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1 – 10 of 142Meggan Press and James Henry Smith
This paper tracks the literature through narrative progression from defining accessibility and inclusivity to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and disability justice. This…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper tracks the literature through narrative progression from defining accessibility and inclusivity to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and disability justice. This review culminated in the development of a check list of best practices for librarians who create online learning objects to consider. Then we turn to a case study of presenting these findings to professionals through the framework of UDL with a focus on multiple means of representation and engagement. We conclude with a reflective discussion on process and the potential for broader impact and future directions.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a case study of informing praxis with existing research while experimenting to address gaps in the literature through practice.
Findings
This paper presents a strong argument for using UDL frameworks beyond primary, secondary and higher education to contexts where professionals may be learning.
Originality/value
The research surrounding UDL beyond standard educational contexts does not currently exist, inside or outside of the library literature. This paper presents a new paradigm in expanding accessible and inclusive learning practices to include less formalized learning spaces.
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Kristine E. Larson, Stephanie L. Savick, Patrice M. Silver and Rosemary E. Poling
This manuscript examines how university coaches can use the Classroom Check-Up (CCU; Reinke et al., 2008) to support continuous school improvement efforts around teacher practice…
Abstract
Purpose
This manuscript examines how university coaches can use the Classroom Check-Up (CCU; Reinke et al., 2008) to support continuous school improvement efforts around teacher practice within a PDS model and how collaboration between university faculty can increase their coaching self-efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is conceptual in that it presents an innovative idea to stimulate discussion, generate new ideas, and advance thinking about supporting educator coaching efficacy in school-university partnerships.
Findings
The paper provides insights and ideas for using a collaborative faculty coaching model based on the CCU (Reinke et al., 2008). Each coach provides insight about adapting the model to fit teacher, school, and district needs. Moreover, coaches report on how collaborating impacted their coaching self-efficacy.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills an identified need to support continuous school improvement efforts amid a teaching shortage using a collaborative faculty coaching model. Moreover, the authors explore “coaching self-efficacy” as a rare but valuable construct that is impacted by peer feedback.
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Emily Robinson, Rebecca Gordon and Bruce McAdams
The purpose of this study is to investigate what sustainability initiatives are being implemented by Canadian independent restaurants and to determine if the initiatives represent…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate what sustainability initiatives are being implemented by Canadian independent restaurants and to determine if the initiatives represent all 10 categories of a sustainable restaurant as established by a sustainability initiative framework.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews with 15 small to medium enterprise (SME), independent restaurant owners and operators across Canada. The data was digitally transcribed and thematic analysis was performed.
Findings
Results indicated that most initiatives aligned with the categories of “sustainable food/menu” and “waste reduction and disposables” which shows that the operators were inclined to pursue initiatives in customer view. Restaurants put limited focus on water supply, chemicals and pollution reduction, furniture and construction materials. Some of the barriers to implementing, measuring and learning about initiatives were: cost, lack of access to programs, supply chain complications, not having buy-in from owners and lack of time to implement.
Practical implications
The study recommends that governments provide incentives to implement sustainability initiatives that are out of sight to the customer. For example, implementing composting, energy efficient equipment and water saving processes. It is also recommended that third-party restaurant organizations provide more accurate, evidence-based guidance and education on implementing a wide-range of sustainability initiatives.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the literature on sustainability in restaurants and applies a sustainability initiative framework in a practical context. The study provides a unique assessment of the current state of restaurant sustainability and states where restaurants need to improve their efforts.
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Although legislation and regulations form an important foundation for recordkeeping and for accountability, questions of transparency and openness must be addressed in a wider…
Abstract
Purpose
Although legislation and regulations form an important foundation for recordkeeping and for accountability, questions of transparency and openness must be addressed in a wider context. Oliver and Foscarini have argued for the importance of recognising differing cultures and the ways in which they value records and recordkeeping. In addition to reporting mechanisms and relationships, accountability must encompass a culture and a mindset which is transparent, responsive and focused on self-improvement. This paper aims to apply a dual interpretation of accountability in the context of Irish public sector recordkeeping to identify shortcomings and suggest potential remedies with a view to improving the accountability of Irish recordkeeping itself, and the extent to which it contributes to wider accountability in society.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper assesses accountability in Irish public sector recordkeeping using a model suggested by Mark Bovens, which views accountability as both a mechanism and a virtue. The model emphasises that both interpretations are necessary but that mechanisms (laws, regulations and checklists) on their own cannot be sufficient to satisfy accountability requirements. As noted by Onora O’Neill, the aim of accountability should not be checklists or artificial metrics, but the nurturing of behaviours and cultures which make public institutions more deserving of our trust. Reference will be made to Irish legislation, to records management policies in government departments, to relevant annual reports and to current practice with regard to appraisal and other recordkeeping functions to measure Irish public sector recordkeeping against Bovens' model.
