Learning Program Research Articles

Empowering Latine elementary school students with disabilities: computer programming through culturally sustaining curriculum

ABSTRACT Background and Context The study was conducted in a special education classroom in an elementary school with multilingual Latine students, utilizing a computer science curriculum focused on community-based environmental literacy. Objective This study explores the experiences of diverse elementary students with disabilities in learning computer programming and identifies instructional strategies that enhance their learning within a culturally sustaining curriculum. Method An exploratory case study approach was used to examine students’ learning experiences and teachers’ instructional strategies during curriculum implementation. Findings Students who typically did not engage with peers collaborated effectively, and those with behavioral and performance difficulties exhibited heightened engagement. Instructional strategies included multisensory engagement and connecting environmental and computational concepts to real-life situations. Implications The result underscore how a culturally sustaining computer science curriculum can empower diverse students, foster inclusivity, and leverage their strengths through effective teaching practices.

Impact of a social media-delivered distance learning program on mhGAP training among primary care providers in Jalisco, Mexico

BackgroundThe World Health Organization’s (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) aims to provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in non-specialized healthcare settings. However, implementing these guidelines remains a challenge due to various factors, including limited training opportunities for primary care providers. This study con the effectiveness of a social media-delivered distance education program on the mhGAP intervention guide, to overcome barriers of technology access and digital literacy, providing a familiar and accessible platform for primary care providers in Jalisco.MethodsA quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design was conducted. Primary care providers from Jalisco were invited to participate in a distance education program on the mhGAP intervention guide. The program consisted of online modules, webinars, and discussion forums facilitated by mental health experts. Knowledge assessments were conducted before and after the intervention using a standardized questionnaire. Participant satisfaction and perceived utility were also evaluated through surveys and focus group discussions.ResultsA total of 1,096 primary care providers completed the program. The mean knowledge score significantly improved from 58.2% (SD = 12.8%) in the pre-test to 81.4% (SD = 9.6%) in the post-test (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 2.04). Subgroup analyses revealed consistent knowledge gains across different demographic and professional characteristics. Participant satisfaction was high, with 92% rating the program’s overall quality as “good” or “excellent.” Qualitative findings highlighted the benefits of accessibility, flexibility, interactivity, and practical applicability of the distance education approach.ConclusionsThe social media-delivered distance education program on the mhGAP intervention guide effectively improved the knowledge of primary care providers in Jalisco, Mexico. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction and perceived utility. This study demonstrates the potential of distance education strategies to disseminate evidence-based guidelines and enhance mental health service delivery in primary care settings, particularly in resource-limited areas.

MOOCs as Lifelong Learning Programs – The case of University of the Aegean: A preliminary Evaluation

MOOCs as Lifelong Learning Programs – The case of University of the Aegean: A preliminary Evaluation

Dysfunction and the Parents Assistance Role to Study Elementary School Children during the Covid 19 Pandemic in Ambon City

During the covid pandemic home or family were used in the learning process. First and foremost parents who do not have the necessary tools or competence to educate their children at an early age, were expected to fill the role as a teacher. This writing aims to test : How is there a connection between dysfunction and the role of parental teaching assistance from professional groups such as civil servants compared with merchants , builders and farmers . Research data sourced from online news and interviews with parents and children are the basis used for this study . A total of 15 parents and their children in two schools in the center of the city of Ambon, that use System Online learning, and an area in the mountains that carry out the learning process offline and online. Studies show that dysfunction happens most often related to the different characteristics of the parents involved. Civil servants, traders, hunters, builders and farmers were companions for elementary school children to study at home. Most, although not yet ready, found even that through online and offline learning processes were used, dysfunction occurred. Status and parental assistance_as civil servants, traders, hurry up builders and farmers with various educational levels and different economic levels has raised complaints from parents for accompanying at home child learning program.. In line with that, this post recommends a “necessity involvement institution” and efforts to develop strategies for parent-teacher collaborations to help solve education problems during the covid 19 pandemic in Ambon City.

