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Recently, electronic books (e-books) have become prevalent amongst the general population, as well as students, owing to their advantages over traditional books. In South Africa, a number of schools have integrated tablets into the classroom with the promise of replacing traditional books. In order to realise the potential of e-books and their associated devices within an academic context, where reading speed and comprehension are critical for academic performance and personal growth, the effectiveness of reading from a tablet screen should be evaluated. To achieve this objective, a quasi-experimental within subjects design was employed in order to compare the reading speed and comprehension performance of 68 students. The results of this study indicate the majority of participants read faster on an iPad, which is in contrast to previous studies that have found reading from tablets to be slower. It was also found that comprehension scores did not differ significantly between the two media. For students, these results provide evidence that tablets and e-books are suitable tools for reading and learning, and therefore, can be used for academic work. For educators, e-books can be introduced without concern that reading performance and comprehension will be hindered.

Objective: This study examined the sexual health knowledge of female undergraduate college students before and following a peer to peer, sexual health education intervention. Participants: Sixty-nine students participated in the study. Methods: Undergraduate female students from a central Florida private college completed paper-pencil questionnaires before and after a series of four peer-to-peer sexual health poster sessions. Results: Findings showed female undergraduate students had sexual health knowledge deficits prior to the intervention. Also, participant knowledge significantly increased pre- to post-test (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results bring to light the continued sexual health knowledge deficits of undergraduate college students. Furthermore, the benefits of a peer-to-peer education programs on college campuses have the potential to increase undergraduate student's sexual health knowledge. Such programs may help students develop and maintain positive sexual health, including sexual self-efficacy, positive body image, and mutually respectful relationship development.

Purpose/Objectives: This study investigated the use of electronic and paper-based point-of-service (POS) systems in school nutrition programs (SNPs), including associated challenges and the desired skills and existing training practices for personnel handling such systems. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on interviews with 25 SNP management staff, pilot-tested, and revised. The link to the online questionnaire was emailed to 1,500 SNP directors in 14 states. An additional 500 paper-based questionnaires were mailed to SNP directors in small districts or private/charter schools. Descriptive statistics were summarized using SPSS software. Results: There were 319 respondents, and 272 used an electronic system only; 22 of them used a paperbased system only; 21 used a combination of electronic and paper-based POS systems; and 4 contained missing data. Technical support from vendors (n = 221) was the most important factor for electronic POS system selection. The ability to customize reports (n = 35, 10.0%) and interface with district student data management systems (n = 21, 6.6%) were indicated as the main challenges. Small school or district size (n = 29, 9.1%) was the main reason for using a paper-based POS system. Concerns for paper-based system users pertained to accuracy of reimbursable meal counts (n = 28, 8.8%) and time lag in data processing (n = 27, 8.5%). Good customer service (n = 183, 57.4%) and computer literacy (n = 160, 50.2%) were desirable skills for POS handlers. Multiple individuals such as district directors and POS system vendors were involved in providing POS training which varied in frequency, format, and length between small and large districts. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals: Electronic POS systems were more prevalent than paper-based systems in SNPs, but challenges existed for both types of systems. School nutrition management staff should consider price, compatibility, functionality, and technical support prior to purchasing a POS system. For SNPs where paper-based POS systems are used, best practices in data management may need to be developed and communicated with directors to improve accuracy of reports. POS training by qualified individuals should be provided regularly to ensure accuracy of transactions and reporting.

The purpose of this study was to explore connections among perceived caring climate, empathy, and student social behaviors in high school bands. Nine high school band directors (N = 9 schools), along with their students (N = 203), completed an electronic questionnaire for variables of caring climate, cognitive empathy, affective empathy, social behaviors, and victimization. A multiple linear regression was performed and results showed that cognitive empathy predicted positive social behavior. Results from T-test and ANOVA found that students had higher perceptions of caring climate when (a) teachers remained at the school for more than five years, (b) bands had smaller enrollments, (c) schools were Title One schools, and (d) when students did not hold leadership positions in band. [This paper was presented at the 9th International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education (2015).]

