Small Peer-Led Collaborative Learning Groups in Developmental Math Classes at a Tribal Community College

In this study the author examines the use of small peer-led collaborative learning groups to change students’ perceptions of mathematics and their success in developmental mathematics classes at a small tribal community college. The quasi-experimental study involved both quantitative and qualitative data. Rationale for, methods of, and outcomes from the implementation of the collaborative learning groups are discussed.     

Dimensions of life and school stress experienced by young people

This article examines the recently investigated phenomena of student stress and burn-out among American children and youth. Several stress and burnout models developed by researchers are presented and discussed. Both the sources and manifestations of stress and burnout vary in a number of ways. An exploration of the behavioral, physiological, and emotional manifestations experienced by children also is presented, and some stress sources significantly related to the manifestations are outlined. Additionally, several interventions that have been developed to assist students in reducing high stress levels are outlined. Parents and teachers are a child's greatest asset in the education of stress management techniques, and both are able to provide valuable information about and support for the alleviation of excessive and harmful stress.     

High school students' understanding of resistance in simple series electric circuits

In view of the lack of work on the understanding of resistance concept, we studied the understanding that high school students (from the eighth to the twelfth grades) were able to develop with regard to the interrelationships between this concept, and the potential difference and current concepts (Ohm's law). In addition, we explored the immediate effects of exposure to electricity courses on the intuitive mastery of these relationships. The participants were presented with information on potential difference and intensity of current and asked to predict the corresponding resistance values. In this current-potential difference context, the resistance concept was difficult to understand. For the majority of participants, resistance was a direct function of both current and potential difference, which is more reminiscent of the concept of power than of the concept of resistance. The systematic teaching of electricity concepts and Ohm's law had only limited, positive as well as negative, effects on the understanding of these relationships. The implications for education are discussed.     

Capturing the world of physical education through the eyes of children with autism spectrum disorders

The potential benefits of physical education (PE) are universal for all pupils. However, facilitating such benefits in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) requires careful planning. This paper reports on a small-scale case study at one school in eastern England, exploring physical education through the eyes of children (n = 5), aged 12–16, with autistic spectrum disorders. Photo-elicitation was adopted as the research tool to accord authority to the voices of the pupils, empowering them to share their feelings towards the subject by capturing significant aspects of physical education. The photographs provided prompts for greater exploration during unstructured interviews. Using the concepts of Bourdieu's reflexive sociology, the paper draws attention to how pupil's embodied dispositions interacted with what may be illustrated as the delimited spaces of the physical education field—physical education changing rooms, physical education corridors, the physical education teacher's office and physical education activities in the development of positive and negative positions and practices. The teacher's office was regarded positively as were activities that provided opportunities for engagement with peers. Opportunities to be heroic, such as scoring a goal for their team or being given an official role were important factors as was the opportunity to engage in some team sports. However, pupils' interaction with the changing rooms and physical education corridors were viewed with trepidation, worry and fear. The paper concludes by highlighting that both positive and negative interactions with the spaces of physical education develop forms of social and symbolic capital shaping the physical education experiences for pupils with ASD. Anticipating barriers presented within these integral fields of physical education space can help in preparing a rich and inclusive experience for pupils with ASD. Teachers may be better informed in providing strategies to facilitate communication and social interaction whilst allowing all pupils to engage positively with physical education.     

An examination of motives underlying active sport tourist behavior: a market segmentation approach

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a preliminary sport tourism motivation scale (STMS) that detected unique active sport tourist segments according to their social psychological motives for traveling to a destination to compete in sport. Segments’ conative loyalty were also analyzed to gain a greater understanding of how underlying motives for sport event tourism influences consumers’ behavioral intentions. A convenient sampling approach was used to collect data from 380 athletes participating in the 2014 GoPro Mountain Games in Colorado. In developing the STMS, items derived from previously validated sport and tourism motivation scales were used to reduce and verify a parceled STMS factor structure. Confirmatory Factor Analysis yielded acceptable psychometric properties. Ward’s Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three segments: tourism-oriented, sport tourism enthusiasts, and sport-oriented. The sport tourism enthusiasts, who exhibited favorable valuations on each of the nine STMS factors, demonstrated elevated conative loyalty characteristics above those of the other two segments. Additionally, the STMS was able to explain 30% of the variation in consumers’ conative loyalty with factors, ‘Destination Attributes’ and ‘Competitive Desire’ being the most influential predictors. Overall, the study’s findings may better equip event managers with information necessary to tailor event service elements which may enhance customer satisfaction and lead to greater retention.     

Migratory plans of Portuguese adolescents

A substantial proportion of northern Portuguese adolescents belonging to lower and middle socioeconomic levels plan to eventually migrate abroad. Migratory plans therefore join academic and career plans in forming adolescents' overall personal plans. This paper considers motivations, awareness, and characteristics of 511 8th graders living in Oporto and the Braganca area who stated their intentions to migrate. The intention to migrate proved especially significant in the personal plans of youths from rural areas and of low socioeconomic status. In proportions comparable to that found among migrant workers, unemployment, low pay, and thwarted aspirations fueled the desire to migrate. The percentage of youths firmly committed to relocating increased with age, while overall increased desire to emigrate has been linked to rising domestic unemployment. Respondents were also largely aware of the potential physical, emotional, and psychological problems of living and working abroad. Migration plans were found to directly interfere with students' academic and careers plans. Those planning to migrate were less likely to consider further education and engagement in highly skilled occupations.