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The present study aims on the one hand to analyze North American curriculum reforms with a focus on the twentieth century, and on the other hand it aims to demonstrate the implications of Weberian rationality theory for century-specific curriculum theory and practice. At the theoretical level the study shows the implications of Weberian rationality in the work of Dewet, Weber and Tyler. At the practical level, the main findings of the study show that the progressive period was influenced by practical rationality or more specifically instrumental rationality through the social efficiency orientation promoted by Bobbitt and Tyler. Also, the need for post-Sputnik reform of the North American curriculum led to a hyper-rationalization of education towards the imposition of external standards on schools, this trend culminating in the report "A Nation at Risk" (1983) which led to an economic approach to education. The North American curriculum reforms that followed did not abandon this trend of hyper-rationalization and standardization of education.

The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) has impacted scholarly publishing. This study explores the use of AI tools by Arab researchers who publish in English. A survey was conducted to gather information on AI tool adoption in research conception, writing, editing, and publishing. It collected responses from 84 participants, who provided insights into their usage patterns, challenges encountered, and ethical considerations when using AI. The findings reveal diverse adoption rates of AI tools, with high usage for language correctness and content enhancement such as grammar and spelling checking. The ethical implications of AI tool usage, including the need to ensure data quality, prevent plagiarism, and maintain ethical standards, were emphasized by respondents. Tools such as Grammarly, Endnote, and QuillBot were recognized for their utility in addressing common challenges. However, certain research-related tasks, notably research design, exhibited lower AI tool integration. The study underscores the gap between awareness and adoption of AI tools, indicating potential barriers to their utilization. Challenges such as cost, integration issues, and concerns about the accuracy and appropriateness of AI-generated content were identified. These findings offer insights for researchers, institutions, and publishers to enhance editorial processes, promote ethical AI tool usage, and bridge the gap between awareness and adoption.

In recent years, academic interest in new developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ethical challenges in higher education has increased. The new emerging technologies that have become popular among the university community in recent times require an exhaustive study to evaluate their impact on academic integrity and plagiarism. The main stakeholders in higher education (SoTL, educational authorities, and policymakers) must understand the new trends and the most relevant studies to have action guides that preserve academic integrity standards in deploying AI in the university. This research analyzes scientific articles published in high-impact journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) (n=254) and carries out a bibliometric study using VOSviewer 1.6.18 and WordStat 2023.1. The Normalized Impact per Document (NID) and per Year (NIY) are studied, and four thematic groups and twelve main themes are identified and discussed, allowing the internal research structure of this field of study to be determined. Based on the findings, a roadmap for implementing AI in higher education is proposed, preserving ethical standards and based on three levels (Micro, Meso, Macro). This study offers practical implications for SoTL, academic authorities, and policymakers. Furthermore, the evidence found allows editors of high-impact journals to advise on unclosed gaps and new research trends and new research trends in the area.

Clearly defined professional standards result in better prepared professionals who positively impact outcomes for children and families by ensuring an effective workforce. This article describes the evolution of early intervention early/childhood special education preparation standards from the on-the-job competencies of the 1960s to the historic 2020 Initial Practice-Based Professional Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators (EI/ ECSE Standards), in concert with the evolution of the profession itself. Influencing factors include (a) changes in federal legislation and policy, (b) ages and characteristics of children served, (c) growing knowledge of effective practices, (d) collaboration with other disciplines, and (e) ongoing advocacy for EI/ ECSE as a profession. The article concludes with a vision for using the EI/ECSE Standards to guide the future local, state, and national agenda of the profession around preservice preparation and accreditation, professional development, state and federal policy, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and standards-informed research.

This work provides an overview of the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in the context of training through the documentation of a project produced by Ohio University's Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab involving the development of a cine-VR series for police officer training in areas such as suicide prevention, mental health, crisis intervention, domestic violence resolution, and school violence prevention. The article starts by introducing the concept of VR training with its subdivisions and its benefits, including the promotion of learning and empathy through immersion. Followingly, it describes the process of planning for a VR training. Subsequently, it breaks down the several stages of creating VR training content from scenario exploration, scriptwriting, recording, to postproduction. In conclusion, this paper recognizes the challenges of creating compelling VR content such as storytelling, editing, and resources. Additionally, it attempts to pave the way for similar VR training projects by providing recommendations and emphasizing the importance of communication, adaptability, and experimentation.

