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

Great War, White Goddess, and Translation as Catharsis: A Study of Robert Graves and Ted Hughes

The First World War played a critical role in shaping the poetic consciousness of both Robert Graves and Ted Hughes. The combat trauma from which Graves suffered following his front line service confronted him with ‘baffling emotional problems’ on which the ‘pathology of poetic composition relied’, a mental conflict that–following the advice of W. H. R. Rivers–he repeatedly attempted to ‘write out’. For Hughes, whose father returned from Gallipoli profoundly shell shocked, the war was Britain’s ‘number one national ghost’, a phantom that he tried desperately to exorcise through his poetry. Yet although critics including D. N. G. Carter and Keith Sagar have utilised trauma theory to produce psychological readings of Graves’s and Hughes’s poetry that locate them as sites of catharsis, the field of modern literary studies has yet to scrutinise the theoretical relationships articulated in the poets’ interpretations of classical texts, such as Graves’s rendering of Homer’s Iliad and Hughes’s translation of Seneca’s Oedipus. Does the medium of classical translation offer, in any unique way, an opportunity for catharsis? How do the poets’ experiences of combat-related trauma affect the transmission of these classical texts? Profoundly interdisciplinary, this project attempts to answer these questions while remaining centrally cognisant of Graves’s mythopoetical influence on Hughes’s oeuvre. Throughout this thesis, I examine the extent to which the mythopoetical framework proposed by Graves in The White Goddess, a text shaped by the freight of Graves’s war experience, was embraced by Hughes, whose own formative years were dominated by the narrative of the First World War. The relationship between traumatic experience and the poets’ shamanic approach to translation is delineated and tested within this discourse: their idolatrous adherence to–and in Hughes’s case, fear of–the primacy of an archetypal matriarchal force, and their attempts to access the primitive nature of myth by stripping it of its patriarchal palimpsests of scholarship, are revealed as literary manifestations of a struggle to apprehend the meaning of their respective combat-related traumas, both direct and secondary, which remain ineluctably disrupted

Trainee Teachers' Experience of Reflection: Personal and social constructions of experience

The research on which this thesis draws investigated trainee teachers' experience of reflection whilst undertaking Certificate in Education or Post-graduate Certificate in Education programmes for the Post-Compulsory sector. It was based on a sequential, mixed methods design, employing a structured questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. During the first stage of data collection, a sample of 127 trainee teachers completed a questionnaire about their experience of reflection and keeping a reflective journal. Findings indicated that the majority of trainees had a clear understanding of reflection and how it contributed to the development of their professional practice. A minority were less certain about the nature of reflective learning and its application to professional development. Most expressed agreement that keeping a reflective journal supported their professional learning. However, a substantial minority indicated difficulties with journal writing. In the second stage of data collection, interview findings of 15 trainee teachers broadly supported the questionnaire findings about trainees' understanding of the purpose of reflection and its perceived value. However, analysis of the interview data indicated that there were individual differences in engagement with reflection, leading to some trainees experiencing difficulties, particularly with journal writing. The thesis argues that reflective learning for professional development involves a personal-social dimension in trainees' mode of engagement and this is related to personal and social constructions of experience. The thesis questions the use of the metaphor of 'reflection', arguing that the multiple reflections and changing images in a kaleidoscope offer a better analogy. The thesis proposes a theoretical model to integrate the content and process aspects of reflection, evident in previous models and typologies. This re-conceptualisation forms the basis for a practical application, the PERHAPS? model, which incorporates process and content and acknowledges different modes of engagement with reflection