Findings
This paper suggests that Irish public sector recordkeeping has a range of shortcomings under both the narrow (mechanism) and broad (virtue) interpretations of accountability. Lack of reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms in existing legislation allows for major gaps in public sector recordkeeping, facilitating a lack of accountability in the citizen–state relationship. Meanwhile, an absence of records management policies and an overall lack of appreciation of the value of records leads to opaque practices and a lack of transparency. The recordkeeping profession itself adopts processes and practices, which are not aligned with the concept of accountability as a virtue, and which do not reflect a commitment to transparency and meeting the legitimate interests of stakeholders. This paper suggests changes in relevant legislation but also suggests that these must be accompanied by a more open and responsive working culture within the recordkeeping profession.
Originality/value
By applying Bovens’ dual concept of accountability, this paper provides a new and more comprehensive assessment of public sector recordkeeping in Ireland, which can equally be applied in other contexts. It identifies ways in which revised legislation can contribute to greater accountability, but emphasises that regulations must be accompanied by a culture of transparency and responsiveness, and that recordkeepers have a crucial role to play in terms of their own commitment to transparency and professional accountability.
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Jamal A.A. Numan and Izham Mohamad Yusoff
Due to the lack of consensus on influential variables for real estate appraisal, which varies from one country to another based on the national preferences and customs of each…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the lack of consensus on influential variables for real estate appraisal, which varies from one country to another based on the national preferences and customs of each country, this study aims to identify the most influential variables affecting condominium apartment real estate appraisal within the context of Al Bireh city, Palestine.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology adopts a cross-sectional quantitative approach, entailing the administration of an online questionnaire survey to 103 buyers and appraisers. The questionnaire aims to evaluate 32 variables concerning their impact on condominium real estate appraisal. Out of these, 25 are derived from three specific previous studies, and the remaining 7 are identified through various studies or by the authors, taking into account the local context and the geopolitical situation in Palestine. Respondents assign scores to these variables on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates less influence and 5 signifies the most influence. Variables with an arithmetic mean score exceeding 4 are deemed the most influential.
Findings
The findings underscore 16 and 17 influential variables as perceived by buyers and appraisers, respectively. Notably, 13 variables are common, including aspects such as parking, elevator, neighborhood, floor apartments, finishing quality, construction material, condition, building apartments, area, open sides, building floors, colonies and age.
Research limitations/implications
The primary constraint of this study is its dependence on insights solely from buyers and appraisers, disregarding input from other stakeholders like investors or developers. The questionnaire lacks vital respondent characteristics, such as gender and occupation, impeding the analysis of variable dependence on participant attributes. Although some additional influential variables are suggested through the responses of an open-ended question, the questionnaire is not repeated, leaving their influence unassessed. This study's focus on Al Bireh city limits the opportunity for result comparison with other cities, diminishing its generalizability.
Practical implications
The implications of this research are twofold: to provide stakeholders with a checklist for variables influencing apartment price value and to guide data collection related to the real estate appraisal sector, facilitating its use as input in advanced appraisal methods such as artificial intelligence with a view to improving overall performance. Obtaining an informed, mature and accurate appraisal has direct economic, business and financial impacts at the level of policymakers and individuals.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the inaugural endeavor in Palestine focusing on identifying pivotal factors influencing condominium apartment appraisal values. This study concludes by presenting a checklist comprising the most influential variables, offering utility to various stakeholders, including buyers, appraisers and developers. In addition, the questionnaire incorporates an open-ended question, soliciting respondents' input on additional variables they believe impact the appraisal process.
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Yu Xia, Shulong Yan and Mengying Jiang
The rapid emergency remote teaching has moved informal learning programs online including makerspaces, which has created an opportunity for harnessing the benefits of virtual…
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid emergency remote teaching has moved informal learning programs online including makerspaces, which has created an opportunity for harnessing the benefits of virtual makerspaces. This study reports on findings from three club designers and facilitators’ reflections on a fully virtual maker club offered in the summer of 2023. This paper aims to inform practitioners of the potential challenges and strategies to resolve various issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Reflective video journaling was conducted by facilitators. Videos were transcribed and analyzed for observations, learning events, challenges and strategies.
Findings
Findings present strategies adopted to address problems during implementation and a checklist for practitioners. The problems are associated with the learning environments, technology tools and student participation. The authors adopted in-the-moment and short-term strategies to tackle the problems and long-term strategies that bear implications for future virtual makerspaces.
Practical implications
This paper can provide direct guidance to practitioners in schools, libraries, museums, etc., who plan to offer informal collaborative learning for children online. It prepares practitioners for the potential challenges and equip them with concrete strategies and questions.
Social implications
Fully virtual makerspaces have the potential to reach a wider range of audience.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to report the reflective findings on a fully virtual makerspace club that comprehensively covers challenges and strategies before, during and after the club, which has direct implications for future offerings of such programs.
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This study aims to assess the effectiveness of online e-resource marketing tools used by university libraries to market e-resources. The specific objectives of this study were to…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of online e-resource marketing tools used by university libraries to market e-resources. The specific objectives of this study were to uncover the e-resources that are showcased by university libraries, find out instructions posted by libraries to facilitate access and utilization of e-resources, examine marketing tools used, examine how current and relevant marketing messages and test the functionality of the marketing tools used.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory research design was used to assess the effectiveness of e-resources marketing tools. The study population included all public university libraries in Tanzania. The sample was purposively selected to include all publicly funded libraries as they work under similar management environments. Data collection involved the evaluation of online marketing tools using a matrix checklist.
