The process of telepractice implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative inquiry of preschool speech-language pathologists and assistants from one center in Canada

Background Many professional services were pressed to adopt telepractice in response to the global coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. The need to adopt a new service delivery approach quickly created different implementation challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of frontline clinicians who successfully transitioned their in-person speech-language therapy services to telepractice through an implementation science lens. Methods The study was conducted in partnership with one publicly funded program in Ontario, Canada that offers services to preschoolers with speech, language and communication disorders. Sixteen frontline speech-language pathologists and assistants at this organization shared their lived experience transitioning to telepractice during the pandemic during videoconference interviews. A narrative inquiry approach was used to analyze interview transcripts to identify the processes (or steps) this program took to implement telepractice and to understand the facilitators and barriers to telepractice implementation during the pandemic. Results The following six stages were identified from clinicians’ narratives: abrupt lockdown; weeks of uncertainty; telepractice emerged as an option; preparation for telepractice; telepractice trials; and finally, full implementation of telepractice. The stages of events offered significant insights into how government public health measures influenced clinicians’ decisions and their processes of adopting telepractice. In terms of barriers, clinicians reported a lack of knowledge, skills and experience with telepractice and a lack of technological support. The organization’s learning climate and team approach to transitioning services were identified as the main facilitator of implementation. Conclusions Findings suggest a need for better coordination of public health measures and professional services, which would have eased clinicians’ stress and facilitated an earlier transition to telepractice. Fostering an organization’s learning climate may improve organization’s resilience in response to emergency situations.

Health education: a booklet for colostomized people in use of the plug

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop and validate a booklet on the use of the colostomy plug as a technological support for educational intervention. Methods: Methodological study focusing on the production of soft and hard technologies for colostomized people using a plug, developed in three stages: literature review; validation with 13 experts; and with seven colostomized persons. Results: The content for the booklet was selected based on the analysis of the articles identified in Step 1. In Step 2, regarding the content, the number of pages and appearance obtained a Content Validity Index of 0.85 and 1.00 respectively. In Step 3, the minimum Content Validity Index was 0.71 in two items related to organization and 0.86 for the writing style. The other items obtained a Content Validity Index of 1.0. Conclusion: The booklet was validated among experts and colostomized persons, and the final version, containing 50 pages, was offered to health professionals and colostomized people in use of a plug.

STRATEGIES AND APPROACH FOR SMART CITY–PORT ECOSYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNET OF THINGS

The article presents a new contribution to understanding and building novel phenomena of Smart City–Port (SCP) ecosystems and new approaches for the use of new technical and technological findings. The main aim is to elaborate specific strategies SCP ecosystem can secure in the future and an approach for synchronised SCP development for adaption to growing urbanization, mobility and business development, where all stakeholders would take an active role. Based on analysed literature 19 strategies for common smart development of cities and ports are highlighted. The relatively new phenomena of the Internet of Things (IoT) or Internet of Everything (IoE) can simplify their achievement in SCP ecosystem. Moreover, the proposed 3 level approach for technological development of sensing, monitoring and managing data for spatial, transport, environmental and social policy is used on 2 Northern Adriatic cities and ports. The research provides actual analyses of SCP development at Koper (Slovenia) and Rijeka (Croatia), where the development of ports was carried in a completely different way. The article thus proposes a 2 phase approach to the development of SCP and can be used more widely in building a symbiosis of cities and their ports. Firstly, the need to fulfil the strategy from the set of 19 SCP development strategies should be identified and secondly by using a 3 level approach, with existing technological support a SCP environment can be set.

