Education Research Articles

Potential Pesticide Misuse in Agriculture Farms from Two Costa Rican Provinces

Pesticide misuse by farmers poses hazards to human, animal, and environmental health. [Objective] This study aimed to document potential pesticide formulation misuse in agricultural farms. [Methodology] Inadequate storage practices, incorrect pesticide selection, and pesticide formulation overuse were documented through interviews and photographs on 13 agricultural farms from the Cartago and Guanacaste provinces of Costa Rica between August 2022 and April 2023. [Results] Storage room characteristics in many farms do not comply with safety standards prescribed by the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Different active ingredients with herbicidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, and bactericidal properties are used in crop species for which they are not recommended. These substances include those from the carbamate, pyridine, cyclohexanedione, pyrethroid, conazole, benzothiazinone, oxadiazine, and phthalimide chemical groups in Cartago province, and from the neonicotinoid and pyrethroid chemical groups in Guanacaste province. Many pesticide formulations are utilized in quantities exceeding the manufacturers' recommendations. Among these formulations were bifenthrin, captan, oxamyl, cypermethrin, mancozeb, dimethoate, and deltamethrin in Cartago province, and imidacloprid in Guanacaste province. [Conclusions] These substances and their secondary metabolites have the potential to move across different environmental compartments such as water, soil, and air, thereby negatively affecting the health of community members rather than just the farmers applying these formulations. Well-established pesticide education programs based on on-site visits to farmers can enhance awareness about implementing good practices and ensure rational use of these substances, with positive results in non-target organisms such as humans and ecosystem service providers as well as natural and anthropogenic ecosystems.

The Impact of Advertising Junk Food on Youth Eating Habits and Mental Health

The current study focuses on the effects of fast food on the health of college students. Junk food, defined as food that is quick and easy to make, is generally high in calories but low in vital nutrients. College students are increasingly consuming these meals due to growing urbanization, globalization, pervasive commercial promotions, and the availability of multiple junk food establishments. Recent studies have shown that fast food contributes to metabolic problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The primary goal of this study is to determine the impact of junk food consumption on students' health and wellbeing. The study also tries to discover characteristics that contribute to the efficacy of junk food marketing and its broad availability. Secondary data were obtained from a variety of sources, including books, newspapers, periodicals, seminars, conversations, articles, journals, and websites. The study's findings show a substantial association between BMI, junk food frequency, and physical activity and awareness. As a result, it is critical to establish nutrition education programs in colleges and schools to prevent the younger generation from developing a junk food addiction. This preventative intervention is critical in preventing noncommunicable diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Mathematical Resilience Framework (MRF): A new approach to overcoming math anxiety

Math anxiety is a significant barrier to student success in mathematics, often resulting in poor performance and disengagement from the subject. This paper introduces the Mathematical Resilience Framework (MRF), a novel approach that integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with self-efficacy models to help students overcome math anxiety. The MRF emphasizes emotional regulation, mindset transformation, and confidence-building as key components in fostering resilience. This paper explores the theoretical foundation of mathematical resilience, the structure of the MRF, and its potential benefits when applied in educational settings. By comparing MRF to other interventions, it highlights how the framework addresses both the emotional and cognitive aspects of math anxiety. The paper concludes with recommendations for educators, policymakers, and researchers on integrating the MRF into educational systems to improve learning outcomes and support student success in mathematics.

Integrating the health belief model into health education programs in a clinical setting

Integrating the health belief model into health education programs in a clinical setting

ВИБІРКОВІ ОСВІТНІ КОМПОНЕНТИ В ПРОФЕСІЙНІЙ ПІДГОТОВЦІ МАЙБУТНІХ УЧИТЕЛІВ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ МОВИ І ЛІТЕРАТУРИ В МАГІСТРАТУРІ

