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The landscape of educational research necessitates sophisticated approaches to scholarly communication, demanding researchers to adeptly navigate diverse methodological traditions. This article provides systematic guidelines for academic writing that transcend methodological boundaries, offering practical strategies for crafting clear, ethical, and impactful scholarly work. Emphasizing the importance of structure, style, and scholarly conventions, the article addresses the complexities of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. Key guidelines include adherence to ethical standards, clarity and conciseness in communication, and proper citation practices to maintain academic integrity. The article also offers insights into adapting dissertations and theses into journal articles, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for early-career researchers. As educational research evolves, the need for effective academic writing remains paramount, ensuring that valuable insights are shared and built upon within the scholarly community. By fostering excellence in academic writing, researchers can significantly contribute to the advancement of educational theory and practice.

The global status of English as a lingua franca necessitates effective English language teaching (TEFL) to meet the demands of the global economy and social development. This article explores key principles for effective TEFL, grounded in a sophisticated theoretical framework that integrates cognitive, sociocultural, and constructivist perspectives. It emphasizes the importance of understanding learner needs, focusing on meaningful communication, and implementing Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT). Differentiated instruction and technology integration are highlighted as essential strategies to cater to diverse learner profiles and enhance engagement. The article also underscores the significance of cultural awareness in language instruction, advocating for the inclusion of cultural elements to prepare students for real-world interactions. Effective assessment practices, combining formative and summative approaches, are crucial for monitoring progress and informing instruction. Continuous professional development (CPD) is emphasized as vital for teachers to remain current and effective, involving action research, participation in professional learning communities, and reflective teaching practices. By adhering to these principles, educators can create dynamic and inclusive classrooms that promote successful language acquisition.

Dr Mahmoud M. S. Abdallah's article, "The New Territory of Educational Research in TESOL/TEFL: What Novice Researchers Should Know", provides a comprehensive guide for novice researchers in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). It emphasises the importance of research in enhancing teaching practices, informing educational policies, and understanding second language acquisition (SLA). It defines research as a systematic, cyclical process aimed at discovering new knowledge or validating existing knowledge. The article explores various research approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and action research. Qualitative research is highlighted for its ability to explore human experiences through methods like ethnography, case studies, and discourse analysis. Quantitative research is presented for testing hypotheses and generalising findings through experimental, quasi-experimental, and survey research. Mixed methods research combines both approaches for a holistic understanding, while action research empowers teachers to become researchers in their own classrooms. The article introduces essential research terminologies, such as variables, hypotheses, data, reliability, validity, and generalisability. It outlines the research process, from identifying a problem to writing the report, emphasising the importance of thorough literature reviews, clear research questions, appropriate research designs, data collection and analysis, and findings interpretation. The article encourages TESOL/TEFL educators to embrace research as part of their professional identity, becoming informed consumers and producers of knowledge. It provides criteria for selecting research topics, including relevance, originality, feasibility, personal interest, potential impact, alignment with current educational contexts, and interdisciplinary potential. In conclusion, the article equips novice researchers with the knowledge and tools necessary to engage in rigorous and impactful research, contributing to the continuous improvement of language education.

The literature review is a pivotal component in educational research studies, serving as a bridge between existing knowledge and the research being undertaken. This article examines the multifaceted role and function of the literature review from a pragmatic perspective, highlighting its significance in advancing knowledge and informing educational practice. A comprehensive literature review establishes the research territory by situating the study within a broader intellectual context, demonstrating the researcher's command of the field, and illuminating the path for their own investigation. It justifies the research undertaking by identifying gaps, inconsistencies, or unanswered questions in the existing literature, thereby establishing the rationale for the study. Moreover, the literature review shapes the research problem and questions by critically evaluating previous studies and refining research focus. It informs methodological choices by showcasing the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs and analytical approaches. Even after data collection and analysis, the literature review provides a framework for interpreting the study's findings, placing them in dialogue with existing knowledge. By embracing a pragmatic lens, researchers can harness the power of the literature review to produce impactful and relevant research that contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical application in educational contexts. The article concludes by emphasizing the dynamic and essential nature of the literature review, which evolves throughout the research process and enhances the relevance, rigour, and potential impact of the study on educational practice and policy.

This article explores the concept of the post-methods era in language teaching, which advocates for moving beyond rigid, prescriptive methodologies. The author argues that no single method can address the diverse needs of all learners and contexts. Instead, teachers should adopt an eclectic and context-sensitive approach, drawing on a range of methods to suit specific situations. Key characteristics of this era include a focus on the learner, the importance of context, authenticity in language use, and the teacher as a reflective practitioner. The article highlights the limitations of traditional methods and the influence of sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics in shaping modern language teaching. Practical implications for teachers include informed eclecticism, needs analysis, materials development, action research, and continuous professional development. While the post-methods approach offers flexibility and adaptability, it also presents challenges, particularly for novice teachers and in systems reliant on traditional methods. The article concludes that ongoing research and dialogue are essential for refining effective language teaching practices in this era.

