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This paper uses sensemaking theory and frame analysis to examine how a non-system actor's framing for advancing LGBT inclusion, what they called "code-switching," was taken up. Drawing on qualitative interview data generated as part of a larger mixed-methods study, this article examines the material and ideological affordances and constraints of elementary educators implementing the Inclusive Curriculum Law in Illinois (House Bill 246), a law promoting LGBT representation in history textbooks and curriculum. Findings highlight how the impetus to code-switch created a disconnect between policy and perceived practice, which in turn complicated organizational efforts to transform inclusive instruction. As our analyses illustrate, problem framing--refracted here through a non-system agent--not only shaped the direction of proposed solutions but also played a critical role in coordinating individual action and sensemaking.

This study examined experiences and viewpoints of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' regarding the integration of QR codes into writing and speaking practices at the tertiary-level L2 learning. Employing an action research design, researchers collected qualitative data through online interviews, a survey of open-ended questions, and learners' written reflections during class hours and brief field notes. Inductive thematic analysis was used for data analysis to form codes and themes. As a result, the learners identified QR codes as time-saving, useful, and enjoyable pedagogical tools for writing and speaking practices. The facilitative role of QR codes was centered on increasing motivation and interaction with classmates during different phases of productive skill-based activities, particularly in the idea-generation steps. The learners reported that QR code-based mobile learning practices make learning environments more participatory, safe, inclusive, and cooperative. The study presents instructional implications for transforming conventional student-teacher interaction into a peer-learning-oriented and autonomous atmosphere in higher education.

This study looks at the career choices of early adult girls with intellectual disability. Trade of vocation refers to the types of vocational environment and location i.e., open employment, sheltered employment and home-based employment. The present study aims to investigate the preferred trade of vocation for early adulthood girls with intellectual disability (mild & moderate). Survey method is used in the study. 28 early adulthood girls with intellectual disability (n=16 mild, n=12 moderate) between the age range of 18-25 years taken as a sample for the study. The researcher designed a questionnaire to identify preferred trade of vocation of early adulthood girls with Intellectual Disabilities. An unpaired t-test was utilized to perform statistical analysis on the data. The findings of the study shows that there is no significant difference between the preferred occupation for early adult girls with intellectual disability in relation to age and there is a significant difference in relation to the severity of the disability. And sheltered employment was preferred by most of the girls over open employment and home-based employment. In conclusion, it can be said that knowing the preferred vocation of occupation for early adult girls with intellectual disability can help them in better placement in employment.

Justice emerges as a need like any other human need and the processes of justice play important role within the organization. Social justice leadership includes the practice of leading and advocating for positive social change, equity, and fairness within society. Social justice leaders work to address and rectify systemic inequalities, discrimination, and injustices that affect marginalized and disadvantaged groups. They actively promote inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances. This study is designed in qualitative paradigm as a case study. For selecting the participants, I employed maximum variation sampling which is one of the categories of purposeful sampling that provides the researcher understand the basics of a case or a phenomenon under exploration. The findings of the study revealed that the practices of the school principals include "caring students", "supporting staff" and "promoting positive organizational climate" theme. The challenges and barriers that the principals face with include "parental challenges", "financial issues" and "school conditions". Social justice leadership practices are crucial in ensuring equitable learning atmosphere and barriers should be taken into account in policy making of education.

This qualitative case study explores the leadership strategies of three high school principals to promote equity and inclusivity amid multifaceted challenges in the diverse schooling contexts of Nepal. By shedding light on equitable school leadership practices within a complex web of long-held socio-economic and structural disparities, the findings reveal persistent educational inequalities stemming from caste discrimination, gender biases, economic gaps, and social prejudices. Leadership emerges as crucial in addressing these disparities, with empowering strategies showing promise in bridging educational divides. Policymakers, educators, and leaders can benefit from these insights in fostering equitable educational environments. As Nepal addresses historical inequities, the study advocates for systemic change and social justice in education, aiming to create a more inclusive future for Nepali students. [Note: The page range (268-294) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 268-307.]