The author of this article characterizes the role of selective educational components in the professional training of future teachers of the Ukrainian language and literature in the master’s degree. It was found that one of the ways of forming the individual educational trajectory of a student is the mastering of selective educational components aimed at improving general and professional competencies defined in the educational and professional program. The procedures for the development and selection of the specified educational components are outlined in university regulations, in particular, it is stated that they should cover 25% of the total volume of ECTS credits planned by the relevant educational and professional program. Analysis of educational activities for the implementation of the educational and professional program 014.01 Secondary education. Ukrainian language and literature in the master’s program of the T. H. Shevchenko National University «Chernihiv Colehium» made it possible to characterize selective components from cycles of general and professional training. It was established that those seeking higher education should master three academic disciplines of the cycle of general training and five academic disciplines of the cycle of professional training, which are evenly distributed within three semesters. The author of the article characterizes those educational disciplines that are particularly popular among future teachers of the Ukrainian language and literature, in particular: “Pedagogical rhetoric”, “Basics of academic integrity”, “Artistic systems in Ukrainian literature of the 20th-21st centuries”, “Literature of the Siver region in historical-typological context”, “Technologies of studying theoretical and literary concepts in high school”, “Ukrainian language in scientific and pedagogical communication”. It has been established that educational disciplines that have a practical direction and may be needed during professional activities are particularly popular among future teachers. It is noted that teachers of university in the process of developing selective educational components try to take into account branch and regional aspects. Key words: professional training, educational component, educational and professional program, educational discipline, future teachers of the Ukrainian language and literature, master’s degree.

ПРОФЕСІЙНА ПІДГОТОВКА МАЙБУТНІХ СОЦІАЛЬНИХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ В УМОВАХ СУЧАСНИХ ВИКЛИКІВ

The article examines transformation of social work under conditions of contemporary challenges in Ukraine and changes in training of social workers under these conditions. It was determined that difficult circumstances of wartime affect the course of education process, education format is changing, there is a transition to its distance forms, and there emerges a need to create a safe environment for the subjects of educational services provision. The purpose of the publication is to determine characteristic features of training of future social work specialists under conditions of martial law, to study transformation of social work caused by contemporary challenges. The research methodology is a combination of philosophical ideas about the course of social processes unders conditions of crises and challenges with theories of social work based on the socio-pedagogical paradigm of scientific knowledge. It has been proven that models of social work are flexibly transformed in accordance with contemporary legislation, unification of different regions of the country is being actualized, and the guidelines of social development in the post-war era, in which modern specialists should orient themselves, are gradually being updated. It was substantiated that additional attention must to be paid to changes in the content of social work to overcome stressful situations, develop resilience, form social cohesion of the population. A model of distance training of social workers in the educational online space was proposed, which includes a step-by-step algorithm of actions to ensure inteconnection of learning and extracurricular activities of students, which is an effective means and environment for implementation of educational activities in the process of theoretical and practical training of future social workers. The practical significance of the research lies in creation of a favorable distance educational environment, in which necessary competences of specialists are formed and their social creativity, which contributes to performance of professional activities, develops. Types and forms of educational work, which can be integrated into training and education process of higher education students, are being implemented with transformation according to requirements of specific educational programs and components for training of future social workers. Key words: social workers training, educational and professional program, transformations of social work in Ukraine, distance education, safe environment.

ПІДГОТОВКА ВИКЛАДАЧІВ ПРОФЕСІЙНО-ХУДОЖНІХ ДИСЦИПЛІН В УКРАЇНІ: ПРОФЕСІЙНО-ПЕДАГОГІЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ

Despite military aggression from Russia, Ukraine continues actively develop professional and pedagogical training, which is an important factor in improving the quality of education and professional growth of teachers. Professional and pedagogical training plays a key role in ensuring the quality of education and professional development of teachers. It forms pedagogical competences, provides teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective work with students, including teaching methods, planning and management. Thanks to it, teachers learn the basics of pedagogical ethics and moral values, which helps to create a healthy learning atmosphere and promote the harmonious development of students’ personalities. Methodology. Professional training in higher education institutions is carried out according to various organizational forms, models, systems and programs, the main purpose of which is the formation of positive motivation and involvement in active educational and cognitive activities, which is the basis of the professional self-development of the future specialist. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to analyze modern approaches to the professional and pedagogical training of teachers of professional and artistic disciplines in Ukraine. To identify key problems and challenges in the field of training teachers of artistic disciplines. Outline the main directions and methods that ensure high-quality training of specialists in the field of art teaching. To investigate the role of pedagogical education in the formation of competences of teachers of professional and artistic disciplines. To propose ways of improving the system of training of pedagogical personnel to increase the level of teaching of artistic disciplines. Results. Thanks to professional and pedagogical training, teachers can update their knowledge about modern teaching methods, pedagogical technologies and approaches to education. Professional and pedagogical training allows for a deeper mastering of specific disciplines, which enables teachers to impart special knowledge at a high professional level. In general, professional and pedagogical training is the basis for the creation of qualified and competent teachers, which contributes to the improvement of the quality of education and the success of students in their studies. In our study, we consider the professional and pedagogical training of teachers of professional and artistic disciplines, which is aimed at the formation of pedagogical personnel who have the theory and practice of teaching fine arts in general education, specialized and higher educational institutions, as well as in the system of additional education. Key words: professional and pedagogical training, teachers of professional and artistic disciplines, institutions of higher education, competence, knowledge, skills.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ НАУКОВИХ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ ЗДОБУВАЧІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