The field of English Language Teaching (ELT) and Learning is constantly evolving, influenced by advancements in educational theory, technology, and global trends. This article aims to explore several key issues and concepts in ELT, focusing on modern approaches and challenges faced by educators and learners alike. I will examine topics such as contextualised teaching and learning, functional linguistics, web-based new literacies and new literacy practices, situated language learning, lifelong learning, cognitive apprenticeship, online professional development, and the challenges specific to teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in the Egyptian context.

Prospective students and their families use college rankings to navigate their higher education options. Rising tuition and fees have made the college decision more fraught. Recently, the major college ranking providers have revised their methodologies to reflect costs and other considerations. These revisions raise important questions about the precise qualities the rankings aim to measure. Vanderbilt University asked NORC to produce a report evaluating the methodological validity of five major college ranking systems: U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Forbes' Top College list (Forbes), The Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE), and the QS World University Ranking (QS). Drawing on well-established social scientific concepts like "construct validity," this report identifies many issues in the conceptualization and construction of college ranking lists and offers methodological improvements that might address these shortcomings. The aim of this report is to inform consumers of these rankings--including college-going students, their parents, and college leaders--of the limitations of existing college ranking systems. Findings from this project will guide the development of improved systems for informing college-goers.

This brief continues ongoing research by NWEA® examining the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated school closures, influenced student learning. Prior research focused on math and reading and found that the pandemic's negative impact steadily accumulated during the 2020-2021 school year, with significant disparities in achievement and growth compared to prepandemic trends (Lewis, Kuhfeld, Ruzek, & McEachin, 2021). Although there were modest rebounds in reading and math during the 2021-2022 school year, progress toward pandemic recovery largely stalled in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, with achievement and growth trends still trailing behind prepandemic levels (Kuhfeld & Lewis, 2022; Lewis & Kuhfeld, 2023; Lewis & Kuhfeld, 2024). Building on previous research series focused on math and reading achievement, this brief explores how the pandemic influenced student achievement in science. It examines science test scores across seven school years to understand how COVID-19 influenced science achievement.

This research study explores the potential of a pedagogical model of self-regulated learning supported with Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots to enhance self-expression and reflective writing skills for novice EFL student teachers at Faculty of Education, Assiut University. The study adopted a pre-post quasi-experimental design, that starts with the identification of the necessary self-expression and reflective writing skills for the target participants (50 fresh EFL student teachers at Assiut University who were purposively selected using a screening questionnaire based on their basic IT literacy skills). A pre-test was administered to assess their initial skill levels in self-expression and reflective writing. Then, an intervention was implemented in the form of a pedagogical model designed around the principles of self-regulated learning and situated language learning, which guided the use of AI chatbots (Bing, ChatGPT, and Google Bard). This model was initially piloted on a small sample (n = 10) of EFL student teachers to check validity and reliability and then experimented with the research participants for 8 weeks during the first semester of the academic year 2023/24. Following the intervention, a post-test was conducted to measure the participants' levels of self-expression and reflective writing skills after being exposed to the interventional model, aiming to identify any improvements gained from the intervention. The results indicated a positive effect with noticeable enhancements in the EFL student teachers' skills. This suggests the potential effectiveness of the model in fostering self-expression and reflective writing skills and developing EFL student teachers' general language proficiency and IT literacy. [This paper was published in "Academic Journal of Faculty of Education, Assiut University" v40 n9 p1-50 2024.]

The study compared the relationship of the contract plan of student evaluation and a traditional type of evaluation, for changes in knowledge and attitudes during a college course in ecological relationships. The Syracuse Environmental Awareness Test was used to measure both cognitive and affective changes. In the experimental group the contract plan of evaluation was utilized. Subjects were evaluated on the number of course objectives which were completed satisfactorily. In the control group, a traditional type of student evaluation was used. The students were evaluated on the scores they received on three examinations. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups when compared, there were several factors which gave credence to the hypothesis that the traditional method was superior to the contract method. First, there was a significant increase in cognitive knowledge for the control group between the pretest and the posttest, while in the experimental group there was no significant increase. Second, the experimental group had a larger percentage of Health Science majors than did the control group. If it is valid to assume that Health Science majors would be more highly motivated to do well in a course in their major field of study; then the experimental group should have demonstrated greater increases in cognitive and affective behavior. (RC)