Historically, Black colleges, universities, and social workers have shared a history of serving marginalized people. This research is conducted at a point in time when the profession and academic field of social work have expressed an interest in eliminating racism, but more so in upholding the values of social work education in support of working with marginalized populations. Social work as an academic discipline and the origin of Historically Black Colleges and Universities is introduced. The integration of social work in Historically Black Colleges and Universities is analyzed by cataloging the number and type of institutions that offer social work programs. Exploratory summative content analysis is used to identify the prevalence of race-related themes in doctoral dissertations. Dissertations in social work at the doctoral level are multi-dimensional. Despite this complexity, this study indicates that students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities are likely to study issues of race and racism. Recommendations on how Historically Black Colleges and Universities can assist are offered and, in some cases, provide a roadmap for the future development of social work as a practice and discipline.

Since artificial intelligence (AI) is extensively used in the field of education, it presents various opportunities in teaching and learning. In education, AI is chiefly used to impart knowledge, stimulate comprehension, heighten intelligence, and is treasured as support in learning. It is also instrumental in empowering and inspiring students. The emergence of AI also has a positive impact on inclusive education. Because these technologies can potentially transform teaching and learning, it is important to understand how they can be used to further support inclusive education. This non-empirical research analyzed some advantages and challenges of incorporating AI in teaching and learning and highlighted how it influences inclusion. Based on the literature, some of the advantages of AI are improved performance of students, motivation, and encouragement of students. This review also identified some challenges associated with the use of AI for inclusive education, such as technological difficulties, poor connectivity, pedagogical issues, and limitations of the database. Some recommendations are proposed to address these challenges. This research can assist educators, parents, students, government officials, and policymakers in making proper decisions on the effective use of AI and inclusion.

Among the East Asian nations, a recurring predicament faced by educational institutions is that of providing inclusive but high-quality education. Active involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in education is valuable in China. Adream was such an NGO on education in China, established in 2008 with a singular and noble objective: promotion of equitable access to quality education within the disadvantaged regions of China. The trajectory of Adream's endeavor to secure equitable access to quality education in rural China stands as a compelling exemplar of the transformative potential that NGOs wield within the realm of education.

The study aims to describe the success of the collaborative supervision between the head of the madrasah and the teachers at five private madrasah tsanawiyah in Gresik. This research, a qualitative case study design, involved the head of the madrasah and the teachers of five private madrasah tsanawiyah. Instruments used include interviews, observations, and documentation. Data analysis techniques used are data condensation, data presentation, conclusion drawing, and verification. The research findings demonstrate the significant positive impact of collaborative supervision on teachers' creativity and professionalism and its direct correlation with students' improved learning quality and learning outcomes. Collaborative supervision has been successful in enhancing the creativity of teachers in the implementation of a multicultural-based independent curriculum. The implications of the findings provide a strong basis for educational institutions to consider implementing more effective collaborative supervision strategies in the context of a multicultural-based independent curriculum. The importance of considering cultural and multicultural contexts is also highlighted in designing educational supervision programmes and strengthening the inclusive learning environment.

This study examined the inclusion teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education in the public schools of Liloan District, Cebu Province Division. A descriptive-correlational design was utilized to collect data from purposively sampled 30 elementary teacher respondents through the M STATIC structured questionnaire. Most teachers were experienced females aged 34-43 years, married with some graduate studies. They had 1-5 years of teaching experience in inclusion yet only 1-2 inclusive education training sessions. Results found teachers generally supported inclusive philosophies and recognized social benefits but had concerns regarding training, resources, and support. While philosophically positive, worries existed about the support and resources needed in the classrooms. Pearson's r correlations and one-way ANOVA found no significant relationships between demographic profiles and attitudes. Based on these findings, a Teacher Inclusion Support Plan was recommended and customized for each school to enhance the long-term implementation of high-quality inclusion practices through ongoing, evidence-driven capacity building and professional development.

