scholarly journals Teaching Chemistry in Rural America: A Comparative Study Examining Innovative Informal Education and Applied Science Approaches to Improving Engagement

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Gregory Van Doren ◽  
Lawrence Kevin Duffy

<p>How to engage underrepresented students in Science and Engineering careers is an important challenge in most rural areas. A formal school environment is not always the best place to learn for many students. Informal, place-based, culturally relevant and applied Science education can be used to engage many students commonly bypassed by formal lecture approaches. Integration of traditional “western” Science with traditional local culture has been proposed to increase engagement and broaden the participation of rural students in Science courses. Principles of chemistry such as colors and dyes were taught in both standard University classes and community workshops. Participant self-assessments were compared with self-assessments of students in introductory chemistry courses at two Universities. The formal course data correlated prior knowledge of content to increased learning gains for basic chemistry concepts. The community workshop participant responses differed with those of formal University students, indicating both location and context of the presentation as factors in engagement. When held in a University classroom and laboratory, where ideas were not related to local cultures and places, learning outcomes were lower in applied knowledge compared to workshops held at a cultural center. A long-term commitment to informal Science education in a community setting is a promising approach to improving diversity in the Science workforce by using applied Science topics and cultural relevance to teach basic concepts.</p>

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey M. Nichols ◽  
Anisa N. Goforth ◽  
Michaela Sacra ◽  
Kaitlyn Ahlers

There is a growing emphasis in U.S. schools to focus on the social-emotional issues of rural students. Specifically, the effect of mental health issues on school success underscores the importance of collaboration between, and among, educators and specialized support personnel (SSP; e.g., school counselors). In rural areas, school counselors and school psychologists are positioned to assist students and their families to provide support within and surrounding the school environment. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) discuss students’ social-emotional needs and SSP-educator collaboration in the context of rural schools, and (2) to discuss promising and best practices in collaboration to address students’ social-emotional well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Amy Price Azano ◽  
Carolyn Callahan ◽  
Erika Bass ◽  
Michelle Rasheed

In this “promising practices” piece, we draw from lessons learned from a larger research study exploring how alternative identification processes and curricular interventions might influence gifted education programming for students in rural school districts. In the larger study we sought to (a) increase the number of rural students identified for gifted education services and (b) provide support for those programs in the form of a place-based language arts curriculum. As we implemented an innovative identification and curricular option for historically underrepresented students from low-income rural areas, we encountered hurdles stemming from four sources: conceptions of giftedness, teacher time and expertise, expectations for students, and fidelity of implementation. This article illuminates those challenges and discusses efforts to mitigate them and negotiate a path through to success—seeing the possible rather than limitations set forth by imposed systems affecting rural schools and communities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-238
Author(s):  
Kari Lockhart ◽  
Rachel U. Mun

Scholars and practitioners of gifted education have made strides in recognizing the need for equitable identification practices, as well as acknowledging the importance of culturally relevant teaching practices, so that students from traditionally underrepresented student populations (i.e., culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse [CLED] students, rural students) have the opportunity to develop their unique gifts and talents. However, little attention has been paid to the vital roles that parent/family and community have in shaping a gifted and talented child’s future. The relationship between students’ families, communities, and their school is often an overlooked variable, but one that has the potential to make significant improvements in gifted education for traditionally underrepresented students in gifted education. This article identifies potential barriers to forming strong home–school connections and outlines specific strategies for overcoming these stumbling blocks. We discuss ways in which teachers and administrators can utilize specific engagement strategies, rethink structures within the school environment, and employ responsive attitudes and behaviors to cultivate strong, healthy home–school connections.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-37
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Carrier ◽  
Kylie S. Hoyle ◽  
Sarah C. Luginbuhl

The purpose of this study was to explore how a health-based informal science education course, as part of an elementary undergraduate teacher preparation program, influenced pre-service teachers’ ideas about formal and informal science teaching and learning. Additionally, the study explored how the course impacted their understandings of the value of bridging informal science to supplement formal instruction. Qualitative study data were gathered through two (mid- and end-of-semester) focus group interviews with five pre-service teachers enrolled in a health-based informal science course. Analysis of data indicated that the inclusion of informal science education experiences during PST preparation has the potential to support novice teachers’ developing ideas about science teaching and learning including ways to connect science to students’ lives and make science engaging and meaningful. Findings are reported in four key themes that emerged from the data: (a) formal teacher preparation and informal education, (b) connections between formal and informal science education, (c) personal and professional collaborations, and (d) benefits of informal science education.