In the conditions of the information society, the modern education system must prepare conscious citizens of their country who are able to navigate in the information field, critically interpret what they hear, draw their own conclusions and seek answers to the questions posed. That is why higher education must contribute to the development of these skills and abilities. The purpose of the article is to find out the semantic meaning of the concept of “information culture” and to determine the methodology of its formation among students of higher education during scientific activity. During the writing of the article, general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis were used. The worldview and methodological principles of democratization, innovation, and flexibility of the educational process were also observed. The article defines the main approaches to understanding the essence of the concept of “information culture”. The importance of careful selection of information sources, the need for a critical understanding of the received information, and the importance of observing these principles in the course of scientific activity are emphasized. The obtained results of the research can be taken into account when planning training sessions, especially practical work. Conclusions. Thus, the concept of information culture has different definitions and is used for different fields of knowledge. The key feature of this concept is a critical attitude to the received information and its proper verification. The modern education system pays considerable attention to the formation of information culture, introducing special courses, including media education. Observance of information hygiene by students of higher education is an integral part of their educational process, especially during scientific activities. Completing a number of practical tasks for the development of critical thinking should contribute to the formation of the information culture of higher education graduates. Key words: information culture, information society, media education, critical thinking, scientific activity.

ЄВРОПЕЇЗАЦІЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ МАЙБУТНЬОГО ФАХІВЦЯ ГОТЕЛЬНО-РЕСТОРАННОЇ СПРАВИ: МОЖЛИВОСТІ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ШТУЧНОГО ІНТЕЛЕКТУ

The purpose of the study is possibilities and prospects of using artificial intelligence for Europeanization of professional training of future specialists in hotel and restaurant business. To achieve this goal, we set several tasks: to study European standards of professional training of specialists; to evaluate current trends in application of artificial intelligence in education; to identify opportunities and challenges of AI integration into educational process of professional training of future specialists in hotel and restaurant business. During the scientific search, a complex of methods was applied: bibliographic, analysis and synthesis for the study of psychological and pedagogical literature (theoretical). A monographic method was used for logical presentation of the results. Results. Europeanization of professional training of future specialists in hotel and restaurant business of Ukraine as an important stage of adaptation of national education system to international standards has been studied. Main standards are considered through partial characterization of a number of documents. Challenges of Europeanization are characterized, namely: standards and accreditation, updating of curricula and programs, human resources, financing. Possibilities of Europeanization of professional training of future specialists in hotel and restaurant business, including improving quality of education, possibility of international internships and exchanges, increasing prestige of the profession of future specialists in the field of hotel and restaurant business and likely attraction of investments, have been allocated. Role of artificial intelligence in professional education has been investigated. Importance of AI has been proved through the implementation of a number of innovative solutions that can significantly improve educational process, namely: adaptive learning systems, virtual simulators, learning management systems. Conclusions. Main results of the study show that use of artificial intelligence has great potential for Europeanization of professional training in the field of hotel and restaurant business. Prospects for further research may include studying the impact of AI on specific aspects of educational process, developing new technologies for educational purposes, and analyzing long-term effects of AI integration on the labor market. Key words: professional training, future specialists, hotel and restaurant business, higher education institution, artificial intelligence, Europeanization.

Learning for an uncertain future: artificial intelligence a challenge for Pakistani education system in the era of digital transformation

PurposeThe rapid advancement of AI in education brings both significant challenges and opportunities. In Pakistan, where the educational system is facing numerous issues, AI integration has raised significant concerns. Therefore, this study aims to explore the challenges AI poses to the Pakistani education system in the era of digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachA focus group was conducted with 13 participants, including educators and heads of departments from universities located in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes from the data.FindingsThe study findings indicated that AI integration in education can provide personalized and adaptive learning and teaching experiences by bridging the educational divide through easy access to quality education. Participants also highlighted the anxieties related to the digital divide as a great challenge for Pakistan. The integration of AI and automation in education is also raising concerns about job displacement for educators.Originality/valueIt highlighted that the integration of AI into the educational system can also bring both challenges and opportunities. To tackle these issues, potential strategies such as professional development and training programs to develop AI literacy among educators need to be introduced.

