A sound education: Becoming aware of the sound around us

In this article it is intended to discuss the issue of noise pollution from an unusual point of view: noise pollution is not only the result of sound increase worldwide, but, particularly, the poor quality of our listening habits in modern life as well. In contemporary society we are subject to a considerable amount of stimulus to all our senses: vision, scent, taste and hearing which are becoming more and more insensible due to over exposure in our environment. These increased stimuli make us look for alternatives to reduce our ability to perceive them and be protected from injuries. However, our sensitivity will also decrease. In the specific case of environment noise, over exposure has made us forget the enchantment of certain sounds that used to give us pleasure or evoke good feelings by many ways, making us recall certain good things, bringing particular moments of our lives to our memory or even filling us with strong emotion. The Canadian composer and music educator, R. Murray Schafer, believes that noise pollution is the result of a society who became deaf. Closing our ears to noise protect us from noise pollution but also prevent us from grasping subtleties of listening. Contemporary world does not help us to be aware of sound in the space around us; acquiring this hearing ability is a matter of focus, interest and practice. Sound education exercises are aimed at children, teenagers and adults who want to improve their listening ability to environmental sounds, perceive its proprieties and learn how sound affects us and touches our feelings. The results are easy to accomplish and contribute to our awareness of the sound environment around us and to the conception of the environmental sound as a composition made by everybody and everything through positive actions, strong will and high sensitivity. Copyright © (2011) by the International Institute of Acoustics & Vibration.

A Sexualidade como tema pedagógico: análise das propostas do MEC e da UNESCO para inserção do tema nas escolas

Pós-graduação em Educação Escolar - FCLAR

Uso de álcool e julgamento sócio-moral de estudantes do ensino médio

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

CAPULANAS NA SALA DE AULA: OS SENTIDOS DA FORMAÇÃO DE EDUCADORES(AS) EM MOÇAMBIQUE

Este trabalho é um registro das histórias de vida de muitas pessoas. As histórias aqui apresentam identidades diferentes: fragmentos vividos e guardados como expressões culturais orais, escritos permeados pela emoção, imagens capturadas pelos encontros, tudo isso organizado e escrito ganha forma e significado com a possibilidade desse trabalho. À medida que os encontros foram oportunizados iniciaram-se outros momentos que se desdobraram em muitos mais. A implantação do Programa Alfabetização Solidária em Moçambique, PASMO, viabilizou que essa experiência fosse investigada para identificar os sentidos da formação de educadores(as) no Brasil e em Moçambique. O objetivo desse trabalho centrou-se no desenvolvimento de nova proposta para a formação de educadores(as) em Moçambique, na África, tendo como tema central os encontros entre profissionais de educação que passaram a transitar por contextos diferenciados, envolvendo países, culturas, línguas e outras formas de comunicação. Ênfase na construção de conhecimento foi dada à cultura local, línguas moçambicanas e oralidade. A inserção de mulheres moçambicanas mostrou-se importante como forma de apropriação e mobilidade social e cultural. Foi no espaço da sala de aula, nos fazeres próprios da docência e no encontro com educadores(as), que se construiu e re-construiu conhecimentos específicos que sinalizaram para novas práticas pedagógicas. Os encontros promovidos pela educação conduziram a caminhos e trilhas da formação de educadores(as), primeiro no Brasil, depois em Moçambique.(AU)

CAPULANAS NA SALA DE AULA: OS SENTIDOS DA FORMAÇÃO DE EDUCADORES(AS) EM MOÇAMBIQUE

Este trabalho é um registro das histórias de vida de muitas pessoas. As histórias aqui apresentam identidades diferentes: fragmentos vividos e guardados como expressões culturais orais, escritos permeados pela emoção, imagens capturadas pelos encontros, tudo isso organizado e escrito ganha forma e significado com a possibilidade desse trabalho. À medida que os encontros foram oportunizados iniciaram-se outros momentos que se desdobraram em muitos mais. A implantação do Programa Alfabetização Solidária em Moçambique, PASMO, viabilizou que essa experiência fosse investigada para identificar os sentidos da formação de educadores(as) no Brasil e em Moçambique. O objetivo desse trabalho centrou-se no desenvolvimento de nova proposta para a formação de educadores(as) em Moçambique, na África, tendo como tema central os encontros entre profissionais de educação que passaram a transitar por contextos diferenciados, envolvendo países, culturas, línguas e outras formas de comunicação. Ênfase na construção de conhecimento foi dada à cultura local, línguas moçambicanas e oralidade. A inserção de mulheres moçambicanas mostrou-se importante como forma de apropriação e mobilidade social e cultural. Foi no espaço da sala de aula, nos fazeres próprios da docência e no encontro com educadores(as), que se construiu e re-construiu conhecimentos específicos que sinalizaram para novas práticas pedagógicas. Os encontros promovidos pela educação conduziram a caminhos e trilhas da formação de educadores(as), primeiro no Brasil, depois em Moçambique.(AU)

