Continuing Professional Development: rhetoric and practice in the NHS

This article explores the experience of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by supervisory-level clinical staff in the National Health Service. Four main themes are highlighted in the literature, namely the nature and experience of CPD, its relationship with human resource management practices and in particular in career development and planning. These themes are examined utilising sources of (triangulated) empirical data based on a 2500 sample survey conducted across five NHS Trusts. A key finding was that responsibility for learning and development was perceived as belonging to the individual rather than the organisation. Other findings concern a lack of resource-based commitment by the organisation to CPD for clinical staff undertaking supervisory-level roles and evidence of 'credentialism' with its emphasis on seeking certificated qualifications. The findings raise concerns about the potential for clinical staff to become disillusioned and to perceive a potential breach in their psychological contract because of problems in reconciling their own interests with those of their professional body, and that of their employer in relation to CPD.

The training in social and solidarity economy. Analysis of the university offer in Spain

This research analyses the importance of the training for the promotion of the social economy in two ways: 1) focusing on the characteristics of the educational offer of Social Economy and 2) analyzing its differences regarding to those studies from the Management, entrepreneurship, and innovations areas. To this aim, it is carried out as a first step a literature review of the contributions that study the relationships that can exist between the education and Economy. Then, being based on this previous analysis, we already center our research on the Social Economy sector and its relations with the education system. To get this objective, it has been developed a database that includes all the postgraduate titles related to the Economics area. Likewise, a questionnaire has been designed with the aim of characterize the training in social Economy. As a conclusion, it is obtained that the training in social economy in postgraduate studies in the Spanish Universities is very poor. On the other hand, there are significant differences between Social Economy degrees and Business Management, entrepreneurship and innovation degrees with regard to different aspects such as: values to transmit, competencies, skills, the way of understanding the Economy, etc. Based on these conclusions, different recommendations are proposed in order to promote and boost this other way of doing Economy through the training and education in postgraduate studies.

Ethics in neuroscience graduate training programs:Views and models from Canada

Consideration of the ethical, social, and policy implications of research has become increasingly important to scientists and scholars whose work focuses on brain and mind, but limited empirical data exist on the education in ethics available to them. We examined the current landscape of ethics training in neuroscience programs, beginning with the Canadian context specifically, to elucidate the perceived needs of mentors and trainees and offer recommendations for resource development to meet those needs. We surveyed neuroscientists at all training levels and interviewed directors of neuroscience programs and training grants. A total of 88% of survey respondents reported general interest in ethics, and 96% indicated a desire for more ethics content as it applies to brain research and clinical translation. Expert interviews revealed formal ethics education in over half of programs and in 90% of grants-based programs. Lack of time, resources, and expertise, however, are major barriers to expanding ethics content in neuroscience education. We conclude with an initial set of recommendations to address these barriers which includes the development of flexible, tailored ethics education tools, increased financial support for ethics training, and strategies for fostering collaboration between ethics experts, neuroscience program directors, and funding agencies. © 2010 the Authors. Journal Compilation © 2010 International Mind, Brain, and Education Society and Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

Learner-Teacher Interaction (LTI): engaging and supporting students in achieving self-regulated learning

This report represents the second stage of a study which was part of a wide-ranging research programme conducted by the Centre for Excellence of Interprofessional Education, Queen’s University Belfast. The study was an investigation into learner-teacher interaction in the education of undergraduate medical and other healthcare students in order to inform how teachers might facilitate learning in a healthcare setting. It focused in particular on clinical and ward-based tutorials and seminars.

In order to give meaning to this second stage of the study, the report will contextualise the learner-teacher interaction study, will describe the research methods and methods of analysis developed and used to explore learner-teacher interaction. It will then focus on this second stage of the research and the results of the analysis of video sessions of clinical and ward-based tutorials and seminars. In particular it will identify examples of good practice and missed opportunities for the engagement of the learners.

Academics across borders: narratives of linguistic capital, language competence, and communication strategies

This article reports on a study that examined the personal employment paths of six international academics at a British university. To complement previous accounts of difficult migration, it focuses on the successful experiences of such academics, in particular how proficiency in English facilitated their move into employment in higher education (HE), and the linguistic competences and communication strategies they deploy in their daily activities. The article identifies key factors that have facilitated to their academic achievements and contributes to the understanding of the benefits and consequences of skilled migration. In conclusion, it suggests workplace pedagogy and policy responses that could facilitate other international academics' successful experiences in the UK HE sector.

Mathematical modelling in mathematics education and instruction

This paper aims at giving a concise survey of the present state-of-the-art of mathematical modelling in mathematics education and instruction. It will consist of four parts. In part 1, some basic concepts relevant to the topic will be clarified and, in particular, mathematical modelling will be defined in a broad, comprehensive sense. Part 2 will review arguments for the inclusion of modelling in mathematics teaching at schools and universities, and identify certain schools of thought within mathematics education. Part 3 will describe the role of modelling in present mathematics curricula and in everyday teaching practice. Some obstacles for mathematical modelling in the classroom will be analysed, as well as the opportunities and risks of computer usage. In part 4, selected materials and resources for teaching mathematical modelling, developed in the last few years in America, Australia and Europe, will be presented. The examples will demonstrate many promising directions of development.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : reading and writing book 1.

El libro contiene 4 test prácticos completos con formato de examen para los ejercicios 1 y 2 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Los test permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de lectura y redacción, y con el tipo de temas y textos que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : reading and writing book 1 with key.

El libro contiene 4 test prácticos completos con formato de examen para los ejercicios 1 y 2 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Los test permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de lectura y redacción, y con el tipo de temas y textos que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto. Incluye respuestas y redacciones de ejemplo.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : listening and speaking.

El libro contiene 4 test prácticos completos con formato de examen para los ejercicios 3, 4 y 5 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Los test permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de comprensión y pruebas orales, y con el tipo de temas que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : listening and speaking book 2.

El libro contiene test prácticos con formato de examen para los ejercicios 4 y 5 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Incluye cuatro tests de comprensión auditiva de nivel alto y veinte prácticas orales. Los test permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de comprensión y pruebas orales, y con el tipo de temas que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : listening and speaking book 2 with key.

El libro contiene test prácticos con formato de examen para los ejercicios 4 y 5 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Contiene cuatro tests de comprensión auditiva de nivel alto y veinte prácticas orales. Los test permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de comprensión y pruebas orales, y con el tipo de temas que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto. Incluye la trascripción completa de los audios y las respuestas de los test de compresión auditiva.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : listening and speaking book 1 with key.

El libro contiene cuatro tests prácticos completos con formato de examen para los ejercicios 3, 4 y 5 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Los test permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de comprensión y pruebas orales, y con el tipo de temas que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto. Incluye la trascripción completa de los audios y las respuestas de los tests de compresión auditiva.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : reading and writing book 2.

El libro contiene cuatro tests prácticos completos con formato de examen para el ejercicio 2 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Los tests permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de lectura, compresión y escritura, y con el tipo de temas que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto.

Practice tests for IGCSE English as a second language : reading and writing book 2 with key.

El libro contiene cuatro tests prácticos completos con formato de examen para el ejercicio 2 de la prueba Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) de inglés como segundo idioma. Los tests permiten desarrollar las técnicas de examen de los alumnos familiarizándose con el formato de los ejercicios de lectura, compresión y redacción, y con el tipo de temas y textos que pueden encontrar en el examen oficial. El nivel de la prueba es intermedio e intermedio-alto. Incluye las respuestas de los tests y redacciones de ejemplo.