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There are too few teachers and schools to meet the need for quality universal basic education. Therefore, alternative approaches to education provision need to be explored, such as open and distance learning methods and development and provision of curriculum-based Open Educational Resources (OER). However, distribution of printed materials is increasingly costly, and distribution of digital resources remains a challenge in areas with little or no connectivity. This case study explores the potential of using offline strategies to share digital OER. It suggests it is possible to provide access to digital learning resources even in the most remote areas by using appropriate technology, like the Commonwealth of Learning's Aptus device.

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.

Critical friendship is an innovative method used to strengthen an individual's professional skills, including critical reflection, thinking, and problem-solving abilities in educational settings. Critical friendships can occur through one-on-one relationships or in groups known as critical friendship groups (CFGs). Literature on CFGs examines the benefits of structured CFGs integrated into teacher preparation programs. CFGs that form beyond university walls, like a study abroad context, have not been discussed in the literature even though these experiences can be the catalyst for CFGs. This case study illustrates how a CFG was formed during a study abroad trip to Belize with undergraduate and graduate education students that resulted in five major findings. Implications for both teacher education and study abroad programs are discussed.

This article examines how the crisis of COVID-19 became a crucible, or a means of transformation, for global educators. How teachers leverage their lived experience of teaching through the implications of COVID-19 to transform identity and practice is a new phenomenon, a merits examination. Through a collection of interviews, the ways in which the life experiences of teaching through COVID-19 worked to create new identities in teachers and new practices within the classroom is examined. Data was gathered through informal interviews from eleven educators teaching through the crisis of COVID-19 across the world, including four continents and six countries. Drawing on simple thematic analysis, a narrative approach was utilized to examine the process of transformation in teachers across the globe. The findings and analysis of this research will help those working with teachers better understand how teachers leverage a crisis be it COVID-19, or another disruptive force, as a crucible for transformation.

Computer science became a distinct academic discipline in the early 1950s. The first computer science degree program was founded in Belize around 45 years later, under the auspices of the nascent University College of Belize, which would subsequently become the University of Belize. We present a twenty-year synopsis of a degree program created in 1998 to build an undergraduate curriculum using the surge of computing in the country of Belize as a catalyst coupled with the recognition of the importance of computing for national development. The four-year undergraduate degree program has resulted in steady student enrolment over the past two decades featuring a female student population consistent with female enrolment in similar computer science programs globally. The study details the origins, development efforts, successes, challenges, and recommendations for the program's future development.

The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure of the Family Involvement Questionnaire--Elementary Version with families in Belize. Participants were 185 primary caregivers of children in primary education settings in Belize. Caregivers were given the Family Involvement Questionnaire--Elementary Version to measure their educational involvement in their children's schooling. Findings indicated the factor structure of the Family Involvement Questionnaire--Elementary Version in Belize was not congruent with the factor structures with samples from the United States and New Zealand. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a five-factor solution: (a) home-school communication, (b) home expectations and monitoring, (c) educational support, (d) school and community involvement, and (e) school attendance. In light of similar measurement studies in the literature, these data indicate that family educational involvement varies across geographic and cultural contexts. This suggests that interventions and policies to improve education outcomes via family involvement ought to consider the unique structure of families' involvement in the educational system. [For the corresponding grantee submission, see ED605729.]

The COVID-19 Pandemic and resulting school closures, present a serious threat to young children's care, learning, and the achievement of their developmental potential (UNESCO, 2020a). Disruptions to normal school functioning worldwide have presented challenges for teachers who were generally unprepared to teach using different methodologies (United Nations in Policy brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond, 2020). Since a child's right to care and education extends even during emergencies this study was conceptualized to better understand the professional experiences of early childhood teachers as they navigated the teaching learning process during the COVID-19 school disruption. A multiple site qualitative case study was designed to answer two research questions: What were the professional experiences of Caribbean Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) teachers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic period? And how did Caribbean ECCE teachers adapt to ensure continuity of children's rights to access education? Almog and Perry-Hazan's (2012) conceptualisation of the Right to Adaptable Education provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire sent to teachers from seven Caribbean countries. Five themes were extricated from the findings: changed teacher experiences, significant new understandings, changed teacher collaboration practices, changed individual qualities, and warning signs for support. We conclude by making recommendations for macro level support for the ECCE sector during educational disruptions.

