Teaching about the nature of science through history: Action research in the classroom

This article reports on 18 months of action research that monitored British pupils' learning about the nature of science, using some aspects of history of science for the purpose. The action research took place within five classrooms and involved practicing teachers who used a set of historical materials specially written for this study. Preliminary findings about the common perceptions of the nature of science held by middle school pupils (age 11–14 years) guided the work, which was carried out using a variety of methodologies. The results obtained show some areas of substantial progress in the pupils' understanding of the nature of science, and others where little change seems to have been effected.     

In-Service Improvement of College Teachers

ABSTRACT

This paper will provide readers with a unique perspective on maximizing the benefits and overcoming the challenges inherent in the collaborative teaching process. This narrative reflection will explore collaborative teaching through the reflections of a music professor who has team-taught two different interdisciplinary courses over a period of 10 years. The lessons learned align with the findings of the existing literature, but they also uncover new implications that will provide other professors with a vision of how they might become effective in their own collaborative teaching. These experiences have helped the author come to understand that teaching in a collaborative setting requires educators who are creative, flexible, and both willing to compromise and to learn.     

Armenia: Influences and Organization of Mental Health Services

Relatively little has been published on mental health care and counseling as they pertain to Armenia, a country of approximately three million residents that gained independence in 1991 from the former Soviet Union. Various influences, such as its history, economy, religious and family systems, and a major natural disaster in 1988, have affected the subsequent development of professional mental health systems. Though challenges exist, improvements have been evident in the past 15 years with the development of psychiatric facilities, laws protecting clients using mental health services, and professional associations to educate and advocate for mental healthcare issues. The development and possible role of counseling in this country are also discussed.     

Child AD/HD severity and psychological functioning in relation to divorce,remarriage, multiple transitions and the quality of family relationships

Both Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and divorce are very prevalent in western societies, and they may occur together. AD/HD is generally viewed as a neurobiological disorder, which has led to a commonly held belief that social-environmental factors play little role in the symptom profile of children diagnosed with the disorder. This study investigated the association between parental divorce, remarriage, multiple transitions, the quality of relationships with family members and the psychological well-being of children and adolescents with AD/HD. First, differences in children’s AD/HD symptom profiles in relation to parents’ divorce status (single/multiple divorce) and family composition (single parent/stepfamily) were examined. Second, the association between the quality of children’s relationships with each family member and parents’ marital status (divorced/non-divorced) and family composition was investigated. In addition, age, gender and AD/HD subtype differences were assessed. Third, the association between the quality of children’s interactions with family members and children’s AD/HD symptom profile was explored. No significant differences in children’s behavioural profiles were found in terms of parents’ divorce status. Living in stepfamilies was associated with greater AD/HD severity and social malfunctioning. Disruptive parent–child and sibling relationships were found to be related to children’s age, gender, AD/HD subtype and parents’ marital status. Further, poor interactions with family members correlated with children’s AD/HD severity and psychological well-being. In summary, divorce, remarriage and the quality of relationships with family members are important correlates of the symptom profile of children with AD/HD, and this emphasises the need for special treatment modules for these families.     

Teaching self‐advocacy to students with disabilities

Prior to entering college, most students with disabilities are taught to rely on parents, teachers, doctors, and others to arrange for educational accommodations. In college, the job is theirs. What is the disability educator's role in helping students manage this frequently difficult transition?