HLGU professor Dr. Melanie Smith publishes chapter on teacher education in the digital age | Local News

HANNIBAL — Dr. Melanie Smith, an instruction professor at Hannibal-LaGrange College, has revealed a chapter in the Handbook of Analysis on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Schooling in the Context of a Virtual Age.

Her chapter, titled “A Conceptual Framework for Knowing How Early Occupation Literacy Lecturers Curate a Lesson Prepare in a Digital Age,” focuses on the difficulties that early career literacy teachers face when organizing modest team reading through lessons, especially in the principal grades.

10 Online Dog Training Classes for Every Breed, Age, & Skill Level

Looking for the best online dog training courses? Look no further, as we have gathered a list of the top 10 online dog training programs to help you train your pup.

Whether you’re a pet owner or have a deep affection for dogs and wish to take your passion to a professional level, there is something here that caters to everyone’s needs.

These courses will provide you with all the skills you need to ensure that you and your pet can coexist peacefully, from teaching basic discipline commands and useful behavior tips to troubleshooting unwanted behaviors and developing rewarding connections with your pooch.

Top Online Dog Training Courses for Pet Owners and Professionals

1. The Million Dollar Dog Trainer: The Certified Trainer (CT) Course

The Million Dollar Dog Trainer

One of the best dog training courses available online, this program is quite beneficial. This course will teach you the basics of training a dog, which will enable you to start your own dog-training business or work for another dog trainer.

You will study problem-solving techniques, on and off-leash obedience training commands, and techniques for teaching manners in this course. As you advance, you’ll pick up on dog temperament tests as well as the ability to identify neurological and physical ailments and issues with owners.

This course, in itself, is an exhaustive library of many insightful books and professionally produced highly educational videos, put together to take your love for dogs a notch up to the professional level, and that too, lucratively.

Price: NA

Duration: Self-paced

Video: On-demand

Certificate: Available

2. Alison: Become a Professional Dog Trainer

Alison Become a Professional Dog Trainer

The goal of this free online dog training course is to arm you with the information, self-assurance, and dog training methods you’ll need to launch your own dog training business. The curriculum shows you how to manage undesired canine behaviors and interact with dogs in a language they can comprehend.

This course will lay a strong foundation for you to establish your dog training profession, from learning fundamental skills like how to stop a dog from jumping to resolving more complicated problems like separation anxiety, which causes needless barking, chewing, panting, and pacing when left alone.

Having said that, in addition to teaching you how to train dogs, this free online course also teaches you how to manage a successful dog-training business. By the end of this free course, you will have the dog training knowledge, confidence, and dog training methods you need to start your dog training business.

Price: Free

Duration: 1.5-3 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: CPD Accreditation

3. Centre of Excellence: Dog Training Online Diploma Course

Centre of Excellence Dog Training Online Diploma Course

This thorough, insightful, and accredited online dog training course will provide you with a solid academic framework for how dogs think, learn, and behave. The course will provide you with a solid base for training your dog or providing professional dog training advice/consultation to others.

This course, an eight-unit online dog training curriculum, is jam-packed with crucial knowledge on canine behavior and training holistically. You’ll gain knowledge about how to interact with, work with, and understand dogs, as well as what they’re attempting to convey at all times.

The most troubling actions that dogs exhibit are usually the result of a lack of understanding. Each chapter is jam-packed with the most recent information on dog behavior, training, and how to interact with and discipline your dog.

Price: Paid

Duration: 150 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: Yes

4. Udemy: Become a Dog Trainer

Udemy Become a Dog Trainer

Do you think working with dogs is what you were meant to do? Does it seem like your calling? Would you like a career that is exciting, gratifying, and doesn’t feel like work, plus you get to assist dogs and pay the bills at the same time? Then you’ve discovered the perfect course!

With this program, one of the top online dog training courses, you’ll discover dog training techniques to understand and calm down a stressed-out dog and turn it into a happy and well-behaved pooch.