This article examines how the crisis of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a crucible, or a means of transformation, for global educators. How teachers leverage their lived experience of teaching through the implications of COVID-19 to transform identity and practice is a new phenomenon and merits examination. Through a collection of interviews, the ways in which the life experiences of teaching through COVID-19 worked to create new identities in teachers and new practices within the classroom is examined. Data was gathered through informal interviews from eleven educators teaching through the crisis of COVID-19 across the world, including four continents and six countries. Drawing on simple thematic analysis, a narrative approach was utilized to examine the process of transformation in teachers across the globe. The findings and analysis of this research will help those working with teachers better understand how teachers leverage a crisis be it COVID-19, or another disruptive force, as a crucible for transformation.

To increase our students' access to study abroad opportunities, a full semester course was designed that embedded a study abroad trip to Belize during spring break. The course fulfills both an upper level science course for both biology and biotechnology majors and an elective course for the Global Studies minor. Ten students enrolled in the course, and students' financial aid packages covered all or partial cost of the trip for seven students. The students were divided into four groups to study the coral reef, mangrove forest, and either the rain forest of Belmopan or Punta Gorda. Guest speakers came to class prior to the trip and provided information on the flora, fauna, and marine ecosystems of Central America. In Belize, students completed a research experience, learned about Mayan and Garifuna culture, and traveled extensively within the country. In addition to learning about the ecosystems and culture of Belize, many stated they learned more about themselves and felt more prepared to step out of their comfort zones to travel internationally again. After this positive learning experience all students agreed that they would recommend the course to a friend. The students wrote blogs and presented their research findings in poster and video format at the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).

The importance of diversity and diversity education is becoming increasingly clear among businesses and in society. Colleges and universities are recognizing the necessity of expanding student outcomes to include intercultural competence to meet this requirement. Because of this increased importance, this study sought to examine the impact of a study abroad marketing course on students' intercultural competency. Students enrolled in an upper-level marketing course completed a nine-day study abroad trip in Belize, where they were able to interact with diverse cultures. They also completed the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as part of the class assessment at the beginning and end of the semester. To improve their IDI score, they received instruction, individual coaching, and completed individual assignments to increase their intercultural competency. Results show a significant positive increase in terms of developmental orientation toward other cultures at the end of the semester as compared to the beginning. These results provide insight and suggest best practices on how to increase intercultural competency in students in marketing education.

Climate change is causing rapid environmental deterioration in the Caribbean. Therefore, empowering citizens to become environmentally literate is crucial. This study examined environmental awareness (EA) and practice (EP) among a sample (n=207) of Belizean undergraduate students. An Environmental Knowledge Indicator (High = 18-20; Moderate = 14-17; Low = 10-13; Poor = 7-9; Very Poor= < 6) and an Environmentally Responsible Behaviour scale (High = 72-80; Moderate = 56-71; Low = 40-55; Poor = 26-39; Very Poor= < 25) were used to collect data. Results revealed low levels of environmental awareness (M=13.5), and poor environmentally responsible practice (M=33.4). There was no statistically significant relationship between EA and EP. Males had statistically higher EA scores (M =14.06) than females (M= 12.49), t (205) = 3.53, p =0.001. They also had statistically higher EP scores (M=35.11) than females (M = 32.15), t (203) = 2.07, p<0.05). Natural Science students had statistically higher EA scores (M = 13.93) than Social Science students (M= 12.41), t (205) = -3.51, p=0.001. They also had statistically higher EP scores (M = 34.97) than Social Science students (M= 31.82), t (203) = -2.23, p<0.05. These results may suggest inadequate exposure to Education for Sustainable Development models.

Negative relationships between mathematics anxiety and achievement appear in many countries globally (Lee, 2009; OECD, 2013), suggesting that mathematics anxiety could be an underconsidered factor in regions with persistently low mathematics achievement. We draw on a national sample of students and their teachers in Belize to examine relations between mathematics anxiety and achievement. The data replicated the negative relationships between students' math anxiety and achievement observed in many higher achieving, higher resourced regions, and importantly also revealed that teachers' mathematics anxiety predicted their students' mathematics attitudes and sometimes achievement. The effects were small overall so the robustness of this relationship is not clear, but they provide novel data toward building a comprehensive theory of mathematics anxiety's relationship to achievement across cultural, gender and age contexts, and offer insight into how addressing mathematics anxiety might improve mathematics teaching and achievement in low resourced countries. [This article was published in "Mind, Brain, and Education" (EJ1277351).]