CAPULANAS NA SALA DE AULA: OS SENTIDOS DA FORMAÇÃO DE EDUCADORES(AS) EM MOÇAMBIQUE

Este trabalho é um registro das histórias de vida de muitas pessoas. As histórias aqui apresentam identidades diferentes: fragmentos vividos e guardados como expressões culturais orais, escritos permeados pela emoção, imagens capturadas pelos encontros, tudo isso organizado e escrito ganha forma e significado com a possibilidade desse trabalho. À medida que os encontros foram oportunizados iniciaram-se outros momentos que se desdobraram em muitos mais. A implantação do Programa Alfabetização Solidária em Moçambique, PASMO, viabilizou que essa experiência fosse investigada para identificar os sentidos da formação de educadores(as) no Brasil e em Moçambique. O objetivo desse trabalho centrou-se no desenvolvimento de nova proposta para a formação de educadores(as) em Moçambique, na África, tendo como tema central os encontros entre profissionais de educação que passaram a transitar por contextos diferenciados, envolvendo países, culturas, línguas e outras formas de comunicação. Ênfase na construção de conhecimento foi dada à cultura local, línguas moçambicanas e oralidade. A inserção de mulheres moçambicanas mostrou-se importante como forma de apropriação e mobilidade social e cultural. Foi no espaço da sala de aula, nos fazeres próprios da docência e no encontro com educadores(as), que se construiu e re-construiu conhecimentos específicos que sinalizaram para novas práticas pedagógicas. Os encontros promovidos pela educação conduziram a caminhos e trilhas da formação de educadores(as), primeiro no Brasil, depois em Moçambique.(AU)

A hora da alfabetização: atores, ideias e instituições na construção do PAIC-CE

The objective of this thesis is to understand how a certain social condition becomes relevant enough to be regarded as an issue worthy of government action and how certain proposed initiatives prevail while others are discarded. More specifically, the goal is to discuss public policy for education and check whether the analytical models employed are significant enough to explain how the literacy issue became part of the policy agenda of the government of the State of Ceará in Brazil, and how the Literacy Program at the Right Age (PAIC) developed over time. From the empirical perspective about public policy for education in Brazil, this is a relevant case when one takes into account that, historically, the literacy policies are focused on teenagers and adults, implying a lack of specific initiatives towards children at the proper age of learning to read and write. In order to understand what drove this issue to the top of the state government agenda, this thesis is primarily based on the literature about public policy analysis, with focus on the agenda setting process and development of proposals. A hybrid approach is used, combining analytical tools from Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Model (1995), the Advocacy Coalition Framework by Sabatier and Jenkins Smith (1993) and the historical new institutionalism lens. The research method is qualitative and based on the single case study method. The data set was assembled from institutional PAIC-related documents, tachygraphy notes from sessions at Ceará’s State House of Representatives, press clippings, academic studies and interviews with key participants from several organizations. The conclusion of this thesis is that, given the complexity of the case in point, the combination of the three analytical methods is adequate and necessary to understanding the multiple drivers for this issue to have entered Ceará’s state government agenda and the design of the PAIC itself. Particularly relevant are the ideas and the policy entrepreneurs, the processes of problem recognition for the composition of a wide coalition and for the specification of alternatives, and the path dependence of the education policy in Ceará. This study adds, as a result, to a better understanding of the stages that make up the agenda setting in public policy, in particular in the field of education.

