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Introduction: This study aimed to develop a cost-effective suturing and knot typing simulator that aligns with the expectations of experts, addressing the need for affordable yet high-quality medical training tools. The focus was on assessing the efficacy of a silicone skin suture task trainer, created through a 3D printed mold, for use in mobile learning, specifically in rural and remote contexts. Methods: Rural and remote trainees participating in a skills acquisition workshop, engaged in a 90-minute suturing simulation station. They received minimal feedback from physician educators to simulate independent practice. After the practice, they completed a survey assessing the acceptability and feasibility of the simulator for the intended training purpose, as well as providing feedback for future improvements. Results: Results from quantitative data revealed the simulator's potential to develop competence (4.2 out of 5) and confidence (4.1 out of 5). Participants expressed a readiness to practice suturing independently using the simulator (4.3 out of 5). Notably, the realism of the simulator was identified as an area for improvement in terms of anatomical correctness (3.6 out of 5) and accuracy (3.4 out of 5), while durability scored high (4 out of 5). Participants found the simulator easy to use (4.4 out of 5) and well-suited for developing cognitive (4.4 out of 5) and psychomotor skills (4.2 out of 5) related to suturing and knot typing. Several improvements were noted, especially in the areas of anatomical representativeness, material selection, and interactions between the simulator and clinical tools. Conclusions: This paper outlines the acceptability and feasibility of the simulator, designed to complement an online learning management system for hands-on clinical skill learning within the mobile learning paradigm. Despite high self-efficacy and educational value scores, concerns about realism suggest a need for a hybrid design approach that balances costs and anatomical fidelity in simulator development. [For the full proceedings, see ED659933.]

Homeschooling, as a controversial educational practice, raises many questions about its outcomes, which still remain unanswered. The homeschooling population has been growing over the past years, as has interest in this educational paradigm. The increased accessibility and use of emerging information technologies also hold significance in facilitating access to knowledge and contributing to the expansion of this educational trend. In this context, numerous families contemplate homeschooling for several reasons. Yet, the decision to homeschool or not their children is often difficult, as the outcomes are not predictable. Researchers have explored the academic achievements of homeschooling; however, a more significant question remains unanswered: Are homeschoolers happy? This paper aims to provide insight into homeschoolers' perceptions of this matter. Research findings on the life satisfaction of homeschoolers presented here were based on the anonymous responses of an online survey collected between July 2022 and July 2023 from 33 current or former homeschoolers from five countries. This study used the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to evaluate the well-being of homeschooled individuals who self-assessed their educational experience as well. The paper also examines the advantages and disadvantages of the educational practice as perceived by homeschoolers themselves in an attempt to provide a picture of the satisfaction of homeschoolers with their educational journey. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The Numeracy Kit for Kindergarten 5-Year-Olds (NyKK-5) is a tool to support kindergarten teachers' numeracy practices. Based on a pedagogy of enactment, the NyKK-5 was designed to simulate the types of in-class supports that have been identified as critical elements of effective mathematics professional development (PD). Two groups of teachers received PD on children's early numeracy: The NyKK-5 condition was provided the NyKK-5 and the theory condition was not provided any pedagogical tools. Students in the NyKK-5 and theory classrooms demonstrated greater numeracy growth relative to students in a comparison condition. Teacher logs and classroom observations suggested that the amount of time spent engaging students in mathematics was more predictive of student learning than the NyKK-5 by itself, but the amount of teaching experience may define one condition under which use of the tool is optimized. [For the complete proceedings, see ED657822.]

In a research study designed to investigate the emergence of collective creativity in elementary classroom settings, and in which teachers' decision-making practices were analyzed alongside both the teachers' observed teaching practices in their classrooms and their students' problem solving actions, the first author developed four metaphors for collective mathematical creativity and linked the entailments of these metaphors to teachers' actions. In this paper, we discuss in detail these entailments and teacher actions, present a framework for collective creativity, and reflect on the implications for practice and further research. [For the complete proceedings, see ED657822.]

This book contains a compilation of papers presented at the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2023, organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (WIARS), held in International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2023, held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 22 to 24 of April 2023. he goal of understanding individuals and groups (mental functions and behavioral standpoints), from this academic and practical scientific discipline, aims ultimately to benefit society. The International Conference seeks to provide some answers and explore the several areas within the Psychology field, new developments in studies and proposals for future scientific projects. The goal is to offer a worldwide connection between psychologists, researchers and lecturers, from a wide range of academic fields, interested in exploring and giving their contribution in psychological issues. We take pride in having been able to connect and bring together academics, scholars, practitioners and others interested in a field that is fertile in new perspectives, ideas and knowledge. We counted on an extensive variety of contributors and presenters, which can supplement the view of the human essence and behavior, showing the impact of their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. This is, certainly, one of the reasons there are several nationalities and cultures represented, inspiring multi-disciplinary collaborative links, fomenting intellectual encounters and development. InPACT 2023 received 548 submissions, from more than 39 different countries all over the world, reviewed by a double-blind process. Submissions were prepared to take the form of Oral Presentations, Posters, Virtual Presentations and Workshops. 192 submissions (overall, 35% acceptance rate) were accepted for presentation at the conference.