The complexity of integrating global englishes (GE) in ELT: a case study of an English teacher’s investment and identity construction

Purpose Although there is growing critical awareness in ELT around the rise of English as a global language, studies on teachers’ investment in critical pedagogy remain limited in mainstream ELT curricula, and the impact of such investment on teachers’ identities is not clear. To address this gap, with the inclusive paradigm of Global Englishes (GE), the paper presents a case study of an English teacher’s investment in GE at a middle school in China. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interview was conducted with the participant – May, focusing on her reported practices and her understanding of her roles during the investment in GE. The interview process was guided by an interview protocol which was designed based on related literature on GE, the theoretical framework, and the research context. A content analysis method was utilized to generate descriptive categories concerning participant’s identities and investment in GE. Findings Analysis of interview data reveals that through investment in GE, May not only constructed her identity as an English teacher, but also explored identities as a student inspirer, and a peer mentor. These identities exploration and construction were primarily driven by her increased cultural and social capital, despite facing challenges such as high-stakes test policies, native-speakerism ideology, institutional requirements, and limited resources. Research limitations/implications Future research incorporating triangulating data such as interviews, and classroom observations, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of English teachers’ identities, and investment in GE. Besides, the findings of this study are primarily from one teacher, they may not fully represent the broader population of English teachers in China. Practical implications The findings have several implications for English teaching and teacher education. First, elementary schools, the lower grades of middle schools (grades 7 and 8), or the after-school programs may have opportunities for teachers to integrate GE in teaching. Second, teacher education programs should be designed to provide more chances that enable student teachers to invest in their learning and teaching of GE. Third, proposals for incorporating GE practices in the classroom must adopt a critical perspective, so as to to expose, deconstruct, and reconstruct power dynamics that influence teachers’ investment in GE. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its exploration of English teachers’ investment of GE in their teaching, and the impact of this investment on their identities as English teachers. By investigating these aspects, the study addresses the research gaps in English teachers’ practice of integration of GE in mainstream ELT curricula and provides insights on how to encourage English teachers to incorporate a GE-aware perspective in their teaching.

Global citizenship, global access, and world-class education: constructing institutional narratives at the Sino-British universities

Purpose This study aims to contribute to understandings of how international universities in China construct institutional narratives to attract Chinese students by leveraging themes of global citizenship and international mobility. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative analysis of web and other university materials, and mixed-method analysis of social media (WeChat) to identify and quantify recurring themes in the universities’ student-facing presentation. Findings Despite differing operational models, both universities emphasize Western education’s prestige and global citizenship, primarily appealing to affluent families and positioning themselves as pathways to international postgraduate study. Originality/value The research provides new insights into the student recruitment strategies of international universities in China, contributing to the broader understanding of higher education internationalization in non-Western contexts.

Stakeholders’ perspectives on competency-based education program in Africa: A qualitative study

Background: Competency-based education (CBE) is adopted to reform health professionals’ education. The goal is to produce graduates who are not only competent in their fields but also equipped with the necessary social accountability skills for safe practice.Aim: The study aimed to explore nursing education stakeholders’ perspectives on competency-based primary healthcare (PHC)-oriented nursing education programmes in the South African context.Setting: The setting for this study was a higher education institution in South Africa.Methods: A descriptive qualitative method was used in this study. After taking ethical clearance from the university ethics committee, data were purposively collected and theoretically sampled from 40 participants through focus group discussion, individual interviews and document analysis.Results: The data findings reported categories that emerged from this study, which include the attributes of a competency-based PHC-oriented programme and the outcomes of a competency-based PHC-oriented programme.Conclusion: In the context of this study, the concept of CBE was portrayed as a programme with strong social accountability that aims at addressing priority health needs surrounding communities and ensuring that the health needs of the community are met while providing health delivery service to communities in their natural environment.Contribution: These findings add to the growing evidence base around CBE as an approach to strengthen PHC-oriented health services in low- and middle-income countries, a key aspect of which is providing service within communities. This enables the accessibility of quality healthcare closer to where people live and work to achieve Sustainable Development Goal number three.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ДЕРЖАВНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ ТА ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНО-ПЕДАГОГІЧНИХ УМОВ У СИСТЕМІ ПІДГОТОВКИ ФАХІВЦІВ ДО ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ І ПІДВИЩЕННЯ КВАЛІФІКАЦІЇ