On top of that, this course also assures you a risk-free, satisfying learning experience with its 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a win-win!

Price: Paid

Duration: 5 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: Available

5. Canine Club Academy: Online Certification Course in Dog Training

Canine Club Academy Online Certification Course in Dog Training

This top online dog training program’s goal is to give you the knowledge and abilities needed to work as a canine care professional or a dog trainer. It concentrates on practical issues, including how to start your own business, get it off the ground, and be compensated for your work.

This course gives you the skills you need to become a recognized dog trainer and consultant. It is broken down into 14 instructive sections that cover important background material, fundamental and advanced dog training techniques, and how to launch your own company as a professional dog trainer.

Moreover, each module of this course is accompanied by quizzes, interactive projects, and assignments for you to assess your abilities and knowledge and give you hands-on practice with real-world problems and challenges.

Price: NA

Duration: NA

Video: NA

Certificate: CCA-CDT

6. Australian Online Courses: Certificate of Dog Psychology and Training

Australian Online Courses Certificate of Dog Psychology and Training

The Certificate of Dog Psychology and Training is a professional online dog training program that will provide you with the know-how and abilities needed to comprehend canine psychology and put effective obedience training techniques into practice.

You will learn about the history of canine evolution and the predictable and natural behaviors that dogs exhibit in this dog psychology course. Also, you will learn to identify canine signals, typical behavior problems, and the behavioral tendencies that dogs develop throughout their lives.

You will learn the skills needed to design effective training programs for pets and understand the demanding training needs of working dogs.

Price: Paid

Duration: 50 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: Certificate of Attainment

7. Animal Courses Direct: Diploma in Canine Welfare, Training and Behaviour

Animal Courses Direct Diploma in Canine Welfare, Training and Behaviour

All careers working with dogs require an understanding of canine behavior, including the ability to understand complex canine body language, identify and handle unwanted behavior, and prevent problems from occurring. This is true whether you want to become a professional dog trainer or you simply want to understand your pet better.

Learning about canine anatomy and physiology, training and behavior, the importance of exercise and nutrition, and how to conduct dog training courses are all significant topics covered by this course. You will be given a tutor when you enroll in this online dog training course, who will assist you the entire time.

Price: Paid

Duration: 361 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: Available

8. Victoria Stilwell Academy: Dog Trainer Course

Victoria Stilwell Academy

Whether you’re brand new to dog training or feel you have some gaps in your understanding of dog training and behavior, VSA’s flagship online dog trainer course will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to ensure a successful career as a dog trainer, expand your offerings as a pet industry professional, or simply elevate your understanding of how dogs think, feel, and learn.

VSA’s revolutionary learning system pairs each student with their own personal Faculty Advisor and offers the broadest, most engaging learning experience.

Moreover, you can also get your hands on free bonuses as add-ons in your package, including Free Dog Behavior Conference registration, a gift card, 2 Free VSA Fundamentals Course registrations and a free year of Positively TV.

Price: Paid

Duration: 100+ hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: VSA-Certified Dog Trainer designation

9. Coursera: The Truth about Cats and Dogs

Coursera The Truth about Cats and Dogs

This online dog training course from the University of Edinburgh will help you better understand the behavior of your dog and build stronger bonds with them.

You will learn about the many ways people interact with cats and dogs throughout the world and how those interactions have evolved in this course. The next step will be to learn how animals’ senses assist them in interacting with their environment, as well as how they communicate with one another.

This online course explores many scientifically validated techniques that can improve your relationship with your pet, make them happier, and make you a more knowledgeable and assured pet owner.

Price: Free

Duration: 16 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: Certificate of Completion

10. Skillshare: Train Your Dog Like a Pro: Lay a Foundation For a Happy Dog

Skillshare Train Your Dog Like a Pro Lay a Foundation For a Happy Dog

This online dog training program focuses on laying a solid foundation in basic obedience training, preparing for a Canine Good Citizen test, demonstrating good manners in their environment, and trick training.

