Search

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Microbes are all pervasive in their distribution and influence on the functioning and well-being of humans, life in general and the planet. Microbially-based technologies contribute hugely to the supply of important goods and services we depend upon, such as the provision of food, medicines and clean water. They also offer mechanisms and strategies to mitigate and solve a wide range of problems and crises facing humanity at all levels, including those encapsulated in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations. For example, microbial technologies can contribute in multiple ways to decarbonisation and hence confronting global warming, provide sanitation and clean water to the billions of people lacking them, improve soil fertility and hence food production and develop vaccines and other medicines to reduce and in some cases eliminate deadly infections. They are the foundation of biotechnology, an increasingly important and growing business sector and source of employment, and the centre of the bioeconomy, Green Deal, etc. But, because microbes are largely invisible, they are not familiar to most people, so opportunities they offer to effectively prevent and solve problems are often missed by decision-makers, with the negative consequences this entrains. To correct this lack of vital knowledge, the International Microbiology Literacy Initiative-the IMiLI-is recruiting from the global microbiology community and making freely available, teaching resources for a curriculum in societally relevant microbiology that can be used at all levels of learning. Its goal is the development of a society that is literate in relevant microbiology and, as a consequence, able to take full advantage of the potential of microbes and minimise the consequences of their negative activities. In addition to teaching about microbes, almost every lesson discusses the influence they have on sustainability and the SDGs and their ability to solve pressing problems of societal inequalities. The curriculum thus teaches about sustainability, societal needs and global citizenship. The lessons also reveal the impacts microbes and their activities have on our daily lives at the personal, family, community, national and global levels and their relevance for decisions at all levels. And, because effective, evidence-based decisions require not only relevant information but also critical and systems thinking, the resources also teach about these key generic aspects of deliberation. The IMiLI teaching resources are learner-centric, not academic microbiology-centric and deal with the microbiology of everyday issues. These span topics as diverse as owning and caring for a companion animal, the vast range of everyday foods that are produced via microbial processes, impressive geological formations created by microbes, childhood illnesses and how they are managed and how to reduce waste and pollution. They also leverage the exceptional excitement of exploration and discovery that typifies much progress in microbiology to capture the interest, inspire and motivate educators and learners alike. The IMiLI is establishing Regional Centres to translate the teaching resources into regional languages and adapt them to regional cultures, and to promote their use and assist educators employing them. Two of these are now operational. The Regional Centres constitute the interface between resource creators and educators-learners. As such, they will collect and analyse feedback from the end-users and transmit this to the resource creators so that teaching materials can be improved and refined, and new resources added in response to demand: educators and learners will thereby be directly involved in evolution of the teaching resources. The interactions between educators-learners and resource creators mediated by the Regional Centres will establish dynamic and synergistic relationships-a global societally relevant microbiology education ecosystem-in which creators also become learners, teaching resources are optimised and all players/stakeholders are empowered and their motivation increased. The IMiLI concept thus embraces the principle of teaching societally relevant microbiology embedded in the wider context of societal, biosphere and planetary needs, inequalities, the range of crises that confront us and the need for improved decisioning, which should ultimately lead to better citizenship and a humanity that is more sustainable and resilient. ABSTRACT: The biosphere of planet Earth is a microbial world: a vast reactor of countless microbially driven chemical transformations and energy transfers that push and pull many planetary geochemical processes, including the cycling of the elements of life, mitigate or amplify climate change (e.g., Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2019, 17, 569) and impact the well-being and activities of all organisms, including humans. Microbes are both our ancestors and creators of the planetary chemistry that allowed us to evolve (e.g., Lifes engines: How microbes made earth habitable, 2023). To understand how the biosphere functions, how humans can influence its development and live more sustainably with the other organisms sharing it, we need to understand the microbes. In a recent editorial (Environmental Microbiology, 2019, 21, 1513), we advocated for improved microbiology literacy in society. Our concept of microbiology literacy is not based on knowledge of the academic subject of microbiology, with its multitude of component topics, plus the growing number of additional topics from other disciplines that become vitally important elements of current microbiology. Rather it is focused on microbial activities that impact us-individuals/communities/nations/the human world-and the biosphere and that are key to reaching informed decisions on a multitude of issues that regularly confront us, ranging from personal issues to crises of global importance. In other words, it is knowledge and understanding essential for adulthood and the transition to it, knowledge and understanding that must be acquired early in life in school. The 2019 Editorial marked the launch of the International Microbiology Literacy Initiative, the IMiLI. HERE, WE PRESENT: our concept of how microbiology literacy may be achieved and the rationale underpinning it; the type of teaching resources being created to realise the concept and the framing of microbial activities treated in these resources in the context of sustainability, societal needs and responsibilities and decision-making; and the key role of Regional Centres that will translate the teaching resources into local languages, adapt them according to local cultural needs, interface with regional educators and develop and serve as hubs of microbiology literacy education networks. The topics featuring in teaching resources are learner-centric and have been selected for their inherent relevance, interest and ability to excite and engage. Importantly, the resources coherently integrate and emphasise the overarching issues of sustainability, stewardship and critical thinking and the pervasive interdependencies of processes. More broadly, the concept emphasises how the multifarious applications of microbial activities can be leveraged to promote human/animal, plant, environmental and planetary health, improve social equity, alleviate humanitarian deficits and causes of conflicts among peoples and increase understanding between peoples (Microbial Biotechnology, 2023, 16(6), 1091-1111). Importantly, although the primary target of the freely available (CC BY-NC 4.0) IMiLI teaching resources is schoolchildren and their educators, they and the teaching philosophy are intended for all ages, abilities and cultural spectra of learners worldwide: in university education, lifelong learning, curiosity-driven, web-based knowledge acquisition and public outreach. The IMiLI teaching resources aim to promote development of a global microbiology education ecosystem that democratises microbiology knowledge.

