Assessment for learning: The missing element for identifying high potential in low income and minority groups

2021 ◽  
pp. 026142942199830
Author(s):  
Joseph S Renzulli
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Dual Language ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Assessment For Learning ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Creative Productivity ◽  
Missing Element

A major controversy facing the field of gifted education is the underrepresentation of low income, minority, and dual language students. Strategies for addressing this challenge have been to use universal screening and local norms; however, these useful recommendations continue to focus on traditional testing procedures that measure what students already know and overlook other important traits that contribute to high levels of creative productivity. Assessment for learning examines traits such as interests, instructional preference styles, preferred modes of expression, and executive function skills. Although sometimes referred as the “soft skills,” they have gained much more attention on the parts of college admission officers and employers, especially for higher level leadership positions. Instruments that assess these traits are often completed by the students themselves; and technology and artificial intelligence now allow us to administer and analyze them with the same ease used for traditional standardized tests.

scholarly journals Lack of fit with the neighbourhood social environment as a risk factor for psychosis – a national cohort study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Peter Schofield ◽  
Jayati Das-Munshi ◽  
Roger T. Webb ◽  
Henriette Thisted Horsdal ◽  
Carsten B. Pedersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Density Effect ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Ethnic Density ◽  
Affective Psychosis ◽  
Lack Of Fit ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
Group Density ◽  
Manual Occupation

Abstract Background Many studies report an ethnic density effect whereby psychosis incidence among ethnic minority groups is higher in low co-ethnic density areas. It is unclear whether an equivalent density effect applies with other types of socioeconomic disadvantages. Methods We followed a population cohort of 2 million native Danes comprising all those born on 1st January 1965, or later, living in Denmark on their 15th birthday. Socioeconomic disadvantage, based on parents' circumstances at age 15 (low income, manual occupation, single parent and unemployed), was measured alongside neighbourhood prevalence of these indices. Results Each indicator was associated with a higher incidence of non-affective psychosis which remained the same, or was slightly reduced, if neighbourhood levels of disadvantage were lower. For example, for individuals from a low-income background there was no difference in incidence for those living in areas where a low-income was least common [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93–1.10 v. those in the quintile where a low income was most common. Typically, differences associated with area-level disadvantage were the same whether or not cohort members had a disadvantaged background; for instance, for those from a manual occupation background, incidence was lower in the quintile where this was least v. most common (IRR 0.83; 95% CI 0.71–0.97), as it was for those from a non-manual background (IRR 0.77; 95% CI 0.67–0.87). Conclusion We found little evidence for group density effects in contrast to previous ethnic density studies. Further research is needed with equivalent investigations in other countries to see if similar patterns are observed.

Environmental Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 363-386
Author(s):  
Barry S. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Social Injustice ◽  
Marginalized Populations ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact

This chapter describes the adverse impact of social injustice on environmental health. Environmental pollution is a social injustice for all people, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries and, within countries, low-income people, minority groups, and other marginalized populations. The chapter describes the evolution of the environmental justice movement and the studies that have demonstrated disproportionate exposures and the disproportionate occurrence of pollution-related diseases among low-income people, minority groups, and other marginalized populations. A separate section describes the environmental and health consequences of global climate change. Three text boxes focus on childhood lead poisoning, the impact of natural disasters on social justice, and on the new interdiscipilinary field of planetary health.

Race and Gender in Culturally Situated Design Tools

2011 ◽  
pp. 1054-1061
Author(s):  
Ron Eglash
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Minority Student ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Design Tools ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Economic Class ◽  
And Gender

In theer study of equity issues in information technology (IT), researchers concerned with workforce diversity often utilize the metaphor of a “career pipeline.” In this metaphor a population full of gender and race diversity enters the pipeline in kindergarten, but its delivery at the pipeline outflow in the form of software engineers and other IT workers is disproportionately white and male. While we might question the metaphor—its lack of attention to economic class or social construction, its illusion of rigid boundaries, etc.—the phenomenon it describes is well established by a broad number of statistical measures. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Surveys shows that between 1996 and 2002 the percentage of women in the overall IT workforce fell from 41% to 34.9%; during the same period the percentage of African Americans fell from 9.1% to 8.2%. Not only are women and certain minority groups under-represented, but the gap is in some cases getting worse. Returning to the pipeline, we might ask what barriers are encountered by women and minorities that act as impediments to this flow. Some of these barriers can be attributed to economic status; in particular the impact that poor educational resources have on low-income minority student academic success (Payne & Biddle, 1999). But other barriers appear to be more about cultural identity, including both race and gender identity. This essay describes Culturally Situated Design Tools (CSDTs), a suite of Web-based interactive applets that allow students and teachers to explore mathematics through the simulation of cultural artifacts, including Native American beadwork, African American cornrows, ancient Mayan temples, urban Graffiti, and Latin percussion rhythms (see http://www.rpi.edu/~eglash/csdt.html). Our preliminary evaluation indicates that some of the identity barriers preventing women and minorities from participating in IT careers can be mitigated by the use CSDTs in classroom and out of class learning environments.

