https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jger/vol8/iss1/1/ | Author : Katherine Curry, Jentre Olsen, Ed Harris, Candy Armstrong, Dian Danderson | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Educators in Belize are charged with ensuring that all Belizeans are given an opportunity to acquire a quality education that promotes personal development and productive citizenship. Consequently, Belizean law now requires all children from ages five through fourteen to attend at least eight years of primary school. Students with special needs have historically not received accommodations in the education system, so many teachers struggle with meeting the needs of students with learning disabilities in these inclusive settings. This qualitative case study explored teaching strategies and contextual factors in inclusive primary classrooms in Belize and was conducted in the form of Community Engaged Research in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture (MOE). Findings suggest consistent approaches for differentiating instruction, teacher passion for teaching and commitment to meeting student needs, a need for additional resources and training, and a disconnect between families and schools. Interpretation of these findings through Hornby’s (2015) theory of inclusive education suggests that Belize is primarily following inclusivity as students with disabilities are integrated into the mainstream educational system. However, while some principles and practices of inclusion are followed, other features are absent. Adding a special education component could enhance student learning as individualization and standardization of instruction, expectations, and assessment could occur between teachers, across grade levels, and in communication with families. A special education component with associated teacher training could support teacher desire for additional resources and meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population of students. |
| Initial findings on student progress and satisfaction in a new model of hyperflexible online delivery for university students | Author : Colin Beer, Kate Ames, Damien Clark, Noal Atkinson, Peter Hosie | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :University degrees are usually delivered in defined sessions —by term, semester, or in week-based blocks— whereby students are required to complete their studies by the due date. Term or session-based schedules that require students to complete the study within set timeframes are, however, potentially restrictive. Temporal challenges associated with work and life can impede progress and add to the specific problem of student attrition in online learning. As universities seek to deliver innovative options for their students, increased attention is being paid to alternate models of delivery. This paper reports on the development of a hyperflexible online Master of Business Administration (MBA) course by a regional university in Australia, which has grown to more than 1,000 students since its launch in 2017. Delivered entirely online, the degree was specifically designed to address an inequity; MBA programs are traditionally expensive, and in Australia, the requirement for students to travel to attend residential schools and examinations adds significant cost to already expensive tuition fees. This paper analyzed enrollment data, course analytics over a two-year period, and student surveys conducted at the end of the second year of delivery (n = 98) to evaluate the development and implementation of the course as a hyperflexible course whereby students have almost complete control over their study at the postgraduate tertiary level. Results highlight the potential for the model to enable student success through flexibility. |
| Nurturing a global ecojustice consciousness among preservice teachers through critical place-based learning | Author : Greer C. Burroughs, Marissa E. Bellino | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Global environmental challenges brought on by over-consumption, limited resources, and climate change will task teacher education programs to prepare teacher candidates with new paradigms in problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. Skills such as collaborating across cultures and borders, thinking critically and creatively, reflecting on deeply embedded assumptions, and negotiating uncertainty will all be needed to surmount these challenges. EcoJustice education addresses these needs. When combined with critical place-based pedagogies, skills, and attitudes associated with global citizenship may also develop. Four preservice teachers participated in a research trip to Lesvos, Greece, to learn about and aid in the refugee crisis there. Participants documented their experiences via critical reflections and dialogues and analyzed these data. Findings suggest that through engagement in a critical place-based learning experience, preservice teachers challenged conceptions of their role as Americans and shifted towards a more global, EcoJustice consciousness. |
| What hospitality and tourism higher educators learned from COVID-19: A case of Turkiye | Author : Ayse Collins, Ayse Selin Dulger, Muharrem Tuna, Muzaffer Uysal | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Among all the sectors, the hospitality and tourism sector has been detrimentally affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aimed to determine how changes have been experienced specifically in the Turkish tourism higher education and tourism sector. Twenty-seven academics from the hospitality and tourism education departments were interviewed. Most agreed that restrictions have limited student access to hands-on practical courses and internships, which are crucial to developing necessary competencies. Moreover, the results showed the curriculum does not always meet the needs of the hospitality industry for a trained and skilled workforce. The challenge is to decide what else should be taught and what methods and teaching approaches should be used. As a result, industry-academia cooperation is necessary to reassess the curriculum programs to meet sector needs considering the pandemic impacts. |
| Determining students’ personality traits according to parental perspectives: A scale development study | Author : Cengiz Aglar, Tuncay Dilci | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The educational community recognizes individual differences, but it is important to fully address them in educational settings. While there are existing studies on personality traits, none focus on the personality traits of students aged 6-18. This study aims to fill this gap, as personality traits significantly influence personal, academic, and professional life. Understanding student personalities allows for the development of more effective educational programs, facilitating their full potential. The study included parents of 2,229 students from a population of 16,505,271 aged 6-18 in Turkiye. Through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a reliable 61-item 5-point Likert scale (a = .942) was derived. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on a second dataset of 916 parents, resulting in 794 due to outliers. The Scale for Determining Student Personalities According to Parental Perspectives, with 16 sub-dimensions and 46 items, demonstrated good reliability (a = .948). The study’s findings are expected to hold significant implications for education, parenting, and child development. |
| Pre-service teachers evaluate mentors and teaching practice schools using metaphors | Author : Suzan Canli; Hasan Demirtas | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The present study aimed to analyze the views of pre-service teachers, expressed through metaphors, about the adequacy of mentors and teaching practice schools and their recommendations for effective mentoring. A phenomenological design was adopted, and participants included 105 mentees. The current mentors and teaching practice schools had attributes that were not adequate for active mentoring. The mentor should be selected based on criteria such as professional competence, ability to perform mentoring roles, and positive interpersonal relationships. The teaching practice schools should be selected based on human relations, educational activities, the quality of education and instruction, and the physical conditions of the school. |
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