Two groups of continuing education students were tested using three of Viktor Lowenfeld's tests of visual-haptic perception. The scores from the three tests were added to yield a score which identified an individual's location on Lowenfeld's visual-haptic continuum. The investigation also uncovered scoring problems with two of the tests which had not been previously reported in the literature. It was concluded that the Picture a Building Test as well as the Test of Visual and Haptical Word Association should not be used in their original form as a vehicle for ascertaining an individual's perceptual aptitude. Raw data tables are included. (Author)

The fall 2023 and spring 2024 undergraduate enrollment increases, marking the first growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, show signs of a post-pandemic turnaround for higher education. However, a significant share of current undergraduates will eventually disengage from college before earning a degree or other credential. They will join tens of millions of other adult Americans who are Some College, No Credential (SCNC). The SCNC population has been consistently rising over time. Re-engaging those who stop out remains a persistent challenge and a priority for the forty states that have set ambitious postsecondary attainment goals. This report aims to provide timely insights into the SCNC population, offering state leaders and policymakers accurate data on its current status, along with tracking progress and outcome measures for SCNC students. The first section of this report describes who makes up the SCNC population and how it has changed since the last report. In this section, the authors pay particular attention to Recent Stopouts, who joined the SCNC population after being stopped out between January 2021 and July 2022. In the second section, the authors report on SCNC re-enrollment in the 2022-23 academic year as well as first-year credential earning for re-enrollees. The authors also provide new updates on continued enrollment and second-year credential earning for SCNC re-enrollees in the 2021-22 academic year, whom were first reported on last year.

Outstanding federal student loan debt exceeds $1.6 trillion and is owed by about 45 million borrowers. Since taking office, the Biden Administration has taken various actions to address student loan debt. These actions have ranged in scope (both in terms of borrower populations affected and associated modification costs), rationales, and the avenues through which they were taken (e.g., formal rulemaking procedures, issuance of guidance). A primary criticism of many of the actions the Biden Administration has taken relate to these actions' costs to the federal government. In contrast, supporters contend that these actions help address borrower difficulty in managing and repaying student loan debt. This report compiles executive actions taken during the Biden Administration that have affected the costs of outstanding federal student loans. It begins by briefly describing relevant federal student loan programs. It then explains the methodology CRS used to compile the list of executive actions. Next, the report discusses accounting for the costs of federal student loan programs, including discussion of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA) because CRS's methodology relies on how the U.S. Department of Education (ED) accounts for the costs of the student loan programs under this act. Finally, the report lists and describes executive actions taken in FY2021-FY2023 that ED recognized as affecting the cost of outstanding federal student loans and provides ED's cost estimate for each action. Table 1 summarizes each of these actions and their modification costs. Table 2 presents net modification costs for the relevant federal student loan programs for FY2021-FY2023.

Catholic schools have seen more than a 30% decline in enrollment over the past 20 years. While some of the decline in enrollment may have been spurred by secular trends or the Church abuse scandal, the increase in schools of choice, principally public charter schools, may explain at least some of this decline. In this paper we estimate the effect of the opening of charter schools in proximity to Catholic schools across the entire U.S. We find that the opening of a nearby charter school has a negative impact on Catholic school enrollment and increases the likelihood that the school will close. We also find that charter openings induce greater racial isolation. Findings are especially pronounced in K8 schools, rather than high schools.

Although the use of social networks, especially Facebook, has become a common practice among educational communities in Egypt, studies have yet to explore the online practices of in-service (language) teachers as part of Continuing Professional Development (hereafter CPD). Therefore, this study investigated English language teachers' informal online professional development that may include some types of language learning for improving their pedagogical content knowledge. It also explored differences between teachers' perceived use of Facebook as a venue of CPD. This study employed a mixed-method design, collecting qualitative and quantitative data via content analysis and a questionnaire. The participants were 180 English-language Egyptian in-service teachers. The qualitative analysis of teacher's posts demonstrates that CPD informal groups, as maintained by Egyptian EFL teachers, display different aspects of professional knowledge. Results showed that the data yielded seven main categories: General Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), Content Knowledge (CK), L2 Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Knowledge of L2 Learners, Knowledge of Educational context and Knowledge of (professional) self and miscellaneous topics. Besides, ANOVA's Welch test indicated significant differences in the means of the sum scores of the questionnaire as well as two sub-domains (PK and CK) among primary, preparatory and secondary teachers in some aspects, such as pronunciation and vocabulary. This study concludes that CPD Facebook groups provide wide options and spaces for continuous learning and informal study for EFL teachers. Pedagogical implications and recommendations for further research were suggested. [This paper was published in "CDELT Occasional Papers in the Development of English Education" v87 2024.]

