Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds Research Articles

Promoting Socioscientific Issue-based Science Education – Finding Opportunities in Assessment

There have been attempts to integrate assessment with teaching to enhance learning. In this study, we have attempted to use assessment as a strategy to foster socioscientific issue (SSI)-based learning. The available research suggests that teachers have a positive attitude towards the incorporation of SSI-based discussions in their classrooms simultaneously stating challenges like limited time, rigid syllabus, exam pressure, unavailability of related resource material, and intellectual demand on the part of the teacher as well as students, etc. We argue that ‘guided assessment’ as a pro-learning assessment approach could be used to promote SSI-based learning in the face of challenges. This paper describes and explores the efficacy of the ‘guided assessment’ task included in an SSI-based learning module developed on issues related to groundwater. This module was trialled with thirty secondary science students belonging to the lower socioeconomic background. The data related to the ‘guided assessment’ task was analyzed qualitatively using socioscientific sustainability reasoning framework developed by Morin et al. (2014) and we found that the ‘guided assessment’ strategy facilitated students through questioning and provided opportunities to reflect on themes crucial to decision-making. The findings also revealed the impact of peer interactions on decision-making skills of students. Based on this intervention, we propose that teachers can use such an assessment strategy to make their SSI-based instruction more efficient and effective.

Back Onside protocol: A physical activity intervention to improve health outcomes in people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment

Given the effects of physical activity on people’s mental and physical health, a better understanding is needed of how physical activity interventions may impact the health of people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment. This has added urgency in the context of rising rates of poverty-related unemployment in the UK in 2022. The current paper details the protocol used in the evaluation of the Back Onside Programme; a community-based programme delivered by the Bradford Bulls Foundation in the Bradford District. The Programme supports people from low socio-economic backgrounds who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment to maintain regular physical activity through a ten-week physical activity intervention. This pilot study evaluates how a physical activity intervention may impact the mental and physical health of people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment in an uncontrolled pragmatic pilot study. Four cohorts run back-to-back between May 2021 and May 2022, with separate groups for men (N = 100) and women (N = 60). Physical and wellbeing assessment at baseline and post-intervention is conducted. If the intervention works in this context for these individuals, it will be a promising low-cost community-based intervention for people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment.

Exposure to indoor air pollution and the cognitive functioning of elderly rural women: a cross-sectional study using LASI data, India

BackgroundThe majority of people in rural developing counties still rely on unclean and solid fuels for cooking, putting their health at risk. Adult and elderly women are most vulnerable due to prolonged exposure in cooking areas, and Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) may negatively impact their health and cognitive function. This study examines the effect of IAP on the cognitive function of middle-aged and elderly rural women in India.MethodsThe study utilized the data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI 2017–18, Wave-1). Bivariate analysis and multilevel linear regression models were applied to show the association between IAP and the cognitive abilities of rural women and results from regression were presented by beta coefficient (β) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Confounding factors such as age, education, health risk behaviours, marital status, monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE), religion etc. were adjusted in the final model.ResultsThe study found that 18.71 percent of the rural women (n = 3,740) lived in Indoor Air Pollution exposed households. IAP was significantly found to be associated with the cognitive functional abilities among the middle and older aged rural women. Middle and older aged rural women exposed to IAP had lower cognitive functional abilities than non-exposed women. Comparing to the non-exposed group, the cognitive score was worse for those exposed to IAP in both the unadjusted (β = -1.96; 95%CI: -2.22 to -1.71) and the adjusted (β = -0.72; 95%CI: -0.92 to -0.51) models. Elderly rural women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to have cognitive impairment as a result of IAP.ConclusionFindings revealed that IAP from solid fuels could significantly affect the cognitive health of elderly rural women in India, indicating the need for immediate intervention efforts to reduce the use of solid fuels, IAP and associated health problems.

Identifying resilience promoting factors in vocational education and training: a longitudinal qualitative study in Norway

Drawing on the literature on resilience in education, this article explores personal characteristics, abilities and behaviours that enable vulnerable students and apprentices to succeed in education and training. Despite high dropout rates in vocational education and training (VET) in most countries, little research on resilience in vocational contexts exists, and there is no general understanding or conceptualisation of resilience in VET. The study is based on qualitative interviews with eight adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who were identified as being at risk of not completing upper secondary education. The adolescents were interviewed the first time during the school-based part of their education (year 2) and the second time during apprenticeship training (year 4). Our findings show that commitment to learning and perseverance, self-regulated learning, goal orientation, self-efficacy and help-seeking are important resilience promoting factors in a vocational context that may serve to enhance resilience among students and apprentices in VET. The study discusses the role of learning environments in school and in the workplace in resilience in VET.

