A Qualitative Study of the Process Undergraduate Health Professions Students Utilize while Conducting a Scoping Review

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to inform pedagogy on the effectiveness of journaling as a tool to gauge synthesis and application of course content to a scoping review. The research question asked is “Is reflective journaling effective in helping undergraduate health profession students understand and apply course research concepts and ideas directly to an academic project?” The researchers used a reflective journaling activity to enhance student learning and to explore student application of course lectures to a scoping literature review. Method: Students were required to complete the journaling activities as a class assignment. Four journal entries were aimed at understanding student application of steps of scoping review and how students applied course content to a specific project; a final journal entry was reflective on lessons learned through the process. Results: Student journal entries provided detail on synthesis and application of course lectures to a student specific scoping literature review. Students identified challenges experienced such as trouble in finding literature; selecting and using the most appropriate keywords; lack of evidence-based, discipline specific research; finding recent research (i.e., within the last 10 years); and narrowing the topic to a manageable size. Successes include demonstrating student understanding of areas such as writing the research question and collaboration. As the project progressed, concerns shifted to writing barriers, team issues, the “choppiness” of writing with multiple authors, and organizing the flow of the paper. In the final journal entry, students reported that the project helped them learn how to apply research to practice, increased their skill and comfort in presenting research and education to others, and improved their skills in doing more effective literature searches and using keywords. Course lectures were adapted based on student journal entries to increase student comprehension and application, which were effective in improving student work as the project progressed. Conclusions: The student journal entries were effective in demonstrating their learning and application of course content to a specific project. Students benefitted from the opportunity to reflect on their process, problems, and strategies. For the instructor, journal entries provided an opportunity to see where students were at in the process, identified barriers, and allowed adaptations to instruction to provide feedback or further guidance. Other findings from this study reinforced previous studies on journaling outside of health professions, such as the value of having direct access to the librarian for guidance, the opportunity journaling provides for in-the-moment lessons and learning from students’ reflections, and that journaling activities provide for accountability with timely completion of assignments

Children\u27s mathematical thinking in different classroom cultures

The relationship between normative patterns of social interaction and children\u27s mathematical thinking was investigated in 5 classes (4 reform and 1 conventional) of 7- to 8-year-olds. In earlier studies, lessons from these classes had been analyzed for the nature of interaction broadly defined; the results indicated the existence of 4 types of classroom cultures (conventional textbook, conventional problem solving, strategy reporting, and inquiry/argument). In the current study, 42 lessons from this data resource were analyzed for children\u27s mathematical thinking as verbalized in class discussions and for interaction patterns. These analyses were then combined to explore the relationship between interaction types and&nbsp; expressed mathematical thinking. The results suggest that increased complexity in children\u27s expressed mathematical thinking was closely related to the types of interaction patterns that differentiated class discussions among the 4 classroom cultures.<br /

Law Firms as Defendants: Family Responsibilities Discrimination in Legal Workplaces

This article analyzes how the growing trend of litigation alleging employment discrimination based on workers\u27 family caregiving responsibilities applies to law firms and other legal employers. Our research has found at least thirty-three cases since 1990 in which employees of law firms or other legal employers--both attorneys and support staff--have sued their employers for family responsibilities discrimination (“FRD”). FRD is discrimination against employees based on their family caregiving responsibilities for newborns, young children, elderly parents, or ill spouses or partners. Here we analyze these cases, including the employee experiences that have prompted litigation and the legal theories on which the lawsuits are based. We conclude with strategies designed to help law firms respond proactively to the potential risks posed by FRD. Our research indicates that family responsibilities discrimination has become a risk management issue for all employers. For a variety of reasons discussed in this article--most notably, the structure and culture of law firms that has been based on traditionally masculine norms and life patterns--legal employers may be particularly susceptible to FRD liability

Law Firms as Defendants: Family Responsibilities Discrimination in Legal Workplaces

This article analyzes how the growing trend of litigation alleging employment discrimination based on workers\u27 family caregiving responsibilities applies to law firms and other legal employers. Our research has found at least thirty-three cases since 1990 in which employees of law firms or other legal employers--both attorneys and support staff--have sued their employers for family responsibilities discrimination (“FRD”). FRD is discrimination against employees based on their family caregiving responsibilities for newborns, young children, elderly parents, or ill spouses or partners. Here we analyze these cases, including the employee experiences that have prompted litigation and the legal theories on which the lawsuits are based. We conclude with strategies designed to help law firms respond proactively to the potential risks posed by FRD. Our research indicates that family responsibilities discrimination has become a risk management issue for all employers. For a variety of reasons discussed in this article--most notably, the structure and culture of law firms that has been based on traditionally masculine norms and life patterns--legal employers may be particularly susceptible to FRD liability

Preliminary Results: Effects of Fertilization, Herbicide Application, and Prescribed Burning on Understory Regeneration on Pine Plantations in East Texas

Biodiversity and species rareness are increasingly the focal points for assessment of habitat quality. Managed pine plantations are often viewed as monocultures with little of value beyond their timber crop. The purpose of this study is to assess vegetative biodiversity in the understory of two pine plantations in which different vegetative control mechanisms are being evaluated. Controlled burn, herbicide treatment, and a combination of both are being compared on fertilized and unfertilized plots on two loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in east Texas. This study will compare species diversity and frequency on untreated and treated plots. One-square meter quadrat samples will be evaluated from 0.04 ha sampling plots within 0.1 ha treatment plots. Species richness will be determined as the number of species in each treatment plot. Shannon Index of Heterogeneity will be determined for each treatment. Comparison of different treatments will be made based on species richness and the Shannon diversity indices. Results for the first growth season after treatment will be presented