This paper presents the results of a pilot study investigating the use of the Realizeit adaptive learning platform to deliver a fully online General Psychology course across two semesters. Through mutual cooperation, UCF and vendor (CCKF) researchers examined students' affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to the system. Student survey results indicated that students found the system easy to use and were generally positive about their seamless transition to adaptive learning. While the majority of students were successful, learning outcome metrics utilizing Realizeit indices indicated a potential for early prediction of students who are likely to be at risk in this environment. Recommendations are presented for the benefits of cooperative research between users and vendors.

Questionnaires routinely measure unipolar and bipolar constructs using rating scales. Such rating scales can offer odd numbers of points, meaning that they have explicit middle alternatives, or they can offer even numbers of points, omitting the middle alternative. By examining four types of questions in six national or regional telephone surveys, this paper found that omitting the middle alternative and forcing respondents to pick a side compromised data quality, for questions presenting two conditions with middle option 'about equally,' and for quasi-bipolar questions with middle option 'fair.' In addition, omitting the middle alternative never helped improve data quality for a variety of unipolar questions. Lastly, there is a marginally significant improvement in terms of data quality for bipolar questions with middle option 'neither good nor bad' when offering a follow-up asking whether they lean one way or the other or whether they are genuinely in the middle.

The present paper explores the transformative learning of five pre-service teachers participating in a two-week study abroad program to Reggio Emilia, Italy. The study was conducted in order to understand how a study abroad program could contribute to pre-service teachers' content knowledge, teaching practices, and global competence. Through a phenomenological research design, participants' lived experiences and the meanings they made of those experiences during study abroad were collected, analyzed, and coded. Conclusions, discussions, and recommendations for further research are also included.

This paper reports findings of a pilot study examining the feasibility of a research design to investigate how achievement goals relate to the construct of math anxiety. In addition, we also consider how other important achievement-related behaviors, like self-efficacy, help-seeking, and self-regulation, might also relate to students' math anxiety. While math anxiety still remains a real issue affecting student performance and confidence, today it is more critical in our society with the greater emphasis on producing more students for careers in fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The total multiple regression model predicted a significant amount (43%) of the variation in math anxiety of participants.

Recent research conducted on adults in the United States indicates low ocean literacy (Ocean Project, 2009b, 1999), but there is a dearth of peer-reviewed research on K-12 students' ocean literacy. This paper presents two research studies that examined the ocean and environmental literacy of 464 K-12 students in five states. Like the majority of American adults, most of the student participants in these studies had low initial levels of ocean literacy. Both of these studies, while conducted with different populations of students, suggest that engagement in an ocean literacy-focused program may lead to higher ocean literacy and increased responsible environmental behaviors that help the ocean. The encouraging results of these studies, and their implications, are discussed in relation to the ocean literacy and environmental education communities and the critical need for further large scale and longitudinal empirical studies to support increased significance of ocean literacy in the United States.

The purpose of this paper is to begin an exploration into high-skills lifelong learning in the field of business and management, referred to as executive and professional education (EPE). Several additional undertakings were necessary, including: discovering methods of valuing knowledge to a region, state or country, and establishing why participants in EPE programs enroll in them. To support this inquiry two research questions were developed, as follows: 1. What are the components of relevant EPE? 2. What motivates participants to take part in EPE? An exploratory case study was written exploring the intricacies of developing a successful EPE department. This exploratory case study served as a basis for developing a survey, administered to participants in EPE to determine reasons for their participation. This final survey was conducted in the classroom. The researchers believe that the findings and conclusions will be of value to practitioners involved in EPE, as well as to academics studying this area of business education. This research exercise has assisted the researchers in being more effective in managing and developing EPE within their own university. As professions and skills are made obsolete in the knowledge economy the need for continued high level lifelong learning becomes increasing important to the sustainability and viability of local, regional, state and national economies.

