School Experiences Research Articles

Impactful medical school experiences and choosing a career in neurosurgery: A new beginning for the national undergraduate neuroanatomy competition

Impactful medical school experiences and choosing a career in neurosurgery: A new beginning for the national undergraduate neuroanatomy competition

Preservice teachers’ reflective processes during field experiences: a systematic review from the ONION model framework

ABSTRACT It is essential to engage in reflection to enhance preservice teachers’ awareness of their profession, which facilitates their professional development by questioning the responsibilities and agents that shape teaching. The ONION model includes six layers of reflection from superficial to deep reflection, and is used to analyze the teacher’s response to professional tensions. To understand how this framework applies preservice teachers’ reflection as they approach their field experiences in schools, we conducted a systematic review of their reflective practices. To this end, we used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol and the ONION model to systematize the research on reflection, categorize the selected studies obtained using the ONION model, and identify the most relevant studies in promoting deep reflective practices. The results show an increase in publications on the topic recently. Some studies show superficial levels of reflection among preservice teachers’ reflection, while others show deeper levels. This provides a professional awareness of their capabilities in the field experiences as pathways to understanding what awaits them in their future careers. The findings suggest that using a reference reflection framework could facilitate deeper, guided, and meaningful reflection in field experiences as a basis for improving the initial teacher education.

Time: Friend or Foe

AbstractUsing many years of experience in the UK's state primary schools, I consider that a limited understanding of time has damaging implications for both pupils and adults within the education system. The sector neglects the fact that time has much potential, many definitions and is a powerful influence on man. I share how education took clock‐time and manipulated it to an extreme, leading to the rule clock‐time now has over our schools. We are being held to account by time, and it has become our foe; however, I believe that it can become our friend. I explain why education should accept time's many facets and use them to help reshape its structure and practice. Time, in educational spaces, could be understood and experienced differently, taking in to account the human and all manner of other relevant things, for the greater good. This article began as a combined work of spoken word, poetry recital and research paper.

Situated learning for landscape care: experiences in schools of Veracruz and Yucatán. Mexico

En este artículo buscamos mostrar cómo las progresiones de aprendizaje situado que se diseñan e implementan por docentes de educación básica en escuelas de México contribuyen a propiciar prácticas educativas y socioecológicas transformadoras, particularmente, integrando los conocimientos, las prácticas y las preocupaciones cotidianas de las mujeres sobre su paisaje como contexto dotado de sentido y susceptible de cuidado. Teóricamente: partimos de una perspectiva emancipatoria de la educación, en conjunción con el aprendizaje situado en el paisaje como contexto ecológico, social, cultural e histórico. Aspiramos a una educación ecofeminista, no antropocéntrica, ni androcéntrica que ponga en el centro los conocimientos y prácticas de cuidado del paisaje construidos por las mujeres. Metodológicamente: llevamos a cabo una investigación colaborativa y de formación acompañada de docentes, que recurre a conversaciones, entrevistas, observación y sistematización de la experiencia docente. En los resultados presentamos y discutimos hallazgos sobre a) conocimientos, prácticas y preocupaciones socioecológicas de las mujeres sobre/para el cuidado del paisaje propio, auténtico; b) aprendizajes situados en la interacción social con docentes, estudiantes, familias y mujeres en/desde/para el cuidado del paisaje; y, c) prácticas educativas transformadoras.

The Impact and Guarantee of Policy Changes to Migrant Children on Educational Equity in Guangzhou

In 2018, Guangzhou announced that it would adjust the policy on the advancement of the high school entrance examination in other places in 2021 and relax the restrictions on the advancement of children who have migrated with their parents to Guangzhou. It is of great significance to the migrant children who are educated in Guangzhou and take the Guangzhou high school entrance examination. However, there is a lack of adequate investigation into the impact of this change on the migrant children as individuals. This study will conduct interviews with a certain number of samples based on the method of qualitative research, taking Guangzhou as the scale, to explore the subjective feelings of the migrant children about the policy changes, and analyze the impact of the policy relaxation on the academic performance of the migrant children based on their personal family background and school experience. The results show that the relaxation of the policy has a positive and encouraging effect on the academic performance which is not only beneficial to the migrant children, but also ensures a certain degree of educational equity, and also has certain reference significance for the adjustment of education policy.