Soft skills are key for the successful realisation of individuals in their personal, professional and social life, but scientific research conducted on the soft skills of homeschoolers is still scarce so far. One of the most frequent questions, when homeschooling is discussed concerns the presumed lack of social skills of homeschoolers. A common assumption is that homeschoolers' socialisation is compromised and homeschooled individuals' soft skills development is, therefore, impaired. However, researchers, education specialists, and homeschooling families have differing opinions about this question. Research shows that the concern of social skills deficit comes often from outside the families, although parents usually care the most about their children's wellbeing. Homeschoolers, who were surveyed in the framework of this research did not confirm this assumption either. Therefore, there seems to be a clear need for deeper understanding and further exploration of the soft skills of homeschoolers. This paper aims to present the initial findings, discovered through theoretical study and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the preliminary results of an online survey conducted with homeschoolers from 3 countries aged over 16 years in order to explore the soft skills they develop. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

This case study features pedagogical strategies that were used in the context of a mobile app for learning to encourage relevant engagement and participation. For 20 weeks, a group of 18 piano students, ages 10 through 15, used a mobile app known as PracticeCactus. This self-contained social media platform allowed young participants to create and post audio recordings of their piano practice to share with their peers, which could then be 'liked' and commented on. Giving the mobile app to music learners without any direction at first, to provide them with freedom to engage with the app as they chose, resulted in limited engagement, due to individualism and a performance-based mindset. To encourage participatory engagement with the app, four pedagogical strategies were enacted, including: a) inviting students to take on the identity of 'content creator;' b) celebrating process over product; c) initiating goal-setting projects; and d) scaffolded instruction. These strategies resulted in the students using the app more frequently, but more importantly, fostered a different type of engagement, i.e., new opportunities for musical thinking and learning. Teachers who want to foster participatory engagement in music learning may benefit from this discussion of pedagogical strategies in the context of a mobile app. [For the full proceedings, see ED639391.]

For learners to be individuals equipped with the 21st-century skills when they start business life after graduation, they must be able to gain these skills during their education. However, due to their nature, it's not possible for students to acquire these skills under a specific course. For these skills to be achieved, they must be integrated across all curricula. In this study, an evaluation was conducted to see whether various countries incorporate the 21st-century skills in their curricula, how these skills are applied, and how these skills should be handled in their curricula. Within the scope of this research, the curricula applied in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, Ireland, and Turkey were examined. When the 12 skills defined by the P21 platform are considered, it can be seen that all skills are interconnected and that one cannot fully exist without the other. It can be said that starting to gain these skills, which are required by the 21st-century professions and which employers expect from graduates, from an early age it is important for individuals to be properly and fully prepared for the future. In accordance with the 21st-century expectations, evaluations, educational materials, teaching methods, professional growth opportunities, and learning environments should all be synchronized to create a supportive framework that generates the 21st-century results for contemporary students. [This paper was published in: "EJER Congress 2023 International Eurasian Educational Research Congress Conference Proceedings," Ani Publishing, 2023, pp. 97-126.]

Data literacy is the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data, in a critical manner. It is a relatively new field of study, dating only from the 2010s. It includes the skills necessary to discover and access data, manipulate data, evaluate data quality, conduct analysis using data, interpret results of analyses, and understand the ethics of using data. This paper considers data literacy education across three frameworks: the competency model defining data literacy, the assessment of data literacy competencies, and methods for the development of data literacy in an organization. These principles are applied to a discussion of the development of an open online course supporting the development of data literacy in the form of a corresponding data structure encompassing the three frameworks identified in the literature. [For the full proceedings, see ED636095.]

This study aims to examine the research published in the Web of Science database on Curriculum Alignment using the bibliometric analysis method. A bibliometric analysis of the studies included in the research was conducted on August 10, 2023. The "Web of Science Core Collection" was searched by entering the keyword "Curriculum Alignment." One hundred-five studies were included in the evaluation. VOSviewer package program was used for bibliometric analysis of article data. According to the general data of bibliometric analysis, 105 studies were published in 42 different sources, and the average number of citations per document was 11.21. When the distribution of articles according to publication years is examined, most articles were published in 2021. It was understood that there were more publications on Curriculum Alignment in the journals Chemical Education and Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice. It has been determined that studies on curriculum alignment are concentrated in the United States; The United States was followed by Australia, England, South Africa, Canada, and the People's Republic of China, respectively. It has been determined that topics such as learning outcomes, curriculum mapping, problem-based learning, analytical competencies, in-service teachers, enacted curriculum, curriculum change, collaboration, and assessment design are current issues discussed together with curriculum alignment. A limited number of studies have been conducted on Curriculum Alignment in Turkey. It may be recommended to conduct new studies on the subject. [For the full proceedings, see ED652261.]

