A needs assessment of primary school pupils of the Yi nationality in the Sichuan Province of China

This research was sponsored by Brigham Young University and the State Nationalities Affairs Commission of the Government of China.     

Elements of improvement in secondary science teacher preparation

Conclusion There are strong indications that the courses developed under the Teacher Preparation Project at Utah State University are providing new dimensions to the education of prospective science teachers and liberal art students who select a science emphasis at the undergraduate level. To date, the courses have institutional support in both staffing and funding that should keep them in place in the coming years. Clearly, the project made adjustments along the way, learning from early mistakes, and building team rapport and commitment required to bring about the completion of the project. Certain issues have been raised and resolved to some extent. Mixing liberal arts majors with secondary science teaching majors appears to be good for the integrative course, bringing diversity of background and viewpoint into the class. The kinds of teaching behaviors in evidence in these classes require high expectations for student performance but also a willingness on the part of the professor to stand back and let the student explore or to allow a discussion to run. This is clearly a more facilitative and less directive teaching role than is expected for most undergraduate courses. Finally, one can expect to get mixed reactions from students, positive about their newfound independence but, for some at least, a lack of tolerance for ambiguity and some discomfort at having a new (and sometimes threatening) set of grading procedures thrust upon them. In the USU Teacher Preparation Project, these decisions have charted a course of action for the future-a course derived from cognitive psychology principles requiring growth on the part of both faculty and students. This material is based upon work supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. TPE-8850642). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations exprtessed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.     

African American Academic Librarians: An Evidence Map Case Study Using Rapid Review Methodology

ABSTRACT

This article explores rapid review and evidence mapping methodology to map library literature on the presence of, status of, or support for African American academic librarians. Rapid reviews include transparent steps and are completed in a short time frame. Evidence mapping is emerging as a way to summarize evidence. A chronological map indicated topics and impacts of papers. Additional analysis also showed four broad themes: diversity, recruitment, retention, and racism. In our view, rapid review and evidence mapping methods should be considered by academic librarians. Further research should look at racism that still seems apparent in academic libraries.