British Columbia’s COVID-19 surveys on population experiences, action, and knowledge (SPEAK): methods and key findings from two large cross-sectional online surveys

ObjectivesTo describe the methodology and key findings of British Columbia’s (BC) COVID-19 SPEAK surveys, developed to understand the experiences, knowledge, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on British Columbians.MethodsTwo province-wide, cross-sectional, web-based population health surveys were conducted one year apart (May 2020 and April/May 2021). Questions were drawn from validated sources grounded within the social determinants of health to assess COVID-19 testing and prevention; mental and physical health; risk and protective factors; and healthcare, social, and economic impacts during the pandemic. Quota-based non-probability sampling by geography was applied to recruit a representative sample aged 18 years and older. Recruitment included strategic outreach and longitudinal follow-up of a subgroup of respondents from round one to round two. Post-collection weighting using Census data by age, sex, education, ethnicity, and geography was conducted.ResultsParticipants included 394,382 and 188,561 British Columbians for the first and second surveys, respectively, including a longitudinal subgroup of 141,728. Key findings showed that societal impacts, both early in the pandemic and one year later, were inequitably distributed. Families with children, young adults, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have been most impacted. Significant negative impacts on mental health and stress and a deterioration in protective resiliency factors were found.ConclusionThese population health surveys consisting of two large cross-sectional samples provided valuable insight into the impacts and experiences of British Columbians early in the pandemic and one year later. Timely, actionable data informed several high-priority public health areas during BC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Community School Initiative in Toronto: Mitigating Opportunity Gaps in the Jane and Finch Community in the Wake of COVID-19

COVID-19 significantly impacted the delivery of education with widespread disruptions, particularly disadvantaging racialized and low-income families. Our research project explored how community-based programming can be adapted and mobilized to mitigate opportunity and achievement gaps for Black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC), and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The project as a case study examined an afternoon and weekend supplementary academic program called the Community School Initiative (CSI), offered from September 2020 to May 2021 to members of the Jane and Finch community in Toronto, Canada at a subsidized cost. CSI is a partnership between the non-profit organization Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education (YAAACE) and the for-profit enterprise Spirit of Math. It delivers a structured math curriculum to students in grades two to eight aged 8 to 14 years, old supported by a team of caring adults including parents, coaches, and Ontario certified teachers. The efficacy and outcomes of the CSI was assessed through surveys with parents (n=33), students (n=33), and teachers (n=4), and a focus group with seven teachers delivering the curriculum in the CSI. We also discuss the significance of how the research was conducted in the wake of COVID-19. Hence, this article is about the findings from the data, but just as much about the community-driven approach to how the research was conducted, by the community and for the community.

Is earning detrimental to learning? Experiences of medical students from traditional and low socioeconomic backgrounds

Background: Medical schools are striving to produce a representative workforce through admissions processes that actively encourage applications from students with backgrounds of social and financial disadvantage. Such medical students frequently have reduced financial support and need to undertake paid employment while studying. However, there is limited evidence to show how a lack of financial support and undertaking paid employment impacts those studying for medical degrees, who are not from affluent backgrounds. Method: A mixed methods approach was used for this single site, exploratory study. A questionnaire on paid employment was distributed to undergraduate medical students. Those respondents in employment were invited to attend an interview to further explore their experiences. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Questionnaire responses from 199 medical students were received and 11 semi-structured interviews conducted. Most students undertook paid employment during medical school and stated it had some benefits. However, the negative impact of paid employment was greater for LSE students: those who met the medical school’s widening participation criteria. LSE students reported work was a necessity rather than a choice. They also had additional stress of financial responsibility for others, including parents or partners. Discussion: Compared to traditional medical students, LSE students report increased negative experiences from undertaking paid employment, with greater financial responsibility for themselves and others during their studies. Medical schools have a responsibility to adapt and provide appropriate support for all students. It is vital to understand and acknowledge the additional challenges students from LSE backgrounds face.