scholarly journals If You Offer It, Will They Come? Patterns of Application and Enrollment Behavior in a Universal Prekindergarten Context

AERA Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 233285841984844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Shapiro ◽  
Eleanor Martin ◽  
Christina Weiland ◽  
Rebecca Unterman
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Dual Language ◽  
Census Data ◽  
School Level ◽  
Universal Prekindergarten ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
Boston Public Schools ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Prekindergarten Programs

Universal public prekindergarten programs have been expanding in recent years, but not all eligible families apply to these programs, for reasons that are not well understood. Using two cohorts of students ( N = 8,391) enrolled in Boston Public Schools, we use geographic information systems to combine administrative records with census data to compare the student-, neighborhood-, and school-level characteristics of kindergarteners who did and did not apply to the Boston Public Schools prekindergarten program. We find that nonappliers are more likely to be non-White ( SD = 0.27), low income ( SD = 0.11), and dual language ( SD = 0.58), particularly those who did not attend any other prekindergarten program. We find similar differences at the neighborhood and school levels. Our study provides some of the first descriptive information on the sociodemographic characteristics and spatial distribution of families who opt out of applying to universal prekindergarten programs. Findings may inform recruitment strategies to promote equitable and universal prekindergarten enrollment.

scholarly journals Flipping Over: Student-Centred Learning and Assessment

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry James Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Assessment For Learning ◽  
Assessment Methodology ◽  
Student Centred Learning

Engaging students is a difficult task faced by all academics. Student engagement can be achieved by giving ownership of their learning back to the students and by carefully aligning the assessment methodology to the students’ learning and future employability. To promote learning ownership in this case study, a group of final year students were involved in the design of the delivery (‘flipped classroom’) and assessment strategy (‘flipped assessment’) of the curriculum. Upon reflection, students noted a deep understanding of their self-selected topic by taking ownership of their learning and their ‘assessment for learning’ within the bounded learning environment. Additionally, students enhanced their soft skills and developed proficiencies appropriate for future employment and lifelong learning.

scholarly journals Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges of Female Health Leaders in Three Regional States of Ethiopia: A Phenomenological Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sualiha Abdulkader Muktar ◽  
Binyam Fekadu Desta ◽  
Heran Demissie ◽  
Wubishet Kebede Heyi ◽  
Elias Mamo Gurmamo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Career Development ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Societal Norms

Abstract Background: Gender equity involves fairness in all aspects of life for women and men and is usually determined by social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. The proportion of female leaders in healthcare within the health sector is low. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences, opportunities, and challenges faced by women in their path towards becoming leaders within the health sector.Methods: This study was conducted using the phenomenological method of qualitative inquiry. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify six women leaders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted through telephone by the investigators. The qualitative data analysis was conducted parallel with data collection using steps of thematic analysis.Results: This study identified individual, societal, and organizational level opportunities and challenges that had an influence on the career paths of female health leaders in Ethiopia. The leadership positions were an opportunity in the career development of women who had long-term goals, were known for their empathy, and exercised wise use of resources. In addition, women who had the support of close family members and their peers are more likely to compete and rise to leadership positions. Furthermore, women who received organizational support in the form of affirmative action, training, development, and recognition also tended to rise to leadership positions. However, women who assumed leadership positions but whose day-to-day decision-making was influenced by their supervisors, those who had experienced sexual harassment, and those under the influence of societal norms were less likely to attain leadership positions.Conclusion: This study explored the opportunities and challenges of women leaders in the health sector in a low-income country. The findings highlight individual, social, organizational, and societal factors influencing the career development of women leaders. Therefore, enhancing the leadership capacity of women, and improving social and organizational support is recommended. In addition, addressing the low level of self-image among women and patriarchal societal norms at the community level is recommended.

