14,422,352 results on '"Animals"'
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2. From Word Recognition Skills to Reading for the Meaning of a Science Text
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Kelsi J. Arends and Kathleen Fonseca
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Background: Although the reading of science texts has been reported for high school learners, there is not much research on how younger learners engage with expository texts and how they develop academic language skills. In the instance of this study, the topic came from the curriculum content about animal reproduction. Aim: The study from which this article emanated aimed to explore how a sample of learners engaged with a short text, which required cohesive reading and some background knowledge and vocabulary. Setting: This study was conducted in a suburban school where the learners use English as a second language. Methods: A sample (n = 25) was randomly selected from five Grade 4 classes. Their reading comprehension of a custom-designed test was assessed, along with their writing competence in their responses to content questions as well as their drawings. The data were analysed in a typical content analysis modality. Results: This study showed that the learners do not apply inferencing skills and do not read cohesively across sentences and paragraphs and that their vocabulary and prior knowledge of animal reproduction is limited. Conclusion: The urgent need for the development of academic language skills in the early grades is foregrounded in this article, arguing that it can be infused in subjects across the curriculum of the early grades. Contribution: The task can be used by teachers and by researchers who may wish to replicate the study.
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- 2024
3. Four- and Six-Year-Old Children Track a Single Meaning with Both Familiar and Unfamiliar Referents When the Referent Is Clear: More Evidence for Propose-but-Verify
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Felix Hao Wang, Meili Luo, and Nan Li
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In word learning, learners need to identify the referent of words by leveraging the fact that the same word may co-occur with different sets of objects. This raises the question, what do children remember from "in the moment" that they can use for cross-situational learning? Furthermore, do children represent pictures of familiar animals versus drawings of non-existent novel objects as potential referents differently? This study examined these questions by creating learning scenarios with only two potential referents, requiring the least amount of memory to represent all co-present objects. Across three experiments (n > 250) with 4- and 6-year-old children, children reliably selected the intended referent from learning at test, though the learning of novel objects was better than familiar objects. When asked for a co-present object, children of all ages in the study performed at chance in all of the conditions. We discuss the developmental differences in cross-situational word learning capabilities with regard to representing different stimuli as potential referents. Importantly, all children used a propose-but-verify procedure for learning novel words even in the simplest of the learning scenarios given repeated exposure.
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- 2024
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4. Sensing in Animals and Robots: Collaborative, Transdisciplinary Learning in an Undergraduate Science Course
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Anna F. DeJarnette, Stephanie M. Rollmann, Dieter F. Vanderelst, John E. Layne, and Anna Hutchinson
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Transdisciplinary learning--where students develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to solve open-ended problems--is necessary to prepare students for the most pressing real-world problems. Because transdisciplinary education often requires reimagining the content and design of undergraduate science courses, it can be a challenge for instructors to envision how such work might take place. In this article, we share an example of an undergraduate course developed at the intersection of animal sensory biology and robotics engineering. Students in the course developed knowledge from both disciplines to design a robot that could mimic the sensory behaviors of some animals to achieve a predetermined task. We share examples of students' work in the course and evidence of how students' perceptions of science and engineering changed throughout their participation in the course. Additionally, we describe how we adapted a hybrid model of collaboration that made it feasible for students to work together on an open-ended project requiring access to robotics equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This course can serve as a model for instructors working to incorporate more interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary perspectives into existing science courses.
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- 2024
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5. Ecosocial Approach to Music Education
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Raisa Foster and Katja Sutela
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Collective cultural transformation is needed to save the Earth from the growing effects of the human-caused environmental problems. Music education, too, can take part in preparing future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to address the world's complex challenges and create a more sustainable future. Approaching music education from the perspective of ecosocial sustainability can foster students' sensitivity to diverse sonic environments and support the overall appreciation of multispecies communities and mutually beneficial ways of interaction in the more-than-human world. Based on the general theory of ecosocial art education, this article presents three practical approaches to music education, which can promote a sustainable life orientation: (1) "Attuning to sounds" helps cultivate one's connectedness to more-than-human others. (2) "Reconnecting with sound memories" helps recognise how sonic environments affect and indicate the lives of humans and other beings. (3) "Co-composing with the more-than-human world" helps to embrace the generative powers of creativity in experiencing interdependence with others.
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- 2024
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6. Assessment of University Policies for Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
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Beth A. Lanning, M. S. Patterson, S. Henry, C. T. Graves-Boswell, B. Summerall, and C. Millan
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Objective: Assess administrative responsibilities and experiential effects of emotional support animal (ESA) and service animal (SA) policies on college campuses. Participants: Students at two four-year universities participated in an emotional support animals and service animals survey. Selected students and professional personnel participated in interviews and focus groups. Methods: This mixed-methods study included quantitative survey data from 1,363 students, qualitative individual interviews (3) and a focus group (1) regarding emotional support animal (ESA) and service animal (SA). Results: Seventy-one students reported having ESAs, 18 had SAs. Barriers for ESAs on campus included no ESAs outside of dorms, while SA-owners reported fewer barriers. University administrators followed federal guidelines for SAs but lacked clear guidelines for ESAs. Qualitative themes included lack of awareness, education, support for SA, and ESA accommodations. Conclusions: ESA and SA accommodations continue to rise, on university campuses. Clear guidelines and implementation processes are imperative for future improvements.
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- 2024
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7. Reflections of Hands-On Dissection and Virtual Dissection Experiences of Pre-Service Science Teachers
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Sule Elmali
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It is a controversial issue in education that students perform dissection experiments. Different opinions have been noted in studies on this subject, and various applications are recommended according to education levels. This case study aimed to determine pre-service science teachers' views of hands-on dissection and virtual dissection. The study group consisted of 36 students, 29 female, and seven male. An open-ended question form and student diaries were used as data collection tools. The implementation started with observing the chicken embryo development process that the students actively carried out. Then, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the frog dissection experiment was conducted as a virtual dissection. The content analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. According to the findings, the observations made during the chicken embryo development process emerged negatively due to ethical and moral concerns as the development process progressed. The frog dissection experiment applied in the virtual environment was accepted by the majority of the pre-service teachers who stated that they would prefer virtual dissection tools.
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- 2024
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8. Managing End-User Participation for the Adoption of Digital Livestock Technologies: Expectations, Performance, Relationships, and Support
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J. Schillings, R. Bennett, and D. C. Rose
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Purpose: End-user participation is often encouraged to promote the uptake of Digital Livestock Technologies (DLTs). However, managing participation during DLT development can be challenging. We explore how participation decisions can impact end-users' engagement and attitudes towards the process, before suggesting strategies for improved management of the participation process. Methodology: We explored the experiences of end-users (e.g. farmers and farm assessors) and other stakeholders (e.g. developers, researchers, industry) involved in the development and testing of DLTs on UK farms, using semi-structured, in-depth interviews (N = 31). Findings: Participation can help develop technologies that better align with users' needs, promote learning, and encourage feelings of ownership. However, participation can be a double-edged sword. Inadequate levels of involvement, management of stakeholder relationships and expectations, and available support can negatively impact end-users' engagement and attitudes. Practical implications: Our study highlights the importance of understanding how management decisions during the participatory development of DLTs can influence the engagement and attitudes of end-users towards the process. Theoretical implications: The study contributes to the participation literature in agriculture and demonstrates the importance of using a critical lens to avoid making normative assumptions that participation necessarily promotes uptake in a linear, uncomplicated fashion. Originality/Value: Participation is seen as key for technology adoption. However, the potential downsides of participation have received less attention in relation to the engagement of end-users in the process.
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- 2024
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9. The Development of Visual Categorization Based on High-Level Cues
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Stefanie Peykarjou, Stefanie Hoehl, and Sabina Pauen
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This study investigated the development of rapid visual object categorization. N = 20 adults (Experiment 1), N = 21 five to six-year-old children (Experiment 2), and N = 140 four-, seven-, and eleven-month-old infants (Experiment 3; all predominantly White, 81 females, data collected in 2013-2020) participated in a fast periodic visual stimulation electroencephalographic task. Similar categorization of animal and furniture stimuli emerged in children and adults, with responses much reduced by phase-scrambling (R[superscript 2] = 0.34-0.73). Categorization was observed from 4 months, but only at 11 months, high-level cues enhanced performance (R[superscript 2] = 0.11). Thus, first signs of rapid categorization were evident from 4 months, but similar categorization patterns as in adults were recorded only from 11 months on.
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- 2024
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10. Anatomies of Desire: Education and Human Exceptionalism after 'Anti-Oedipus'
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Helena Pedersen
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In line with Andrew Culp's work "Dark Deleuze" (2016) and in opposition to the tendency in some education studies communities to selectively engage affirmative and vitalist dimensions of Deleuze's work, this article engages the radical critical theory foundation of "Anti-Oedipus" (1972/2009) by exploring anatomies of desire at work around students and animals in educational practice. Desiring-machines, with their capacity to produce repression as much as revolution; freedom as much as fascism and slavery take on specific and outlandish manifestations in the presence of animals in different educational settings. Drawing on ethnographic data from upper secondary school and higher education, the article identifies the subjectivation of students to implements of animal killing and control, and to the risk of physical harm accompanying work with wild animals, as constitutive anatomies of desire in these settings. The article argues that the way society and education make use of animals is emblematic of multiple and accelerating social-ecological crises. Emerging from Deleuze and Guattari's unsettling question, why we invest in the systems that destroy us, is not only a hierarchical human exceptionalism, but an invasive human expansionism that forces itself upon other species as well as upon philosophy of education in the 21st century.
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- 2024
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11. Social and Emotional Therapy Dog-Assisted Interventions in Mainstream School Settings: A Systematic Review
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Lena Wintermantel, Christine Grove, Linda Henderson, and Stella Laletas
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Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesise the available evidence of the impact of therapy dog-assisted interventions on the social and emotional wellbeing of students in mainstream school settings through the use of the biopsychosocial framework. Method: The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, and the inclusion criteria included primary outcomes related to social and emotional wellbeing, such as social competencies and mental health. The studies included were conducted in mainstream educational settings, incorporated a therapy dog, provided a comparison or control group and were in English. The quality of the evidence was assessed with the Evidence Project Risk of Bias tool. Results: Of 405 studies identified, seven studies with sufficient rigour met the inclusion criteria of evidence to support the use of therapy dog-assisted interventions to improve social and emotional wellbeing within a school setting. Outcomes consisted of psychological, biological, and social variables contributing to overall wellbeing, such as improved self-perceptions, decreased cortisol levels and improvement in social behaviour and empathy. Conclusions: Findings suggest that therapy dog-assisted interventions can have a positive impact on social behaviours and reducing stress in a school setting; however, there is a need for more rigorous and current research investigating therapy dog-assisted social and emotional wellbeing interventions in mainstream educational settings.
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- 2024
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12. Supporting Collaborative Dissection through the Development of an Online Wiki Positively Impacts the Learning of Veterinary Anatomy
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Renato L. Previdelli, Emma Boardman, Michael Frill, Stephen Frean, and Sarah B. Channon
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An innovative series of dissections of the canine abdomen was created to facilitate social distancing in the dissection room following COVID-19 restrictions imposed in the UK. In groups of six, first-year veterinary students took turns dissecting selected parts of the canine abdomen while maintaining social distancing and documenting their work with video and photographs. Here, students learned about the canine abdominal anatomy by dissecting, recording the dissections of others in their group, and compiling the recorded material into a collaborative electronic media portfolio (Wiki). An online formative multiple-choice test was created to test students' knowledge of the canine abdominal anatomy. The result analysis showed that although students achieved the learning outcomes only by studying the Wiki, they had better performance in the anatomical areas where they learned through the dissection (p < 0.05). Student performance was very similar in the areas in which they were present in the dissection room and participated in recording the dissection compared with the areas that they effectively dissected (p > 0.05). A qualitative thematic analysis was developed to understand students' opinions via their feedback on this dissection approach. Our results showed that student collaboration and the development of practical skills were the most valued aspects of this dissection teaching initiative. Moreover, these results show that developing a group Wiki has a positive impact on student achievement of learning objectives, with a practical hands-on dissection being fundamental for the optimal learning of the canine abdominal anatomy.
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- 2024
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13. Experiential Learning with Horses for Leadership and Communication Skills Development: Toward a Model
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Hedwige Serot Almeras and Sabrina Bresciani
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Beyond traditional training approaches, equine assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential learning method in which participants interact and conduct exercises with horses, which fosters a unique environment conducive to personal and professional development. Theorised benefits include increased self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication and authentic leadership. We examine the long-term effects of this method by interviewing experienced professionals who participated in programs conducted in different centres. Results indicate that participants perceived EAL as an effective approach to nurture interpersonal skills, initiating changes at individual and group level. A model emerged from the analysis: (1) the context of interacting with horses, facilitated by coaches, influences; (2) participants' perceived awareness (of themselves, others, and how to lead); (3) behaviour in terms of non-verbal communication, relationships, and leadership. The model supports instructors and researchers in understanding how interacting with horses sparks changes and developments of skills and mindsets relevant to organisational challenges.
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- 2024
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14. Your Phrases Matter: Third Waves in Research Approaches and New Contexts for Formulaic Language
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Boyd H. Davis, Meredith Troutman-Jordan, and Margaret Maclagan
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Background: This study reports on new contexts in which formulaic language has been used in the years since 2013 when the last synthesis was carried out. The background presents an old but still useful definition and lists themes under which research was arranged in 2013 and which continue to be used. Aims: This study has a particular emphasis on the relevance of formulaic language to people living with dementia. Methods: Section 3, identifying new directions, reviews new 'third waves' of research priorities in several fields in which formulaic sequences play a major role, including sociolinguistic variation, corpus-based and corpus-driven analyses, pragmatics, human-computer interaction, and psycholinguistics, all of which are relevant to speech-language therapists. Section 4, outreach and expansions, illustrates new contributions from cognitively impaired person-to-person exchanges in online environments, recent examinations of infant- and pet-directed speech incorporating formulaic language, and online graphic explorations such as emojis. Section 5 focuses on growth of research in theoretical and clinical applications by Van Lancker Sidtis, as illustrated by references to her recent work. Main Contribution: The paper's main contribution is to summarize the work on formulaic language over the last 10 years, to indicate its continued importance and relevance in ordinary conversation, and especially in allowing people living with dementia to continue to interact with others. Conclusion: The paper concludes by suggesting that more focus be placed on the analysis of formulaic language with an emphasis on its relevance for speech-language therapists and other clinicians.
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- 2024
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15. Common and Threatened Animal Identification and Conservation Preferences among 6 to 12 Year-Old Students
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Oihana Barrutia, Oier Pedrera, Unai Ortega-Lasuen, and José Ramón Díez
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Biodiversity loss is one of the biggest environmental issues in the world today and the biodiversity literacy of citizens can be key to counteracting this. Considering that children can be change agents and actively take part in decision-making from early years, we have assessed the native fauna identification skills of Primary School students (aged 6-12 years-old; n = 1975) from northern Spain along with their conservation preferences regarding common and threatened species. We have observed that, despite students' species literacy increasing with the education level, it remains overall very low. Besides, the conservation preferences of children are not exclusively guided by conservation priorities and, although are partially explained by species identification accuracy, other factors also seem to skew these preferences. These findings point out the need to properly address knowledge of local fauna from the early school years and the urgent need to provide children with the appropriate training regarding the characteristics to be taken into account when selecting species for protection and ensure their conservation.
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- 2024
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16. An Exploratory Study of Students' Perceptions on the Use of Animals in Medical and Veterinary Medical Undergraduate Education
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Cláudia S. Baptista, Pedro Oliveira, and Laura Ribeiro
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Animals are frequently utilized as a teaching-learning tool in multiple educational settings. It is, therefore, important to understand what students think about this topic, in particular medical and veterinary students as "life caregivers" and competent people for a dynamic and responsible social intervention. In this context, this research aims to characterize and disseminate a set of issues related to animal welfare/wellbeing in higher education in the North of Portugal, particularly as regards the teaching of students of the Integrated Master in Medicine (MIM) and Veterinary Medicine (MIMV). After ethical approval, a survey was delivered on paper to 180 undergraduate MIM (n = 100) and MIMV (n = 80) students. After collecting 139 questionnaires partially or fully completed, with varying response rates for each question, it was concluded that most of the students consider that animal experimentation is ethically acceptable when the benefits balance the harms and assuming that refinement of animal procedures is warranted; they also agree to the establishment, maintenance and performance of animal procedures solely for educational purposes as a way of ensuring optimal acquisition of theoretical knowledge, attitudes and behaviors and technical skills. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of teachers to explore and implement pedagogical methodologies thar are equally effective but more humane and compassionate towards sentient living beings.
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- 2024
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17. Children's Wellbeing and Reading Engagement: The Impact of Reading to Dogs in a Scottish Primary 1 Classroom
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Jill Steel
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Wellbeing and effective engagement in reading are critical to successful learning and achievement throughout school and beyond. Reading to Dogs in schools is an increasingly popular way of supporting both wellbeing and reading engagement yet limited educational research has been conducted. This small-scale study took place in a Scottish Primary 1 classroom with N = 21 participants aged 5-6 years. A 4-week intervention, adopting an inclusive approach for the whole class, was evaluated. A qualitative study design incorporated observations and semi-structured interviews. Results suggest improved wellbeing and engagement in reading for all, however the greatest improvements were found in the most vulnerable.
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- 2024
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18. Leveraging Technology for Animal Anatomy Practicals
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Suresh Krishnasamy and Edward Narayan
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To deliver a comprehensive learning experience while shifting to online teaching due to COVID-19, educators at The University of Queensland (Australia) adopted Lt, a cloud-based platform, to overcome the challenges of delivering animal anatomy practicals. A two-phased study was conducted to evaluate the use of Lt for both online and on-campus students and its impact on student satisfaction and performance. Phase 1 investigated students' satisfaction with the practical experience, with online students expressing greater satisfaction across all constructs related to the practical: design, Lt, and feedback. Phase 2 investigated end-of-course evaluations, with all evaluated items increasing from 2019 to 2020 and 2021, along with student performance showing no difference between the online and on-campus students for practical assessment items and final examinations. The findings give confidence for technology adoption to enhance the learning experience for online students and provides an exemplar for similar adoption for practical delivery across other science disciplines.
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- 2024
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19. 3D Printed Chamber for Live Cell Imaging on an Upright Epifluorescence Microscope
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Deborah J. Rogers, Brennan P. Bergeron, Glen M. Watson, and Karen Müller Smith
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Live cell imaging is a standard technique in experimental biology that enables the observation of isolated cells and tissue slices in real time and the testing of cellular responses to changes in buffer composition. However, most live cell imaging devices require the use of dedicated microscopes and/or specialised stage adaptors, and come at a reasonably high cost. We employed 3D printing technology to create a low-cost imaging chamber with side ports to exchange fluids, to be used on upright microscopes. The chamber increased the functionality of a standard upright epifluorescent microscope to allow dynamic, real-time calcium imaging of cultured hypothalamic astrocytes from mice, and to test the effects of ATP stimulation upon calcium signalling. It was also used on slices obtained from the mouse brain using a brain matrix slicer. The advantages of this chamber include a very simple design that can be used with upright epifluorescence microscopes, does not require any special stage adaptor, and includes ports to permit fluid exchange during imaging. This chamber is ideal for educational settings with undergraduate laboratories that do not have access to dedicated inverted fluorescent microscopes for tissue culture experiments.
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- 2024
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20. Exploring the Nature of Science with Abnormal Frogs
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Nathan Ruhl and Bailey Sanders
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The discovery of frog abnormalities by students on a school field trip in 1995 sparked hundreds of scientific studies in search of the cause of abnormality. This Socio-Scientific Issue has been used as an inquiry-based learning exercise for training in the practice of science, but it is also well-suited to teaching the nature of science. Our goal here is to provide an integrative resource for biology and environmental educators to integrate the nature of science into their course context. We introduce frog abnormalities in the context of a socio-scientific issue for teaching the nature of science, review the frog abnormality phenomenon, suggest appropriate educational methods for this SSI, and offer ideas for non-science educators to connect to the sciences.
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- 2024
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21. What Gender Are the Animal Characters in the Illustrations? Gender Stereotyping by Children in Early Childhood
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Kaja Hacin-Beyazoglu, Žiža Komac, and Urška Fekonja
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The aim of this study was to examine gender stereotyping by pre-school children in selecting a picture book cover and assigning gender to animal characters in illustrations. We aimed to explore which gender children would assign to bear characters, when these are portrayed in different more or less gender stereotyped activities, occupations or emotional states. Furthermore, we analysed the criteria on which the children based their decision. The sample included 71 children aged 5-6 years. The findings showed that children's selection of their favourite cover was consistent with gender stereotypes; most children picked the cover stereotypical of their gender. Similarly, the children's assigning of gender to bear characters was consistent with gender stereotypes as well. The criteria they used when determining gender of a bear character could be categorized into three broader categories referring to the appearance of the bears; colours used and gender roles present in child's environment.
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- 2024
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22. Fight, Flight, or Freeze?: Equine-Assisted Learning as a Means to Explore Anxiety, Self-Efficacy, and Agency in Rural Youth during COVID-19
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Lauren Davis and Christine Rogers Stanton
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Background: Given the emerging information about the COVID-19 pandemic's detrimental impacts on youth well-being, it is paramount to consider interventions that may mitigate these consequences, especially those available in socially distanced, outdoor settings. Further, adolescents in rural settings are at a significant disadvantage for accessing critical mental health services; therefore, novel, community-based approaches are necessary to support youth wellness efforts. Purpose: This study sought to address youth mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Montana by combining mindfulness techniques with Equine Assisted Learning. Methodology: The study applied a mixed methods phenomenological case study. Surveys and participatory observations/ interviews provided a foundation for multi-phase data analysis. Descriptive statistics and paired samples t-tests were used to analyze quantitative data; multi-phase qualitative coding (open, focused, and values coding) was utilized to analyze interview and observational data. Findings: Participants' anxiety levels were greatly reduced following the intervention; mixed outcomes resulted from self-efficacy measures. Qualitatively, the findings demonstrate alignment between course topics, goals, and outcomes. Implications: Results suggest the potential for EAL to reduce anxiety levels in youth and increase self-awareness and agency in application of strategies to manage anxiety. Questions surrounding Bandura's self-efficacy scales arose as a result of this research.
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- 2024
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23. Reading to Dogs as a Form of Animal-Assisted Education: Are Positive Outcomes Supported by Quality Research?
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Jill Steel
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Reading to Dogs (RTD) in schools, a form of animal-assisted education (AAE), is growing in popularity and prevalence. RTD involves children reading to a registered dog with benefits to well-being and reading outcomes thought to arise because of the unconditional positive regard and non-critical listening bestowed on the child by the dog. Yet RTD research is underdeveloped, and the practice lacks a substantial evidence base, casting dubiety over RTD's suitability for adoption in schools. This paper examines the research to date, exploring methodological factors and the potential efficacy of RTD for improving children's reading outcomes. Building on Hall et al.'s (2016) systematic review of RTD, related reviews, in addition to individual studies of relevance, are explored, followed by a brief discussion of further pertinent issues in RTD research. Cautious optimism about RTD as an impactful intervention to support reading outcomes is suggested, providing impetus for further research of increased quality.
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- 2024
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24. Service Animals: What You Need to Know
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Cathy MacDonald, John Foley, and Megan Valentine
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Service animals can play an integral role in the lives and education of students with disabilities. In addition to assisting with physical tasks, service animals can improve confidence, independence and quality of life for students, as well as help them to meet their educational goals. Teachers, coaches and administrators should have the knowledge and skills necessary to support and collaborate with students as they engage with their service animals in and outside of school. The purpose of this article is to educate school personnel about service animals and to help facilitate the successful integration of service animals into schools. Specifically, the article defines service animals and outlines the rights of students with disabilities and their service animals. It also provides recommendations for teachers and coaches to help promote inclusion in physical education and athletics.
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- 2024
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25. Examination of the Effectiveness of EMDR Intervention in Children with Animal Phobias: Case Study
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Gamze Mukba
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Children's experiences of animal fears can be caused by direct conditioning, experiencing negative events, or modeling others' fears or situations. The fear of an animal that develops in a child as a result of various experiences may turn into an animal phobia over time. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of EMDR interventions for two different children with animal phobias through case studies. In the interventions conducted with the children in this study, facilitative techniques such as allowing the children to express themselves through drawings were utilized in addition to EMDR procedures. The study utilized a multiple-case study design, which is among qualitative research methods. One of the cases is a 9-year-old boy who developed a phobic condition related to dogs after being attacked by a dog and experiencing psychological distress associated with his dog phobia in daily life (such as running towards home, increased heart rate, and screaming when seeing a dog on his way home from school). The second case is a 10-year-old boy who developed a phobic condition related to insects after being stung by a bug while sleeping, experiencing fear of bugs in nature, such as during a picnic, and having difficulties sleeping alone. In this study, narrative analysis was utilized in the data analysis to describe the experiences of Client-1 and Client-2 regarding their phobic conditions and to present their narratives related to EMDR intervention in a chronological and holistic manner. According to the research findings, EMDR interventions conducted with two children (C1 and C2) who had animal phobias were found to have a positive impact on their phobic conditions. The current study revealed findings related to negative cognition as "I am afraid" and positive cognitions as "I am brave" and "I can overcome it" regarding children's phobic conditions, along with the expressions provided by the children during the interventions. In future studies, presenting the outcomes of EMDR interventions for children's phobic conditions in a qualitative design would allow for a more in-depth analysis of the prominent cognitions and expressions of the children.
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- 2023
26. Predictive Power of Biology Teacher's Self-Efficacy on Acceptability and Application of Virtual and Hands-On Dissections
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Havlícková, Veronika, Šorgo, Andrej, and Bílek, Martin
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Hands-on dissections of animals are traditionally regarded as an essential part of biology education. Nowadays, regardless of the reported educational benefits, there is a gradual change in the concept and acceptance of hands-on dissection, leading in many cases to its abandonment in schools and its replacement with alternatives such as 3D models, figurines, plastination and computer-based alternatives. However, the position of hands-on dissection has recently been challenged, mostly by computer-supported alternatives. The aim of the study was to explore whether teacher self-efficacy can be recognized as a predictor of the application of the different kinds of animals in hands-on and virtual dissections in Biology lessons. Based on responses from 405 Czech Biology teachers there are differences in the acceptability and implementation of organisms for hands-on and virtual dissection. It was established, that self-efficacy is not a predictor of either the acceptability of organisms or actual behaviour in both variants of dissection.
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- 2023
27. Plant Awareness Disparity among Students of Different Educational Levels in Spain
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Marcos-Walias, Javier, Bobo-Pinilla, Javier, Delgado Iglesias, Jaime, and Reinoso Tapia, Roberto
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Plant awareness disparity (PAD), formerly known as plant blindness, refers to the fact of overlooking or failing to perceive plants, perhaps due to poor 'species literacy'. Despite numerous efforts made by scientists and educators over the years, PAD is still present in students at all educational levels. An assessment was carried out on 259 students from primary school to university in the Spanish education system to evaluate their species literacy, especially regarding local flora and fauna, its possible improvement across educational levels, and to assess whether PAD was a reality among students. A biased perception towards animals was confirmed with strong statistical support. Animals were recognized and identified more than plants at all educational levels. Even if a positive correlation for animal-plant literacy was found, the values were weak. Although the curricula set out content and learning outcomes related to local environment and flora, their teaching has been proven to be unsatisfactory. The recently implemented curricula have the mission to reverse this trend, which can be done by improving students' interest in plants through specific educational programs and activities, as well as comprehensive training in the field of botany and the effective implementation of activities for current and future educators.
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- 2023
28. How Do We Look at Animals? -- Decolonising Documentary Art Practices and the Global Crisis for Donkeys
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Hardliz, Ronny
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This article poses the question 'How do we look at animals?', suggesting a link to inherent problems of documentary film-making. However, the question further suggests that there may be ways of relating to animals other than 'looking at'; other than 'observing'. Drawing from the research project De-Doc-Donkeywork: Decolonising Documentary Art Practices and the Global Crisis for Donkeys, the article offers a reflection upon how specific art-practice-led research is brought into education. The interrelatedness of art practice, research, theory and pedagogy allows for connections to be identified between the decaying borders of disciplines, documental knowledges, and possibilities of decolonising our relation to animals. At the core is a problem of 'coloniality' related to film education: the domination of documentary concerns and valances through film discourse. The "documental" is identified as an epistemic practice that can reorganise extra-disciplinary resources into collaborating collectives in research and education, allowing for new ways of knowing 'donkey'.
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- 2023
29. Impact of Pet Companionship on Student Development: A Meta-Analysis
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Li, Peixuan, Yao, Jijun, Xu, Yifan, and Zhou, Fangru
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Animal companionship has been found to have a positive influence on human well-being, and the presence of pets can have a subtle yet significant impact on the healthy development of students. Pet companionship takes various forms across different fields in China and other regions worldwide, and the impact of such companionship remains uncertain. Hence, it is imperative to investigate the impact of diverse forms of companionship and animals on multiple facets of student growth and development. This study employed meta-analysis methodologies to examine 47 effect sizes derived from 12 domestic and international studies on pet companionship. The aim was to investigate the overall trends of the influence of pet companionship on student development as well as the effects of diverse types of companionship and pets on different aspects of student development, including physical and mental health, social-emotional abilities, and academic performance. The objective was to enhance the exploration of approaches for maximizing the utilization of various forms of pet companionship. Furthermore, this research suggests a systematic and incremental approach to enhancing the function of pets within households, educational institutions, and medical facilities. Adequate content and organization are essential for scientific advancement and the development of students. In this particular context, it is possible to optimize the impact of pet companionship on the development of students.
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- 2023
30. The Effect of Working with Living Subjects on the Level of Knowledge in Students with Special Educational Needs
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Kubiatko, Milan, Balatova, Kristyna, and Magova, Martina
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The goal of the research was to find out the effect of using living animal in teaching on remembering and understanding acquired knowledge in students with special educational needs (SEN). In our experiment, students with SEN (n=24) were compared with students without SEN (n=56). The design of the research was experimental. The research tool consisted of a test which was made by the authors, and which served both as a pre- and a post-test. For the assessment, the methods of descriptive statistics (the average) and inductive statistics (t-test for dependent and independent samples) were used. Students in experimental groups which encountered living animals in teaching, acquired more information about animals, which were used during teaching process and because of that, their results were better than the results of students in control groups.
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- 2023
31. Ability to Compose Concept Maps and Student Cognitive Learning Outcomes in Animal Embryology and Reproduction Courses
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Susetyarini, Eko, Nurrohman, Endrik, Sharafie, Darioush, and Fatmawati, Dewi
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One of the learning outcomes of learning Animal Embryology and Reproduction is that students can explain concepts about reproduction or embryology theory. Since concept map-based learning can improve students' critical thinking skills and analysis, and support their interest in learning, this study analysed the ability of students enrolled in the 2019/2020 Animal Embryology and Reproduction course to construct concept maps and students' cognitive learning outcomes through assignments and tests. This descriptive study involved 127 students in semester VI enrolled in the Embryology and Animal Reproduction programme at the Department of Biology Education, FTTE at the Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang. The sampling technique was saturated sampling and the data were collected through the task of compiling concept maps and learning outcomes with tests. The drafting of concept maps was assessed by the concepts and ideas, relationships between concepts, hierarchies, propositions, and spelling, with cognitive learning assessed by tests. The results showed that most students had sufficient ability to compose a concept map and very good learning outcomes, indicating that concept maps can be used to learn biology in Animal Embryology and Reproduction courses.
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- 2023
32. Ocean Odyssey Educators Guide. Elementary School Level
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (DOC)
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This guide includes 8 elementary school level lessons, inspired by topics from "Ocean Odyssey," a film for IMAX and other Giant Screen theaters. Host-narrated by oceanographer Sylvia Earle, "Ocean Odyssey" is an immersive film following a mother and calf humpback whale on their migration from the tropics to Antarctica. Connecting it all is the understanding that the ocean and life on land are intricately interconnected. The challenges facing the ocean and its inhabitants cross geographic and ethnic boundaries. Understanding the ocean and its ecosystems is essential to comprehending and protecting this planet on which we live. This is among NOAA's most important missions, to better understand and protect the ocean and coasts, their ecosystems, and the communities that rely on them. All of the lessons in this guide have been aligned to major national education standards. These lessons progress for use from younger to older grade bands, but they all contain aspects and resources which may be adapted for all grade bands.
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- 2023
33. The Research Finding of Marine Fungi as Milkfish Feed and Its Utilization for Biotechnology Digital Magazine
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Khastini, Rida Oktorida, Nihan, Aditya Rahman Kintu, Murni, Dewi, and Martiani, Susi
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This study aimed to determine the utilization of research results of the selection of marine fungi for milkfish ("Chanos chanos") feed. The study was conducted in stages, starting with identifying the issues in the learning activities of biotechnology concepts, followed by experiments to identify research methods and products, selecting an adaptation of research findings as the learning source content, and application and development of research findings as learning. The data and information were gathered through an interview grid and a questionnaire, and the findings of the surveys were then analyzed qualitatively. The results of a selection study of marine fungi from Dua Island, Banten, Indonesia as feed for milkfish related to basic competency (KD) 3.10 and 4.10 can be used as learning resources as digital magazines for class XII high school students. Thus, media can help student in learning process.
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- 2023
34. Raising Students' Awareness about Nature Conservation: From the Park to the City
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Rita Rodrigues, Lúcia Pombo, and Margarida M. Marques
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Mobile devices, augmented reality (AR), and outdoor games can be mobilized to promote Education for Sustainable Development and, thus, to sensitize to nature conservation. The EduCITY project combines mobile learning, AR, and environmental sensors towards sustainability education and creates opportunities for citizens to contribute to their city's sustainability. This paper presents a study that articulates the previous project, the EduPARK, with the current one, the EduCITY. While EduPARK was developed within an urban park, EduCITY expanded its geographical area to the entire city. This study aims to analyze students' perceptions regarding changes in their nature conservation attitudes after exploring an urban green park in a mobile AR game-based learning activity. For this purpose, 233 basic education students (from school-year 5 to 9) played a game for environmental education, available in the EduPARK app, at the Infante D. Pedro Park (Aveiro, Portugal). Through a mixed method approach, data collection was focused on students and included two questionnaires, applied before and after the game activity; a focus group guide; and an observation grid. Results show a strengthening of positive attitudes towards nature conservation. Moreover, students mentioned that their nature conservation future intentions are focused on preserving natural resources, combating resources' waste, recycling waste, reducing pollution, and protecting fauna and flora. Students also revealed willingness and concern to teach friends and family about what they have learned with the EduPARK game. The EduCITY intends to give continuity to these practices throughout Aveiro city. This is anchored on a community-based participatory project integrating AR location games based on challenges, to be explored in the city, in formal, non-formal, and informal educational contexts, in a socio constructivism approach. This study adds to the literature on education for Sustainable Development, by revealing that it is possible to sensitize school students to nature conservation through mobile AR game-based approaches in the outdoors, which can be a first step to promote positive nature attitudes. [For the full proceedings, see ED639391.]
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- 2023
35. Impact of Therapy Dogs on Student Achievement in Rural Math Classrooms
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Dudley, Cara and Knight, Denise
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Therapy dogs positively impact students mental and emotional well-being, which can improve the student's academic performance. Therapy dogs can reduce stress and anxiety levels, which leads to better concentration and improved learning outcomes. Canines can also help improve social skills and behavior, which fosters a more productive classroom environment. School accountability becomes more critical each year. Student performance on state assessments determines accountability ratings. This study investigated therapy dogs' impact on academic achievement in a rural middle school math classroom. By addressing this issue through learning motivational theory, the quantitative research sheds light on how incorporating canine animal-assisted interventions into the daily classroom routine can increase student achievement.
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- 2023
36. Anthropocentrism and Microorganisms: Implications for Biosecurity
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Rajesh Ram
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The world is changing: both a conventional and a vaccine passport are now needed to travel internationally. Mask mandates, and social distancing are the new norm in a rapidly changing society. These measures were put in place to control the spread of the highly infectious and often fatal COVID-19, caused by a viral agent, a microorganism, a zoonosis, and the cause of death for over 6 million people around the world. Considering this, maintaining biosecurity is important around the world to ensure public health. Biosecurity in New Zealand supposes that people including young people understand different pests and diseases that can harm public health. This qualitative study was conducted to gauge the biosecurity knowledge of 171 young people (14-15-year-olds). Young people were tested on their knowledge about biosecurity related plants, animals, and microorganisms. This paper reports specifically on the results of knowledge of microorganisms of young people. Results show that negative anthropocentric views dominate adolescents understanding of microorganisms and anthropomorphism is widely used to explain microorganism activity. An educational programme, targeted at developing a conceptual understanding about microorganisms starting at primary education may help develop a more educated global citizen, one versed in understanding the biology of microorganisms.
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- 2023
37. The Effect of Reading Questioning Answering Integrated with Creative Problem Solving on Critical Thinking
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Aisya, Naafi, Ibrohim, I., Mahanal, Susriyati, and Maghfiroh, Hidayati
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Although the empowerment of critical thinking (CT) has become an international concern that needs to be developed in the biology learning process for high school students, there still needs to be more relevant research literature. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of implementing reading, questioning, and answering strategies integrated with creative problem solving (RQA-CPS) with RQA, CPS, and discussion strategies. This method used the pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design for one semester using four classes. We designed that the experimental group was taught with RQA-CPS, the control-I group was taught with RQA, the control-II group was taught with CPS, and the control-III group was taught with DP. This research involved 129 high school students in four classes with the topics Plantae, Animalia, Ecology and Environmental Change. These four topics are classified as complex material that requires CT to be able to understand in depth. The results showed that high school students' CT increased in all four classes, but the RQA-CPS group experienced the most significant increase and was significantly different compared to the other three control groups. Thus, the RQA-CPS strategy should be used in learning to improve students' CT.
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- 2023
38. Animal Ethics in Biology Teaching and Research in Selected Asian Countries
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Wallis, Robert
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Governance and regulation of the use of live animals in research and teaching is examined in Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and India. A comparison of the systems in different countries will enable the determination of best practice and fit-forpurpose regulation. The most comprehensive government regulation of animal welfare in institutions covers a broad range of animals and institutions are required to have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, whose membership is specified in guidelines or regulations. The work of the Committees is rigorously overseen by government and facilities that use live animals are audited externally. All countries examined have legislation governing the use of live animals in research, although only Australia and Malaysia have a fully equivalent mandated oversight of teaching. Teaching that uses live animals is partly covered in the Philippines, Japan, Singapore and Thailand This paper thus aims to review the regulation of animal use in different Asian jurisdictions in order to determine best practices that are appropriate to those settings. The most comprehensive oversight is provided in Australia and Malaysia that essentially use the same regulatory framework.
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- 2023
39. Augmented Reality App in Pre-School Education: Children's Knowledge about Animals
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Zeynel Abidin Yilmaz and Ali Ibrahim Can Gözüm
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This study aims to determine the learning outcomes of children in educational settings by using an AR (Augmented Reality) app for animals in classroom activities. To achieve this, the study used sequential exploratory research design, applied in both quantitative and qualitative research. The participants in the study are 2 teachers and 37 children working in the kindergarten affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the central district of Kilis Province in the 2019-2020 academic year. The augmented reality app was used in one group (n = 18) of children, and not in the other group (n = 19). The children were given an animal recognition test prepared by the researchers before the app was used and again afterward in an attempt to discover how the AR app affected learning. The study determined that while animal recognition increased in both the AR and non-AR groups, the children in the group where the AR app was used recognized more animals than the other group. As a result of the analyses made of the animal pictures drawn by the children who used the AR app, it was understood that the children had the opportunity to discover details about the animals. Additionally, the study conducted analyses of animal pictures drawn by the children who used the AR app, revealing that the app provided children with opportunities to discover and explore intricate details about the animals.
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- 2023
40. Fly-Cure, a Multi-Institutional Cure Using 'Drosophila,' Increases Students' Confidence, Sense of Belonging, and Persistence in Research
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Julie A. Merkle, Olivier Devergne, Seth M. Kelly, Paula A. Croonquist, Cory J. Evans, Melanie A. Hwalek, Victoria L. Straub, Danielle R. Hamill, Alexandra Peister, David P. Puthoff, Ken J. Saville, Jamie L. Siders, Zully J. Villanueva Gonzalez, Jacqueline K. Wittke-Thompson, Kayla L. Bieser, Joyce Stamm, Alysia D. Vrailas-Mortimer, and Jacob D. Kagey
- Abstract
The Fly-CURE is a genetics-focused multi-institutional Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experiences within a course. Through the Fly-CURE, undergraduate students at diverse types of higher education institutions across the United States map and characterize novel mutants isolated from a genetic screen in "Drosophila melanogaster." To date, more than 20 mutants have been studied across 20 institutions, and our scientific data have led to eleven publications with more than 500 students as authors. To evaluate the impact of the Fly-CURE experience on students, we developed and validated assessment tools to identify students' perceived research self-efficacy, sense of belonging in science, and intent to pursue additional research opportunities. Our data, collected over three academic years and involving 14 institutions and 480 students, show gains in these metrics after completion of the Fly-CURE across all student subgroups analyzed, including comparisons of gender, academic status, racial and ethnic groups, and parents' educational background. Importantly, our data also show differential gains in the areas of self-efficacy and interest in seeking additional research opportunities between Fly-CURE students with and without prior research experience, illustrating the positive impact of research exposure (dosage) on student outcomes. Altogether, our data indicate that the Fly-CURE experience has a significant impact on students' efficacy with research methods, sense of belonging to the scientific research community, and interest in pursuing additional research experiences.
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- 2023
41. Altered Developmental Trajectory in Male and Female Rats in a Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Anshu, Kumari, Nair, Ajay Kumar, Srinath, Shoba, and Laxmi, T. Rao
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Early motor and sensory developmental delays precede Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis and may serve as early indicators of ASD. The literature on sensorimotor development in animal models is sparse, male centered, and has mixed findings. We characterized early development in a prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD and found sex-specific developmental delays in VPA rats. We created a developmental composite score combining 15 test readouts, yielding a reliable gestalt measure spanning physical, sensory, and motor development, that effectively discriminated between VPA and control groups. Considering the heterogeneity in ASD phenotype, the developmental composite offers a robust metric that can enable comparison across different animal models of ASD and can serve as an outcome measure for early intervention studies.
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- 2023
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42. The Zoomorphic Effect: A Contribution to the Study of Images of Pedagogical Agents for Children's Learning in Instructional Videos
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Wu, Changcheng, Jing, Bin, Gong, Xue, and Ma, Xunzhou
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Background: Zoomorphism, an obverse of conventional anthropomorphism, has been shown in many cases to be a powerful tool with respect to the metaphorical use of animals. Objectives: This study introduced zoomorphism into the instructional video design of pedagogical agents (PAs). Method: We first developed three image sets, each of which corresponded to a type of zoomorphic PA image construct (full panda, a human face with a panda body, and a human body with panda head imagery). Then, we conducted an image-screening experiment in which 177 second-grade students from a primary school were asked to select their favourite PA image for each image construct set. We used a realistic human PA as the baseline. Next, 114 second-grade students from another school were randomly assigned to learn instructional videos on the topic of pandas using a PA with one of four imageries. Results and Conclusions: ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated that students presented with PAs with full-panda imagery achieved significantly higher learning performance, learning experience, social presence, and learning interest than those presented with other imageries of PAs. The regression results showed that the effect of zoomorphic PAs with full-panda imagery on learning performance was exerted in a direct way and that its effect on learning experience was mediated by social presence and learning interest. Implications: Our findings suggest that zoomorphic appearance is an essential quality for video learning that merits further investigation for the efficient imagery construction of PAs.
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- 2023
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43. Integrating Horses in Psychotherapy for Transition-Aged Students: A Theory-Driven Logic Model
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Kelly, Erin, Wood, Wendy, Stallones, Lorann, Schmid, Arlene A., and Peters, B. Caitlin
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Background: There is a lack of research on psychotherapy interventions for transition-aged students ages 18 to 21 that integrate horses or other equines in the provision of services. A critical early task in researching such complex interventions involves elucidating an intervention's critical elements and theoretical assumptions. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a theory-driven logic model of a psychotherapy program for transition-aged students ages 18 to 21 that incorporated horses. Methodology/Approach: The research approach was qualitative description, a low-inference form of qualitative research. Data were collected via interviews with program stakeholders and through review of program documents, and were analyzed using a directed content analysis. Findings/Conclusions: The resulting logic model elucidates theoretical assumptions, activities, resources, outputs, outcomes, and theorized community impact of the psychotherapy program integrating horses. Implications: This study addresses several gaps in existing research on equine-assisted services, particularly the need to thoroughly describe an intervention and its theoretical assumptions, which can guide future program refinement and replication, and future research.
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- 2023
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44. The Impacts of Animal Farming: A Critical Review of Secondary and High School Textbooks
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Fonseca, Rui Pedro
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The exploitation of animals for human purposes raises several ethical concerns in the educational realm that ought to be carefully dealt with. Derived from the content analysis of sample of 39 Portuguese secondary and high school textbooks, this study aims to understand how factory-farmed animals are represented within the following themes: food and health, environment and sustainability, and animal welfare. This work examines whether textbooks suggest the continuation or reduction of the consumption of animal-based products for a healthy diet; discuss the correlation between meat and severe environmental impacts; treat whether plant-based diets are considered healthy, viable and sustainable; and whether the agency and welfare of non-human animals is considered. The results show that animals are consistently classified as consumable, with rare mentions of plant-based proteins as a healthy option. Animal farming is inaccurately portrayed as being extensive and is presented from the point of view of maximum production. The suffering and agency of animals are never dealt with. Even though there are some references to the environmental impacts of animal farming, fishing and hunting, there are no recommendations to reduce the consumption of animal-based products as a way of mitigating environmental impacts. The resolution of current environmental challenges is dependent on there being profound shifts in science education that can provide students with the necessary information to create effective change. In seeking to create a more sustainable planet, this study endorses a more ecocentric pedagogy that frames other animals as sentient beings with intrinsic value. It is hoped that the results of this study can motivate authors, reviewers, and scientific and pedagogical consultants to redefine the guidelines in Portugal's Frame of Reference for Environmental Education, as well the editing criteria for textbooks. Furthermore, this paper seeks to encourage changes in the behaviour of young people and communities towards animals, food and the environment.
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- 2023
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45. Emotional Configurations in STEM Classrooms: Braiding Feelings, Sensemaking, and Practices in Extended Investigations
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Pierson, Ashlyn E., Brady, Corey E., and Lee, Sarah J.
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Attending to emotion in science classrooms can expand the range of resources valued for science learning, and it can offer insights into students' investigations. However, research that characterizes emotion as a part of disciplinary science learning is relatively nascent. In response, we explore the dynamic relationships between feelings, sensemaking, and practices in a sixth-grade STEM classroom, guided by: (1) Kimmerer's (2013) account of braiding Eurocentric disciplinary science with other resources, including feelings; and (2) Vea's (2020) framework of emotional configurations. We analyze data from multiple iterations of a 9-week curriculum about guppies' survival needs and the dynamics of ecosystems, illustrating how students' feelings and their sensemaking through practices involving observation were intertwined in generative and mutually-reinforcing ways. First, we show how the teacher and researcher made space for students to express feelings, in part in response to a student who used feelings to challenge "business as usual" classroom discourse on a day when guppies were discovered to have died. Then, we show how, in subsequent implementations, feelings, sensemaking, and practices were braided together to shape classroom investigations. We argue that attending to feelings in this way, as valued resources to be integrated with sensemaking and practices, is an important step toward equitable science teaching and learning and toward understanding learning in student-driven contexts.
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- 2023
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46. The Effect of Learning Cycle 5E+Powtoon on Students' Motivation: The Concept of Animal Metamorphosis
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Resmo, Koraima and Leasa, Marleny
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During the COVID-19 pandemic period, elementary school students experienced many learning difficulties, which resulted in decreased learning motivation. This study aimed to determine the effect of the 5e+Powtoon learning cycle learning model on learning motivation in science. This quasi-experimental research was conducted at public Elementary School (ES) Teladan Ambon, Maluku. There were two groups, one as the experimental class and another as a control class with 60 students. The research design used was a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group. The instrument used is a learning motivation questionnaire, with a value of validity = 0.769 and reliability = 0.897. The analysis results with ANCOVA showed the value of Sig = 0.000 > alpha (0.05), so applying the 5E+Powtoon model effect students' learning motivation. Thus, the 5e+Powtoon learning cycle can be recommended to increase elementary school students learning motivation. Further research is suggested to compare student motivation in Maluku with other developed countries by using the 5E model with other online learning applications.
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- 2022
47. The Effectiveness of an Interactive Digital Animation-Enriched Application for Teaching Concepts to Students with Intellectual Disabilities
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Ünlü, Emre and Diken, Ibrahim Halil
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The prerequisite for teaching many skills and behaviors to children with intellectual disabilities is that the child has acquired the basic concepts. Teaching concepts plays a very active role in the independence of the child with intellectual disabilities and in the acquisition of higher level skills that they will learn in the future. The studies conducted in recent years show that technology-based applications are effective in teaching concepts to children with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a technology-enhanced concept teaching application enriched with digital animations in teaching basic concepts to children with intellectual disabilities. Two male students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. In determining the ethics of technology-enhanced concept teaching practice, the multiple probe between skills model, which is one of the methods of single-subject research, was used. As a result of the study, it was found that the use of technology-assisted concept teaching was effective in teaching basic concepts to children with intellectual disabilities, that the children continued the concepts learned after the end of the instruction, and that they generalized them to different situations.
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- 2022
48. Environmental Conditions and Husbandry Approach Affect the Survival and Physiology of the California Blackworm ('Lumbriculus Variegatus')
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Daoud, Abdel, Nordheim, Erik V., McGee, Seth A., and Harris, Michelle A.
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The California Blackworm ("Lumbriculus variegatus") is a freshwater segmented worm species that has been used by biology instructors as a model system for inquiry-based student investigations. The blackworm dorsal blood vessel pulsation rate is easily quantified. Moreover, this species can facilitate the study of neuromuscular functioning via its photosensitive escape behavior which can be quantified as a segmental reflex rate. Both of these variables can be used to examine the physiological response of the "L. variegatus" circulatory and neuromuscular systems to environmental changes. Because knowledge about this species and its optimal environmental conditions is limited, we studied dorsal vessel pulsation and segmental reflexes of "L. variegatus" maintained at differing lighting, temperature and water cleaning frequency conditions. Our data strongly indicate that "L. variegatus" circulatory and motor functions are significantly affected by environmental conditions. We provide evidence-based recommendations for the careful control of environmental conditions that will allow instructors, students and researchers to collect robust data on "L. variegatus" and better utilize this model organism in their investigations.
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- 2022
49. Supporting Young Readers: A Mixed-Methods Study of Their Literacy, Behaviour, and Perceptions When Reading Aloud to Dogs or Adults
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Syrnyk, Corinne, McArthur, Alisa, Zwack, Alyson, and Handelsman, Allison
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Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been found to benefit human emotional state and cognitive performance. Recent applications of AAI have extended to classrooms with a range of intentions including to improve literacy. This Canadian study sought to examine differences in reading performance and behaviour in early readers identified as requiring extra supports following exposure to a canine-assisted and adult-assisted reading support. Twenty-four 7- to 8-year-olds experienced both supports in random order. At the start of the study and after completion of either support learners' oral reading, reading comprehension, social functioning, and reading affect were assessed. Parents, teachers, and children were also asked a range of closed- and open-ended questions. Findings showed evidence of improvement in reading performance, particularly after reading to a dog. There was also evidence of improved social competence overall and decreased problematic behaviour, although this was dependent on order of exposure. Teacher and parent reports showed they believed both supports to improve learner skills and affect for reading, and that teachers made more distinctions here. Implications for the practical application and relevance of methodological detail for future work are discussed.
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- 2023
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50. Engaging Young Children with Science Concepts in a Community-Based Book Distribution and Animal-Themed Literacy Intervention Program
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Singh, Sunita
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This descriptive case study presents findings from a 2 year research study on an intervention program, "Reading with Animals," launched in a linguistically, ethnically, and racially diverse Central New York community. The local literacy coalition implemented the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (IL) program in two low-income zip codes as one of the initiatives to foster literacy development across the lifespan. The program mailed a free book to families with children under the age of five once a month in an effort to increase access to books in the community. "Reading with Animals" was launched by the coalition with the specific aim of encouraging read-alouds with children's literature focused on animal-themes received from the IL to increase content area literacy, especially related to science. All program participants were enrolled in both programs. The "Reading with Animals" program was organised around active modeling of animal-themed books, interaction with live animals, and strategies woven across use of biofacts, music and movement, arts and crafts, and snack time. Data from observations, interviews, and artifacts indicated active participation of families and children in the program and engagement with science concepts. The study also pointed to implications for introducing more content-based literacy strategies for preschool children, for developing inclusive strategies for diverse classrooms, and the need for strengthening the same in teacher education programs.
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- 2023
- Full Text
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