A hora da alfabetização: atores, ideias e instituições na construção do PAIC-CE

The objective of this thesis is to understand how a certain social condition becomes relevant enough to be regarded as an issue worthy of government action and how certain proposed initiatives prevail while others are discarded. More specifically, the goal is to discuss public policy for education and check whether the analytical models employed are significant enough to explain how the literacy issue became part of the policy agenda of the government of the State of Ceará in Brazil, and how the Literacy Program at the Right Age (PAIC) developed over time. From the empirical perspective about public policy for education in Brazil, this is a relevant case when one takes into account that, historically, the literacy policies are focused on teenagers and adults, implying a lack of specific initiatives towards children at the proper age of learning to read and write. In order to understand what drove this issue to the top of the state government agenda, this thesis is primarily based on the literature about public policy analysis, with focus on the agenda setting process and development of proposals. A hybrid approach is used, combining analytical tools from Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Model (1995), the Advocacy Coalition Framework by Sabatier and Jenkins Smith (1993) and the historical new institutionalism lens. The research method is qualitative and based on the single case study method. The data set was assembled from institutional PAIC-related documents, tachygraphy notes from sessions at Ceará’s State House of Representatives, press clippings, academic studies and interviews with key participants from several organizations. The conclusion of this thesis is that, given the complexity of the case in point, the combination of the three analytical methods is adequate and necessary to understanding the multiple drivers for this issue to have entered Ceará’s state government agenda and the design of the PAIC itself. Particularly relevant are the ideas and the policy entrepreneurs, the processes of problem recognition for the composition of a wide coalition and for the specification of alternatives, and the path dependence of the education policy in Ceará. This study adds, as a result, to a better understanding of the stages that make up the agenda setting in public policy, in particular in the field of education.

Intervenção psicomotora nas perturbações do espectro do autismo na Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo, APPDA, de Lisboa

O presente relatório descreve as atividades de estágio desenvolvidas no âmbito do Mestrado em Reabilitação Psicomotora, Ramo de Aprofundamento de Competências Profissionais, da Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, realizado na Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo (APPDA) - Lisboa, justamente no Centro de Atividades Ocupacionais (CAO) com 47 jovens e adultos e no Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão (CRI) com 21 crianças e jovens, alunos de seis escolas do ensino regular, integrados em Unidades de Ensino Estruturado para o Autismo (UEEA). O estágio profissionalizante desenrolou-se mediante sessões de intervenção psicomotora em ginásio e meio aquático, em contexto de grupo ou individual acompanhando crianças, jovens e adultos com Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e da Aprendizagem, com maior incidência com Perturbações do Espectro do Autismo. O relatório apresenta o enquadramento teórico, legal e institucional e realização da prática profissional, sendo descritos cinco estudos de caso, enquanto modelos exemplificativos do trabalho desenvolvido, adicionando-se uma reflexão acerca da experiência de estágio. Para cada estudo-caso encontra-se descrito o processo de avaliação, estabelecimento de objetivos, programa pedagógico-terapêutico, resultados e respetiva análise. Da referida intervenção foi possível constatar melhorias, tanto a nível psicomotor como emocional e comportamental, sugerindo os benefícios do contributo da intervenção psicomotora nas Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Aprendizagem.

Teleconsultation in sexual and reproductive health for young adults through mobile devices: Experience in Colombia

Background: Sexual risk behaviors associated with poor information on sexuality have contributed to major public health problems in the area of sexual and reproductive health in teenagers and young adults in Colombia. Objective: To measure the perception of changes in sexual and reproductive risk behavior after the use of a teleconsultation service via mobile devices in a sample of young adults. Methods: A before and after observational study was designed, where a mobile application to inquire about sexual and reproductive health was developed. The perception of changes in sexual and reproductive health risk behaviors in a sample of young adults after the use of the application was measured using the validated survey “Family Health International (FHI) – Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) – Survey for Adults between 15 to 40 Years”. Non-probabilistic convenience recruitment was undertaken through the study´s web page. Participants answered the survey online before and after the use of the mobile application for a six month period (intervention). For the inferential analysis, data was divided into three groups (dichotomous data, discrete quantitative data, and ordinal data), to compare the results of the questions between the first and the second survey. For all tests, a confidence interval of 95% was established. For dichotomous data, the Chi-squared test was used. For quantitative data, we used the Student’s t-test, and for ordinal data, the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. Results: A total of 257 subjects were registered in the study and met the selection criteria. The pre-intervention survey was answered by 232 subjects, and 127 completely answered the post-intervention survey, of which 54.3% did not use the application, leaving an effective population of 58 subjects for analysis. 53% (n=31) were female, and 47% (n=27) were male. The mean age was 21 years, ranging between 18 and 40 years. The differences between the answers on the first and the second survey were not statistically significant. The main risk behaviors identified in the population were homosexual relations, non-use of condoms, sexual relations with non-regular and commercial partners, the use of psychoactive substances, and ignorance about the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV transmission. Conclusions: Although there were no differences between the pre- and post-intervention results, the study revealed different risk behaviors among the participating subjects. These findings highlight the importance of promoting educational strategies on this matter and the importance of providing patients with easily accessible tools with reliable health information.

