In the beginning was . . . the word. Cycles of Influence: A historical analysis of some seminal influences on the evolutionary development of mediation principles, values and practice models

A historical analysis of seminal influences on the evolutionary development of mediation principles, values and practice models. This article will focus on the ideas of pioneering individuals who had a significant role and influence on contemporary mediation principles and practice. It will describe their professional field of practice; the particular principles and values that underpinned their practice; the theoretical models and styles of practice they developed and how those became transported into contemporary mediation practice. The relevance for mediation is to raise awareness of the centrality, significance, and importance of these key principles. Ideally, this will in turn impact on the quality of contemporary practice. Hopefully it will inform or remind reflective practitioners, trainers, and practice consultants of what constitutes the foundations of best practice.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES OF A LIBRARIAN OF A HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

Objective. Development and implementation of the concept of professional competencies of librarians. Methods. In the course of the research, a complex of methods of theoretical analysis (terminological analysis; literature analysis) and synthesis was used; methods of comparison, generalization, systematization of an array of publications. Results. The study of the research on the development and implementation of the professional competence of librarians made it possible to identify the necessary requirements for university library specialists. The resulting practice revealed the potential of librarians during telecommuting. Conclusions. In modern scientific theory, the concept of human competence has a broad interpretation and a complex structural structure. In general, it is about the ability of a person to perform certain activities, perform tasks or work; the availability of an appropriate set of knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to act effectively in a professional field or activity. Professional competencies of librarians are necessary for the implementation of professional activities, opportunities for self-improvement throughout life.

Empirical Research on the Relationship between Students’ Lecture Attendance and Exam Results: Digital Learning in MS Teams

This research aims to investigate the relationship between lecture attendance and the achieved grades on the final exams for a sample of 485 students from the professional field of Economics at a Bulgarian university. The observed average lecture attendance is 30%, the correlation coefficient between the variables is 0.62. When using a regression model up to 38.79% of the variation in the grades obtained by students is explained by the factor attendance. The increase in attendance by 1% leads to an elevation in the exam result by 0.0306 units. All results are statistically significant at a significance level even below 1%. This study examines the problem for the first time in the context of online learning, where contact can only be achieved through electronic channels (students and the teacher have never been in live contact) and attendance data is observed by calculating the time in hours and minutes of participation in the MS Teams sessions.

The Initial Stage of Developing Translation Competence

The article outlines the basic principles of teaching translation in the professional field of communication. The main focus is on the formation of basic skills in translation, allowing students to competently carry out the main stages of work on the text. Various methods of teaching professional translation techniques are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to working with dictionaries and reference books. Keywords: translation, translation studies, competence-based approach, translation competence, speech communication, translation transformation.

Gender-Neutral Language in English and French Linguo-Cultures

Gender linguistics studies the gender-neutral aspect in detail that is usually manifested in a language. One of its provisions tells us that language not only possesses such qualities as anthropocentrism (human orientations) is, but it also implies androcentrism, that is, that it presents a picture of the world based on a masculine viewpoint, in the form of a man (as a personality). The manifestation of such gender asymmetry in the language leads to unequal representation of persons of different sexes and is considered to be intolerant, especially among the members of a foreign language culture.In our paper we deal with the peculiarities of gender-neutral language in English and French linguo-cultures, determine the similarities - the differences between gender-neutral lexis and try to show the cases in which they occur in the process of language interaction. It should be noted that the requirements of political correctness, which are due to non-linguistic reasons, play an important role in the language policy of any country.In conclusion, it should be admitted that in English and French linguistics, the priority to the designation of women in the professional field is given in different ways. Neutral forms are more common (and therefore more widespread) in English whereas in French, however, the forms with inflectional changes or analytical structures of generating nouns are more preferable. Anyway, in European society, language policy and the use of gender-neutral language are greatly influenced by political correctness requirements due to extralinguistic reasons.

Educating Interactive Narrative Designers: Cornerstones of a Program

In recent years, games with a focus on narrative have been a growing area. However, so far, interactive narrative aspects have not been the focus of video game education (with the noted exception of a small number of programs in game writing), which indicates that many narrative designers are self-trained. The insular status means that many designers use private vocabulary and conceptualizations that are not directly transferable. This state of affairs is an obstacle to productive discourse and has negative consequences for the further development of the professional field. By starting an educational program, we aim to address this problem using the opportunity to also include perspectives outside of games. We report on the first iteration of a minor in interactive narrative design, and reflect on lessons learned, while considering future trajectories for this and similar programs.