Coached habitus: Mapping the role of shadow education in shaping students' educational trajectories

AbstractStudies have shown how family (typically parents) and formal institutions (specifically schools and universities) shape individuals' dispositions—or habitus. However, other sites of academic socialisation, such as tutoring centres and coaching institutions (collectively forming a shadow education system), are seldom scrutinised for their role in this process. To address this gap in scholarship, this paper draws on interviews with 30 Indian students who narrated their experiences of shadow education in its diversified form, from schooling and higher education to moving to the United Kingdom for advanced education. The discussion of the research findings unveils how shadow education experiences impact students' (academic) dispositions throughout their scholastic lifespan, thus aiding in nurturing academic selves (in early schooling years), cultivating competitive selves (during the transition to university), harnessing enterprising selves (when transitioning within and from university education) and developing transnational selves (as students prepare for international mobility). A synthesis of these empirical realities culminates in introducing a new concept of coached habitus that accounts for the role of shadow education in orchestrating the practices by which students may inculcate specific values, beliefs and habits aiming to prepare them to navigate increasingly competitive educational fields throughout their academic trajectories successfully. The paper argues that shadow education is a key site for habitus formation, particularly in contexts such as India and other Asian countries where non‐formal education is inextricably entwined with everyday schooling experiences.

Crisis times and school education: is teacher agency changing?

ABSTRACT This article explores how educators dealt with an unprecedented educational crisis using remote teaching and delve into the characteristics of teacher agency in crisis situations. Employing a multiple case study design, the study explores diverse school experiences in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile. Data were gathered from three schools, comprising 24 interviews (18 teachers and six administrators) and analysed using grounded theory. Findings suggest that teachers demonstrate the ability to reconstruct the affected dimensions when faced with a lack of pedagogical resources for emergency remote teaching (fracture in the iterative dimension) and uncertainty about the future (fracture in the projective dimension). Moreover, the agentic transition can explain the practical-evaluative dimension in crises. Across three stages, agentic transition outlines a journey for teachers, from grappling with an unprecedented crisis with limited resources to normalising their practices with technical expertise in the context of new remote teaching scenarios. The present article introduces key concepts and models and delves into implications and future projections.

Broken Time: On the Fragmentation of the Experience of Art School and the Impact on Identity Formation and Ttransformation

AbstractThis paper explores how increases in modularisation, elements of professional practice and even our relationship to screens and social media are amongst the factors that have changed the way time is experienced in higher fine art education. I draw upon my experience as a student, educator and pedagogical researcher to propose that identity formation and/or transformation are amongst the key functions of higher education in fine art in the West; that becoming an artist involves complex process of socialisation and individuation; and that these processes take time. I speculate that time is something which was once experienced comparatively smoothly but has been striated and fragmented by various factors including an increased focus on employability, the presence of social media, and not least various post Bologna interpretations at national or local level of the introduction of units and modules to comply with standardised credit systems. I propose that the combined effect of these factors amongst others distracts students from the middle by focusing them on micro destinations that deflect from developing a practice and impacts on these potentials.

WhatsApp Support for School Experience e-Portfolio Development: A Conversational Approach

This paper reflects on the different ways of learning fostered by Whatsapp in the development of school experience e-Portfolios. Student teachers in one institution went through their school experience and practice teaching with an expectation to submit portfolios in an electronic format as evidence of their engagement with the theory and practice of teaching. WhatsApp interactions between student teachers, the school experience co-ordinator, and the practitioners in the Academic Development Centre, supporting the development of e-Portfolios, had to be relied on during the process of developing e-Portfolios. Informed by Laurillard's conversational framework on the six ways of learning, this study analysed the possibilities of WhatsApp support in the development of e-Portfolios by student teachers in one university. First and fourth-year education students on school experience provided qualitative data on the ways of learning that are best and least served by WhatsApp. Their accounts and evaluations of their interactions and support through WhatsApp were expressed narratively. Meaning units were extracted through content analysis and allotted to themes and categories suggested by the conversational framework. This study reports on the usefulness of the framework to evaluate WhatsApp support as well as the ways of learning that are most and least served by WhatsApp support on the development of e-Portfolios of evidence on practice teaching. Recommendations on the efficacious use of WhatsApp support for e-Portfolio development, the practices that would foster the realisation of all the six ways of learning, and enhancement of e-Portfolio development for the school experience are furnished. Suggestions are also proffered on further research about purposive use of WhatsApp and the conversational framework on e-Portfolio development.

‘They don’t even teach you how to make money!’ What insights can marginalised young people provide into developing inclusive education policy?

Using data from a qualitative study exploring the intersections of school exclusion, mental health, and involvement in criminal behaviour, we explore young people’s experience of schools to inform consideration of how schools might be modified to help improve mental health and engagement, and take a more proactive role in safeguarding young people from contextual risks. We draw on sociological theories considering how inequity and disadvantage may be reproduced. Poor experiences of school create disengagement, perpetuate deep structural inequalities, and can act as a motivating force to gain status and money through the illicit economy. Broadening the focus in schools, away from the narrow pursuit of academia, to include more group-based and project-based learning; placing greater priority on life skills and vocational training; and focussing more on developing a sense of belonging through sports and arts may benefit all students, particularly those most at risk of exclusion. If the education system is to build stronger engagement with the most marginalised students, it must actively support them to achieve their priority to find (legitimate) means of earning money.