Background: The Dental Materials Science (DMS) course within Malaysian undergraduate dental education has traditionally been taught in isolation, with a relatively stagnant delivery mode. Recent shifts in national dental competency standards have necessitated substantial reform in the DMS curriculum. This study aims to outline the journey of a local dental institute in developing and implementing a competency-based DMS curriculum. Methods: A faculty curriculum task force was established to oversee the curriculum reform process. The reform was guided by a "bottom-up" approach using the five-step curriculum reform model: (1). Curriculum mapping, (2). Comprehensive needs assessment, (3). Clear learning objectives and outcomes, (4). Curriculum development and implementation, and (5). Continuous evaluation and improvement. Results: Step 1 revealed the need to reduce content repetition and improve alignment with the new competency standards. Step 2 identified the need to include advanced materials, integrate theoretical and clinical aspects, and enhance teaching methods. The new curriculum included 25 relevant topics. Step 3 established three course learning outcomes, while Step 4 integrated DMS content horizontally and vertically across the curriculum, introduced innovative teaching methods, and diversified assessment methods. Step 5 ensured ongoing curriculum monitoring, with both short-term and long-term evaluations planned. Conclusion: The curriculum reform process represents a significant advancement in dental materials science while addressing challenges and aligning the curriculum with national standards. Ongoing evaluation, adaptability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international engagement are essential for further improvements. This journey serves as a valuable reference for educators seeking to update their DMS curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher education in Russia has become the subject of considerable reform over the past 50 years. It is today a complex system of continuous training which gives students a chance to enter the profession in a number of different ways, as well as maintain their professional skill set throughout the course of their careers. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the history and the state of art initial teacher education in Russia during the last 50 years. It aims to draw on scholarly expertise in Russia and will locate the policies and practices that are discussed within the context of teacher education reform. The main themes of the paper are the history and current practice of Russian initial teacher education. The paper will consider the relationship between policy and practice and examine the respective influences of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and processes of wider reform in the Russian Federation since the 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroscience is an inherently interdisciplinary and rapidly evolving field. While many universities have neuroscience or related majors, they are highly heterogeneous, and it is unclear how their content aligns with a recent proposal of what ideas make up the field of neuroscience. It is therefore important to document and assess the alignment of neuroscience curricula with core concepts in the field. Recently, a large effort by some members of the neuroscience education community described eight core concepts for undergraduate neuroscience curricula. In this paper, we focus primarily on courses in biology, cognitive science, and psychology at a large university, surveying the recent and current course instructors of these courses to ask them (1) to what extent these community-derived core concepts are incorporated into their classes and (2) to what extent these concepts should be incorporated into their classes. In addition, we map core concepts onto course syllabi. We found that core concepts are well-represented across disciplines, and identified differences between departments' inclusion of core concepts. We found that instructors cover fewer core concepts than they desire, and that two core concepts, "Evolution" and "Gene-environment interactions", were less frequently addressed across disciplines. We consider barriers to instructors' ability to align course content with core concepts, both within and across disciplines. In this effort, we provide an example of how departments can evaluate their alignment of major requirements with the neuroscience core concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European conservation-restoration training programmes offer curricula that tend to be rooted in Eurocentrism. Over the last decades, conservation scholars have called for a re-interpretation of the sector, based on a need to acknowledge and respond to global social developments, including the call for decolonisation—calls that would naturally change training programmes. In Australia and Canada, for example, training programmes long ago embarked on a path of reforming their curricula and including non-Eurocentric ways of conserving. On the other hand, higher education programmes in conservation in Europe have only recently begun to discuss alternatives to their current curricula. To address this concern, this article focusses on approaches aimed at 'decolonising the curriculum' as a means for European conservation training programmes to achieve greater alignment with current social developments. Such approaches may serve as a strategic device for formulating recommendations geared to triggering curricula transformations and bringing them into line with major social issues in our contemporary world, as well as to provide a broader and more diverse epistemic foundation for the professional efforts of future conservation experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The 21st -century is a paradigm shift of learning in which the curriculum developed at this time requires educational institutions to change their instructional approach. This study aimed to assess the level of satisfaction with integrated E-learning among staff members & medical students at Zagazig University during academic year 2023-2024. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 264 staff members & 248 undergraduate medical students of Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University. The level of satisfaction with integrated e-learning among staff members and medical students was assessed using self-administered Arabic semi-structured questionnaire which involved questions about demographic data, level of satisfaction with integrated e-learning and drawbacks present in this new approach application. Results: About 53% of staff members were found to be satisfied with integrated e-learning, however the remaining were not satisfied at all. As regarding students, 78.6% of them were found to be satisfied with integrated e-learning, however the remaining were not satisfied at all. A highly significant relation was revealed between overall satisfaction about integrated e-learning and the age of staff. Satisfaction was noticed to be higher among younger age staff compared to older ones (p<0.001). However, there was no significant relation between overall satisfaction and other baseline characteristics. According to students, a significant relation was revealed between overall satisfaction about integrated e-learning and the age of students. Satisfaction was noticed to be higher among third year students compared to others (p<0.001). Conclusions: The level of satisfaction with the integrated e-learning was higher among medical students compared to staff members. There was no relation between overall satisfaction and baseline data of both students and staff members except the age of the later ones. The negative feedback among those who were dissatisfied needs to work on improving the educational system, put their needs in concern as a priority and working on the infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the critical transition from secondary to tertiary mathematics education, focusing on students’ challenges and the impact of curriculum reforms in Sweden. Through an analysis of diagnostic test scores and admission data from Umeå University over the period 2006–2021, we examine the evolving mathematical competencies of incoming engineering students and the broader implications of these shifts for educational policy and student preparedness for higher education. Our findings indicate a significant improvement in students’ mathematical readiness in the latter years of the study, correlating with the implementation of curriculum changes and variations in admission