This study explored the experiences of inclusion and exclusion of African academics in Norway in various sectors of the society and their participation in these sectors. Using a mixed method research approach, 166 African academics completed a 20-item questionnaire entitled Perceived Exclusion Scale (PES) and two open-ended questions about their mental effects and coping mechanisms of exclusion. Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis procedures were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the participants experienced exclusion in almost all the sectors of the Norwegian society with concomitant effects of depression and insomnia for most of the participants. Participants mentioned acceptance, confrontational strategy, avoidance strategy, theological group discussion and positive attitudes as key coping mechanisms to exclusion and discrimination. This study could be used as a baseline for future research on the psychological and mental health effects of discrimination of Africans and African-Norwegians. The study is a pointer to the public discourses on the positive sides of immigration in general and the role of migrants' contribution to the Norwegian society.

This study identified and discussed principals' perceptions of acceleration and enrichment for gifted students. These areas have proven significant for the teaching of the gifted. The research questions included questions about perceptions of giftedness and how principals organize to allow gifted students to develop and learn based on their conditions and needs. The empirical material consisted of open questions where the informants freely could describe their knowledge and perceptions about gifted students and their education. The principals' mission statement formed the theoretical basis for analysis. The method used was content analysis. Previous research has shown that acceleration and enrichment are significant for teaching and learning for gifted students. It is therefore of importance that principals, responsible for the activities of the schools they are responsible for, are aware of these and enable the teachers to work with acceleration and enrichment based on the different needs of the gifted students. The results showed that the principals in the study believed that (a) acceleration should primarily take place in the gifted students' age-appropriate class, (b) second by studying subjects or courses with higher classes, (c) third, that the teachers enable enrichment for gifted students in their age-appropriate class, (d) fourth, grade skipping is complicated and should be avoided.

The recent expansion of the COVID-19 outbreak has drastically altered the educational landscape, causing certain schools to operate on a distance education basis. The goal of this study is to investigate this phenomenon in depth, focusing on the elements that may contribute to the marginalization of students with learning disabilities and their immigration biography. At the same time, it attempts to investigate the perspectives of a group of students, teachers, and parents on how to avoid marginalization as a result of distance education. We employed a mixed research style to study the aforementioned problem. A total of 132 secondary school students, 52 secondary school teachers, and 49 secondary school parents were included in the study. As research tools, questionnaires, focus groups, observations and interviews were used. The data analysis reveals that the elements which may contribute to marginalization in remote education are primarily related to attention challenges, but also to technical difficulties. According to the participants, a closer collaboration between the Ministry of Education, school administrations and teachers, as well as revisions to the substance of teaching subjects, may be the solution to the problem.

Inclusive Education has been an emerging initiative in Indonesia, yet, the implementation of it in English Language Teaching is less explored. English Language Education Department, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Universitas Brawijaya has initiated the Introduction to Inclusive Education course to prepare students with inclusive teaching competencies. This course has been implemented for 2 years, a course evaluation needs to be carried out to evaluate and improve the course quality. This present study reports the evaluation of the aforementioned course with the Framework of Outcome Based Education from the students' perspective. The survey was distributed to 129 students enrolled in the course. Questionnaires were distributed after students completed the final semester exam in the course. Descriptive analysis was carried out with SPSS to calculate the average score for each aspect. This research revealed that most of the students agreed that this course has met their expectation toward the offered competencies (M = 3,25), positive perception toward course activities (M = 3,12), positive perception toward the benefits of course materials (M = 3,19), and positive perception toward tutor performance (M = 3.2). Surprisingly, despite the students' agreement on the usefulness of the courses, they also acknowledged that the course materials are pretty difficult (M = 3,15). The result of this course evaluation shed a light on the importance of adjusting the materials to be more achievable by the students so they have confidence in implementing inclusive teaching practices.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role that technology plays in the education of students with hearing impairments. The paper delves into ambitious topics like assistive technologies and languages, access and inclusion, teacher education and practice, and the challenges encountered. The research employed a quantitative approach, selecting 172 teachers from Punjab's special education department as a study sample using a simple random technique. Primary data was collected using a self-developed questionnaire. The collected data was, therefore, analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Overall, the findings presented a positive outlook, demonstrating how technology enhances the learning experience, communication, and academic performance. The study clearly highlights several challenges, including insufficient specialized tools, inadequate teacher training, financial constraints, and more. The study highlights the significance of precision, aggregative processes, and teamwork in addressing the challenges of limited resources, teachers' preparedness, and accessibility. recommendations include incorporating specialized digital tools, focusing on continuous teacher professional learning, requesting funding, and creating awareness and/or cultural shifts. Such findings provide an understanding of the possible pros and cons of technology integration, which will help educators create an inclusive learning environment for students with hearing impairments.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently been gaining ground, particularly since November 2022, with the introduction of generative tools based on natural language processing and neural network algorithms. These kinds of tools have great potential for creators and users of Open Educational Resources (OER) and the Open Movement itself but they also represent risks. The International Council for Open and Distance Education OER Advocacy Committee (OERAC) developed two workshops to present the role of AI in OER at two international conferences in the fall of 2023. The workshops presented the features, benefits, key challenges, and practical issues related to using AI technologies from professional, ethical, sustainable, and equitable perspectives, while also focusing on the five areas of the UNESCO OER Recommendation. Participants were dynamically engaged in discussions, and documented their ideas in formats that could be used as OER in themselves. The OERAC noted and categorized the results, and developed short summaries and drafts for further work. Finally, drawing on the findings from the workshops, we asked ChatPDF for a second opinion on further suggestions for AI in connection with OER, which in turn related to the five areas of the recommendation. We conclude that, while there is great potential for the use of AI in the context of the Open Movement, there is also a need for professional ethics, equity, and sustainable capacity building, access, inclusion, policy, models, and international collaboration.