Evaluasi Program Kelas Unggulan di MIN 1 Medan

This research aims to explore: First, evaluate the Superior Class Program Policy at MIN 1 Medan. Second, knowing the strategies that can be implemented to optimize the Superior Class Program at MIN 1 Medan. Third, find out the obstacles faced in the MIN 1 Medan Superior Class Program Policy. This research method is a qualitative type with a descriptive approach. The instruments used in this research were observation, interviews and documentation studies. This research evaluation model uses the CIPP evaluation model, namely context, input, process and product evaluation. The location of this research is MIN 1 Medan, North Sumatra. This research data analysis uses three steps, data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. The research results show that: First, the implementation of the superior class program at MIN 1 Medan includes implementing different learning from regular ones, has more complete facilities than regular ones, and learning takes longer than regular ones. Second, the planning strategy for the superior class program, namely interactive digital learning media at MIN 1 Medan, is to be more practical and carried out as early as possible so that students can easily adapt in the future. The use of digital media also helps students develop technological skills which are very important in the modern era. And facilities such as TVs are available in superior classes so that they don't use projectors which take a long time to start learning. Third, the obstacle faced in the superior class program is Training Limitations: Even though intensive training has been carried out, there are still challenges in getting an adequate amount of training for all teachers in the superior class program. Insufficient Content: At times, the availability of appropriate, quality content to support learning in top class programs can be a challenge. Time Limitations: Implementing interactive digital learning media requires additional time for preparation and development of learning content in superior class programs. Student Engagement: Although digital learning media can increase student engagement, there are also challenges in ensuring that all students can access and use the technology effectively in accordance with excellent classroom programs.

Perceptions versus performance: Assessing teacher learning in asynchronous online professional development

AbstractTeacher learning in asynchronous online professional development (PD) is often measured by self-reported instruments, despite uncertainties regarding teachers’ accuracy in their self-assessment of learning. This study explored whether teachers’ self-reported gains in content knowledge for teaching aligned with those measured by direct assessments. Through quantitative analyses of data collected from 57 middle school mathematics teachers who participated in a fully asynchronous online PD program, we found no significant correlation between teachers’ self-reported knowledge gains and those measured by direct assessments. Additionally, we examined the role of teachers’ use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, namely organization, elaboration, and monitoring, in their learning from the PD program by conducting linear regression analyses. Our results indicated that teachers who frequently monitored their understanding of the PD content demonstrated greater gains in their content knowledge as measured by direct assessments. However, none of the SRL strategies predicted the accuracy of teachers’ self-assessments of knowledge gains from the asynchronous online PD program. These findings raise concerns about relying solely on self-reported instruments to capture teachers’ learning in asynchronous online PD programs, and they emphasize the need for more robust and accurate outcome measures in the asynchronous online learning context.

What do parents know about social-emotional learning in their children’s schools? Gaps and opportunities for strengthening intervention impact

Universal school-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs have been shown to have a range of benefits for students. However, these programs tend to focus on students, not involving parents, which may limit their impact outside the school context. We conducted focus groups and interviews with 118 parents, 58 teachers, and 6 school administrators at six public elementary schools across the United States implementing the Second Step SEL program to determine (a) what parents want to know about SEL in their children’s schools and why, (b) what parents actually know about SEL in their children’s schools, and (c) educators’ perspectives on SEL communication with parents. The findings suggest that school staff underestimate parents’ interest in knowing what their children are learning in SEL at school and perceive logistical barriers to SEL communication with parents. Accordingly, many parents report lacking knowledge about SEL despite valuing that knowledge and wishing to support their children’s SEL development. These findings point to ways SEL programs can be designed to better communicate with parents, and importantly, to facilitate parental engagement in the development of their children’s SEL skills.