The aim of the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (iHSES) conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, discuss theoretical and practical issues, and connect with the leaders in the fields of "humanities," "education" and "social sciences." It is organized for: (1) faculty members in all disciplines of humanities, education and social sciences; (2) graduate students; (3) K-12 administrators; (4) teachers; (5) principals; and (6) all interested in education and social sciences. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

In this paper, we report on a study that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and for which we interviewed ten experienced, university level, language instructors about their digital practices as they found themselves teaching in an Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) mode. The study sought to describe how, through their professional activities and experiences, they developed new and/ or further online competencies and how the ERT context brought them to rethink their pedagogical practices and namely, their Written Corrective Feedback (WCF). Our results show that language instructors' digital competencies are on a dynamic continuum of changes with some who faced challenges, while others sought opportunities or provided solutions during that unprecedented period. An adapted version of the SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition) model (Puentedura, 2010) is suggested, which takes into consideration this ERT context. [For the complete volume, "Intelligent CALL, Granular Systems and Learner Data: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2022 (30th, Reykjavik, Iceland, August 17-19, 2022)," see ED624779.]

This study examined the use of a popular Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Google Voice Typing (GVT), to automatically assess English as second language pronunciation. It aimed to answer the following question: What is the relationship between GVT-rated scores and human-rated scores? To answer this question, we compared audio recordings of 56 oral placement tests, rated by both human raters and GVT. Our results indicate that GVT scores strongly correlated with human-rater scores, indicating that this non-customizable ASR technology could be leveraged to increase the test usefulness of language placement tests. [For the complete volume, "Intelligent CALL, Granular Systems and Learner Data: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2022 (30th, Reykjavik, Iceland, August 17-19, 2022)," see ED624779.]

With COVID-19 continuing to make meeting face-to-face impossible, the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group/Groupe Canadien d'Étude en Didactique des Mathématiques (CMESG/GCEDM) executive decided that, for the first time, the CMESG/GCEDM meeting would be held virtually. By necessity, the program had to be much compressed with no topic sessions and no gallery walk. The 44th annual meeting took place June 11-13, 2021. These proceedings contain one plenary lecture, five working groups, one panel, 13 new PhD reports, and two ad hoc sessions. Twenty-two papers are included in these proceedings--three papers are written in both French and English; one paper is written in French; and the remainder are written in English. [For the 2019 proceedings, see ED610111.]

A child's ability to understand text (reading comprehension) can greatly impact both their ability to learn in the classroom and their future contributions to society. Reading comprehension draws on oral language; behavioural measures of knowledge at the word and sentence levels have been shown to be related to children's reading comprehension. In this study, we examined the impact of word and sentence level text-features on children's reading comprehension. We built a predictive model that uses natural language processing techniques to predict the question-level performance of students on reading comprehension tests. We showed that, compared to a model that used measures of student knowledge and subskills alone, a model that used features of sentence complexity, lexical surprisal, rare word use, and general context improved prediction accuracy by more than four percentage points. Our subsequent analyses revealed that these features compensate for the shortcomings of each other and work together to produce maximal performance. This provides insight into how different characteristics of the text and questions can be used to predict student performance, leading to new ideas about how text and reading comprehension interact. Our work also suggests that using a combination of text features could support the adaptation of reading materials to meet student needs. [For the full proceedings, see ED623995.]

How might mathematics educators recognize discourses as resonating harmonies in their practices as researchers? In this paper we share individual experiential narratives guided by Ojibway author Richard Wagamese's Medicine Wheel teachings in the four directions of East (humility), South (trust), West (introspection), and North (wisdom). As we journey through (re)membering place we offer opportunities for recognizing resonating harmony(ies) and algorhythms in our practices as mathematics education researchers and for engaging with critically dissonance discourses and actions. This (re)membering supports relating with each other, mathematics, communities, and place in ways that are more sustainable, inter-connected, and kincentric. [For the complete proceedings, see ED630210.]

The need to identify student cognitive engagement in online-learning settings has increased with our use of online learning approaches because engagement plays an important role in ensuring student success in these environments. Engaged students are more likely to complete online courses successfully, but this setting makes it more difficult for instructors to identify engagement. In this study, we developed predictive models for automating the identification o f cognitive engagement in online discussion posts. We adapted the Interactive, Constructive, Active, and Passive (ICAP) Engagement theory [15] by merging ICAP with Bloom's taxonomy. We then applied this adaptation of ICAP to label student posts (N = 4,217), thus capturing their level of cognitive engagement. To investigate the feasibility of automatically identifying cognitive engagement, the labelled data were used to train three machine learning classifiers (i.e., decision tree, random forest, and support vector machine). Model inputs included features extracted by applying CohMetrix to student posts and non-linguistic contextual features (e.g., number of replies). The support vector machine model outperformed the other classifiers. Our findings suggest it is feasible to automatically identify cognitive engagement in online learning environments. Subsequent analyses suggest that new language features (e.g., AWL use) should be included because they support the identification o f cognitive engagement. Such detectors could be used to help identify students who are in need of support or help adapt teaching practices and learning materials. [For the full proceedings, see ED623995.]