The study examined the strategies used by teacher educators in their teaching practices and gender integration in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The nature of the engagement of educational leaders and administrators in supporting teaching, learning and mainstreaming gender issues in teaching was also examined. A total of 165 sampled respondents were reached. This included 81 government officials and educational leaders (18 government officials and 63 educational leaders) and 84 tutors. The study used a concurrent mixed-method approach where the combined qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies were applied to answer the study questions. The study data were collected directly from the project participants through semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaires. 60% of preprimary and primary tutors from Kenya demonstrated knowledge and skills in pedagogical practices compared to 13% from Tanzania and 20% from Uganda. The findings also revealed that most tutors do not think training and application of lifelong professional development strategies on key pedagogical aspects and content are essential for achieving a gender-responsive and inclusive training and support program. These key areas include support for gender-based violence victims, support for pregnant girls and mothers to continue education; gender-sensitive expectations towards girls' and boys' achievements; gender-sensitive expectations around girls' and boys' behavior, lesson demonstration, and lesson observation. The study recommends that there should be integration of gender issues in delivering training for the tutors of the colleges in East Africa. The training should focus on enhancing pedagogical practices and related educational leadership and management.

Funded by the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grant, this national study examines arts-based adult education organizations involved in dance, music, drama, and visual arts with a philosophical perspective aligned with a multiliteracies theoretical framework. Multiliteracies considers how cultural and linguistic diversity must be fostered to encourage adults to thrive in all learning environments and recognizes that multimodality provides an expanded way to engage in literacy practices. Utilizing Carey Jewitt's four theoretical tenets to characterize multimodality serves to structure the analytical framework for the findings and discussion of this paper. Multiple case studies and constructivist grounded theory were used for the methodology. Some of the sites discussed in this paper include an art gallery; an immigration museum; and a chamber music organization that offers interactive performances. Participants included adult educators and learners who had options around face-to-face interviews; observations; document analysis of lesson plans or exemplars; or secondary data analysis of original ¿lm footage shot in these spaces. This research has found that arts-based approaches can infuse the work of adult educators to engage adult learners in inclusive pedagogy and active citizenship.