Volatile Profiles and Resistance to Herbivory in Eastern Hemlock

Eastern hemlock hosts the hemlock woolly adelgid, an introduced sap-feeding insect that causes rapid deterioration of the host. Like most conifers, eastern hemlock produces a variety of constitutive and induced defenses, primarily terpenoids. To explore the relationship of terpenoid defenses with adelgid infestations, we artificially infested hemlocks at a forest site and a plantation site, and compared their terpenoid concentrations to those in control trees. Infested trees showed lower terpenoid concentrations than control trees, suggesting that eastern hemlock not only fails to induce production of terpenoids in response to adelgid infestation, but becomes less able to produce carbon-based defenses due to loss of carbon resources to the adelgid. Greater light intensity may account for consistently higher terpenoid concentrations at the plantation site, supporting the explanation that carbon limitation restricts terpenoid production. Recent studies have identified a small number of individual eastern hemlock trees that demonstrate relative resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid. We compared concentrations of terpenoids in susceptible and relatively resistant trees, both in the forest and in propagated cuttings in a common-garden setting. Terpenoid concentrations were higher in twig tissue of resistant versus susceptible trees, across six sampling dates and at both sites. Because the common-garden cuttings were free of herbivores, the higher terpenoid concentrations are interpreted as a constitutive defense. Increased levels of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes imply an overall increase in the input of carbon precursors to both terpenoid synthesis pathways. This result suggests either an altered growth-defense balance favoring allocation of carbon resources towards production of defenses, or overall greater carbon availability in growing twig tissue of adelgid-resistant eastern hemlock individuals. We contribute detailed terpenoid data to the study of the eastern hemlock – hemlock woolly adelgid system. Our solvent extraction method permits us to examine needle and twig tissues separately, capture minor components at low concentrations, and focus on stored rather than volatilized terpenoids. By relating terpenoid concentrations to insect densities, we explore the relationships of tentatively defensive chemistry to insect population dynamics. The question remains which terpenoids, if any, directly affect hemlock woolly adelgid and what role phenols may play in the system

Time is of the essence: Social theory of time and its implications for LIS research

Abstract: “Time,” like “information,” is a concept that has received a great deal of attention in some disciplines and is ignored or taken for granted in others. Traditional studies of information seeking have focussed on spatial issues – primarily, locating/ location of sources – to the neglect of temporal issues. This paper proposes that the social constructivist theoretical paradigm recently adopted by LIS researchers demands recognition of social time; that is, not absolute time, but another type of meaning constructed between people through their interactions. Attending to social concepts of time can have important implications for research into organizational and individual information behaviour. Information practices in organizations and work groups within organizations cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the multitude of times that exist within such groups. Studies of workplace information practices focus variously on organizations, project teams, task forces, crews, departments, etc. Each group has a different temporal existence based on its practices. For example, organizations, departments and communities imply longevity as well as duration. We describe a developing study of information practices in a limited-duration work group. Traditional studies of information seeking often consider individuals’ descriptions of their information seeking behaviour as transparent representations of underlying cognitive processes. A constructivist stance permits an analysis of the ways that accounts of information seeking can take discursive action: the ways that such accounts are structured and the ways they may be used to make claims about individuals’ general behaviour or competence, and to prescribe or proscribe certain sets of activities. The concept of “time” may then be used as a discursive resource by individuals in a social interaction. We report findings from a study of the ways that information seekers may use various representations of “time” in justifying certain kinds of information seeking behaviour

Universal design for learning in inclusive education policy in South Africa

Background: South Africa has undertaken the implementation of inclusive education as a vehicle for achieving enhanced educational outcomes and equity. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an instructional design framework that takes into account the wide range of variations in skills and abilities that exist across all learners, and provides a research-based set of principles and guidelines for inclusive curriculum development and delivery. Objectives: To locate UDL within the specific inclusive education policy context of South Africa and consider how this approach can support policy implementation. We have argued that UDL could serve as a strategy to link policy imperatives with classroom practice, enabling effective communication between the different actors. Method: We reviewed fundamental inclusive education policies in South Africa and research relating to their implementation, and how they configure support and curriculum differentiation. We then compared this understanding with that proposed by UDL and considered what could be gained in adopting a UDL framework. Results: We noted that UDL has several advantages in that it allows for a common language between education stakeholders and gives new meaning to the interpretation of levels of support. Conclusion: The implementation of inclusive education in South Africa could be enhanced by introducing the concepts of UDL into policy, research and teaching practice as a common language and vehicle for packaging support systems

Methodological Strategies for Studying Documentary Planning Work.