Discharge coefficient prediction and sensitivity analysis for triangular broad‐crested weir using machine learning methods

AbstractThe broad‐crested weir is convenient to construct and has a small amount of excavation, widely used in practical engineering. Discharge computing has been the focus of research on this structure, thus developing generalized regression neural network (GRNN), genetic programming (GP), and extreme learning machine (ELM) are used to predict the discharge coefficient (Cd) of the triangular broad‐crested weir. The comprehensive analysis shows that the ELM model has high stability, predictive ability, and computational speed. The coefficient of determination (R^2) is 0.99982, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is 0.000261, the Nash‐Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE) is 0.99977, and the root means square error (RMSE) is 4.17E‐05 in the testing phase. The apex angle θ is the most critical parameter affecting the Cd, and the contribution to the Cd is 52.45%. A new computational formula is proposed and compared with the accuracy of empirical formulas, showing that the intelligent method has higher accuracy and efficiency.

&lt;p&gt;How to Promote Honest Learning Outcomes in Online Education: Understanding Achievement Goal Orientation and Self-Efficacy&lt;/p&gt;

Introduction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Achievement Goal Orientation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Dishonesty among college students during online learning. Method. A total of 238 students from students colleges in Indonesia completed an online questionnaire consisting of scales measuring Achievement Goal Orientation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Dishonesty. The data were then analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Results. The results showed a significant relationship between Mastery goal orientation (approach-avoidance) Performance avoidance orientation and Academic Dishonesty. Additionally, a significant relationship was found between Self-Efficacy and Academic Dishonesty, with students who had lower Self-Efficacy being more likely to engage in Academic Dishonesty compared to those with higher Self-Efficacy. Hierarchical regression analysis also revealed that Mastery goal orientation, Performance goal orientation, and Self-Efficacy together predicted Academic Dishonesty in college students during online learning. Discussion and Conclusion. This study concludes that Achievement Goal Orientation and Self-Efficacy are important factors that influence Academic Dishonesty in college students during online learning. These findings may contribute to the development of more effective online learning programs that encourage students to achieve honest and high-quality learning outcomes.

The Impact of Native Language on English Pronunciation among TESL Undergraduates

In today's globalized world, being fluent in English, including speaking and pronunciation, is crucial, it is frequently a need for academic and professional success in addition to being a great asset. As an English Language teacher, clarity in pronunciation is the utmost importance. However, a lot of the TESL undergraduate students faced trouble in pronouncing English words properly. The influence of the first language (L1) is a profound reason of the inaccuracies in pronouncing English words among undergraduates. This research examines the relationship between the native language and English pronunciation among TESL. This study, conducted through interviews with seven participants, explores the impact of cultural factors, cognates, phonological, and intonation patterns on pronunciation. Thematic analysis reveals the nuanced influences of the participants' native languages on their English articulation. Additionally, the research investigates strategies for improving pronunciation, including individualized plans and peer learning. This research explored both positive and negative aspects of language transfer among participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The findings revealed nuanced insights into the impact of native languages on English pronunciation. The findings contributed valuable insights to the understanding of language transfer effects and offer practical recommendations for enhancing English language teaching and learning in TESL programs. Beyond educational implications, this study sheds light on linguistic diversity and has the potential to influence language policies in Malaysia.

University-Based Coach Education: The E-Portfolio as a Formative Assessment Tool of Student-Coaches’ Learning

Current research highlights the need for more studies focused on how high-quality assessment strategies can contribute to coach learning in coach education. The use of e-portfolios, as formative assessment tools, has shown to contribute to student-coaches’ learning in university-based programs, but studies on this topic are still scarce. The aim of this action research project is to investigate the potentialities and challenges of the e-portfolio as a formative learning-oriented assessment tool in an undergraduate sport coach course in Brazil. By sharing this, from the perspective of student-coaches and the assistant-professors of the course, we reflect on the evidence with the intention to both inform colleagues doing similar work and contribute to an emerging body of assessment in coach education literature.