Drawing on theories from transcultural theory, I examined Chinese immigrant mothers' transcultural perspectives on mothering and learning. Recent adult educational studies contain limited research on the effects of cultural influence on mothering and learning by immigrant mothers from their perspective. Based on 30 semi-structured interviews among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada, this study revealed there are not only interactions between the fluid cultural values and the understanding of mothering and learning by immigrant mothers, but also race, gender, and class relations behind Chinese immigrant mothers' mothering and learning practice. This paper contributes to a better understanding of cultural influence on Chinese immigrant mothers' learning and mothering practice. The findings help foster adult educational programs for immigrant mothers in multicultural societies. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These "Proceedings" are from the Commission of International Adult Education's (CIAE) 2022 International Pre-Conference. This year's "Proceedings" contain 12 papers from 18 authors, representing CIAE's usual diversity of authors and topics. Researcher and research sites include Canada, China, Ghana, Italy, Nigeria, and the United States. A major theme continuing from the 2021 conference is the impact of COVID-19 on learners in a variety of settings, including teacher training, adult basic education, and higher education. A second major theme concerns cross-cultural learning, including among migrants and in higher education. Some papers address adult learning experiences in myriad social contexts, such as learning for democracy, aging, military, and spiritual learning. A special feature at this year's Pre-Conference is a focus on CONFINTEA VII and the Marrakech Framework for Action. A panel and discussion session on these important endeavors are part of the Pre-Conference Agenda, with key documents provided in the 2022 Proceedings. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

The notion that educators are committed to effective facilitation of racial integration in secondary schools has become the keystone in developing a socially just schooling system in South Africa. This paper sets out to determine the role educators play in the transformation of schools towards racial integration, as well as their nature and perception in facilitating racial integration in the truest sense. Findings emanating from this research indicate that the striking down of the policies and educational system of the Apartheid regime has propelled educators from segregated backgrounds into teaching learners from different racially diverse backgrounds. Similarly, most learners for the first time are being taught by racially diverse educators. A qualitative framework is used to investigate firsthand experiences of managing racial integration in relation to educators and school management, and their role in determining successful racial integration in secondary schools in South Africa. The purpose of this paper is to prepare educators with the accumulative knowledge, understanding and tenets of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) on how to create opportunities for decolonising classroom content and practice as well as addressing the weaknesses in previous approaches to racially integrate learners in desegregated schools. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

This mixed-methods one-shot study examines L2 writers' perceptions of using Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) to write using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), based on three criteria: usefulness, ease of use, and intention to use. After receiving training on Google voice typing in Google Docs, 17 English as a Second Language (ESL) students carried out two ASR-based writing tasks over a two-hour period. After the treatment, participants filled in a TAM-informed survey and participated in semi-structured interviews to measure their perceptions based on the target criteria. Findings indicate positive perceptions of ASR as a writing tool in terms of usefulness (language learning potential) and ease of use (e.g. user-friendly voice commands). We believe that these positive perceptions might lead to an intention to continue to use ASR, suggesting that the technology has L2 pedagogical potential. [For the complete volume, "CALL and Professionalisation: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2021 (29th, Online, August 26-27, 2021)," see ED616972.]

The need for adult education and training (AET) is substantial, as labour markets require advanced skills. We used data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) for Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States (U.S.) to compare participation in AET by high- and low-skilled adults. Additionally, key informant interviews and document reviews were conducted. We found (a) low-skilled adults are less likely to participate in AET; (b) participation in AET is highest among the working population; and (c) non-formal education is often more acceptable to low-skilled adults. [This paper was published in: "Proceedings of Adult Education in Global Times: An International Research Conference," 2021, pp. 610-613.]

The COVID-19 crisis challenged us to learn, teach, and work in ways we never had before. As we move further into 2021 more educational institutions are thinking about how online teaching and learning can become a permanent way of offering programs. However, there are still ethical considerations that merit deeper consideration. Before the pandemic, there was 20 years of research from various countries to show there was less misconduct in online courses than in face-to-face courses, yet during COVID-19 academic and research misconduct increased dramatically around the world. So, what happened? And how do we move forward from here? Join us for an evidence-informed keynote about how to support ethical teaching, learning, and researching in online and blended contexts in 2021 and beyond.

