Educational placements and National Curriculum Key Stage 2 test outcomes of children with a history of specific language impairment

As part of their longitudinal investigations of a large cohort with a history of specific language impairment (SLI), Professor Gina Conti-Ramsden and her research team based at the School of Education, University of Manchester, Dr Emma Knox, Dr Nicola Botting and Dr Zoë Simkin report on the changing educational placements and National Curriculum assessment outcomes of 200 children at 11 years. Teacher questionnaires reporting on the Year 6 primary education placements of the sample reveal details about the long-term educational needs of children with SLI.
Furthermore, in exploring the experiences of the sample in the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 tests the present study found that children with SLI perform poorly relative to national expectations of levels of achievement across all tests. At present there are no guidelines for supporting children with SLI in relation to National Curriculum tests and the present data suggests there is an obvious need for these to be developed.     

Adept through adaptation: Third culture individuals’ interpersonal sensitivity

This study evaluated the interpersonal sensitivity of third culture individuals, defined as people who lived in a country other than that of their nationality during their developmental years, by comparing them to mono-cultured individuals. While the notion that third culture individuals develop enhanced perceptual skills as a result of intercultural adaptation is widely accepted in popular and professional literature, this assertion has not been empirically tested. Previous research on intercultural communication competence and adaptation has almost exclusively focused on intercultural exposure among adults. This study collected data from 142 individuals using web-based surveys. The instruments measured two aspects of participants’ interpersonal sensitivity: social and emotional sensitivity. Results showed that third culture individuals have significantly higher social sensitivity than mono-cultured individuals, while mono-cultured individuals reported higher emotional sensitivity. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between greater intercultural experience and increased interpersonal sensitivity.     

Sexuality education: findings and recommendations from an analysis of 10 United States programmes

In this study, we identified 10 sexuality education programmes from different locations in the USA that aim to give young people knowledge and skills to develop healthy relationships, as well as avoid pregnancy and disease. We conducted in-depth interviews with programme administrators to develop a series of case studies and provide concrete recommendations for education and public health professionals to implement similar approaches in their communities. Many programme administrators succeeded in developing partnerships, adapting existing curricula to suit their environments, engaging external evaluators and garnering support from teachers and parents. However, few programme developers conducted formal needs assessments before developing programmes and many struggled to implement curricula with fidelity and to employ rigorous evaluation designs. Nearly all participants identified concerns over funding as a threat to sustainability. We conclude that schools and organisations need technical assistance to build capacity for rigorous programme planning, implementation and evaluation, as well as additional funding streams to support emerging programmes.     

Causal Attributions for Success or Failure of Students in College Algebra

Research in the field of attribution theory and academic achievement suggests a relationship between a student's attributional style and achievement. Theorists and researchers contend that attributions influence individual reactions to success and failure. They also report that individuals use attributions to explain and justify their performance. Studies in mathematics education identify attribution theory as the theoretical orientation most suited to explain academic performance in mathematics. This study focused on the relationship among a high risk course, low success rates, and attribution by examining the difference in the attributions passing and failing students gave for their performance in College Algebra. Students from a large urban community college in South Florida (n = 410) self-reported their performance on an in-class test by providing open-ended attribution statements to explain the cause of their performance. They then attributed their performance along the dimensions of locus of causality, stability, personal controllability, and external controllability using the Causal Dimensions Scale (CDSII). The open-ended attribution statements were coded in relation to ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck and compared using a Pearson chi- square procedure. The quantitative data compared the passing and failing groups and their attributions for performance on the test using One-way ANOVA and Pearson chi-square procedures. The results of the quantitative data comparing passing and failing groups and their attributions along the dimensions measured by the CDSII indicated statistical significance in locus of causality, stability, and personal controllability. The results comparing the open-ended attribution statements indicated statistical significance in the categories of effort and task difficulty.     

