Temperament Predicts Processing Speed in Low Socioeconomic Status Rural Preschoolers

Extreme poverty all over the world is concentrated in rural settings. However, studies about cognition in low socioeconomic status (SES) children are for the most part conducted in urban populations. This paper investigates, in a poor rural sample, what are the individual and socioenvironmental variables that make the difference in performance in a processing speed task. Forty four 5‐year‐old children were evaluated with a processing speed task; individual and socioenvironmental information was obtained from parents' interviews. Higher scores in the effortful control dimension of temperament were associated with higher performance in the processing speed task. No other individual or socioenvironmental variable predicted the performance. These results showed that effortful control is important in processing speed and suggest that in low SES rural contexts, low effortful control children would require stronger interventions.     

The Role of Unrealistic Optimism in College Student Risky Sexual Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between unrealistic optimism (UO) and risky sexual behavior (RSB) and related consequences in a college student sample. Participants believed they had significantly lower personal risk of engagement in alcohol-related sexual activity, unintended pregnancy, and STIs than the average college student (ps?<?0.01). Compared to national data, participants significantly underestimated likelihood of HPV and sexual engagement with four or more partners in the next year (ps?<?0.01). Findings support evidence of UO relating to RSB-related consequences, indicating need for improvements in sexual health education and intervention.     

The effects of gender‐role expectations upon perceptions of communicative competence

Several researchers have proposed that power, rather than gender, accounts for women using more powerless language than men. The present study examined the specific interaction context of bargaining and compared power with gender as potential predictors of the use of threats, one particular form of powerful language. Grounded in an interactional/social exchange view of power as dependence in social transactions, this study represented a marked departure from past studies of gender‐based language. The results largely supported power rather than gender as the best predictor of the use of powerful language in an interactional context involving bargaining.     

A Qualitative Comparison of Online and Classroom-Based Sections of a Course: Exploring Student Perspectives

This study explored students' perceptions of learning experiences in an online and a face-to-face section of the same university course. Both sections of the course were taught by the same instructor during the same semester of study. Qualitative data was collected from 60 participating students, as well as the instructor. This data included interviews and journal entries consisting of students' perceptions of their learning experiences. Instructor's perceptions corroborated student journal and interview data. The three themes that emerged from the data collected and analysed from the study include: (1) the importance of peer interaction and co-operative learning environments; (2) the difficulties and benefits of Web-based instruction; and (3) the importance of the affective domain in the learning process. Suggestions for further research are offered. Une Comparaison qualitative de sections d'un Cours en ligne et en classe: Exploration des Perspectives des Etudiants. Cette étude a exploré les perceptions des étudiants sur leurs expériences d'apprentissage comparant les sections en ligne et face À face en même cours d'université. Les deux sections du cours ont été enseignées par le même instructeur pendant le même semestre d'étude. Des données qualitatives ont été recueillies auprès des 60 étudiants participants aussi bien qu'auprès de l'instructeur - les données comprenaient des interviews et des articles de journaux relatifs aux perceptions par les étudiants de leurs expériences d'apprentissage. Les perceptions de l'instructeur considéraient bien les données recueillies par les étudiants dans les interviews et les articles. Les trois thèmes qui ont émergé des données collectées et analysées dans l'étude comprennent : (1) l'importance de l'interaction avec les autres élèves et des environnements d'enseignement en coopération (2) les difficultés et les profits de l'instruction basée sur le Web; (3) l'importance du domaine affectif dans le processus d'apprentissage. L'article se termine par des suggestions pour de futures recherches. Ein qualitativer Vergleich von Kursabschnitten, die sowohl online als auch in der Klasse abgehalten wurden : welche Perspektiven ergeben sich für die Studenten. Diese Studie untersucht den Umgang der Lernerfahrungen bei den Studenten, die den online-Kurs belegt haben als auch bei denen, die den frontal gehaltenen Kurs belegt haben. Beide Kursabschnitte wurden von dem gleichen Dozenten im gleichen Semester gehalten. Aussagekräftige Daten wurden von den 60 Teilnehmern wie auch vom Dozenten gesammelt. Die Daten stützen sich auf Interviews, Journaleintragungen der von den Studenten gemachten Lernerfahrung und ihrer Reaktionen. Die Beobachtungen des Dozenten decken sich mit den Journaleintragungen der Studenten und den Angaben aus den Interviews. Die drei Themen, die aus den gesammelten und analysierten Daten hervorgingen sind: (1) die Bedeutung des gegenseitigen Austauschs mit anderen Studenten und ein kooperatives Lernumfeld. (2) Schwierigkeiten und Vorzüge eines auf dem Web basierenden Unterrichts; (3) die Bedeutung des emotionalen Bereichs während des Lernprozesses. Es werden Vorschläge für weitere Untersuchungen gemacht.     

Overcoming Barriers: School Principals and SROs Collaborating to Create a Safe School Environment

Relationships between school administrators and School Resource Officers (SROs) are particularly important with the current emphasis on school safety. The majority of research in this area focuses on the effectiveness of SRO programs; however, there is a dearth of research involving the relationship between school administration and SROs. Understanding the need to overcome some of the existing barriers such as cultural and mission differences between the two organizations should enhance the possibility of creating an effective partnership. Focusing on the essential aspects of the interagency relationships in the context of school emergency readiness should allow this important partnership to be successfully implemented. This examination of the interagency relationship is important in navigating the barriers that exist in this dynamic relationship.     

Example of good practice of a learning environment with a classroom response system in a mechanical engineering bachelor course

Results of a successful pilot study are presented, in which quizzes are introduced in a second year bachelor course for mechanical engineering students. The pilot study course entailed the basic concepts of mechanical vibrations in complex, realistic structures. The quiz is held weekly using a SharePoint application. The purpose of the quizzes is to repeat important course material, give instantaneous feedback (i.e. formative assessment), stimulate peer instruction and, as a consequence, increase the students’ comprehension of the basic concepts taught in the course so that their deeper understanding of the subject matter improves. Students can earn half a point bonus, on a scale from 0 to 10, on top of their exam mark if they correctly answer 55% of all the quiz questions. The efficacy of the pilot study is determined by investigating the percentage of students that pass the course on their first attempt, i.e. the first time pass rate, and asking students for feedback through questionnaires. The first time pass rate of the students in the pilot study groups has, on average, increased significantly in comparison to groups in which the quizzes are not performed. Students indicated that the feedback from the quizzes helps them to identify gaps in their knowledge. Therefore, the pilot study is considered effective.     

Working Together: Preparing the Next Generation of Highly Qualified Middle-School STEM Teachers

In response to the demand to produce highly qualified teachers to fill teacher vacancies in high-need middle school areas while simultaneously strengthening the teacher preparation process, this article highlights how an innovative partnership with a very large school district and multiple colleges within a metropolitan university resulted in a collaboration to rethink and retool teacher preparation for the next generation of middle school STEM teachers.