Background: Many studies have been done in the past to compare country-specific curricula to international standards. However, there is an apparent lack of literature that focusses on evaluating the alignment of country-specific early grade mathematics curriculum to the Global Proficiency Framework (GPF) for mathematics. Aim: This study aims to investigate how the domains of the national early grade mathematics curriculum and the Bachelor of Education curriculum for pre-service early grade teachers in the Colleges of Education (CoE) in Ghana align with the GPF for mathematics. Setting: The study was conducted in Ghana using the national early grade and Colleges of Education (CoE) curricula. Method: Document analysis was employed to compare the list of domains in the GPF to the lists of domains in the Ghanaian national early grade mathematics curriculum and the Bachelor of Education curriculum. Results: The results showed an alignment in the list of domains in GPF and the two curricula. The Bachelor of Education curriculum included theories of early-grade numeracy development which was absent in the GPF. The indicators in the two curricula were found to have exceeded the global minimum proficiency levels in the GPF. Conclusion: The results showed an alignment between the GPF and the two curricula signifies that the mathematics curriculum used for teaching early grade learners in Ghana meets international standards and can help learners compete on a global scale in mathematics learning. Contribution: The study provided valuable insights for policy-makers to consider while making decisions about curriculum standards and teacher training programmes. This is a significant step towards enhancing the quality of early grade mathematics education in Ghana.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many states expanded alternative teaching licensure to address nationwide teacher shortages. This manuscript sought to compare the effectiveness of traditional preparation programs and alternative certification programs but found the comparison to be inconclusive because those categories were too broad. This analysis instead identified several trends in each of the two pathways. Generally, alternative programs attracted more diverse candidates because the unpaid internship model of traditional programs was a barrier for many candidates. Meanwhile, many traditional programs prepared teachers more effectively, particularly in their first year. However, the connection between credentialing pathway and long-term retention was unclear. Based on the findings of this article's analysis, policymakers need to evaluate alternative programs closely to ensure they maintain high standards for accreditation and so that teachers who enter the classroom via alternative pathways are properly prepared, particularly if the goal in expanding alternative pathways is to address teacher shortages. More research is needed on the impact teachers had on students' learning based on their credentialing pathway.

Given the substantial impact school leaders have on school improvement, the imperative for continuous professional learning for leaders is evident. In this two-year action research study, researchers collaborated with a school division, forming a research-practice partnership, to design and explore a collaborative professional learning and coaching program. The primary objective of this program was to align with local leadership standards and foster leadership development. The central research question was: How does implementation of a collaborative professional learning and coaching program contribute to leadership development? Data were collected from district and school leaders and included pre and post surveys, interviews, and focus groups. The findings of this study indicate that district leadership practices show promising potential in fostering inservice opportunities for leadership development. These practices include the following: (a) ensure programs are sustained with a consistent focus, (b) utilize collaborative learning approaches, (c) assess growth through reflection and feedback, and (d) use action research to support continual improvement. This study aims to provide valuable insights to school districts and researchers regarding the implementation of sustained and job-embedded professional development for school leaders, with a specific focus on leadership development.

Education policymakers have long sought to reduce persistent achievement disparities between students of color and White students with varying levels of success. Understanding the different needs and obstacles faced by students and families of color is important given educating all individuals for our future U.S. society is a priority. Educational policy should reflect the assumption that race matters and continues to impact educational opportunity. This paper argues that race-conscious professional teaching standards could extend the structural boundaries of teacher practice when working with racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse students. Using discourse analysis to analyze the deeper meanings of selected states' teaching standards in different sociopolitical contexts, this paper describes the challenges and opportunities for infusing race-conscious perspectives in teaching standards. Implications for how states' teaching policy language actively creates and builds teaching and learning environments are discussed.

