this population should provide opportunities for consistent, supportive social connections and focus on providing low-barrier, stable housing.

“It makes me feel not so alone”: Features of the Choose to Move physical activity intervention that reduce loneliness in older adults

Background: Despite the well-known health benefits of physical activity (PA), older adults are the least active citizens. Older adults are also at risk for loneliness. Given that lonely individuals are at risk for accelerated loss of physical functioning and health with age, PA interventions that aim to enhance social connectedness may decrease loneliness and increase long-term PA participation. The objectives of this mixed-method study are to: (1) evaluate whether an evidence-based PA intervention (Choose to Move; CTM) influenced PA and loneliness differently among self-identified ‘lonely’ versus ‘not lonely’ older adults and (2) to describe factors within CTM components most likely to promote social connectedness/reduce loneliness.Methods:  CTM is a flexible, scalable, community-based health promoting physical activity intervention for older adults. Two community delivery partner organizations delivered 56 CTM programs in 26 urban locations across British Columbia. We collected survey data from participants (n=458 at baseline) at 0 (baseline), 3 (mid-intervention) and 6 (post-intervention) months. We conducted in depth interviews with a subset of older adults to understand how CTM facilitated or impeded their PA and social connectedness.Results: PA increased significantly from baseline to 3 months in lonely and not lonely participants. PA decreased significantly from 3-6 months in lonely participants; however, PA at 6 months remained significantly above baseline levels in both groups. Loneliness decreased significantly from baseline to 3 and 6 months in participants identifying as lonely at baseline. Factors within CTM components that promote social connectedness/reduce loneliness include: Activity coach characteristics/personality traits and approaches; opportunity to share information and experiences and learn from others; engagement with others who share similar/familiar experiences; increased opportunity for meaningful interaction; and accountability.Conclusion: Health promoting interventions that focus on PA and social connectedness through group-based activities can effectively reduce social isolation and loneliness of older adults. Given the ‘epidemic of loneliness’ that plagues many countries currently, these kinds of interventions are timely and important. Research that further delineates mechanisms (e.g., sharing experiences vs. lectures), that modify the effect of an intervention on social connectedness outcomes for older adults engaged in community-based PA programs would be a welcome addition to the literature.