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The main objective of this study was the design and validation of a mobile learning environment (ML) based on Augmented Reality (AR) visualization with the purpose of developing skilled trades in the field of carpentry in indigenous populations. A pedagogical model focused on lifelong learning was used, in order to promote the acquisition of skilled trades and knowledge in carpentry. The implementation of the ML environment was carried out in the Wayuu community, characterized by its high rate of poverty and limited access to education. During face-to-face meetings, three indigenous people participated in a learning process in which they were instructed on the use of trade tools and became familiar with the different types of trees and wood. To support this process, the AR was used together with the M-L environment. Subsequently, the participants built a chair applying the knowledge acquired during the learning process. During this stage, recordings of the indigenous people were made while they carried out the construction. Then, the performance of the apprentices was evaluated through a competency-based evaluation system, in which three experts analyzed the recordings. Finally, the three indigenous people were able to acquire skills in real time through their mobile device, following the instructions and observing 3D images and videos that showed the entire manufacturing process of a wooden chair, from sanding the material to final assembly and polishing. In addition, it was found that these indigenous people were able to successfully market the products they made in the carpentry workshop, thus improving their family income. The fundamental idea behind the pedagogical implementation of this model in the Wayuu indigenous community of northern Colombia is to provide them with training in various trades that allow them to obtain decent jobs and support their families. That is why the ML environment is ideal for vulnerable people, not only indigenous people, but also for those who are displaced, the elderly or deaf-mute. The visual approach used in this method dispenses with the need for voice and text making it accessible to everyone. [Note: The publication year shown on the PDF in the article citation, on page 1 (2023) is incorrect. The correct publication year is 2024.]

By paying attention to what Peruvian and Bolivian students in schools say about how they are seen and treated by their native-born peers, this article aims to analyze the ways in which symbolic boundaries are produced, eventually giving way to social boundaries between natives and migrants. The methodology is based on in-depth interviews with students, parents, and educators of rural and urban schools in the region of Arica y Parinacota, the northernmost region of Chile, by the borders with Peru and Bolivia. We conclude that the production of symbolic boundaries among students emerges as discourses about nationality, skin color, ethnicity, and history. Peruvian and Bolivian migrant students describe being teased by their native-born peers because of their country of origin, for being darker-skinned, for being Aymara, and for having lost the War of the Pacific (and, in the case of Bolivians, for having lost access to the coastline). Some migrant students perceive these discourses as discrimination and consider them harmful; however, many others accept them as normal school stuff -- as long as there is no physical violence. Moreover, teachers and parents do not see these interactions as problematic. The article concludes that the normalization of stigmatizing and discriminatory dynamics against migrant students complicates their inclusion in Chilean schools.

Physical education is often viewed as a public health tool that can be used to increase the amount of physical activity young people engage in. However, not only should the amount of physical activity at school and in physical education lessons be increased, but students should also acquire the knowledge, skills, motivation and responsibility that enable them to stay active outside of school and for the rest of their lives, that is, to develop their physical literacy. The purpose of this article is to provide physical education teachers with useful guidelines for the implementation of the Health-Based Physical Education model as a way to contribute to the physical literacy of middle school students. Furthermore, a series of strategies is provided to promote students' commitment, motivation and participation when implementing the model.

The instruction of metacognitive strategies in listening has been increasingly implemented in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. However, there is yet a growing need to carry out this strategy instruction within a process-based approach for a more engaging and effective listening tasks. Thus, the present study attempts to investigate whether metacognitive strategy instruction with pedagogical cycle enhances the 27 Thai EFL students' listening comprehension performance and their metacognitive awareness in listening (MAL). The study employed a sequential mixed-method and collected data from listening comprehension tests, questionnaire in MAL, observation field notes, and semi-structured interviews. The intervention was carried out in eight sessions of metacognitive pedagogical cycle aimed at improving the students' listening comprehension of short informative video items and their MAL. Results indicate a significant difference between the participants' pre- and post- listening scores and this result brought a significant relationship to their MAL. However, two (problem solving and directed attention) out of five MAL factors did not show significant relationship with those of the participants' listening comprehension performance. Qualitative findings reveal that the participants have welcomed the use of the intervention as they provide positive insights and opinions into how listening strategy use contributed to the success of their listening task processes.

This work describes the design and validation of a questionnaire to assess the expectations of higher education professors regarding virtual education (CEDVES). The sample included 546 professors, 299 men (54.66%) and 247 women (45.23%), from different scientific disciplines of a university in Chile. The final version consisted of 38 items answered using a five-point Likert scale. Nine factors were identified from the exploratory factor analysis. This configuration accounts for 75% of the variance. The structure of the instrument was studied using confirmatory factor analysis. It was found that nine factors produced a good fit, derived from a hierarchical solution in which all these factors depend on a factor of second general order. Each of the scales, like the general factor, present good indicators of reliability. The analysis indicates that this questionnaire has adequate validation and could be broadly used in higher education.