Jean Kirshner holds a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Development from Colorado State University and specializes in literacy and teacher education. Jean started her career as the Early Childhood Director at Saint Ignatius Grammar School, Chicago in 1988. After two years she joined the Child Opportunity Program in Denver as a Head Start Supervising Teacher. In 1994, she became a kindergarten teacher and has been a First Grade Teacher since 2006 in Douglas County School District, Parker, Colorado. She co-founded the Belize Education Program in 2007 which is the main topic of this interview. The world needs more inspiring educators like Jean who contribute selflessly especially to the underprivileged communities that need more love and attention.

This case study on Belize educators during the COVID-19 school closures examines the innovative approach the educators of this country took. As many schools across the globe swiftly pivoted to online learning during the COVID-19 school closures, the educators of Belize recognized that digital learning would leave out their marginalized students who did not have internet connectivity. Instead, the educators of Belize drew on the history of their country, using school radio to reach their youngest citizens located in remote locations without internet. This innovative solution, reaching students in villages without internet, required the collaboration of Belize's teachers and radio broadcasters.

While the research literature is replete with studies on student perspectives and their development of cross-cultural sensitivity, research on the perspectives of educators who host international preservice teachers is woefully lacking. This study seeks to fill that gap by assessing the experiences of 15 educators at an elementary host school in Belize. It draws on their experiences with hosting the Belize Project, a week-long international field experience. Our findings lead to two major conclusions. Culture and completing a field experience in a classroom in another country are two closely intertwined and difficult to disentangle experiences. It is a reciprocal process in which both participating partners, the teacher candidates and host school community, reap the benefits of both a cultural and educational exchange. Not only does it benefit the student teachers, it also contributes to the professional development of the host school community and its educators. Despite the short length of the project, the mentor teachers and administrators unanimously agreed that its benefits clearly outweigh its challenges.

This participatory action research involved Belizean and American educators engaged in professional development work that became increasingly collaborative. First, we describe early focus on resources and teaching strategies. Next, we discuss shifting to a more participatory, dialogic approach. We then explain how intentional engagement in Freirean dialogue, sharing life stories and sharing lifeworlds led to transformations in identities and practices. Finally, we discuss relevance of our work for transcultural professional development work.

Purpose: This review systematically analyzed BID among young women of developing nations after these women's consumption of Western media. We explored changes in women's exposure to Western media alongside changes in body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Reoccurring themes of internalization across populations of women are discussed. Method: Multiple databases were used in our search for relevant research which included information on body image dissatisfaction, eating disorders, Western media, and the experiences of young women. Ultimately, given the extant research and specific interests of the current study, body image dissatisfaction was explored within the following ten nations: Turkey, India, China, South Africa, Belize, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Iran, Oman, and Fiji. Results: Many of the identified research studies included "secondary and post-secondary students as their sample." Results lend further support for the association between Western media and body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders across cultures and developing nations. Internalizing thin ideals into a woman's current cultural beauty schema, her amount of exposure, and her socioeconomic status emerged as important predictors of body image dissatisfaction. Implications for Research and Practice: Results of the current study suggest that young women of developing nations may associate the thin ideals portrayed in Western media with financial success. This association warrants further exploration and could inform more culturally sensitive interventions. An attempt to understand the importance of cultural differences and similarities would be a progressive step in identifying appropriate mechanisms on which interventions might act to prevent internalizing harmful aspects of the beauty ideals presented in Western media.

The objective of the research is to investigate if certain demographics of students help explain four areas of potential improvements in predominantly short-term study abroad programs. These areas are motivation, experience enhancement, benefits from various learning activities, and students' concerns regarding their experience. Pre-trip and post-trip surveys were conducted using logistic regression model. Our results showed that participants of a longer-term program were more likely than those in the short-term program to be expanded in their cultural understanding and global outlook. In contrast to many studies, males were found to be more motivated than females by a desire to experience foreign culture. Students with a higher GPA were found to have a more enhanced academic experience than those with a lower GPA. Finally, participants from a monocultural background were found to have a more culturally enhanced experience than the multicultural ones. The results will help improve the quality of study abroad programs.

There is a call for today's teachers to be globally literate as their student populations become more diverse. Immersive experiences in other countries with international colleagues and students can support the development of global literacy and culturally responsive practice. Preservice special education teachers do not often have opportunities to gain these experiences. The authors use examples of existing international collaborations in special education to illustrate a variety of ways that preservice and in-service teachers can experience international collaboration.

