Suchergebnisse

The COL eLearning with international organisations initiative provides customised eLearning design, development, and delivery for just-in-time workplace eLearning for employees based in headquarters and field offices. Technology mediated learning has widened learning access to democratise learning. The competency-based learning outcomes have enhanced capacities in written communication, and the management of refugees and debt data. The partnering organisations span the United Nations System, the multilateral development banks, the humanitarian relief and the multilateral development agencies. Having delivered about 100 learning cohorts since 2000, COL has maintained an average completion rate of 80% (ranging from 57.3% to 97%) across the board. COL and its partnering organisations continuously explore means to increase learning success through examining the ingredients of eLearning. There is a vast array of ingredients which includes the self-instructional materials, the engagement of technology, the self-assessed activities, the tutor-marked assignments, the transactional presence of tutors, administrators, supervisors, and peers, This paper draws on COL's experience of a decade in delivering eLearning courses to over 5,000 learners spread over a 100 countries to answer the questions: What should be the right mix and proportion of eLearning ingredients? How should they be processed, tested and evaluated for a perfect result?

In the lead up to the millennium, the rapid development of the World Wide Web, internet and word processing technologies began to change the way we communicate, work, learn, and live. In its most positive light, information and communication technologies have enabled new work and learning opportunities across boundaries and among communities. This paper focuses on how this change applied sensibly has opened up new dimensions for the provision of equitable, accessible and affordable learning opportunities to develop the international workforce professionally. The context of discussion is based on Commonwealth of Learning's experience in providing transnational workplace training for four UN organizations, one humanitarian oragnisation and an international financial institution. This has witnessed the opening up of effective virtual classes for learners based in over 100 different countries, enabling the medical officer based in Luanda, Angola to pursue the same learning experience as his/her counterpart based in Geneva. We describe the paradigm shift taking place as "Think globally, learn locally" an educational version of the well known dictum of "think globally, act locally" i. The shift was triggered by employing appropriate information and communication technologies (ICTs) in a pedagogically sound manner to enable the widest distribution of cross-boarders learning and to encourage the unrestricted access to learning by women and marginalized learners in troubled, remote and isolated locations in the world.

Abstract

Aims
This study aimed to systematically review the literature on neuroanatomical predictors of future problematic drinking in adolescents.


Methods
Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted to evaluate neuroanatomical predictors of problematic alcohol consumption in adolescents. EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception to 6 January 2023. Studies were included if they were original, had a prospective design, had a sample size of at least 12, had a follow-up period of at least 1 year, had at least one structural neuroimaging scan before 18 with no prior alcohol use, and had alcohol use as the primary outcome. Studies were excluded if they had animals only and were not in English. Risk of bias was conducted using the CASP tool.


Results
Out of 1412 studies identified, 19 studies met the criteria, consisting of 11 gray matter (n = 4040), 5 white matter (n = 319), and 3 assessing both (n = 3608). Neuroanatomical predictors of future problematic drinking in adolescents were reported to be distributed across various brain regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex and paralimbic regions. However, the findings were largely heterogeneous.


Conclusions
This is the first systematic review to map out the existing literature on neuroanatomical predictors of problematic drinking in adolescents. Future research should focus on the aforementioned regions to determine their role in predicting future problematic drinking with more certainty.