Teachers and Teacher Candidates Learning Together: Reported Ideas Regarding a Co-Teaching Model

A recurring issue in science teacher education is how to support teachers using student-centred scientific inquiry projects. This study investigates the first year of a three-year project (Inquire Together) that aims to support teacher candidate/teacher mentor teams using student-centred scientific inquiry projects while co-teaching during practicum. Co-teaching involves two or more teachers working together, co-planning, co-instructing and co-reflecting, for the benefit of students and to support each other’s development as teachers. The steps in the first year of the Inquiry Together project involved the following: a) developing a co-teaching model for our practicum in a two-day workshop, follow up focus groups and interviews; b) modelling student-centred scientific inquiry opportunities for teacher candidates and teachers; and c) supporting two teacher candidate/teacher mentor co-teaching teams implementing this pedagogy with practicum classes. The Covid-19 pandemic led to co-teaching teams moving to online teaching part-way through practicum, and students continuing their projects at home. We used a case study approach to investigate the affordances and constraints of Inquire Together for supporting teachers using student-centred scientific inquiry projects. Data included video and audio recordings of the workshop, focus groups, interviews, co-teacher planning meetings, high school classes and co-teacher reflection meetings, as well as co-teachers’ unit and lesson plans and online communication. Our initial findings from thematic analysis indicate the importance of the following five elements: time together for co-teaching teams outside the classroom (for planning and reflection); co-teachers developing mutual understanding; making equity between co-teachers visible for students; communication; and both teachers’ engagement in all activities

Interpretive phenomenologic study of diabetes beliefs and practices among first generation Asian Indians in the US

Purpose: In the United States one in six Asian Indians (AI) is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the prevalence of diabetes in AI (between ages 45-79) in the San Francisco Bay Area is 29%. Although culturally distinct issues have been anticipated, only a few studies have examined AI beliefs and practices regarding diabetes. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand cultural commonalities and differences in illness management in AIs. Aims of this study were to describe: 1) Beliefs about causal factors and diabetes management 2) Daily challenges and supports encountered in managing type 2 diabetes; 3) Culturally specific practices (religious, dietary and physical activity) that affected type 2 diabetes; 4) Commonalities and differences by gender differences that impacted type 2 diabetes. The overall goal was to provide an interpretive account of the daily activities, challenges and barriers faced by AI in managing their diabetes in their everyday lives. Approach: Interpretive phenomenology (IP) guided the research design and analysis. In-depth narrative and explanatory data about health beliefs and practices was gathered through open–ended interviews. A convenience sample of 12 adult participants (50% female) between the ages of 40-79 who self-identified as first generation AI, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, low income with average duration of U.S. residency of 20 years were recruited via public announcements and in person presentations at Sikh Temples. Each participant was interviewed twice in English or Punjabi to learn illness understandings including cause, culturally specific practices, supports and barriers to illness management. Results: The high prevalence of diabetes in the AI community led participants to express a sense of inevitability for developing the disease. Participants uniformly suggested that social and environmental causes outweighed hereditary or biological causes for their diabetes although beliefs were gender-specific. Female participants named stressors that disrupted family harmony and overwhelming family responsibility, and a lack of quality communication with their physicians as contributing to their diabetes. Male participants suggested that employment stresses and poor diet were causal. Diabetes management was complicated by dietary, cultural and social practices. Lack of knowledge, poor access to medical care and immigration further hindered diabetes control.Conclusion: Efforts in prevention and community outreach programs are needed as the AI population increases in the United States. Public health initiatives that increase early screening and awareness of diabetes may improve diabetes and its complications in the AI community. Culturally specific diabetes prevention programs for AI, assistance in managing social and environmental contributors to diabetes must be addressed alongside lifestyle (diet and exercise) changes

Perception, burden and satisfaction of parents of children attending online classes during COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional survey