2019 ◽  
pp. 98-100
Author(s):  
Д. М. Кудайбердиева

Аннотация. В данной статье рассматривается проблема восприятия городской среды студентами из города и сельской местности. Обозначены определения терминов «среда», «пространственная среда», «городская среда». Проведено экспериментальное сравнительное исследование особенностей восприятия города Бишкек городскими и сельскими студентами в количестве 50 человек. Статья содержит результаты проведенного анализа исследования. Выявлены различия и сходства в восприятии города Бишкек у студентов двух групп. В контексте восприятия города изучена неудовлетворенность прошлым и настоящим временем, трудности языкового барьера у студентов из сельской местности. Также было выявлено, что актуальной для студентов обеих групп является потребность в социальных контактах, общении, включенности в социум. Полученные результаты будут иметь пользу в проведении воспитательной работы со студентами из сельской местности, в оказании поддержки им в период адаптации с учетом особенностей восприятия города студентами. Ключевые слова. среда, городская среда, восприятие пространства, городские студенты, сельские студенты, восприятие города Бишкек, неудовлетворенность прошлым и настоящим, языковой барьер, учеба в городе, сходства и различия в восприятии города. Аннотация. Бул макалада шаардык жана айылдан келген студенттердин шаардык чөйрөнү кабыл алуу көйгөйү каралган. «Чөйрө», «мейкиндик чөйрө», «шаардык чөйрө» терминдеринин түшүнүктөрү келтирилген. 50 адамдан турган шаардык жана айылдык студенттердин Бишкек шаарын кабыл алуу өзгөчөлүктөрүнө эксперименталдык салыштырма изилдөө жүргүзүлгөн. Макалада изилдөөнүн анализ жыйынтыктары камтылган. Эки студенттик топторунун Бишкек шаарын кабыл алуусунун айырмачылыктары жана окшоштуктары белгиленген. Шаарды кабыл алуу контекстинде өткөн жана учур чактарга канагаттанбоо, тил барьеринин кыйынчылыктары изилденди. Ошондой эле студенттердин эки тобуна актуалдуу болуп социалдык катнаштарга, баарлашууга, коомго кошулуу муктаждыгы белгиленүүдө. Алынган жыйынтыктар студенттердин шаарды кабыл алуу өзгөчөлүктөрүнө эске алып, айылдан келген студенттерге адаптация убагында колдоо көрсөтүү максатында тарбиялык иштерди жүргүзүүдө жардам берет. Түйүндүү сөздөр. Чөйрө, шаардык чөйрө, мейкиндикти кабыл алуу, шаардык студенттер, айылдык студенттер, Бишкек шаарын кабыл алуу, өткөн жана учур чакка канагаттанбоо, тил барьери, шаарда окуу, шаарды кабыл алуусунун айырмачылыктары жана окшоштуктары. Annotation. This article addresses the problem of perception of the urban environment by students from the city and countryside. The definitions of the terms “environment”, “spatial environment”, and “urban environment” are indicated. An experimental comparative study of the characteristics of the perception of the city of Bishkek by urban and rural students in the amount of 50 people was conducted. The article contains the results of the analysis of the study. The differences and similarities in the perception of the city of Bishkek among students of the two groups are revealed. In the context of the perception of the city, dissatisfaction with the past and the present has been studied, and the difficulties of the language barrier among students from rural areas. It was also revealed that the need for social contacts, communication, inclusion in society is relevant for students of both groups. The results will have the benefit of conducting educational work with students from rural areas, in providing support to them during the adaptation period, taking into account the peculiarities of the perception of the city by students. Кeywords. Environment, urban environment, space perception, urban students, rural students, perception of the city of Bishkek, dissatisfaction with the past and the present, language barrier, studying in the city, similarities and differences in the perception of the city.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice C. Fu ◽  
Archana Kannan ◽  
Richard J. Shavelson ◽  
Lisa Peterson ◽  
Amy Kurpius

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