“It Was Nice To Be Able To Talk to Them Like They Were Family.”: A Mexican American Preservice Teacher’s Testimonio

A large body of scholarship focuses on how to prepare White teachers to teach students of Color and guide them to make sense of their Whiteness. Using testimonio, this article adds diversity to teacher preparation literature and makes space for Kelly, a Mexican American preservice generalist teacher, to share her story. In particular, I highlight how her relationships and language ideology influence her ethnic identity construction while participating in the figured worlds of 1) her family, 2) personal K-12 schooling experience, and 3) pre-service student teaching experiences. Kelly’s testimonio is a call to subvert monoglossic language ideologies, value translanguaging, and ultimately prepare PSTs with the self-reflexive capacity to engage in linguistically responsive and sustaining pedagogy.

Developing and using an adapted mosaic approach to explore children's foreign language learning experiences in primary school

This article describes an adapted mosaic approach, developed and used in a longitudinal, ethnographic study that explored children's foreign language learning (FLL) experiences in primary school in England. As a methodological innovation within the field of instructed early foreign language learning, the adapted approach addresses an identified need for a wider range of research methodologies and more inductive approaches. The original mosaic approach was initially considered to help address methodological questions that arose during the ethnography. That approach was subsequently adapted and developed in four main ways: firstly, for use within the longitudinal, ethnographic study; second, for use with its older, primary school-aged children; third, for development and use together with children in school rather than a tool designed for use on children and finally, where the focus was upon the process of completion rather than the end product. The adapted approach met the needs identified within the ethnography by further enhancing children's voices, their agency and perspectives within its data collection and analysis. Recommendations for its use in language learning contexts are made to support further research together with children, to help strengthen what is currently known and understood about children's experiences of instructed foreign language learning. This is based on the premise that knowing and understanding more about these will help inform future practices and initiatives.

O LÚDICO NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL: CONCEPÇÕES E PRÁTICASDOCENTES

This article is a section of a Master's Dissertation and aims to analyze how the knowledge of playfulness in early childhood education is contextualized in teachers' pedagogical practices based on the reality of a municipal early childhood education school. The justification is to reevaluate the pedagogical work, seeking to understand that while educators encounter challenges in developing a playful approach with young children, their practice becomes much more expressive and enjoyable for the children’s school experience. A learning environment where playfulness, creativity, and spontaneity prevail becomes far more conducive to learning. The methodological design was non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional, with a mixed approach. It was non-experimental because there was no manipulation of variables or comparison groups. The researcher observes what naturally occurs without interfering in any way. It is a descriptive investigation because it aims to describe the characteristics of a certain population or phenomenon or establish relationships between variables. As for the results, we emphasize that, although there was a comparison regarding the teachers’ years of service, it did not influence the findings. What became evident is that both teachers work with the same goal: to motivate the students’ learning processes through playful tools.

Preservice Librarians and Principals' Hiring Practice

Every year, principals face the challenge of hiring staff to fill the open positions on their campus and may only hire one or two school librarians during their tenure. School principals can build a cohesive team to help ensure student success by hiring staff with strong leadership skills. School librarian preparation standards suggest that school librarians be educated to serve as leaders (American Library Association, American Association of School Libraries, & Council for the Accreditation of Educators Preparation, 2019). Moreover, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) advocates for the leadership role of school librarians in its mission statement (2018). Research indicates that transformational leadership behaviors apply to school librarians because they interact with the entire school community and may serve as change agents to positively transform their school’s culture (Smith, 2011). This study posits that principals often hire preservice school librarians instead of experienced school librarians. Therefore, there is a need to understand the relationship between the hiring criteria identified by principals and the leadership role specified in the school librarian standards. This mixed-methods study examines the criterion principals use to hire librarians and their alignment with the transformational leadership behaviors of preservice librarians.

A systematic review: Which psycho-social-environmental factors do autistic students identify as being important for positive experiences in mainstream secondary school?

Research has shown that many autistic students do not thrive in mainstream secondary schools. Often studies focus on the challenges autistic people face rather than what supports thriving. We reviewed published articles, exploring what factors helped autistic people create a positive experience in school from their own perspective. We identified 36 studies and analysed the direct quotes made by autistic adolescents and adults in these studies. Factors important for positive experience included the autistic student feeling understood and accepted by adults and peers in school, being able to shape sensory and social environments in ways that suited them and accessing engaging activities. This review highlighted ways in which schools can become more inclusive and positive environments for autistic students.

Being a physician: what messages have medical students received during the first month of medical school experience?