statistics. This research documents the positive outcomes of these educational reforms on student preparedness. It places these findings within a global context, highlighting the universal challenges and responses in mathematics education transitions. The study underscores the complex dynamics of the secondary-tertiary transition and provides valuable insights into the specific mathematical areas where students have shown varying degrees of improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs the lenses of timescapes, themselves shaped by wider conceptions of time, to view evolving patterns of private supplementary tutoring around the world. Such tutoring is commonly called shadow education because much of its content mimics that in regular schooling: curriculum changes in the schools lead to related changes in the shadow. Shadow education has greatly expanded in recent decades, and research on the theme has also expanded but still lags. The phenomenon has far-reaching implications not only as an entity in itself but also for schooling and broader dimensions of society. Employing examples from a wide range of countries, the paper considers categories of clock and calendar time, curricular time, mental-concentration time, and life-cycle time. It shows the value of temporal analysis alongside, and often in conjunction with, spatial analysis of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how Norwegian school principals prepared to carry out the LK20 reform process. The importance of school principals and middle-level leaders as enactors of change efforts results from their close ties to teachers and teacher classroom practices. This suggests that without negotiation and support from micro-policy actors, such as school principals, reforms are unlikely to be realized as intended and are therefore likely to fail. The present study was based on interviews and video observations of principals and leader team meetings. The findings demonstrate that school principals' interpretations of policy intentions through their enforcement of curriculum reform demands are closely connected to their schools' organizational contexts. The planning process involves recycling previous plans and customizing them to new ones. Opportunities and challenges are illuminated when school principals provide counter-discourses in the planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education policies are typically anchored in official texts that provide a foundation for their enactment in schools. What are the implications of an invisible policy not anchored in any official text due to political motives? This study explores the enactment of an invisible education policy that regulates religious enclave schools. These schools' curricula are the source of frequent conflict between states and religious enclave communities. The study draws on the case of the National Haredi Education (NHE) reform in Israel that enabled ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) private schools in Israel to affiliate with a new stream of public schools whose regulations were not anchored in any official text. The data comprised interviews with principals, teachers, and supervisors, as well as document analysis. The findings showed that the enactment of the NHE policy was primarily manifested in invisible changes, such as teacher professionalisation and pupil assessment. Curricular changes visible to the wider school community were enacted differently in different schools. Our findings also characterised the implications of the NHE policy's invisibility. The lack of institutional recognition hindered the reform, but the autonomy of the implementing agents enabled them to promote changes within their purview and become policy entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to present a case study on how the strong relationships with multiple stakeholder groups can benefit educational programs through the curriculum redesign process by using the experience of Marshall University and Intuit. Design/methodology/approach: This paper highlights how Marshall's faculty used Intuit's Design Thinking process to engage with stakeholders to innovate a curriculum that is sustainable and socially responsible and transfers workforce skills and concepts. This case describes how to: involve stakeholders to discover their pain points and desired outcomes, develop prototype curriculums from stakeholders' feedback and test and iterate prototype curriculums on stakeholders until their expectations (e.g. quality, innovation and value) of the curriculum are exceeded. Findings: Faculty applied Design Thinking to engage with stakeholders to infuse contemporary knowledge and skills that positively impact their workforce development and societal goals into the curriculum. This process promoted critical thinking and a "stakeholder-centered" orientation with various groups including AACSB and employers. These curriculum changes ultimately provide greater experiences to students while providing relevant skills of interest to employers and society. Originality/value: Stakeholders are often consulted on educational programs; however, it is unusual for an industry stakeholder to provide their best innovative practices to assist colleges with the transformation of academic curriculums. Moreover, it is unusual for higher education institutions to fully embrace these industry processes and integrate these experiences within their collective culture. Finally, the detailing of this case allows for other colleges to apply these concepts to their curriculums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher education (TE) in Singapore has undergone regular reviews and reforms over the years within the National Institute of Education (NIE). The main impetus tended to be to ensure continual relevance of TE to the educational landscape in Singapore, as well as to incorporate new evidences in pedagogical and assessment practices. The 2004–2005 TE review in NIE, while operating within similar considerations, incorporated a then new perspective into teacher preparation. It introduced the Group Endeavour in Service-Learning as a core curriculum component, so as to more firmly link the work of a teacher to communities in Singapore. This established a conduit through which student teachers could "practise" values, representing one of the three key parts of the Values, Skills and Knowledge framework that guided TE in NIE. This paper aims to not only revisit key aspects of the curriculum review done in 2004–2005 but, more importantly, to examine current contexts within which TE operates to provide insights on how TE can and may evolve in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious and Moral Education (RME) in primary schools has been an under-researched aspect of state-funded schooling in Scotland. It has received little scholarly comment, and even less empirical research has been conducted on the extent and nature of provision since the implementation of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence from 2010 onwards. Using the findings from a document analysis of ninety school handbooks from one local education authority, this article contributes to the limited scholarship on this topic. Through a discussion of the themes of compliance, content, and community, the article highlights ongoing challenges concerning implementing CfE RME in the primary sector. It concludes by considering the marginalisation of RME and suggesting that focusing on professional learning and further empirical research are vital next steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University curriculum systems are complex, and their modification requires coordinating multiple processes and broad consultation with teaching academics and leaders. Strong influences including policy changes and external disruptions can bring about rapid system-wide change, but these are not without stress and may not be sustainable. To appreciate how disruptions influence university teaching and learning over the longer term, we need to better understand how teachers respond. We examined the experiences of teaching academics during the disruption of COVID-19, using the relational 3P model as a guiding framework. Using phenomenographic analyses, we defined three key categories within which academics’ experiences varied: Teaching & Learning; Support, and their Role. Teachers’ perceptions of support and role were intertwined, forming a broader context than described by the relational 3P model. We suggest a modified model to better align with academics’ experiences during change, upon which supportive structures and processes can be designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of new medicine, innovative reform of medical education is mushrooming in Mainland, China. New medicine advocates an innovative training mode supported by medicine + X discipline. In the present study, we made use of the advantages of medical colleges to reform the curriculum of applied psychology and constructed an innovative curriculum system by integrating medicine with psychology. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the innovative curriculum system on the curriculum satisfaction of applied psychology and investigate the key factors that impact students' curriculum satisfaction. The class of 2018-2022 college students from the Department of Applied Psychology who were under different course training systems were selected to complete the curriculum evaluation questionnaire to evaluate students' curriculum satisfaction. The results demonstrated that curriculum satisfaction of the innovative curriculum system was significantly higher than that the one prior to the curriculum reform (P < 0.001), curriculum design, and teaching effect are the significant predictors affecting curriculum satisfaction. The results of this research provide innovative ideas for curriculum reform in psychology and strategies for the integration and development of medicine and psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Identity serves as a valuable lens through which to investigate, understand and facilitate teacher learning during curriculum reform. Identity learning is the core process of educational change, with teacher emotion at the heart of professional learning processes. In this study, we traced the 1‐year journeys of four Chinese EFL teachers during a tertiary EFL curriculum reform that focused on ideological and political education. The Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity was utilised to understand identity learning. By drawing on interviews, documents and observations, we collected rich data and analysed four types of identity learning along a continuum from fake learning to transformation, mediated by teacher emotion. A multiplicity of emotions acted as indicators and potential catalysts for identity learning. However, an overly demanding context might lead to a retrogressive identity learning trajectory. The integration of ideological and political education in foreign language education was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodResultsConclusionThis study reviews the status of materials in curriculum and reform, as reflected in a network case study of curriculum in one kindergarten classroom in the United States. This paper focuses on the events leading up to and building upon one inquiry unit that became a focal point in promoting progressive curriculum reform at the school.Methods from Actor Network Theory are employed to attend to a wide cast of human and nonhuman actors, trace their mobilities, and map them into curricular networks. Data, collected over 9 months of one school year, included field notes, audio recordings of conversations, and images of classroom objects and arrangements.Three material assemblages—a closet, a bulletin board, and a curriculum timeline—are viewed as agents assisting in stabilizing the inquiry unit and sustaining further student-centred inquiries amidst competing curricular reforms and policies. Findings demonstrate how teachers may mobilize such assemblages to accomplish multiple objectives, as is necessary when navigating tensions from multiple parties or reform mandates.This study contributes to scholarship conceptualizing the status of curriculum materials, with particular attention to their functionality at the nexus of both the micro-interactions of curriculum enactment and the macro-politics of educational reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the new curriculum reform, the implementation of new college entrance examination, while posing new challenges to schools, students and teachers, career planning education has gradually attracted wide attention from the society. With the continuous advancement of education reform, the traditional school career planning education can not meet the needs of students gradually. Based on this, we fully excavate the latest career planning education resources from new textbooks, campus culture and society into subject teaching, and explore reasonable ways to carry out application. It is of great significance to the implementation of quality education, the realization of lifelong learning, the development of individuals and the embodiment of the value of subject knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flipped classroom is an innovative pedagogy that shifts content delivery outside the classroom, utilizing in-class time for interactive learning. The preclass and in-class activities in this framework encourage individualized learning and collaborative problem-solving among students, fostering engagement. The Innovative Flipped Learning Instruction Project (IFLIP) conducted faculty development workshops over 4 years, guiding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty in integrating flipped teaching (FT) into their courses. The research aimed to assess its impact on pedagogical practices, explore its effectiveness, and provide a framework to implement FT across multiple institutions. It sought to evaluate the experiences of these educators throughout the transitional period of instructional change. In the fourth year of this project, a symposium was organized for IFLIP participants to share their experiences and findings concerning FT. This symposium helped promote collaboration among IFLIP participants and faculty interested in FT to disseminate participants' knowledge and experiences in implementing FT strategies. A survey conducted at the end of the symposium indicated that faculty participants with FT experience continued to embrace this pedagogy, and the new adopters expressed intentions to incorporate it into their courses. The survey revealed positive responses: 93% of respondents plan to integrate FT methods in future classes, 90% gained new information from the symposium and intend to implement it, and 91% are likely to recommend FT to colleagues. Ultimately, the symposium underscored the transformative impact of FT in empowering educators to deepen students' conceptual understanding, emphasizing the significance of this pedagogical approach in advancing the quality of education. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Flipped pedagogy shifts content delivery outside the classroom, emphasizing interactive learning during in-class time. The Innovative Flipped Learning Instruction Project (IFLIP) guided science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty in integrating flipped teaching (FT), tracked experiences during this transition, and provided a framework for FT implementation. A fourth-year symposium fostered collaboration, revealing sustained enthusiasm for FT. The symposium underscored its transformative impact on deepening students' understanding, highlighting its significance in enhancing education quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of 2021, the importance of the development of "Industrial Internet" and "Metauniverse" has been mentioned many times in many important documents such as the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the 2021 government work report. Under the background that the industrial Internet has replaced the consumer Internet as the main direction, with the change of digital electronic information technology and the huge demand of the market, the new engineering electronic information specialty will face great opportunities and challenges. Education needs to cultivate a large number of differentiated talents and individualized skilled talents. Therefore, vocational education is the guarantee of social talents in the process of promoting modern industrialization. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the major strategy set by the state, closely connect with industrial upgrading, grasp the trend of technological change, promote the integration of production and education, and thoroughly implement the vocational skill grade certificate system. Moreover, the comprehensive education mechanism of "post-class competition certificate" should be promoted. Under the above background, aiming at the demand of electronic information major in new engineering, this paper puts forward the curriculum system reform of "post-class competition certificate", and analyzes the practice process. On this basis, it completes the integration of teaching content and post work cases, realizes the docking of teaching mode and post work process, and finally realizes the matching of course examination and professional grade certificate standard. Besides, it can also improve curriculum resources, improve the composition of teaching staff, create high-quality curriculum training conditions, etc., and finally promote the rapid development of electronic information industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many U.S. school districts now rely on instructional coaching to promote reform. Yet facets of coaching policy remain vague, and there is considerable variation in the structures and practices of coaching. We use longitudinal, qualitative data to analyze changes in instructional coaching, as a capacity building policy instrument, in one mid-sized urban-emergent school district from 2014 to 2019. Applying concepts of organizational learning theory, this paper documents how district leaders designed and implemented three distinct forms of coaching. We argue coaching shifted from a tool for teacher support, to a resource for school improvement, and lastly to a lever for boosting coherence. Further, we demonstrate how particular problems and leaders triggered different degrees of organizational learning on–and changes to–coaching. In sum, the paper explains how a district alters the definitions and structures of instructional coaching. By illuminating how educational leaders tinker with capacity building instruments, this paper contributes to the instructional reform literature and advances the field's understanding of the evolution of capacity-building instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Curriculum Studies / Kecheng Yanjiu is the property of Angle Publishing Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia is the property of Publikasi Indonesia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Trakya Journal of Education is the property of Trakya Journal of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current study aimed to examine the effect of empowerment on English language teachers' commitment to schools and attitudes towards curriculum reform and the mediation effect of teachers' attitudes towards curriculum reform on the relationship between the teacher's empowerment and commitment to schools. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 332 middle school English teachers in Algeria. The questionnaire included teachers' empowerment questionnaire model of Yin et al. (2013. "The Effect of Trust on Teacher Empowerment: The Mediation of Teacher Efficacy." Educational Studies 39 (1): 13–28), the Organisational Commitment scale of Meyer & Allen (1997) and the Attitude toward Change Instrument of Dunham et al. (1989). The results advocated a significant and positive correlation between the teachers' empowerment, attitudes towards curriculum reform, and commitment to schools. The findings also revealed that teachers' attitudes towards curriculum reform had a significant mediation effect on the relationship between empowerment and school commitment. The extent to which teachers believe they are empowered and have a role and contribution in shaping the curriculum of their school has a direct bearing on their dedication to their jobs. The study suggested that the ministry of national education should consider the role of TATCR, TE, and TCTS together as important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the crucial role of early childhood teachers in China's ongoing curriculum reforms by addressing two key questions: (1) how teachers interact with the curriculum reform cycle, and (2) what specific roles they play within the reforms. We synthesize literature on early childhood teachers' involvement in China's curriculum reforms and provide insights for future improvements in teachers' status. Our analysis reveals that teachers contribute to establishing curricular goals, selecting content, and implementing instructional methods. However, they lack formal roles in setting educational goals and face limitations due to administrative decisions and societal expectations. Their knowledge and experience are often underutilized. Based on these findings, we propose increased teacher training to enhance their capacity and contribution, and improved policies for teacher recruitment, retention, and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThere is a tendency in recent curriculum reforms to put the major emphasis on the status and role of students. The OECD’s Education 2030 project, for example, presents the concept of ‘student agency’ as a key vision for future learning frameworks. The OECD’s discourse of student agency appears to serve as a catalyst for spreading the slogan that students should be the subjects of learning and specifically for expanding the scope of student freedom as never before. This study aims to rethink the meanings of student freedom and subjectivity within this discourse of student agency. To this end, I analyse the characteristics of student freedom that emerge in recent curriculum reforms and then present some criticisms of this conceptualization. In response, I suggest an alternative conceptualization of student freedom that puts the emphasis on students becoming subjects in learning. In doing so, I draw upon the philosophical ideas of Levinas and Cavell. Both are philosophers who provide a theoretical horizon that can overcome egocentrism and re-examine human freedom and subjectivity in relationships with others. In the light of this conceptualization, I provide an account of the ideas of student freedom and subjectivity that should guide curriculum reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) are crucial for creating inclusive and equitable educational environments in primary schools. This systematic literature review aimed to interpret and synthesize the findings of previous studies on GESI interventions and programs in primary schools in Tanzania, identified gaps in the knowledge, and provided recommendations for policy and practice. A systematic literature review search identified 22 relevant studies that met the inclusion criteria. The studies conducted between 2010 and 2021, and the sample sizes of participants were above 50. More than 50% of the studies were conducted in rural areas and used a quasi-experimental design. The interventions evaluation included teacher training, community engagement, and curriculum reform. The systematic literature review employed statistical methods to measure effect sizes and employed traditional univariate systematic literature review to synthesize the results. A table summarizing the literature that met the inclusion criteria was created to ensure transparency and clarity in the data coding process. The systematic literature review found a positive effect of GESI interventions on various outcomes, including improved academic performance, reduced gender-based violence, and increased social inclusion. However, variations in effect sizes and study designs across the studies were noted. Several gaps were identified, such as the lack of long-term follow-up and the need for more rigorous study designs. The implications of the findings for policy and practice in promoting GESI in primary schools in Tanzania were discussed, and recommendations for future research were provided. This systematic literature review highlighted the importance of addressing GESI in primary school education in Tanzania and underscored the critical role of teachers in promoting these values. It calls for targeted interventions, policy enhancements, and further research to bridge the gaps identified in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK's Quality Assurance Association for Higher Education (QAA) recommend