Through an exploration of language practices in an early years setting, this paper aims to examine discourses about transforming monolingual practice generated during an internally driven action research. Based on a small private nursery in an affluent part of London, this action research was conducted with the intention of reviewing internal practices that support young children who speak English as an additional language (EAL). Parents and practitioners took part in an initial questionnaire (n=21). This was followed by semi-structured interviews (n=3) and a focus group (n=5) with practitioners. The data was analysed considering some of the theoretical points proposed by Bourdieu and the discourse analysis tools suggested by van Leeuwen. Despite the recognition of potential barriers, encouraging positive dispositions towards language diversity were identified. The most significant feature of our examination was the value of local knowledge and the diverse language repertoires encountered in the setting. Our analysis evidence that action research can empower practitioners to challenge monolingual mindsets and to move towards an exploration of alternative (plurilingual) ideas, despite the monolingual ethos imposed by the curriculum and other external regulatory forces.

This case study aimed to change the construction of teachers' written tests so that items were designed to assess competencies in an authentic and challenging way. A small group of five psychology teachers participated in 10 sessions of an authentic assessment faculty-training program, to learn to assess problem-solving competencies for situations typically faced by professionals in the workplace. The authentic assessment training emphasized the incorporation of three main characteristics: (1) inclusion of a realistic context, (2) measurement of higher order thinking skills, and (3) development of evaluative judgment, concerning the quality of their own performance. Post-training the items´ construction was analysed, according to their type and authenticity. Mixed effects logistic regression showed a statistically significant increase in open-response items, and two-way ANOVA indicated that cognitive challenge improved. The results showed written tests had: a) more open-response items of higher cognitive complexity, b) fewer items requiring closed, memorized responses, c) more use of realistic contexts to measure knowledge in a situated way, and d) improvement in curriculum alignment of tests and greater consistency in measuring competencies. These advances validate the authentic-assessment training program for a better written assessment design.

The purpose of this research is to understand the conceptualizations and emotional responses produced by diversities in thirteen teacher trainers of the Primary Education Pedagogy degree, of a Chilean university with an important trajectory in teacher training in the Metropolitan Region, the national capital. A qualitative approach was used through semi-structured and projective interviews. The data were analyzed following the data analysis spiral proposed by Creswell (2013). It is concluded that the trainers have a descriptive representation of diversity that that does not consider inequalities, discriminations, or conflicts. Regarding their emotional responses about diversity, they positively value the possibility of new learning and an epistemic openness that generates multiple challenges. They also express not being prepared to deal with diversity in the pedagogical space, discomfort regarding certain diversities and an epistemic tension toward the concept of diversity and the classifications that may cause discrimination.

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of the changes in the strategies to stimulate self-concept used by teachers, that received training, in the academic self-concept of its students. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-application measures was used. A total of 36 secondary school teachers and 814 students participated. The program consisted of four months of workshop sessions and accompaniment in the classroom. It was found that changes in the teaching strategies mediated the effect of the intervention on students' self-concept. In addition, the change in the students' type of self-concept depended on the change in the teachers' specific strategies. In conclusion, the training program designed for stimulating academic self-concept was effective in promoting strategies in teachers that increased student's self-concept. Thus, it can be concluded that the intervention is an approachable methodology to support the development of self-concept, potentially impacting students' academic success. The findings contribute to the design of future interventions in school contexts for the improvement of students' self-concept.

The objective of this research was to examine the relationship of the variables training and learning, and the diversity of sources of innovation's ideas, with the social innovation of non-profit organisations (NPOs). The study was carried out in Guayas-Ecuador. It is a quantitative, cross-sectional, and non-experimental study, in which Probit regression was used. The findings indicate that the variables: training and learning, and the diversity of sources of ideas for innovation, positively affect social innovation in these organisations. The theoretical implication of the research is that it contributes to the scant empirical evidence of this relationship, especially in developing countries; it also strengthens the idea that the resource-based view of the firm can explain social innovation and that the fundamental resource in social innovation is the knowledge that these organisations acquire and increase through training and internal learning, as well as the diversity of sources of ideas for innovation that they acquire.

In the framework of policies against the effects of climate change on public health, mobility policies based on zero carbon dioxide emissions have focused their interest on the implementation of bicycle lanes, the bicycle motor subsidy and restriction of automobiles. In this sense, the objective of this paper has been to establish the reliability and validity of an instrument that measures the perceptions of risk and utility, as well as the intentions of voting in favor of electoral proposals and candidates that support the urban sustainability policy in Subject d mobility. A non-experimental, cross-sectional and exploratory study was carried out with a non-probabilistic sample selection of 250 residents of the metropolitan area of Mexico City. From a structural model. The factors cited were found to correlate positively and significantly, but it is recommended to extend the study to the contrast of the model in other scenarios with local elections and mobility policy based on the use of the bicycle.

