Search Results (1,601)

Newsgames integrate journalism and digital game design to communicate news through interactive storytelling. This study examines how narrative journalism can function as a design framework for newsgames by exploring how its storytelling techniques—such as characterisation, scene construction, and narrative structure—can inform the design of interactive journalistic experiences while maintaining factual integrity. Using a narrative literature review, the research synthesises scholarship from journalism studies, narrative theory, and game studies to analyse how narrative structures and gameplay systems shape the communication of news in digital games. The paper proposes a conceptual model that integrates narrative journalism and newsgames with Symbolic Interaction Theory (SIT) and the Values at Play (VAP) heuristic, providing a theoretical framework for interactive journalistic storytelling. Within this framework, gameplay operates as a narrative structure through which players engage with journalistic content by interacting with simulated environments, characters, and decision-making processes. The analysis indicates that the communicative capacity of newsgames depends on how journalistic information is embedded within gameplay mechanics and narrative systems, where interactivity, player agency, and ethical design shape how audiences interpret complex social and political issues. The study concludes that newsgames function as interactive narrative systems of journalism, in which gameplay serves as a storytelling mechanism that enables audiences to engage with news through participation and interpretation. By positioning narrative journalism as a design framework for interactive news experiences, this research contributes a theoretical foundation for analysing and developing narrative-driven newsgames. Full article

This study examines how pre-service teachers construct pedagogical knowledge to promote equity in school settings through reflection and research from an intersectional gender perspective. Situated within current debates on gender, interculturality, and social justice in teacher education, the study explores how pre-service teachers develop critical awareness of inequality and envision transformative practices. Using a qualitative design, three reflective workshops were conducted with students from Early Childhood and Elementary Education programs in Chilean universities. Thematic analysis identified nine principal codes, which were later organized into four analytical domains: knowledge construction, interculturality and inclusion, gender practices, and intersectional meanings. Results show that participants conceive teaching as a political and ethical practice linked to community engagement, democratic coexistence, and affective responsibility. They also challenge traditional gender roles by proposing co-care and collective well-being as foundations for equitable education. Furthermore, intercultural and situated pedagogies emerge as key strategies for connecting theory with practice and validating diversity within the classroom. Participants demonstrate emerging forms of intersectional and gender awareness, questioning the feminization of teaching and proposing notions of co-care and collective well-being that transcend binary gender norms. They also value intercultural and contextual pedagogies, emphasizing empathy, recognition of diversity, and the validation of students’ origins and trajectories. Full article

With the acceleration of digital transformation in education, this paper examines how blockchain is being framed as a governance solution for trust, transparency, and decentralization. Using a hybrid bibliometric and thematic analysis of 93 Web of Science and Scopus publications, the study maps publication trends, leading outlets, author networks, and conceptual clusters. We analyze co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and conceptual structures using VOSviewer version 1.6.19 and the R-based Bibliometrix package. Then, we apply qualitative coding to offer a more profound interpretation of governance stories. Findings show that blockchain in educational governance is predominantly positioned through techno-managerial lenses—focusing on secure credentials, tamper-proof records, and efficiency—while critical perspectives on power, equity, and participation remain limited. Global North institutions and computer science–oriented venues dominate the field, with little engagement from Global South contexts or educational leadership scholarship. The paper concludes by proposing a research agenda that reimagines blockchain not as a neutral tool, but as a socio-technical assemblage that must be interrogated through equity-, ethics-, and community-centered frameworks. Full article

Background/Objective: Older patients with end-stage renal disease who receive dialysis often discontinue treatment before the end of their lives. However, the trajectory of family caregiving in this specific context remains under-researched. This study explored the experiences of family members caring for older patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), from the introduction of dialysis to end-of-life care. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study included three family members caring for older patients with end-stage renal disease who were undergoing dialysis in Japan. Data were collected through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews and analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis within a qualitative descriptive design. Results: The results identified seven categories regarding the family’s experience from dialysis initiation to end-of-life care: Key findings, particularly regarding the terminal phase, included ‘shock of dialysis treatment discontinuation’, ‘last moments shared with the patient’, ‘nostalgic memories of the patient over time, and ‘reflections on end-of-life care for the patient.’ Families described a process wherein the sudden need for proxy decision-making, often without prior discussion, was linked to feelings of regret. Conclusions: The findings describe the continuous experiences of family caregivers in the Japanese context. These exploratory insights suggest that the absence of early Advance Care Planning may contribute to caregiver distress during the withdrawal phase. The results highlight the need for culturally sensitive renal supportive care that fosters communication and understanding of patients’ wishes to mitigate the ethical burdens on families. Full article