that all undergraduate courses at UK universities include in their curricula elements of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education; and Education for Sustainable Development. This paper examines the detail of the QAA's recommendations and finds that they are significantly influenced by critical pedagogy. While the potential benefits of the QAA's recommendations are readily apparent, the paper identifies a number of potential risks, including opportunity costs for students, dumbing down and political bias. Alongside this theoretical analysis, this paper presents a case study which examines in detail the course materials of a cross‐curricular module piloted at King's College London called the ‘King's First Year: Gateway to King's’ which covered essentially the same themes. It appears that many of the risks identified with the QAA's approach would have been realised had this module been introduced as a compulsory module for all undergraduates at King's College London as was originally planned. As student take‐up was low, it was abandoned after the pilot, and so ultimately the risks were not realised. When introducing significant curriculum changes such as those proposed by the QAA, it is important to be certain that the benefits outweigh the risks. For this reason, a case study of an unsuccessful educational intervention is valuable and may correct for the possibility of publication bias in the literature if institutions choose not to publicise their less successful projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Methods Results Conclusion Competency‐based medical education (CBME) promises to improve medical education through curricular reforms to support learner development. This intention may be at risk in the case of a Canadian approach to CBME called Competence by Design (CBD), since there have been negative impacts on residents. According to Joseph Schwab, teachers, learners and milieu must be included in the process of curriculum‐making to prevent misalignments between intended values and practice. This study considered what can be learned from the process of designing, enacting and adapting CBD to better support learners.This qualitative study explored the making of CBD through the perspectives of implementation leads (N = 18) at national, institutional and programme levels. A sociomaterial orientation to agency in curriculum‐making guided the inductive approach to interviewing and analysis in phase one. A deductive analysis in phase two applied Schwab's theory to further understand sources of misalignments and the purpose of adaptive responses.Misalignments occurred when the needs of teachers, learners and milieu were initially underestimated in the process of curriculum‐making, disconnecting assessment practices from experiences of teaching, learning and entrustment. While technical and structural issues posed significant constraints on agency, some implementation leads were able to make changes to the curriculum or context to fix the disconnects. We identified six purposes for principled adaptations to align with CBME values of responsive teaching, individualised learning and meaningful entrustment.Collectively, the adaptations we characterise demonstrate constructive alignment, a foundational principle of CBME in which assessment and teaching work together to support learning. This study proposes a model for making context‐shaped, values‐based adaptations to CBME to achieve its promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic departments have been highlighted as key targets to sustainably transform the learning environments of postsecondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in the United States. Despite STEM department chairs playing a critical role in shaping their unit, few studies have characterized how chairs view the teaching culture within their department and how cultural features influence instructional change. This study addressed this gap by applying the four-frames model for organizational change to analyze interviews conducted with 14 STEM department chairs at one researchintensive institution in the United States. The department chairs identified several challenges to supporting and advancing teaching culture. These challenges were mostly related to the structures and symbols frames and included an institutional emphasis on research over teaching, inadequate methods to evaluate effective teaching, and weak teaching feedback mechanisms available to faculty. The chairs also described how they leverage their power to affect people and thereby influence the teaching culture. For example, they strategically position teaching as an important aspect of the departmental culture during hiring processes and elevate certain groups of faculty who have demonstrated interest and efficacy in teaching. This study contributes to the literature by providing a rich description of the teaching culture in STEM departments at a research-intensive institution from the perspective of department chairs. This unique focus on department chairs helps identify opportunities for instructional reforms that are grounded in the reality of the departmental environment and provides a framework for considering how change might occur in STEM departments at researchintensive institutions. The opportunities identified emphasize the importance for department chairs to consider and leverage all four frames to enact instructional change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schooling for Northern Ireland children has over decades been in denominationally separate schools, until an integrated system was instigated by concerned parents in the late 1970s amidst growing political violence. By educating together Catholic and Protestant pupils and those of other religions or none, the hope was to contribute to peace in a conflict-prone society. The first integrated schools were planned and government funded. Then, in the early 1990s, some segregated schools sought to transform to integrated status through a detailed, formal process. In individual, face-to-face interviews, 11- and 16-year old pupils (n = 20), representing both school sectors and both the main cultural backgrounds, described their experiences of learning side by side for the first time with peers of a different tradition. Both younger and older pupils could discern the differences between their previous (segregated) and current (integrated) settings, saw the benefits of accepting and acceptance, and perceived sameness as well as difference. They could appreciate the global perspective, understood the purpose of outward, visible changes such as emblems and school displays, and welcomed curriculum change, particularly in Physical Education. Pupils understood the value of having difficult conversations without acrimony at the same time as learning about and respecting others' viewpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental education continuously strives to provide students with positive and meaningful learning experiences. Developing or improving a curriculum usually encompasses three main phases: design, implementation, and evaluation. Most research on curriculum development in dental education has focused on the last two phases. Our commentary addresses this gap by describing a new model for curriculum design that effectively guided the design phase of the complete overhaul of the four‐year Doctor of Dental Surgery curriculum at the School of Dentistry, University of Alberta. Built on the strengths of pre‐existing curriculum design models, the new model provided enough structure and rigour to support the complexity required during a complete curriculum redesign whilst still allowing sufficient consultation and flexibility to encourage stakeholder engagement. The steps of the new 4P's model (preparation, planning, prototyping, and piloting) and main actions within each step are described. Challenges observed in each step and strategies to address them are reported. Other institutions embarking on renewing or redesigning a curriculum at a program level may benefit from using a curriculum design process similar to the 4P's model. Recommendations are discussed including the inclusion of educational consultants in the curriculum renewal committee, the importance of a leadership that effectively supports curriculum reform, purposeful engagement