This study utilized an online survey instrument to investigate the degree to which former student teachers abroad have transferred, adapted and integrated previous experiences gathered in their student teaching abroad (STA) experiences in semester-long international school, classroom, and cultural settings to (a) positively shape the current culturally responsive context of their U.S. classrooms and (b) enhance the instructional and curricular experiences of their increasingly diverse students. Participants were K-12 teachers who previously completed a semester-long international student teaching experience at a large public university in the Southeastern US from 2002 to 2014. Findings of the study demonstrate that benefits of international student teaching experiences transfer to current practicing teachers as they work with diverse learners in US classrooms. The findings contribute to the research literature regarding the relationship between student teaching abroad experiences and their transference, adaptation, and integration into the classroom practice of beginning teachers in U.S. schools--an area in which research remains sparse.

In this article, two teacher educators share the evolution of an Overseas Student Teaching (OST) program embedded in the University of Kentucky's Educator Preparation Program (EPP). The goal of this initiative is to help candidates who participate in this program develop skills associated with global competence so they can better address the needs of P-12 students from a wide range of diverse backgrounds when they enter the profession. We begin with a rationale explaining the importance of global competence for teachers as seen through a policy and theoretical lens. We also identify possible obstacles involved in initiatives such as ours and offer suggestions about how to overcome them. Then, we describe the curriculum OST participants follow including key assignments and tools used to guide and assess their progress. We conclude with expansion plans designed to help more teacher candidates in our EPP become globally competent teachers whether or not they participate in the overseas initiative.

This article provides an account of a recent research study that investigated an international service learning internship for in-service teachers. Relying upon what we know to be the advantages and benefits of somewhat similar experiences (i.e., international internships for preservice teachers, internships for in-service teachers, and service learning opportunities for university students) to frame our investigation, we explored the impact upon in-service teachers, particularly as they relate to both professional and personal growth. Analysis of questionnaire responses revealed a number of prominent themes. Stories and accounts of professional growth were related to: (a) creating an engaging and safe learning environment, (b) (over)planning for the unexpected, and (c) teaching with (and in front of) others. Stories and accounts of personal growth were related to: (a) letting go of control, (b) facing fears and confronting anxieties while outside of one's comfort zone, and (c) recognizing privilege and the excess of possessions. Results from this study might appeal to those who similarly share an interest in international service learning internships, service learning generally, international internships, in-service teacher education, and/or international or global education.

The purpose of this grounded approach study is to provide answers to the research question 'what aspect(s) of schooling could newly qualified teachers contribute to, and why?' Via emails, 22 newly qualified teachers (NQTs) from 10 countries provided answers to the research question. The analysis of the data revealed that NQTs thought attributional, informational and skill and ability based contributions and associated actions and activities could be made to various aspects of schooling. I define attributional contributions as actions and activities in which NQTs engage which are the results of personal qualities/attributes they possess, informational contributions as facts which NQTs share and gain via experience and/or initial teacher education and training, and skill and ability based contributions as school-based activities in which NQTs engage based on personal skills, abilities and interests. Examples of implications of the findings for policy and practice include schools' leadership teams reexamining their views on the use of NQTs and the need to reduce negative human dynamics which prevent NQTs from being recognised and used.

Through the voices of both faculty and student authors, we discuss the intentional integration of neurodiversity in an undergraduate, community geography research program. This exploratory case study takes conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion from theory to practice presenting the development of an inclusive learning community through the lens of education and geoscience education frameworks. Through multiple perspectives advocating for systemic change for inclusive community geography, this paper presents actionable recommendations others in geography can draw from in their own efforts to broaden participation within geography field programs.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether an experiential learning opportunity, specifically a study tour experience, would improve the cultural intelligence of prospective educational leaders and would challenge them to expand their own cultural understanding and behavior. Several prospective leaders who enrolled in a graduate program in Educational Leadership volunteered to attend a study abroad program that was intended, in part, to enhance their cultural competence. They were then asked to complete a survey that measured the four domains of cultural intelligence, namely metacognition, cognition, motivation and behavior. They were also asked to respond to prompts about how the experiential learning experience impacted their own cultural understanding and behavior. The results indicated that the study tour participants were cognizant of their cultural intelligence and that they compared and contrasted the norms of their own culture and those of the study tour country. In essence, participants acquired substantial cultural intelligence and reflected on how their leadership behavior should change to meet the needs of others.

Problem-based learning is an innovative educational approach that is gaining prominence in higher education using "real world" problems or situations as a context for learning. The present study explored the use of problem-based learning with teacher trainees of the University of Belize. Using a concurrent mixed method design with 74 teachers in training from the Belmopan and the EU Sugar Belt Project in the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts, teachers in training were immersed in the development and application of Problem-Based lessons, and learning centres. Identified in survey instruments is that, problem-based learning can be applied across all areas of study of Belize's Primary and Lower Secondary curricula by aligning concepts with authentic problems stimulates critical thinking, and provides the use of a pragmatic approach to teach real- life concepts. Responses from focus group interviews and application of Problem-based learning centres with primary and secondary students are that this inductive model of teaching stimulates higher order learning when compared to other traditional pedagogical practices.

