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The purpose of this article is to compare the teaching of religion in government-run primary and secondary educational institutions in Poland and Canada (Ontario and Quebec). The theoretical framework for this work is supplied by the general idea that the school is an organization and social institution. It is concluded that religious instruction in schools is a contentious matter in both Poland and Canada.

This article compares Polish and Canadian primary and secondary education in terms of systems, curriculum, governance and teacher education. It is motivated by the recent changes in Polish schooling. The theoretical framework for the work is supplied by the general notion of the school as an organization and social institution. Citizenship education and the integration of technology in teaching and learning are of concern to educators in Poland and Canada.

The purpose of this article is to compare institutions of higher learning in Poland and universities in Canada using an information technology conceptual framework consisting of three parts: participation, feedback and partnership. (Contains 15 notes.)

The implementation of authentic learning elements at education institutions in five countries, eight online courses in total, is examined in this paper. The International Virtual Benchmarking Project (2009-2010) applied the elements of authentic learning developed by Herrington and Oliver (2000) as criteria to evaluate authenticity. Twelve teachers in four benchmarking pairs applied these elements to compare practices and identify development challenges in their online courses. The results indicate multiple roles and perspectives and scaffolding were the most strongly implemented elements. Collaborative construction of knowledge was implemented weakly. Development challenges were identified, such as continuous evaluation in authentic assessment. The project raised teachers' awareness of cultural background as a factor affecting views on authentic e-learning. Differences in the culture code of e-learning among Finland, Korea, Canada, Belgium and UK are items to consider when developing multicultural learning. (Contains 1 table.)

More and more, social technologies and virtual work methods are facilitating new ways of crossing boundaries in professional development and international collaborations. This paper examines the peer development of higher education teachers through the experiences of the IVBM project (International Virtual Benchmarking, 2009-2010). The e-benchmarking process in which teachers applied authentic learning criteria is described, as are the e-tools (Ning, ACP) and the methods employed collaboratively to develop e-learning competence. Cases came from Finland, Korea, Canada, Belgium and Great Britain. The project formed an international virtual learning community for teachers. In peer development, elements of authentic learning were assigned meaning, development alternatives were considered and the interpretation of authentic learning in different situations and cultures was made concrete. The results promote and inform the planning of e-benchmarking communities and flexible virtual teamwork in professional development and education contexts.

The purpose of the current pilot study was to determine the impact of an ambient activity technology, ABBY®, on responsive behavior and family visiting in a long-term care (LTC) home. We were also interested in family and staff perceptions of the technology. A mixed methods research study was conducted over a 6-month period and data were collected using standardized measures and focus groups. Although no significant differences were noted in responsive resident behaviors, focus group data showed the ABBY enriched the care environment and provided additional opportunities for families and staff to engage residents. Although the introduction of a new technology can create challenges for staff, with time, these challenges can be overcome. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(1), 35–41.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reflect on the role of risk-taking and risky play in child development and consider recommendations for the injury prevention field, a symposium was held prior to the November 2013 Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference. Delegates heard from Canadian and international researchers, practitioners and play safety experts on child development, play space design and playground safety, provision of recreation, and legal and societal perceptions of risk and hazard. The presenters provided multidisciplinary evidence and perspectives indicating the potential negative effect on children's development of approaches to injury prevention that prioritise safety and limit children's opportunities for risky play. Delegates considered the state of the field of injury prevention and whether alternative approaches were warranted. Each presenter prepared a discussion paper to provide the opportunity for dialogue beyond attendees at the symposium. The resulting discussion papers provide a unique opportunity to consider and learn from multiple perspectives in order to develop a path forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade the outdoor play spaces designed for children in Canada have been largely shaped by fear and profit, rather than by what we know about children's play and development. Since the early 1980s the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has played an increasingly important role in this transformation as their technical standards for children's outdoor play spaces have been gradually adapted as policy by local and regional agencies. While the CSA has historically regulated industrial and commercial projects that enable international trade and harmonization with countries such as the United States, their extension of influence to early childhood is problematic; particularly when applied to childcare centres. The following describes some of the issues that arise from the use of safety standards as policy, and the problems these standards cause when applied to childcare centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key criteria, called Seven Cs, identified from phase one of a five-year multidisciplinary study, are described. This study asked, what are the precise outdoor physical factors that contribute to early childhood development and quality play at child-care centres, and to what degree do these factors currently exist at the centres under study? The child-care setting provides an instrumental context for understanding children and landscape interactions. The Seven Cs criteria were derived from a comparison of 12 sample outdoor play spaces at child-care centres in Vancouver, Canada, with findings from a review of the literature concerning landscapes designed for children. Landscapes designed for children's use should consider developmental and play needs, and the unique contributions that landscapes can offer on a daily basis. Seven Cs earmark important physical dimensions of designed landscapes for children that can potentially enrich future designs at child-care centres. The goal is to provide a set of criteria that will allow the city of Vancouver Community Service and Social Planning Department to evaluate landscape design proposals for new child-care centres and to inform the existing set of Design Guidelines which the city is revising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer guide information in the tourism industry is designed to provide consumers with information in such areas as value and quality. However, hotel managements are also aware of consumer guide ratings. This study analyzes hotel managements' pricing behavior before and after a change in value rating for hotels. Specifically, pricing and value information on hotels from the Mobil Travel Guides relating to several states and provinces in the US and Canada were analyzed. The Mobil Travel Guides awards a "check" to hotels that they deem a good value. The results indicate that hotel managements altered theft pricing strategies before and after the gain or loss of a "check" by Mobil. These pricing changes were significantly different from hotels not gaining or losing a "check." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Naturopathic medicine for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial," by D. Seely, O. Szczurko, C. Kieran, and H. Fritz is presented.