The Teacher-Child Interaction Training-Universal (TCIT-U) is a professional development program for teachers that promotes positive relational interactions and strengthens classroom management. This study examines the implementation of TCIT-U in a public school district to guide future implementation and sustainability. This study uses qualitative methods to examine the implementation of TCIT-U across preschool through second-grade classrooms in a suburban public school district in Illinois, United States. Eight teachers and five coaches participated in focus groups, while three administrators completed interviews. Qualitative data from focus groups and interviews are supplemented by quantitative data on satisfaction, teacher sense of efficacy, teacher observations, and school records. Results demonstrated high levels of acceptability, good feasibility, high satisfaction, and several notable improvements across teachers and students, such as improved teachers' confidence and self-efficacy in managing classrooms. Nevertheless, there were implementation challenges, including timing, competing demands, and district priorities. The results from this study offer guidance for future implementation of TCIT-U as an acceptable, feasible, and universal intervention.

Phonemic Awareness is the understanding that words are made up of individual sounds. These individual sounds are referred to as phonemes. Within the English language, there are about 44 sounds, and several of these are rather difficult for children to grasp. Mastery of phonemic awareness is a foundational skill for reading, yet is often skimmed over or not reinforced within today's classrooms. Perhaps this lies in a misunderstanding of the importance of phonemic awareness. This paper highlights several phonemic awareness activities that are immensely useful in building and reinforcing phonemic awareness -- activities that not only focus on phonemic awareness, but incorporate music and movement which enhance student engagement and retention. Such activities provide concrete language support for ELLs.

In this manuscript, we discuss the unique characteristics of critical bicultural-bilingual pedagogues. A sociocultural transformative framework anchors the notion of critical bicultural-bilingual pedagogues and builds on my own as well the work of other scholars. There are two overarching themes that are considered regarding critical bicultural-bilingual pedagogues: the embodiment of positive ethnic/cultural identity and critical consciousness -- son concientizadas; and the enactment of Critical Bicultural-Bilingual Transformative Pedagogy. Testimonios of critical bicultural-bilingual pedagogues are provided to demonstrate how they engage in their work to ensure the success of bilingual learners. Testimonies are reflective of our oral traditions and are a liberatory act heightening our concientización. We suggest that critical bicultural-bilingual pedagogues are essential in the implementation of the bilingual education program, regardless of the program delivery type.

The current concept of inclusive education brings to light the need for assessment of pre-service and in-service teachers' attitudes towards inclusion, as they are essential agents to achieve full educational inclusion. The present study aimed to adapt a simple unidimensional tool to assess attitudes towards inclusion, the TAI scale. A total of 320 students of the BSc in Teacher Education and 89 in-service teachers took part in this study. The final adapted version of the scale (TAIS-SP) showed adequate psychometric properties.

Physical activity plays an important role in individuals' physical and psychological health. However, there is scarce evidence on how physical activity is associated with socioemotional aspects in gifted students. This is of special importance since previous research showed that gifted students scored significantly lower on physical self-concept when compared with their non-gifted peers. This study aimed to measure the associations between physical activity and different dimensions of academic, physical, and global self-concept in a sample of 10- to 18-year-old Spanish gifted students. It also investigated differences with non-gifted students on physical activity, self-concept, and their associations. The study involved measuring the physical activity levels of 219 gifted and 242 non-gifted students through PAQ-A, following a cross-sectional design. It relied on SDQ-II and CAF to measure academic, physical, and global self-concepts and included the importance accorded to self-concepts. Results showed that gifted students scored higher on academic self-concept and lower on self-perceived athletic ability. Physical activity was associated with better physical and global self-concepts, with no differences between gifted and non-gifted participants. No interactions between giftedness and physical activity appeared. Both samples' self-concept may benefit from physical activity equally. Strategies for promoting physical activity should be endorsed also in gifted students.

The overall goal of our work is to disrupt pervasive narratives and misplaced assessments of what defines scientific brilliance, specifically in the introductory chemistry classroom. The traditional design of science, technology, education, and math (STEM) courses perpetuates the narrow view that intelligence is characterized by innate talent, knowing lots of information, and being quick and correct. This view disproportionately impacts students historically underserved in STEM. The Chem Avengers aim to transform chemistry education into an inclusive practice where all learners can thrive. The work reported here is focused on creating and implementing group-worthy tasks that support equitable participation. These tasks center around sorting, using, and making sense of data, trends, and patterns.

Learning from expository texts demands the processing of metatextual cues (rhetorical devices) and the activating of reading strategies. The main objective of this study was to examine whether profiting from written metatextual cues to launch reading strategies needs higher level of rhetorical competence than profiting from oral cues. Specifically, this study addresses two questions: (1) Is there a gap between the sensitivity to oral versus written metatextual cues depending on the student's reading skill level? (2) Do the reader's rhetorical competence, general reading comprehension, and decoding levels interact with the processing of each type of metatextual cue? Three hundred sixty-seven students (11-13 years old) summarized an expository text after reading it under one of the following four conditions: with written cues, with oral cues, with both cues combined, or with no cues. The less skilled readers who received oral or combined cues provided better summaries (they selected and organized the main ideas better) than the less skilled readers who received written cues or no cues. However, the performance of the more skilled readers was equal under the conditions with written cues, oral cues, and combined cues; these three groups outperformed the readers from the no-cues condition group. A multicategorical moderator analysis showed that following written cues demanded higher levels of general comprehension and rhetorical competence than following oral and combined cues. These data confirm that rhetorical competence is a specific capability for processing, especially written metatextual cues, and for overcoming the gap between the sensitivity to oral versus written cues.

