A Survey of Elementary Educators\u27 Self-Efficacy Related to STEM Education

While the call for STEM and engineering design has increased since the release of the Next Generation Science Standards, the implementation of STEM in elementary grades has been slow. A variety of factors play a role in why educators, schools, or districts make the informed decisions they do regarding curriculum and instruction. Identifying strengths and challenges elementary educators face in implementing STEM into the curriculum can guide schools and districts in creating supports for increasing STEM in the elementary grades. This study sought to create and test a survey instrument for use with elementary educators in a large urban district in the southeastern US. The instrument was designed to examine elementary educators’ perceptions regarding STEM education, specifically analyzing how educators feel regarding their own preparation and confidence in teaching STEM. These findings focus on the specific district in question to gain understandings of what is happening in the schools. Analysis of district provided materials, resources available to educators, Professional Development opportunities, as well as honest feedback on challenges and obstacles that educators face are investigated. This study shows a glimpse of what is happening in some elementary schools within this district

Joy L. Johnson and Donna McKenzie in a Joint Junior Voice Recital

This is the program for the joint junior recital of mezzo-soprano Joy L. Johnson and soprano Donna McKenzie. Faron Wilson accompanied on piano; Betty Wesson accompanied McKenzie on flute. The recital took place on October 31, 1980, in the Mabee Fine Arts Center Recital Hall

Critical evaluation of the neoclassical model for the equilibrium electrostatic field in a tokamak

The neoclassical prescription to use an equation of motion to determine the electrostatic field within a tokamak plasma is fraught with difficulties. Herein we examine two popular expressions for the equilibrium electrostatic field so determined and show that one fails to withstand a formal scrutiny thereof while the other fails to respect the vector nature of the diamagnetic current. Reconsideration of the justification for the presence of the equilibrium electrostatic field indicates that no field is needed for a neutral plasma when considering the net bound current defined as the curl of the magnetization. With any shift in the toroidal magnetic flux distribution, a dynamic electric field is generated with both radial and poloidal components, providing an alternate explanation for any measurements thereof.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, moderate revision, final version, edited for length, to appear in MR