THE SAS STRATEGY TRAINING FOR CHILDREN WITH ASD IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ROBOTICS ACTIVITIES

Educational Robotics in inclusive learning environments creates a wide area of research where innovative teaching practices and theoretical approaches are developed and investigated in order for the new growing educational challenges to be met. In this context, an educational intervention research was carried out using mixed research methodology. The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of the“SAS Strategy Training” a strategy that developed to foster the participation of children with autism, at level 2, in inclusive teamwork with peers during construction and programming LEGO Mindstorms. 2 children, 10-11 years old, diagnosed with autism, at level 2, participated in two inclusive educational robotics teams with typical peers. Τhe SaS Strategy has been integrated in the collaboration script that was designed to support the interaction between the team members during their collaboration on programming LEGO Mindstorms. The “SaS Strategy Training” had encouraging results in reducing the barriers of the participation of the children with autism in teamwork with their typical peers. Critical questions, reflections and new research horizons emerged.

Effect of an eLearning Memory Program on Reducing Negative Impact of Age-Related Memory Changes

Age-related memory changes pose considerable concerns for aging adults, and can adversely affect their daily living and cause worry even when changes experienced are not clinically significant. The Memory and Aging Program® is a validated psychoeducation and memory strategy-training program that teaches the public about memory changes during aging and trains them to use evidence-based strategies to support brain health. The program has been offered in-person for over 20 years, and a self-guided eLearning version was recently developed to improve program accessibility. This study evaluated the self-reported impacts of memory changes in older adults who completed this eLearning against a control group. We randomized 202 older adults, without neurological or psychiatric diagnoses (71.6 years; 69 % female; 15.6 years of education), into the eLearning program or a control group that received no intervention. All participants reported their perceived impact of memory changes using the Memory Impact Questionnaire at pre-, post-, and 6-8 weeks follow-up. A significant reduction in negative impact of memory changes on daily living and a significant improvement in positive coping with memory changes relative to controls was observed at post-test (13.4 versus 2.5 points reduction and 7.4 versus 0.1 point improvement, respectively, both p < 0.05), but these did not persist at follow-up. The adoption of digital tools has hastened across all ages. Our study showed that self-guided digital tools, such as the eLearning Memory and Aging Program®, may be a promising avenue to help aging individuals reduce the impact of memory changes on daily living.

Autonomous maneuver strategy of swarm air combat based on DDPG

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been found significantly important in the air combats, where intelligent and swarms of UAVs will be able to tackle with the tasks of high complexity and dynamics. The key to empower the UAVs with such capability is the autonomous maneuver decision making. In this paper, an autonomous maneuver strategy of UAV swarms in beyond visual range air combat based on reinforcement learning is proposed. First, based on the process of air combat and the constraints of the swarm, the motion model of UAV and the multi-to-one air combat model are established. Second, a two-stage maneuver strategy based on air combat principles is designed which include inter-vehicle collaboration and target-vehicle confrontation. Then, a swarm air combat algorithm based on deep deterministic policy gradient strategy (DDPG) is proposed for online strategy training. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated by multi-scene simulations. The results show that the algorithm is suitable for UAV swarms of different scales.

The Effects of Self-regulated Learning Strategies on Computer Programming Achievement in Teacher Education

This study investigates the effects of student use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies on their computer programming achievement. Ninety-six students from undergraduate teacher training programmes offered by a Hong Kong university voluntarily participated in the study. Sixty-six of them were first-year students enrolling on an introductory Java programming course, while 30 were second-year students enrolling on an advanced Java programming course. The SRL strategies adopted by participants were measured by the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and were exemplified from the reflective writing of their electronic portfolios. Their achievement in computer programming was evaluated using continuous and end of course assessments. The findings of this study suggest that higher-order cognitive strategies (i.e. elaboration, organization, critical thinking), metacognitive control strategies (i.e. self-regulation) and resource management strategies (i.e. time and study environment management, help seeking) are likely to facilitate a prolonged achievement of computer programming for both novices and non-novices. They can provide insights into designing adequate SRL strategy training to support student learning in computer programming.

The development of a cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-social group programme for teenage and young adult survivors of brain tumours: A feasibility study

Introduction and aims Treatment for childhood and adolescent brain tumours is often intensive, with significant neurocognitive and psycho-social late effects ( Zeltzer et al., 2009 ). This feasibility Study aimed to inform the development of a cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-social group intervention for Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) survivors of brain tumours. Methods A group-based intervention incorporated ideas from the current evidence base, including psychoeducation and compensatory strategy training, with a focus on real-life goals and improving quality of life. Participants ( N = 19, 13–24 years) were recruited from the University College London Hospital TYA Oncology Service. Participants had received treatment for a malignant brain tumour and had completed their treatment at least 1 year prior to participation. Four group-based, whole-day interventions ran every 3 months throughout a year. Feasibility criteria were established to answer questions about acceptability of the intervention and recruitment. Results Qualitative and quantitative feedback from all four groups demonstrated acceptability and suitability of the intervention with regards to the content, structure and delivery. Recruitment presented more of a challenge with 35% fewer referrals than expected. Discussion and conclusion Feedback suggests that the intervention is suitable and acceptable, whilst limitations include numbers of referrals and referral pathways. Future directions are discussed.