The article considers approaches to determining the organisational and pedagogical conditions, features of state administration that affect the training of specialists on the example of the field of finance, their competencies in accordance with the higher education standard, the requirements for a competitive specialist, as well as existing trends in foreign and domestic practice in terms of professional training, etc. Based on the hypothesis that European integration processes affect the renewal of forms, methods and means of professional and pedagogical activity in Ukraine, and post-war recovery will require rapid training of specialists, the wider use of dual education, addressing the issue of institutional support for the introduction of a system of micro-qualifications and updating educational programmes are proposed. The author emphasises the need to follow a certain algorithm of actions and procedures based on the theory of constructive alignment in the preparation of dual educational programmes, specialised and short-term courses. The author substantiates the sequence of steps in the implementation of dual education programmes in the field of finance: development of a curriculum with a balance of time for theory and practical skills; selection of employers and vacancies; establishment of cooperation between mentors and teachers; formation of a schedule; explanation of requirements to students, criteria for evaluating their work. The necessity of including micro-qualifications in the National Qualifications System is proved. The importance of increasing the institutional capacity of universities, creating a mechanism of endowment funds and grants for students, changing the management system and granting real financial autonomy to universities, integrating them into the European educational and scientific space is emphasised. Keywords: state administration, training of specialists, organizational and pedagogical conditions, competences, sphere of finance, dual education, micro-qualifications.

Impact of a Physical Exercise and Health Education Program on Metabolic Syndrome and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Women Undergoing Adjuvant Treatment with Aromatase Inhibitors

Background and Objectives: Adjuvant treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in breast cancer (BC) survivors can cause adverse effects such as metabolic syndrome (MS) (insulin resistance, central obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and hypertension) associated with morbidity and premature mortality. We evaluate the effect of a multimodal program based on physical exercise and health education on MS and health-related quality of life (QoL) in postmenopausal women with BC under AIs. Methods: A total of 56 postmenopausal women, diagnosed with BC, aged 60 years or older (mean age 67.2 years) and on hormonal treatment with AIs, were included in the multimodal physical exercise and health education program, and evaluated before and after their participation. The assessment of the five criteria of the MS included the following: waist circumference, high blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Two main instruments were used to evaluate the impact of the intervention on QoL: the EORTC QLQ C30 (questionnaire for cancers in general) and the EORTC QLQ BR23 (specifically for breast cancer patients). The EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) was also used to compare these results. Results: The percentage of women meeting the MS criteria was 37.7% at baseline and fell to 15.1% at 3 months after the intervention (p = 0.02). The intervention significantly reduced hypertension (p < 0.001), central obesity (p < 0.001), and the concentration of triglycerides (p = 0.016). No significant changes were observed in fasting glucose and HDL concentration. A statistically significant improvement was found in QoL (on both the QLQ30 and BR23 scales). A multivariate regression model analysis identified marital status (being married) (95% CI: 1.728–131.615, p = 0.014), and percentage of attendance at health education sessions (95% CI: 1.010–1.211, p = 0.029) as positive predictive variables of improvement in MS. Conclusions: The implementation of multimodal, community-based programs of physical exercise and health education improve the prevalence of MS and specific criteria of MS and QoL in postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving AI treatment.

Дуальное обучение как условие формирования экологической компетентности студентов в системе среднего профессионального образования

The system of secondary vocational training in Russia is undergoing significant changes regarding the quality of training of competent specialists who are able not only to carry out professional activities in modern socio-economic conditions, but also to successfully compete in those sectors of the national economy where they will work after graduation. As noted in the state program of the Russian Federation “Development of Education” until 2030, special attention is paid to the development of dual education and environmental education of students. In this regard, since 2014, dual (practice-oriented) training has been successfully implemented in secondary vocational education institutions in the country, within which students acquire basic theoretical knowledge in college classes and acquire practical skills at the enterprise. The purpose of the article is to study ways of developing students’ environmental competence in the system of secondary vocational education. Materials and research methods include an analytical review of scientific research related to the formation of environmental competence in dual learning conditions. The results of the study and their discussion are determined by the choice of approaches, technologies, methods, techniques and forms of work to develop students’ environmental competence. In conclusion, the results of the study are summarized.

