Supporting Middle School Students’ Understanding of Time-Series Data With Graph Comparisons

The current research examined students' perceptions of random drug testing for students participating in after-school activities. Results found students were more likely to endorse drug testing at their school if they are already engaged in after-school activities and not currently using drugs and/or alcohol. While middle and high school students' scores fell within the median, most reported if drug testing were implemented in their school they believed it would not deter continued participation in after-school activities. However, if drug testing were a prerequisite for participating in after-school activities, high school students were more apprehensive about getting tested than middle school students. Student respondents were more likely to endorse drug testing, if all members of the school system (i.e., teachers, coaches and staff) participated in drug testing. High school students' believed they had enough knowledge about drug abuse and were less likely to endorse drug testing because they believed it would violate their personal privacy compared to grade school students. Results also differed as a function of gender and self-reported drug and alcohol use.

Objectives This study aims to examine the trends in the understanding of English classes among middle and high school students. It explores the longitudinal relationships centered on variables such as family background, pa-rental academic support, after-school programs, and private education. Methods Data from the 2nd to 5th year (2019-2022) of the Jeonnam Educational Longitudinal Study (JELS) were analyzed using a Latent Growth Curve Model. The analysis was conducted from the 1st year of middle school to the 1st year of high school to understand the changes in students' understanding of English classes. Predictive variables included individual characteristics, family background, parental academic support, after-school pro-grams, and private education. Results The average initial level of understanding of English classes among middle school students was statisti-cally significant at 3.735, with a rate of change of -0.107. This suggests that the level of understanding of English classes was relatively high in the 1st year of middle school but has been decreasing over the 5-year span of middle and high school. Among the variables affecting changes in the understanding of English classes, only the ex-penditure for academies, tutoring, and worksheets by parents for their children's studies had a positive effect on the initial level but had a negative impact on the rate of change over four years. Participation in private education also had a positive effect on the initial level but a negative effect on the rate of change over four years. Conclusions This study suggests strategies and implications for improving the understanding of English classes among middle and high school students, reflecting the analysis results of major family background variables af-fecting changes in understanding.

This study explores the relationship between physical education teachers' support and middle school students' participation in sports. It also clarifies this relationship's mediating roles of perceived competence and exercise persistence. A questionnaire survey involved 879 Chinese middle school students, consisting of 434 males and 445 females. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between teachers' competence support and students' participation in sports (p < 0.01). Perceived competence and exercise persistence as important mediators between teachers' competence support and students' involvement in sports, with the mediation effect comprising independent mediation by perceived competence and exercise persistence and a chain mediation effect involving both. The effect value was 0.156, with contributions of 60.4%, 43.6%, and 73.1% to the total mediating effect, respectively. In physical education courses, teachers should enhance their competence to support students, increase students' interest in learning, and promote the development of sports participation. By understanding the predictive roles of teacher support, perceived competence, and exercise persistence on sports participation, strategies can be developed to better enhance students' levels of participation in physical activities, thereby improving their beliefs about physical health and their confidence in exercising.

This evaluation examined the effects of afterschool programs-supported by an afterschool system intermediary organization (ASIO)-on middle school students' academic performance and examined how those effects varied by student characteristics and program engagement. In this longitudinal, quasi-experimental matched comparison group evaluation, propensity score matching was used to create demographically balanced samples of ASIO-supported afterschool program participants and nonparticipants. Students enrolled in the afterschool programs did not differ from non-participants in growth over time on most academic outcomes. Students attending the afterschool programs showed less growth on certain state test scores compared to nonparticipants. Student demographic characteristics did not consistently influence participant outcomes. Among program participants only, students who were enrolled more than 1 year demonstrated a 7-percentile-point increase in state test scores per year of program engagement. There was no consistent evidence that ASIO-supported afterschool program participation was associated with improved student academic outcomes. However, study results support increased emphasis on afterschool program retention, given that longer duration of participation in the afterschool programs was associated with more growth on multiple academic outcomes.

This study investigated whether the use of the color wheel system (CWS) during physical education (PE) classes is associated with a significant decrease in disruptive behaviors among middle school students. Using a multiple‐baseline single‐case design, we investigated the effects of the CWS on disruptive behavior in nine middle school students with identified disruptive tendencies, aged 13.33 ± 1.1 years on average. Disruptive behaviors were tracked through observation using a 15‐s partial time sampling technique. The results, as indicated by time series graphs and Nonoverlap of All Pairs values ranging from 0.79 to 1.00, consistently demonstrated that the implementation of the CWS led to a reduction in disruptive behaviors across the three classrooms. The findings suggest that the CWS is an effective intervention for mitigating disruptive behaviors among school‐aged children during PE classes. However, it should be noted that the training procedures for implementing the CWS were relatively brief. To address potential limitations in future CWS implementations, it is recommended to address these shortcomings and carefully consider the implementation of the CWS as a behavioral intervention in PE.

