scholarly journals A study on the examination of the metaphoric perceptions of middle school students about pattern

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-250
Author(s):  
Selin Çenberci ◽  
Dilek Sezgin Memnun ◽  
Hasibe İnce
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
School Students ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Phenomenological Design

In this study, it was aimed both to examine middle school students' perceptions of the concept of pattern and to reveal if the metaphoric perceptions which the students created in relation to the concept of pattern changed according to the variable of grade level. The metaphors in relation to the concept were carried out via the "phenomenological" design. For this, a short open ended form was directed to the volunteer fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade students who attended to the research from a middle school in Turkey. The qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. Besides, the chi-square test was used for quantitative analysis. The perceptions of middle school students were gathered under six different categories. Moreover, the analyses made within the scope of this study revealed that the metaphors which the participant students created for the concept of pattern did not indicate significant difference according to the grade levels.

scholarly journals Middle School Students’ Graph Skills and Affective States about Graphs

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 692
Author(s):  
Murat Bursal ◽  
Serap Yetiş
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Eighth Graders ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Affective States ◽  
School Students ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference

This survey design study was designed to test whether the graph skills and affective states of middle school students about graphs differ by their gender, grade level, and graph types (line, bar, and pie). The data collection instruments consisted of two scales developed by the authors and a Graph Skills Test, which consisted of graph questions from the previous TIMSS and PISA exams. Based on the findings, while middle school students were found to succeed at reading the data level graph questions, they were found to struggle in questions requiring higher graph skills, such as graph interpretation and graph construction. As for the affective states investigated, participants were found to hold high self-efficacy beliefs and positive attitudes toward graphs. No significant difference among the dependent variables (graph skills, self-efficacy beliefs about graphs, attitudes toward graphs, and graph literacy perceptions) was found by gender; however, grade level and graph type variables were found to impact students’ graph skills, graph attitudes, and personal graph literacy perceptions. Middle school students with less school experience with graphs (seventh graders) were found to hold more positive attitudes toward graphs than the eighth graders. On the contrary, eighth graders were found to perform better at graph questions requiring interpretations of the graph data. Also, participants in all subgroups were found to hold significantly higher personal graph literacy perceptions for the bar graphs, than the line graphs and pie charts. Based on the findings of the study, while middle school students were found to hold positive affective states about graphs, they were found to lack advanced graph skills. In agreement with the previous literature, it is recommended that graph literacy should become a dedicated part of the school curriculum.

scholarly journals Middle School Students' Line Graph Skills and Affective States about Common Graph Types Used in Science Courses

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Murat Bursal ◽  
Fuat Polat
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Line Graph ◽  
Efficacy Beliefs ◽  
Affective States ◽  
School Students ◽  
Science Courses ◽  
Significant Difference

This study investigated the graphing skills and some affective states of middle school students about graphs by their gender, grade level, and the common graph types used in science courses. Participants’ line graph skills, self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes toward graphs, and their personal literacy perceptions about different graph types (line, bar, and pie) are explored quantitatively. Qualitative data was collected about the views of participants about graphs in general, as well as about the factors that impact students like/dislike certain graph types. Based on the findings, while participants were found to lack line graph skills, they were found to hold high self-efficacy beliefs and positive attitudes toward graphs. No significant difference among the dependent variables was found based on gender; however, grade level and graph type variables were found to impact students’ graph skills and personal graph literacy perceptions. Among the commonly used graphs in middle schools, a vast majority of students favored bar graphs, mostly due to the simplicity of them, and disliked pie charts, as finding them difficult to draw.

Step count for 7th and 8th grade students in structured and unstructured physical education classes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
Necip Demirci ◽  
Refika Yilmaz ◽  
Ayda Karaca
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
School Type ◽  
School Students ◽  
Step Counts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Type Data

The aim of the study was to analyze step counts of middle school students in structured and unstructured physical education classes (PE) according to age, gender, and school type. Data were collected on a sample of 74 students, 40 7th and 34 8th grade students recruited from private and public middle schools. Omron HJ-112 pedometers were used in this study to obtain step counts. There were statistically significant differences between boys and girls in the step counts in both structured and unstructured PE. A significant difference was observed between school types in step counts during structured PE in both genders, while no significant difference was found for unstructured PE. Significant difference was found between step counts of only boys of different grades in unstructured PE. Boys made more steps than girls both in structured and unstructured PE. In structured PE, 7th grade boys reached a higher number of steps than 8th grade boys.

