An Investigation of Teacher Response to National Science Curriculum Reforms in Turkey

Major science education curriculum reform is taking place in Turkey involving a substantial break with past science curricula. Such reform has significant implications for teachers but to date there has been little research on teacher response to these reforms. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the impact on the teachers who are charged with implementing reforms. Semi-structured interviews with 18 elementary science teachers were conducted and additional observational data was recorded. The interview schedule comprised 23 questions in 9 themes. According to the data analysis, the main problem for teachers is that curriculum reforms involve overly big innovative ideas within unrealistically short timelines and with limited economic investment in human resources and supporting materials. In addition, there is a lack of organization and coherence between system stakeholders. Another drawback is the very centralized educational system and the idea that change can be driven from the top down

Is mean platelet volume associated with the angiographic severity of coronary artery disease?

Background: Platelet activation and aggregation play key roles both in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in the developmentof acute thrombotic events. Platelet volume is a marker of platelet activation and function, and is measured usingmean platelet volume (MPV).Aim: To determine the relationship between MPV and angiographic Gensini and SYNTAX scores, which give informationabout the severity and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods: This study included 435 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. The complete blood countand biochemical examination of blood were obtained after 12 h of fasting. The independent association between MPV andthe severity of CAD was statistically evaluated using PASW Statistics 18 for Windows.Results: Mean age of the study population was 58.4 ± 9.3 years, of whom 196 were female (45.1%) and 239 male (54.9%).Of the patients, 63.2% had CAD, 31.7% had diabetes mellitus, 61.8% had hypertension, 56.6% had hyperlipidaemia, and38.6% were smokers. Mean Gensini score was 20.7 ± 31.1. According to Gensini scores, 160 of the patients (36.8%) hadnormal coronary arteries (Gensini score: 0), 134 of the patients (30.8%) had minimal CAD (Gensini score: 1–19), and 141 ofthem (32.4%) had severe CAD (Gensini score ? 20). Mean MPV values were 8.4 ± 1.0 fL in the group that had no CAD,8.7 ± 1.0 fL in the group with minimal CAD, and 9.3 ± 1.5 fL in the group with severe CAD. According to Spearman correlationanalysis, the positive relationship found between MPV and Gensini score was statistically significant (p < 0.001,r = 0.290). Likewise, SYNTAX score was also associated with MPV (p < 0.001, r = 0.504).Conclusions: We determined a positive correlation between MPV and Gensini and SYNTAX scores. Therefore, this simplehaematology test can be used in determining cardiovascular disease burden besides other risk factors during routine clinicalpractice. For further information about this topic, large-scale studies are needed

Inflammatory Markers in Patients Using Domiciliary Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation: C Reactive Protein, Procalcitonin, Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio

Aim: Early identification and treatment of infections in patients using domiciliary non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) due to chronic respiratory failure (CRF) can reduce hospital admissions. We assessed C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as indicators of infection/inflammation.Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study, and was performed in 2016 in an intensive care unit outpatient clinic in patients using NIMV. Patients who came to the outpatient clinic with dyspnea, increased sputum, increased prothrombin, and who had hemogram, procalcitonin, and serum CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV levels assessed, were enrolled into the study. Demographic characteristics, co-morbid diseases, respiratory symptoms, hemogram, biochemistry, CRP, and procalcitonin values in stable and acute attack patients were recorded from patient files. The descriptive statistics and CRP, NLR, and procalcitonin values were assessed.Results: During the study period, 49 patients (24 female) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, n = 24), obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS, n = 15), or interstitial lung disease, n = 10), and having had three inflammatory markers assessed, were included in the study. Their mean age was 67 (SD ± 12). Stable patients vs. those who had an acute attack was 41 vs. eight, and within 7 days of outpatient admission four patients were hospitalized. CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV values were similar in patients' who had sputum purulence, and an increase in dyspnea and sputum, but procalcitonin was significantly higher in patients who had an acute attack. Procalcitonin was not correlated with CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV.Conclusions: Patients with CRF had similar levels of CRP and NLR during a stable and acute attack state. Procalcitonin may be a better marker for therapeutic decisions in advanced chronic inflammatory diseases

Visual and software-based quantitative chest CT assessment of COVID-19: correlation with clinical findings

