Modeling and Encouraging Self-Care in Online Teacher Preparation: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts for both teachers and students at all levels. Instructional delivery had to be modified to respond to the need for social distancing. Even courses that were already fully online required adaptations to accommodate the needs of university students during COVID. One of the biggest changes that the authors made to their teaching and to their students’ learning was that of modeling and encouraging self-care. This article summarizes what two university faculty changed in their instruction to help promote self-care, as well as what they are doing now to continue utilizing what they learned

Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), General Electric Phase 1. Volume 3: Energy conversion subsystems and components. Part 3: Gasification, process fuels, and balance of plant

Results are presented of an investigation of gasification and clean fuels from coal. Factors discussed include: coal and coal transportation costs; clean liquid and gas fuel process efficiencies and costs; and cost, performance, and environmental intrusion elements of the integrated low-Btu coal gasification system. Cost estimates for the balance-of-plant requirements associated with advanced energy conversion systems utilizing coal or coal-derived fuels are included

Enhancing Student Learning in the Online Instructional Environment Through the Use of Universal Design for Learning

As college faculty who prepare future teachers, we strive to teach our students through instruction and modeling best practices in teaching. We constantly evaluate our teaching and make adjustments to include updated knowledge about effective instruction. The evaluation and adjustments made to our courses lend themselves to action research. We take what we learn from our research and make appropriate changes to better meet the diverse needs of students. This article provides an overview of a final project that used Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for assessing student knowledge. This research focused on the principle of Multiple Means of Action and Expression and the impact the UDL final project had on student learning as well as overall perceptions of the project. Results indicate that participants enjoyed the final project and that it impacted their learning. Students reported enjoying having choice in how they demonstrated their understanding of the content

Creativity in the Virtual Classroom: Engaging Online Special Education Teacher Candidates in Their Own Learning

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the number of college students enrolled in at least one online course was approximately 11 million during the 2021-2022 school year. Knowing that institutes of higher education (IHEs) are responsible for teaching students who are primarily online learners, special education teacher preparation programs at IHEs need to change their focus on how to meet these online learners\u27 needs. There is plentiful research on what faculty should include in their online classes, but finding specific strategies and activities that engage students in their own learning can be challenging. This article provides teacher educators with activities and strategies used in classes to engage online students in their learning, aiming for quick and easy implementation into future online special education teacher preparation courses

Peran Orangtua terhadap Pendidikan Agama Anak di Desa Sawah Kecamatan Kampar Utara Kabupaten Kampar

The research purpose to determine the role of parents and religious behavior of children with analyze correlation between the role of parents and religious behavior of children. Role is pattern of behavior or action should be taken by parents in educating children religion. This research conducted at the northern Kampar district Sawah subdistrict Kampar. Population of this research is all heads of families residing in the village Sawah field north of Kampar districts and have children aged adolescent age range 13-15 years who attend school or junior high school equivalent listed in the records of population. There are some elements in this research, the first provides religious education which includes about doing prayers, fasting in Ramadan, reciting Al-Quran, gave infak and respect for older people. The second control the implementation of the child worship, control activities carried out by taking action if children do not practice their religion. Third, encourage children to worship that parents set an example and encourage children worship together. Fourth, be patient that parents are expected to be patient in educating religious behavior of children. This research technique is descriptive quantitative, to describe the results of research in the field with numbers, then described by words or narration. Based on the research in the field found that role of parents in Sawah village is considered to be good for 91,48%, the education of children in the Sawah village also rated as good by 95%, there is a strong correlation between the role of parents to religious education of children with result is 0,9 and a significant correlation of 0,01, means there is significant correlation between the role of parents to religious education of children

Letter from L. H. Boothe

Letter concerning the college choir at Utah Agricultural College

Engaging Graduate Students in the Online Learning Environment: A Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Approach to Teacher Preparation

