Curriculum-Related Trends in K-12 Adventist Education in the North American Division: An Inductive Analysis of the Profile Surveys--1987-2007

Problem For several years, curriculum developers in the North American Division (NAD) have used the biennial results from the Profile Surveys to help guide their decisions in terms of educational policy. While some comparisons have been made between individual studies and ensuing results have been used to influence curriculum development, overall trends in the 10 studies up to 2007 have not been identified. As the studies increased in number, an integrative effort was needed in order help reveal the trends in the combined results and to make them available in more compact form for use by curriculum developers. Method The database for this inductive analysis was generated from various secondary sources, primarily written reports, articles, and SPSS files containing results from the 10 Profile Studies conducted from 1987 to 2007. These were supplemented with archived data from CDs and other hard copy sources, and personal communication with L. D. Burton, principal investigator for the last two Profile Studies conducted in 2004 and 2007. The following four research questions guided this study: 1. As reported in the Profile Survey results from 1987 to 2007, what trends emerge in K-12 teacher responses with regard to curriculum guides? 2. As reported in the Profile Survey results from 1987 to 2007, what trends emerge in K-12 teacher responses with regard to textbooks? 3. As reported in the Profile Survey results from 1987 to 2007, what K-12 technology issues feature most prominently? 4. As reported in the Profile Survey results from 1987 to 2007, what other system-wide issues feature most prominently in K-12 Adventist education? Data analysis involved a quantitative approach using descriptive statistics. Further, data were viewed through the lens of institutional theory. In addition to quantitative data, some qualitative responses from key stakeholders were integrated into the research to strengthen or clarify findings based on quantitative data. Results Data analysis indicated that the fragmentation issue which initially gave rise to the Profile Surveys has been resolved. Results based on analysis of the four research questions indicated that many of the concerns related to curriculum guides, textbooks, technology in schools, and other system-wide issues including the Journey to Excellence (J2E) initiative have been resolved. However, as curriculum development is an on-going process, many more issues still need to be further studied and addressed. Those include integrating faith with learning, teaching critical thinking skills, and adopting and implementing professional development strategies that work. Conclusions Based on the findings from this study, condensed information on curriculum-related issues that matter to teachers is now available to curriculum developers in the NAD. With respect to curriculum guides, for example, results reveal that format and user-friendliness do matter to teachers. In addition, the findings from this study can serve to acquaint system-level administrators with trends such as a rift in professional development methods among K-12 teachers. Moreover, this research provided evidence that, while room remains for improvement, teachers have been advancing in their knowledge of the J2E initiative, the foundation of the vision for excellence in Adventist education

Illness trajectory from prodromal symptoms to incident bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Background: The concept of prodrome is highly variable but, when applied retrospectively in cohorts who progress to meet diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ), it can contribute to clarify early origins and trajectory of the illness. In the context of race and ethnicity, studies with population-based and registry-based cohorts, such as the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), can potentially identify, through retrospective assessment of the prodromes of BD and SZ, differences while addressing the heterogeneous nature of the illness. Objective: We aim to describe and compare the illness trajectories of individuals with BD or SZ prior to the incident case. Additionally, we assessed for differences in access to healthcare in racially diverse patients and within those with schizophrenia, we sought to analyze differences in prodrome duration based on place of birth (U.S. born vs. foreign born). Methods: Using a records-linkage system from Minnesota, we searched for subjects born after 1985 that had been diagnosed with BD or SZ. Cases were ascertained for diagnosis and identification of the first episode of mania or psychosis. Using the medical records we extracted data from their medical history prior to their first episode. Results: We identified 205 cases with the first episode of psychosis or mania (SZ = 131; BD = 74). The mean age of onset for BD was 21.34 years and 20.45 years for SZ. We did not find a difference between the mean duration of the trajectory of mental health problems to a first episode. Both disorders were preceded by high healthcare utilization and had similar rates of psychiatric diagnoses, substance use, and prescriptions of psychiatric medications. SZ was more common in Non-white patients and in immigrants and BD had a higher rate of depressive disorder and adjustment disorders. Conclusions: Results from this study provide critical information on social and clinical features that precede a first manic or psychotic episode that may help early illness detection, identification of individuals at high risk of BD and SZ and address health disparities

Racial differences in pathways to care preceding first episode mania or psychosis: a historical cohort prodromal study