The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada and the US overcoming the challenges through adult learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transformative learning theory is utilized as a theoretical framework. Transformative learning, as an important component of adult learning theory, emphasizes the expansion of consciousness through which an individual can critically reflect on their personal experiences and feelings (Mezirow, 2009). Based on this theoretical framework, we aim to understand how Chinese immigrant mothers as adult learners experience the pandemic and learn mothering during these uncertainties and at the same time, reorient their self-consciousness and self-directed learning skills in the new normal. Adopting qualitative research, we have conducted 50 semi-structured interviews among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada and United States. This study reveals that Chinese immigrant mothers are increasingly marginalized as a result of the global pandemic and capitalism, which accelerate their motivations for enhancing their self-consciousness and self-directed learning. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These "Proceedings" are from the Commission of International Adult Education's (CIAE) 2021 International Pre-Conference. This year's "Proceedings" contain 17 papers from 37 authors, representing CIAE's usual diversity of authors and topics. Researcher and research sites include Belgium, Belize, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Nigeria, Norway, Serbia, and the United States. Not surprisingly, a major theme explored is the impact of COVID-19 on learners in a variety of settings, including school teachers, communities, parents, and higher education. A second major theme concerns digital resources and addressing the digital divide. Some papers address practices and research methods that enhance adult learning and others explore professional development, workplace learning, and cultural aspects of learning. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) was founded in 1982 as the result of a merger between the National Association for Public and Continuing Adult Education (NAPCAE) and the Adult Education Association (AEA). This prestigious association is dedicated to the belief that lifelong learning contributes to human fulfillment and positive social change. The mission of AAACE is to provide leadership for the field of adult and continuing education by expanding opportunities for adult growth and development; unifying adult educators; fostering the development and dissemination of theory, research, information, and best practices; promoting identity and standards for the profession; and advocating relevant public policy and social change initiatives. This second annual conference proceedings provide an opportunity for presenters at the general conference to showcase a myriad of empirical research and practical application within the field of adult and continuing education. [For the 2020 proceedings, see ED611534.]

The paper examines how the game Minecraft can be used as a new digital learning environment in the context of second language teaching and learning. It explores how the concepts of digital space and digital place within the new 3D digital environment can contribute to reshaping the language learners' experience and promote greater engagement in the target language. The study involved one language teacher and his grade 6 (upper elementary) students in a French immersion program in Canada. Digital artifacts created by the students in Minecraft were collected and qualitative analysis was carried out. The findings reveal that the use of a new digital environment allows for the emergence of a sense of digital place (emotional connection), greater engagement, and a sense of agency and control on the part of learners. Higher levels of collaboration, creativity, and imagination were also observed in the language tasks. [For the complete volume, "CALL for Widening Participation: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2020 (28th, Online, August 20-21, 2020)," see ED610330.]

Mobile COLT is a portable platform for analysis of activities in the second language classroom, and is based on the well-known Communicative Orientation of Language Teaching (COLT) scheme (Spada & Fröhlich, 1995). It has been developed to facilitate real-time class analysis using a Windows tablet. This paper first describes the COLT analysis scheme, and expounds on the functions of Mobile COLT, its application in classroom practices, and the development of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) version (AI Mobile COLT). It also briefly reports on two studies carried out in Japan to examine how the use of Mobile COLT can further promote language teaching development. Then, the paper briefly describes a collaborative project initiated by the authors to explore how the AI Mobile COLT system can be combined with an ePortfolio platform in Moodle to provide quantitative data built on an evidence-based framework. [For the complete volume, "CALL for Widening Participation: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2020 (28th, Online, August 20-21, 2020)," see ED610330.]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the appropriateness of open-access reading materials for an intensive English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course, and to provide teachers with a set of criteria to select online texts systematically and efficiently. The Corpus for Veterinarians (VetCorpus) was compiled and analyzed using Lextutor corpus tools. Taking into account students' vocabulary size, background knowledge, word frequency, proper nouns, compound words, and cognates, the VetCorpus was considered useful and appropriate for intermediate level students, but too difficult for elementary level students. Further lexical analysis showed that the VetCorpus also provides learners with opportunities to encounter technical and academic vocabulary. [For the complete volume, "CALL for Widening Participation: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2020 (28th, Online, August 20-21, 2020)," see ED610330.]

We present the results of a research project on arithmetic-algebraic thinking that was carried out jointly by a team in Mexico and another in Quebec. The project deals with the concepts of variable and covariation between variables in the sixth grade at the elementary level and the first, second, and third years of secondary school--namely, children from 11 to 14 years old. We target secondary students (first year or K7) in this article. Our objective relates to the development of a gradual generalization in arithmetic-algebraic thinking in a socio-cultural approach to the learning of mathematics. We experimented with investigative situations using a paper-and-pencil approach and technology. We analyze the emergence, in this context, of a visual abstraction, the production of institutional and non-institutional representations, a sensitivity to contradiction, and, finally, the concepts of variable and of covariation between variables. [For the complete proceedings, see ED629884.]

