Finding the Hook: Computer Science Education in Elementary Contexts

The purpose of this study was to investigate how elementary teachers with little knowledge of computer science (CS) and project-based learning (PBL) experienced integrating CS through PBL as a part of a standards-based elementary curriculum in Grades 3–5. The researchers used qualitative constant comparison methods on field notes and reflections to describe the teachers' participation in professional development to create CS-infused projects to be implemented with their students. Categories that emerged included standards integration, student autonomy, and challenges of infrastructure and time. The data are from the first 6 months of a 3-year, National Science Foundation-funded project. (Keywords: computer science, project-based learning, integration, elementary curriculum)     

Fit for a Bayesian: An Evaluation of PPP and DIC for Structural Equation Modeling

Despite its importance to structural equation modeling, model evaluation remains underdeveloped in the Bayesian SEM framework. Posterior predictive p-values (PPP) and deviance information criteria (DIC) are now available in popular software for Bayesian model evaluation, but they remain underutilized. This is largely due to the lack of recommendations for their use. To address this problem, PPP and DIC were evaluated in a series of Monte Carlo simulation studies. The results show that both PPP and DIC are influenced by severity of model misspecification, sample size, model size, and choice of prior. The cutoffs PPP < 0.10 and ?DIC > 7 work best in the conditions and models tested here to maintain low false detection rates and misspecified model selection rates, respectively. The recommendations provided in this study will help researchers evaluate their models in a Bayesian SEM analysis and set the stage for future development and evaluation of Bayesian SEM fit indices.     

Here for You: Attachment and the Growth of Empathic Support for Friends in Adolescence

Attachment was examined as a predictor of teens’ empathic support for friends in a multimethod longitudinal study of 184 U.S. adolescents (58% Caucasian, 29% African American, 13% other) followed from ages 14 to 18. Adolescents’ secure state of mind regarding attachment at 14 predicted teens’ greater capacity to provide empathic support during observed interactions with friends across ages 16–18 (B_average = .39). Teens’ empathic support was generally stable during this period, and less secure teens were slower to develop these skills. Further, teens’ attachment security predicted the degree to which friends called for their support (B_average = .29), which was associated with teens’ responsiveness to such calls. The findings suggest that secure attachment predicts teens’ ability to provide empathic support in close friendships.     

Formatively assessing prospective teachers’ skills in leading mathematics discussions

Educational Studies in Mathematics - Mathematics discussions are important for helping students to develop conceptual understanding and to learn disciplinary norms and practices. In recent years,...     

A Systematic Review of Research on Personalized Learning: Personalized by Whom,to What,How, and for What Purpose(s)?

Educational Psychology Review - Teachers, schools, districts, states, and technology developers endeavor to personalize learning experiences for students, but definitions of personalized learning...     

Assessment matters: Between the ideal and the practical: Using assessment to find the balance

Rishi Sriram, T. Laine Scales, and Meghan Oster share how the assessment efforts of Baylor University's Engaged Learning Groups have led to effective advocating for program improvement as well as increased administrative support.     

Vegetables at Any Cost: How the Media Markets Children’s Unhealthy Food Preferences in North America

This editorial explores the recent endorsement by the North American media of blending, or ‘disguising,’ vegetables in other foods as a strategy for encouraging children to eat vegetables. The author argues that the myriad of media such as books, television programs, and internet sites that promote diverse, and often inconsistent, advice on children’s nutrition contributes to the challenge, rather than aids, parents and teachers in successfully encouraging children to develop healthy food preferences. In this editorial, a sample of media promoting the disguising vegetable strategy are presented and compared to research recommendations for children’s healthy food preference development. To promote this strategy, the media were found to draw upon a variety of authority sources and stress the necessity of young children eating adequate servings of vegetables. Such advice was found to contrast with research recommendations for developing children’s long-term healthy nutritional behaviours. In light of such findings, the editorial concludes with recommending areas needed for future research and practice.     

Examining the Perspectives of Latino Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Towards Advocacy

Rapidly becoming the largest ethnic group of American students, compared to White students with disabilities, Latino students with disabilities receive less services and their parents are more likely to struggle to receive services. Yet, it is unclear how Latino families advocate for their children with disabilities including how cultural values facilitate their advocacy efforts. In this study, four focus groups were conducted with 46 Latino parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Parents reported advocating by being assertive but not aggressive, being involved in school activities, communicating with the school and documenting the communication, and relying on knowledge and faith. Parents also reported facilitators (i.e., knowledge and resources, increased parent-school communication, and greater peer support) and barriers (i.e., poor school experiences, school related-stress, and stigma and discrimination) to advocacy. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.     

Physician Sociality Communication and Its Effect on Patient Satisfaction

This investigation examined the relationship between physicians' sociality usage and subsequent patient satisfaction. The SPSS (Service Provider Sociality Scale) was distributed to 198 adults from a midwestern state. Multiple regression results revealed that both courtesy expressions and personal connection socialities played a significant role in overall patient satisfaction with the physician. However, courtesy expressions accounted for more unique variance in patient satisfaction than did personal connections. No significant interactions were found between sociality and physician gender in the prediction of patient satisfaction in subsequent post-hoc analyses.     

Own Group Oppression, Other Group Oppression, and Perspective Taking

This survey research examined the relationship of awareness of own versus awareness of other group oppression across sexism, racism, and homonegativity, by including perspective taking (PT) as a moderator. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that awareness of sexism (own group oppression) predicted awareness of racism (other group oppression) in a sample of 116 European American females (Study 1), whereas awareness of racism (own group oppression) did not predict awareness of homonegativity (other group oppression) in a sample of 113 U.S. racial minorities (Study 2). High PT, compared to low PT, did not predict a stronger relationship between awareness of own and awareness of other group oppression. Post-hoc speculation on the role of PT in intergroup relations and implications for research and counseling are discussed.