Since 2015, a continuous online integration training service has been active. In 2021, eight integration instructors, teaching online for two to six years across diverse regions participated in semi-structured interviews. Analysing the technology-mediated community formed by teachers and learners, we explored how the entirely online, gradually growing teacher community operates. The interviews revealed four influential categories for the teacher's work which encompass individual resources, antifragility resilience, collaborative resources, and an entrepreneurial mindset. An entrepreneurial mindset fosters collaboration and community, thereby enhancing learners' engagement in online learning and social inclusion. The study highlighted key factors for social impact within the community: informal teacher chats, the mentor-mentee model in learning design, shared materials, teacher rotation, direct collaboration with learners' environments and employers, and information shareability. This teacher community proved to be entrepreneurial and involves learners in co-design individualized integration training connected to their living situations. Entrepreneurial mindset. However, challenges in sustain, antifragile and developing online teaching, such as psychological insecurity, diversity of teachers and learners, heightened competition, time management, and workload, were also noted.

The SSIS SEL Brief + Mental Health Scales (SSIS SELb+MHS) are multi-informant assessments developed in the United States to assess the social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies and emotional behavior concerns (EBCs) of school-age youth. Although there are translations of the SEL items of the SSIS SELb+MHS available in other languages, a German translation has never been completed and validated, despite the growing need for SEL and mental health assessment in German-speaking countries. To address this need, this study's primary purpose was the examination of a German translation of the assessment with a specific focus on measurement invariance and concurrent validity invariance testing with 821 3rd through 6th-grade students in Austria and Germany. Results indicated that the SELb+MHS items clustered into 2 SEL factors and 2 EBC factors. With regard to measurement invariance, the SELb+MHS functioned similarly across both Austria and Germany and full scalar invariance was achieved. Additionally, the overall pattern of concurrent validity relationships was as expected and similar across countries. Implications and future directions are discussed.

The impact of Muslim parents on their daughters' sports and games in inclusion varies, spanning from progressive endorsement due to the physical and social advantages to reservations grounded in traditions and religious convictions. This has culminated in limited Muslim female inclusion in sporting events. This study explored the inclusion of female Muslim students in sports and games in Islamic schools using a qualitative research approach with 20 participants, which include 10 teachers and 10 parents. Concerning parents' and Islamic teachers' perceptions of Muslim females' inclusion in sports and games, three core thematic areas were revealed: positive influence on character development, school for Important Skills, and secret Code for Success, which favourably influences the diverse development of Muslim girls. Numerous considerations at individual levels of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) influence parental decisions about Muslim female sports inclusion. Individually, parental choices are induced by weighty factors, including religious convictions (prayer periods), cultural principles, and modesty concerns. The study further unearths how teachers shape the sports climate at the organisational level. The organisation's endeavours to provide inclusive and supportive settings for Muslim female girls are shown in the adaptation of activities, deliberate education and awareness promotion, partnership promotion and incorporation of scientific notions into sporting events. As sports are seen as important educational instruments for fostering the development of Muslim female students, they must be integrated into the curriculum. Stakeholders in the education sector must collaborate to guarantee Muslim female students receive a fair opportunity to excel in sports and games while respecting their cultural and religious beliefs utilising these synchronised initiatives.

This paper examines how public education can ensure equity and diversity by clarifying the "democratic aspects" that can be captured through school-community collaborative activities in Japan and the U.S. As a result of comparison and analysis, it is indicated that in both Japan and the U.S., these activities are conducted in the context of streamlining educational administration. In addition, the participation in school management of diverse people such as local residents, parents, and children is promoted in order to grasp their needs and achieve deliberation on an equal footing. In contrast to Japan, however, these activities in the U.S. put importance on providing health and educational services to disadvantaged families and children. Furthermore, they aim to change not only schools but also communities. Therefore, this paper suggests that "democratic aspects" encompassed by collaborative activities have multiple layers: (1) "compensatory-type" (status-quo satisfaction -oriented democratic aspects), (2) "participatory-type" (deliberation-oriented democratic aspects), and (3) "transformative-type" (status-quo change-oriented democratic aspects). In order to guarantee equity of education that ensures fairness and inclusion to all children, this paper clarifies the importance of having both activities that distribute educational and welfare services on a curve to disadvantaged children and families (compensatory-type) and activities that involve children themselves in the practice, leading to the transformation and creation of the world (participatory and transformative type). The types of activities described above do not necessarily set the transformative-type as the ultimate goal. The three types interact together and pave the way toward a democratic and equitable education that is open to all and respects the voices of minorities.