Measuring Pro-Environmental Behavior Triggered by Environmental Values

Pro-environmental behavior in addressing climate change is influenced by multi-dimensional factors-knowledge, values, intention and sociodemographic background. Correlational studies between environmental values and environmental behaviors have not been able to determine values or behaviors that need to be given priority in future interventions. Therefore, this study firstly determined the environmental values and pro-environmental behavior that are easy or difficult to embrace by 152 respondents with low socioeconomic background. Secondly, we identified the extent pro-environmental behavior is triggered by environmental values. This survey study employs the Rasch analysis model. The respondents had difficulty in associating themselves with biospheric values however readily demonstrated consideration toward altruistic values, especially related to concerns for future generations. In terms of environmental conservation behavior, the respondents were not willing to relinquish comfort easily, such as giving up self-driving and taking public transportation or reducing usage of electricity. In addition, adults of low socioeconomic background find it difficult to endorse statements such as getting involved in campaigns related to environmental conservation. Thus, younger family members must be educated about conservation behaviors such as environmental campaigns commonly offered at schools, and these youngsters can be encouraged to extend their role by educating their parents.

Dialogic Reading to Promote the Underprivileged Pre-School Children's Expressive Language Ability

Background: 
 Children from low socioeconomic backgrounds in Indonesia have been facing challenges in terms of their literacy and language development. One of the possible reasons is that they are not used to receiving meaningful early reading interventions such as shared reading during their pre-school attendance. This phenomenon has brought to light the urgency of having an early intervention, which can accommodate the very diverse linguistic and cultural context of Indonesia- a multilingual and multicultural country.
 Methodology: 
 This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method research design. The first phase was conducted in a quantitative one-group pre-experiment with pre-and post-test design. The second phase of this research was carried out in a qualitative case study through classroom observation and informal interviews with the teacher and the children.
 Findings: 
 The findings of MLU calculation showed that for the pre-test, the mean score was 2.35, the median was 2.20 and the standard deviation was 0.53. Meanwhile, for the post-test, the mean score was 3.72, the median was 3.18 and the standard deviation was 1.38. The qualitative phase explored two main aspects, namely the implementation of dialogic reading activity by the teacher and the teacher as well as children’s opinions regarding the dialogic reading activity.
 Conclusion: 
 This current study has offered an insight that dialogic reading activity could be well implemented by the teacher in a typical Indonesian pre-school setting. The dialogic reading activity was also found to contribute significantly to the development of children’s expressive language ability.
 Originality: 
 The findings of this study have indicated dialogic reading potentials in terms of promoting children’s language development and just as importantly, sparking children’s joy of reading since their early years of formal education. Therefore, it is suggested that early childhood educators and parents work hand in hand to incorporate dialogic reading activity into their daily literacy practices at schools as well as at home.

A 4-year longitudinal study examining lexical and syntactic bootstrapping in English Language Learners (ELLs) and their monolingual peers.

Current models of the affinity between syntax and vocabulary are complex and recognize the contribution of bootstrapping and computational processes. To date, the mutual facilitation between these two constructs over time has not been studied in second language (L2) school children. The present study investigated longitudinally the direction and strength of the associations between syntactic and vocabulary skills in English Language Learners (ELLs; N = 409, 204 females, M age = 78 months, low socioeconomic status backgrounds) and their monolingual English-speaking peers (EL1; N = 157, 92 females, M age = 77 months, low socioeconomic status backgrounds). Children were assessed annually from Grade 1 to Grade 4 on a syntactic and a vocabulary task. Overall, autoregressive cross-lagged analyses indicated that early syntax predicted later vocabulary and vice versa, yet, the magnitude of prediction varied across groups. Notably, in the early stages of L2 learning, the predictive power from vocabulary to syntax was stronger than that in the opposite direction. Moreover, the predictive power from vocabulary to syntax was consistently stronger in the ELL than in the EL1 group. The results suggest that, in general, with sufficient quantity and quality of exposure to the L2, lexical and syntactic bootstrapping coexist. However, among novice young ELLs, bootstrapping is stronger from vocabulary to syntax than the other way around. Results underscore the importance of studying the relations between vocabulary and syntax longitudinally, and caution about an injudicious application of L1-based models to young L2 children's language development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Institutional Analysis of the Surgical Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Deprived Population.