This paper examines the contribution of focus groups in evaluating learner satisfaction with a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It explores the views of a group of introductory level Post Compulsory Education learners that have a history of disaffection, impoverished learning and challenged written and communication skills. The outcome of this study will be used to inform future VLE material design for inclusion in a School policy document. Additionally, the findings will contribute to the development of both a broader range of discrete ICT programs delivered by a VLE and embedded ICT within a range of vocational qualifications across the Post Compulsory Education Vocational Curriculum.

This paper reports on a study to determine if existing technology is adequate for the delivery of quality distance education. The survey sample was 392 respondents from a non-traditional graduate level. The study included 15 descriptive questions on course assessment and satisfaction. The three hypotheses used Chi-square to find relationships between interactivity and three other variables: progress, communication mode, and the desire to take another course. Responses showed that taking a distance education course was worthwhile. Findings, recommendations and conclusion are included.

Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) commit to providing evidence-based, low-risk, coordinated care centered on what matters most to older adults, their families, and caregivers. Nova Southeastern University's South Florida Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (NSU SFGWEP) has partnered with primary care clinics to provide AFHS training and support to promote AFHS transformation in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. NSU SFGWEP provides face-to-face and virtual training for AFHS and Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation as part of the initiative. This project focuses on a group of primary care clinics in Broward County, Florida. In this paper, we evaluate the progress of AFHS transformation through six e-clinical measures that collectively provide indicators of the 4 M framework of AFHS (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility). We used provider feedback and e-clinical measures aligned with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to measure clinic outcomes. From Jan 1– Dec 31, 2019, to Jan 1–Dec 31, 2020, the clinics improved high-risk medication management (0–3.71%), advanced care planning (6.79%–20.74%), and fall risk assessment (no data- 46.72%). Results demonstrate some success and ongoing opportunities to continue and expand AFHS interventions for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factor structure and the measurement invariance of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) across gender of K-12 school principals (n=6,317) in the USA. Design/methodology/approach: Nine first-order factor models and four second-order factor models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: The results suggested that the nine-factor model provided the best fit for the data. Further examination revealed that most constructs lacked convergent validity and discriminant validity. Second-order factor models were tested and the hierarchical model with two higher order factors (i.e. transformational and transactional leadership) was deemed the best fit and it was then tested for measurement invariance between females and males. The measurement model was found to be invariant across gender. Findings suggested that female school principals demonstrated significantly greater transformational leadership behaviour, while male school principals demonstrated significantly greater transactional leadership behaviour. Originality/value: This study addressed construct and factor issues previously associated with the MLQ in the measurement of transformational and transactional leadership among a variety of organizations. By using a sample of K-12 school principals across gender, this study has provided support that may ameliorate contextual doubts of transformational leadership behaviour when examining the relational aspects needed to improve schools.

