New Zealand Early Childhood Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Practicum and Potential for Video Review

<p>This qualitative study of 20 pre-service early childhood teachers investigated the students’ perceptions of their practicum experiences and views of the potential for video review use using two on-line surveys of Student Teachers (STs) in their second and third year of study in a New Zealand undergraduate three-year degree Initial Teacher Education Programme (ITEP). This study found STs perceived practicum as highly significant within their ITEP and value practicum opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in the real-world context of ECE centres with children and within teaching teams. However, STs reported a wide range of perceived challenges indicating that the practicum is problematic at times. These challenges involve the establishment of relationships and communication, transparency of assessment practices, and STs’ agency. These issues appear interrelated and impact upon student teacher responses within, and perceptions of, their practicum experience. Students were ambivalent to the potential use of video review while also recognising the benefits to their teacher development. The findings of this study provide further evidence of the need to re-examine the traditional practicum model and to consider alternative approaches by ITEP’s including video review.</p>

New Zealand Early Childhood Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Practicum and Potential for Video Review

<p>This qualitative study of 20 pre-service early childhood teachers investigated the students’ perceptions of their practicum experiences and views of the potential for video review use using two on-line surveys of Student Teachers (STs) in their second and third year of study in a New Zealand undergraduate three-year degree Initial Teacher Education Programme (ITEP). This study found STs perceived practicum as highly significant within their ITEP and value practicum opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in the real-world context of ECE centres with children and within teaching teams. However, STs reported a wide range of perceived challenges indicating that the practicum is problematic at times. These challenges involve the establishment of relationships and communication, transparency of assessment practices, and STs’ agency. These issues appear interrelated and impact upon student teacher responses within, and perceptions of, their practicum experience. Students were ambivalent to the potential use of video review while also recognising the benefits to their teacher development. The findings of this study provide further evidence of the need to re-examine the traditional practicum model and to consider alternative approaches by ITEP’s including video review.</p>

Chest compression efficacy of child resuscitators

Background: Chest compression efficacy determines blood flow in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and relies on body mechanics, so resuscitator weight matters. Individuals of insufficient weight are incapable of generating a sufficient downward chest compression force using traditional methods. Aims: This study investigated how a resuscitator's weight affects chest compression efficacy, determined the minimum weight required to perform chest compressions and, for children and adults below this minimum weight, examine alternate means to perform chest compressions. Methods: Volunteers aged 8 years and above were enrolled to perform video-recorded, music-facilitated, compression-only CPR on an audible click-confirming manikin for 2 minutes, following brief training. Subjects who failed this proceeded to alternate modalities: chest compressions by jumping on the lower sternum; and squat-bouncing (bouncing the buttocks on the chest). These methods were assessed via video review. Findings: There were 57 subjects. The 30 subjects above 40kg were all able to complete nearly 200 compressions in 2 minutes. Success rates declined in those who weighed less than 40kg. Below 30 kg, only one subject (29.9 kg weight) out of 14 could achieve 200 effective compressions. Nearly all of the 23 subjects who could not perform conventional chest compressions were able to achieve effective chest compressions using alternate methods. Conclusion: A weight below 40kg resulted in a declining ability to perform standard chest compressions effectively. For small resuscitators, the jumping and squat-bouncing methods resulted in sufficient compressions most of the time; however, chest recoil and injuries are concerns.

Video Analysis and Verification of Direct Head Impacts Recorded by Wearable Sensors in Junior Rugby League Players

Background Rugby league is a high-intensity collision sport that carries a risk of concussion. Youth athletes are considered to be more vulnerable and take longer to recover from concussion than adult athletes. Purpose To review head impact events in elite-level junior representative rugby league and to verify and describe characteristics of X-patchTM-recorded impacts via video analysis. Study Design Observational case series. Methods The X-patchTM was used on twenty-one adolescent players (thirteen forwards and eight backs) during a 2017 junior representative rugby league competition. Game-day footage, recorded by a trained videographer from a single camera, was synchronised with X-patchTM-recorded timestamped events. Impacts were double verified by video review. Impact rates, playing characteristics, and gameplay situations were described. Results The X-patchTM-recorded 624 impacts ≥ 20g between game start and finish, of which 564 (90.4%) were verified on video. Upon video review, 413 (73.2%) of all verified impacts ≥ 20g where determined to be direct head impacts. Direct head impacts ≥ 20g occurred at a rate of 5.2 impacts per game hour; 7.6 for forwards and 3.0 for backs (range = 0–18.2). A defender’s arm directly impacting the head of the ball carrier was the most common event, accounting for 21.3% (n = 120) of all impacts, and 46.7% of all “hit-up” impacts. There were no medically diagnosed concussions during the competition. Conclusion The majority (90.4%) of head impacts ≥ 20g recorded by the X-patchTM sensor were verified by video. Double verification of direct head impacts in addition to cross-verification of sensor-recorded impacts using a secondary source such as synchronised video review can be used to ensure accuracy and validation of data.