This article presents an assessment analysis of the learning outcomes of students with special needs in vocational schools. The limitations of teachers in using test instruments in learning assessments have an impact on the weak feedback on improving learning programs received by students with special needs. This study used a descriptive study method at vocational schools of SMK Negeri 1 and SMK Karsa Mulya Palangka Raya, Indonesia. The study results revealed that teachers in this vocational school had yet to use the category of children with special needs of light, medium, and severe in assessing the learning outcomes of students with special needs. The assessment is based only on the minimum standards set by the school. Then, the assessment pattern given by the teacher based on the minimum completion criteria makes the teacher's responsibility less than optimal in evaluating the learning outcomes of students with special needs, which is characterized by the lack of use of test instruments as an objective measuring tool in formative assessment.

Background: The use of the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) and delivery of Physical Education (PE) concerning time allocation, resources and number of learners per class is crucial for optimal delivery to the intermediate-phase (IP) learner. Aim: This study aimed to determine the gap between the understanding and the interpretation of the content and requirements of the CAPS document, and the delivery of PE in the IP, in selected public schools in the Alberton region of Gauteng province, South Africa. Setting: Alberton, a suburb of Johannesburg, was identified. This geographical area was divided into four segments. Two primary schools from each segment were purposefully selected according to the quintile levels. Methods: A mixed method of data gathering was used. Questionnaires were administered and focus-group discussions (FGDs) were held. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling method. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed using direct quotes and themes. Results: The findings are in line with the results of the South African Universities Physical Education Association (SAUPEA) National Research Project in that teachers require further training on the interpretation of the CAPS document. Aspects of the CAPS document cannot be executed because of time allocation, class size, and a lack of resources and equipment. Conclusion: To adhere to the expectations of the CAPS document, the use of available facilities, equipment, number of learners per class, and time allocation in PE need improvement. Contribution: Enriching the PE curriculum through collaborating with stakeholders in local communities and governmental support.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) scholars have long advocated for the inclusion of reflective writing as a legitimate form of scholarship. That said, for those instructors seeking to publish their reflective work, especially scholarly personal narratives (SPNs), there are persistent gaps between the aspirations of the field and the realities of scholarly publishing. The present study seeks to illuminate that gap through a systematic analysis of the policies and practices of academic journals as they pertain to the publication of reflective writing in SoTL. The ultimate aim of the study is to enable editors to close the gap between belief and practice and empower potential authors to share their reflective teaching and learning practices with others.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant transition towards online education in pre-K-12 schools, prompting school administrators to confront the disparities revealed by the remote learning model. This paper includes the findings of a multi-phase research project exploring the intersection of educational leadership, technology, and systemic inequities aimed to guide administrator preparation programs to meet relevant, post-pandemic leadership standards. Phase One of the research project, conducted early in the pandemic, highlights the findings from a survey administered to technology directors in Minnesota. The survey aimed to understand how school districts were addressing the technology disparities encountered by students and families during hybrid and distance learning models. Phase Two of the research project, conducted as the pandemic waned, focused on school leaders' evaluation of which practices developed and implemented during remote learning should be sustained. Technology directors participated in a focus group and asserted that the pandemic was an opportunity for educational leaders to reimagine schools for the success of all students. Findings call for revised administrator preparation standards, the implementation of technology plans in every state, and continued focus on identifying and addressing educational inequities.

The "Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education" posits that the practice of asking questions in order to deepen inquiry and understanding is a key element of information literacy. While the "Research as Inquiry" frame is teachable in library instruction, it can be difficult to scale. Popular instructional design software tends to present information in linear formats that can limit how students understand the iterative nature of research. This article presents an attempt at an asynchronous tutorial that overcomes this limitation of medium and that presents "Research as Inquiry" through an iterative and question-based online game. We discuss the development, implementation, and assessment of the tutorial, as well as issues of sustainability and scale.

