A Comparison of Global Knowledge and Abilities between Pre-service Teachers and in-Service Teachers in Taiwan

The purpose of this study is to compare global knowledge and abilities between pre-service teachers and in-service teachers in Taiwan To collect data a questionnaire containing 40 items within four categories was developed and distributed to 537 samples The results indicated that pre-service teachers had more global knowledge than did in-service teachers in global correlation systems and global issues Moreover major and teaching fields had significant differences in global knowledge and abilities The results of this study can be applied to improve teacher education programs for global education and to increase global concerns for teachers in different field

Relationships between Secondary School Students’ Perceptions of School Adjustment and Well-being

The research is financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan. No. MOST 108-2410-               H-018-016-MY2 Abstract Both school adjustment and well-being are fundamental to a good quality of life for youth. Good school adjustment is important and has far-reaching influences on the psychology and behavior of middle school students, which sets the stage for future educational and occupational opportunities. Good mental health or well-being helps young people develop the skills they need to cope with whatever life throws at them. The purposes of this study were to explore the relationships between secondary school students’ perceptions of school adjustment and well-being. 890 secondary students were selected from central Taiwan. A questionnaire was applied to collect data. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings of this study were as follows: First, students’ perceptions of school adjustment and well-being were moderate level. Second, respondents with different family socio-economic status showed significant differences in school adjustment including dimensions of overall, academic adjustment, proper behavior, and self-affirmation, and also showed significant differences in well-being including dimensions of overall, life satisfaction, physical-mental health, and self-evaluation. Third, there was a medium positive correlation between respondents' school adjustment and well-being. The school adjustment could predict well-being and the peer relationship and the self-assurance were the better predictors of well-being. Keywords: Secondary school students, School adjustment, Well-being DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-30-19 Publication date:October 31st 202

The Relationships among Senior High School Teacher Perceptions on Professional Learning Community, Self-efficacy, School Type, and Gender

Teacher’s professional learning community (TPLC) and self-efficacy(SE) are considered to enhance student learning in various dimensions. Teacher perceived PLC and SE might be influenced by school contexts and teachers’ demographic factors. This study investigated the relationships between teacher’s professional learning community (PLC), self-efficacy (SE), school type, and gender in Taiwan context. The findings are expected to provide valuable information in this field and to enhance understanding of PLC and self-efficacy in different cultural contexts. Descriptive statistics, t-test, product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis were applied to analyze the data. The findings indicated that a significant difference was found between public school teachers and private school teachers in two PLC dimensions, core element and human and social resources, and in one SE dimesnion, classroom management. Another significant differences were found between male teachers and female teachers in three SE dimensions, teaching strategy, classroom management, and student involvement. However, no significant differences was found between both in PLC dimesnions. Moreover, perceived PLC and SE were positive correlated. Perceived PLC could predict perceived SE. These results suggested that PLC appears to play a role in teachers’ reported levels of SE and provided initial evidence that the variation between schools in PLC may be explained by the SE. Keywords: Gender, school type, self-efficacy, professional learning community, senior high school teacher

The Relationship between Secondary School Students’ Emotional Intelligence and Learning Motivation

In recent years, emotional intelligence has been highly regarded because of its ability to control emotions, develop talented potential, build high-quality relationships, and have leadership skills. Learning motivation is the motivation of achievement in learning, a psychological need for individuals to pursue success, and also one of the main factors affecting learning achievement. Both of them are very important to young adults. However, rare studies discuss the correlation between middle school students’ emotional intelligence and learning motivation. The purposes of this study were to explore the relationships between secondary school students’ emotional intelligence and learning motivation. Participants were 877 secondary school students selected from central Taiwan. A questionnaire was applied to collect data. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings of this study were as follows: First, the students’ perception of the current situations of emotional intelligence and learning motivation were above a moderate level. Second, there was a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and learning motivation. Third, emotional intelligence could predict learning motivation and the level of self-motivation was the best predictor. Conclusion and discussion were also included in this study. Keywords: Secondary school student, Emotional intelligence, Learning motivation DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-5-02 Publication date: February 28th 202

Sexual health care for women with dyspareunia

AbstractFemale dyspareunia is a serious impairment with a prevalence of up to 39.5%, imposing a significant burden on women’s health, relationship, and quality of life. Because the causes of female dyspareunia are associated with multiple biological, medical, psychological, sociocultural, and interpersonal dimensions, all members of the health team should help fill this gap in the total care of the patient. The nurse is an ideal member of the health team to counsel patients in the sensitive and highly charged area of human sexuality. The purpose of this article was to explore the essential components of female dyspareunia from nursing care perspective to help women suffering from dyspareunia. The article provides a set of tools, including description and clinical presentation, obtaining a history and clinical data for the evaluation of dyspareunia, and a counseling tool of the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, and Intensive Therapy model; suggestions are also provided for health care professionals during the treatment process

Uncovering a Connection between the Teachers’ Professional Development Program and Students’ Learning

Most research suggests professional development improves teachers’ knowledge and pedagogy and enhances teachers’ confidence to facilitate a positive attitude about student learning. This study attempted to investigate the connection between teacher professional development program and students’ Learning. This study took Readers’ Theater Teaching Program (RTTP) for professional development as an example to inquiry how participants applied their new knowledge and skills learned from RTTP to their teaching practice and how the impact influenced students’ reading fluency. This study was a two-year project. In the first year, this study focused on designing and implementing RTTP and evaluating participants’ satisfaction of RTTP, what they learned and how they applied it to design their English reading curriculum. In the second year, the study adopted quasi-experimental design approach and evaluated how participants RT instruction influenced their students’ reading fluency. The participants in this study composed two junior high school English teachers and their students. Data was collected from a number of different sources including teaching observation, semi-structured interviews, teaching diary, teachers’ professional development portfolio, pre/post RT content knowledge tests, teacher survey, and students’ reading fluency tests. The results indicated that teachers learned more RT script writing than other specific contents and hold a positive attitude toward RT instruction and considered it as a very wonderful strategy to meet a variety of needs. All of the experimental group students had a big progress in reading fluency after RT instruction.  The evidences from this study indicated that RT English instruction significantly influenced students’ reading fluency and classroom climate. Keywords: Teacher’s Professional Development, Program Evaluation, Readers’ Theater, English Reading Instruction, Reading fluenc

The Effects of the KCNQ Openers Retigabine and Flupirtine on Myotonia in Mammalian Skeletal Muscle Induced by a Chloride Channel Blocker

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of KCNQ (potassium channel, voltage-gated, KQT-like subfamily) openers in preventing myotonia caused by anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (9-AC, a chloride channel blocker). An animal model of myotonia can be elicited in murine skeletal muscle by 9-AC treatment. KCNQ openers, such as retigabine and flupirtine, can inhibit the increased twitch amplitude (0.1 Hz stimulation) and reduce the tetanic fade (20 Hz stimulations) observed in the presence of 9-AC. Furthermore, the prolonged twitch duration of skeletal muscle was also inhibited by retigabine or flupirtine. Lamotrigine (an anticonvulsant drug) has a lesser effect on the muscle twitch amplitude, tetanic fade, and prolonged twitch duration as compared with KCNQ openers. In experiments using intracellular recordings, retigabine and flupirtine clearly reduced the firing frequencies of repetitive action potentials induced by 9-AC. These data suggested that KCNQ openers prevent the myotonia induced by 9-AC, at least partly through enhancing potassium conductance in skeletal muscle. Taken together, these results indicate that KCNQ openers are potential alternative therapeutic agents for the treatment of myotonia