This paper reports on the pilot testing of data collection strategies for a study of the complex and idiosyncratic document work involved in everyday life planning and time management. We describe two iterations of two data collection strategies, in-depth semi-structured interviews and photography of individual documents and document collections. Cette communication prente un projet pilote de straties de collecte de donns pour l\u27ude du travail documentaire complexe et idiosyncratique nessaire la planification et la gestion du temps au quotidien. Seront prents deux itations de deux straties de collecte de donns : les entrevues en profondeur semi-structurs et la photographie de documents individuels et de collections de documents

Developing market-oriented and value-added products for Irish seafood SMEs

The fisheries sector in Ireland is worth approximately €1.15 billion a year and is characterised by a high proportion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A strong market orientation and a consumer driven new product development (NPD) process are critical NPD success factors. Successful NPD requires knowledge exchange between the food related organisations, supply chain partners and the consumer. The Irish seafood industry lacks a market-oriented approach to its NPD activities. The Irish seafood industry is not in a position to capitalise on global trends as there are too many SMEs working in isolation. As a result, there is a lack of coordination and cooperation between supplier, producers and a lack of connection with the consumer and customer. This study aims to examine the use of consumer insights in the development by SMEs, of more sustainable and value-added, new seafood product concepts. Including products with unfamiliar ingredients, this process aims to increase consumer acceptance. The methodology employed was both qualitative and quantitative. Interviews with seafood SMEs and focus groups, conjoint questionnaire and sensory acceptability testing with consumers of seafood were utilised. The interviews conducted with Irish seafood related SMEs suggest that innovation and data collection is occurring, however, it is not being captured and utilised correctly in order to ensure successful product development and ultimately competitive advantage. If this innovation, data and other information gathered is managed correctly, in a formal process, then there is a significant opportunity for Irish seafood SMEs to capitalise on the value-added market. This research highlights appropriate methods of gathering and managing customer insights during the NPD process, specifically the initial stages and applying it to the development of a seafood concept that uses a species of fish, which is currently unavailable on the Irish market, and unfamiliar to consumers i.e. boarfish, via advanced concept optimisation research techniques. These insights through conjoint analysis allowed for the analysis of the products attributes and provided an insightful understanding of customer`s choice motives, which assists organisations in the process of market segmentation and new product design of new seafood products. The research revealed that consumer integration techniques which include the consumer at the early stages of the NPD process can increase consumer acceptance of new seafood products; including those that contain unfamiliar ingredients without a significant strain on the resources of SMEs

A qualitative study exploring the experiences of access and pathways to health care among BME community groups residing in Ayrshire

A review of the literature showed that Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities carry a disproportionately higher burden of illness than the general population and experience greater inequalities in health and health care provision. A growing body of research confirms that BME groups are under-represented in research. The main objective of the present study was to gain insights into the perspectives of BME community groups' experiences of accessing general and sexual health care services in Ayrshire. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 participants, n = 5 men (age range: 32-65; mean age = 52.4 years), and n = 6 women (age range: 27-60; mean age = 47.67 years). Data were analysed employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis is illustrated through the use of four super-ordinate themes: ‘It’s a Trust Thing’, ‘Minding the Gap(s)’, ‘Sexual Health: a Culture of Silence’, and ‘Personal Perception of Risk’. The findings both support and add to the existing trust literature by presenting a heuristic model of trust, and by showing that participants trust is dynamic in character, has a role, and serves various roles and functions that impact decisions about accessing health services. Significant gaps in knowledge about available health services and unique communication challenges that prevent full access to health care and health promotion information were found, resulting in unmet needs. Analysis charted culturally driven factors that prohibit discussions about sexual health concerns and found complex cognitions involved in the personal perception of risk that was meaningfully understood by participants that direct towards understanding risk in terms of a heuristic model. The implications for clinical practice, health promotion, health service development, and the direction of future research will be discussed.awd_pdtunpub2619_ethesesunpu