The digital experience during lockdown: reports from Generation Z students

In this article we intend to provide visibility to students’ experiences of lockdown and draw attention to the impact of the digital world. We used an approach in which this phenomenon is taken as a total social fact that is mirrored, theoretically and methodologically, by the most recent contributions of Digital Sociology. This paper shows part of the results of an exploratory study that focuses on the digital experience of 43 young first year undergraduate students of Católica Porto Business School. These students reflected, while writing biographical narratives, on their experiences during the first wave of the Covid-19 outbreak, which forced a period of lockdwn. The data collected allowed us, on one hand, to understand the role played by social networks during a period of imposed physical isolation during which face-to-face contacts were discouraged and, on the other hand, what was a unique experience, worldwide in scope, of the implementation of distance learning. Results show that these students, born in a generation which emerged in the internet era and which, to that extent, have a strong relationship with the digital world, had in the social networks an ally against isolation and physical remoteness. Results also reveal that these students have come to associate these media with feelings of discomfort and exhaustion. At the same time, the imposition of distance learning without any kind of preparation on the part of schools, teachers and students had consequences that were predicted to be disastrous. However, the dissatisfaction of these students with this form of teaching is practically generalised, not only due to the lack of preparation of schools, but also to the difficulties of adjustment of teachers, in an environment in which students felt more susceptible to distraction mechanisms and in which they admitted it was more difficult to maintain concentration during classes. © 2022 (Carvalho Amador, Lima Coelho, Castro Guimarães).

The Political Determinants of Health and Health Equity in the Aging Population

Within the discipline of public health, it is commonly understood that health outcomes are influenced by more than genetics and behavior. Many health problems can be firmly linked to a political determinant that created and is perpetuating health inequities in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequities, causing disproportionate outcomes, particularly for vulnerable and minoritized groups, including older adults. This article addresses the "isms"plaguing America's health, while offering novel solutions to forge a path toward recovery and, ultimately, advancing health equity. Copyright 2022 American Society on Aging;all rights reserved.

Digital Ecosystem for Children’s Rehabilitation with Psychomotor Deficit

Introduction. In this paper we review the change that the psychomotor deficit’s children rehabilitation system has had to further adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining the importance of early care with the support of computer technologies. Because of the health emergency, many patients with a motor disability couldn’t assist to the places that provided therapy services of various kinds, joined to the fact that therapists also had to avoid crowds in their rehabilitation centers and thus not spread the virus in this vulnerable population. Methodology. The approach used is a mixed approach, with children of 0 to 5 years old diagnosed with psychomotor deficit due to a development disorder which are coursing initial education as the objects of study. The instruments used have been observation with action research. Results. A solution is shown creating a digital ecosystem model that inserts Scrum agile methodology for the children’s rehabilitation process, that allows interaction between all the actors in the process, such as children, parents or guardians, therapists, doctors, and specialists. Some related works are mentioned that offer a broader perspective of the scope that this technological approach has been generating. The proposed solution is tested in a study case at the APPAC Association. Discussion-Conclusion. The proposed model needs a lot of iterations to consider his value and get more detailed information about user experience and the perceived benefits at psychomotor deficit. It discloses important results with technologies’ use to work in the future. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.