Research on ChatGPT GPT-4 and GPT-5 in higher education has focused on quantitative adoption models (intention to use and predictors) and fragmented effects (writing, performance, well-being, dependence, or ethics). However, this approach keeps the debate stuck in an outdated phase of debate about the tool’s acceptance, even though ChatGPT is part of the academic ecosystem. The objective of the study is to understand, from students’ voices, how the quality of academic interaction with ChatGPT is configured, and to identify patterns of decision-making, validation, ethical regulation, and communication (transparency/concealment) in university contexts. An interpretive qualitative approach was followed. A total of 418 university students participated, all of whom provided qualitative data through semi-structured virtual interviews. The data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis in six phases, with the support of ATLAS.ti software for rooting and density calculations. The results revealed ten categories that structure the phenomenon (adoption, attitudes, writing, translation, performance, cross-cutting skills, integrity, well-being, disciplinary use, and institutional integration). A continuum was observed between high-quality interaction (verification, rewriting, appropriation, and responsible authorship) and low-quality interaction (cognitive delegation, overconfidence, dependence, and concealment). The quality of student interaction with ChatGPT requires critical, ethical, and institutional regulation to guide and legitimize the academic process. Full article

Anishnawbe Health Toronto (AHT) is Canada’s largest multidisciplinary Indigenous health centre. In 2023, the Executive Director of AHT spearheaded a community-centered research study looking at mental and spiritual health for its community of service users. This project sought to support cultural resurgence efforts in AHT health programming through the synthesis of Indigenous-informed models and understandings of mental health, rooted in the knowledge and experience of care providers at AHT. This project also sought to enhance Indigenous community research capacity by involving Indigenous community stakeholders in each stage of the qualitative research process. This paper details these methods, which follow Indigenous community ethics in research, and include both Indigenous approaches to research as well as qualitative methods. This paper then presents a summary of the study’s findings, describing the interdisciplinary mental health services of a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners at AHT. Three major themes describe the unique features of these services: The Healing Relationship, Indigenous Spaces and Identities as a “Sacred Home”, and Healing Through Spirit. The connection between spirituality and Indigenous wellness is discussed by centering Indigenous values and ways of knowing as central to Indigenous healing, survivance, and cultural resurgence. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite growing recognition of empathy as a cornerstone of high-quality care, its role within interprofessional collaboration remains underexplored. While the Interprofessional Education Collaborative explicitly references empathy only under the Values and Ethics domain, emerging evidence suggests its potential relevance across all four core competencies. This study aimed to explore the influence of empathy on each of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competencies and to highlight its role in the contemporary interprofessional healthcare environment. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted to identify articles published in English between 2014 and 2025, through searches of PubMed and Scopus. The sub-competency statements of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative framework were used to guide keyword selection and map concepts that empathy may influence. Results: Seventy-two articles were included in this narrative review. According to the literature, evidence suggests that empathy may support humanitarian values and ethical decision making (Values and Ethics), but the mechanisms underlying this remain to be considered. Empathy has also been discussed in relation to therapeutic and team communication (Communication), as well as to processes such as conflict resolution, supportive leadership, team cohesion, and staff well-being (Teams and Teamwork). The evidence regarding the Roles and Responsibilities domain remains relatively limited, preventing definitive conclusions about the potential influence of empathy in this domain. A clear distinction emerges between clinical and interprofessional empathy, with evidence suggesting that both are essential for collaborative practice. Conclusions: Empathy appears to be linked with several domains of interprofessional collaboration and may represent an important relational component in collaborative healthcare practice. However, the influence of empathy may depend on structural and organizational conditions and may vary across different interprofessional healthcare contexts. These findings offer a conceptual bridge between empathy and interprofessional collaboration, providing actionable insights for educators, leaders, and policymakers involved in healthcare training. Full article

This work examines how digital technologies, particularly 3D imaging, additive man-ufacturing, and digital twins, contribute to a more interactive and process-oriented understanding of cultural preservation. Building on practical experience with museum scanning and 3D reproduction, the study introduces the Heritage 4.0 Cycle, a conceptual framework that structures digital heritage management into four iterative phases: Capture, Curate, Connect, and Co-create. The model integrates technological, ethical, and social aspects of preservation, describing how cultural heritage operates as a living system supported by data, interpretation, and participation. Findings indicate that 3D technologies function as mediators between tangible and intangible heritage, promoting inclusivity, collaborative learning, and sustainable engagement. The framework aligns digital preservation practices with broader objectives of education, innovation, and community development. By formalizing Heritage 4.0 into a structured and iterative framework, this study contributes a transferable model that supports sustainable and smart cultural ecosystems by aligning digital documentation, ethical curation, participatory engagement, and digital twin-enabled connectivity within a coherent heritage management strategy Full article

