The social-ecological model emerged from ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), which explicitly sought to examine transactions between persons and their environments. The model stresses cross-level influences, in which community or organizational environments can shape individual behavior (top-down effects), but also examines how individuals form groups or take actions that may affect higher level organizational or community spheres (bottom-up effects). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has incorporated social-ecological models into a number of its health promotion and disease prevention efforts. The simple onion or Russian doll rendering of social-ecological relations as concentric circles is not in itself very informative. However, flowchart models based on such relationships can be useful for specifying hypothesized cross-level influences. Read more

The home environment is critical for maintaining health and well-being among the medically ill and people living with disabilities. Access to appropriate supportive care technologies and home health care services depends in part on where homes are located, what sorts of spaces are available for care in the home, and whether basic services (such as utilities) are reliable. These aspects of home environments are difficult to measure, even when features of homes are narrowly defined and only a single attribute, such as safety, is considered (Gitlin, 2003). Measurement challenges become more complex when considering that each of these environmental features also has a cultural or social component. Homes are located in neighborhoods, where home health care providers may not feel welcome or safe because of crime in a low-income neighborhood and discrimination or suspicion in a higher-income one. Homes differ in their spaces available for care but also in the willingness of families to make these spaces available, adapt them as needed, and work with home health staff to provide care. Also, utilities, telephone service, and access to services differ by community, with some communities well serviced and others shortchanged. Read more

Types of accommodations Accommodations are typically divided into four categories: Presentation accommodations Response accommodations Setting accommodations Timing and scheduling accommodations How can educators identify and select accommodations to address the needs of individual students? Using a set of guiding questions, the teacher will identify one response accommodation for a student with a disability based on his or her individual strengths and needs and the barrier created by the disability. The educator will then implement the accommodation and evaluate its effectiveness. Finally, the teacher and student will reflect on the effectiveness of the accommodation. Read more

How can educators identify and select accommodations to address the needs of individual students? Using a set of guiding questions, the teacher will identify one response accommodation for a student with a disability based on his or her individual strengths and needs and the barrier created by the disability. The educator will then implement the accommodation and evaluate its effectiveness. Finally, the teacher and student will reflect on the effectiveness of the accommodation. Read more

Supporting Rationale and Research Bannan-Ritland, B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication, elearning, and interactivity: A review of the research. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 3(2), 161-79. Dwyer, K. K., Bingham, S. G., Carlson, R. E., Prisbell, M., Cruz, A. M., & Fus, D. A. (2004). Communication and connectedness in the classroom: Development of the connected classroom climate inventory. Communication Research Reports, 21(3), 264-272.http://bit.ly/2s8jFEH Wiemann, J. M., & Backlund, P. (1980). Current theory and research in communicative competence. Review of how does it achieve its effects? American Educational Research Journal, 50(1), 185-199.http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/00346543050001185 Greene, J. A., Seung, B. Y., & Copeland, D. Z. (2014). Measuring critical components of digital literacy and their relationships with learning. Computers & Education, 76, 55-69. Read more

Grants and scholarships are not the same things, and the two terms are often confused.   People often wonder about the difference between scholarships and grants. Both are student financial aid that helps to pay for the necessities associated with higher education such as tuition, room, board, and textbooks. Though people sometimes confuse the terms or use them interchangeably, each has their own eligibility requirements and guidelines. One similarity grants and scholarships have is that they don’t need to be repaid, unlike college loans. Let’s take a look at the various characteristics of scholarships and grants. Read more

Background The Small Business Grant Fund, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants and Local Authority Discretionary Grants which ran through the initial lockdown period have now largely expired. Currently some businesses in local lockdown areas may be able to claim further grants under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. We are awaiting updated guidance as to any further grant funding for businesses following the announcement of the second national lockdown.   Eligibility Your business may be eligible if it: Occupies property on which it pays business rates Is in a local lockdown area and has been required to close because of the formal publication of local restrictions guidance that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September. This funding is not retrospective Has been required to close for at least three weeks because of the lockdown Has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises REf: https://www.nfuonline.com/news/coronavirus-updates-and-advice/coronavirus-news/what-business-support-grants-are-available-due-to-covid-19/   Read more

In this project, you will build a sharable e-learning platform using cloud computing infrastructure for online learning. This e-learning platform powered by cloud computing would allow the independent Learning Management Systems (LMS) embedded in various e-Learning standards to share their learning objects, modules, and content. Basically, cloud computing will encourage the sharing of a wide range of learning objects, allowing learners to access them online easily. Read more

Check out this article co-authored by Thom Jayne, Adesoji Adelaja, and one of AAP's co-directors, Richard Mkandawire.   https://www.rural21.com/english/current-issue/detail/article/africas-rapid-economic-transformation.html   Read more

Check out this article co-authored by Thom Jayne, Adesoji Adelaja, and one of AAP's co-directors, Richard Mkandawire.   https://www.rural21.com/english/current-issue/detail/article/africas-rapid-economic-transformation.html   Read more

Grant: for the 

You need to meet and communicate with potential clients and business partners on a regular basis to maintain your business relationships. Attending business luncheons and other networking events raises your personal profile and can help keep you front and center in the minds of the right people. Read more