There is a common acceptance that online technologies have the capacity to transform the way we learn. It appears the call for alternative modes of learning and the effective integration of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) into the regular classroom is no longer peripheral. There is sound evidence that increasingly teachers and schools are embracing the technologies available to them. This study examines the merits, barriers and issues associated with the employment of online technologies in the teaching and learning of second and foreign languages. Data is sourced from the views and opinions of five participants from a ‘brick and mortar’ school, three participants from a virtual school and the perspectives from two outside experts. The findings reveal participants show an overall satisfaction with the usefulness of online technologies. Compatible with the literature, the study shows that there are systemic factors undermining the efforts of individuals to fully utilise the technologies available to them. The overarching epistemology of this research is congruent with an Ecological model. This approach allows for a multi-level perspective of the complexity and disambiguation ICT has thrust upon educators and learners. This paper concludes with a positive view of the usefulness of online technologies and reaffirms what many researchers are claiming; most schools are only at the beginning of their ICT journey.

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between a parents' goals for their children and their parenting behaviors. An ecological framework (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, 1990) provides the primary theoretical basis for the study, locating the relationship between parent goals and parent practices within a network of other influences on parenting practices, such as family income, ethnicity, parent educational level, and the degree of similarity in temperament between parent and child. Three different types of parental goals were investigated, using the Parenting Goals Questionnaire (Martin, Halverson, & Hollett-Wright,1991); achievement, independence, and respect for parents. These goals were relevant to subscales of the Child Rearing Practices Questionnaire (Block, 1986). Results indicated partial support for a relationship between parenting goals and parenting practices. The hypothesized link was found for independence-oriented goals and practices, and for traditional goals and authoritarian behavior, but not for traditional goals and parental encouragement of emotional expression. / Ph. D.

<p>Syftet med denna undesökning var att ur ett ekologiskt perspektiv undersöka betydelsen av interna och externa resurser för integrationen för nyanlända flyktingar i Fagersta kommun, och om något upplevts särskilt viktigt för integrationen som bidragit till känsla av hopp och framtidstro. Två delstudier genomfördes. En kartläggning gjordes av lagar och regleringar som påverkar flyktingpolitiken samt en dokumentanalys av lokala policy- och styrdokument i Fagersta kommun. Åtta semistrukturerade ntervjuer genomfördes med fyra kvinnliga och fyra manliga flyktingar bosatta i Fagersta. Resultatet, som överensstämmer med tidigare forskning, visade att flyktingar behöver ges möjlighet att vara aktiva i sin egen anpassningsprocess. Slutsatsen är att flyktingar som känner sig delaktiga mår bättre vilket främjar integrationen.</p> / <p>The purpose of this paper was, from an ecological perspective, to study the importance of internal and external resources for the integration process for new refugees coming into the Fagersta community. Also to study whether the refugees benefited from any particular part of the integration process that contributed to an increased personal sense of hope and belief in their future. Two studies were carried out. Firstly, a chart of the laws and regulations affecting the integration politics was undertaken. Secondly, an analysis was made of the local policy and regulation dociments in the Fagersta community. Eight semi structured interviews were carried through with four female and four male refugees that had previously settled in the Fagerta community. The results of these interviews supported earlier studies that confirmed that refugees need the opportunity to be active in their own adjustment process. The conclusion is that refugees that feel they are allowed to, and are able to, participate in their own integration process experience a greater sense of well-being which, in turn, contributes to a more successful integration within their new community.</p>