This research aimed to: 1) investigate the components and performance indicators for organizing experiential activities that foster life skills among early childhood students, particularly those taught by teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission of Thailand; 2) examine the current state, desired state, and the needs of supervision models for teachers to develop experiential competency that promotes life skills in early childhood students; and 3) enhance the supervision models for developing experiential competency, specifically focusing on promoting life skills among early childhood students taught by teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission of Thailand. The research is divided into 3 phrases. Phase 1: examine the components and indicators, targeting a qualified group of 9 experts selected through purposive sampling. This selection is based on the appropriateness assessment using the components and indicators evaluation form. Phase 2: investigate the needs of the supervision models. The sample group comprises 320 early childhood teachers, selected through multi-stage random sampling using a questionnaire with a 5-level Likert scale. Phase 3: developing the supervision models. Nine qualified experts selected through purposive sampling examined the appropriateness of the supervision models. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, assessments, and observations. Average, standard deviation and Priority Needs Index (PNImodified) were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed the following: (1) The components and indicators of life skills serve as standards for teachers in organizing experiences that promote life skills for early childhood students. There are 5 components and 23 indicators, categorized as follows: 1) Decision-making with 5 indicators, 2) Problem-solving with 5 indicators, 3) Analytical thinking with 4 indicators, 4) Empathy with 4 indicators, and 5) Communication with 5 indicators. Overall, the proficiency level is rated as the highest. (2) The current state is rated as the highest, and the desired state is also at a high level. When assessing the needs of the supervision models, it is found that the component with the highest need is Component 3--Analytical Thinking. This is followed by Component 2--Problem-Solving, Component 4--Empathy, Component 1--Decision Making, and Component 5--Communication, with the lowest index of essential needs respectively. (3) The results of enhancing the supervision models for teachers to develop experiential competency that promotes life skills in early childhood students reveal that the supervision models encompasses five formats: 1) Preparation: Planning and development, 2) Strengthen Relationships and Increase Knowledge: Building relationships and expanding knowledge, 3) Knowledge into Practice: Applying knowledge into practice, 4) Reflection: Reflecting on outcomes for understanding, and 5) Evaluation: Quality measurement and assessment. These formats are deemed highly suitable, appropriate, and effective.

This article explores how music and lyrics serve as modes of storytelling in the language classroom, integrating a multimodal approach and the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. In the 'Sing My Story' project, language students creatively write their own lyrics, which are subsequently performed by either student musicians or target language-speaking musicians within the school community. This initiative encourages students at the Intermediate or Advanced proficiency levels to collaboratively produce a music album, creating narrative lyrics for existing songs. Through this project, students are provided with opportunities for meaningful language application, fostering creative and transformative language learning experiences.

The ACRL "Framework for Information Literacy" revolutionized information literacy instruction. It asks librarians to instill in students the higher-level skills to navigate the information landscape. Literature establishes the value of shared faculty ownership of information literacy threshold concepts, but it also documents the potential pitfalls of faculty involvement (Franklin, 2013; Julien & Given, 2002; Lechtenberg & Donovan, 2022; Perez-Stable et al., 2020). This article explores one successful partnership, concluding that instructor-librarian collaboration forged around shared histories and structured by codeveloped objectives positively influences students' receptivity to information literacy concepts. As demonstrated by surveys of those enrolled in the course, students' self-awareness of their own mastery increased as they applied threshold skills learned in class. Although data do not allow us to correlate academic achievement to students' survey responses, aggregate results in both academic work and survey responses suggest that these insights led to greater independence for many students.

A comprehensive educational framework is provided by the Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) which is particularly relevant to engineering and applied sciences. This paper investigates the application of the CDIO approach in the field of chemistry pedagogy in Vietnam focusing on its adaptability to the current educational demands and its potential to enhance the competency of future teachers. The CDIO approach develops training curricula and outputstandards based on input from teachers,students, alumni and recruitment firms. This study uses the CDIO approach extensively with professional knowledge, social awareness and creative tendencies. The study involved a survey of 240 chemistry teachers and 242 students from various universities across Vietnam. Data were collected through online surveys using Google Forms and processed using SPSS software for statistical analysis. The research analyzed the alignment of practical teaching activities with CDIO standards and developed a framework for experimental practice competency. Findings indicated a robust implementation of the CDIO approach in chemistry pedagogy. In laboratory safety, experimental planning, execution and competence were high. The study shows that the CDIO strategy enhances professional competence and practical abilities in Vietnamese chemistry pedagogy students. It promotes collaboration and personal growth to meet changing educational needs. The CDIO approach could transform chemistry pedagogy in Vietnam suggesting science education reforms and capacity building.