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate visual and software-based quantitative assessment of parenchymal changes and normal lung parenchyma in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. The secondary aim of the study was to compare the radiologic findings with clinical and laboratory data.MethodsPatients with COVID-19 who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) between March 11, 2020 and April 15, 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical and laboratory findings of patients with abnormal findings on chest CT and PCR-evidence of COVID-19 infection were recorded. Visual quantitative assessment score (VQAS) was performed according to the extent of lung opacities. Software-based quantitative assessment of the normal lung parenchyma percentage (SQNLP) was automatically quantified by a deep learning software. The presence of consolidation and crazy paving pattern (CPP) was also recorded. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between quantitative radiologic assessments, and clinical and laboratory findings, as well as to determine the predictive utility of radiologic findings for estimating severe pneumonia and admission to intensive care unit (ICU).ResultsA total of 90 patients were enrolled. Both VQAS and SQNLP were significantly correlated with multiple clinical parameters. While VQAS >8.5 (sensitivity, 84.2%; specificity, 80.3%) and SQNLP 9.5 (sensitivity, 93.3%; specificity, 86.5%) and SQNLP <81.1% (sensitivity, 86.5%; specificity, 86.7%) were predictive of ICU admission. Both consolidation and CPP were more commonly seen in patients with severe pneumonia than patients with nonsevere pneumonia (P = 0.197 for consolidation; P < 0.001 for CPP). Moreover, the presence of CPP showed high specificity (97.2%) for severe pneumonia.ConclusionBoth SQNLP and VQAS were significantly related to the clinical findings, highlighting their clinical utility in predicting severe pneumonia, ICU admission, length of hospital stay, and management of the disease. On the other hand, presence of CPP has high specificity for severe COVID-19 pneumonia

Etkili sosyobilimsel konular öğretimi pratiklerinin eğitim tasarım araştırması ile geliştirlmesi.

The main purpose of this study was to develop pre-service science teachers’ (PSTs) effective socioscientific issues (SSI) teaching practices with technology by activating their metacognition. For this purpose, educational design research was utilized to re-design an undergraduate course. Re-designed course was implemented in the fall semester of 2014-2015 with 36 participants. In light of the results of the data obtained in the first implementation, expert reviews and the related literature, the design of the course was revised and the course was implemented in the fall semester of 2015-2016 with 44 participants. In order to collect data, lesson plans, video-recording of teachings, video-stimulated recall interviews, reflection papers and post-teaching structured interviews were utilized. The analysis of the data provided information about the nature of PSTs’ SSI teaching practices with technology and the nature of their metacognition as well as the effectiveness of the course. The results indicated an increase in the awareness of PSTs’ about four areas of pedagogical importance central to the teaching of SSI: (1) nature of science issues, (2) classroom discourse issues, (3) cultural issues, and (4) case-based issues. The results also showed that PSTs who were engaged in productive metacognitive thoughts prepared better lesson plans in their individual lesson plans. Moreover, the groups, whose members’ monitoring and regulation skills were good, enacted their lesson plans effectively. Moreover, the evolution of design principles throughout the study was also explained. At the end of the study, fourteen final design principles were explicated and their effectiveness was discussed to guide further design attempts.Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

Investigating pre-service science teachers' perceived technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) regarding genetics

Background Understanding pre-service science teachers' (PSTs) perceived knowledge on a subject and teaching that subject is important to better prepare these teachers for their future career. Purpose In this study, PSTs' perceived Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) on genetics and the contribution of the dimensions of perceived TPACK on PSTs' subject matter knowledge of genetics were investigated. Moreover, the differences in the perceived TPACK with regard to gender and grade level were examined further. Sample 1530 PSTs from eight public universities located in Central Anatolia in Turkey participated to the study. Design and methods Perceived TPACK on Genetics Questionnaire (MaKinster, Boone, and Trautmann 2010) and Test of Basic Genetic Concepts (Sadler and Zeidler 2005) were used. Regarding perceived TPACK eight sub-dimensions were emerged, namely; Educational Technology Knowledge (ETK), Genetic Technology Knowledge (GTK), Project Specific Technology Knowledge (PSTK), Content Knowledge (CK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), and TPACK. Descriptive analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and MANOVA analyses were conducted to provide answers to research questions. Design and methods The students were surveyed before and after the program using open-ended and Likert scale items, and were asked to complete a nuclear science version of the Draw-A-Scientist-Test. Results The participants' mean value of total TPACK is 4.15 out of 6. Pre-service science teachers perceived themselves most knowledgeable on PK and least knowledgeable on PSTK dimensions. The content-related perceived TPACK dimensions significantly contributed to PSTs' subject matter knowledge of genetics. The mean scores of male and female PSTs were found significantly different in PSTK, PK, PCK, TCK and TPACK dimension. ETK, GTK, PSTK, and CK scores of participants were also found to be significantly different with regard to grade level. Conclusions This study provided descriptive information about PSTs' levels of TPACK. Moreover, this study also showed the contribution of content-related perceived TPACK dimensions on subject matter knowledge of genetics. This study showed that female PSTs and PSTs, who took courses in which science, technology, and pedagogy are taken as an integrated manner, had better perceived TPACK. We can conclude that PSTs' perceived TPACK knowledge is situated in a particular subject matter area. Therefore, instead of seeking for TPACK in a general domain, focusing on specific subject matter areas can give us more insight into the nature of the TPACK and better development of PSTs' TPACK