Assessment of construct validity and reliability of the inventory of masculinity and femininity in adolescents and young adults Colombian

This study evaluated the construct validity and reliability of Femininity and Masculinity Inventory-Imafe (Lara, 1993), and calculated standardized punctuations for Colombian teenagers and young adults. Participants were 1527 male and female, between 15 and 42. The general and scale reliability was evaluated through Alfa and Guttmann coefficients, and the factor analysis was used to estimate the construct validity. Standardized punctuations were obtained for gender, since there were statistically significant differences for sex in the six scales of the instrument. The inventory presented reliability values that oscillated between .76 and .88, and the factorial analysis showed three factors coherent with the factors found in its original validation. Correlacional inter-scales analysis and sex-differences were theoretically consistent.

Functional status, postural stability and falls among older adults with glaucoma

Visual impairment is an important contributing factor in falls among older adults, which is one of the leading causes of injury and injury-related death in this population. Visual impairment is also associated with greater disability among older adults, including poorer health-related quality of life, increased frailty and reduced postural stability. The majority of this evidence, however, is based on measures of central visual function, rather than peripheral visual function. As such, there is comparatively limited research on the associations between peripheral visual function, disability and falls, and even fewer studies involving older adults with specific diseases which affect peripheral visual function, the most common of which is glaucoma. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss among older adults, affecting around 3 per cent of adults aged over 60 years. The condition is characterised by retinal nerve fibre loss, primarily affecting peripheral visual function. Importantly, the number of older adults with glaucomatous visual impairment is projected to increase as the ageing population grows. The first component of the thesis examined the cross-sectional association between glaucomatous visual impairment and health-related quality of life (Study 1a), functional status (Study 1b) and postural stability (Study 1c) among older adults. A cohort of 74 community-dwelling adults with glaucoma (mean age 74.2 ± 5.9 years) was recruited and completed a baseline assessment. A number of visual function measures was assessed, including central visual function (visual acuity and contrast sensitivity), motion sensitivity, retinal nerve fibre analysis and monocular and binocular visual field measures (monocular 24-2 and binocular integrated visual fields (IVF): IVF-60 and IVF-120). The analyses focused on the associations between the outcomes measures and severity and location of visual field loss, as this is the primary visual function affected by glaucoma. In Study 1a, we examined the association between visual field loss and health-related quality of life, measured by the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36). Greater binocular visual field loss, on both IVF measures, was associated with lower SF-36 physical component scores, adjusted for age and gender (Pearson's r =|0.32| to |0.36|, p<0.001). Furthermore, inferior visual field loss was more strongly associated with the SF-36 physical component than superior field loss. No association was found between visual field loss and SF-36 mental component scores. The association between visual field loss and functional status was examined in Study 1b. Functional status outcomes measures included a physical activity questionnaire (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, PASE), performance tests (six-minute walk test, timed up and go test and lower leg strength) and an overall functional status score. Significant, but weak, correlations were found between binocular visual field loss and PASE and overall functional status scores, adjusted for age and gender (Pearson's r =|0.24| to |0.33|, p<0.05). Greater inferior visual field loss, independent of superior visual field loss, was significantly associated with poorer physical performance results and lower overall functional status scores. In Study 1c, we examined the association between visual field loss and postural stability, using a swaymeter device which recorded body movement during four conditions: eyes open and closed, on a firm and foam surface. Greater binocular visual field loss was associated with increased postural sway, both on firm and foam surfaces, independent of age and gender (Pearson’s r =|0.44| to |0.46|, p <0.001). Furthermore, inferior visual field was a stronger contributor to postural stability, more so than the superior visual field, particularly on the foam condition with the eyes open. Greater visual field loss was associated with a reduction in the visual contribution to postural sway, which underlies the observed association with postural sway. The second component of the thesis examined the association between severity and location of visual field loss and falls during a 12-month longitudinal follow-up. The number of falls was assessed prospectively using monthly fall calendars. Of the 71 participants who successfully completed the follow up (mean age 73.9 ± 5.7 years), 44% reported one or more falls, and around 20% reported two or more falls. After adjusting for age and gender, every 10 points missed on the IVF-120 increased the rate of falls by 25% (rate ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.08 - 1.44) or every 5dB reduction in IVF-60 increased the rate of falls by 47% (rate ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.16 - 1.87). Inferior visual field loss was a significant predictor of falls, more so than superior field loss, highlighting the importance of the inferior visual field area in safe and efficient navigation. Further analyses indicated that postural stability, more so than functional status, may be a potential mediating factor in the relationship between visual field loss and falls. Future research is required to confirm this causal pathway. In addition, the use of topical beta-blocker medications was not associated with an increased rate of falls in this cohort, compared with the use of other topical anti-glaucoma medications. In summary, greater binocular visual field loss among older adults with glaucoma was associated with poorer health-related quality of life in the physical domain, reduced functional status, greater postural instability and higher rates of falling. When the location of visual field loss was examined, inferior visual field loss was consistently more strongly associated with these outcomes than superior visual field loss. Insights gained from this research improve our understanding of the association between glaucomatous visual field loss and disability, and its link with falls among older adults. The clinical implications of this research include the need to include visual field screening in falls risk assessments among older adults and to raise awareness of these findings to eye care practitioners and adults with glaucoma. The findings also assist in developing further research to examine strategies to reduce disability and prevent falls among older adults with glaucoma to promote healthy ageing and independence for these individuals.