Syftet med denna undesökning var att ur ett ekologiskt perspektiv undersöka betydelsen av interna och externa resurser för integrationen för nyanlända flyktingar i Fagersta kommun, och om något upplevts särskilt viktigt för integrationen som bidragit till känsla av hopp och framtidstro. Två delstudier genomfördes. En kartläggning gjordes av lagar och regleringar som påverkar flyktingpolitiken samt en dokumentanalys av lokala policy- och styrdokument i Fagersta kommun. Åtta semistrukturerade ntervjuer genomfördes med fyra kvinnliga och fyra manliga flyktingar bosatta i Fagersta. Resultatet, som överensstämmer med tidigare forskning, visade att flyktingar behöver ges möjlighet att vara aktiva i sin egen anpassningsprocess. Slutsatsen är att flyktingar som känner sig delaktiga mår bättre vilket främjar integrationen. / The purpose of this paper was, from an ecological perspective, to study the importance of internal and external resources for the integration process for new refugees coming into the Fagersta community. Also to study whether the refugees benefited from any particular part of the integration process that contributed to an increased personal sense of hope and belief in their future. Two studies were carried out. Firstly, a chart of the laws and regulations affecting the integration politics was undertaken. Secondly, an analysis was made of the local policy and regulation dociments in the Fagersta community. Eight semi structured interviews were carried through with four female and four male refugees that had previously settled in the Fagerta community. The results of these interviews supported earlier studies that confirmed that refugees need the opportunity to be active in their own adjustment process. The conclusion is that refugees that feel they are allowed to, and are able to, participate in their own integration process experience a greater sense of well-being which, in turn, contributes to a more successful integration within their new community.

In the era of knowledge economy, more and more people view online communities of practice (CoPs) as wellspring of precious knowledge. Interestingly, many researchers support the notion that CoPs must develop over time; they are not designed or made but grown, however, there is no systematic theory of online community development (Matzat, 2003). Furthermore, when changes with time are specialized concerned, several questions regarding CoPs development remain unanswered. Since online CoPs are formed by groups of people, existing group development models may provide valuable lens for us to understand the driving forces behind. Nevertheless, drawn on the autotrophic and open system of online CoPs, there exist several differences between traditional groups and online CoPs, such as self-select membership, high member fluidity, impossible to know all members in a large member base, unlimited life spans, and no given tasks have to complete. Furthermore, some defects in prior group development studies are also identified. To answer the research question and avoid problems identified in prior group development studies, this study plans to conduct a longitudinal exploratory study on three online CoPs lasting at least three years by overcoming the defects of unreal subjects such as experimental student groups or arranged tasks. Besides, three years of longitudinal study may prevent from the bias drawn from single snapshot and limited life span. Furthermore, we decide to adopt the ecological perspective for several reasons: First, the evolutionary process is akin to the central theme of ecological theory. Therefore the mechanisms of change can be suitably inferred from ecological perspective. Moreover, the ecological perspective is more holistic and macroscopic, and accordingly the problem of high individual member fluidity can be easily tackled. Second, many ecological concepts are used in numerous CoPs-related literatures to describe CoPs. In addition, being immersed in some CoPs for several years, we found that members usually use some ecological terms to describe their CoPs or other members. Third, several studies indicated that the ecological approach provides a powerful framework for understanding complex human social issues. We view each CoP as an ecosystem because ecosystem is the lowest level in the ecological hierarchy that is complete with all the necessary components for function and survival over the long term. This research also adopts the multiple case study approach. Firstly, online CoPs are categorized based on group member interaction statistics. Three categories of online CoPs are identified and three online CoP belonging to these three categories, respectively, are selected as representative cases. Every six months the aggregated data of targeted online CoPs are treating as the unit of analysis. The whole 'lives' of online CoPs under study are analyzed, by the way to avoid the problems of zero-history groups and drawn bias conclusion from observation of groups over different time periods. We attempted to detect and analyze the changes of community structures in the ecosystem using social network analysis tools. Moreover, since quantitative data may fail to capture some interaction modes, this study employs content analysis and semi-structural interviews as complementary vehicles to gain insights into the detailed evolutionary process. Finally, this dissertation follows Yin's (1994) analytic strategy of descriptive framework, and thus uses the metaphor of an ecosystem to integrate and organize sets of dimensions in relation to the evolutionary process of online CoPs. Drawn on Odum¡¦s (1971, 1983, 1993) model of ecosystem, this study proposes a descriptive framework based on ecosystem ecology and network analysis. There are primarily three components: organisms, energy, and nutrients; three types of connections: interactive network, keystone structure, and roles distribution. There are also five categories of constraints on the ecosystem functioning. They serve as dimensions of describing changes within an ecosystem over time. Further, these changes are interpreted from ecological perspectives, where insights into the mechanism governing the development process are generated to postulate the development model of online CoPs.

No description available.