CADASTRAL REGISTRATION OF REAL PROPERTY WITH DATA DIGITALIZATION

Problem statement. The transition in Ukraine from registration and accounting of land in the State Land Cadastre to registration and accounting of real estate in the multi-purpose cadastre requires research aimed at optimizing the information of the multi-purpose cadastre and the form of data representation based on their digitalization to limit the size of the database by technological support. The composition and scope of real estate accounting information data determine the purpose and functions of the multi-purpose cadastre. The problem is the huge amount of information about real estate and the great variety of objects. The difficulty of formalizing too much data for a multi-purpose cadastre information system makes it necessary to explore ways to reduce the amount of software memory involved by digitizing the data. Purpose of the article. Solving the problem of reducing the amount of memory for the database of registration and accounting of real estate through digitalization requires research on the composition of the necessary information about real estate in the multi-purpose cadastre to ensure the functions of the cadastre based on analysis of users' needs. In order to move from the information on real estate determined by the results of analysis to the basic and thematic geospatial data of the cadastre, it is necessary to perform multilevel structuring of cadastral objects at the level of real estate classification, including land plots, construction objects by characteristic legal, technical and value features. A significant reduction in the amount of memory used in the database of information technology support of the multi-purpose cadastre was achieved by coding the characteristics of real estate, including land, construction objects and other land improvements that are part of real estate. Conclusion. Digitization of real estate data in the multi-purpose cadastre allows you to: significantly reduce the amount of database memory used on the server; provide easy access to data on real estate properties; significantly increase the protection of identification of cadastral objects and their properties; opens new opportunities for real estate management, control over compliance with the law, the application of targeted measures to stimulate the desired development of real estate and prevent adverse use of territories.

Marketing Strategy of the Uber Company in the Global Taxi Service Aggregator Market

The article focuses on the consideration of the marketing strategy of the Uber company. A strategy is essential when a company enters new markets. It is a difficult task for any business and requires managers to understand the specifics of the formation, management of marketing strategies in both local and global markets. The above factors determine the relevance of the research topic. In connection with the processes of globalization and significant modifications in the technological support of business, activities in modern markets are changing significantly. The purpose of this article is to analyse the implementation of the marketing strategy of Uber in the global market to indicate the characteristics and directions of development. In research, the following methods applied: a comparative, analysis and methodology for developing marketing strategies. The American service Uber is striving to gain leadership positions in the development of the Russian market. This drive drives offensive strategies that combine direct competition for low prices and strategies that increase resources and customers by engaging an audience that competitors have missed. As the analysis of the company’s activities showed, Uber implements a specific marketing strategy as an offensive strategy. As part of the confrontation with the main competitors, Uber actively invests in the promotion and advertising of the service, pays attention to pricing policy to provide opportunities for participation in price competition. The American service Uber is striving to gain leadership positions in the development of the Russian market. This commitment drives offensive strategies that combine direct competition for low prices and plans that increase resources and customer base by engaging an audience that competitors have missed. As a result of the analysis of the market of services-aggregators of taxi services, we can conclude that competition is intensifying both from the main competitors, Gett and Yandex.Taxi, and from indirect competitors. Hence, launching a third-party service will be a reactive strategy for Uber, as chief competitors have already diversified their service portfolio. Thus, the marketing strategy in modern conditions of development is an efficient mean for promoting a company in the international market.

Investigation of Teacher Support and Teacher Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Tools and Skills Moving the Classroom Forward

Teaching remotely from home is now compulsory for lecturers as schools across the globe have closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A marriage of technology and teacher training is required to help educators deliver lessons effectively online. This research aimed to 1) investigate the type of technological support teachers need to teach online during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) identify the type of teacher training needed during and after the pandemic; and 3) assess teachers’ satisfaction towards their training in relation to their needs. This study utilized a mixed methods research design and included a sample of 59 teachers studying for a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, majoring in English language at an open university in Thailand. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to compute means and standard deviations. In addition, qualitative data derived from a questionnaire were analyzed using typological analysis. The research findings showed: 1) the “fundamental technologies” teachers need for online teaching include computers or other computing devices, a reliable and stable-as-possible internet connection, a microphone, and a headset and camera; and 2) the task of implementing engaging lessons online and supporting students to use ICTs for projects or class work placed particular training demands on teachers. Specifically, they required: (1) training to build knowledge of the basic functions for undertaking virtual teaching and learning; (2) access to meaningful and relevant content to create lessons for students, and (3) online worksheets and projects for students.   

‘Digital Transformations’ of Specialty 029 ‘Information, Library and Archival Affairs’