Distinguishing causation and correlation: Causal learning from time-series graphs with trends

Middle school students’ experiences at after-school programs were compared as they participated in different types of activities and with different social partners. The students (N = 165) attended eight programs in three Midwestern states. A total of 1,596 experiences were randomly sampled using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) during 1 week in the fall of 2001 and 1 week in the spring of 2002. Student engagement was conceptualized as the simultaneous experience of concentration, interest, and enjoyment. Students reported high levels of engagement while participating in sports activities and arts enrichment activities at the after-school programs, and low levels of engagement while completing homework at programs. They reported being more engaged in activities involving both adults and peers than activities with peers only. Concentrated effort, intrinsic motivation, and positive and negative mood states were also compared by program activities and social partners. Findings about participants’ subjective experiences and engagement in specific program activities have implications for understanding after-school programs as a context for youth development.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Rising rates of youth obesity, diabetes, depression, and anxiety necessitate programs that address physical and mental health concurrently. We describe a feasibility study for DiscoverU, an afterschool mentoring program that integrates multiple aspects of health including social emotional learning, physical activity, and mindful eating. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Trained college students mentored middle and high school students in a Midwestern school district. DiscoverU was delivered 2 hours, 2 days/week for 8 weeks. Based on self-determination theory, DiscoverU was designed to meet National Afterschool Association healthy eating and physical activity and social emotional learning standards. We assessed feasibility with participant attendance (middle, high school, and college students) and acceptability through qualitative data from participants and relevant stakeholders regarding facilitators/barriers to program implementation. We observed indicators of mentoring, lesson fidelity, and assessed physical activity using accelerometry. Pre-post surveys measured self-realization, self-regulation, mindful eating, and physical activity self-efficacy. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We expect DiscoverU to be feasible and well accepted. We anticipate attendance will be similar or higher than that of other afterschool programs in the district. From focus groups we expect to hear a variety of factors that facilitate/prevent program engagement and learn about the acceptability of specific lessons. We expect to gain insight on processes and procedures from school stakeholders that will inform the sustainability of DiscoverU. We expect program fidelity to be high and mentoring skills to improve over the course of the program. We anticipate the majority of participants will meet National Afterschool Alliance physical activity guidelines. Preliminary outcomes of self-determination, self-regulation, mindful eating, and physical activity self-efficacy are expected to improve over the program. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Findings will help determine the readiness of DiscoverU to be scaled to other schools. A subsequent randomized effectiveness study will evaluate DiscoverU’s impact on intervention mechanisms (e.g., self-determination, self-efficacy) as well as on physical activity, diet, weight, and depression/anxiety symptomology.

This article focuses on after-school programs aimed at urban middle and high school students. The authors discuss an after-school tutorial program implemented as part of the Howard University Talent Development Model of School Reform. Challenges faced at Howard University are described; strategies for overcoming barriers and recommendations for urban school principals are offered.

Network data, represented by graph-based structures, are used in a variety of applications such as social networks and disease complication networks. A crucial task in many applications is graph comparison, with the goal of understanding the structural differences between pairs of graphs. However, traditional graph visualization techniques, node-link diagrams, and adjacency matrices are not intrinsically designed for comparison tasks. In this paper, we present TrammelGraph, a novel visual graph abstraction technique for graph comparison. TrammelGraph uses graph embedding and node alignment methods to create a map-based representation that eliminates visual clutter and thus facilities graph comparison. The design results in a planar graph with a regularly-spaced, crossing-free layout that helps users identify high-level topological information for graph comparison tasks. To evaluate the effectiveness of TrammelGraph, we conducted a controlled user study with 20 participants that compares TrammelGraph with node-link diagrams and adjacency matrices on a variety of common graph comparison tasks. We also conducted an expert interview with a physician using the MIMIC dataset. Both the quantitative and qualitative results from the study and interview highlighted the key strengths of TrammelGraph as a tool for visual graph comparison.