This paper reviews cybersecurity laws and regulations in Cameroon, focusing on cybersecurity and information security audits and risk assessments. The importance of cybersecurity risk assessment and the implementation of security controls to cure deficiencies noted during risk assessments or audits is a critical step in developing cybersecurity resilience. Cameroon's cybersecurity legal framework provides for audits but does not explicitly enumerate controls. Consequently, integrating relevant controls from the NIST frameworks and ISO Standards can improve the cybersecurity posture in Cameroon while waiting for a comprehensive revision of the legal framework. NIST and ISO are internationally recognized as best practices in information security systems and cybersecurity risk management. This paper highlights the lack of specific international law provisions addressing cybersecurity audits and risk assessments. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of continuous risk assessment and monitoring, implementation of security controls, and compliance with organizational policies, relevant laws and regulations to ensure the adequate protection of information systems. Finally, the paper underscores the importance of improving Cameroon's cybersecurity regulations by integrating provisions from NIST and ISO.

This study aims to study the Current Conditions, Desirable Conditions, and Necessary Needs of Educational Management according to standards for Excellence of Sub -- District Non -- Formal and Informal Education Centre. And to study educational management guidelines according to the Sub -- District Non -- Formal and Informal Education Centre Standards for Excellence. There were two steps: Step 1: Study the Current Conditions, Desirable Conditions, and Needs of educational management standards of Sub -- District Non -- Formal and Informal Education Centre Standards for Excellence. The sample consisted of 40 school administrators and 328 of the heads of Sub -- District Non -- Formal and Informal Education Centre, a total of 368 attended in the academic year 2022 using Multi-stage Random Sampling. Step 2: Study the standard educational management guidelines. The informants are qualified by studying best practices from five Models of Sub -- District Non -- Formal and Informal Education Centres, two persons, totaling ten people, by specific sampling. The research instruments: 1) The Current Conditions and Desirable Conditions Questionnaire following educational management according to standards for Excellence of Sub--District Non--Formal and Informal Education Centre, a 5-level rating scale. 2) Semi-structured interview 3) The Educational Management Approach Assessment Form is a 5-level estimation scale with statistics used to analyze the data, including mean, standard deviation, priority sorting of PNI[subscript modified] data, and content analysis. The results showed that 1) the current condition as a whole and in terms of study is at a high level; Overall desirable conditions are at the highest level. One aspect is at the highest level: six are at the highest level. Considering the necessary needs, it found that the needs of educational management according to the standards. There is a need to develop all seven areas as follows Organizational Leadership, Strategic Planning, Learner and Stakeholder Focus, Knowledge Analysis and Management Measurement, Processing Management, and Personnel Focus. 2) the suggestions were seven aspects and 135 approaches as follows Workshops, Learning from other people, Brainstorming, Operating Integration, Mentoring, and Learning from successful organizations.

This study utilized the SEC (Survey of Enacted Curriculum) method to examine the alignment between Chinese high school chemistry curriculum standards (HSCCS) and the assessment of 'Chemical Reaction Principles' in the National College Entrance Examinations (NCEEs). The HSCCS and NCEEs were coded into two-dimensional matrices separately using SPSS, MATLAB, and EXCEL. The alignment coefficients were analyzed both macroscopically and specifically based on two dimensions: themes and cognitive levels. The findings indicated a generally low alignment between NCEEs and HSCCS in the 'Chemical Reaction Principles' domain, and no statistically significant alignment was observed. Comparing Porter alignment coefficients revealed a gradual increase in the overall alignment level between 2018-2022 NCEEs and HSCCS due to curricular reforms. Further specific analyses and comparisons highlighted significant discrepancies between NCEEs and HSCCS concerning themes and cognitive levels. Regarding themes, 'Ionic Reactions and Equilibrium in Aqueous Solutions' showed substantial alignment between NCEEs and HSCCS. However, for 'Application of Ionic Reactions and Equilibrium' and 'Systems and Energy,' NCEEs diverged significantly from or exceeded HSCCS requirements. Concerning cognitive levels, NCEEs demanded higher levels of student cognition compared to HSCCS.

Background: The STEM education system has garnered significant interest due to its innovative approach in creating a multidisciplinary and integrated knowledge structure that connects science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and allows students to apply scientific knowledge in a comprehensive and holistic manner. Consequently, evaluating the teaching methods of teachers in accordance with STEM standards is critical. This assessment should take into account various educational objectives, including cognitive, skill-based, and emotional aspects. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the creative teaching practices of mathematics teachers for gifted students according to STEM standards. Method: The study applied the descriptive analytical method and developed a rating scale for evaluating creative teaching practices based on STEM standards, verifying the psychometric properties in several ways. The study sample consisted of 64 teachers of mathematics for gifted students. Results: The results showed that the degree of application of creative teaching practices by the teachers of gifted students according to STEM standards was at the moderate level in three domains: planning, implementation, and assessment. Conclusions: Despite the importance of achieving integration for STEM, the actual teaching practices of teachers of the gifted according to these standards were generally average and did not reach acceptable and ambitious levels.

This paper examines three questions: (1) (How) Is democracy promoted in secondary schools in England? (2) How is the promotion of democracy understood in education and teacher education policy? and (3) To what extent does existing education policy benefit the promotion of democracy in schools in England? To explore these questions, we first discuss the policy landscape surrounding democratic education in England. We then outline our data collection and analysis methods, which comprised (a) the coding of ten different policy documents, including curriculum specifications, teaching standards and inspection frameworks, and (b) the utilisation of an original survey of more than 3000 teachers working in approximately 50% of all secondary schools in England. Together, our data allow us to raise three important points. First, education and teacher education policy neglects to specify 'how' democracy should be promoted and by 'whom'. Second, schools are offering scant provision of democratic education. Third, the majority of teachers feel fundamentally underprepared to teach democracy. We conclude this paper by arguing that, if policymakers do wish to promote democracy, there is a need for a cohesive policy and teacher education approach that guarantees democratic education for all.

Although special education legal knowledge is central to educating students with disabilities, how two critical school professionals--special educators and school principals--garner such knowledge is unclear. This study identified gaps in the professional training for special educators and school principals by examining professional standards and common textbooks. After identifying 32 special education legal concepts, we used content analysis to determine the extent to which each concept was mentioned in professional standards and preservice textbooks (five in special education, six in principal preparation, and four in school law). Compared with special education textbooks (in which 68%-84% of special education legal concepts were mentioned), preservice principals received less information on special education law in their general textbooks (3%-13% of concepts mentioned), although gaps narrowed when examining school law textbooks (63%-81%). Special education and school law texts consistently included concepts related to the six pillars of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), as well as more specific concepts, such as discipline/behavior and related services. Rarely mentioned concepts were extended school year, resolution meetings, and compensatory services. We discuss training, research, and policy implications.

This paper reports a systematic narrative synthesis review conducted on the educational effectiveness of genre theory/systemic functional linguistics pedagogies for improving reading and writing outcomes in K-10 education within mainstream classrooms in Australia, the UK, the USA, New Zealand, and Canada. This framework has significant influence on reading and writing curriculum, teacher training, and literacy practices. However, its evidence base has never been systematically reviewed. An exhaustive database search sourced 7846 potentially relevant studies, which were screened according to guidelines for evaluating evidence through systematic narrative synthesis reviews and standardly applied criteria for educational evidence (e.g., The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, What Works Clearinghouse). Very few peer-reviewed intervention studies with control groups and quantitatively measured outcomes were found. A surprising result. Those studies showing positive effects had flaws in research design and quality that preclude their use as educational evidence. This systematic review indicates that there is insufficient rigorous evidence of the benefits, or lack thereof, of genre theory/systemic functional linguistics--based approaches to teaching reading and writing within K-10 education, at least in terms of measurable outcomes for students. More high-quality research needs to be undertaken as the current research record is not sufficient to prove or disprove the value of this approach.

In recent years, there has been considerable investment at the European Union level in expanding early childhood education and care (ECEC) facilities. In line with this quantitative substantial initiative, research and social policies are increasingly focusing on the quality of such facilities. High quality depends, among other things, on well-trained early childhood educators. This poses a dilemma for early childhood educators for various reasons; there is a shortage of skilled early childhood professionals, so that low-skilled staff are also being employed in early childhood education facilities. Online formats for professional development can contribute to the professionalisation of the ECEC system through vocational training. Since these formats are designed and produced to high professional and technical standards, they can be cost-effective thanks to their multiple uses and because they can often be completed by participants independent of time and location. This article presents an empirically studied blended e-learning training format based on the principles of co-constructivist didactics. The content focuses on the quality of interaction between early childhood professionals and children. Before and after the training course was completed, standardised non-participant observations were conducted in Austrian, German, Hungarian, Slovenian, Italian, and Portuguese early childhood education and care institutions. The before/after measurements (N = 43) showed a significant effect on the quality of interaction between the early childhood professionals and the children.

I dedicate this paper to my friend and colleague, Mike Fetters, who served as senior co-editor of the "Journal of Mixed Methods Research" (JMMR). In this paper, I discuss key mixed methods developments over the last 35 years, my fortunate involvement in them, and my collaboration with Mike Fetters in several of them. The discussion focuses on founding leaders of the field, combining quantitative and qualitative research, co-founding JMMR and the Mixed Methods International Research Association, teaching and simplifying mixed methods research, promoting the methodology internationally, assisting external groups in establishing quality standards for the field, and co-founding with Mike Fetters the Michigan Mixed Methods Research Program. This discussion contributes a personal historical perspective about the mixed methods field.

Teacher identity can serve as an important lens to examine the way teachers traverse the various demands made of them by policymakers and stakeholders in the school system, with their own perspectives of self and their work. Official narratives and curriculum documents lead to the construction of a public identity and what it means to be a 'good teacher' in a broad and generic sense. However, much less attention is paid to teachers' biographical accounts of their professional identity, from a stance as practitioners of a specific subject, and their lived experiences, thereof. This article reports on a qualitative study undertaken as a pilot project for a doctoral dissertation, where six social science teachers from Mumbai and Bangalore, participated in three online focus group discussions. The framework used to analyse the data is Goffman's dramaturgical theory of impression management. Findings reveal that social science teachers present their professional identity using reified expressions of competence, idealise social science as a subject, and seek validation of their status as teachers of a nonutility subject. These are discussed in the context of recently proposed educational reforms in India, with the recommendation that policymakers must take cognizance of this fragile sense of subject identity and an acute sense of disempowerment facing social science teachers, who are not averse to accountability measures per se, to enhance their standing.

As the disruptive effects of COVID-19 on education have prompted conversations about remedial learning and learning recovery, the expectation is increasingly that schools are more productive in less time. This raises concerns regarding potential increase in the use of prescriptive curricula. While critiques regarding the usage of such curricula abound, the lack of clarity about what it is that these curricula do and how they impact instructional processes render critiques too coarse-grained to be of value in both normative evaluations and remedial efforts. To resolve this problem, the authors provide a framework that analyzes what prescriptive curricula entail and how they impact teaching and learning. The framework postulates that prescriptiveness occurs along five dimensions and is a matter of degree along each of these. Subtle differences between how these dimensions and degrees of prescription materialize in individual curricula matter for formulating both targeted critiques about what makes such curricula objectionable and for developing adequate and feasible remedies to undo the harmful effects of prescriptive curricula.

This article first describes and then proposes a practical solution to the professional dilemma between the duty of impartiality and the duty of human rights advocacy that many teachers experience when teaching and talking about politically sensitive issues with students. The article begins by presenting an analysis of the source and signification of the tension between impartiality and human rights advocacy based on evidence from research on teachers' perspectives, the conceptual literature on teaching and learning about controversial issues, and the legal and ethical framework of education. Then, drawing on scholarship on respect for students' right to freedom of religion, the article advances and defends set of basic pedagogical guidelines for teaching and talking about politically sensitive issues that permit teachers to maintain a professional stance of impartiality without abrogating their responsibility to act as human rights advocates. Key to squaring the circle between impartiality and human rights advocacy, the article argues, is for teachers to strive to remain descriptive in their treatment of politically sensitive issues and insist on high standards of reasoning and evidence while at the same time respecting students' right to an opinion, no matter how mistaken that opinion may seem.

This study suggests the need for best practices, specialized tools and standards, and targeted outreach related to Web-based content cited in theses. It analyzes citation practices in a corpus of master's theses in performance studies published at Texas A&M University from 2012 to 2020. Finding that only a slim majority of Web-based material cited in the theses remains fully functional within a decade of citation, this study confirms that "Web at large" content poses the greatest risk of irretrievable loss. Additionally, it considers actions by student authors that make theses vulnerable to evidentiary loss or change. A deeper understanding of the fragility of Web-based content and the potential for mitigation can inform needed interventions by librarians and other partners in graduate research.

Technology has become commonplace in K-12 classrooms with students actively using digital technology to support learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is empirical support that implementing the ISTE Standards for Students can result in learning gains. A scoping review methodology was used to map extant literature to evidence of learning gains. To ensure transparency in the selection of the articles and the evidence gathering procedure, an a priori method was used. This study is unique in that it provides the first examination of a set of student standards for technology use to learning gains within empirical articles. The findings reveal that there is evidence that all seven of the standards can lead to learning gains. This study is helpful in providing direction and guidance for all, such as educational leaders, teachers, administrators, researchers and policy makers who are looking for a roadmap for effective technology integration that leads to student success.

Recital 33 GDPR has often been interpreted as referring to 'broad consent'. This version of informed consent was intended to allow data subjects to provide their consent for certain areas of research, or parts of research projects, conditional to the research being in line with 'recognised ethical standards'. In this article, we argue that broad consent is applicable in the emerging field of Computational Social Science (CSS), which lies at the intersection of data science and social science. However, the lack of recognised ethical standards specific to CSS poses a practical barrier to the use of broad consent in this field and other fields that lack recognised ethical standards. Upon examining existing research ethics standards in social science and data science, we argue that they are insufficient for CSS. We further contend that the fragmentation of European Union (EU) law and research ethics sources makes it challenging to establish universally recognised ethical standards for scientific research. As a result, CSS researchers and other researchers in emerging fields that lack recognised ethical standards are left without sufficient guidance on the use of broad consent as provided for in the GDPR. We conclude that responsible EU bodies should provide additional guidance to facilitate the use of broad consent in CSS research.

Population-adjusted indirect comparisons, developed in the 2010s, enable comparisons between two treatments in different studies by balancing patient characteristics in the case where individual patient-level data (IPD) are available for only one study. Health technology assessment (HTA) bodies increasingly rely on these methods to inform funding decisions, typically using unanchored indirect comparisons (i.e., without a common comparator), due to the need to evaluate comparative efficacy and safety for single-arm trials. Unanchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) and unanchored simulated treatment comparison (STC) are currently the only two approaches available for population-adjusted indirect comparisons based on single-arm trials. However, there is a notable underutilisation of unanchored STC in HTA, largely due to a lack of understanding of its implementation. We therefore develop a novel way to implement unanchored STC by incorporating standardisation/marginalisation and the NORmal To Anything (NORTA) algorithm for sampling covariates. This methodology aims to derive a suitable marginal treatment effect without aggregation bias for HTA evaluations. We use a non-parametric bootstrap and propose separately calculating the standard error for the IPD study and the comparator study to ensure the appropriate quantification of the uncertainty associated with the estimated treatment effect. The performance of our proposed unanchored STC approach is evaluated through a comprehensive simulation study focused on binary outcomes. Our findings demonstrate that the proposed approach is asymptotically unbiased. We argue that unanchored STC should be considered when conducting unanchored indirect comparisons with single-arm studies, presenting a robust approach for HTA decision-making.

School social work (SSW) roles are often surrounded by ambiguity across schools, districts, states, and nationally. The School Social Work Association of America's National Practice Model and National Evaluation Framework, along with the National Association of Social Workers' "Standards for School Social Work Services" are the guidance provided at the national level for practitioners and scholars alike. This study examined each of these pieces to thoroughly understand existing critical components of SSW practice. Comparing and analyzing these critical components across all three resources through systematic content analysis led to findings that illuminate the limited shared components. This call for action - to unify SSW practice models and frameworks in a way to prescribe justice-oriented work - comes from these findings, which indicate that current national-level resources are disjointed, incohesive, and lack focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, which are the foundational values of the social work profession. A unified framework would not only represent the current challenges and needs of SSW practitioners, but would also help establish clear roles, responsibilities, and boundaries for SSW practice.