The objective of the research was to determine the effect that a metacognitive scaffolding for Web information searches exercises on the development of school students, through a general chemistry course in a blended learning modality. One hundred and four students from a school of the city of Bogotá D.C.-Colombia participated in the study. The research followed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest and posttest. Three tenth-grade groups, previously established, worked with a b-learning environment with three versions: the first group worked with a fixed scaffolding, the second with an optional scaffolding, and the third group interacted with a b-learning environment without any type of scaffolding whatsoever. The Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) test was used to measure metacognitive abilities before and after data treatment. To analyze the data, a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted, which showed that the fixed scaffolding favors the development of metacognitive abilities, especially those related to procedural knowledge, planning, organization, monitoring, and evaluation. This tool, possibly based on the analysis and reflection of their own performance in task development, allowed students to consolidate structured strategies in Web information searches. In contrast, the use of the optional scaffolding did not exhibit the expected results since it was not used by a high percentage of students. These findings, among others, are discussed in the study.

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between (1) willingness to study strategies, (2) causal attributions (to effort, ability and external causes) and (3) student´s perception of self-efficacy about their ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study. Method: An instrument built by the researchers called Willingness to the Study Self-Regulation Questionnaire was applied to a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 695 Chilean university students from 5 universities of the Province of Concepción. Outcomes: Strong correlations were found between self-efficacy for the willingness to study self-regulation and the willingness to study strategies (r = 0.54 to r = 0.55). The willingness to study strategies had positive and moderate correlations (r = 0.38 to r = 0.42) with causal attributions for success to effort, weak correlations (r = 0.15 to r = 0.28) with causal attributions for success to ability and to external factors, and negative weak to moderate correlations (r = -0.19 to r = -0.38) with causal attributions for failure to effort, ability, and external factors. Conclusions: Students with high levels of willingness to study strategies show positive beliefs about their own ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study, they make causal attributions for their success mainly to effort, and they attribute their academic failure less and less to ability and external factors.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the challenges that newcomer refugee and immigrant families face. While many of the supports that schools typically offer were disrupted by the pandemic, school-based assistance remains critical in this challenging context. In addition to education-related challenges, many newcomer families have been disproportionately impacted across financial, employment, and health contexts. The present study highlights the perspectives of newcomer families to understand their experiences, stressors, and ability to cope during the pandemic, as well as how their school communities can offer support to mitigate the potential for increased disparities. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 parents (M[subscript age] = 38.68) and 13 students (M[subscript age] = 14.31) engaged in a school-based intervention for newcomer students. Among students, 71.4% were identified as male, and the majority of caregivers were mothers (85.7%). Newcomer families reported significant challenges due to COVID-19, including difficult social-emotional adjustment, financial challenges, and significant academic difficulties. Themes also emerged related to sources of support and coping. Implications for how schools can further support newcomer families given these challenges and strengths are considered.

Family is an important context for the development of adaptive child coping. Further, both family and child coping can promote positive mental health. This study examines whether family coping predicts child coping over 1 year among Mexican-origin immigrant families. Participants included 104 families with a child aged 6-10 years (M[subscript age] = 8.39, 61% female) and at least 1 Mexican-origin parent. The majority of primary caregivers (M[subscript age] = 37.13) identified as female (97%), while 82% of secondary caregivers (M[subscript age] = 43.14) identified as male. Family income was 150% of the poverty line or below. Families completed video-recorded interaction tasks and family coping strategies were coded. Caregivers completed surveys on children's coping. Family problem solving was associated with child primary and secondary control coping concurrently and predicted less use of disengagement over time. Family reframing was linked to less disengagement concurrently, and predicted child secondary control coping over time. Family coping may promote adaptive child coping among immigrant families.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. ASD community-based organizations (ASD-CBOs) underutilize or inconsistently utilize evidence-based practices (ASD-EBPs) despite numerous available EBPs to treat ASD. Nonetheless, ASD-CBOs implement changes to practices regularly. Understanding ASD-CBO's implementation-as-usual (IAU) processes may assist to develop strategies to facilitate ASD-EBP adoption, implementation and sustainment. A convergent mixed methods (quan + QUAL) design was utilized. Twenty ASD-CBO agency leaders (ALs) and 26 direct providers (DPs), from 21 ASD-CBOs, completed the Autism Model of Implementation Survey Battery, including demographic and agency IAU process questions. Surveys were analyzed through descriptive and content analyses. A subset of 10 ALs provided qualitative interview data that were analyzed using coding, consensus and comparison methods to allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the IAU process within their ASD-CBOs. Quantitative analyses and qualitative coding were merged utilizing a joint display and compared. Results suggest that the IAU process follows some phases identified in the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework but were conducted in an informal manner--lacking specificity, structure and consistency across and within ASD-CBOs. Moreover, data suggest adding a specific "adoption decision phase" to the framework. Nonetheless, most ALs felt previous implementation efforts were successful. IAU processes were explored to determine whether the implementation process may be an area for intervention to increase ASD-EBP utilization in ASD-CBOs. Developing a systematized implementation process may facilitate broader utilization of high quality ASD-EBPs within usual care settings, and ultimately improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD and their families.