You will explore multiple issues, tips, and methods for keeping your dog under control and content at all times. You’ll cover some of the top techniques that trainers use to train their dogs and how you may use them for training your pet. By the end of this course, you’ll get the hang of the 3 key components for effective dog training – good timing, consistency, and patience, and have a dog who is focused on you.

You’ll finish this course by creating a video in which you use these concepts in the setting of your choice. You may practice these new abilities in a public setting, on a simple obstacle course, or experiment with new ways to demonstrate your skills.

Price: Free

Duration: 16 hours

Video: On-demand

Certificate: NA

Conclusion

The best online dog training courses can provide all of the materials and technical support needed to help owners and professionals train various breeds of pups and dogs effectively. Each program offers a unique approach to learning by providing detailed guidelines on different techniques and helpful advice.

There are a variety of programs, so look into each course carefully and find the one that works best for you as well as your four-legged companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Online Dog Training Classes Good for Including on a Resume?

Yes, online dog training classes can and should be included in your resume. These courses will efficiently demonstrate that you are committed and have put effort into improving your own skill set for potential employers. A certification from one of these doggy schools proves an employer’s trust in their candidates’ skill set, while potential clients will be reassured by it too!

Do Online Dog Training Courses Come with a Certification?

While the majority of online dog training programs will offer some kind of certificate upon completion, several factors determine which course fits your needs the best.

Should I Train My Dog Myself or Get a Trainer?

There are many considerations when selecting whether to train your dog yourself or hire a professional trainer. The top online dog training classes and programs are worth checking into if you feel like training your puppy at home is your cup of tea. Hiring a certified, experienced canine behaviorist, however, may be the better choice to address more complex behavioral issues.

Are Dogs Happier if They Are Trained?

Training your dog is advantageous for both the dog and the owner since it instills a sense of balance in your furry companions, establishes clear structure and boundaries for them, and fosters a relationship of trust between you two. Hence, making use of the best online dog training programs would provide you more control over how you engage with puppies, making them healthier and happier.

Is Training Stressful for Dogs?

In a general context, training is, of course, not stressful for dogs; it is, in fact, the opposite of stressful. However, the best way to answer this question depends on how the dog reacts or responds during training sessions. Poor guidance or lack of experience and knowledge may result in increased stress levels for dogs.

Body composition and physical fitness in adults born small for gestational age at term: a prospective cohort study

Research design and style

This research is a portion of the NTNU Small Beginning Weight in a Lifetime Perspective analyze. The current review included two teams of adults born in 1986–1988 one particular group born SGA at phrase, and a person team born non-SGA at phrase with start weight ≥ 10th percentile, which serves as a management team. The individuals took component in a more substantial knowledge assortment at 32 years of age. In addition to bodily health and fitness tests, examinations bundled anthropometric measurements, evaluation of lung operate, visible perform as very well as fine and gross motor perform. Assessments were being carried out from September 2019 to Oct 2020.

Members

Members ended up originally integrated in a multicentre study investigating the aetiology and outcomes of intrauterine development restriction29,30. Pregnant gals living in the Trondheim location were enrolled before week 20 of being pregnant primarily based on referral from standard practitioners and obstetricians. Ladies had been suitable if they experienced a singleton being pregnant and experienced been expecting just one or two moments just before (n = 1249). A 10{af0afab2a7197b4b77fcd3bf971aba285b2cb7aa14e17a071e3a1bf5ccadd6db} random sample of these girls were being chosen to serve as a regulate team (n = 132), employing a sealed envelope strategy. A team of females at large possibility of supplying birth to an SGA infant were chosen for adhere to-up if they experienced a person or additional outlined chance criteria for SGA birth a former low delivery weight boy or girl, reduced pre-pregnancy weight (< 50 kg), previous perinatal death, presence of chronic maternal disease (chronic renal disease, essential hypertension, or heart disease), or maternal cigarette smoking at conception (n = 390). Women in the control group and the high-risk group were thoroughly followed during pregnancy and their infants were examined at birth. The rest of the women (n = 727) were not followed during pregnancy (Fig. 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Flow of participants. SGA small for gestational age.