Cochlear implantation (CI) surgeries are safe and performed successfully in many patients; however, postoperative complications still occur, which may be influenced by socioeconomic and demographic variables. Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study of 146 adults and children with hearing loss, who had CI surgery between 2017 and 2022. This study aims to assess the frequency and nature of surgical complications in patients from a low socioeconomic background who underwent CIsurgery in different geographic areas. For the analysis of data, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) was used. A total of 146 candidates were evaluated, out of which 82 were male (56.16%) and 64 (43.84%) were female. The age of patients at the time of surgery ranged from 1-50 years. All of the patients underwent unilateral CI. Eighteen implanted patients developed minor complications with an incidence rate of 12.31%. There were no major complications observed. Further, we did not observe any post-operative meningitis as our study group was vaccinated against pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). CI is an effective and safe surgical procedure for the treatment and rehabilitation of people who are deaf. It is possible to avoid complications by using meticulous surgical methods and regular post-operative monitoring to identify and treat any issues as soon as possible, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Deadly global alliance: antidemocracy and anti-environmentalism

This essay explores the connections between the global rise of antidemocratic governments and the escalation of the human-driven climate emergency. As political leaders and corporations (particularly those in fossil fuel and energy industries) work together in the pursuit of profits and power, anti-environment policies that favour these industries have become politicised and weaponised. We see this occurring in many liberal democracies as well as in more explicit autocratic regimes. Focusing primarily on the United States under former US president Donald Trump, it is argued that the rolling back of environmental policies facilitated by his antidemocratic government connects the political erosion of liberal democracy with the corrosion of the environment. Degradation of the environment in turn accelerates the negative impacts of climate change, disproportionately harming marginalised and racialised communities from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The implications of this deadly alliance between accelerating environmental destruction and the weakening of peoples’ electoral rights and ability to oppose anti-environmental policy in the Global North and Global South are nothing short of catastrophic.

Socioeconomic status and entrepreneurial networking responses to the COVID-19 crisis

Networks play a vital role for entrepreneurs in overcoming crises. The most vulnerable to crises are those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. However, we know less about the role of socioeconomic status in entrepreneurial networking. This study investigates whom entrepreneurs call in case of emergency. We develop hypotheses on how entrepreneurs’ socioeconomic status influences models of networking agency in situations of economic threat. The results of a pre-registered randomized experiment in the COVID-19 context conducted with 122 entrepreneurs from the US indicate that entrepreneurs in higher socioeconomic status positions activate contacts to serve their own goals (i.e., independent networking agency) when facing an economic threat. In contrast, and counter-intuitively, entrepreneurs of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to support others when facing an economic threat (i.e., interdependent networking agency). Exploring the evolving network structure, our explorative post-hoc analyses suggest that entrepreneurs activate closer networks (i.e., higher density and stronger ties) under threat. The study discusses the implications of these findings for the theory of entrepreneurial networking in general and network responses to crises in particular.

Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin D to Curb Rickets in Children under Five Years in India

Purpose: Rickets is a common disorder among children under five years mostly in the developing countries. It negatively affect normal growth and development of children thereby reducing their genetic potential. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cause of rickets in children under five years and solutions available.
 Methodology: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional approach and was conducted in the pediatric outpatients department of the Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital & University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) Delhi. The study period was one year from September 2021 to September 2022 on 130 diagnosed cases of the rickets. Patients were enrolled via non- probability convenient sampling technique and a set developed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected through self-structured questionnaire after taking informed consent. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 26.
 Findings: The study found out that giving getting enough of both vitamin D and calcium is crucial to maintaining bone health and protecting against disorders like osteoporosis, a condition that is characterized by weak, brittle bones. While the daily value (DV) of vitamin D is 800 IU per day, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) differs slightly depending on your age. Children and adults ages 1–70 need approximately 600 IU of vitamin D per day. This can come from a combination of food sources and sunlight. Adults over 70 should aim for at least 800 IU (20 mcg) of vitamin D per day. The RDA for calcium also varies by age. Children ages 4–8 need about 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Children ages 9–18 need approximately 1,300 mg daily. Adults ages 19–50 need about 1,000 mg daily. Over the age of 50, most people need 1,200 mg per day.
 Conclusion: The study conclude that children aged between one and three years are more susceptible to rickets than children between four and five years. The study also conclude that lower socioeconomic background, male gender, exclusive breastfeeding, unbalanced nutrition and mother’s poor nutritional status all contribute to high incidences of rickets in children under five years. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption in your body. This plays a key role in maintaining bone strength and skeletal integrity.
 Recommendations: Supplements should be added in the diet of children during breastfeeding. Also, there should be adequate sunlight exposure of children. Finally, malnutrition of both children and mothers should be treated.

