Saxion University of Applied Sciences

About: Saxion University of Applied Sciences is a education organization based out in Enschede, Netherlands. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Health care & Context (language use). The organization has 390 authors who have published 653 publications receiving 8859 citations. The organization is also known as: Saxion University of Applied Sciences.

The development and implementation of a mobile application in human services

Abstract: Information and communications technologies (ICTs) in human services are on the rise and raise concerns about their place and impact on the daily activities of professionals and clients. This article describes a study in which a social mobile application was developed for job coaches and employees and implemented in a pilot phase. The aim of the mobile application was to provide a better communication between employees and their job coaches and to provide more up-to-date information about the organization. The application consisted of a personal web environment and app with vacancies, personal news, events, tips, and promotions. A qualitative methodology was used in the form of focus groups and in-depth interviews. The results of this study show that the participants are partly positive about the social mobile application. It can be concluded that the use of mobile technologies can be beneficial in a range of human services practice settings for both professionals and clients and, therefore, requires more attention from the academic field to focus on this relatively new but promising theme.

Towards the evaluation of a thermal compartmentation renovation concept through in-situ measurements

Abstract: Facing the energy transition, Dutch social housing corporations are expected to fulfil a pioneering role in realising fossil fuel free and CO2 neutral dwellings and neighbourhoods. However, given the high current costs of retrofitting dwellings to net zero energy, housing corporations are searching diligently for alternative, more affordable, renovation strategies. A Thermal Compartmentation renovation concept has been developed, in which retrofitting efforts are concentrated on the living spaces in dwellings. By means of co-heating tests, the quality of the thermal shell of three retrofitted case objects has been evaluated. It is found that both the airtightness and the heat loss coefficient (HLC) improved significantly as a result of the renovation. As would be expected, the realised ‘warm compartments’ show a better thermal performance than the entire dwellings. Although the measurements and subsequent analyses have confirmed the impact of the renovation measures on the buildings’ thermal performance, additional research targeting the inhabited dwellings is necessary to draw up final conclusions on the potential of the Thermal Compartmentation renovation concept.

The Role of FM in (Students') Images of Hospitality

Abstract: In the Netherlands, hospitality is increasingly seen as a soft FM service that adds value to core business; it is included in the European FM standard, NEN-EN-15221-1. However, the scope of 'hospitality' is topic of an ongoing academic debate spanning much more extensive conceptualizations than this code. Conceptual frameworks may include tangible and intangible elements: behavior/attitude, service, building-related aspects, and ambiance. A number of these aspects are also part of FM. Field work is needed to determine the interrelationship between FM and hospitality. Images may provide richer information than purely verbal methods. Though image-based methods like participant-led photography (PLP) are being used in e.g. tourism research and anthropology/sociology, they are uncommon in FM research.The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between hospitality and FM, using PLP. Students were invited to submit images representing 'hospitality' and 'no hospitality', taken during field trips, with a short explanation. Few images focused on behavioral aspects. Design-related aspects dominated the images of 'hospitality'. 'No hospitality' often showed poor FM performance, like inadequate cleaning and maintenance. Furthermore, work-in-progress and restricted entrance were unanimously labeled 'inhospitable'. PLP, a new methodology in FM research, proved practical and may be used by facility managers to obtain insight in end users' perception of the (in)hospitableness of their buildings.

A model for teacher learning in the context of a curriculum renewal

Abstract: Teachers play a crucial role in curriculum changes, as they are the ones to implement a new curriculum in class. Therefore, teachers need to bring their knowledge and beliefs (pedagogical content knowledge) in line with the new curricular demands. The reason for the study is the introduction of a context-based chemistry high school curriculum in the Netherlands, and the question was how to best prepare teachers for such a new curriculum. Teacher learning for two groups of teachers form the bases for this model. One group developed and subsequently class enacted student learning material for this new curriculum, and the other group only class enacted this learning material. The combination of developing student learning material and class enactment proves instrumental for teacher learning. In the model, an extension of the Interconnected Model of Teacher Professional Growth, teacher learning during the development phase and the class enactment phase becomes visible. The consequence of this model is that for teacher learning in the context of a curriculum renewal to take place, both a (re)development phase as a class enactment phase are essential. Especially the design of the External Domain facilitates initial teacher learning.

Dendrochronological Provenance Patterns. Network Analysis of Tree-Ring Material Reveals Spatial and Economic Relations of Roman Timber in the Continental North-Western Provinces

Abstract: Over the last decades, Roman wood in various shapes and sizes has been excavated in the region of the continental north-western provinces of the Roman empire. However, it is often unclear whether wood has been transported. Most dendrochronological provenance studies rely on simple comparisons between tree-ring series based on a single similarity measure. In addition, most fail to consider the complex system of relations that is the result of the variables that influence tree-ring patterns. Network analysis is a solution to this problem, because it allows to both visualize and analyze the complex (provenance) relations of tree-ring series as a whole. A network makes it impossible to ignore existing (statistical) relations between tree-ring series. Although networks can be build using any (combination of) similarity measure(s), in this study a combination of the Synchronous Growth Changes (SGC), its related probability of exceedance (p), correlation (r) and overlap define the edges. This paper focusses on networks with site chronologies as nodes, although networks can also be constructed using individual tree-ring series or a combination with site chronologies. A combination of these can also help to refine the (archaeological) interpretation. The location of any tree-ring series in a network reflects its provenance. Material that is placed closer together in the network has similar growth patterns and is generally from the same region. Therefore, network communities reflect wood that has a similar provenance. If tree-ring material was found on different spatial locations, but in close proximity in the network, this indicates that wood has been moved. To determine which wood has been transported, a combination of archaeological and spatial arguments is used. The method is sound, simple and gives insight in the complexity of all tree-ring relations in a simple diagram. The resulting patterns show that most wood was obtained in the region where it was used, but that transport of wood in the Roman period did take place. Three scales are defined to describe the Roman wood economy: local, provincial and imperial. While transport of wood over long distances is attested for both military and civilian sites (provincial and imperial scale), it seems that wood that was transported beyond the provincial borders was only used in civilian sites (imperial scale). The combination of network science, dendrochronology and archaeology is a powerful method to understand patterns in the Roman timber economy.