Our recent research study investigated an international field experience for preservice teachers, labelled as a service-learning internship, a term often used to refer to a student teacher in a Bachelor of Education (BEd) program. Relying on what we know to be advantages and benefits of similar international field experiences for preservice teachers to frame our investigation, we explored the impact of a service-learning internship upon beginning teachers, particularly as it related to their professional growth as teachers. To gain insight into teacher education, we drew on the work of Mollenhauer (2014) to critically examine the foundations of how we prepare teachers in our BEd program. Analysis of questionnaire responses, tracked by a digital discussion forum via Moodle™, revealed two dominant themes: (a) gaining a deeper understanding of children, and (b) learning to be flexible regardless of curricular constraints. Results from this study might be of interest to those who share a similar interest in international field experiences, teacher education, and pedagogy.

In our current period of escalating climate change, we urgently need to better understand the modern climate and climate drivers in understudied regions of the world. This article provides a succinct and current literature review of one such region: the Maya Lowlands. The region has a long history of study on human--climatic interaction but little regarding modern climate research. To spur the study and understanding of climate in this region, we present an applied exercise of climate drivers and data. First, the article will provide an update on the current knowledge of the modern climate drivers in the Maya Lowland regions. To provide breadth in the studies, we base our review on different climate time-scale variabilities. Second, we present results from a pilot exercise on applied climate trends exercised at an institute of higher education. Through practical problem-based learning, students investigate climate trends using climate data for the Maya Lowlands, and gain an insight into data management. The feedback gathered from the exercise helped formulate a revised edition to be used by instructors. Follow-up discussion questions and steps required to conduct the exercise are included. Through interdisciplinary techniques, the exercise aims for students to analyse critically the changing climate.

Though violence in schools is a highly topical issue, very few studies have examined the issue in early years classrooms in the Caribbean. Using Jamaica and Belize as case studies, four teachers were interviewed to ascertain how they respond to children from harsh ecological environments in which they teach. Using thematic analysis, the findings suggest teachers' limited knowledge in helping children. Teachers acknowledge fears for themselves and students. They also depend on intuitive knowledge from their years in the school system to help children. The findings also support the need for ongoing professional development for which will enable them to better meet the needs of young children. The implications of the findings on early childhood teacher education are also discussed.

Aggressive, violent, and disruptive behaviour among Belize youth is disproportionately high. The present study evaluated a school-based positive youth development program (Positive Action) using a clustered RCT. The aim of the study sought to examine post-treatment positive youth development competencies (i.e. social-emotional character development, peer affiliation, substance abuse and violence tendencies, moral beliefs, pro-social behaviour, and school self-esteem) in comparison to students in a randomly assigned control group of schools. Participants (n = 4575) were from 24 schools drawn at random in the Belize District with outcomes assessed for two cohorts (Standard 1-3, and Standard 4-6) of children. The intervention addressed different ecologies through teacher, counsellor, and family training along with activities to promote school-wide implementation. Positive main effects for engagement in positive behaviour were observed across primary school Standards 1-6 (ages 7-12 years), indicated by substantial explained slope and intercept variance.

Community geography (CG) pedagogy sits at the intersection of three systematic shifts in higher education: desires to expand engagement with society; the evolution of student-centered, evidence-based instruction; and, the desire to diversify voices and knowledge production in the academy. Since the 1960s geographers have regularly partnered with communities. However, within the last twenty years community geographers have centered community-engaged projects as the axis of each CG course, and combined pragmatism and service-learning to inform their instruction. Using five case studies we illustrate and provide recommendations for two key CG pedagogical characteristics: reciprocal partnerships and reflection.

This paper presents a review of twelve studies on the effectiveness of international service-learning projects. The purpose of this review is to analyze, through the use of themes, the goals and issues affecting outcomes of such programs in order to evaluate the current uses of international service-learning within multiple fields. International service-learning goals range from producing a sense of civic engagement to transformational pedagogy and should be examined for their effectiveness within higher education. This study was conducted in the form of a literature review focusing on international service-learning research taken from the early 2000's to the present. Data focusing on program goals and outcomes was collected, and the findings suggest that international service-learning programs must focus on more than critical reflection in order to produce change in its participants--both students and community members. The findings also suggest that programs set goals that are not always readily met, and therefore, a few recommendations have been made for program improvement.