of stakeholders during each step of the design phase and ensuring that project and change management occur concurrently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major curriculum review and redesign at the higher education level demand transformative academic leadership and significant time commitment. However, the traditional university culture characterised by change aversion, complex bureaucratic processes, and a research dominated academic workload allocation and promotion system poses significant obstacles to teaching quality enhancement. This article presents the critical reflections of a Program Director (academic middle leader) at an Australian university on the challenges and successes experienced while leading a major accounting curriculum reform project. Conducted between October 2019 and May 2021, this project encountered constant disruptions due to the Global Covid-19 pandemic, organisational restructuring, the new external professional accreditaiton requirements. Academic middle leader’s insights on the positive impacts and obstacles of major curriculum reform at the whole of a program level within a constantly evolving institutional environment provide valuable perspectives for both business education practice and policy reforms. The reflection has policy implications for university management to reassess strategic priorities with more balanced support for teaching and research in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a campus climate survey conducted at an Australian university. Unprecedented compositional diversity now exists in higher education, with students enrolled from different religious, socio-economic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds. Despite this diversity, little research has been conducted into the ways that different student groups experience university, including marginalised and 'hidden' groups such as LGBTIQA+ students. The survey aimed to uncover the impact of diversity on student experiences, including the extent to which students associated with others from different backgrounds, the extent to which their own views and beliefs were challenged, and the extent to which they felt safe on campus. Findings suggest a need for more targeted research, particularly into the experiences of marginalised groups, and for reform of both institutional policy and curriculum. Further, we found that students are frequently thinking about identity, diversity, and bias, and their own voices need to be elevated within institutional strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current global drivers have challenged higher education and increased institution-wide top-down managed reforms, including curriculum reforms. As academics are vital in curriculum development, listening to their voices is essential for understanding actors' experiences of curriculum change processes in top-down managed reforms. The present study examined spectrum and qualitative differences in academics' experiences by analysing seven group interviews (n = 35). Using phenomenographic analysis, four different ways of experiencing the curriculum reform process were identified: (1) stilted adoption, (2) conciliation, (3) active development and (4) collaborative renewal. The categories differed according to six dimensions of variation. The study shows that top-down managed and supported curriculum change was rather well accepted by the academic staff, but several features in the function of the university administration aroused criticism and resistance among academics. By revealing the critical aspects of the curriculum development process, the study provides both a theory of curriculum development from the participants' point of view and conceptual tools for the management and guidance of curriculum reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the concept of integrating science, industry, and education, curriculum reform on “modern analytical technology” has been carried out. Mainly based on intra-school, inter-school and school-enterprise collaborations, high-quality teacher resources are shared. By integrating frontier science and practical production, the teaching content is greatly enriched. A multi-dimensional teaching mode is employed, including teacher-led instruction, studentdriven inquiry, a blend of theoretical learning with virtual and practical experiments, collaboration of online and offline resources, and teaching supported by social media platforms. Additionally, a diversified evaluation system is conducted to promote both learning and teaching. The practical results indicate a marked improvement in teaching quality, significantly fostering the development of versatile talents adept in theoretical knowledge, scientific research, and practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the last 5 years, many states have introduced science of reading (SOR) reforms that require increased attention to foundational skills instruction in grades K–3. The fast spread of these policies raises questions about the mechanisms that facilitated their rapid adoption. The purpose of this article is to examine how SOR discourses obscured or legitimated agendas of various policy actors involved in promoting literacy reforms. Research Methods/Approach: Grounded in anthropology of policy, this study examines interactions between legislators, policy makers, and policy advocates in Tennessee. Data sources include video recordings of legislative sessions, policy artifacts, reports, media articles, and interviews. Findings: The study documents how the focus on the "science of reading" disguises pursuits of conservative think tanks and major philanthropies in promoting curriculum reforms. Intermediary organizations' advocacy for particular instructional materials and consulting services aligned with Common Core State Standards, even in the states that moved away from them, paves the way for greater standardization, centralization, and expansion of private sector involvement in educational services. Implications: Positioned in the wider sociopolitical context of neoliberal education reforms, SOR advocacy becomes a performance that obscures privatizers' efforts to use literacy legislation as a mechanism for securing a market share for their products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirsehir Education Faculty is the property of Journal of Kirsehir Education Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

High dropout rates and a lack of academic resilience continue to plague South African higher education. Often, this is more prevalent in practical disciplines that have been subjected to curriculum changes in recent years, such as engineering. It is challenging to understand academic resilience in university settings due to insufficient research. Therefore, more information is needed on the role of personal characteristics and the socio-ecological university environment in enabling and constraining students' academic resilience. To assist higher education institutions in theorising academic resilience, this article presents a novel conceptual framework of Ungar's social-ecological theory, and Ebersöhn's Flocking theory. As part of this theorisation, this article also provides diverse perspectives on academic resilience from engineering students, lecturers, and support staff through semi-structured interviews. An analysis of this qualitative data was conducted using thematic analysis. A major finding of the study was that enabling factors were principally personal, whereas constraining factors were principally socio-ecological. Findings led to the development of an original framework for conceptualising the enablers and constraints of academic resilience in engineering students. This conceptual framework could guide towards the identification of areas of priority for academic resilience and in doing so contribute to interventions to reduce student dropout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In recent years, dental education has witnessed significant advancements and curriculum shifts in response to evolving healthcare needs, technological advances, and changing societal demands. As a result, dental universities worldwide have undergone substantial curriculum changes to ensure the adequate education and training of future dental professionals. The purpose of this study was to delineate the curriculum innovations over the past 20 years, with a focus on content within the current dental curriculum at universities worldwide. Method: The articles reviewed for this manuscript were published from 2000 to June 2023. Search queries were conducted in four databases: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and ERIC, yielding 367 unique studies. Of these, 31 were included in the final synthesis. Results: The nine principal subject matter themes identified in the thematic analysis of these articles were critical scientific thinking, computational thinking, global mindset, geriatric dental care, interprofessional teamwork, transition to practice, local community, integration, and lifelong learning. The themes were modeled and mapped in a three‐axis figure, elucidating the interconnections between the themes. Conclusion: The identified themes signify the trajectory that dental education has taken and provide insights into the future course of the dental profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of training and development programs for teachers plays a crucial role in enhancing their skills and capabilities, especially in the context of curriculum change. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of such programs, focusing on their effectiveness, challenges, and areas for improvement. Through a literature review approach, various scholarly works, empirical studies, and best practices are examined to evaluate the impact of training and development initiatives on teacher performance and student outcomes. The evaluation encompasses aspects such as program design, delivery methods, content relevance, participant engagement, and organizational support. It delves into the strategies employed to address the evolving needs of teachers amid curriculum transformations, considering factors like technological integration, pedagogical innovations, and curriculum alignment. Furthermore, the study explores the role of continuous professional development in sustaining teacher motivation, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and adapting to dynamic educational landscapes. Based on the analysis, several recommendations are proposed to enhance the efficacy of training and development programs for teachers. These recommendations encompass tailored professional development pathways, collaborative learning communities, mentorship programs, feedback mechanisms, and resource allocation strategies. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights to educational policymakers, administrators, and stakeholders involved in designing and implementing teacher training initiatives within the framework of curriculum change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning departments in Türkiye recently witnessed a boom. In less than 20 years, the number of universities offering urban planning programs increased from a dozen to 45, most accepting students with limited resources. Urban planning education has faced many challenges over the last two decades, and offering education with limited resources carried this problem to another level, increasing concerns among scholars about the quality of the education and the learning outcomes a planner should possess at graduation. While planning schools in Türkiye deals with the issues above, global debates in planning education revolve around integrating topics such as climate change, inequality, informality, and decolonization into the curriculum. This study aimed to reveal to what extent global issues find their way into Turkish planning school agendas in an environment where more pressing matters threaten the quality of education. To look further into this issue, all documents published by TUPOB (Türkiye Planning Schools Association) since its foundation were analyzed, and seven in-depth interviews with TUPOB members were conducted. A predominantly qualitative approach was utilized. The findings suggest that the lack of resources is the most critical problem for urban planning schools, followed by insufficient teaching faculty. The curriculum updates and integration of global issues such as climate change and urban poverty come later in the priorities list. This research showed that concerns regarding resources and lack of standards take precedence over global discussions in planning curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curriculum reforms involve changing organisational structures, administration, resource distribution and allocation, communication links, stakeholders' practices, beliefs, and attitudes. They could devastate the consequences of teaching and learning to teachers as curriculum implementers. They could further affect teachers' cognitive stability and psychological and social well-being. This study explores the teachers' experiences in implementing curriculum reforms at the primary school level in Lesotho. An interpretive paradigm and appreciative inquiry framework guided this qualitative study. Thirteen teachers were selected purposively from three primary schools in Maseru. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions allow for the collection and interpretation of data. Their experiences with curriculum change and the coping mechanisms they utilised to survive the demands and challenges surfaced. The thematic findings highlighted how teachers' resistance to change, inadequate training, and increased workload pressured most participants. To survive the pressure, challenges, and demands of educational change, teachers highlighted the need to form subject panels and schemes, accessibility and the use of technology and the Internet, and support from school management and the Ministry of Education and Training. Educational change can positively and negatively affect teachers as curriculum implementers. Therefore, teachers need to improvise appropriate coping mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThere has been an increasing acknowledgment of the intricacies inherent in health and healthcare processes, leading to a shift in medical education. This change underscores multidimensional, thorough, reflective, and contextual approaches characterized by mutual interaction and change. The perception of health/well-being and illness is transitioning toward acknowledging them as outcomes arising from the complex interplay of individual, social, and environmental/ecosystemic factors. This includes biological, genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental influences. In line with this changing perspective, the purpose of this article is to provide a general framework for the integration of behavioral, social, and human sciences into Medical Education Programs in Healthcare and Training Processes. The framework presented is based on the following three conceptual and theoretical basis: (1) Complex systems thinking and reflective, contextual healthcare and education practices, (2) Health systems and socio-economic-political framework, (3) Ecosystem framework in health and disease. Our aim in this article is to provide a guide for the integration of Behavioral, Social, and Humanity Sciences into medical education programs and to present examples from around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Education Policy Analysis Archives / Archivos Analíticos de Políticas Educativas / Arquivos Analíticos de Políticas Educativas is the property of Educational Policy Analysis Archives & Education Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on the learning characteristics of the higher quality professional farmer students, this article had taken the course of production technology and equipment of facility agriculture as an example, which was one of the core curriculum of the major of facility agriculture of Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture. The course teaching overall plan was elaborated in this paper in terms of teaching objectives, course content, teaching mode, curriculum politics and assessment program. Also, with the teaching implementation process analysis of the learning module task of installation and operation of soilless culture facilities, the teaching exploration and practice of the teaching team for this course was displayed in the paper, which provided profitable experience and reference for the deeper curriculum reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]