The present study analyses the psychometric properties of the Self-efficacy in the Sociocultural Sphere Scale in men and women university students. The overall sample consisted of 1545 subjects: 616 women and 929 men, with a mean age of 18.11 years (SD= 0.69) and 18.27 years (SD= 0.75) respectively. Psychometric analysis showed that two-factorial structure (promotion of the culture and cultural identity) was viable and adequate for both populations (men and woman) according to the established psychometric requirements when the informers are the students themselves. The results showed that factor structure, factor loadings and intercepts of the instrument could be considered invariant across groups; however, there are differences between groups for the means of factors promotion of the culture and cultural identity.

Despite the continuous efforts of governments and universities to avoid the underrepresentation of women entering engineering degrees, the trend has not reverted, and this is a general fact all over the world. This fact goes against the tendency of a growing ratio of women in tertiary education, so causes must be investigated. This research examines two main questions: Is it possible to break the invisible barriers that prevent girls from entering in engineering degrees by means of an engineering project or activity? And are there important misconceptions about the role of women in engineering professions and about engineering itself among high school girls? An extensive survey has been carried out between three groups of students: students of the last years of high school (834), students of the first year of engineering degrees (319), and students of the first year of sciences degrees (209). A set of visits to the high schools was developed and a contest of engineering projects was carried out too. The results show that there are important misconceptions in the knowledge that high school students have about engineering degrees and engineering. The visits and the project contest had a good impact that encouraged girls to take engineering activities in their curricula. The main finding is that even though girls see engineering professions as very well valued, they are convinced that engineering is not a profession for women, which suggests that there are educational barriers acquired during earlier stages of their lives.

Blended learning, which combines face-to-face workshops with self-directed online learning, is becoming a good alternative in designing and deploying professional development programs. The online component adapts to teachers' time constraints, requires fewer trained professionals for its implementation, and enhances participants' opportunities to engage in the exploration and visualization of mathematical concepts and ideas. Also, the face-to-face component of this instruction modality allows spontaneous communication and collaborative construction of knowledge in real settings. This paper describes the instructional model of Suma y Sigue, a b-learning professional development program for primary and middle school teachers, which has been designed and implemented in Chile since 2015, aimed at developing mathematical knowledge for teaching. A particular feature of the program is its high-degree of self-directed autonomous online learning. We discuss how contextualized situations are articulated to create a learning environment in which teachers get involved in a progressive construction of multiple components of this knowledge. We also describe the implementation of the program, discussing the effects of scaling in teachers' experiences, and also how the information gathered upon implementation has led to changes in the training of instructors and in the program's instructional design.

This article offers a critical examination of language ideological constructions, advocating for language practices that favor culturally and contextually appropriate practice. Although discourses on multicultural inclusive practice in England are not new, the position of minoritized languages in early years education is still absent and highly problematic. Based on a critical multi-layered analysis of the only (official) language program for the early years sector in England -- Every Child a Talker -- I report on the discursive constructions of knowledge, expertise, and (institutionalized) spaces and problematize the possible influence of these discourses on the formation of dispositions toward language/s. My analysis suggests that strong monolingual ideologies dominate this program and thus nullify home language/s. This is principally characterized by the prevailing external knowledge and expertise, and the discursive validation of institutionalized language spaces, whereby the linguistic capital that parents and children can bring into early years practice is extensively excluded. While acknowledging many of the local initiatives that are resisting and challenging monolingual discourses, this article calls for an urgent critical review of language policies in plurilingual early years contexts.

This paper introduces the concept of contextual mitigating factors (CMFs) as a theoretical construct to help understand how Latinas who demonstrated success in STEM pipelines navigated the fluidly and dynamically shifting socio-historical-political contexts in which they found themselves. Further, understanding the ways in which CMFs contribute to the development of circumstances within fluid social fields is essential to understand the factors which Latinas both experience and create in their social interactions. We framed the development of CMFs within discussions of social place (Bourdieu and Wacquant in An invitation to reflexive sociology, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1992), social field (Swartz in Culture and power: the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1997), and dynamic space (Tobin in Keynote address at 8th international congress on science teaching and learning, Barcelona, Spain, 2009). Given that CMFs appear as the result of social interactions within contextualized spaces, acknowledging the importance of place, be it physical or metaphorical, is essential in framing discussions on the sense-making of the participants' STEM successes. In accounting for our participants' positionalities and the materiality of their contextual experiences, we use CMFs as a theoretical underpinning to guide our methodological approach which we identify as CMF analysis. In each case, CMF analysis is used to explore how positionalities and experiences reflexively shaped each other, all while contributing to individual and social personhoods. Furthermore, the use of CMFs, by placing importance on both context "and" history, allowed us to discern not only the similarities of our participants' sociocultural, -economical, -historical and -political navigations toward success, but also the substantive differences between them. In presenting our discussion of CMFs, we present two of sixty case studies focusing on Latinas' successes in STEM fields using the intrinsic case study method (Stake, in: Denzin, Lincoln (eds) The SAGE handbook of qualitative research, 3rd edn, pp 443-466, SAGE, Thousand Oaks, 2005). This was the most appropriate method in analyzing our participants' experiences, because this allowed our participants to tell their stories of becoming and being successful in pursuing STEM pathways. Marrying this framework with intrinsic case study method provided internal consistency to the study. Ultimately, we want other researchers to see the benefits associated with CMF analysis, namely the provision of an additive framework in understanding the lived experiences of minority groups. By accounting for the role macro-, meso-, and microgenic CMFs play in the minority students' educational experiences, educators at all levels may play a substantively larger role in helping sustain their agency as learners.