Using the experience sampling method, this study examined two questions related to outcomes associated with after-school programming. First, does the quality of experience in after-school programs mediate the effect of program participation on social competence and academic performance? Second, among program participants, is the difference in quality of experience when in programs versus other settings after school related to higher social competence and academic performance? Middle school students (N = 196) attending eight programs in three Midwestern states reported a total of 4,970 randomly sampled experiences in and out of after-school programs during 1 week in the fall and spring of the 2001-2002 academic year. Engagement during after-school hours partially mediated the relationship between participation in after-school programs and social competence. In addition, relative perceptions of engagement, challenge, and importance when in after-school programs compared to elsewhere after school predicted higher English and math grades. Results suggest that the quality of experiences in after-school programs may be a more important factor than quantity of experiences (i.e., dosage) in predicting positive academic outcomes.

In the context of an afterschool program in which students explore relatively large authentic datasets, we investigated how 11‐ to 14‐year old students worked with categorical variables. During the program, students learned to use the Common Online Data Analysis Platform (CODAP), a statistical analysis platform specifically designed for middle and high school students, to create and interpret graphs. Following the program, we conducted individual clinical interviews, during which students used CODAP to answer questions about relationships between variables. Here, we describe how students engaged in exploratory data analysis that involved looking at relationships between two categorical variables. Students worked from data in table form and created “contingency graphs,” a variant of contingency tables, which they used to analyze and draw insights from the data. Our research identified four strategies that students used to examine the data in order to explore patterns, make comparisons, and answer questions with the data.

Interrupted time series (ITS) studies are frequently used to examine the impact of population‐level interventions or exposures. Systematic reviews with meta‐analyses including ITS designs may inform public health and policy decision‐making. Re‐analysis of ITS may be required for inclusion in meta‐analysis. While publications of ITS rarely provide raw data for re‐analysis, graphs are often included, from which time series data can be digitally extracted. However, the accuracy of effect estimates calculated from data digitally extracted from ITS graphs is currently unknown. Forty‐three ITS with available datasets and time series graphs were included. Time series data from each graph was extracted by four researchers using digital data extraction software. Data extraction errors were analysed. Segmented linear regression models were fitted to the extracted and provided datasets, from which estimates of immediate level and slope change (and associated statistics) were calculated and compared across the datasets. Although there were some data extraction errors of time points, primarily due to complications in the original graphs, they did not translate into important differences in estimates of interruption effects (and associated statistics). Using digital data extraction to obtain data from ITS graphs should be considered in reviews including ITS. Including these studies in meta‐analyses, even with slight inaccuracy, is likely to outweigh the loss of information from non‐inclusion.

The major purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a jump rope-based physical activity afterschool program on middle school students’ physical fitness. Sixty students (Mage = 13.37, SD = 0.58; 53.3% female) participated in a 12-week jump rope-based afterschool program (45 min/time, three times/week). Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: (a) freestyle rope skipping (N = 20), traditional jump rope (N = 20), and a control group (N = 20). Physical fitness tests, including muscular strength (standing long jump, right-hand grip, and left-hand grip), flexibility, body composition, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in pre- and post-tests. A 2 (time) × 3 (groups) repeated measure multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed. The results found significant improvements in muscular strength (standing long jump, right-hand grip, and left-hand grip) in both intervention groups (p < 0.001; ds = 0.2–0.44). Only the freestyle rope skipping group had increased BMD (p < 0.05, d = 0.33). Compared to the traditional jump rope, the freestyle rope skipping group showed significantly higher improvement in flexibility (p < 0.05, d = 0.83). These findings suggest that the jump rope-based afterschool program with freestyle rope skipping would be more effective than traditional jump rope to promote physical fitness performance among adolescents.

Opportunities for collaborative learning reflect positive peer processes that have strong implications for adolescents’ developmental experiences in afterschool programs (ASPs). However, collaborative learning, which involves considering multiple viewpoints and coordinating actions with peers to accomplish a shared goal, is often difficult for adolescents to navigate. Utilizing qualitative methods, the purpose of this study was to identify ASP mentoring strategies that promote collaborative learning among adolescent participants. Based on the experiences and perspectives of college student mentors who serve as frontline staff of a math enrichment ASP for Latino/a middle school students, we identified four mentoring strategies that promote collaborative learning: (1) nurturing personal connections with and among youth, (2) establishing positive group norms, (3) strategically splitting groups and work, and (4) modeling collaborative behaviors. These strategies reflect best practices that frontline staff can utilize to promote adolescents’ collaborative learning, skill development, and engagement in ASPs. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.