Purpose Although tablet computers offer advantages in data collection over traditional paper-and-pencil methods, little research has examined whether the 2 formats yield similar responses, especially with underserved populations. We compared the 2 survey formats and tested whether participants' responses to common health questionnaires or perceptions of usability differed by survey format. We also tested whether we could replicate established paper-and-pencil findings via tablet computer. Methods We recruited a sample of low-income community members living in the rural southern United States. Participants were 170 residents (black = 49%; white = 36%; other races and missing data = 15%) drawn from 2 counties meeting Florida's state statutory definition of rural with 100 persons or fewer per square mile. We randomly assigned participants to complete scales (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Inventory and Regulatory Focus Questionnaire) along with survey format usability ratings via paper-and-pencil or tablet computer. All participants rated a series of previously validated posters using a tablet computer. Finally, participants completed comparisons of the survey formats and reported survey format preferences. Findings Participants preferred using the tablet computer and showed no significant differences between formats in mean responses, scale reliabilities, or in participants' usability ratings. Conclusions Overall, participants reported similar scales responses and usability ratings between formats. However, participants reported both preferring and enjoying responding via tablet computer more. Collectively, these findings are among the first data to show that tablet computers represent a suitable substitute among an underrepresented rural sample for paper-and-pencil methodology in survey research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Time demands faced by school principals make principals' work increasingly difficult. Research outside education suggests that effective time management skills may help principals meet job demands, reduce job stress, and improve their performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate these hypotheses. Design/methodology/approach: The authors administered a time management inventory to nearly 300 principals in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in the USA. The authors analyzed scores on the inventory descriptively and used them to predict time-use data collected via in-person observations, a survey-based measure of job stress, and measures of perceived job effectiveness obtained from assistant principals and teachers in the school. Findings: Principals with better time management skills allocate more time in classrooms and to managing instruction in their schools but spend less time on interpersonal relationship-building. Perhaps as a result of this tradeoff, the authors find that associations between principal time management skills and subjective assessments of principal performance are mixed. The authors find strong evidence, however, that time management skills are associated with lower principal job stress. Practical implications: Findings suggest that building principals' time management capacities may be a worthwhile strategy for increasing time on high-priority tasks and reducing stress. Originality/value: This study is the first to empirically examine time management among school principals and link time management to key principal outcomes using large-scale data.

Comprehensive childhood obesity prevention (COP) strategies should include increasing school nurse involvement. This study was conducted to determine the influence of key school nurse perceptions (self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers) on participation in COP practices at the individual child and school level. Florida registered nurse (RN) school nurses (n = 171) anonymously completed online or paper questionnaires. Linear regression analyses identified a model of self-efficacy with perceived benefits and barriers that explained 12% and 9.1% (p < 0.001) of variance in child-level and school-level COP practices, respectively. Self-efficacy explained the most variance in both models (p < 0.001). Mediation testing identified perceived barriers as a partial mediator of the influence of self-efficacy on child-level practices. These findings support interventions and policy changes to increase self-efficacy and reduce perceived barriers to promote school nurse involvement in preventing childhood obesity.

Understanding the effects of a service-learning component on the classroom culture, socially and academically, brings a novel perspective to designing, executing, and assessing these types of active-learning projects. This paper evaluates the success of a service-learning project from a perspective of social networks by investigating the question: How does a service-learning project affect friendship and academic collaborations in the classroom? We believe that the benefits of service-learning involvement extend beyond helping students' academic success. Especially in a first-year seminar course, building a support system for the incoming student in order to ease the translation to a college setting is beneficial to students and to colleges. Here we use social network analysis tools to analyze relational data where relations are described as friendships or academic collaborations among classmates. Our results show that a group-based service learning project in an introductory level Statistics course has different effects on the evolution of friendship and academic collaboration networks among classmates.

Educational change, such as technology integration, involves risk. Teachers are encouraged to "take risks", but what risks they are asked to take and how do they perceive these risks? Developing an understanding of teachers' technology-related risk perceptions can help explain their choices and behaviours. This paper presents a way to understand the complex weighing of teaching and technology values when teachers' choose, or choose not to, integrate technology in their teaching, through an investigation of technology-related risk perceptions. Findings suggest that teachers, regardless of personal and professional technology use, perceive the same risks when considering technology integration in the classroom; but there was considerable variance in the acceptability of these risks. Acceptability was strongly related to teachers' affect for technology and value of technology in teaching. The study employs the semantic image of "cost-benefit" as framework to identify and discuss teachers' rationales supporting their choice to integrate technology in their teaching. (Contains 3 notes and 1 table.)

The purpose of this research was to discover materials and methods used and examine influences on how and why sight-singing is taught in Florida middle-school choral programs. Members of the Florida Vocal Association completed an online or paper version of a questionnaire (N = 152). Data yielded several results that support previous research and provide an in-depth look at respondents' instructional practices and techniques. Additional research must be conducted to make more specific conclusions about the teaching of sight-singing in the middle grades. (Contains 3 tables.)