At birth, all SGA infants born to mothers in either group were included in the SGA group (Fig. 1). An infant was defined as being born SGA if the birth weight was < 10th percentile for gestational age (GA), corrected for sex and parity, according to a reference standard using data from the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry29. Non-SGA infants born to mothers in the random sample were included in the control group. They were born with a birth weight ≥ 10th percentile. GA was based on the first day of the mother’s last menstrual period if this was accurately recalled ± 3 days. Ultrasound based GA was used if the last menstrual period was not recalled, or if there was a discrepancy of more than 14 days. Both groups were born at term (GA ≥ 37 weeks)29,30.

The total sample included 104 participants born SGA and 120 controls (Fig. 1). Three individuals born SGA and two controls were excluded due to death, congenital syndrome/anomaly, or multimorbidity. Of the eligible, 15 individuals born SGA and 14 controls were not invited because they were living abroad, had no contact information or had previously refused to participate. Thus, a total of 190 were invited to the present study, 86 in the SGA group and 104 in the control group. Of these, 30 individuals born SGA and 36 controls did not consent to participate. Furthermore, 10 individuals born SGA and seven controls were not assessed clinically. Thus, 46 participants born SGA and 61 controls were assessed clinically, corresponding to 56.3{af0afab2a7197b4b77fcd3bf971aba285b2cb7aa14e17a071e3a1bf5ccadd6db} of the invited.

Non-participants

There were no significant differences between participants and those who did not consent or were not assessed clinically regarding sex, gestational age, birth weight, head circumference, body length, ponderal index, maternal age at child’s birth or parental socioeconomic status (SES) in either group (data not shown). From the 26-year follow-up data were available on height, weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, skinfold thickness and body composition measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In the SGA group there were no differences, but in the control group, participants weighed 8.9 (95{af0afab2a7197b4b77fcd3bf971aba285b2cb7aa14e17a071e3a1bf5ccadd6db} CI 1.0 to 16.8) kg less than those who did not consent or were not assessed clinically.

Background characteristics

At birth, the infants in both groups were weighed to the nearest 10 g on a standard scale, and crown-heel length was measured with both legs extended to the nearest mm30. Ponderal index (g/cm3) was calculated based on these measurements.

Parental socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated when participants attended the 14-year follow-up, supplemented for two participants at the 19-year follow-up, according to Hollingshead’s Two Factor Index of Social Position31, based on the parents’ education and occupation. This gives a social class rating from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).

Educational attainment at the 32-year follow-up was collected by self-report and classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) levels 1 through 8. These were recoded into three categories: Lower secondary education or lower (ISCED levels 1–2) as no more than 10th class level, intermediate education (ISCED levels 3–5) as 11th–14th class level, and lower tertiary education or higher (ISCED levels 6–8) as a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Outcome measures

Assessments were carried out at NTNU/St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim, Norway. A brief medical interview was conducted prior to examination, including whether the participant was pregnant, had a musculoskeletal diagnosis or other conditions affecting physical functioning. If the participant had a condition that made them unable to perform a physical test or that could be worsened by testing, they did not perform that particular test. All examinations were carried out by experienced and specially trained examiners, blinded to birth weight group. Anthropometric measurements were performed by a nurse and physical fitness tests by two physiotherapists and a medical research student. The examinations were carried out in the same order for each participant.

At follow-up, the participants’ height, waist and hip circumference were measured to the nearest mm. Waist circumference was measured at the mid-point between the lowest rib and the crista iliaca, and hip circumference at the maximal circumference over the buttocks. Weight was measured by bioelectric impedance analysis using a Seca medical Body Composition Analyzer (Seca® mBCA 515) with a 100 g accuracy. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and waist-to-hip ratio (waist circumference/hip circumference) was calculated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis measures included percent body fat, fat mass, fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass, total body water and extracellular water using the Seca 115 analytics software (Seca GmbH, Hamburg, Germany).