Analyzing Causes of Rickets in Children under Five Years and Solutions Available in India

Purpose: Rickets is a common disorder among children under five years mostly in the developing countries. It negatively affect normal growth and development of children thereby reducing their genetic potential. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cause of rickets in children under five years and solutions available.
 Methodology: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional approach and was conducted in the pediatric outpatients department of the Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital & University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) Delhi. The study period was one year from September 2021 to September 2022 on 130 diagnosed cases of the rickets. Patients were enrolled via non- probability convenient sampling technique and a set developed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected through self-structured questionnaire after taking informed consent. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 26.
 Findings: Nutritional rickets was prevalent among children aged between one and three years with males being 61.74% and females being 38.26%. Children from lower socioeconomic background comprised 59% while children under exclusive breastfeeding comprised about 62%. Additionally, children supplemented cow’s milk but had rickets were 38% while children exposed to less sunlight comprised 57%. The study also found out that children that were exposed to sunlight when fully clothed had incidence of rickets at rate of 48% while children who were not oil-massaged during sunlight exposure comprised 31%. Finally, children who were subjected to unbalanced nutrition comprised about 78.34% while children whose mothers were under poor nutritional status comprised about 67%.
 Conclusion: The study conclude that children aged between one and three years are more susceptible to rickets than children between four and five years. The study also conclude that lower socioeconomic background, male gender, exclusive breastfeeding, unbalanced nutrition and mother’s poor nutritional status all contribute to high incidences of rickets in children under five years. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption in your body. This plays a key role in maintaining bone strength and skeletal integrity.
 Recommendations: Supplements should be added in the diet of children during breastfeeding. Also, there should be adequate sunlight exposure of children. Finally, malnutrition of both children and mothers should be treated.

Outcomes of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Relapsed DLBCL in Single Center Serving a Minority Population

Background: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with an estimated incidence of 5.6 cases per 100,000 Americans annually. The standard of treatment for relapsed DLBCL is salvage chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). However there remains a paucity of data regarding outcomes in minority racial/ ethnic groups or patients of low socioeconomic status. Our institution primarily serves the population of Bronx County, NY, where 24.4% of individuals live at or below poverty level and 8.5% are uninsured. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis from a single academic center in the Bronx, NY with identification of patients with relapsed DLBCL treated with auto-SCT from 2005 to 2020. Patients were excluded if they had primary refractory disease or if they achieved partial or complete remission with first line chemotherapy. A review of individual cases was conducted to evaluate patient demographics, treatment history and survival post- transplantation. We generated survival curves (Kaplan Meier) for the overall population with subgroup analyses based on age, sex, race/ ethnicity, insurance and line of treatment, compared using log-rank test. Results: We identified 81 patients meeting inclusion criteria. The median age of patients was 59 years (range 23-79 years), with 59% male and 41% female. Of the 81 patients, 19% were White/ Caucasian (n= 15), 32% Black/ African-American (n= 26), 27% Hispanic/ Latinx (n= 22), and 22% other/ unidentified (n= 18). In terms of insurance coverage, 52% of patients had Medicaid coverage (either alone or combined with Medicare), 30% had private insurance, 16% had Medicare (either alone or combined with private insurance), and 2% were uninsured/ unidentified. Patients underwent auto-SCT after second line chemotherapy (72%, n= 58), third line (25%, n= 20), or fourth line (3%, n= 3). Overall survival (OS) in this cohort was 61% vs 58% vs 49% at 1000, 2000, and 3000 days, respectively. Subgroup analyses based on age and sex did not show a significant difference. Similarly, patients who underwent auto-SCT after second line chemotherapy had similar OS relative to those who underwent transplant after third or fourth lines. However, there was a significant difference noted between OS of different racial/ ethnic groups with OS of 77% (CI 58-100) in White/ Caucasian patients, 68% (CI 52-89) in Black/ African-American patients, 55% (CI 36-85) in Hispanic/ Latinx patients, and 40% (CI 21-77) in other or unidentified ethnic groups at 1000 days (p= 0.02). There was also a significant difference in OS between patients with Medicaid coverage or uninsured (48%, CI 35-67) vs private insurance (76%, CI 59-97) vs Medicare without Medicaid (82%, CI 62-100) at 1000 days (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Our data suggests that for chemo-sensitive relapsed DLBCL, auto-SCT is associated with 61% OS at day 1000, similar to prior literature. However, despite access to stem cell transplantation for treatment of relapsed DLBCL, patients of racial/ ethnic minority groups or low socioeconomic backgrounds (as evidenced by Medicaid eligibility) have significantly reduced overall survival at 1000-, 2000-, and 3000-days post-transplantation compared to their counterparts. These findings suggest that socioeconomic disparities continue to impact delivery of oncologic and transplant care. A limitation of this study is sample size; future investigation into larger datasets of socioeconomically and racially diverse populations can provide further insight into auto-SCT outcomes. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Exploring Play, Executive Function, and Academic Achievement in Two Title I Kindergartens

