Learning from migrant education: A case study of the schooling of rural migrant children in Beijing

This paper focuses on the educational opportunities available to rural migrant children in Beijing. On the basis of fieldwork conducted in migrant communities in 2004–2005, I conclude that administrative and financial barriers, as well as discrimination, prevent migrant children from entering state schools. I discuss the quality of education available in unlicensed private schools, followed by an analysis of the possible reasons for the state's exclusion of migrant children from state schools and its hostility to migrants’ self-provision of education.     

Mobile telephone ownership and usage among 10- and 11-year-olds

Abstract

This study investigated cellular mobile phone ownership among a sample of primary school pupils (N = 351). Results showed nearly half of both girls and boys owned mobiles. While only 19% had self-funded the mobile purchase, almost 50% had paid for their own top-up cards. 45% spent between £5 and £10 monthly on call charges. The favourite call destinations were parents. 38% reported they had used their mobile when confronted by a crisis.The large majority both sent and received text messages, and about 1 in 5 were able to send texts via the Internet and/or search the net. 11% admitted to receiving either a rude message (4%) or a threat (7%). Furthermore, 17% had been sent a frightening message, and 14% admitted to sending one. To conclude, concerns are raised that non-ownership of mobile phones may lead to social exclusion as well as limit pupils’ involvement with and proficiency in using other communication technologies.     

Virtual and Augmented Reality Enhancements to Medical and Science Student Physiology and Anatomy Test Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Virtual and augmented reality have seen increasing employment for teaching within medical and health sciences programs. For disciplines such as physiology and anatomy, these technologies may disrupt the traditional modes of teaching and content delivery. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of virtual reality or augmented reality on knowledge acquisition for students studying preclinical physiology and anatomy. The protocol was submitted to Prospero and literature search undertaken in PubMed, Embase, ERIC, and other databases. Citations were reviewed and articles published in full assessing learning or knowledge acquisition in preclinical physiology and anatomy from virtual or augmented reality were included. Of the 919 records found, 58 eligible articles were reviewed in full-text, with 8 studies meeting full eligibility requirements. There was no significant difference in knowledge scores from combining the eight studies (626 participants), with the pooled difference being a non-significant increase of 2.9 percentage points (95% CI [−2.9; 8.6]). For the four studies comparing virtual reality to traditional teaching, the pooled treatment effect difference was 5.8 percentage points (95% CI [−4.1; 15.7]). For the five studies comparing augmented reality to traditional teaching, the pooled treatment effect difference was 0.07 (95% CI [−7.0; 7.2]). Upon review of the literature, it is apparent that educators could benefit from adopting assessment processes that evaluate three-dimensional spatial understanding as a priority in physiology and anatomy. The overall evidence suggests that although test performance is not significantly enhanced with either mode, both virtual and augmented reality are viable alternatives to traditional methods of education in health sciences and medical courses.     

Teachers’ direct and indirect promotion of self-regulated learning in primary and secondary school mathematics classes – insights from video-based classroom observations and teacher interviews

Self-regulated learning has a positive effect on academic outcomes; however, little is known about whether and how teachers at various education levels promote it in their classes. Video-based classroom observations were conducted to assess primary and secondary school mathematics teachers’ direct and indirect promotion of self-regulated learning (SRL). Teachers’ implicit and explicit instruction of SRL strategies (direct promotion of SRL) and the learning environment they created (indirect promotion of SRL) were rated according to how conducive they were to self-regulation. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the secondary school teachers to gain insight into their subjective views on SRL. Although the teachers’ instructional practices could foster SRL, teachers spent little time explicitly teaching SRL strategies. Moreover, they taught mainly cognitive strategies and very few metacognitive strategies. These results were more pronounced at the primary level than at the secondary level. Primary school teachers provided learning environments conducive to self-regulation more often than secondary school teachers did. The interviews revealed that the teachers lacked knowledge about metacognition as an important component of SRL and were rather reluctant to promote it; however, most of them valued cognitive and motivational components of SRL. Primary and secondary school teachers need training to enhance their direct and indirect instruction of SRL. They could benefit in particular from learning about explicit instruction of SRL strategies and metacognition.     

