Promoting language education for sustainable development: a program effects case study in Japanese higher education
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Authors: Jodoin, Joshua John
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of education for sustainable development (ESD) approaches in English as a foreign language (EFL) in Japanese higher education. Design/methodology/approach A content and language integrated learning (CLIL) University-level course was run over two separate semesters: the first as a lecture-based course and the second was a similar course that integrated ESD best-practice. A program effects case study was used to see if any significant changes could be measured between the separate semesters. A mixed-methods approach to data collection was used and student marks, survey results using values, beliefs and norms (VBN) model and reflection tasks were collected across the two courses. Findings A meaningful change in the ascription of responsibility and personal norms was present in the ESD best-practice course. This shows that ESD best-practice integration into language teaching has a positive impact on student environmental VBN and more research is necessary for this area. Practical implications ESD integrated into language teaching correlates positively with environmental behavior change according to the VBN-model. A new field of study is proposed, language education for sustainable development, to better integrate the disciplines of EFL and ESD. Originality/value This study is looking at the integration of ESD in language teaching and CLIL based courses in Higher Education and, at present, there are no other studies of this kind.
Prospective randomized trial comparing the pocket-creation method and conventional method of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
Authors: Yamashina, Takeshi; Nemoto, Daiki; Hayashi, Yoshikazu; Fukuda, Hisashi; Okada, Masahiro; Takezawa, Takahito; Aizawa, Masato; Sakamoto, Hirotsugu; Miura, Yoshimasa; Sunada, Keijiro; Lefor, Alan Kawarai; Togashi, Kazutomo; Yamamoto, Hironori
Abstract
Background and Aims: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is recognized as a challenging procedure. Previously, we reported that a new ESD strategy using the pocket-creation method (PCM) is useful for colorectal ESD, but no prospective randomized study has evaluated the efficacy of the PCM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PCM for colorectal ESD compared with the conventional method (CM). Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial at 3 institutions in Japan. Patients with superficial colorectal neoplastic lesions >20 mm predicted to be intramucosal were randomly assigned to undergo ESD using the PCM or CM. Primary outcome was the ESD completion rate defined as completion of colorectal ESD with an en bloc resection using the assigned ESD method without changing to other methods or assisted by other devices. Results: We analyzed 59 patients with 59 colorectal tumors in the PCM group and 55 in the CM group. The ESD completion rate was significantly higher in the PCM group compared with the CM group (93% [55/59] vs 73% [40/55]; P = .01). En bloc resection rates, R0 resection rates, procedure time, and dissection speed were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the 2 groups. Conclusions: Use of the PCM allows the endoscopist to complete the procedure with the intended method more often than the CM with similar clinical outcomes.