In this session, Eaton examines how a systems approach is needed to address contract cheating in its various forms. Using the 4M framework, Eaton demonstrates the role of the individual (micro), the department (meso), the learning organization (macro) and stakeholders beyond the institution (mega). In this session, Eaton shares insights from her forthcoming book, "Plagiarism in Higher Education: Tackling Tough Topics in Academic Integrity" to be published by ABC Clio/Libraries Unlimited in 2021.

Participation in adult education and training opportunities over the entire life-course is necessary in international and technologically advanced economies. However, there is a dearth of literature on equitable access to lifelong education opportunities, particularly for at risk and underserved adults in the labor force. Furthermore, opportunities for financing lifelong learning remain minimal for middle-age and older adult populations. The purpose of this research is to explore strategies or alternative models to fund lifelong education with attention to the Individual Learning Account (ILA) schemes. We explore initiatives across four countries--Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This research uses a qualitative descriptive approach to compare strategies to financing lifelong education targeting adult learners. Data were collected from key informant interviews (N=14), government documents, and research reports. Two major themes emerged that are common across all key informant interviews and documentation: (1) ILA offers key lessons in informing the creation of effective lifelong learning funding; (2) Low-income and low-skilled adults are often excluded from participation in ILA schemes. The authors' findings move adult education beyond a focus on providers of education to considering additional strategies for financing individual learning. [This paper was published in: J. P. Egan (Ed.), "Proceedings of the Adult Education in Global Times Conference." Ottawa, ON: Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education." (ISBN 978-0-920056-53-0).]

This investigation hypothesizes that the effects derived from the reintegration of adult wilderness education will connect adults in unique ways to nature landscapes. The study is based on two cases: a five-year wilderness program that the author designed in a remote part of Canada, and a Yellowstone wilderness program that occurs yearly. The results suggest that nature does heighten adult emotive levels and may lead to increased appreciation for nature or altered states of consciousness.

Worldwide, the issue of women in school principal positions is being discussed. Discussions on this matter include, among other things, the underrepresentation and promotion opportunities of female principals, stereotyping, culture and education and competencies of women. Several studies have shown that women do not have to stand back for their male counterparts. This paper deals with the perspectives of female school principals in Canada and South Africa. The study was employed in the interpretivist paradigm, and as it aimed to explore different aspects of the leadership of female school principals, a qualitative approach was used as a vehicle to come to understand the central phenomenon shared by the 12 participating female school principals in the two countries. They were interviewed by means of semi-structured interviews through which aspects with regard to their position as school principals were revealed. The case studies showed that female principals can be regarded as effective principals.

Academic reviews take on new directions in an ever-increasing fast-paced development. Unit reviewers should be provided different samples, with varied cultural contents also providing nuances, as related to the 'object' of the evaluation, as well as a final overall product, i.e. more of a synthesis, through which one will check the degree of compliance, as regards the previously established conditions, and the degree of sensitivity towards the variety of cultures inherent in the system. The aim of this paper is to shed light on evolving processes attempting to keep up with new contexts. The methodological approach used is qualitative. It consists of the analysis of observational notes from the researcher as a participant observer involved in the process of two evaluation exercises in higher education. We will present our findings using Weiss' (1980) models for implementation of results in education and discuss underlying strategies. Conclusions drawn can be adapted to most educational settings and should enable cultural aspects that infiltrate the process to be considered as a value-added characteristic in the establishing of a fairer evaluation framework.

COVID-19 presented a challenge to the traditional methods of teaching programming and robotics in a secondary school environment. When campuses were closed around the world in the spring of 2020, it was not possible for students to access the computer labs nor the robotics equipment that was traditionally used to facilitate the instruction of robotics programming units. This paper presents a design research project in which two secondary institutions in Canada and Turkey collaborated to teach computer science and robotics programming, specifically reinforcement learning, through the use of an online simulation environment. The two student cohorts in the study both were successful in developing reinforcement learning models for autonomous vehicles, despite not having any prior experience in machine learning nor artificial intelligence. The implications of this work are that physical robotics kits and dedicated robotics spaces are not essential to the teaching of programming and robotics. This is especially relevant to marginalized communities that do not have the resources to support robotics instruction, further exacerbating the digital divide.