Prevalence and influencing factors with knowledge, attitude, and practice toward anemia among school-going adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh

Background Anemia is a major public health concern; however, research on anemia and its contributing variables is scarce. To address the gap, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of anemia in school-aged adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in two secondary schools at Chandpur, Bangladesh, from January to April 2022. We randomly selected 422 adolescent girls based on prevalence rates from existing research to ensure reliable estimates and a robust study representation. We performed interviews with a semi-structured questionnaire after receiving ethical permission and written informed consent. In addition, physical examination and anthropometric measurements were done, followed by blood testing to identify anemia. Blood hemoglobin was measured using a spectrophotometric method, and quality control was ensured by validated results with control samples. Univariate with multiple logistic regression was employed for analysis to find the association between anemia and all other variables that were adjusted to control the potential effect of confounding variables. Results The overall prevalence of anemia was 37.7% (mild- 33.8% and moderate- 3.9%). In the univariate analysis having a working mother (OR 3.84; 95% CI 1.31–11.26), undernutrition (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.27–4.52), and irregular lunch consumption (OR 2.15; 95% CI 1.00–4.60) were associated with anemia. Conversely, being a user of a slab latrine (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.40–0.93) and not weekly consumption of pure milk (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41–0.92) were negatively associated with anemia. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, associated factors for prevalent anemia were working mother [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.65; 95% CI 1.97–29.50], slab latrine user (aOR 0.46; 95% CI 0.26–0.79), and irregular lunch consumption (aOR 2.92; 95% CI 1.21–7.03). Conclusion The prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh remains high with undernutrition. Anemia is associated with working mothers, slab latrine users, and irregular lunch consumers within the studied population.’ Thus, policymakers may promote school-based nutritional education and lunch programs with iron supplementation and improve sanitary facilities.

Технология проектирования модуля «профориентация» рабочей программы воспитания общеобразовательной организации

The article is devoted to the problem of designing the module «Career guidance» of the work program of education of an educational organization. Methodological tips and recommendations for the development of the module under consideration on the basis of the federal work program of education are presented.

Stigmatization and perceptions of Venezuelan migrants in Peru in the context of Venezuela’s political and economic crisis

This study analyzes the social and individual stigmatization toward Venezuelan immigrants in Peru within the context of the largest migratory movement in Latin America, driven by the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The study employs a qualitative approach, using semi-structured in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of 24 participants from major Peruvian cities, including Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and Trujillo. These in-depth interviews provide insights into the complexity of perceptions toward Venezuelan migrants, ranging from stigmatizing views driven by associations with economic threats and criminality to more positive perceptions that acknowledge the migrants’ adaptability and economic contributions. The findings reveal that while negative stereotypes perpetuate social exclusion and pressures for cultural assimilation threaten the preservation of migrant identities, there are also narratives highlighting resilience and successful integration. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing intercultural education programs, promoting labor integration policies, and collaborating with the media to combat stigma. It concludes that addressing these challenges through a multidimensional, human-rights-based approach can foster greater social cohesion and better integration of migrants, benefiting both the migrant population and Peruvian society.

Are They Ready to Teach? Generative AI as a Means to Uncover Pre-Service Science Teachers’ PCK and Enhance Their Preparation Program

AbstractIntegrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in pre-service teachers’ education programs offers a transformative opportunity to enhance the pedagogical development of future science educators. This conceptual paper suggests applying the GenAI tool to evaluate pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) among pre-service science teachers. By holding interactive dialogues with GenAI, pre-service teachers engage in lesson planning in a way that reveals their understanding of content, pedagogy, and PCK while facilitating the practical application of theoretical knowledge. Interpretation of these interactions provides insights into teachers-to-be knowledge and skills, enabling personalized learning experiences and targeted program adjustments. The paper underscores the need to equip pre-service teachers with the necessary competencies to utilize GenAI effectively in their future teaching practices. It contributes to the ongoing discourse on technology’s role in teacher preparation programs, highlighting the potential of addressing existing challenges in evaluating and developing teacher knowledge via GenAI. The suggested future research directions aim to further investigate the GenAI usage implications in educational contexts.