Physical activity and lipidomics in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

The aim was to investigate how measurements of the lipidome differ according to the level and intensity of physical activity in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). A targeted metabolomics platform provided quantitative molecular data on lipid species. Linear regression examined the associations between plasma lipid concentrations, particle size and time spent in objectively measured physical activity intensity domains, in increments of 500 counts per minute (cpm) (up to >4500 cpm (~>5.6METs)). Results are presented as % difference in the concentration (lower/higher) or particle size (smaller/larger) per 10 min of activity within each intensity. Five hundred and nine participants were included. Time spent in the lowest physical activity intensity domain (<500 cpm) was unfavourably associated with VLDL (2%), HDL (?2%) and Apolipoprotein A-1 particle concentrations (?2%) and HDL diameter (?2%). Conversely, time spent in intensities ≥1000 cpm were favourably associated with HDL subclass concentrations; with stronger associations seen at moderate intensities (2000-3999 cpm (~4.5METs)). For Apolipoprotein-B concentration and VLDL particle concentration and size, a negative association was consistently observed at the highest physical activity intensity only. If these associations are causal, HDL subclasses appear sensitive to light-intensities whereas only the high category of physical activity intensity was consistently associated with VLDL subclasses.     

Gonadal hormones may predict structural bone fragility in elite female soccer player

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study determined the impact of menstrual status on bone tissue in elite post-pubertal female soccer players over an entire season.

Methods: Fifty-one elite female soccer players participated. At baseline, forty-one were assigned to the low hormonal androgenic profile (low-HAPL) and 10 to the high hormonal androgenic profile (high-HAPL).

Results: An 8-month training program led to increased bone mineral density content (p<0.05). The low-HAPL athletes improved the Narrow neck average cortical thickness (ACT) by 1.4% and reduced the corresponding Buckling ratio (BR) by 2.6%, thus decreasing the fracture risk (p<0.05). The high-HAPL athletes decreased the Narrow neck ACT by 5.4% and increased the BR by 2.6%, increasing fracture risk (p<0.05). Differences were assigned as being “very likely beneficial” for the low-HAPL athletes, supported by very large (d=3.41) and large (d=1.58) effect sizes for the Narrow neck ACT and BR, respectively.

Conclusion: A season of soccer training has induced bone geometry improvements in adolescent females. Bone health parameters improved in the two clusters. However, high-HAPL athletes decreased its resistance to loading compare to low-HAPL athletes. Even if female players do not present clinical symptoms related to their hormonal status, sport medicine physicians should pay attention to their structural bone fragility.     

Child sexual abuse and persistence of risky sexual behaviors and negative sexual outcomes over adulthood: Findings from a birth cohort

ObjectivesTo determine the impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) on adult sexual behaviors and outcomes over three age periods.MethodsA longitudinal study of a birth cohort born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972/1973 was used. Information on CSA was sought at age 26, and on sexual behaviors and outcomes at ages 21, 26, and 32. Comparisons were over the whole period from age 18 to 32, then for the three age periods from age 18 to 21, 21 to 26, and 26 to 32, adjusting for measures of family environment.ResultsOverall, 465 women and 471 men (91.9% of the surviving cohort) answered questions about CSA. Contact CSA was reported by 30.3% of women and 9.1% of men. For abused women, significantly increased rates were observed for number of sexual partners, unhappy pregnancies, abortion, and sexually transmitted infections from age 18 to 21; with rates approaching those of nonabused over time. Conversely, for abused men rates were not significantly elevated in the youngest age period, but were for number of partners from age 26 to 32 and acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 2 from age 21 to 32.ConclusionsGender and age are critical when considering the effect of CSA. While the profound early impact of CSA demonstrated for women appears to lessen with age, abused men appear to carry increased risks into adulthood.Practice implicationsCSA is common and should be considered when young women present with unwanted conceptions or seek multiple terminations, and when men continue to have high risk sexual behavior into adulthood. Furthermore, if CSA is disclosed, sexual risks in adulthood need to be considered.