Smart Tray: Speculating The Future New Zealand Dining Experience

<p>This research proposes a design solution that embraces New Zealander’s proclivity for pervasive digital technology and that aims to meet the needs and desires of the future Kiwi dining experience. This research proposition is directed by an approach that situates itself between future forecasting and speculative design, whereby the design output is viable while simultaneously capable of provoking critical reflection about the future of design as it relates to domestic dining appliances. The development of a design solution, the Smart Tray, encapsulates these aims and has been guided by a comprehensive investigation into the points of connection that exist between culture, technology, design and social behaviour. The Smart Tray seeks to acknowledge New Zealand’s history while embodying its contemporary domestic dining culture in proposing an appliance-device that embraces digital technology as part of the everyday dining experience. This research has been supported by the application of various methodologies inclusive of the critical review of academic literature that has functioned to frame and support the scope of the research proposition; case studies in which a selection of Kiwi households have been interviewed, observed, and their behaviours analysed in order to gain a greater understanding of contemporary dining habits and their relationship with pervasive digital technologies at home; and iterative design development inclusive of concept sketching, sketch modelling, experience prototyping, and user feedback. Although this research is contextualised within New Zealand, the general research outcomes are applicable to a wide market. The outputs produced as a result of this research, including the exegesis and design of the final Smart Tray, are intended to offer a valuable critical perspective and viable future design solution that will aid in furthering the professional field of dining design.</p>

Smart Tray: Speculating The Future New Zealand Dining Experience

<p>This research proposes a design solution that embraces New Zealander’s proclivity for pervasive digital technology and that aims to meet the needs and desires of the future Kiwi dining experience. This research proposition is directed by an approach that situates itself between future forecasting and speculative design, whereby the design output is viable while simultaneously capable of provoking critical reflection about the future of design as it relates to domestic dining appliances. The development of a design solution, the Smart Tray, encapsulates these aims and has been guided by a comprehensive investigation into the points of connection that exist between culture, technology, design and social behaviour. The Smart Tray seeks to acknowledge New Zealand’s history while embodying its contemporary domestic dining culture in proposing an appliance-device that embraces digital technology as part of the everyday dining experience. This research has been supported by the application of various methodologies inclusive of the critical review of academic literature that has functioned to frame and support the scope of the research proposition; case studies in which a selection of Kiwi households have been interviewed, observed, and their behaviours analysed in order to gain a greater understanding of contemporary dining habits and their relationship with pervasive digital technologies at home; and iterative design development inclusive of concept sketching, sketch modelling, experience prototyping, and user feedback. Although this research is contextualised within New Zealand, the general research outcomes are applicable to a wide market. The outputs produced as a result of this research, including the exegesis and design of the final Smart Tray, are intended to offer a valuable critical perspective and viable future design solution that will aid in furthering the professional field of dining design.</p>

The Significance of Teaching English for Specific Purposes in Costa Rica

This essay aims at analyzing the significance of the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) approach in Costa Rica. In addition, the authors scrutinized and compared different sources, such as journals, digital books, web pages, and others in order to provide relevant information regarding ESP, for instance, the aim of ESP based on its definition, its types, its objectives, and the effects of the absence of this approach in the learning process and the curriculum of the students as future employees, considering that Costa Rica does not have enough specialists in the area yet. Some programs to teach the target language for different majors need to be redesigned in order to guarantee the students a learning process based on the professional profile that they want to achieve, their needs, and their professional field. Likewise, this paper also explains the effects of the lack of ESP in the country. Hence, contemplating the effectiveness of making use of ESP to learn the target language can allow the education system of the country to take advantage of the benefits and opportunities that ESP represents for the nation.

Impact of the society’s perception on teachers’ professionalism

An effective teaching contributes to the students’ performance and this depends on qualified-trained teachers, school administration, parents and conducive environment for teaching and learning. It is proven that students are more successful in their academic achievements, in the societies where teachers perceive their profession as their job. This paper explores the impact of the society’s perception on teachers’ professionalism. The method employed in this paper is qualitative by using interview technique and used audio-recorded to ensure a complete transcript. The result indicated that in some developing countries including Cameroon, Kenya and Fiji has various reasons for their job. Teaching profession was affected by how the society considers teachers whereby they are perceived as disadvantaged population who cannot fully take part in the social and economic activities due to the fact that their salary is very low compared other public servants. This low salary and loss of respect of teachers by the society lead to the job dissatisfaction and made the teaching profession as a transitional job before waiting to move to another different professional field.