The European Green Deal is Europe’s ambitious and multi-layered response to climate change. Translating its objectives into action for a green transition has created a need for new skills and competencies. Vocational and Education Training (VET) systems are uniquely positioned to equip learners with these emerging green and transversal competences through their dual focus on knowledge dissemination and applied practice. However, current VET curricula remain oriented towards traditional occupations and are not adequately aligned with the sustainability and skills needs of the agri-food sector. This study, as part of a joint European-funded project (2023-1-IE01-KA220-VET-00156916: Train to Sustain), aimed to: (1) identify practical strategies for integrating sustainability concepts and innovative pedagogy into VET programs, and (2) gather multi-stakeholder perspectives on how VET agri-food education can be adapted for greater alignment with the green skills required by the sector. Following ethical approval, data were collected through semi-structured focus groups involving key agri-food stakeholder groups across Ireland, Slovenia, Poland and Italy. The data were qualitatively analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). Five themes were identified: (1) Innovative and Sustainable Practices in Agri-Food systems, (2) Education, Awareness and Consumer Engagement, (3) Institutional and Structural Approaches, (4) Community and Localised Responses, and (5) Barriers, Opportunities and Future Directions. The findings highlight the significant potential VET offers in preparing a workforce with the cross-cutting sustainability competences and sector-specific skills needed to drive the innovation and growth of the agri-food sector. However, achieving this requires institutional change, strengthened collaboration, and a shift from traditional technical training toward curriculum models that embed sustainability principles across diverse local and regional contexts. Full article

Present-day artificial intelligence systems (AI), virtual assistants, and devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) are playing an increasingly important role in decision-making processes in the everyday lives of individuals and daily operations of organizations. In this respect, the users’ trust is a key factor determining their acceptance and effective use. In contemporary digital ecosystems, this trust increasingly becomes a component of sustainable digital marketing, in which transparent data practices and responsible communication shape long-term consumer–technology relationships. This paper analyzes the halo effect as a psychological mechanism affecting the perception of competences, reliability, and ethics in the case of technologies based on AI. Based on the literature on behavioral economics, it was shown how positive associations with the interface, brand, or previous experience of the user may lead to excessive trust in technology. Such mechanisms also play a significant role in shaping sustainable consumption patterns, as users—guided by cognitive shortcuts—can adopt technologies in ways that either strengthen or weaken responsible digital behaviors. Moreover, the potential risks associated with this phenomenon were also indicated. The aim of this paper was to present how the utilization of the halo effect influences the generation of trust in smart systems and the formulation of implication for management practices and technology design. These implications are increasingly important in the context of sustainable digital marketing policy, where organizations must align persuasive communication with ethical standards and with rising expectations regarding sustainable digital transformation. Relationships between variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM), making it possible to verify complex dependencies between the perceived image of technology, the halo effect, and the users’ trust. This study tested three core hypotheses regarding the halo effect’s role, the foundational importance of security, and the mediating function of trust in technology adoption. The results of these analyses indicate that the halo effect significantly affects the level of trust in each of the investigated areas, with the strongest effect observed in the case of virtual assistants, where perception of the human-like characteristics of the interface considerably strengthened trust in the competences and reliability of the system. This finding has particular relevance for AI-driven personalization mechanisms, which increasingly guide consumer decision-making and shape their long-term behavioral patterns in online environments, with direct implications for sustainable consumption. This paper provides contribution to innovation management and technical marketing, stressing the importance of cognitive and emotional factors in the acceptance of new technologies. At the same time, it highlights the theoretical need to integrate responsible AI design with sustainable digital marketing strategies The findings suggest that ensuring trust, once established, has the potential to support not only technological innovation but broader societal goals related to responsible consumption, environmental stewardship, and long-term digital well-being aligned with sustainable development principles. However, this study stops short of empirically measuring sustainable consumption behaviors, offering instead a conceptual link that requires further empirical validation. Full article