Promoting emotion understanding in middle childhood: A systematic review of school-based SEL programs

Emotion understanding (EU) describes the ability to identify, interpret, and communicate about emotions, and is often targeted by social-emotional learning (SEL) programs. Still, the theoretical framing of SEL programs and their impact on specific areas of social-emotional development, such as EU, for different age bands is not always transparent. This systematic review synthesized emotion-focused content in SEL programs used in quantitative outcome studies in middle childhood to identify which EU components are targeted and examine content congruence with an integrated EU development model drawing on the Pons EU developmental model and the Crick and Dodge social-information processing (SIP) model that posits emotion identification as fundamental to social decision-making in childhood. A total of 38 programs for Grades 3 to 5 across 54 studies in 20 countries were reviewed. Program aims, lesson topics, and activities were extracted and mapped to a 10-component EU framework integrating the nine Pons model components (‘recognition, external cause, reminder, desire, belief, hiding, regulation, mixed, morality’) with one based on the SIP model (‘decision/action’). At least 87% of emotion-focused SEL content targeted EU components of recognition, regulation, and social decision-making. Findings indicate a good level of congruence between emotion-focused SEL program content and prevailing EU development models. Many programs emphasized the external causes of emotions, underscoring the importance of scenarios to explain emotions—discussed further in light of cross-cultural variation in emotion socialization. We encourage SEL intervention research to be more transparent in reporting SEL program content and activities to move toward causal explanations of program impact.

Education program and experiential learning in Chinese entrepreneurship education: A year-long Social Cognitive Theory intervention's impact on self-efficacy and intention

Entrepreneurship education helps young people create their first job, typically through either experiential learning or education programs. Our study evaluated the effect of integrating both methods in a single intervention involving 40 people aged 18 to 25.Our research intervention was grounded in the Social Cognitive Theory. We assessed its impact via ANCOVA analyses. We looked for shifts in entrepreneurial self-efficacy (across six subdimensions) and intention of 20 intervention participants compared with an equal number of control participants. The results indicated statistically significant changes in all the measures except initiating investor relationships and building an innovative environment.To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effect of delivering entrepreneurial education in non-formal Chinese settings. It also pioneers exploring the impact of education programs and experiential learning in a single intervention. Finally, it assesses this impact over one year, sharply contrasting with the more typical exploring of relationships at a single time point.Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the efficacy of entrepreneurship education programs in China, providing support for offering such programs outside formal education. Our results also emphasize the significance of comprehending the surroundings in which the programs are being delivered and the potential external forces that participants may be exposed to.

The Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research: Introduction to the 2023 Competition and Some History on the Prize’s 25th Anniversary

The judges for the 2023 competition selected the three finalist papers featured in this special issue of the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics (IJAA). The prestigious Wagner Prize—awarded for achievement in implemented operations research, management science, and advanced analytics—emphasizes the quality and originality of mathematical models along with clarity of written and oral exposition. This year’s winning submission describes the design and deployment of an approach to accommodate the assembly of semiconductor products using multidie packages, a powerful and innovative approach to manufacturing a wide range of strategically designed semiconductors. The authors refer to the problem as the sort-assemble-blend routing problem (SABR-P), and their approach to solving the SABR-P is a combination of genetic algorithms, Monte Carlo simulations, linear programming, and machine learning. The remaining papers describe an integrated approach to system-wide deployment of nurses that facilitates the movement of nurses between hospitals, and a multiple-stage process that consolidates parcels ordered by the same consumer from one or more merchants during the fulfillment process. In addition, we provide some historical perspective on the Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research. We show the titles, abstracts, and names and affiliations for its recipients for each year in which the prize has been awarded. Finally, we provide links to the winning papers, which have been published by INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics (formerly Interfaces). Supplemental Material: Full presentation videos with slides are available in the INFORMS Video Library at https://www.informs.org/Resource-Center/Video-Library and as electronic companions to the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics articles.