Muscular fitness was measured by the maximal isometric grip strength of the hands and forearm muscles. A Jamar (Smith and Nephew, Memphis, TN) hand dynamometer was used. The dynamometer has 5 handle positions position 3 and 4 were used for women and men, respectively. The participants were seated during the test, with shoulder abducted, a 90° angle in the elbow and a neutral position in the wrist, without support of the forearm32. Measurement was repeated three times in both dominant and non-dominant hand with 30 s recovery in between each attempt. Grip strength was measured in kg force and the maximal grip strength of the three measurements for each hand was used in the analysis. One participant in the control group could not perform the grip strength test with the dominant hand due to a hand fracture.

The 40-s modified push-up test measures the muscular strength and endurance capacity of the upper body33 and is modified to improve standardisation. The participants started laying prone on a mat with their hands close to the shoulders and feet hip-width apart with their toes on the mat33. Before every push-up they had to clasp hands behind their back before pushing themselves to a straight leg push-up. In the top position they had to touch either of their hands with the other hand before returning to the push-up position and returning to the down-position. The number of correctly performed push-ups in 40 s were registered. One participant in the control group could not perform the push-up test due to a hand fracture.

The Åstrand-Ryhming step test is a 4-min submaximal step-test that measures cardiorespiratory fitness34. The participants stepped on and off the step for four minutes paced by a metronome set to 46 beats per minute (i.e., 23 times up on the step/min). The height of the step was adapted to sex: 33 cm for women and 40 cm for men. Heart rate was observed during the test using a heart rate monitor (Firstbeat Technologies Oy) and recorded after 4 min of stepping and after being seated for 2 min. Two participants born SGA were not able to complete the test and were excluded from the analysis.

Statistical analysis

The analyses were conducted in SPSS version 27 (IBM Statistics). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Background characteristics were examined using Student’s t-test for continuous data, Exact Mann–Whitney U test for ordinal data and Pearson’s Chi square test for dichotomous variables. Group differences in outcome measures were analysed using independent samples t-test. The assumption of normally distributed variables was checked by visual inspection of histogram, boxplot, and Q–Q-plots of standardised residuals. As physical fitness differs between women and men35,36, we performed separate analyses by sex. Differences in physical fitness between groups were adjusted for height as a potential mediating factor in a univariate general linear model, since height has been consistently correlated with both being born SGA4,12,37 and physical fitness in previous literature22.

To investigate whether physical conditions affected the results, sensitivity analyses were performed by excluding participants who were pregnant, had a musculoskeletal diagnosis or other conditions affecting physical functioning, as reported by the participants in the brief medical interview.

A priori power calculations suggested, based on previous follow-up numbers in the SGA (n = 64) and control group (n = 81)38, that we would have the power to detect differences of 0.48 SD units with an alpha-level of 0.05 and a power of 80{af0afab2a7197b4b77fcd3bf971aba285b2cb7aa14e17a071e3a1bf5ccadd6db}, and 0.67 SD units with an alpha-level of 0.01 and desired power of 90{af0afab2a7197b4b77fcd3bf971aba285b2cb7aa14e17a071e3a1bf5ccadd6db}.

Ethics

The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics in Central Norway (23879). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The data was pseudonymised and stored securely on a remote server with a two-step identifier. All methods were non-invasive and entailed low risk for injury or adverse events. An appointed doctor was medically responsible during data collection. Participants in need of health services were referred as appropriate.

Mixed signals from No 10 and education secretary over gender change age | Transgender

Downing Street appeared to dismiss the education secretary’s comments on the age at which people can choose their gender, after Gillian Keegan had suggested 16 was old enough, as the UK government prepares to block Scotland’s gender recognition bill.