BackgroundThere is evidence suggesting racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment in bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ). The purpose of this study is to compare psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic use preceding a first episode of mania (FEM) or psychosis (FEP) in racially diverse patients.MethodsUsing a comprehensive medical records linkage system (Rochester Epidemiology Project, REP), we retrospectively identified individuals diagnosed with BD or SZ and a documented first episode of mania or psychosis. Illness trajectory before FEP/FEM were characterized as the time from first visit for a mental health complaint to incident case. Pathways to care and clinical events preceding FEP/FEM were compared based on subsequent incident case diagnosis (BD or SZ) and self-reported race (White vs. non-White).ResultsA total of 205 (FEM = 74; FEP = 131) incident cases were identified in the REP. Duration of psychiatric antecedents was significantly shorter in non-White patients, compared to White patients (2.2 ± 4.3 vs. 7.4 ± 6.6 years; p < 0.001) with an older age at time of first visit for a mental health complaint (15.7 ± 6.3 vs. 11.1 ± 6.0 years; p = 0.005). There were no significant differences by race in FEM pathway to care or age of first seeking mental health. Overall non-White patients had lower rates of psychotropic use.ConclusionThese data are unable to ascertain reasons for shorter duration of psychiatric antecedents and later age of seeking care, and more broadly first age of initial symptom presentation. If symptoms are confirmed to be earlier than first time seeking care in both groups, it would be important to identify barriers that racial minorities face to access timely psychiatric care and optimize early intervention strategies

Together Growing Fruitful Disciples Framework

Teachers may find this Christian spiritual growth framework a useful tool to hook various components of current curriculum and extra-curricular spiritual growth activities together to evaluate holistic spiritual growth opportunities available to their students in this school and school year. Four cyclical processes - Connecting, Understanding, Ministering, and Equipping - are expanded to the level of goals called commitments. More specific objectives are available online for each commitment, as well as the Growing Discipleship Inventory and spiritual growth planning activities, building on this framewor

Profile 2007 Final Report: Perceptions of North American Seventh-day Adventist Education Websites

This report shares the findings of the Profile survey of Adventist teachers in the North American Division during the 2007 academic year. Results of the Profile Studies help administrators, teachers, and teacher educators develop better understanding of each other\u27s perceptions of curriculum and instruction issues and concerns in this region of the global Seventh-day Adventist education system

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Pediatric Pulmonary Workforce: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

Despite growing recognition of the need for increased diversity among students, trainees, and faculty in health care, the medical workforce still lacks adequate representation from groups historically underrepresented in medicine (URiM). The subspecialty field of pediatric pulmonology is no exception. Although there have been efforts to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our own field, gaps persist. To address these gaps, the members of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group (DEI-AG) of the American Thoracic Society Pediatrics Assembly created and distributed a Needs Assessment Survey in the United States and Canada to better understand the racial and ethnic demographics of the pediatric pulmonary workforce and to learn more about successes, gaps, and opportunities to enhance how we recruit, train, and retain a diverse workforce. The DEI-AG leadership cochairs convened a workshop to review the findings of the DEI Needs Assessment Survey and to develop strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of URiM fellows and faculty. This Official ATS Workshop Report aims to identify barriers and opportunities for recruitment, training, and career development within the field of pediatric pulmonology. Additionally, we offer useful strategies and resources to improve the recruitment of URiM residents, the mentorship of trainees and junior faculty, and the career development of URiM faculty in academic centers. This Workshop Report is an important first deliverable by the DEI-AG. We hope that this work, originating from within the Pediatrics Assembly, will serve as a model for other Assemblies, disciplines across the ATS, and other fields in Pediatrics

Mutations in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase cause nephrosis with ichthyosis and adrenal insufficiency

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) causes 15% of chronic kidney disease cases. A mutation in 1 of over 40 monogenic genes can be detected in approximately 30% of individuals with SRNS whose symptoms manifest before 25 years of age. However, in many patients, the genetic etiology remains unknown. Here, we have performed whole exome sequencing to identify recessive causes of SRNS. In 7 families with SRNS and facultative ichthyosis, adrenal insufficiency, immunodeficiency, and neurological defects, we identified 9 different recessive mutations in SGPL1, which encodes sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase. All mutations resulted in reduced or absent SGPL1 protein and/or enzyme activity. Overexpression of cDNA representing SGPL1 mutations resulted in subcellular mislocalization of SGPL1. Furthermore, expression of WT human SGPL1 rescued growth of SGPL1-deficient dpl1. yeast strains, whereas expression of disease-associated variants did not. Immunofluorescence revealed SGPL1 expression in mouse podocytes and mesangial cells. Knockdown of Sgpl1 in rat mesangial cells inhibited cell migration, which was partially rescued by VPC23109, an S1P receptor antagonist. In Drosophila, Sply mutants, which lack SGPL1, displayed a phenotype reminiscent of nephrotic syndrome in nephrocytes. WT Sply, but not the disease-associated variants, rescued this phenotype. Together, these results indicate that SGPL1 mutations cause a syndromic form of SRNS