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERSONAL NEEDS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A STUDY OF ABUSE AND SELF-NEGLECT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S954-S954
Author(s):  
Minzhi Ye ◽  
Farida Ejaz ◽  
Miriam Rose
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Spatial Inequalities ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Block Data

Abstract Estimates of self-neglect among older and/or disabled adults are much higher than the estimated 10% of older adults in the U.S. who experience physical or emotional abuse, neglect, and exploitation by others. It is not clear how the social environment affects these vulnerable adults who become self-neglecting. This study uses network analysis and a GIS approach to explore patterns of needs and environmental risks for adult healthcare patients who had risk factors for self-neglect. Sources of data included face-to-face interviews, self-neglect risk factors (e.g., depression, dependency in activities of daily living, etc.) from electronic medical records, and neighborhood information from census block data. More than two-thirds of the 480 study participants reported an average income of less than $1,360 monthly, and 89% self-identified as Hispanic or Latino. Using ArcGIS Pro, respondents’ geocoded addresses were matched to mapped neighborhood census information. The maps showed that most respondents live in Hispanic-dominated communities, in neighborhoods with crime rates above average and median household income of less than $49,066/year. These neighborhoods were probably resource-poor and had spatial inequalities. Using network analysis, the study found that the at-risk patients’ most frequently reported needs (e.g., food assistance/nutrition, functional limitations, social isolation) appear clustered together, demonstrating that people had multiple needs. The study findings suggest that practitioners and policymakers must not only provide a range of services to help disadvantaged groups, but also focus specifically on offering services in neighborhoods where low-income minority groups reside and there is a lack of community resources.

Classroom Language Contexts as Predictors of Latinx Preschool Dual Language Learners’ School Readiness

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 339-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria C. Limlingan ◽  
Christine M. McWayne ◽  
Elizabeth A. Sanders ◽  
Michael L. López
Keyword(s):  
Head Start ◽  
School Readiness ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Dual Language ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Approaches To Learning ◽  
Dual Language Learners ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Classroom Language

The present study examined the relations between teacher-child interactions, teachers’ Spanish use, classroom linguistic composition, and the school readiness skills of low-income, Latinx, Spanish-speaking dual language learners (DLLs), controlling for home and teacher background characteristics, with a national probability sample of Head Start children (i.e., from the Family and Child Experiences Survey [FACES, 2009]). Findings revealed that Head Start classrooms with higher concentrations of DLLs had teachers who reported lower average levels of children’s cooperative behavior. In addition, DLL students in classrooms where teachers used more Spanish for instruction and demonstrated more emotionally supportive teacher-child interactions were found to have higher average scores on measures of approaches to learning. Implications and directions for future research related to classroom language contexts are discussed.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitudes about HIV infection and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in an urban, low income community in Durban, South Africa: Perspectives of residents and health care volunteers

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firoza Haffejee ◽  
Katie A. Ports ◽  
Maghboeba Mosavel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
African Women ◽  
Hiv Education ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Hiv Aids

Background: HIV prevalence is high among South African women of reproductive age and transmission of HIV from mothers to children is a concern. This study ascertained the level of knowledge about HIV infection and prevention, particularly prevention of mother toc hild transmission (PMTCT) amongst South African women from a low income community. It also established the challenges in delivering HIV education from the perspectives of health care volunteers.Method: Female residents (n = 67) from Kenneth Gardens, a low income community in Durban, South Africa were interviewed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 health care volunteers who were either health care workers or residents who provided some form of social support in the community.Results: The majority of respondents indicated that a mother could transmit HIV to her child but were unable to specify how. Many women had general HIV/AIDS knowledge but were unable to identify essential prevention behaviours and were not very receptive to more information on HIV/AIDS. They were supportive of routine testing procedures and child bearing amongst HIV positive women. Health care volunteers indicated a need for a community clinic in the area.They also had limited knowledge of PMTCT and indicated that there was a need for more education on HIV, particularly to encourage the youth and men to use preventative measures.Conclusion: Innovative ways to impart knowledge particularly of PMTCT and updated standards of practice are essential. It is important that the community understands how transmission occurs so that prevention can follow.

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