Benefits and challenges of using restorative justice approaches for victims of crime committed by adults: An exploration of theory and evidence

Book Abstract: Current experimentations with approaches to restorative justice for adult offenders represents a compelling new direction in the criminal justice system. This book examines the values and challenges of restorative justice for adult offenders, victims and communities. The discussion is situated within current debate, available research, and the international literature. In canvassing the structure, content, and delivery of key Australian and New Zealand restorative justice programs for adult offenders, the distinguished authors offer critical analysis of the emergence and impact of program developements for practitioners and professionals. This collection brings together stimulating and informed articles by experienced practitioners, leading academics and new researchers in the field. It also offers valuable insights into emerging restorative justice practice for adult offenders and provides a real alternative to the adversarial justice system.

Potentiation of the early visual response to learned danger signals in adults and adolescents

The reinforcing effects of aversive outcomes on avoidance behaviour are well established. However, their influence on perceptual processes is less well explored, especially during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Using electroencephalography, we examined whether learning to actively or passively avoid harm can modulate early visual responses in adolescents and adults. The task included two avoidance conditions, active and passive, where two different warning stimuli predicted the imminent, but avoidable, presentation of an aversive tone. To avoid the aversive outcome, participants had to learn to emit an action (active avoidance) for one of the warning stimuli and omit an action for the other (passive avoidance). Both adults and adolescents performed the task with a high degree of accuracy. For both adolescents and adults, increased N170 event-related potential amplitudes were found for both the active and the passive warning stimuli compared with control conditions. Moreover, the potentiation of the N170 to the warning stimuli was stable and long lasting. Developmental differences were also observed; adolescents showed greater potentiation of the N170 component to danger signals. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that learned danger signals in an instrumental avoidance task can influence early visual sensory processes in both adults and adolescents.

Self-rating scales in the assessment of current and childhood symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a life-long condition, but because of its historical status as a self-remitting disorder of childhood, empirically validated and reliable methods for the assessment of adults are scarce. In this study, the validity and reliability of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the Adult Problem Questionnaire (APQ), which survey childhood and current symptoms of ADHD, respectively, were studied in a Finnish sample. Methods: The self-rating scales were administered to adults with an ADHD diagnosis (n = 38), healthy control participants (n = 41), and adults diagnosed with dyslexia (n = 37). Items of the self-rating scales were subjected to factor analyses, after which the reliability and discriminatory power of the subscales, derived from the factors, were examined. The effects of group and gender on the subscales of both rating scales were studied. Additionally, the effect of age on the subscales of the WURS was investigated. Finally, the diagnostic accuracy of the total scores was studied. Results: On the basis of the factor analyses, a four-factor structure for the WURS and five-factor structure for the APQ had the best fit to the data. All of the subscales of the APQ and three of the WURS achieved sufficient reliability. The ADHD group had the highest scores on all of the subscales of the APQ, whereas two of the subscales of the WURS did not statistically differ between the ADHD and the Dyslexia group. None of the subscales of the WURS or the APQ was associated with the participant's gender. However, one subscale of the WURS describing dysthymia was positively correlated with the participant's age. With the WURS, the probability of a correct positive classification was .59 in the current sample and .21 when the relatively low prevalence of adult ADHD was taken into account. The probabilities of correct positive classifications with the APQ were .71 and .23, respectively. Conclusions: The WURS and the APQ can provide accurate and reliable information of childhood and adult ADHD symptoms, given some important constraints. Classifications made on the basis of the total scores are reliable predictors of ADHD diagnosis only in populations with a high proportion of ADHD and a low proportion of other similar disorders. The subscale scores can provide detailed information of an individual's symptoms if the characteristics and limitations of each domain are taken into account. Improvements are suggested for two subscales of the WURS.