The Effectiveness of Equipment Provisions on Rural Middle School Students’ Physical Activity During Lunch Recess

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-295
Author(s):  
Hyeonho Yu ◽  
Pamela H. Kulinna ◽  
Shannon C. Mulhearn
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Environmental Intervention ◽  
School Students ◽  
Baseline Phase ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Eighth Grade Students

Background: Environmental provisions can boost students’ discretionary participation in physical activity (PA) during lunchtime at school. This study investigated the effectiveness of providing PA equipment as an environmental intervention on middle school students’ PA levels and stakeholders’ perceptions of the effectiveness of equipment provisions during school lunch recess. Methods: A baseline–intervention research design was used in this study with a first baseline phase followed by an intervention phase (ie, equipment provision phase). A total of 514 students at 2 middle schools (school 1 and school 2) in a rural area of the western United States were observed directly using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth instrument. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Paired-sample t tests and visual analysis were conducted to explore differences in PA levels by gender, and common comparison (with trustworthiness measures) was used with the interview data. Results: The overall percentage of moderate to vigorous PA levels was increased in both schools (ranging from 8.0% to 24.0%). In school 2, there was a significant difference in seventh- and eighth-grade students’ moderate to vigorous PA levels from the baseline. Three major themes were identified: (1) unmotivated, (2) unequipped, and (3) unquestionable changes (with students becoming more active). Conclusions: Environmental supports (access, equipment, and supervision) significantly and positively influenced middle school students’ lunchtime PA levels.

scholarly journals IDENTIFICATION OF THE INTEREST OF TURKISH MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN STEM CAREERS: GENDER AND GRADE LEVEL DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayşegül Ergün
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Stem Careers ◽  
Career Interest ◽  
School Students ◽  
Grade Level Differences ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Descriptive Survey

In Turkey, it is predicted that the need for STEM employment in the 2016-2023 period will be close to one million and that about 31% of this need will not be met. Therefore, the identification of students’ interest in STEM careers in middle-school is regarded as important. The aim of this research was to identify the interest of middle-school students in STEM careers. The sample of the research was made up of 892 students who received education in four middle-schools in the Aegean region of Turkey. In this research which was of the descriptive survey model, the STEM Career Interest Questionnaire was used to collect data. As a result of research, it was determined that the interest of male students in STEM careers is more positive compared to the female students. It was found that the interest in careers in terms of grade level did not display any differences in the area of technology, whereas it displayed differences in the areas of science, engineering and mathematics. In addition, it was identified that the interest in STEM careers displayed differences in terms of grade level and that as the grade level increases, the interest in STEM careers decreases.

Effectiveness of Cyber Bullying Sensitization Program (CBSP) to Reduce Cyber Bullying Behavior Among Middle School Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 504-513
Author(s):  
Surabhi Negi ◽  
Sunita Magre
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Cyber Bullying ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Experimental Group

Cyber bullying is the unwise use of technology to harm and humiliate an individual or group over the Internet. The purpose of this article is to test the effectiveness of the cyber bullying sensitisation program (CBSP) to reduce the level of cyber bullying behaviour among middle school students. The sample was restricted to adolescents as they are the ones who are most exposed and vulnerable in the cyber space. A quasi-experimental pre-post design with intervention was adopted for the study. The participants of the study were comprised of 186 middle school students from two private schools in India. The experimental group had 94 participants while control groups had 92 participants. Statistical analysis indicated that there was a significant difference between pre- and post-test scores in the experimental group. No significant difference was found between the experiment and control group before the program, suggesting that the program was effective in helping students in reducing cyber bullying behaviour. The implications for prevention and intervention programs were discussed.

Epistemological Differences Between Gifted and Typically Developing Middle School Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-184
Author(s):  
Shelagh A. Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Developmental Differences ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
School Students ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Personal Epistemologies

Students’ personal epistemologies, or their beliefs about knowledge and knowing, have a substantial impact on learning, affecting their responses to curriculum, strategy selection, and psychosocial variables. Changes in epistemological reasoning occur similarly to other stage-based developmental schemes, with qualitative shifts in worldviews at each stage. Some research suggests that gifted students tend to develop higher levels of epistemological reasoning earlier than same-aged typically developing peers. The current study extends research in developmental differences to middle school students. A total of 189 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade gifted or typical students completed the Learning Context Questionnaire. An analysis of variance was conducted to determine differences by Gifted Status and Grade Level. Results of the analysis revealed significant differences between gifted and typical students, with modest effect size, at each grade level. The discussion includes implications for understanding giftedness and related need for rich inquiry-based learning environments.