Introduction: Current research based on observational design studies characterized the teaching practices that stimulate the development of academic self-concept, but there is a need for experimental and quasi-experimental studies to validate those findings. The present research evaluate the impact of a teacher training program based on academic self-concept stimulation strategies on academic self-concept, attendance and grades of their students. Method: 36 teachers of primary level and 819 students from public schools of the Province of Concepción, Chile, participated. A quasi-experimental design with pre and post measures was applied. Information was collected through self-report and information available on official records. Results: After the intervention, teachers in the experimental group have greater capacity to stimulate the self-concept of their students, D(1, 41700.91)=17.09, p < 0.001, encouring self-concept related to capacity, work procedures and class participation. Also, the students on experimental group have a greater perception about their capacity to participate in classes after the intervention, dependent on the pre-test perceived capacity, D(1, 983-22)=6.10, p=0.014, and higher attendance rates, D(1, 691.34)=82.50, p<0.001, than control group. Discussions and conclusions: The teacher training program is effective to improve the teaching strategies of stimulating the academic self-concept, the perception of competence to participate in classes of the students and to increase the levels of attendance.

This paper will introduce the nature of reflective tools in online, hybrid, and traditionally formatted teacher education courses. The specific context of implementation and impact on the quality of reflection for teaching candidates will be discussed. Examples of assignment prompts and recommendations for future use will be shared.

To address the challenge of ensuring the quality of preparation of secondary mathematics and science teachers, this article describes the efforts of the "Academy for Teacher Excellence" (ATE; Flores et al., 2007), which received Transition to Teaching grants to establish the Accelerated Teacher Education Program (ATEP). ATEP's purpose was to prepare ethnic minority teachers, mid-career professionals, and recent graduates to become highly qualified culturally efficacious mathematics and science teachers of ELs in high-need schools. Findings from ATEP are unpacked to: (a) analyze mathematics and science teachers' efficacy beliefs, (b) explore the relationship between efficacy sources and the cultivation of mathematics and science teachers' teaching efficacy with ELs, and (c) contemplate practice and research implications for the design of culturally efficacious teacher preparation. The authors report their mixed methods analyses revealed that program and school-context experiences work in tandem to support mathematics and science teachers' efficacy in working with ELs.

As an alternative to experimental design, using a social design experiment methodology, we analyzed the Academy for Teacher Excellence's "La Clase Mágica's" (LCM) Robotics Clubs, a university-school collaborative partnership. Given the scarcity of minority representation in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), we established robotics clubs to provide young learners, ages 5-14, with STEM opportunities to engage in playful informal learning that promotes creativity, mathematical, and scientific skills along with other forms of literacy. In this manuscript, we describe the learning process that occurs within the robotics clubs established at seven schools who serve large numbers of underserved-underrepresented populations. Multiple data sources include meeting notes, interviews, field notes, and focus groups. The use of multiple data sources, peer-review, and triangulation of the data assisted in establishing trustworthiness. We found that this community based expansive learning approach contributes to the mutual learning benefits of the different participants, learners (protégés) and undergraduate students (mentors).

This article introduces a line of research on distributed educational influence (DEI) that has recently been developed by the research group to which the authors belong. The main hypothesis is that in computer-supported collaborative learning contexts, all participants are potential sources of educational influence (EI). According to this hypothesis, the success of collaboration and its outcomes depend on the extent to which participants take responsibility for being both providers and recipients of aid, such that EI becomes adequately distributed among the group as a whole. The paper is organized into four sections that deal respectively with: (1) the concept of DEI, its origin and its characteristics, with special attention being paid to the demands inherent to the exercising of EI in online collaborative learning; (2) an empirical approach to the study of DEI, based on case studies and a multimethod perspective that combines structural analysis of participants' activity with content analysis of their contributions; (3) a review of some interesting results obtained so far and some questions that remain open; and (4) proposals for how the study of DEI could help to enrich research on online collaborative learning.