The purpose of this paper is to explore ways to cultivate learners who can take part in inquiry, discussion, and action toward realizing an equitable society from the perspective of the SDGs and ESD. After confirming the importance of dealing with the concept of and the issues around equity with consideration of the mutual interdependence among all 17 SDGs, the paper notes that the "inclusive and equitable quality education" mentioned in SDG 4 is assumed to be achieved by the integrated improvement and organization of a variety of aspects, such as educational environment, policy, systems, budget, teachers, and competency development. Next, based on the importance of competency development of all learners through ESD, the paper demonstrates the potentials of objective-referenced assessment for ESD. Finally, the paper proposes a tentative idea on a set of objectives for lessons on equity from the perspective of ESD, as a useful way to develop school-based curricula of quality ESD at each school and to promote effective lessons on equity to prepare learners who can attain the necessary competencies and take part in inquiry, discussion, and action toward realizing an equitable society

This study clarifies the development process of inclusive education in England (London) with Disability Equality Training (DET) for non-disabled teachers and pupils. It focuses on the practices of graduates of special schools who are members of the Integration Alliance (IA), an organization of disabled people. The shift in education policy from segregation to integration in the 1970s and 1980s influenced the development of the inclusion movement among people with disabilities and their parents, some of whom joined the IA and have been campaigning together since the 1990s to end the segregation of children with disabilities. IA members provided DET to non-disabled teachers and pupils in mainstream schools to change their attitudes and practices towards inclusion. The training was delivered during Disability History Month or across the curriculum in each subject area. The training covered the history of discrimination, the concept of the 'social model' of disability, and the role of 'allies'. Through DET, non-disabled teachers and pupils were encouraged to raise awareness of issues of exclusion and to work together for inclusion. It is also found that inclusive education movements with non-disabled allies have been developed since the 1990s. Under the Labour government, the campaign grew and education policy shifted towards inclusive education. However, the current situation has deteriorated, and the IA's successor is still practicing DET in mainstream schools, as inclusive education requires the cooperation of non-disabled allies and the reform of mainstream schools. This paper concludes that raising non-disabled allies through DET and campaigning together was important in achieving inclusive education. It shows, in comparison to previous research, that DET has played an important role in the process of making allies for inclusive education.

Inclusive education is the process of integrating individuals with disabilities into a regular classroom, and it helps reflect the world's commitment to equal educational opportunities as outlined in UNCRPD. It emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity and promoting acceptance among students who are impaired. This paper examines why it is important to include learners with impairments into mainstream classes and the favorable attitudes towards inclusive education among teachers, administrators and students. Many barriers hinder its implementation such as lack of professional development for teachers, insufficient facilities for learning, difficulty in creating relationships between classmates, inadequate parent participation, and absence of legislations and policies that are aligned towards its practice. The role of several educational theories like social constructivism, humanistic approach and universal design for learning (UDL) have been discussed to show their relevance in addressing challenges found in inclusive learning. Social Constructivism shows how collaborative work can be used inside the classrooms so that peer rejection will be lessened. The approach that is humanistic stresses about the comprehensive growth all individuals while addressing the needs of learners with disabilities. UDL focuses on promoting an accessible learning environment and eliminating physical barriers to foster successful growth for all students. Moreover, this article underlines relevance of awareness on how children with impairments can be incorporated into conventional classrooms and benefits which inclusive education has for both disabled and non disabled students. In conclusion, this paper emphasized the transformative nature of inclusive education in fostering a learning atmosphere that promotes diversity, empathy, and acceptance, contributing to students' overall development.

