Magali’s gift: using arts-based co-production to better represent and understand Colombian women’s experiences of migrating to Chile

Using co-production and animation to explore the personal journeys of women who migrate from Colombia to Chile generates valuable methodological insights and a richer understanding of the process itself, writes Megan Ryburn (LSE Latin America and Caribbean Centre)

The Effect of Organizational Tenure, Bargaining Unit Status, and Union Membership on Local Government Employee Public Service Motivation

Two of the largest challenges public organizations face in motivating their workforces are the aging workforce and the strong union influence (Lavigna, 2014). On June 27, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Janus vs. AFSCME to abolish agency fees, and gave public service employees in bargaining units the right to choose whether they want to pay union dues or pay no fees at all. In examining the unique motivational factors of employees in the public sector, Perry and Wise (1990) developed a theory called Public Service Motivation (PSM). Later, Perry (1996) developed a survey instrument which despite criticism, has persevered as the most widely used measurement instrument for PSM. To study the challenges presented by Lavigna (2014), using the theory of PSM as the overriding framework in light of the recent Janus decision, the purpose of this quantitative survey study of local government employees in a city in New Mexico was to examine the effects of organizational tenure, bargaining unit status, and union membership on the PSM levels of employees. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examined public service employees of a municipal government organization in New Mexico. Using a total population sampling technique, data was collected by issuing Perry’s (1996) PSM survey instrument in addition to five demographic questions and questions pertaining to employees’ bargaining unit status and union membership status, to all 304 employees comprising the population. Data was analyzed using two separate 4x2 factorial ANOVA procedures. Results found that employees in a bargaining unit had significantly lower PSM levels than employees not in a bargaining unit. The ANOVA procedures did not yield significant differences in organizational tenure, bargaining unit status, or union membership status, nor did they yield significant interactional effects between organizational tenure and bargaining unit status or union membership status. Results of this study provide insight into motivational factors of public service employees, and provide implications and recommendations for practice and future research in the fields of human resources management (HRM), human resource development (HRD), and union leadership, with the overall goal of providing the best possible services to citizens

Inter-oceanic divergence and speciation in Carcharhinus plumbeus, Carcharhinus limbatus and Carcharhinus falciformis inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence

Phylogeographic patterns were examined for two species of shark that are circumglobally distributed (Carcharhinus plumbeus and Carcharhinus limbatus), but restricted to coastal waters and a third species (Carcharhinus falciformis) that is circumglobally distributed, but oceanic. Analyses of mitochondrial gene sequences based on parsimony, maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining methods revealed significant genetic variation between ocean basins for all three species suggesting gene flow is restricted between ocean basins. Neither C. plumbeus nor C. limbatus populations were monophyletic. The Atlantic C. plumbeus was more closely related to a different species (C. altimus) than to con-specific members from the Pacific. The Pacific population of C. limbatus showed a similar phylogenetic pattern, being more closely related to two other species (C. tilstoni and C. amblyrhynchoides) than to the Atlantic populations of C. limbatus. Taxonomic implications are discussed in the contexts of these findings

Mentoring practices in family and consumer sciences education: a model for change

Several states have mentoring and induction programs to assist beginning family and consumer sciences (FCS) secondary teachers as they adapt to the rigorous demands of their chosen profession. Though these programs are helpful, many beginning teachers find themselves feeling isolated and overwhelmed with the challenges that they face in the classrooms. There are many indications that beginning FCS teachers are leaving the classroom due to these frustrations and a lack of support, contributing to a shortage of secondary FCS teachers. The primary purpose of this study was to identify existing programs designed to mentor beginning secondary teachers in FCS education. The secondary purpose of this study was to conceptualize a model that can be implemented nationwide for mentoring beginning secondary teachers in FCS education. The samples in this study included FCS state departments of education administrators, FCS teacher educators, a beginning FCS teacher focus group, and a focus group of FCS professionals. The administrators and teacher educators responded to a survey describing mentoring and induction programs that were being used in their states. The beginning teacher focus group described what it was like to be a new FCS secondary teacher. The study revealed that beginning FCS secondary teachers felt isolated from other FCS teachers and frustrated with the large workload and responsibilities. These beginning teachers also suggested that additional assistance with lesson planning, pedagogy, and management techniques would enhance their teaching practices. Participants in this study indicated that a national mentoring model involving the use of technology would further assist beginning secondary FCS teachers. After the data were analyzed, a mentoring model was conceptualized. The model will be presented as a Web site called TeachForever.org

Best Practices in Motivating Student Attendance and Participation

Not-so-new faculty can join the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center for a free lunch and an opportunity to learn best practices in motivating student attendance and participation within the classroom. Tori Ryburn (Instructor, Mathematical Sciences) and Lauren Lambert (Instructor, Communication) will present varied approaches to boost attendance and to engage students. Tori Ryburn brings exceptional insight and is instrumental in designing memorable activities that bring students back for more. She will share these activities and explain the process of designing them. In addition, she will discuss incentives offered to students who participate in the activities. Lauren Lambert works to train, mentor, and support teaching assistants for COMM 1313, Fundamentals of Public Speaking. Her position requires continual evaluation of student needs in the classroom and examination of best teaching practices, to ensure student learning outcomes are maximized. She will bring this insight and experience as she shares strategies to address the ongoing conversation of how to best increase attendance and participation in the classroom. Motivating students to attend class might very well begin with your participation in this luncheon

Best Practices in Motivating Student Attendance and Participation

Not-so-new faculty can join the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center for a free lunch and an opportunity to learn best practices in motivating student attendance and participation within the classroom. Tori Ryburn (Instructor, Mathematical Sciences) and Lauren Lambert (Instructor, Communication) will present varied approaches to boost attendance and to engage students. Tori Ryburn brings exceptional insight and is instrumental in designing memorable activities that bring students back for more. She will share these activities and explain the process of designing them. In addition, she will discuss incentives offered to students who participate in the activities. Lauren Lambert works to train, mentor, and support teaching assistants for COMM 1313, Fundamentals of Public Speaking. Her position requires continual evaluation of student needs in the classroom and examination of best teaching practices, to ensure student learning outcomes are maximized. She will bring this insight and experience as she shares strategies to address the ongoing conversation of how to best increase attendance and participation in the classroom. Motivating students to attend class might very well begin with your participation in this luncheon