Asked whether a revised legislation could be accepted if the age at which people could choose their gender was changed from 16, Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said: “I think it’s important to emphasise, rather than focusing on the single issue of age, this is about the legislation having an adverse impact on equality legislation as a whole.”

The government’s position was that 18 was “the correct age” for people to change their gender, the official said.

Downing Street’s response comes after Keegan had made the comments on Sky News earlier on Tuesday.

Sunak has given the green light to use section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 for the first time to halt the bill after a review by UK government lawyers.

Keegan appeared to backtrack when she later said she was not contradicting Sunak by her remarks but speaking only from personal experience, having left school at 16 and started work.

The Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, announced the decision to block the bill after UK ministers met in Westminster on Monday to consider how to approach the legislation. It would make official recognition of a person changing gender simpler – so-called self-ID – meaning people would not need a medical certificate and could change gender from 16.

Keegan urged sensitivity, especially concerning young people. She was asked if she would be content for children in schools at 16 to say whether they wanted to change their gender.

“We have to be very sensitive to children. We are actually going to publish some guidance and consult because it is a very tricky area to get right,” she said. “It has to be age appropriate, but children have to be supported as well.”

Pressed for her personal view, the minister was asked whether she thought 16 was too young. “No, I don’t, actually. I was working at 16, I was paying tax at 16, I was making decisions for myself at 16,” she told Sky News. “But it’s not really about what I think, it’s how we make sure we get that right balance of supporting children, but also making sure that what they’re getting taught in schools is age appropriate.”

But she said on BBC Breakfast the government was right to block the bill as the UK could not have “two competing gender and equality legislations”.

‘Outrage’ if UK blocks Scotland’s gender recognition reform bill, says Nicola Sturgeon – video

Keegan denied she was contradicting the government’s view and added, “all 16-year-olds are different”. She told Good Morning Britain: “I felt able to take decisions for myself at 16. But of course I was … I’d grown up quite quickly and I was actually working full-time at 16.

“So, no, I have not got a difference of opinion. Actually, I don’t have a strong opinion. My strong opinion is that we need to treat this very carefully, very sensitively, supporting children all the way along.”

Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has said her government was likely to mount a legal challenge in response, saying the use of section 35 would create a “very, very slippery slope indeed” and would embolden the UK government to do the same in other areas.

She called it “a full-frontal attack on our democratically elected Scottish parliament and its ability to make its own decisions on devolved matters”.

Shona Robison, the Scottish government’s equalities minister who steered the bill through Holyrood, said the order represented “the action of an increasingly draconian UK Tory government”.

Asked on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland whether there were plans to take the UK government to court over the order, Robison said her government would “take whatever steps we need to ensure that the democratic will of the Scottish parliament is not frustrated.

“We are very, very confident in our position of this legislation being competent, we’re very confident that it does not impact on UK legislation.”

Asked if she would consider Jack’s invitation to work with the UK government on an amended bill, Robison said: “If Alistair Jack wants to come forward with suggestions that do not undermine the principle of the bill, and that is to simplify the process for obtaining a GRC, that’s fine. But I suspect that this is about stopping a bill they do not like, it’s not about compromising around the margins of it.”

Announcing the decision to use section 35 of the Scotland Act to block the bill receiving royal assent, Jack said: “I am concerned that this legislation would have an adverse impact on the operation of Great Britain-wide equalities legislation.

“Transgender people who are going through the process to change their legal sex deserve our respect, support and understanding. My decision today is about the legislation’s consequences for the operation of GB-wide equalities protections and other reserved matters.”

Labour has yet to say whether it will support the government’s move, despite Scottish Labour MSPs being whipped to vote in favour of the bill. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, said on Monday that 16-year-olds should not legally be able to change gender, putting him at odds with his party in Scotland.

The shadow Scottish secretary, Ian Murray, said the issue was “too important to be reduced to the usual constitutional fight”, and questioned why ministers at Westminster and Holyrood did not work together on an amended bill “to avoid this unnecessary standoff”.