The purpose of the article is to outline modern concepts of digital transformations in librarianship, didactic translation of which into the educational process is relevant to the educational-professional program ‘digital direction’ ‘Web project management, digital content design’ in ‘Information, library and archival affairs.’ Research Methodology. The method of content analysis of scientific publications was used to assess the ‘semantic field’ of modern concepts of activity and scientific research in the field of library and information business. The scientific novelty lies in the justification of filling the educational content of the educational-professional program ‘Web Project Management, Digital Content Design’ in the specialty ‘Information, Library and Archival Affairs’ in accordance with current concepts and areas of digitization of documentary information, library and archival activities in international and domestic practice. Conclusions. The relevance of the educational and professional program ‘Web Project Management, Digital Content Design’, proposed in 2021 within the specialty 029 ‘Information, Library and Archival Affairs’ is obvious in terms of the need for training to provide technological support for the digital transformation of library information and archival activities. Identification of the content of education relevant to the ‘Information Security of Automated Systems’ specialty within Educational and Professional Program ‘digital’ direction, possible by conditionally outlining the complexes of functional specialization in which the activities of the future specialist in the specialty ISAS: document and information resources – information technology – project management – social communications. Filling these components with the content of education should be based on current concepts and areas of digitization of documentary information, library and archival activities in international and domestic practice, relevant to the educational and professional program ‘Web Project Management, Digital Content Design’.

Moodle Innovation Learning Technology for Medical Education: From Theory to Practice

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has affected the medical and pharmaceutical education globally by disrupting traditional educational practices such as classroom-based teaching. This necessitated implementation of a distance learning via online platforms by medical and pharmacy schools around the world, including Ukraine. Aims: The short review aims at studying the global experience on use of innovative e-learning platform Moodle for distant medical and pharmaceutical education, figuring out its advantages and disadvantages for teaching medical/pharmacy students and healthcare professionals, and working out some recommendations for its further implementation in Ukrainian medical schools. Methods: For this short review, the authors relied only on accredited and peer-reviewed resources with free access articles available, such as Pubmed. The searches identified 32 full-textual content articles, of which 19 had been included in this paper and submitted to a narrative review. Results: The Moodle platform is successfully used for distant medical and pharmaceutical education worldwide, including both high and low income countries, to provide e-learning for medical/pharmacy students and healthcare professionals of different level of education, in the form of both online only courses and blended learning. The platform is a good alternative to conventional medical education with an ability to substitute hands-on teaching for video and audio materials. The potential issues related to its use include possible technical problems, i.e. insufficient technological support or Interment failure, and necessity for proper preparation of the medical and pharmacy teachers. Conclusion: E-learning via Moodle can be easily accommodated in the medical curriculum and offer an adequate alternative to the traditional teaching and learning activities, including both theoretical knowledge and practical skills acquisition. Its potential benefits clearly overweigh possible problems involved. The Moodle platform is recommended for further wider practical application for providing e-learning to medical and pharmacy students and healthcare professionals in Ukraine.

Characteristics of the Pedagogical Model for Forming Social Responsibility in Students by Means of Project Technologies

The article describes the essence and components of the pedagogical model for forming social responsibility in students by means of project technologies. Determined the structural components of this pedagogical model: the purpose, tasks, principles, pedagogical conditions, criterion principles (criteria, indicators and levels of formation), technological support of project activity, result. Characterized the principles of forming social responsibility of students: personal orientation of educational process, dialogicity (conventionalized), integrativeness, nonlinearity, on becoming a person. Defined the criteria of forming social responsibility of students and the corresponding indicators-indicators of their display. Presented four levels (insufficient, satisfactory, sufficient and optimal) for forming certain indicators. The leading means of realization of the pedagogical model for forming social responsibility of students is defined by design technologies, their characteristics in the context of the concept of projective education. Project technologies are defined as a set of forms, methods, means of educational influence in order to implement forecasting, resource development and methodological support of project activities.

Digital and Technological Support of Distance Learning at Universities under COVID-19 (Case of Ukraine)

The crisis of COVID-19 and the lockdowns announced in all countries of the world in early 2020 affected all people and areas of the economy, including education. In this regard, universities around the world were quickly forced to transform the educational process into a distance format. Thus, the article analyses the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning and teaching for students, as well as the peculiarities of the response of universities to actual challenge. The article presents the results of scientific-theoretical and applied research on the problem of providing distance learning at a high-quality level. The authors used the case of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, which was one of the first in Ukraine in 2020 to introduce a powerful distance educational platform “KNU Online”. The scientific novelty of the study is that the authors analysed the current state of higher education in a pandemic and made a forecast of possible changes in the market of educational services using ICT. In addition, in the period of turbulence, the processes are analysed, when free economic zones are actively inclined to find innovative ways to increase their own level of competition and provide educational services on quality and continuous basis. It is proposed to use the case “KNU Online” as a good practice to obtain all the necessary range of educational services in the most accessible and convenient way.