University of Bath, United Kingdom (May 2022) - Revolutionary ‘EarSwitch’ project to be scaled up with new funding

Title:

Revolutionary ‘EarSwitch’ project to be scaled up with new funding

 

Published:

University of Bath, 26 May 2022 (Updated 30 May 2022)

https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/revolutionary-earswitch-project-to-be-scaled-up-with-new-funding/

From the press release:

New funding from NIHR will help to progress ‘EarSwitch’ – the device that uses a hidden ear muscle to allow people with neurological conditions to communicate.

 

Doctor of Education (EDD) dissertation, Lynn University, 2021 - Strengthening and Supporting Photography Education Using an Online Multi-Faceted Approach

Title: 

Strengthening and Supporting Photography Education Using an Online Multi-Faceted Approach  

 

By: 

Isidro Pentzke, Lynn University 

Andrea Suhajcik, Lynn University 

&

Melissa Glynn, Lynn University  

 

Published: 

Lynn University, 2021  

https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/371/   

 

Abstract: 

The purpose of this study is to fill the void in arts education specifically photography to high school students who cannot take electives during the regular school day. There is a need for free creative online support and education within public high school curriculum. By identifying curriculum gaps in the arts, this study may support high school students with the needed twenty first century skills, such as the 4 C’s to be competitive in the job market after graduation. These critical skills are known as the 4 C’s, and focus on Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking (Stauffer, 2020).  Participants will be solicited through convenient sampling, and social media sites known to art professionals and art educators. An email (Appendix A) will be sent by the researchers to working art professionals and art educators to evaluate the online photography platform. In addition, a flyer (Appendix B) will be posted on social media sites geared toward art education. The survey (Appendix D) will be hosted by secure Google Forms and be distributed by a secure email list obtained through convenient sampling and social media sites known to art professionals and art educators. Participants will first read the informed consent (Appendix C). They must understand and agree to the informed consent in order to continue with the study. By clicking “I agree”, the participants are waiving the signature as consent documentation, and confirm that they are over the age of 18. By clicking “I disagree”, the participants will have access to the free online photography educational website (Appendix E), but confirm that they will not participate in the survey. In addition, a forced field will be in place. Therefore, if a participant does not agree to the informed consent, then the survey will close and the participant thanked. When the participant agrees, they will then be given access to the free online photography educational website (Appendix E). They can then peruse it for as long as they like. After closing the website, they will be directed to the survey questions about the website to answer. Data will then be collected and evaluated after asking the participants to evaluate the free photography online platform. Once the data is evaluated, the researchers will enhance the photography platform based on the data collected.  This investigation will utilize a qualitative case study method design. Data gathered from the anonymous online survey will be analyzed through descriptive statistics of art professional and art educator perception. Likert Scale questions and open ended semi-structured questions answers will be organized into codes and then generated into themes. Inferential statistics will include sample t-tests. The quantitative and qualitative results will then be triangulated to make meaning and inform the study.

 

African scientists engage with the public to tackle local challenges [Nature, February 2022]

Title: 

African scientists engage with the public to tackle local challenges   

 

Author: 

Abdullahi Tsanni   

 

Published: 

Nature, 15 February 2022 

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00415-w  

 

From the article: 

Science-engagement initiatives in Africa disseminate knowledge and bridge the gap between research and the continent’s people.

 

Lost in communication in Higher Education [Scholarly Article - Communicatio: South African Journal of Communication Theory and Research, November 2020]

Title:

Lost in communication in Higher Education

Author:

Mardi Delport

Central University of Technology

Published:

Communicatio: South African Journal of Communication Theory and Research, Volume 46, Issue 3, p. 106-126 (November 2020)

https://journals.co.za/content/commu/46/3/ejc-commu-v46-n3-a6

Abstract:

The bureaucratic and academic nature of higher education institutions (HEIs), coupled with their complex organisational structures, extensive vertical hierarchies and large numbers of staff in need of communication, are believed to often hamper their internal communication processes. This is, to a great extent, also the case in the South African higher education arena. This article reports on a study that aimed to undertake research that would direct the development of a framework for improving internal communication at South African multi-campus universities. The framework would not only boast of features which are regarded as good practice by companies in the corporate sector, but also features based on the recommendations and suggestions of communication executives from seven multi-campus universities in South Africa. A mixed methods research design was employed. The research indicates that communication should be established as a core business value, and be advocated on all levels. The findings also suggest that management should be evaluated on their communication skills; regular monitoring of the effectiveness of communication at main and distance campuses should take place; whilst communication channels for feedback should be established. The internal communication framework outlined in the article may aid multi-campus universities to attain higher levels of excellence, which will subsequently result in greater business impact and more funding opportunities.

Short Article - Critical thinking and communication will be more necessary than ever post-pandemic

Title:
Critical thinking and communication will be more necessary than ever post-pandemic

Author:
Katy Shaw

Published:
Times Higher Education, 12 April 2020

From the article:
"Skills learned in arts and humanities degrees will be vital in understanding the effects of the coronavirus crisis."

To read this article:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/critical-thinking-and-communication-will-be-more-necessary-ever-post-pandemic

Scholarly Article (2020) - Approaching media as socio-technical assemblages in a datafied age

Title:
Approaching media as socio-technical assemblages in a datafied age

Author:
Emma Dahlin

Citation:
Dahlin, E. (2020). Approaching media as socio-technical assemblages in a datafied age. First Monday, 25(4). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v25i4.10341

From the abstract:
In times when new means of communication are emerging, it becomes increasingly relevant to revisit and reconsider media studies’ main concerns, and how contemporary media can be understood and studied. This paper draws attention to how the presumption of characteristics belonging to certain entities may elevate problems in a datafied age when streaming services, texts, content, producers, audiences, social media sites, and television are always intensely entangled.