Becoming a Highly Effective Elementary Teacher and How to Support Teachers\u27 Development

As teachers enter the field of teaching, teachers look to continue to develop in order to become highly effective teachers as they are often less effective than teachers with at least some experience (Boyd et al., 2008; Ladd & Sorenson, 2017). This development may occur through the support of mentors, administration, professional development (PD), as well as through trial and error, with the most development occurring during the first several years of teaching (Koedel & Betts, 2007; Rice, 2003). However, not all teachers develop into effective teachers. Some aspects that may affect a teacher’s effectiveness are the classroom environment, instruction, and pedagogy, which then may affect student engagement and achievement based on if they are effective or ineffective (Stronge, 2018). Though having a positive impact on student engagement in the classroom is essential, others have gone further to state effective teachers do much more (Roehrig et al., 2012). More recently, along with observations of teachers, the use of value-added scores linked student achievement to teacher effectiveness (Goe, 2007). However, this approach to evaluating teachers is controversial, especially among teachers (Papay, 2011; Pressley et al., 2018; Rothstein, 2009). Because of the difference between highly effective teachers and others, it is important to understand how highly effective teachers have had success within the classroom. The purpose of this study was to provide insight into the development of a highly effective teacher. The researchers looked to answer the following research questions: 1) What behaviors are new and developing teachers doing that make them less effective teachers? 2) How can schools support new and developing teachers to develop into highly effective teachers? and 3) How do new, developing, and highly effective teachers approach professional development to improve teaching

An online intervention for 18–25-year-old youth whose parents have a mental illness and/or substance use disorder : A pilot randomized controlled trial

Aim Young adults aged 18–25 whose parents have a mental illness or substance use problem can be vulnerable to multiple difficulties in adulthood. There are, however, few available interventions designed for this group. This study evaluated a 6 week online intervention (mi. spot; mental illness: supported, preventative, online, targeted) specifically designed for this population. The intervention aims to improve mental health and wellbeing. Methods Forty-one young people, recruited from the community, participated in a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial where participants were randomized to mi. spot (n = 22) or a wait list control group (n = 19). They were assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at six weeks post intervention with measures covering depression, anxiety and stress, wellbeing, coping, general self-efficacy, help seeking and social connectedness. Results Intervention participants reported significantly improved psychological wellbeing, coping, general self-efficacy, and a reduction in anxiety. Participants in the control group reported significant improvements in emotional wellbeing and help seeking and a reduction in self-blame. Conclusion This pilot controlled trial supported previous findings and shows preliminary evidence that mi.spot is effective for young adults who grew up with parents who have a mental illness or substance use problem. A large-scale, randomized controlled trial with a diverse group of young people is needed

Integration of environment and nutrition in life cycle assessment of food items: opportunities and challenges

This report is the outcome of a consensus-building project to agree on best practices for environmental and nutritional Life Cycle Assessment (nLCA) methodology, and identify future research needs. The project involved 30 nutritional and environmental LCA researchers from 18 countries. It focused on the assessment of food items (as opposed to meals or diets).Best practice recommendations were developed to address the intended purpose of an LCA study and related modeling approach, choice of an appropriate functional unit, assessment of nutritional value, and reporting nLCA results. An nLCA study should report the quantities of as many essential nutrients as possible and aim to provide information on the nutritional quality and/or health impacts in addition to nutrient quantities. Outstanding issues requiring further research attention include: defining a minimum number of nutrients to be considered in an nLCA study; treatment of nutrients to limit; use of nutrient indexes; further development of Impact Assessment methods; representation of nutritional changes that may occur during subsequent distribution and food preparation in cradle-to-gate nLCA studies; and communication of data uncertainty and variability. More data are required for different regions (particularly developing countries); for the processing, distribution, retail, and consumption life cycle stages; and for food loss and waste. Finally, there is a need to extend nLCA methodology for the assessment of meals and diets, to consider further how to account for the multi-functionality of food in a sustainability framework, and to set nLCA studies within the context of environmental limits.These results provide a robust basis for improving nLCA methodology and applying it to identify solutions that minimize the trade-offs between nourishing populations and safeguarding the environment

Nurses' experiences of recruitment and migration from developing countries: a phenomenological approach

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Successful large system change: at what cost?

This paper analyses a case study of the re-organization of a regional orthopaedic service. The purpose of the research was to demonstrate the utility of a model of large system change through a retrospective analysis of how the re-organization was planned, managed and implemented. The theoretical framework for the retrospective analysis of the case was the Coghlan and McAuliffe (2003) model of large system change. Documentary analysis allowed an understanding of the steps taken in the change process. Semi-structured interviews were retrospectively conducted with key stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of the change process. The Coghlan and McAuliffe model of large system change provided a very good structure for this retrospective analysis of the re-organization of orthopaedic services. It facilitated the exploration of a change that from an external perspective was considered successful. Through this exploration a number of important lessons have been highlighted. The analysis highlights the importance of a systems perspective. Interviewee responses demonstrate how failure to take adequate account of the system's future needs is likely to impact negatively on continuing progress in the orthopaedic services and on future change initiatives within the organization. This paper, through the retrospective analysis of a case study, uses empirical data to demonstrate the utility of a model of large system change. The findings highlight the weaknesses in change models that fail to pay attention to the consolidation and sustainability of change by neglecting the impact of the change on the wider system.sch_die7pub4082pub

The social identity of hospital consultants as managers

This paper aims to explore hospital consultants' social identification, in terms of perceptions of their position in society, the salient targets for their social identification and how this appears to influence their perceptions of management activities and change. A purposeful sample of 15 hospital consultants from a wide range of specialities and work locations in Ireland were recruited. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were undertaken and thematic analysis was used to interpret the interview data. The paper finds that all interviewees perceived public attitudes towards hospital consultants, as a group, to be negative. Twelve interviewees derived most sense of belonging from group membership within their immediate work area. These groups seemed to represent sources of validation and esteem and enabled consultants to exercise control over their work. Many consultants, however, described a sense of detachment from their employing health boards. Management, as a salient target for social group identification, was perceived as associated with powerlessness and lack of respect. Interviewees generally viewed involvement in management with little enthusiasm and considerable caution. This paper shows that management approaches to hospital consultants could benefit from awareness that their social identity may already be under threat. Assaults on core professional values in the communication surrounding change are likely to provoke resistance. Existing work groups, with which consultants identify, could serve as a less threatening means to engage them with issues of cost and quality than externally imposed structures. This paper informs ways in which hospital consultants could be more successfully involved in health service management.sch_die24pub4079pub