Introduction: Coronavirus has spread havoc globally, resulting in the closure of all sectors including education. Therefore, to continue a child's learning, the government started online classes from home by involving parents. This new learning method might be hectic and challenging for parents; therefore, this study aimed to assess the perception, burden, and satisfaction of parents of children attending online classes. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in three schools of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. A total of 220 parents of children attending online classes and studying between first and fifth standard responded voluntarily. Google Form was used to assess perception, burden, and satisfaction regarding online classes and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean age of parents was 34.1 ± 5 years, and most of the respondents were mothers. Out of 220 parents, 52% showed negative perception, 42% experienced moderate to severe burden, and 51% were highly satisfied with the online classes during COVID-19 lockdown. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between perception andsatisfaction of parents (P = 0.000, r = 0.616 *). Parental role and preferred teaching method had a significant association with parental perception (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The app used and preferred teaching method during the pandemic had a significant association with parental satisfaction regarding online classes (p < 0.01, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Parents had negative perception and experienced moderate to severe burden concerning online classes. At the same time, they were highly satisfied with achieving educational objectives to some extent during the COVID-19 pandemic

Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is Associated with Glycaemia Status in South Asian Men and Women in the United States.

AimsTo examine the association between glycaemia status and the risk for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in a cohort of South Asians living in the United States.MethodsA secondary analysis of a community based cohort of 899 participants from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study. The Berlin Questionnaire was used to screen for OSA.ResultsAlmost one in four (24%) South Asians was at high risk for OSA. Compared to the normal glucose tolerance group (18%), high risk of OSA was significantly more likely in the prediabetes (24%) and diabetes (32%) groups (p = .007). More men (28%) than women (18%) were at high risk of OSA. Risk for OSA was also associated with higher haemoglobin A1c values, hypertension, large waist circumference, and BMI &gt; 27.5 kg/m2. In a multivariate regression analysis, sleep disordered breathing (SDB) remained significantly associated with higher haemoglobin A1c values, even after controlling for waist circumference and other demographic and clinical factors.ConclusionsThe risk for SDB and OSA was high among South Asian men and women. Given the association between dysglycaemia and risk for OSA, these health issues require simultaneous clinical assessment. Future studies using objective sleep measures such as polysomnography are warranted in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA in the South Asian adult population already at high risk for dysglycaemia

Obstructive sleep apnea risk and subclinical atherosclerosis in South Asians living in the United States

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine the association between high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and subclinical atherosclerosis among South Asians in the United States.DesignA secondary analysis of cross-sectional data.Setting/participantsA community-based cohort of 906 men and women participating in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA)&nbsp;study.MeasurementsThe Berlin Questionnaire was used to screen for OSA risk. Coronary artery calcium (CAC), common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and internal carotid artery IMT were used as measures of subclinical atherosclerosis.ResultsThe majority of participants (59%) with high OSA risk had CAC scores &gt;0 compared with only 41% of participants with low OSA risk (P &lt;.001). The high OSA risk group was older (P =.005), male (P =.04), had higher body mass index (P &lt;.001) and had greater common carotid artery IMT (0.96 ± 0.27 mm) and internal carotid artery IMT (1.33 ± 0.42 mm) measurements. Snoring, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and high OSA risk were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. However, only high OSA risk remained significant in multivariable models&nbsp;after controlling for demographic and clinical factors that included hypertension (HTN), obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.ConclusionsHigh OSA risk, which includes overlapping comorbidities of HTN and obesity, was not associated with the time living in the US&nbsp;but was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis markers. These cardiovascular disease risk factors should include evaluation of the spectrum of SDB among all adults, including South Asian men and women

Abstracts of Scientifica 2022

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at Scientifica 2022, Organized by the Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, India, held on 12–13 March 2022. This conference helps bring researchers together across the globe on one platform to help benefit the young researchers. There were six invited talks from different fields of Physiotherapy and seven panel discussions including over thirty speakers across the globe which made the conference interesting due to the diversity of topics covered during the conference. Conference Title:  Scientifica 2022Conference Date: 12–13 March 2022Conference Location: Sancheti Institute College of PhysiotherapyConference Organizer: Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, Indi