Perspectives on British expatriate science teachers in a Caribbean context

In this article, I report on the findings of a qualitative critical analysis of student, teacher and administrator accounts of the employment of British expatriate science teachers in a given Caribbean context. I utilise the complicity/resistance construct of postcolonial theory as the analytic framework for this inquiry, foregrounding the meanings that research participants attached to the geographic origins of science teachers. These meanings place the expatriate teachers in complicated positions of privilege that elicit certain responses from students, colleagues and the expatriate teachers themselves. I discuss the implications of participant insights that reinforce a call for further postcolonial critique of the employment of Western expatriate teachers in once-colonised settings.peer-reviewe

Self-monitoring Lifestyle Behavior in Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women: Qualitative Findings

Background: Excessive maternal gestational weight gain increases pregnancy and infant complications. Self-monitoring has been shown to be an effective strategy in weight management. Literature, however, is limited in describing pregnant women’s engagement in self-monitoring. Aim: This qualitative study explored the experiences of overweight and obese pregnant women who self-monitored their eating, walking, and weight as participants in an intervention for excessive gestational weight gain prevention. Methods: Thirteen overweight and obese pregnant women participated in semistructured interviews. Reflexive iteration data analysis was conducted. Findings: Five themes were identified: making self-monitoring a habit, strategies for self-monitoring, barriers to self-monitoring, benefits of self-monitoring, and drawbacks of self-monitoring. The women viewed self-monitoring as a “habit” that could foster a sense of self-control and mindfulness. Visual or tracing aids were used to maintain the self-monitoring habit. Forgetting, defective tracking aids, complexities of food monitoring, and life events could impede self-monitoring. Being unable to keep up with self-monitoring or to achieve goals created stress. Conclusions: Self-monitoring is a promising approach to weight management for overweight and obese pregnant women. However, healthcare providers should be aware that, although women may identify several benefits to self-monitoring, for some women, consistently trying to track their behaviors is stressful

Concurrent Session, Prescription for Success: Using ePortfolio to Job Prep Non-traditional Students

This session will describe the Prescription for Success program; a model to integrate three high impact strategies. Using ePortfolio, the program encompasses Writing across the Curriculum and Service Learning in a community college. The overall goal is to improve students\u27 information literacy, technology and writing skills in a pre-licensure associate degree program. Focused on making student learning visible, the program has developed a multilayered, multipronged approach to enhance student learning and prepare them to compete in the 21st century job market. This presentation will provide an overview of the integrative curriculum with both student and faculty workshops