Findings
It was revealed that most university libraries use websites for showcasing e-resources. The commonly used social media for marketing e-resources is Facebook followed by Instagram while Twitter and Ask a Librarian are the least used. The results further show that only a few universities provide instructions on how to access and use e-resources. The findings indicate that universities had active communication platforms for marketing e-resources. Furthermore, less than 50% of marketing messages are active and current. It is recommended that marketing e-resources should be integrated into the library’s plans and strategies and this should be informed by library policies.
Research limitations/implications
Given that, this study involved Tanzanian public university libraries, it is possible that the findings do not represent the same situation in all academic university libraries in the nation.
Originality/value
This study assesses the effectiveness of online tools used to market e-resources in university libraries in Tanzania. It reveals the e-resources that are showcased online, the instructions provided on how to access the e-resources and the functionality of the marketing tools. Unlike the previous research, which primarily focused on evaluating the Web-based tools in university and college libraries, this study focused on public libraries in the country. The results will not only contribute to the theoretical and practical understanding of the functionality of the marketing tools but also provide actionable insights to decision-makers in libraries in marketing their e-resources.
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This article investigates the construction of risk within trustworthy digital repository audits. It contends that risk is a social construct, and social factors influence how…
Abstract
Purpose
This article investigates the construction of risk within trustworthy digital repository audits. It contends that risk is a social construct, and social factors influence how stakeholders in digital preservation processes comprehend and react to risk.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employs a qualitative research design involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the Trustworthy Digital Repository Audit and Certification (TRAC) process, and document analysis of the TRAC checklist and audit reports. I apply an analytic framework based on the Model for the Social Construction of Risk in Digital Preservation to this data.
Findings
The findings validate the argument that risk in digital preservation is indeed socially constructed and demonstrate that the eight factors in the Model for the Social Construction of Risk in Digital Preservation do indeed influence how stakeholders constructed their understanding of risk. Of the eight factors in the model, communication, expertise, uncertainty and vulnerability were found to be the most influential in the construction of risk during the TRAC audit process. The influence of complexity, organizations political culture, were more limited.
Originality/value
This article brings new insights to digital preservation by demonstrating the importance of understanding risk as a social construct. I argue that risk identification and/or assessment is only the first step in the long-term preservation of digital information and show that perceptions of risk in digital preservation are shaped by social factors by applying theories of social construction and risk perception to an analysis of the TRAC process.
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Roberto Leonardo Rana, Christian Bux and Mariarosaria Lombardi
The objective of the research is to evaluate the carbon footprint of the green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) supply chain, encompassing the agricultural production to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of the research is to evaluate the carbon footprint of the green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) supply chain, encompassing the agricultural production to the packaging stage in Italy, as it is the sixth largest producer and the second largest in Europe. It provides an assessment in the province of Foggia and highlights the global perspective of the carbon footprint application in agro-food systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The carbon footprint (ISO 14067:2018) considers 1 t of packaged fresh asparagus as a functional unit in the agricultural production and packaging stage and is based on primary data collected in one of the leading companies of asparagus production in the province of Foggia, which markets about 0.21 kt of asparagus per year produced in about 31 ha. Data were integrated with face-to-face in-depth interviews and pre-filled checklists.
Findings
Findings show that the carbon footprint of 1 t of packaged fresh asparagus is equivalent to 335.31 kgCO2eq, of which 61% in the agricultural stage and 39% in the packaging one. The majority of the emissions are associated with the fertigation and the diesel consumption for the transportation of workers. Farmers should adopt green electricity so as to reduce the emissions associated with the electric pump for the extraction of water from artesian wells. Moreover, it would be desirable to replace mineral urea phosphate with organic fertilizers.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, scholars have not yet investigated the environmental impacts of the green asparagus supply chain, even if it represents one of the most cultivated vegetables worldwide, with a global production that amounts to 8.5 Mt per year.
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Vincent Konadu Tawiah, Ernest Gyapong and Yan Wang
This paper examines the impact of board ethnic diversity on the level of compliance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS) disclosures.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the impact of board ethnic diversity on the level of compliance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS) disclosures.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a unique hand-collected dataset from South Africa, we develop a comprehensive disclosure index against 570 mandatory requirements of IFRS. Further, we employ the fixed-effects model to investigate whether board ethnic diversity affects IFRS disclosures.
Findings
We document a significant positive association between ethnic minority directors and IFRS disclosure levels. Furthermore, we reveal that non-busy ethnic minority directors have a greater impact on IFRS disclosure levels than their busy counterparts. Additional analyses show that ethnic minority directors have less impact on IFRS disclosure levels when their number exceeds two. Companies with more ethnic directors on audit committees are more likely to comply with IFRS disclosure requirements and ethnic diversity increases accounting disclosures irrespective of the level of ownership concentration.
Originality/value
Our findings shed new light on the impact of board ethnic diversity on firms’ compliance with IFRS disclosure requirements. The results are robust to alternative econometric techniques, proxies and potential endogeneity concerns.
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