Background: This article describes how the National Reading Barometer project has redefined the concept of 'reading culture' in South Africa. Objectives: As expressed in the 2023 National Reading Survey (N = 4250) and the 2023 National Reading Barometer, a clearer description of reading cultures was developed to describe both individual reading practices (measured through the survey) and the national reading ecosystem (measured through the barometer). Method: We describe the survey and statistical tools developed to measure the new concept of reading cultures. This includes a survey questionnaire that introduced novel questions alongside established indicators. Reading is defined and measured through six distinct dimensions: reading purpose, habits, volume, depth, motivation, and identity. The expanded understanding of reading purpose includes reading for information, communication, and enjoyment. At an ecosystem level, the National Reading Barometer was applied to visualise data from the National Reading Survey and secondary data on reading ability, access to reading material, and enabling environmental indicators to provide a baseline for high-level longitudinal trends in the national reading environment. Results: The National Reading Barometer and National Reading Survey assisted to redefine the debate on reading cultures by providing evidence-based descriptions of varied reading cultures and situating these within the reading ecosystem. Conclusion: We conclude by proposing how this revised concept of reading cultures and the new tools for measuring impact may open research and policy advocacy opportunities in the literacy sector. Contribution: This article contributes a pluralistic, Afrocentric, and modernised understanding of reading cultures.

This paper explores recent advancements and implications of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with a specific focus on Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT 3.5, within the realm of higher education. Through a comprehensive review of the academic literature, this paper highlights the unprecedented growth of these models and their widereaching impact across various sectors. The discussion sheds light on the complex issues and potential benefits presented by LLMs, providing a comprehensive overview of the field's current state. In the context of higher education, the paper explores the challenges and opportunities posed by LLMs. These include issues related to educational assessment, potential threats to academic integrity, privacy concerns, the propagation of misinformation, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) aspects, copyright concerns and inherent biases within the models. While these challenges are multifaceted and significant, the paper emphasises the availability of strategies to address them effectively and facilitate the successful adoption of LLMs in educational settings. Furthermore, the paper recognises the potential opportunities to transform higher education. It emphasises the need to update assessment policies, develop guidelines for staff and students, scaffold AI skills development, and find ways to leverage technology in the classroom. By proactively pursuing these steps, higher education institutions (HEIs) can harness the full potential of LLMs while managing their adoption responsibly. In conclusion, the paper urges HEIs to allocate appropriate resources to handle the adoption of LLMs effectively. This includes ensuring staff AI readiness and taking steps to modify their study programmes to align with the evolving educational landscape influenced by emerging technologies.

As federal strategic plans prioritize increasing diversity within the biomedical workforce, and STEM training and outreach programs seek to recruit and retain students from historically underrepresented populations, there is a need for interrogation of traditional demographic descriptors and careful consideration of best practices for obtaining demographic data. To accelerate this work, equity-focused researchers and leaders from STEM programs convened to examine approaches for measuring demographic variables. Gender, race/ethnicity, disability, and disadvantaged background were prioritized given their focus by federal funding agencies. Categories of sex minority, sexual (orientation) minority, and gender minority (SSGM) should be included in demographic measures collected by STEM programs, consistent with recommendations from White House Executive Orders and federal reports. Our manuscript offers operationalized phrasing for demographic questions and recommendations for use across student-serving programs. Inclusive demographics permit the identification of individuals who are being excluded, marginalized, or improperly aggregated, increasing capacity to address inequities in biomedical research training. As trainees do not enter training programs with equal access, accommodations, or preparation, inclusive demographic measures can welcome trainees and inform a nuanced set of program outcomes that facilitate research on intersectionality to support the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in biomedical research.

Higher education institutions have come under fire for their perceived restrictive tactics and lack of diversity among students and faculty. This article dives into the possible synergy between anthropology and critical consciousness, drawing inspiration from Paulo Freire's seminal contributions. The major goal is to create a revolutionary transition in higher education toward a more inclusive educational paradigm. Furthermore, this study investigates the influence of political landscapes on educational curriculum, emphasizing the need for a revolutionary pedagogical framework that fosters critical consciousness in both students and instructors. The prospect of developing a more equitable and inclusive learning environment within higher education becomes reachable via the harmonic integration of different pedagogical techniques, one that is sensitive to the diverse requirements of all learners. This attempt, however, is not without difficulties, such as opposition to change and the political terrain's intricacies. Professional development opportunities and coordinated efforts between educators, administrators, and policymakers are required for successful implementation. To summarize, the priority of social responsibility in higher education is evident, and adopting transformational pedagogy is critical for tackling the multiple issues inherent in the twenty-first century.