Now for something different 2

Cui, M. H., Knox, D., Opoku Agyeman, M. and MacDonald, R. (2016) Role of music in clinical acupuncture: a cross cultural investigation. In: International Conference on New Music Concepts (ICNMC 2017). Milan, Italy: ABEditore. (Accepted)

Abstract

To compare and contrast music listening experiences in healthcare settings cross culturally, this study aims to investigate value of music in allied healthcare. Mixed-method study was conducted on the platform of acupuncture clinic in Scotland, UK. 24 clients undertaking acupuncture treatment for back pain took parts, including 12 with Scottish cultural background and 12 with Chinese cultural background (14 females and 10 males, age ranging from 29 to 65, mean = 40.5). Self-assessed levels of physical pain, emotional pain, stress, relaxation and energy were taken before and after acupuncture treatment with and without preferred music alongside, followed by a post-study interview. Re- sults indicated music intervention could enhance treatment effects. Anti-stress effect of preferred music was show in both cultures. Physical, emotional pain and stress level was significantly reduced after acupuncture treatment with the enjoyment of preferred music. Relaxation level was found more significantly increased among Chinese, whereas Scottish participants showed higher energy gaining. Soft and melodically music was the major characteristics of music chosen by Chinese clients, whereas Scottish preferred fast beat and energetic music to play along. Qualitative data highlighted more ‘pleasant’, ‘relaxing’ and ‘familiar’ environment created by music, which also eased possible tension caused by acupuncture itself by ‘attending to favored music’. Preferred music created a sanctuary for physical and emotional rest. Further exploration of chosen music and relationship with listener may contribute towards more effective application of music to promote health and wellbeing in multi-cultural contexts.

To read more go to: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/8498/

Cui, M. H., Michael, O. A., MacDonald, R. and Knox, D. (2016) A cross-cultural exploration of music in history: language, health and art implications. In: International Conference on New Music Concepts (ICNMC 2017). Milan, Italy: ABEditore. (Accepted)

Abstract

Music lives in every culture, yet most investigations into music are based on Western music and Western listeners. This has not only ignored the cultural richness in music itself, neglected the internationalization characteristics of music creators, listeners and resources, but has also limited the impact of research on large varieties of societies. In reality, music is multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-facet. Evident in communication, education and healthcare systems, multi-cultural challenges have also merged into many aspects of our historical and contemporary societies. Moreover, the rapid changes of the community and fast evolutionary development of media and technology have enriched the wealth of music. Consequently, in this paper, we demonstrate that music has a rich but cross-cultural foundation in history with significance in linguistics, health and art.

To read more go to : http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/8496/

If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with

Now for something a little different

The Computing course team at the University of Northampton have many strings to their bow (no pun intended) here is an example. A  paper soon to be published with Dr Michael Opoku Agyeman concerning music

A cross-cultural study of music in history

Cui, M. H., Opoku Agyeman, M. and Knox, D. 

 International Journal of Culture and History

 2(2) 2382-617



Abstract
Music lives in every culture, yet most investigations into music are based on Western music and Western listeners. This has not only ignored the cultural richness in music itself, but has also limited the impact of research on large varieties of societies. In reality, music is multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-facet. Evident in communication, education and healthcare systems, multi-cultural challenges have also merged into many aspects of our historical and contemporary societies. Moreover, rapid changes of the society and fast evolutionary development of media and technology have enriched world wealth of music. In this paper, we demonstrate that music has a rich but cross-cultural foundation in history with significance in linguistics, health and art. Consequently, we present a multi-disciplinary or multi-cultural study of music in history, revealing its significance in linguistics, health and wellbeing.


More details can be found at: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/8495/

Cui, M. H., Opoku Agyeman, M. and Knox, D. (2016) A cross-cultural study of
music in history. International Journal of Culture and History. 2(2) 2382-617



If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with

learning foreign languages via the use of games

Recent work by a BSc Computing student, University of Northampton - Andy Matt-Mbuku

Towards the development of an Educational Software tool designed for teaching children words in foreign

languages via the use of games.

Andy Matt-Mbuku

Abstract

Firstly games in general are today an important part of many children’s leisure lifestyle and a growing part of many cultures throughout the world.  More than three quarters of children play games regularly; Parent can watch in amazement as children spend hours to amusing themselves by controlling characters on the screen.

In the past games have been discharged as a distraction to from more important activities such as studying or doing homework.

Nowadays however, there are questions being asked by teachers and other researchers about how this influential concept may be used to support children’s leaning in schools Instead of turning their backs against it, with the new foreign language curriculum for primary school pupils across the England being introduced very soon, there is now an increasing interest in asking whether games might be a powerful new resource to support learning in primary schools.

This dissertation project intends to explore the current thoughts about the role of games in educations which supports children’s learning inside and outside schools, and also highlighting the critical areas of research such as the rising interest in pleasurable learning and the ‘learning by doing’ that many games seems to offer;

This project also acknowledges the challenges and obstacles to using games within the current education system and will aim to provide general recommendations for future games-based learning approaches in schools for teachers, game developers and education policy board.

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else”. (Albert Einstein, 1955).  

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.

A diagrammatic language to build and share STEM teaching narratives

Dr Tina Wilson, Visiting Fellow with STRiPe (Science and Technology Research in Pedagogy) has recently had a paper published at the STEM Annual Conference 2012 at Imperial College and The Royal Geographical Society London 

Abstract

The general objective of this overall work is to propose a methodology for the creation of language-neutral multimedia materials (without audio or text), which can be directly embedded in STEM courses in any language. The overall design of this project was discussed in [1]

The design was based on four stages: 1) a very explicit design of the course, mainly on the dependence of the concepts, using Compendium, 2) the careful selection of icons for some key concepts, 3) the generation of short interrelated animations, which try to identify a suitable graphic language (with both formal syntax and semantics), 4) the proposal of metadata, some internal to each animation and other external, to interrelate them. The final export of this educational package would consist of animations and their metadata, which would help facilitate re-use, and embedding within other courses.

In this paper we focus on the third stage. In the types of short animations discussed, we detected two complementary vocabularies. The first one labels the intentionality of certain scenes: presentation of a formal definition, presentation of positive examples and negative examples. The 
second marks the dependence of the concepts and their construction process: for example, if one is a specialization of a previous one, or if you are graphically emphasizing the use of a universal or existential quantification at that point in the construction of the concept.

At this stage, as the ultimate goal, we hope to achieve a semi-automatic process of generating animations. From the definition of first order logic of a concept (or other less formal descriptions), through the graphic language that is being investigated. This is a goal to be achieved. But we trust 
that this contributes to the creation and reuse of materials in the STEM area beyond existing language barriers.


[1] J.L. Fernández-Vindel, and T. Wilson (2011). Multilingual media components directly embeddable 
in open educational resources in science and technology. International Conference on Education, 
Research and Innovation - ICERI 2011 14-16th November 2011, Madrid, Spain.



Paper can be found at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/stem-conference/Computing1/Jos%C3%A9-Luis_Fern%C3%A1ndez-Vindel_Tina_Wilson.pdf