Clinical Practice Patterns of Speech-Language Pathologists Delivering Dysphagia Services to Persons with COPD: Analysis of Survey Outcomes

Swallowing impairments co-occur with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leading to aspiration, disease exacerbations, and malnutrition. This pilot survey study aimed to identify current clinical practice patterns for swallowing evaluation and treatment in persons with COPD. A 35-question Qualtrics survey was deployed to medical speech-language pathology (SLP) social media sites and professional boards; flyers were distributed at a professional conference. Forty-eight SLPs completed the study. SLPs routinely include a clinical swallow examination (96%), videofluoroscopic swallowing study (79%), adjunctive respiratory measures (respiratory rate [83%], and pulse oximetry [67%], respiratory–swallow pattern [77%]) but less frequently include fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (23%). Self-reported advanced clinical experience and expert respiratory analysis skills were associated with adjunctive respiratory measure (respiratory rate, pulse oximetry) inclusion during assessment. Compensatory strategy training (77%) is a preferred treatment for dysphagia in COPD; however, respiratory–swallow pattern training and expiratory muscle strength training are increasing in use. SLPs self-report a comprehensive, individualized patient-centered care approach with inclusion of adjunctive respiratory-focused methods in dysphagia evaluation and treatment practice in persons with COPD. Advances in the identification of the integral role of respiratory function in swallowing integrity may be translating to clinical practice methods for dysphagia management in persons with COPD.

Pelatihan Strategi Bersaing Sumber Daya Manusia Di Era 5.0 Pada Masyarakat Desa

Pelatihan strategi bersaing Sumber Daya Manusia di era 5.0 pada masyarakat desa diharapkan masyarakat desa Cidokom dapat memiliki kompetensi lainnya yaitu mampu berpikir kritis, bernalar, kretatif, berkomunikasi, kolaborasi serta memiliki kemampuan problem solving atas perkembangan industri di Era 5.0. Tujuan dari pelatihan strategi bersaing Sumber Daya Manusia di era 5.0 diharapkan dapat menghasilkan Sumber Daya Manusia unggul dengan beradaptasi di era society 5.0.Kata Kunci: Pelatihan, SDM, Society 5.0Competitive strategy training for Human Resources in the 5.0 era in rural communities is expected to have other competencies in Cikodom village, namely being able to think critically, reason, be creative, communicate, collaborate and have problem solving skills for industrial development in Era 5.0. The purpose of training on competitive strategies for Human Resources in the 5.0 era is expected to produce superior Human Resources by adapting in the era of society 5.0.Keywords: Training, Human Resources, Society 5.0

The impacts of reading strategy instruction on improving the reading comprehension of students with different learning styles

The current study explores the short- and long-term impacts of explicit reading strategy instruction for improving reading comprehension of students with different learning styles. Sixty Iranian EFL learners took part in this study. They took the Cambridge ECCE reading test as the pre-test and were divided into five groups according to learner type based on Flemings’s VARK questionnaire. The participants underwent 12 weeks of explicit reading strategy instruction and took a post-test to determine the immediate effects of reading strategy training. Three months later, they took a delayed post-test to check the long-term effects of the training. The results of paired samples T-Test and ANOVA using SPSS indicated that there were significant differences in the pre-and post-test scores for all groups in all tests. The results of the post hoc analysis indicated that the auditory type showed the most and the visual type showed the least amount of improvement. The study thus suggests equipping students with appropriate reading strategies that are tailored to their perceived learning style in order to lead to better comprehension and subsequently more enjoyment when reading.

Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Hospital Environment: Working in a COVID-19 Ward Is a Risk Factor for Infection

Aims. Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk of acquiring the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of the study is to determine the SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates during the first epidemiologic peak among HCWs of a south Belgian hospital and to identify risks factors for infection. Methods. All hospital staff who worked during the first epidemiological peak were asked to answer a questionnaire regarding demographical data, function, type of working unit, type of contact with patients, eventual symptomatology, and the positivity of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing or immunoassay. Results. A total of 235 questionnaires were collected; 90 (38%) HCWs tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from either RT-PCR or immunoassay testing. The positivity rate of HCWs between wards was statistically different (p = 0.004) and was higher in COVID-19 wards than Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Emergency Department (ED). A total of 114 (49%) HCWs presented SARS-CoV-2-compatible symptomatology; 79 (88%) were positive on either RT-PCR or immunoassay testing; 74 (37%) HCWs were unable to work during the studied period; 5 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Multivariate logistic regression modeling showed that having symptoms was highly associated with test positivity (OR 23.3, CI 11.1, 53.1, p-value < 0.001). Working in a COVID-19 ward against working in ICU or ED was also predictive of positivity among HCWs (OR 3.25, CI 1.50, 7.28, p-value = 0.003). Discussion and Conclusions. This study shows a higher positivity rate compared to already reported positivity rates among HCWs. Reported differences in positivity rates depend on many factors, such as local crisis intensity, screening strategy, training in use of self-protective equipment, and study selection bias. HCWs working in COVID-19 wards, in comparison to ED and ICU, seemed at greater risk of being infected in this study. This could be explained by the disparity of HCWs’ experience in handling self-protective equipment and knowledge in infection prevention. Hence, care should be taken in proper training for less-experienced HCWs during hospital epidemics. The latter could increase HCWs’ protection and consequently decrease work absenteeism, ensuring enhanced continuity of patient care during hospital crisis. Rapid quarantine of symptomatic HCWs could reduce contamination rates, as having symptoms was highly associated with test positivity in this study.