An Approach for Doctoral Students Conducting Context-Specific Review of Literature in IT,ICT, and Educational Technology

Since 1980s the rate of technological change has been phenomenal, creating an impact on the information-seeking behaviors of doctoral students and other researchers. When searching the three fields of Information Technology (IT), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Educational Technology (EdTech), it is like opening a Pandora's Box; the variation in terminology is obvious. This makes searching, managing, and evaluating sources in these interdisciplinary fields challenging, and doctoral students trying to classify and analyze technology related studies can easily be overwhelmed. We offer a systematic, practical approach for reviewing and categorizing the literature by providing key search terms, a list of e-Journals, and an organizational structure for naming and framing studies. Doctoral students navigating their way through the literature review may find our resourcesa table-of-contents, an overview of the technology-related literature, and an annotated excerpt of an examined thesis—useful for writing a critical review.     

Development of a distance education assessment instrument

The study described in this article takes the view that distance education programs are dynamic systems with multiple constituencies. Literature on distance education programs as complex systems and on the critical constituency approach to program evaluation was used to guide the development of a questionnaire designed to assess the components of a distance education program. Instrument development was conducted in four phases using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The data from this study suggest that there are four major components of effectiveness in distance education programs: instruction, management, telecommuting, and support. Within each of these components there are from two to five subcomponents, 14 components in all, which can be used to assess distance education programs. The assessment scale which was developed measures these four components and their subcomponents.     

A Study Of Mathematics Anxiety in Pre-Service Teachers

The study investigated the changes in levels of mathematics anxiety among pre-service teachers in six different sections of a mathematics method courses for early childhood/elementary education pre-service teachers. The changes were a function of using Bruner’s framework of developing conceptual knowledge before procedural knowledge and using manipulatives and other activities to make mathematics concepts more concrete and meaningful. Data were collected using quantitative and qualitative measures. Two hundred forty-six pre-service teachers completed a 98-item Likert-type survey. Informal discussions, informal interviews, and questionnaire-guided narrative interviews were conducted with pre-service teachers. Data revealed a statistically significant reduction in mathematics anxiety in pre-service teachers (p < .001) who completed a mathematics methods course that emphasized Bruner’s model of concept development. Results of the study have implications for teacher education programs concerning how future teachers are trained, the measurement of mathematics anxiety levels among pre-service teachers, and the determination of specific contexts in which mathematics anxiety can be interpreted and reduced.     

Outcomes of an Education and Exercise Program for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes,and Comorbidities that Limit their Mobility: A Preliminary Project Report

Purpose: Some adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have comorbidities and mobility impairments that limit their exercise capacity. In consideration of this, we developed and piloted a program called Active Steps for Diabetes for people with T2DM, comorbidities, and mobility impairments. The purpose of this paper was to report outcomes for the pilot program. Methods: Active Steps for Diabetes, an 8-week program, included instruction on diabetes self-care andgroup and home exercise programs. Twenty-two females (62.7 ± 6.1yrs) with T2DM and self-reported mobility impairments completed the program. Six participants used a walking aid. Outcome measures included two risk factors for coronary artery disease [daily physical activity and body mass index (BMI)], cardiovascular fitness (6-minute walk distance), and knowledge of diabetes-specific exercise guidelines. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare outcomes before and after the program and between participants who did and did not use a walking aid. Results: Active Steps for Diabetes was effective in increasing daily physical activity in both groups of subjects (walking aid group: 2.6 days/week [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1 to 3.3]; no walking aid group: 1.9 days/week [95% CI=1.2 to 2.5]). This was accompanied by increases in 6-minute walk distances (walking aid group: 54.0 m [95% CI = 36.4 to 71.6]; no walking aid group: 62.6 m [95% CI=55.7 to 69.4]). Changes in BMI were not significant (walking aid group: −0.4 [95% CI = −1.2 to 0.4]; no walking aid group: −.24[95% CI = −.91 to .44]). Increases in knowledge of diabetes-specific exercise guidelines were observed in both groups (walking aid group: 18.8% [95% CI = 11.3 to 26.4]; no walking aid group: 19.3% [95% CI = 16.1 to 22.5]). Discussion:: Physical inactivity and low cardiovascular fitness are predictors of CAD morbidity and mortality in adults with T2DM. This pilot program suggests that a model for diabetes education, incorporating exercise programs developed by a physical therapist, may increase physical activity, improve endurance, and thereby potentially reduce CAD risk in people with T2DM and mobility impairments from comorbidities.Key Words: type 2 diabetes, physical activity