Today’s classroom is more diverse than ever; it is imperative that universities find solutions for meeting these diverse learning needs. One potential solution is Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which is a promising practice in the K-12 classroom. UDL is based on the idea that diversity among students is predictable and systematic adjustments to the curriculum should be made based on that predictability. While there is strong research supporting the use of UDL for traditional K-12 classrooms, there is little research regarding its implementation in the online university teacher preparation classroom. This study explores the use of UDL for increasing student engagement in online Special Education teacher preparation courses. The authors seek to expand on the literature regarding the use of UDL in the university setting by examining the impact of engagement strategies in online Special Education teacher preparation courses. Results of a case study utilizing a qualitative survey of online teacher preparation candidates are examined

Applying the Principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the College Classroom

Universities are charged with educating students from diverse backgrounds, including ELL students, nontraditional students, military students, first generation college students, and students with disabilities. In order to meet the wide variety of learning needs and abilities in the college classroom, teachers must find innovative methods for reaching this diverse population of students. One potential solution is Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Through instructional and assessment strategies that address the “why”, how”, and “what” of learning, the UDL approach ensures that all students can learn. The research regarding the concept of using UDL in the college classroom is minimal, but shows promise in meeting the needs of all students and the federal laws focusing on UDL. This article provides faculty with background information on UDL as well as ways to incorporate these strategies into their current courses

A Topological Deep Learning Framework for Neural Spike Decoding

The brain's spatial orientation system uses different neuron ensembles to aid in environment-based navigation. One of the ways brains encode spatial information is through grid cells, layers of decked neurons that overlay to provide environment-based navigation. These neurons fire in ensembles where several neurons fire at once to activate a single grid. We want to capture this firing structure and use it to decode grid cell data. Understanding, representing, and decoding these neural structures require models that encompass higher order connectivity than traditional graph-based models may provide. To that end, in this work, we develop a topological deep learning framework for neural spike train decoding. Our framework combines unsupervised simplicial complex discovery with the power of deep learning via a new architecture we develop herein called a simplicial convolutional recurrent neural network (SCRNN). Simplicial complexes, topological spaces that use not only vertices and edges but also higher-dimensional objects, naturally generalize graphs and capture more than just pairwise relationships. Additionally, this approach does not require prior knowledge of the neural activity beyond spike counts, which removes the need for similarity measurements. The effectiveness and versatility of the SCRNN is demonstrated on head direction data to test its performance and then applied to grid cell datasets with the task to automatically predict trajectories

Preclinical evaluation of lime juice as a topical microbicide candidate

Background: The continued growth of the global HIV epidemic highlights the urgent need to develop novel prevention strategies to reduce HIV transmission. The development of topical microbicides is likely to take a number of years before such a product would be widely available. This has resulted in a call for the rapid introduction of simpler vaginal intervention strategies in the interim period. One suggested practice would be vaginal douching with natural products including lime or lemon juice. Here we present a comprehensive preclinical evaluation of lime juice (LiJ) as a potential intervention strategy against HIV. Results: Pre-treatment of HIV with LiJ demonstrated direct virucidal activity, with 10% juice inactivating the virus within 5 minutes. However, this activity was significantly reduced in the presence of seminal plasma, where inactivation required maintaining a 1:1 mixture of neat LiJ and seminal plasma for more than 5 minutes. Additionally, LiJ demonstrated both time and dosedependent toxicity towards cervicovaginal epithelium, where exposure to 50% juice caused 75–90% toxicity within 5 minutes increasing to 95% by 30 minutes. Cervicovaginal epithelial cell monolayers were more susceptible to the effects of LiJ with 8.8% juice causing 50% toxicity after 5 minutes. Reconstructed stratified cervicovaginal epithelium appeared more resilient to LiJ toxicity with 30 minutes exposure to 50% LiJ having little effect on viability. However viability was reduced by 75% and 90% following 60 and 120 minutes exposure. Furthermore, repeat application (several times daily) of 25% LiJ caused 80–90% reduction in viability. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that the virucidal activity of LiJ is severely compromised in the presence of seminal plasma. Potentially, to be effective against HIV in vivo, women would need to apply a volume of neat LiJ equal to that of an ejaculate, and maintain this ratio vaginally for 5–30 minutes after ejaculation. Data presented here suggest that this would have significant adverse effects on the genital mucosa. These data raise serious questions about the plausibility and safety of such a prevention approach