Un estudio sobre la participación en Educación Física de una alumna con discapacidad física (A study about the participation in Physical Education of a student with physical disability)

Se presenta un estudio de caso sobre una alumna de tercero de primaria con discapacidad física en España. El objetivo fue evaluar la participación de Alba en las sesiones de Educación Física e implementar estrategias que favorezcan su inclusión en la asignatura a través de la adaptación de tareas. Para ello, se llevaron a cabo cuatro fases durante la investigación: La fase I, correspondiente a una observación no participante de cuatro sesiones no consecutivas de las clases de Educación Física; la fase II, correspondiente a la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas a los agentes implicados en la educación de la alumna y a la propia alumna; la fase III, correspondiente al análisis documental de una Unidad Didáctica del maestro mediante el modelo TREE, para detectar las posibles barreras en la participación de la alumna; y por último, la fase IV, correspondiente a una propuesta de adaptación de tareas de la Unidad Didáctica evaluada. Los resultados muestran una escasa participación de la alumna en Educación Física, ya que la interacción de esta con el grupo clase se limita a la asunción de roles pasivos o a la realización de actividades individualizadas en muchas ocasiones. Asimismo, se observa un claro desconocimiento sobre la trayectoria escolar de la alumna por parte de los agentes implicados, así como una falta de comunicación entre ellos y su familia. A partir de estos resultados se han propuesto una serie de adaptaciones para incrementar su participación en las sesiones de Educación Física. Abstract: A case study is carried out on a third-year primary school student with physical disabilities from a school in Spain. This research aims to evaluate the participation of Alba in Physical Education sessions and implement strategies that favour her inclusion through the adaptation of tasks. To do this, four phases were conducted during the investigation: phase I, corresponding to a non-participative observation of four non-consecutive sessions of the Physical Education classes that the participant attended; phase II, corresponding to the semi-structured interviews, carried out interviews with the agents involved in the student´s education; phase III, corresponding to the documentary analysis of a Teaching Unit of the teacher, using the TREE model, to detect the possible barriers that the participant must face; and finally, phase IV, corresponding to a proposal to adapt the tasks of that Teaching Unit. Results show a scare participation of the student in Physical Education, because the interaction with the group is limited to the assumption of passive roles or the performance of individualized activities on many situations. There is also a clear lack of knowledge about the student's school trajectory by the agents involved, as well as a lack of communication between them and their family. Based on these results, several adaptations have been proposed to increase their participation in physical education sessions.

What do blind people “see” with retinal prostheses? Observations and qualitative reports of epiretinal implant users

Introduction Retinal implants have now been approved and commercially available for certain clinical populations for over 5 years, with hundreds of individuals implanted, scores of them closely followed in research trials. Despite these numbers, however, few data are available that would help us answer basic questions regarding the nature and outcomes of artificial vision: what do recipients see when the device is turned on for the first time, and how does that change over time? Methods Semi-structured interviews and observations were undertaken at two sites in France and the UK with 16 recipients who had received either the Argus II or IRIS II devices. Data were collected at various time points in the process that implant recipients went through in receiving and learning to use the device, including initial evaluation, implantation, initial activation and systems fitting, re-education and finally post-education. These data were supplemented with data from interviews conducted with vision rehabilitation specialists at the clinical sites and clinical researchers at the device manufacturers (Second Sight and Pixium Vision). Observational and interview data were transcribed, coded and analyzed using an approach guided by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results Implant recipients described the perceptual experience produced by their epiretinal implants as fundamentally, qualitatively different than natural vision. All used terms that invoked electrical stimuli to describe the appearance of their percepts, yet the characteristics used to describe the percepts varied significantly between recipients. Artificial vision for these recipients was a highly specific, learned skill-set that combined particular bodily techniques, associative learning and deductive reasoning in order to build a “lexicon of flashes”—a distinct perceptual vocabulary that they then used to decompose, recompose and interpret their surroundings. The percept did not transform over time; rather, the recipient became better at interpreting the signals they received, using cognitive techniques. The process of using the device never ceased to be cognitively fatiguing, and did not come without risk or cost to the recipient. In exchange, recipients received hope and purpose through participation, as well as a new kind of sensory signal that may not have afforded practical or functional use in daily life but, for some, provided a kind of “contemplative perception” that recipients tailored to individualized activities. Conclusion Attending to the qualitative reports of implant recipients regarding the experience of artificial vision provides valuable information not captured by extant clinical outcome measures.