The Sort-Assemble-Blend Routing Problem and Its Application to Semiconductors

Recent technological advances in the semiconductor industry have rapidly changed how products are designed and manufactured. Large “monolithic” designs, which integrate multiple functionalities in a single printed die, are being replaced with multidie products. To ensure the success of this transformation, it is critical to sort materials into categories and strategically build assemblies with maximum compatibility in mind. This enables manufacturing to be optimized to fulfill specific requirements for final products. However, it also means that more individual components must be managed, and decisions on how to assemble them must be made holistically. This creates a complex, nonlinear problem that combines qualities of both selective assembly and assembly routing problems. The result is named the sort-assemble-blend routing problem (SABR-P). Its solution approach is formulated using techniques including genetic algorithms, Monte Carlo simulations, linear programming, and machine learning. This framework has been successfully applied in practice, saving Intel Corporation more than $500 million thus far. It is the new standard for analyzing and optimizing Intel’s multidie products for the foreseeable future. History: This paper has been accepted for the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics Special Issue—2023 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research.

Novice middle leaders navigating context: reflections on a situated middle leader development program in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Purpose Guided by situated learning theory, this study explores the influence of a professional development program on the evolving perceptions of middle leaders as entrepreneurial leaders. It investigates which elements of situated learning design foster the growth of middle leaders’ entrepreneurial behavior. Design Using a narrative case inquiry approach, 20 participants from five primary and seven secondary schools in Hong Kong. These participants engaged in a situated middle leader development programme designed to enhance teacher entrepreneurialism in authentic, job-related contexts. Findings This study uncovers the incremental learning growth of middle leaders across three phases: initial struggle with authority constraints; reflection on the role of entrepreneurial middle leaders; and eventual advocacy of innovative opportunities to colleagues. It underscores the importance of authenticity and guided reflection in the situated learning program design, which fosters a social environment stimulating reflective dialogue and enables middle leaders to reflect on their leadership behavior. Originality This study broadens the application of situated learning theory by demonstrating how the interplay of contextual, social, and individual-level environments can enhance the professional development of middle leaders, particularly in fostering entrepreneurial behaviours.

The efficacy of the peace ambassador project: Promoting children’s emotional intelligence to address aggression in the early childhood classroom

This study explored the effect of a social emotional learning programme- the ECE-Peace Ambassador project (ECE-PAP) − on children’s (i) emotional intelligence, (ii) prosocial behaviour, (iii) aggressive behaviour with peers, (iv) and peer exclusion. Employing a quasi-experimental design, ECE-PAP was implemented in 16 schools in Hong Kong. In each school, teachers in one K3 class (4- to 5-year-olds) implemented the programme and a second K3 class served as a control (N=302). Multiple reporters (children, parents, and teachers) provided assessments of children’s emotional competence, social behaviour, aggressive behaviour, and responses to peer aggression the week before the programme, the week after, and three months later. Preliminary analyses showed that at pretest, children in the experimental condition showed lower emotional intelligence and less competent responses to peer aggression than controls. However, these differences disappeared by posttest and remained non-significant at follow-up. Children in the experimental condition showed increases from pre- to posttest in emotional intelligence, emotion labelling, and taking action to stop bullying, and decreases in avoidance and aggressive responses. Implementing the programme over a greater number of weeks was associated with more positive child outcomes. These results suggest that ECE-PAP may be an effective, cost-effective way to address aggressive behaviour in kindergarten classrooms by promoting children’s emotional intelligence and social skills

Enhancing agency and empowering young people: The transformative impact of social and emotional learning programmes