The demand for adult training opportunities is substantial as labor markets often require adult workers to obtain advanced skills. Opportunities to obtain advanced skills are often pursued by high-income and high-skilled workers whereas low-skilled or low-income adult workers are less likely to participate. For this study, we used data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) for the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden to compare participation rates in non-formal education (NFE) by high and low-skilled adults. Additionally, to gain insights of adult education and training policies that promote NFE, international key informant interviews (n = 33) and document reviews were conducted. Major findings include (a) as compared to high-skilled adults, low-skilled adults are less likely to participate in NFE; (b) as compared to the U.S., low-skilled workers in Norway and the Netherlands are more likely to participate in NFE; and (c) non-formal education is often more acceptable to low-skilled adults due to previous negative experiences with formal education. Countries were selected based on qualitative findings that will inform best practices. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These papers are from the CIAE 2020 Virtual International Pre-Conference. The global aberration, called COVID-19, defined 2020 beyond national borders. COVID-19 reshaped the format of the 69th annual AAACE conference by replacing the traditional bustling human interaction with virtual meetings and presentations. These "Proceedings" contain 12 papers from 17 authors. The preeminence of COVID-19 in the 2020 International Pre-Conference papers demonstrates CIAE's commitment to being globally responsive and relevant. The word COVID appearing 88 times and COVID-19 appearing 86 times with mentions in two paper titles are an acknowledgement of the common threads of humanity and of hope for a surpassing future. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

The present research explores the interactional nature of oral tasks carried out in two types of learner dyads in terms of their likelihood to foster negotiation for meaning during Language Related Episodes (LREs). Quantitative data analyses reveal how learners in same L1 dyads, Spanish English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, and in different L1 dyads, Canadian learners of Spanish and Spanish learners of English participating in a virtual exchange, modify their speech using negotiations and clarifications to make it comprehensible to their interlocutors. Eighteen different L1 dyads of university learners doing a virtual exchange (Canada-Spain) and eighteen dyads of Spanish-speakers learning English at the Spanish university carried out three oral communicative tasks online following the same procedures. Data were transcribed, LREs were identified, quantified for each dyad, and analyzed to determine their characteristics in terms of types of triggers, modified output, and type of feedback provided. Initial findings point to substantial differences in meaning negotiation occurring during LREs in each group. Different-L1 dyads exhibit more clarifications, meaning negotiation, and provide more feedback, which leads to higher amounts of comprehensible and modified output than learners in same L1 dyads. [For the complete proceedings, see ED600837.]

In June 2018 the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group/Groupe Canadien d'étude en didactique des mathématiques (CMESG/GCEDM) held its 42nd meeting in the idyllic setting of Squamish, British Columbia. This meeting marked the first time CMESG/GCEDM had been in British Columbia since 2010 and the first time it had been held at Quest University. Among the more than 150 attendees were 35 teachers, 17 of whom had been funded by the British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT) and the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) to attend the meeting. The meeting featured a scientific program organized into five working groups, six topic sessions, eight new PhD presentations, 16 gallery walk presentations, and six Ad Hoc sessions. Thirty-four papers are included in these proceedings--two are written in French, four are provided in both French and English, and the remainder are written in English. [For the 2017 proceedings, see ED589990.]

Rural social work education and practice in North America underwent a revival in recent decades and remains a valid praxis and pedagogic model for the 21st Century. The paper posits through rigorous literature review and analysis there are numerous elements central to North American (U.S. and Canadian) and Commonwealth of Nations (U.K., Australia, etc.) rural social work that make this framework significantly germane to Filipinos. These include the necessity to function in an environment of marginal or stressed community, personnel resources and educational opportunities. Significantly, the generalist practice model comprises the core of North American rural social work; it also predominates in Philippine methodology. Both frameworks require robust client and social justice advocacy roles encouraging awareness of needs and aspirations of at risk populations. Indeed, social work researcher Thelma Lee-Mendoza reports that historically modern Philippine practice originated and is primarily organized from North American models. Rural social workers in the West, like their Philippine counterparts, are more typically generalists and innovative environmental operators. Daily they rely on profound survey and calculation of services and innovative ways to make them meaningful. The paper concludes by urging creative international and transnational research with a view towards optimizing service delivery.

The relative speed concept was chosen since it is linked with the relative nature of motion and it is likely that the students would harbor many alternative conceptions about it. The research objective was to identify the various ways students conceive relative motion. Qualitative data collected in various forms of representation received a categorization analysis. Several models of students' understanding about relative motion had been identified. Suggestions are offered to the classroom teacher to help his students understand relative motion. [For the full proceedings, see ED619611.]

This paper contributes to the Symposium: "Research Methods Involving Children's Drawings in Mathematical Contexts" by exploring the use of digital pens as a data gathering tool. The availability of digital recording devices has been a boon to researchers wanting to capture the real-time dynamics of a research situation. When capturing a child's drawing process, an alternative to cumbersome video-recording equipment is a digital pen that records both the creation of the drawing and any nearby utterances. To highlight the affordances and limitations of the digital pen as a data collection tool for children's drawing we utilise examples from two different research projects, one with Australian children and the other with Canadian children. [This paper is the second in a symposium of four papers. For the first paper, "Using the Drawing-Telling Approach to Reveal Young Children's Mathematical Knowledge," see ED604537. For the third paper, "The Nature of Young Children's Attitudes towards Mathematics," see ED604539. For the fourth paper, "Coding Young Learners' Pictorial Responses to an Open-Ended Assessment Task," see ED604540.]