Nutrition intake and physical activity in a middle school in New York City

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisol Gonzalez ◽  
Ronald Feinstein ◽  
Carina Iezzi ◽  
Martin Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Middle School ◽  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
York City ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Great Variability ◽  
School Students ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Purpose: The threat of childhood obesity has never been greater. Behavior changes implemented during childhood and adolescence are believed to be the most successful means of thwarting the progression of this epidemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a public health campaign that promotes awareness of clinical guidelines for nutrition and physical activity. The campaign is based on a concept developed by the Maine Center for Public Health referred to as “5-2-1-0 Healthy”. The simple clear message of this concept outlines steps families can take to help prevent and treat childhood obesity. The purpose of the present study is to determine the current level of compliance and health education needs of a middle school population related to the “5-2-1-0” concept. Methods: A modified version of the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) was distributed to students at a private, nonsectarian, middle school in New York City. The school is located in the borough of Manhattan, but includes youngsters from all five boroughs of the city. The questions were grouped and analyzed according to “5-2-1-0” categories. Surveys were scored, and the association between targeted questionnaire items and demographic variables (i.e., sex and grade) was examined. Results: All 140 students completed the survey, and there was great variability in their responses to both the nutrition and physical activity questions. Of all students, 65% reported eating one cup or more of fruit daily, and 38% reported eating one cup or more of vegetables daily. There was no statistically significant difference reported in consumption of fruits or vegetables by gender or grade. Over 60% of students indicated <2 h of DVD/video or computer/video game time per day, while 10% indicated more than 3 h per day for each. A significant difference existed in the screen time reported between grades (more screen time by the older students) and a statistically significant difference also existed in the amount of physical activity reported by gender and grade (more physical activity by males and younger students). There was no difference in the reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by gender or grade. Conclusion: In a cohort of middle school students in New York City, there was great variability in compliance with the principles represented by the “5-2-1-0” concept. Changes in health behaviors were noted as students went from 6th to 7th to 8th grade, with physical activity decreasing and screen time increasing. Consequently, health curriculum topics for middle school students should focus on physical activity and screen time, while continuing to emphasize the need for proper nutrition.

scholarly journals Food Safety in the Public Awareness

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30
Author(s):  
András Papp ◽  
Judit Krisch
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
School Students ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude

National and international surveys show that people still do not have appropriate knowledge of and attitude to food safety. Therefore more and more countries organize educational courses to improve skills and knowledge regarding food safety. In Hungary the National Curriculum 2012 contains the program for food safety education. The aim of our survey was investigation about knowledge and attitude of primary and secondary school students towards food safety. The questions, according to international surveys, fell into 5 categories: personal hygiene, keeping food at safe temperatures, adequate cooking, avoidance of cross-contamination, and safe source of foods. Statistical evaluation was done using SPSS 20 software. Significant differences were evaluated by logistic regression, Chi square test, and crossing table analysis. Results showed that there was no significant difference among primary school students regarding gender or residence (village or town) in knowledge of food safety. Their attitudes showed more significant divergence. Logistic regression investigation has showed that there was a good correlation between knowledge and attitude of personal and kitchen hygiene. In conclusion, our students have presented more or less the same results as the others from international questionnaires. Even though, we need to improve knowledge and skill in food safety.

scholarly journals Images, Scores, Conceptions, and Perceptions: Basic Sanitation in the view of Middle School Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 47-81
Author(s):  
Mariana Mostardeiro de Aguiar ◽  
Rossano André Dal-Farra
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
State School ◽  
School Students ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Basic Sanitation

This article aims to investigate the conceptions and perceptions of students from the 8th and 9th year of the middle school regarding the four scopes of basic sanitation articulated with the themes addressed in the curriculum each year. Forty-nine students from a state school in Estância Velha/RS participated with activities involving questionnaires application, photovoice and image evaluations from the perspective of Mixed Method Research. Qualitative data were from observations present in the logbook and answers to the open-ended questions of the questionnaires. The quantitative are the scores attributed by the students analysed with the tools of descriptive statistics and with the non-parametric test of Kruskal-Wallis. The results showed that the use of images and the attribution of scores articulated with qualitative data were fruitful to understand the perceptions and conceptions of the students. It was evidenced that sewage and water supply were the most frequently remembered elements regarding basic sanitation, followed by solid waste. However, drainage was not remembered as a component of basic sanitation, requiring the construction of integrative educational practices from the four scopes seeking to expand students' perceptions and conceptions about basic sanitation and its relevance in contemporaneity.

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