BackgroundOver thirteen million people in the UK are currently living in poverty, and over four million are children (Department for Work and Pensions, 2022; Child Poverty Action Group, 2023). The Youth Futures Foundation (2021) argue that many young people do not have access to support or appropriate information to find employment or apply to further or higher education. ObjectiveThe purpose of this paper is to analyse young people’s experiences in a youth programme, adopting a Capabilities Approach (CA), to showcase how developing social and emotional learning (SEL) skills and competencies translates to tangible and powerful change in young people’s agency in their decisions.Participants and Setting.The research adopts a structured methodology focusing on the experiences of young people engaged in the programme in addition to parents, stakeholders and teachers. It investigated the benefits of the youth programmes, delivered across England and Wales in partnerships with other reputable organisations, for young people participating in the programme. MethodsThematic analysis was used to analyse data collected from semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 66 individual participants. This analysis led to the development of two themes: ‘improving young people’s confidence and aspiration’ and‘preparing young people for the future’. ResultsEmpowering young people through a programme developing SEL contributes to enhancing their capabilities, which is essential in preparing young people for transition from education to work. Adopting this type of approach requires innovation and flexibility to ensure challenges (for example, COVID-19) do not derail progress and, instead, contribute to the development of safe environments and secure relationships. ConclusionsOrganisations who create a safe space and offer long-term SEL support, give young people the confidence to interact, access opportunities outside of the classroom and put forward their views and set aspirations for their future. This promotes a capability approach, which illustrates the importance of providing young people with opportunities for repeated active involvement in activities (or interventions) in creating active citizens who understand/recognise their aspirations and worth.

When “Immersive” Learning Goes Remote: Interdisciplinary Lessons Learned in a Pandemic

Abstract: Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, health professional training programs made substantial changes to shift previously in-person student training opportunities to remote settings. Objectives: We present lessons learned from changes made to one community-engaged internship program, Bridging the Gaps (BTG)-Pittsburgh, that should prove helpful in future times of crisis. Methods: BTG-Pittsburgh places inter-disciplinary graduate pairs of students in community-based organizations that serve marginalized populations, to work directly with program participants and develop tangible products aimed to build organizational capacity. Students get additional training on poverty awareness, health literacy, community violence, food justice, trauma-informed self-care, cultural and academic humility, oral health and advocacy. Upon pandemic onset, given increased community need and community partner feedback, BTG-Pittsburgh pivoted quickly, shifting to remote engagement and making critical adjustments to ensure responsiveness to student and community partner needs. Adjustments included: 1) adopting a trauma-informed approach, 2) developing remote mentoring guidance, and 3) doubling site visits to ensure that students and site mentors felt sufficiently supported. Conclusions: Several program and partnership attributes contributed to our overall program success, including a model of reciprocal benefits, providing supports, flexibility, and long-standing relationships. The university’s quick adoption of remote technology and each participating school’s commitment to supporting the program model, further enabled effective student-organization-program collaboration. These lessons can inform community-partnered experiential learning programs that may need to incorporate remote components moving forward.

Implementasi Moderasi Beragama sebagai Langkah Preventif Terbentuknya Radikalisme di Kalangan Siswa

This research aims to examine the implementation of religious moderation as a preventive measure for the formation of radicalism among students. The students' heterogeneous religious backgrounds and school programs that are oriented towards high tolerance practices make researchers interested in studying the implementation of religious moderation-based learning programs at SMA Negeri 4 Probolinggo City. This research is Field Research, namely qualitative research with analytical descriptive characteristics. The presentation of data in this research is formatted in narrative form with data collection using observation, interview, documentation and analysis of natural documents for each discussion. The research informants consisted of the Principal, Deputy Head of Curriculum, Deputy Head of Student Affairs, Teachers and Students. The research results show that SMAN 4 Probolinggo has implemented the practice of tolerance values ​​which are manifested in the learning process and extracurricular activities. The School Bullying Agent Program (APS) is an important alternative in preventing and resolving problems regarding bullying and religious violence. SMA Negeri 4 Probolinggo City plays an active role in the activities of the Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) which is designed to strengthen tolerance and harmony between religious communities in the school environment. The school curriculum is designed to achieve the target of graduates who have a more inclusive and open understanding in preventing the formation of radicalism and strengthening moderate attitudes among students.