The 2009 Virginia General Assembly Session unanimously voted to change the legislation governing the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation to create the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and incorporate childhood overweight and obesity prevention and reduction in its mission. In order to successfully meet the requirements of this legislation, VFHY needed assistance developing a strategic plan for the obesity initiative and a knowledge base to draw from. A comprehensive assessment of the status of Virginia’s childhood obesity problem was conducted, including the prevalence of the illness, the barriers existing to and the benefits to obesity prevention programs, the need for obesity prevention programs, and the desired route to developing a plan for action. Prior to this assessment, no clear picture of the complexity of Virginia’s childhood obesity problem existed outside of the facts: Virginia ranks 25th in the country for percentage of overweight or obese children; one-third of new obesity diagnoses in Virginia each year occur in children; Virginia’s African American population (19%) is significantly higher than the national average (12%); and research shows that African American children and adolescents have a higher rate and risk of overweight or obesity and a need for exposure to obesity-prevention programs. Research from respected and peer-reviewed sources on childhood overweight and obesity was conducted and the data compiled. This information was utilized to develop a new website for VFHY, provide education to the staff, and to develop a survey for the Board of Directors to guide strategic plan development. An assessment of the state of Virginia’s problem with childhood overweight and obesity was conducted from this research and a closer look was taken at the needs of Virginia’s public schools. Education on the benefits of implementing childhood obesity prevention and reduction programs was conducted via presentations at Board meetings and obesity workgroup meetings, as well as one-on-one to the VFHY staff. Finally, materials were developed to promote VYOP and its mission to consumers. The assessment of Virginia’s childhood overweight and obesity problem resulted in: increased VFHY staff competence regarding the issue and confidence in combating it; location of potential funding streams; a centralization of childhood overweight and obesity reduction and prevention efforts for Virginia; and the utilization of supplemental programs and street marketing to implement change in Virginia’s children and youth regarding factors surrounding overweight and obesity. VYOP is examining marketing approaches that would be successful for obesity reduction and prevention and is actively determining partners for their efforts who can impact economic development initiatives that will positively change behaviors. The combination of the ecological perspective and the social marketing theory to develop communication strategies and a strategic plan will help Virginia to decrease childhood overweight and obesity due to the multi-factorial nature of the problem. The strategies will take time to implement, and will be constantly evaluated and revised to best fit the needs of Virginia’s children and youth, but with patience and perseverance, VFHY will be as successful with its obesity prevention and reduction efforts as it has been with those targeting youth tobacco use.

<p>Kat är en buske vars blad tuggas och saliven som bildas sväljs, för att uppnå stimulans. Den växer i Yemen, Etiopien och Kenya och smugglas till Sverige från Storbritannien via flyg samt bil. Kat-användandet är utbrett bland somalier i västvärlden och har medfört både hälsomässiga och socioekonomiska konsekvenser. För att förstå hur somalier i Sverige har anpassat sina uppfattningar gällande kat-bruk är syftet i denna uppsats att beskriva varierande uppfattningar om användande av kat hos några somaliska män och kvinnor boende i Sverige. Information samlades och analyserades utifrån en fenomenografisk studie design. Data samlades genom intervjuer.</p><p> </p><p>Resultatet visar att kat-tuggande uppfattas både som en föda och som en drog. Största skälet till att kat brukas uppfattas som att den skapar gemenskap och sysselsättning. Den kat som används i Sverige smugglas vilket uppfattas problematiskt för somalier. Som implikation ska</p><p>hälsofrämjande arbete genomföras utifrån det ekologiska perspektivet. Hälsofrämjande aktiviteter ska riktas på både individ- och familjnivå genom att ge information om kat, skapa sysselsättning samt stödja familjen. På samhälls- och organisations/policynivå är det viktigt</p><p>att öka samarbetet mellan de somaliska föreningar och myndigheten samt att problemet kring kat sätts på agendan och diskuteras på nationell- och internationellnivå.</p><p> </p> / <p>Kat is a plant whose leaves are chewed to produce juice and to be swallowed for its stimulating effect. Kat plant grows in Yemen, Ethiopia and Kenya. It is smuggled from Great Britain to Sweden by plane or car. The use of kat is widely spread among Somalis in western countries. This has led to both health and socioeconomic consequences for the users and their families. In order to understand Somalis’ attitudes regarding kat - the aim of this study was to describe variations of perceptions of the use of kat among Somalian men and women living in Sweden. A phenomenographic design was used to collect and analyze data. Data collected through interviews.</p><p> </p><p>The findings show that chewing kat is perceived both as food and as a drug. The biggest reason for chewing kat is to create a feeling of belonging to a social group and to create activity. Kat being chewed in Sweden is smuggled here, which creates problems for Somalis.</p><p>As an implication of this study health promotion activities, based on the theory of the ecological system, should focus on individual and family level for example by supporting and giving information to families on the issues of kat. Health promoting activities should also focus on community and organization/policy level to increase the cooperation between the</p><p>Somali society and the public authority. Finally, the problem regarding kat should be on the agenda to be discussed both on national and international level.</p> / Har redan gått upp med min uppsats. Vill bara att den blir tillgänglig för de som vill läsa.