ABSTRACT The role of play in early elementary education (K-2) generates dichotomous opinions, and more research is required to support efficacious pedagogical decision-making. This pilot study explored the effects of pedagogical approaches on Title I kindergarten students’ executive function (EF) to test the hypothesis that children, especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, will show greater gains in EF, reading, and math achievement when purposeful play is incorporated into learning. Students in the play-based group had statistically significantly stronger EF health than children in the contemporary group per teacher reports, and parents in the contemporary group were more concerned about children’s EF skills than those in the play-based group, although this was not statistically significant. Students in the play-based group had greater reading gains than students in the contemporary group. There were no statistically significant differences between classrooms in math growth, but there was a moderate effect size. The greater the teacher’s level of concern about students’ EF skills, the lower a child’s reading and math gains tended to be. Parent observations of children’s EF were not correlated to any measure. Despite some study limitations, the findings encourage continued exploration of play-based pedagogy to increase children’s EF skills and academic achievement outcomes.

Virtual assessments for students with disabilities: A case study from India: Virtual assessment in reading

The pandemic in India impacted over 247 million learners (UNICEF, 2021). Children with disabilities were at a significant disadvantage, losing access to rehabilitation, medical and remedial services (Verneker et al., 2020). This article presents a guide to assessing students virtually. It explores one teacher’s attempts to navigate learning to read remotely using a digital curriculum-based measurement tool, Fluency Assessment for Benchmarking in Literacy education (FABLe). It discusses the processes she employed to set goals, monitor progress, and structure virtual assessments over the course of an academic year to build reading fluency. Overall, virtual assessments were easy to conduct. Teachers require two devices when conducting FABLe virtually, one to share the reading passage, and one to mark progress. FABLe provides end-of-year benchmark goals that can be used as individual target goals for students. More research is needed to develop benchmarks specific to the Indian context. FABLe data were most useful when communicating progress with parents and informing instructional practices. Many processes used to implement FABLe virtually can be applied to face-to-face settings, such as goal setting and progress monitoring schedules. Learning was impacted for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who struggled with access to the internet and support in the home settings.

Agency through medicalization: Ghanaian children navigating illness, medicine and adult resistance

Medicalization in the Global North assumes that bottom-up medicalization is driven by increasing consumer power, risk avoidance among professionals, or emancipation. Building on ethnographic work of the first author, this article aimed to explore the existence and conditions of a different and novel mechanism and found children manifesting agency through self-medicalization. We look at how Ghanaian children pragmatically deal with everyday health concerns and argue children are agents of medicalization and medicalization enables agency in children.Through interpretive and collaborative content analysis of structured ethnographic observations of 105 children from different class backgrounds (between June 2016 and December 2017) we found children in Northern Ghana framed situations of feeling ill in markedly biomedical terms and persisted in biomedical treatment even with opposition from adults. We observed that children intentionally navigated opposition from adults, mobilized support through networks, exploited power differences between adults, and organized treatment among themselves if necessary. While girls had an even harder time to muster recognition from adults, we also discovered children from a lower socioeconomic background, with more experience on the street had more leeway in navigating lack of support.So far, children's agency in health and illness has only been discussed in instances where children had already received a professional diagnosis. In our case where children had not yet received a professional diagnosis, we find that agency is enabled through bodily awareness, experience, interactions with peers, family, and the media; all working as tools for children to self-diagnose and to deal with illness in a postcolonial setting.

Socioeconomic factors and autism among 16- to 30-month-old children: Evidence from a national survey of China.

Does being born in a family of high socioeconomic status mean a higher risk of being diagnosed with autism? The evidence from the Asian area is lacking. This research was conducted among 6049 toddlers who went through an evaluation-diagnose procedure of autism and whose parents were surveyed during the national survey of China, 2016-2017. Parents reported their education levels, occupations, family income, and ethnic background. We recruited the toddlers and parents from kindergartens, communities, and hospitals in five geographically representative areas of China. On average, these toddlers were 23 months of age. We found toddlers whose mothers had less than 9 years of education (junior middle school or below) had 2.46 times the chance to get a diagnosis of autism, compared with toddlers whose mothers had more than 15 years of education (college or above). We also found that 1.17 toddlers could be diagnosed with autism in each 100 Chinese toddlers. These findings have important implications for providing support to families that have low socioeconomic status, especially families with a mother who did not complete 9 years of education. Early detection programs focused on children from low socioeconomic backgrounds should be promoted.