Mind the gap! Differences between parents’ childhood games and their children’s game preferences

This study discusses the differences between parents’ childhood games and their children’s game preferences. Four hundred and nineteen parents were surveyed to determine their play experiences as children as well as their children’s play experiences today. The results of the study indicate that there is a gap between the time spent outdoors by parents in their childhood and their children. Today, most children spend time indoors, usually playing computer games. The activities and games preferred by the children differed from those of their parents. Although the parents preferred mostly group games requiring group cooperation, competition between groups and physical activity, the children preferred more individualized activities such as cycling and playing in the park. The factors hindering children from playing outside are considered. Although most parents indicated that playing outside is beneficial for their children, they prevented their children from playing outside for reasons such as the dangers of being hit by a car or abduction.

The social cognition individualized activities lab: Implementation of a new remediation intervention for social cognition

IntroductionPeople with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in neurocognitive and social cognitive (SC) processes which limit their social reintegration. SC was found to mediate in part the impact of neurocognitive dysfunctions on real-life functioning.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to implement a new intervention for patients with schizophrenia, the Social Cognition Individualized Activities Lab (So.C.I.A.L.) which trains both social cognition and neurocognitive functions.AimsTo determine the efficacy of the So.C.I.A.L in improving SC by a comparison with a validated cognitive remediation (CR) intervention: the Social Skills And Neurocognitive Individualized Training (SSANIT).MethodsNine stabilized patients accepted to participate in this pilot study. Five were randomized to So.C.I.A.L. and 4 to SSANIT. The two programs were matched for the overall treatment duration (20 weeks), as well as frequency and duration of the sessions. Both interventions included individual sessions of neurocognitive individualized training; So.C.I.A.L included group sessions on Emotion Recognition and Theory of Mind, while SSANIT group sessions of Social Skills Individualized Training.ResultsNo group difference was found for changes in neurocognition, while a significant group effect was observed for changes in SC, due to improvement only in the So.C.I.A.L. group.ConclusionsThe study results showed a specific effect of the So.C.I.A.L. on SC, beyond the effect on neurocognition. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of So.C.I.A.L. on real-life functioning in a larger group of subjects.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Service Users Facing Household Challenges

This article is based on a study of an educational and developmental programme, in which the task-centred coping approach (TCCA) was a central part. Twenty social worker practitioners from Norwegian municipal social services (MSS) participated in the programme, and practiced TCCA with 74 of their service users. The aim of the study was to develop knowledge about how service users evolve their housing competence by utilizing TCCA.The study was based on a way of participatory action research, in which the researcher was positioned as a partly participating researcher. The researcher tried to attain knowledge from the individualized activities of the service users and the practitioners, and use this knowledge as a contribution to developing their practice and the programme. User participation was one of the cornerstones of the study, and individualization meant matching the approaches of the practitioners to the experienced needs of the individual service user.

Student's Physcial Activity Preferences: Implications for the Design and Implementation of Physical Education Curriculum

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese.Using a survey research method this paper examines the concerns and needs of youngsters with respect to physical education and sport in their schools. Participants were (574) boys and girls in the Community Junior Schools. These students were asked among other things to rank order their most preferred activity. The results show that most of the students still prefer team sport over more individualized programs. This could be a function of developmental needs since students at this age seem to prefer team sport rather than more individualized activities. The results also show that the students are very enthusiastic about physical education, it is therefore, incumbent upon us as curriculum developers to introduce activities that have a carry over to adult years.本文以調查方式進行探討青少年對體育及運動的需求，共有574名小學生接受調查，結果發現大部份學生喜愛團隊運動多於個人項目，整體而言，學生對體育運動的興趣均十分濃厚，課程編排需要把活動延伸至成人階段.

Reading Instruction in the Resource Room: Set up for Failure

The reading instruction, grouping practices, and outcomes for students with learning disabilities (LD) in resource room settings were examined. The study was a follow-up of an observational study done 2 years previously (Vaughn, Moody, & Schumm, 1998). Whole class instruction was the dominant grouping format although several teachers used small groups and individualized activities. Half of the special education teachers provided differentiated materials and instruction to match the learning levels of the students that they taught. Overall, no significant gains in reading comprehension were evidenced by students in this study. Results from the fluency tests also revealed inadequate student progress in reading. The failure of the present structure of the resource room to provide opportunities for a special education is discussed.