Religious tourism is an evolving form of cultural and spiritual mobility that connects faith, community identity, and sustainable destination development. Despite its growing significance, few studies have examined service quality in pilgrimage contexts using the 4A framework (attraction, accessibility, amenities, and ancillary services), particularly in developing regions. This qualitative study explores how the 4A dimensions shape service experiences and sustainability practices in religious tourism across three Catholic pilgrimage sites in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia: Goa Maria Golo Koe, Goa Maria Golo Kaca, and Goa Maria Rekas. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with ecclesiastical leaders, including a diocesan priest and the Archbishop; key informant interviews with government and tourism actors; focus group discussions with local communities; and non-participatory field observations. The findings show that spiritual attraction remains the primary driver of pilgrim motivation, reinforced by local traditions and collective devotion. However, accessibility, amenities, and ancillary services are constrained by inadequate infrastructure, fragmented governance, and limited service standards. Despite these challenges, community voluntarism and the Church’s moral leadership help preserve the sanctity and authenticity of visitor experiences. This study introduces a Sacred Service Framework that integrates faith-based ethics with the 4A model to support sustainable, inclusive, and spiritually grounded religious tourism management. Full article

Toponyms, i.e., place names, are fundamental for reconstructing the diachronic development of communities without written records, encoding unique historical and cultural data of any civilisation; however, they are vulnerable to loss as languages decline. This also happens for the scarcely documented language Kula (or Tanglapui), a Papuan Alor-Pantar language (Trans-New Guinea macro-family) from Eastern Alor, Southeastern Indonesia (Alor-Pantar Archipelago, Timor area). The spatial knowledge encapsulated in Kula toponyms has been critically threatened by resettlement since the 1960s, alongside its declining daily usage. To preserve this heritage, this article presents a systemised dataset of Kula place names derived from oral traditions, documented for the first time during fieldwork between 2023 and 2026. Data collection followed established language documentation methodologies, utilising semi-structured interviews and community verification with elder native speakers and local consultants to ensure adherence to ethical standards and cultural accuracy of recording practices. The dataset comprises 31 entries of place names, each detailing toponymic variants, glosses/folk etymologies, associated natural resources, stories/historical elements, settlement type, location, habitation status, and internal and external tribal links when information is available. This paper fills a critical gap in Timor-Alor-Pantar linguistics, offering an open-access resource for reconstructing migration patterns and preserving the Kula people’s collective memory against accelerating language endangerment. Full article

This article explores how Buddhist theories of mind-nature can inform ethical design in artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on AI as a supportive condition for human awakening and self-realization. Drawing on the doctrine of no-self, it argues that AI should not be treated as an autonomous moral subject, but as a contingent mirror of human data, design, and intention. Although present AI does not possess prajñā, it can serve as a mindfulness aid by making patterns of thought, emotion, and desire more visible. Building on the Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Deeds, the paper proposes design and oversight principles oriented toward non-harm, truthful communication, fairness, and the reduction of greed, hatred, and delusion in digital environments. It concludes that AI ethics is inseparable from the human moral agency, and that cultivating a “digital Pure Land” depends on the moral choices of decision-makers, engineers, policy-makers, and users, thereby linking technical governance to spiritual practice. Full article

Background: Oral health during adolescence is a key determinant of long-term well-being and health equity. Despite widespread recognition of its importance, disparities in knowledge, motivation, and access to care persist. This study was conducted in Salt (Catalonia, Spain), a municipality with a population of approximately 33,000, characterized by a low average household disposable income (€12,512 per capita) and a high proportion of immigrant residents (37.76%). These sociodemographic characteristics may influence adolescents’ oral health behaviour, perceptions, and access to dental care. The study aimed to explore adolescents’ knowledge, habits, and attitudes towards oral health in this context, with barriers and protective factors, to inform community-based health promotion strategies. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using focus group discussions with Spanish adolescents aged between 12 and 16, following ethical approval and informed consent from legal guardians. Data were systematically analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The adolescents had moderate oral health literacy, with basic knowledge of dental caries and prevention, but notable gaps in their knowledge regarding systemic consequences and complementary resources. Oral health behaviours and practices were shaped by social, economic, and normative influences, while parental involvement, community support, and school-based initiatives emerged as key assets for the promotion of oral health. Conclusions: While adolescents in Salt show awareness of oral hygiene, structural, motivational, and informational barriers limit comprehensive oral health practices. Interventions should move beyond knowledge-based education towards culturally adapted, participatory, and asset-based approaches to promote sustainable improvements in adolescent oral health. Full article