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the meanings that first-year medical students make about becoming a physician from the messages they receive from the faculty environment, faculty members and senior students after their one-month experience at the faculty of medicine.MethodsIn this phenomenological qualitative research, in-depth semi-structured interview was used to collect data from 21 first-year medical students, and data were analyzed through inductive content analysis method.ResultsAs a result of the analysis, one theme and four categories emerged about gaining professional competencies, having emotions specific to the profession, having sources of motivation, and challenges of becoming a physician in the future. The results reveal that first-year medical students think being a physician will help them gain professional competences, motivate them as the job is prestigious, a guaranteed profession, provides a multidisciplinary working environment, and gives opportunity to serve society and keep people alive. On the other hand, the first-year medical students are aware of the fact that their future profession will bring some challenges such as having to deal with a lot of stress, long working hours, mobbing, and having to study hard all the time during their education.ConclusionsWe believe that the current study presents significant results and some useful knowledge regarding the first-year medical students’ perception of their future career as a physician.

Survival Experiences of Mapuche Parents in Multilevel Schools in La Araucanía

ABSTRACT This article examines how colonial legacies shape parents’ schooling experiences in multilevel schools within the Mapuche context of La Araucanía, Chile, also known as WallMapu. Authorities built schools to evangelize Indigenous people into Christianity. Researchers used biographical narratives to reflect the importance of orality for the Mapuche. The findings show that the physical and psychological violence endured by Mapuche children has widened the educational gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. The study concludes that recognizing the harm caused by the school system is essential to rebuild trust and improve educational outcomes for Indigenous children.

Provision of early clinical experience in UK medical schools: a cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT Background There is an established evidence base to support early clinical experience (ECE) within medical degree programmes. However, increasingly crowded clinical learning environments can make provision challenging. The aim of this research was to develop understanding about how ECE is provided within UK medical schools. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study on ECE provision by UK medical schools using an electronic survey containing a mix of question styles. We gathered data on the stage at which ECE featured within curricula, the amount of ECE provided, the setting for ECE, the learning outcomes covered during ECE and whether such content was formally assessed. Support for survey dissemination was obtained from the UK Medical Schools Council (MSC) Education Leads Advisory Group (ELAG). Responses were collected between 10/05/23 and 11/10/23. Findings Of the 43 eligible UK medical schools, responses were received from 28 (65%). The provision of ECE amongst respondent medical schools was ubiquitous. The majority of ECE was provided within general practice and hospital settings, but community and voluntary sector settings were increasingly employed, as was technology enhanced ECE. A significant shift in the nature of the content addressed during ECE, with less focus on implementation of basic science was seen within learning outcomes. The extent to which ECE learning outcomes were formally assessed was variable. Conclusion The amount of ECE provided by UK medical schools has fallen. We encourage institutions to reflect on their provision of ECE and to consider how greater diversity of community settings and technology-enhanced learning could be harnessed.

Integrating unplugged and plugged activities for holistic AI education: An embodied constructionist pedagogical approach

AbstractThere is a growing consensus that AI literacy requires a holistic lens, including not only technical knowledge and skills but also social and ethical considerations. Yet, providing holistic AI education for upper-primary students remains challenging due to the abstract and complex nature of AI and a lack of pedagogical experiences in schools. Against this backdrop, this study employs a design-based research (DBR) methodology to develop pedagogical solutions and theoretical knowledge. Drawing upon theories about AI literacy and learning sciences, this study proposes a novel pedagogical approach, namely, the embodied constructionist approach. This approach, by integrating embodied analogies and constructionist making, forges a cyclical understand–make–reflect process. Through this process, students gradually comprehend the conceptual, technical, and ethical dimensions of AI, towards holistic development in AI literacy. This approach was implemented and fine-tuned in authentic classrooms with 107 sixth graders over two years. During the implementation, a variety of qualitative data were collected from classroom observation, video-recording, student interviews and artifacts, and debriefings with the teacher. Using a case studies method, this study uncovered the overall learning progress demonstrated by the class in AI knowledge, skills, and ethical and critical reflections, as well as the reflections and struggles experienced by individual students. This study offers an age-appropriate pedagogy to promote inclusive, holistic AI education in the crucial, yet under-examined upper primary context. It highlights the potential of integrating AI literacy and computational thinking (CT) in K-12 education, while contributing to theoretical knowledge about embodied cognition and constructionism in the context of AI education.

Instilling social accountability into the health professions education curriculum with international case studies: AMEE Guide No. 175

This AMEE guide focuses on instilling social accountability (SA) concept and values into health professions education (HPE) curricula with the goal of producing competent, compassionate healthcare professionals who can act as change agents within the healthcare system. By incorporating SA, HPE schools will instil in their students a strong sense of accountability for addressing the health needs of the communities they serve. This AMEE guide presents a comprehensive framework for embedding SA into the HPE curriculum, covering various aspects in curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation. It also includes case studies of exemplary socially accountable curricula, highlighting the experiences of schools aspiring for SA. Acknowledging how curriculum is embedded in a larger institutional structure, and that SA requires institutional commitment in its governance structure and policies is also a critical component for consideration.