This article highlights how the preservation of heritage languages is essential in the construction of three Georgia Latina participants' cultural identities and the creation of support networks that allow them to develop resiliency and achieve academically. We conceptualize resiliency as a strategy developed by the Latina participants using contextually mitigating factors during their STEM education. The findings presented in this manuscript are part of a larger, ongoing study of Latina resiliency and their paths to success in STEM fields in two states: Georgia and Texas. Following James Spradley's guidelines, data were collected via three separate semi-structured interviews with each participant. Intrinsic, multiple case studies were used to find both commonalities and differences, as well as to deepen our understanding of the role of the participants' heritage language in their development of resiliency in each particular case. The findings presented here were not part of a preconceived research hypothesis, but rather a theme that emerged while analyzing data collected in the state of Georgia. Georgia is not home to a long-established Hispanic/Latino population, but rather is part of the New Latino Diaspora (Wortham, Murillo and Hamann in Education in the new Latino diaspora: policy and the politics of identity. Ablex Publishing, New York, 2002), and therefore local natives do not necessarily perceive Latino immigrants and the Spanish language either as long-standing or permanent features of the state. In fact, in response to the growing diversity of the state during the past generation, Georgia has implemented multiple educational policies hostile toward immigrants and linguistic diversity (Beck and Allexsaht-Snider in Education in the new Latino diaspora: policy and the politics of identity. Ablex Press, Westport, 2002). Our findings suggest that the Latina participants' heritage languages allow them to engage in cultural traditions, encouraged by their families, that are central to their heritage and identity and, thereby provide a medium for the development of the resiliency they need for academic success. The Spanish language allows them to maintain communication with their families and communities, enabling them to participate in a set of interactions and relationships. These, in turn, form the support networks needed to enact resilience in overcoming obstacles to pursuing their interest in STEM--an interest seen by society as incongruous with their gender and ethnicity.

Teacher attrition is a significant problem facing schools, with a large percentage of teachers leaving the profession within their first few years. Given the need to retain high-quality teachers, research is needed to identify those teachers with higher retention rates. Using survival analyses and a large state dataset, researchers examined teacher data to identify those teacher and school variables associated with attrition. Unique to this study was the investigation of testing era (basic competency vs. higher standards based), school districts' yearly ratings based on state-mandated testing, and charter school status. Analyses revealed that teacher attrition was greater during the high stakes-testing era, at low-performing schools, and for charter schools; however, beginning teacher age, gender, and school level moderated several attrition rates. Implications for public policy are discussed. (Contains 1 figure, 4 tables, 1 footnote.)

Universities in Europe have been playing an increasingly important role in the institutional evaluation of political and social systems for the last thirty years. Their major contribution to those processes of accountability has been to add methods and safeguards of evaluative research. In this paper we report an illustration of how evaluative procedures employed in higher education have been used for the evaluation of employment and training programs designed for the implementation of social policies in gender equity. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to evaluate the quality of the services provided both from staff and user perspectives. In this paper we report the process followed and the outcomes obtained with quantitative tools. Outcomes reveal that users' age and grades are key factors both to get a job and to be pleased with the employment program. (Contains 5 tables and 7 footnotes.)

Background: A federally-funded program at the University of Texas at San Antonio adopted a holistic problem solving mentoring approach for novice teachers participating in an accelerated teacher certification program. Aims/focus of discussion: To investigate a novice teacher's problem-solving activity through self-expression of challenges and management of identified problems. Of interest was the level of novice teacher detail provided to explore specific problems, goals, and completion of developed resolution plans. The LIBRE Model, developed as a clinical tool, was used to facilitate "self-talk," and personal self-attention to concerns expressed within the person's "worldview" of social context. Sample: One novice teacher in her induction year participated in this study. The information collected included her expressed: self-awareness, social expectations, skills, facility in processing identified challenges and willingness to invest in change. Method: Three mentor facilitated novice teacher problem-solving sessions were conducted. With each session, a problem-solving exercise occured, which included the development of a resolution plan. Only the novice teacher's words and plans were recorded. This holistic approach was designed to capture the individual's tailored, supported, and transitional changes from novice to more experienced teacher. The sustainability of the teacher's self-managed changes was evident with the fourth problem solving activity which was completed independent of the mentor. Results: Teacher and mentor feedback are presented. The value of monitoring teacher self-awareness and self-managed change are discussed as elements of the structured mentor-mentee communication. Conclusion: Diagnostic/intervention tools such as the LIBRE Model introduced during the beginning teaching experience provide key information about the individual in terms of self-exploration, problem solving, and decision-making. As evidenced in the case study, the novice teacher found an approach based on her self-reflection and personal strengths, which increased her sense of self-efficacy and professional self-confidence. (Contains 3 tables.)

Student learning in biology may be impaired by instructional environments that emphasize technical methodology over analysis. We hypothesized that time gained by experimenting with accurate computer simulations could be used to engage students in analytical, creative learning. The effects of treatments that combined a week of simulated lab instruction with a week of standard lab instruction in different order (E-to-S and S-to-E) were examined using a controlled experimental design with random assignment of lab sections and hierarchical linear modeling analysis to account for possible clustering within sections. Data from a large sample of students (N = 515) revealed a significant increase (1.59 SD) in posttest scores for both treatment groups over the control. We posit as a plausible explanation the reinforcement of psychomotor learning due to strong engagement of cognitive processes facilitated by the computer simulation. This study supports a wider use of computer simulations as learning tools in laboratory courses.