More and more colleges and universities seek to extend their reach by offering individual courses and complete degree programs online. Planners of such initiatives will find it useful to examine the different challenges and approaches already in use on various campuses, as in the mentoring program at Florida State University (FSU). The critical issue FSU faced was scalability of its curriculum to an online constituency. The university planned to offer existing degree programs through online delivery with the expectation that demand would be high for these programs. The concern was how best to support faculty faced with students in greater numbers. At the same time, FSU needed to provide additional instructional support to the students who would not have face-to-face interaction with faculty or with other students. The importance of providing this support to students was borne out in Alley's research, which stressed the criticality of instructors and mentors to student success in the online learning environment. This paper describes the importance of interaction which is necessary for both the teacher and the student. In this article, the author provides an overview of Florida State University's online undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as its mentor personnel management system, selection process for online mentors, and the training and evaluation of its mentors. (Contains 1 table, 1 figure and 21 endnotes.)

Objectives: We investigated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) opinions, experiences, and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy at two prenatal clinics in early 2021 and early 2022. Materials and Methods: Paper questionnaires were distributed to pregnant women at prenatal care facilities in Virginia and Florida between January and April 2021 and January and April 2022. Questions regarding acceptance and opinions of the influenza vaccine served as a baseline to assess COVID-19 vaccine opinions. Associations between demographic parameters and vaccine opinions and acceptance were examined using Chi-square. A COVID-19 concern score was constructed by principal component analysis with differences between groups assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: Many participants (40.6%) reported that the COVID pandemic had affected their pregnancy. Main themes were problems with social networks, increased stress/anxiety, and being more cautious. In 2021, 19.5% reported they would accept a COVID-19 vaccination during their pregnancy, which increased to 45.8% in 2022. Vaccine hesitancy did not vary by race or between sites, but educational attainment was significant (p < 0.001). Women with a higher concern score were more likely to report they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Women who would accept COVID vaccination had a positive opinion regarding the influenza vaccine. Main themes for refusing COVID-19 vaccination were concerns about side effects, lack of research/data, and mistrust of vaccines. Conclusions: The proportion of women willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination increased but remained below 50%. Willingness to accept vaccination during pregnancy was associated with higher education, higher concern about COVID-19, and a positive opinion of the influenza vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinos are more likely to delay HIV testing, present to care with an AIDS defining illness, and die within one year of learning their HIV-positive status than non-Latino blacks and whites. For this paper, we explore the role of partner-relationship characteristics and health behaviors, in predicting HIV testing among Latina adult women who engaged in risky sexual behaviors (i.e., unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex). Data from a convenience sample of 168 Latina adult women who engaged in risky sexual behavior in the year prior to assessment were analyzed for this paper. Rates and predictors of HIV testing among this sample were assessed after a five-year follow-up. Descriptive and analytical estimates include incidence rates and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) from multilevel models. At five-year follow-up, 63.7% (n = 107) women reported having been tested for HIV, of whom 12.2% (n = 13) were women who never tested before. Main reasons for not having been tested at follow-up included: low risk perception (62.1%) and trusting their partner(s)/being in a monogamous relationship/knowing their partner's HIV status (17.2%). Predictors of HIV testing included: age (AOR: 0.96; 95% CI = 0.92–0.99), provider endorsement of HIV testing (AOR: 4.59; 95% CI = 1.77–11.95), poor quality of their romantic relationships (AOR: 1.12; 95% CI = 1.03–1.26), and knowing the HIV sero-status of sexual partner (AOR: 3.61; 95% CI = 1.46–8.95). This study characterizes a group of Latina women at high risk for HIV infection and their HIV testing behaviors. Our findings underscore the need of increasing access to quality health-care services and HIV behavioral interventions, and to strengthen the adherence to HIV/sexually transmitted disease testing recommendations and guidelines among local health-care providers serving the Latino community in South Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]