The article presents a blended dialogic socio-constructivist pedagogy for language learning, emphasizing the importance of both individual and social aspects of learning. It argues that technology alone does not transform pedagogy; rather, it is the approach to technology that matters. The pedagogy combines personal freedom for reflection and individual assignments with social interactions like pair work and group discussions for collaborative knowledge construction. The progression from controlled, face-to-face activities to freer, online ones aids in consolidating new ideas and mastering language skills. The article supports its approach with literature on socio-constructivism, highlighting the synergy between individual constructivism and socio-culturalism. It draws on theories by Vygotsky and Piaget, advocating for a dialogic approach that extends learning beyond the classroom through web-mediated environments. This approach is particularly beneficial for English Language Learners (ELL), moving language learning from isolated mental functioning to real-world communication and fostering a participatory metaphor for language learning. The article concludes that blended learning, which combines web technologies with traditional pedagogies, is crucial for engaging learners in meaningful dialogue and practice.

While current higher education literature stresses the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusivity, these imperatives have been mainly absent from conversations related to boards of higher education. In this paper, the authors present a historical overview of the demographic landscape of trustee boards from inception to the present. Using critical literacy as a methodology, the authors problematize the lack of discourses regarding Board's diversity. The authors juxtapose the longstanding homogeneity of boards with the increasing heterogeneity of higher education students and argue that systemic forms of racism have denied the opportunity to diversify those in charge of making decisions in higher education. Additionally, using the case of California, the authors problematize how diversity gaps in board composition manifest even within one of the most diverse and liberal states in the country. Ultimately, the authors make a case for diversifying the board of trustees as an instrumental step to align with the national push for enhanced diversity and equity in higher education.

This study examined the effectiveness of Flashlight360 by continuing a retrospective, mixed-methods quasi-experimental design of ELLs in Grades 1-12 during the 2023-24 school year in a large western state school district. Outcome measures included composite, speaking, and writing achievement gains on the WIDA ACCESS assessment administered to students in schools that implemented Flashlight360, relative to those of students in schools that did not implement the program. Impact analyses showed significant positive impacts of Flashlight360 on WIDA ACCESS composite score and proficiency levels, both for two-year and one-year student participants. Additional analyses showed significant positive impacts of Flashlight360 on WIDA ACCESS Speaking and Writing subscale scores for one-year students, as well as directionally positive impacts for two-year students. Digital usage variables were not significantly associated with WIDA ACCESS scores or proficiency levels.

Increasing educational attainment is one of the most important and effective tools for health and economic improvements. The extent to which extreme climate events disrupt education, resulting in fewer years of schooling and reduced educational attainment, remains under-studied. Children in low- and middle-income countries may be uniquely vulnerable to loss of schooling after such disasters due to the poor physical condition of schools and the lack of resources to rebuild and mitigate unexpected household shocks. Our analysis assesses this overlooked social cost of tropical cyclones on schooling attainment. We study the education records of nearly 5.1 million people living in 13 low- and middle-income countries that were exposed to tropical cyclones between 1954-2010. We find that exposure to tropical cyclones during preschool age is associated with a 2.7 percentage point decrease in primary school enrollment on average (14.2% decrease), with larger effects from more intense storms (up to 28% decrease for the most intense storms). These effects are more pronounced among school-age girls compared to boys and are greater in areas less accustomed to experiencing tropical cyclones. We estimate that, across all LMICs, tropical cyclone exposure has resulted in more than 410,000 children not attending primary school in the last 20 years, leading to a reduction of more than 4.1 million total years of schooling. These impacts, identified among some of the world's poorest populations, may grow in importance as exposure to severe tropical cyclones is projected to increase with climate change.

Millimeter-wave refracting telescopes targeting the degree-scale structure of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have recently grown to diffraction-limited apertures of over 0.5 meters. These instruments are entirely housed in vacuum cryostats to support their sub-kelvin bolometric detectors and to minimize radiative loading from thermal emission due to absorption loss in their transmissive optical elements. The large vacuum window is the only optical element in the system at ambient temperature, and therefore minimizing loss in the window is crucial for maximizing detector sensitivity. This motivates the use of low-loss polymer materials and a window as thin as practicable. However, the window must simultaneously meet the requirement to keep sufficient vacuum, and therefore must limit gas permeation and remain mechanically robust against catastrophic failure under pressure. We report on the development of extremely thin composite polyethylene window technology that meets these goals. Two windows have been deployed for two full observing seasons on the BICEP3 and BA150 CMB telescopes at the South Pole. On BICEP3, the window has demonstrated a 6% improvement in detector sensitivity., Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables