Education Commons^™

Finland, A Package Deal: Disciplinary Climate In Science Classes, Science Dispositions And Science Literacy, Larry J. Grabau, Jari Levonen, Kalle Juuti

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Finland’s educational prowess, though tempered by recent international assessments, has remained intact. This report focused on lessons that could be learned regarding secondary-level science education from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015, science-focused assessment. That PISA iteration included not only science literacy but also students’ science dispositions (epistemology, enjoyment, interest, and self-efficacy) and the schools’ science climate measures (disciplinary climate and teaching support). Due to the hierarchical nature of the PISA data, multilevel models were employed in this Finnish study, involving 5582 students from 167 schools. Science dispositions (as outcome measures) were differently associated with teaching support and …

Stem Through Authentic Research And Training Program (Start) For Underrepresented Communities: Adapting To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Luke H. Bradley, Brittany N. Derr, Catherine E. Durbin, Michael J. Lauer, Fara Williams, Anthony P. Sinai, Julie A. Bradley, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

The STEM Through Authentic Research and Training (START) Program is a new program integrating academic, social, and professional experiences, in the theme of exomedicine, to build a pipeline into college for first generation and traditionally underrepresented students by providing year-round authentic opportunities and professional development for high school students and teachers. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the START Program has worked with the local Fayette County public school and community partners to provide content to over 300 students through: virtual laboratory tours with community partner Space Tango, "meet a scientist" discussions, and online near-peer student demonstrations aimed at making …

Equity-Oriented Conceptual Framework For K-12 Stem Literacy, Christa Jackson, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder, Sarah B. Bush, Cathrine Maiorca, Thomas Roberts, Caitlyn Yost, Abigail Fowler

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

We introduce a conceptual framework of K-12 STEM literacy that rightfully and intentionally positions each and every student, particularly minoritized groups, as belonging in STEM. In order to conceptualize the equity-based framework of STEM literacy, we conducted a systematic review of literature related to STEM literacy, which includes empirical studies that contribute to STEM literacy. The literature on the siloed literacies within STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics literacy) also contributed to formulate the necessity of and what it means to develop STEM literacy. The Equity-Oriented STEM Literacy Framework illuminates the complexities of disrupting the status quo and rightfully …

Finnish Adolescent Girls’ Activity Patterns And The Effects Of An Activity-Based Homework Intervention On Their Physical Activity, Mari Kääpä, Sanna Palomäki, Henri Vähä-Ypyä, Tommi Vasankari, Mirja Hirvensalo, Alicia Fedewa

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The insufficient physical activity (PA) of adolescents is a global challenge, and there is a need to find opportunities to engage youth in active lifestyles. The majority of adolescents do not meet the recommended guidelines of physical activity, and especially females have low levels of activity as they approach adolescence. The goal of this study was to obtain insight into Finnish adolescent girls’ objectively measured physical activity by evaluating the effects of an activity-based homework intervention on low, medium, and high-active girls during after-school hours.

Method: A physical activity homework intervention was put into place for female adolescent girls. …

The Relationship Between Spatial Ability And The Conservation Of Matter In Middle School, Merryn Cole, Jennifer Wilhelm, Briana Marie-Mcknight Vaught, Corinne Fish, Hailey Fish

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

Research has shown that spatial ability plays a key role in understanding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content, including chemistry. Conservation of Matter (CoM) is an essential but challenging topic for chemistry students of all ages to grasp; it is often taught in a way where students memorize it but do not learn what it means conceptually. This research explored the relationship between understanding spatial ability and conceptual understanding of CoM in middle school students. CoM was examined in two ways using the Conservation of Matter Assessment (CoMA): through questions on conservation of atoms and the conservation of mass. …

Opportunity And Access To Informal Stem Learning Environments, Abigail Fowler, Caitlyn Yost, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder

Posters-at-the-Capitol Presentations

The University of Kentucky (UK) STEM Experiences is a collaboration amongst the UK Colleges of Education, Engineering, and Arts & Sciences. Our goal is to expose students to a variety positive learning experiences and career options in the STEM fields. Additionally, the summer experiences.

Evaluation Of The Project P.A.T.H.S. In Mainland China: Findings Based On Student Diaries, Daniel T. L. Shek, Xiaoqin Zhu, Janet T. Y. Leung, Tak Yan Lee, Florence K. Y. Wu

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Objectives: Based on 859 student diaries, the present study evaluated a positive youth development program entitled “Tin Ka Ping (TKP) Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social programs (P.A.T.H.S.) ” project implemented in mainland China during the 2015–2016 academic year. Method: To understand the perceived effectiveness of the students, the study analyzed quantitative as well as qualitative data derived from the student diaries. Results: The students held very positive views toward the program and the implementers. The narratives of the students also showed that they perceived improvement in the intrapersonal, interpersonal, familial, and societal domains after joining the program. Conclusion: In …

Exploring The Factors Teachers Consider In Determining Students’ Grades, Thomas R. Guskey, Laura J. Link

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the specific factors teachers consider when assigning students’ report card grades. Data were gathered from 943 K-12 teachers from five school districts in a southeastern state in the United States who completed the Teachers’ Grading Practices Survey. Analyses focused on how teachers weigh different factors in determining report card grades, and if these factors and weights differ among teachers who teach at different grade levels and have different amounts of classroom experience. Results revealed statistically significant differences among teachers at different grade levels but no differences associated with teachers’ years of …

The Use Of Bicycle Workstations To Increase Physical Activity In Secondary Classrooms, Alicia Fedewa, Colleen Cornelius, Soyeon Ahn

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND

To date, the majority of interventions have implemented classroom-based physical activity (PA) at the elementary level; however, there is both the potential and need to explore student outcomes at high-school level as well, given that very few studies have incorporated classroom-based PA interventions for adolescents. One exception has been the use of bicycle workstations within secondary classrooms. Using bicycle workstations in lieu of traditional chairs in a high school setting shows promise for enhancing adolescents’ physical activity during the school day.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

The present study explored the effects of integrating bicycle workstations into a secondary classroom setting …

Rct Testing Bystander Effectiveness To Reduce Violence, Ann L. Coker, Heather M. Bush, Patricia G. Cook-Craig, Sarah A. Degue, Emily R. Clear, Candace J. Brancato, Bonnie S. Fisher, Eileen A. Recktenwald

Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Bystander-based programs have shown promise to reduce interpersonal violence at colleges, yet limited rigorous evaluations have addressed bystander intervention effectiveness in high schools. This study evaluated the Green Dot bystander intervention to reduce sexual violence and related forms of interpersonal violence in 26 high schools over 5 years.

Design: A cluster RCT was conducted.

Setting/participants: Kentucky high schools were randomized to intervention or control (wait list) conditions.

Intervention: Green Dot−trained educators conducted schoolwide presentations and recruited student popular opinion leaders to receive bystander training in intervention schools beginning in Year 1.

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was sexual …

A Place At The Blackboard: Including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, & Queer/Questioning Issues In The Education Process, Todd A. Savage, Debra A. Harley

Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education Faculty Publications

We know from history that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have always existed in society (Campos, 2003; Sullivan, 2003). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) individuals, collectively known as sexual minorities, represent approximately 10% of the population. As many as nine students in every classroom of 30 are in some measure affected by sexual minority issues (e.g., having a gay or lesbian relative or being gay oneself) (AFSC Gay/Lesbian Youth Program, 1991). “Yet even with this substantial number, the code of silence in our nation’s school systems concerning homosexuality remains” (Fontaine, 1997, pp. 101-102).

Making High School Grades Meaningful, Thomas R. Guskey

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Most teachers base students' grades on more than one factor. The difficulty is figuring out how to weight and combine the different pieces that go into the final mark. Mr. Guskey suggests a system that not only avoids those problems but gives a better overall picture of a student's performance than the traditional single letter grade.

Attitudes Towards Guns: Associations With Alcohol Use And Impulsive Behaviors, Catherine A. Martin, Arch G. Mainous, Harriett H. Ford, Rosalie Mainous, Susan Slade, David Martin, Hatim A. Omar

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

This study was an investigation of the association of attitudes toward guns with self-reports of alcohol/drug use, and impulsivity. Participants included 160 male and female high school students, who completed five questions regarding attitudes toward guns, in addition to questions about alcohol/drug use. Data were analyzed using t-tests. Males were more likely to feel that a home was safer with a gun. Feeling positively about a gun was associated with alcohol use in males and impulsive, aggressive behavior in males and females. A greater understanding of attitudes toward guns must take into account gender, alcohol use, and impulsive and aggressive …

Adolescent Violence As Viewed By High School Students, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

On April 20^th, 1999 two high school students from Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado armed with a variety of firearms managed to kill 15 persons and injure many others in their school. Following this incident, a wave of bomb threats to schools throughout the country erupted and several adolescents and adults were arrested. Ten days following the incident we surveyed a total of 412 students from urban area high schools. All students have heard of the shooting, 80% felt sad about the incident, 90% felt hate for the shooters and sad for the victims. 3% felt indifferent …

Synthesis Of Research On The Effects Of Mastery Learning In Elementary And Secondary Classrooms, Thomas R. Guskey, Sally L. Gates

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The results of well-designed studies show extremely positive student learning outcomes and teacher variables. More studies are needed on several questions, including long-term consequences and effects on classroom interactions and climate.