In Ontario, students' declining math performance is currently cited as a major area of concern (Reid & Reid, 2017). In response to this, Ontario is implementing math education policy changes. However, there is no mention of the role of teachers in this reform process. To address this issue, this paper explores and shares teachers' experiences with math reform. I took a qualitative approach and interviewed eight public school teachers who shared their experiences with math reform based on their teaching trajectories. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) math confidence impacts perception and response to math reform; (2) teachers have little to no active role in the math reform process; (3) there is bidirectional impact between math reform and teachers. These findings delineate significant implications for math reform; the need to revere firsthand accounts of teacher experiences and insights, treating teachers as change agents, and engaging teachers in math reform processes. [For the complete Volume 17 proceedings, see ED596826.]

This study explored the effects of learner response systems (clickers) on the development of vocabulary knowledge in English (L2). Sixty-one Grade 8 learners divided in two groups participated in the experiment, which followed a pretest-posttest-delayed posttest research design. While the experimental group received a clicker-based treatment via PowerPoint presentations, the control group received identical treatment but without the clickers. Although there was no significant interaction between time and group at the time of the posttest, both groups improved over time, but with a trend favoring the Clicker Group. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED590612.]

Our study assessed the performance of two Grammar Checkers (GCs), Grammarly and Virtual Writing Tutor, and the grammar checking function in Microsoft Word on a broad range of grammatical errors. The errors occurred in both authentic English as a Second Language (ESL) compositions and simple sentences we generated ourselves. We verified the performance in terms of (1) coverage (rates of error detection), (2) accuracy of proposed replacement forms, and (3) 'false alarms' (forms mistakenly flagged as incorrect). To the extent GCs provide accurate and comprehensive corrective feedback, they could relieve teachers of the time-consuming task of providing written feedback themselves. While inaccurate replacement forms and false alarms are relatively rare, we found GCs to have poor overall coverage (total error detection rates under 50%). Grammarly and Virtual Writing Tutor, however, outperform Microsoft Word. Coverage is also higher both for certain categories of error and for the sentences rather than the authentic compositions. Finally, although GCs do not provide comprehensive feedback, we suggest designing special activities that target select error types. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED590612.]

We interrogate the opportunities and challenges of using mixed methods (MM) within a developmental evaluation (DE) context by drawing on two illustrative cases that investigated educational change in Canada. Methods: Multi-case design and cross-case analysis, with a focus on examining common patterns across the two cases, enabling new ways of portraying and thinking about the data. Findings: We present a four-part framework for charting MM integration (why, what, when, and how) within DE contexts. Then, from the juxtaposition of these cases using this framework, we present three considerations for evaluation practice and future research: (1) balancing the need for data collection versus moving initiatives forward, (2) not assuming stakeholders want co-production, and (3) developing integration literacy.

Academic resilience is difficult to define in an international setting, since economic levels and achievement standards vary across countries and over time. In studies of academic resilience, the concept is typically operationalized using pre-defined cut-offs of achievement and social background. The main objective of the current study is to apply a modelling approach to identify academically resilient students. Data come from educational systems in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2016. Main method was latent profile analysis. The current study showed that it was possible to identify a group of academically resilient students using a set of indicators indicating positive adaptation in terms of higher reading achievement than expected and higher levels on protective factors like school belongingness.

Participation in adult education and training (AET) programs is increasingly important for people of all ages and is necessary to remain competitive in a world experiencing rapid technological advances. Lifelong learning activities are especially important for middle-aged and older adults who intend to work at older ages to ensure they have the skills desired by employers. This study used data from three international surveys conducted between 1994 and 2015 to examine patterns of AET participation for ages 45 to 65 by employment status, comparing the US with Canada, Italy, and Norway. To contextualize these data, we also compared AET participation with employment and unemployment rates in the survey years for each of the countries. In all countries, the 45 to 54 age group participated in AET at higher rates than did the 55 to 65 age group and the employed participated at higher rates than did the unemployed and those not in the labor force.

For several decades, lifelong learning has been discussed both in terms of its ability to provide both individual and national economic benefits. However, while the importance of lifelong learning, particularly in lieu of occupational changes, has been emphasized, the creation or adaptation of funding methods for lifelong learning specifically in the latter half of life has stalled. However, model funding programs that support learning in midlife and beyond do exist internationally, comprising resources like loans, scholarships, and workplace funding. One funding model that came to prominence over the last two decades is the Individual Learning Account (ILA), which has been implemented in multiple countries, albeit with limited success. Although ILAs have ultimately not been well-integrated into extant educational funding systems for lifelong learning, such as self- or employer-funded learning or student loans, the ILA model and its associated challenges suggest key lessons for informing more effective lifelong learning funding, particularly into older adulthood. This paper will discuss gaps in the following four countries' attempts to implement ILAs and integrate common adult education funding methods: Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [For the published conference paper, see ED597554.]