Formative assessments and feedback are vital to enhancing learning outcomes but require that learners feel at ease identifying their errors, and receiving feedback from a trusted source--teachers. An experimental test of a new theoretical framework was conducted to cultivate a pedagogical alliance to enhance students' (a) trust in the teacher, (b) well-being in the learning environment and (c) identification of confusion and errors for the purpose of learning, assessment and feedback. A sample of 101 undergraduate students was randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 51) or control (n = 50) condition in Elementary Statistics. Results indicated that a pedagogical alliance could be created to enhance student trust in the instructor, leading students to report greater well-being and a higher number of potential areas of confusion in their understanding of new content material relative to a control group. These results have implications for formative feedback, assessments, and by extension learning outcomes.

This test review aims to provide a critical evaluation of the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA 21), a large-scale, standards-based English language proficiency testcurrently used in eight participating member states. The ELPA 21 assessment system was developed by a consortium to help English language learner (ELL) students acquire the academic English language required for accessing content knowledge so they are prepared for college and career. The ELPA 21 assessments are administered fully online. It includes a screener assessment and a summative assessment for ELL students from kindergarten to twelfth grade. The ELPA 21 summative and screener tests were officially launched in the spring of 2016 and in the fall of 2016, respectively. The results are used to determine placement in English language services and reclassification of ELL students, measure ELL students' progress in English language development, and design professional development and formative assessments. Based on the documents and practice items available online, the ELPA 21 test appears to be a useful instrument for evaluating and supporting ELL students' English language development. However, possibly because of its newness, publicly available materials about its validation research are limited. The lack of published validation research casts some doubts on the test's quality. When the research results, along with any updated information are available, a follow-up review would be necessary to ensure that the ELPA 21 test is serving ELL students properly.

Introduction: There are a few methods to study inquiry's abilities in Chile, despite its importance in science education. This study analyzes the psychometric properties of a Scientific Inquiry Scale in pedagogy students of two Chilean universities. Method: The study uses an instrumental design with 325 students from 3 pedagogy majors. As a measurement instrument, it uses a scale based on one of the dimensions of Miranda's Tasks in Critical Thinking test. Descriptive statistics of reliability and dimensionality were used for the analysis. Results: The results show three items under the mean, two within the mean and three slightly over it, with adequate ranges of asymmetry and kurtosis. Dimensions analysis accounts for a three-factor model with good fit indicators, related to the three ability foci observed in this ability: exploration with three items related, comprehension with two items and inference with three items. The reliability analysis is adequate but lower than expected (0.61) and an adequate level of interjudge consistency, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.62. Discussion and Conclusion: Scientific Inquiry Scale is reliable and allows for analysis of the main elements of the ability to inquire, which is relevant for scientific reasoning. However, it is necessary to investigate the external validity.

The Academy for Teacher Excellence (ATE) at the University of Texas at San Antonio and San Antonio College is proposed as a comprehensive model whose overarching goals include: (1) creating a learning ecology that values diversity and prepares teacher candidates for work in diverse communities; (2) increasing the number of Latino students pursuing teacher certification; and (3) preparing all teachers for linguistically and culturally diverse populations. ATE's ultimate outcome is to assure that diverse school populations have equitable opportunities for school success. These goals are addressed through five critical components: Teacher Academy Learning Community, Faculty Development, Faculty Research, School Partnerships, and Induction Support. Essentially, all these components form a cohesive, comprehensive model that teacher preparation institutions can adopt to further enhance the learning ecology for both teacher candidates and their future students. In this paper, the authors exclusively examine the Teacher Academy Learning Community (ATE-TALC). (Contains 1 figure, 1 table and 1 note.)

Teacher beliefs are mediated and lived in the dialectic of teacher education and teacher practice. We reframe this dialectic of "teacher" preparation as "faculty" preparation, as many faculty are not prepared for the rigors of teaching, and most are not trained in the ethics of their profession. We propose a critical model of faculty development that primes teacher educators to cultivate authentic teacher beliefs and professional integrity. The model embraces five components that: 1) situate faculty development in professional and ethical standards; 2) align faculty diversity competencies with the institutional mission; 3) embrace guiding principles for undergraduate education; 4) contextualize faculty development; and 5) challenge through reflective discourse. (Contains 1 figure.)

"Los testimonios," or life stories, shared in this volume reveal that academia represents a labyrinth of challenges for aspiring and emerging Latina scholars--a story these authors know all too well. As Latina "veterana" scholars, who have traveled this arduous journey, the authors recognize that their collective efforts have etched a pathway in what often seems an impenetrable and unfriendly terrain. The intent of this article is to offer words of inspiration for those who will follow. They share their story, their "consejos," their advice, and their "sabiduria," their wisdom, in hope of a better tomorrow.