Kat är en buske vars blad tuggas och saliven som bildas sväljs, för att uppnå stimulans. Den växer i Yemen, Etiopien och Kenya och smugglas till Sverige från Storbritannien via flyg samt bil. Kat-användandet är utbrett bland somalier i västvärlden och har medfört både hälsomässiga och socioekonomiska konsekvenser. För att förstå hur somalier i Sverige har anpassat sina uppfattningar gällande kat-bruk är syftet i denna uppsats att beskriva varierande uppfattningar om användande av kat hos några somaliska män och kvinnor boende i Sverige. Information samlades och analyserades utifrån en fenomenografisk studie design. Data samlades genom intervjuer.   Resultatet visar att kat-tuggande uppfattas både som en föda och som en drog. Största skälet till att kat brukas uppfattas som att den skapar gemenskap och sysselsättning. Den kat som används i Sverige smugglas vilket uppfattas problematiskt för somalier. Som implikation ska hälsofrämjande arbete genomföras utifrån det ekologiska perspektivet. Hälsofrämjande aktiviteter ska riktas på både individ- och familjnivå genom att ge information om kat, skapa sysselsättning samt stödja familjen. På samhälls- och organisations/policynivå är det viktigt att öka samarbetet mellan de somaliska föreningar och myndigheten samt att problemet kring kat sätts på agendan och diskuteras på nationell- och internationellnivå. / Kat is a plant whose leaves are chewed to produce juice and to be swallowed for its stimulating effect. Kat plant grows in Yemen, Ethiopia and Kenya. It is smuggled from Great Britain to Sweden by plane or car. The use of kat is widely spread among Somalis in western countries. This has led to both health and socioeconomic consequences for the users and their families. In order to understand Somalis’ attitudes regarding kat - the aim of this study was to describe variations of perceptions of the use of kat among Somalian men and women living in Sweden. A phenomenographic design was used to collect and analyze data. Data collected through interviews.   The findings show that chewing kat is perceived both as food and as a drug. The biggest reason for chewing kat is to create a feeling of belonging to a social group and to create activity. Kat being chewed in Sweden is smuggled here, which creates problems for Somalis. As an implication of this study health promotion activities, based on the theory of the ecological system, should focus on individual and family level for example by supporting and giving information to families on the issues of kat. Health promoting activities should also focus on community and organization/policy level to increase the cooperation between the Somali society and the public authority. Finally, the problem regarding kat should be on the agenda to be discussed both on national and international level. / Har redan gått upp med min uppsats. Vill bara att den blir tillgänglig för de som vill läsa.

This study used an ecological perspective to identify pathological gambling (PG) risk and protective factors, nonclinical resources, and prevention strategies based on the perceptions of Georgia stakeholders. With an ecological perspective, human behavior is perceived as an outcome of the interaction between the individual and various factors in their social environment. The ecological perspective is especially suitable for examining the higher PG prevalence among ethnic minority groups since these populations have been documented as encountering greater exposure to PG social and environmental risk factors (Smedley & Syme, 2000). To assess prevention needs, data were obtained from a 2008 needs assessment where diverse perspectives were collected through semi structured focus groups and interviews. A qualitative approach was used to address the study's aims. Grounded theory was used to guide the data analysis. Findings indicated that community perceptions of risk and protective factors, nonclinical resources, and prevention strategies were present at multiple levels of analyses. Furthermore, data trends also indicated that charitable gambling and other social norms should be considered in prevention.