scholarly journals Critical Perspectives on Perceptions and Practices of Diversity in Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Burner ◽  
Tuva Skjelbred Nodeland ◽  
Åsmund Aamaas
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous People ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
Policy Level ◽  
Diversity In Education ◽  
Different Levels

The term diversity has been a topic of discussion in educational research and has received increased attention in recent years. Often, the focus has been on the use of the term at policy level. In this article, teacher educators’ and school teachers’ perceptions of diversity in education and self-perceived practices of work with diversity are explored. Five teacher educators and 87 school teachers participated in the study. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data. The findings indicate that teacher educators and school teachers discuss and reflect on diversity at different levels of operationalization, that they rarely associate socioeconomic and structural issues with the topic of diversity, and that they hardly mention national minorities and the Norwegian indigenous people as part of their understanding and work with diversity. This study suggests stable and long-term arenas for discussion and reflection for both teacher educators and school teachers. Further, the need for a more critical perspective on diversity in education, and an emphasis on learning from historical experiences with education and minorities is needed.

scholarly journals Primary School Teachers’ Perception: A Study on Assessment Components and Its Effects

2020 ◽  
pp. 41-66
Author(s):  
Sharon Campbell-Phillips ◽  
Deb Proshad Halder ◽  
Serlange Campbell ◽  
Daneil Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Curriculum Reform ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Entrance Examination ◽  
Continuous Assessment ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Primary School Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Different Levels

This study documented teachers’ perceptions concerning the implementation of the Continuous Assessment Component of the Secondary Entrance Examination, and its effectiveness in the teaching and learning process. Specifically, the study sought to gain an understanding of the extent to which teachers are aware of what continuous assessment entails, the challenges that they encounter in its implementation and its importance to both the teaching and learning processes. The participants in this study were six female and two male teachers who varied at different levels of experience and preparation. Through interviews and questionnaires, the researcher guided the study to determine: a) what are the attitudes and perceptions of selected primary school teachers at my school, concerning the effectiveness of the continuous assessment program as a tool for assessing students, b) what do selected primary school teachers at my school consider to be the challenges that they will encounter in implementing the continuous assessment programme in their respective classes, c) how has continuous assessment affected teacher performance at my school as a result of this process, and d) what support systems do these teachers have that will assist them in the delivery of the program. The study conducted a Mixed Methods study and used the questionnaire and interview instruments to guide the collection of data for analysis. The perceived challenges that emerged were discussed according to the following headings: Benefits of continuous assessment; teachers’ perception concerning continuous assessment; attitude towards assessment; curricular challenges; instructional challenges; adequate resources and curriculum reform and effective implementation.

Use Of Tai Chi Elements To Increase Respiratory Amplitude

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Mihai-Alexandru Citea ◽  
Marius Neculaes
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Sports Club ◽  
Optimal Functioning ◽  
Physiological Adaptations ◽  
Competitive Activity ◽  
Abdominal Breathing ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Different Levels

High performance sport has a major impact on the physiological adaptations of the respiratory system. The importance of the optimal functioning of this system is essential to achieve top results in high performance sport but also in maintaining a long term health status. Science journals present numerous studies that highlight the benefits of practicing Tai Chi on the general population, with effects ranging from improving cardiac function, to influencing the immune system. The purpose of this study is to identify whether by practicing Tai Chi forms a athlete can change their breathing pattern and develop their respiratory amplitude. The subjects of the study were 22 fencing practitioners, accredited at the Iași Municipal Sports Club (C.S.M. Iași), aged between 14 and 18 years, with over 3 years of competitive activity. Materials and method: The study participants were evaluated initially and at the end of 7 months of practice. The frequency was 3 sessions per week, and the duration of each session was 20-30 minutes. The evaluation consisted in measuring the circumference of the thorax at 3 different levels: subaxillary, medial thorax (T6-T7) and lower rib (diaphragmatic) in maximal inspiration and expiration. Conclusions: A constant evolution is observed in most of the exposed cases. In cases where this evolution is not visible, a change in the breathing mode can be noticed, transforming from an upper rib breathing into a thoracic or abdominal breathing. With the exception of one case, all subjects had an improvement of the value in the lower rib level.

A Profile of Wine Tourism Entrepreneurs: Study in Portugal

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
Adriana Backx Noronha Viana ◽  
Luísa Cagica Carvalho ◽  
Inna Sousa Paiva
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Wine Tourism ◽  
Learning Capacity ◽  
Study Methodology

Background: Wine tourism is one of the tourism components adopted as part of Portugal’s strategy due to its eminence as a wine producer. Such strategy has received great prominence in recent years and aims to promote regional development from an economic, social, cultural and environmental perspective. The aim of this study was to understand the entrepreneur profile in this sector. Methods: The study uses a qualitative, case study methodology with data analysis and triangulation. In this study, a literature review of scientific studies was carried out on the scientific knowledge in the area of study from a critical perspective and an interview was conducted where qualitative data were collected. Results and Discussion: The entrepreneurs have shown the following characteristics: initiative, innovation capability, optimism, creativity, creative energy, tenacity, selfconfidence, capability for long term involvement with the project, and learning capacity. Conclusion: The study shows that most entrepreneurs state that they have established partnerships with other companies, particularly with restaurants, catering businesses, hotel units, tourism companies and companies that organize tours. This is one of the factors of economic importance recognized by another study which enables increased prominence of the company and widens the value of wine tourism.

scholarly journals Effects of disk tillage on soil condition, crop yield and weed infestation

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
M. Birkás ◽  
T. Szalai ◽  
C. Gyuricza ◽  
M. Gecse ◽  
K. Bordás
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Soil Condition ◽  
Perennial Weeds ◽  
Weed Infestation ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Different Levels

This research was instigated by the fact that during the last decade annually repeated shallow disk tillage on the same field became frequent practice in Hungary. In order to study the changes of soil condition associated with disk tillage and to assess it is consequences, long-term tillage field experiments with different levels of nutrients were set up in 1991 (A) and in 1994 (B) on Chromic Luvisol at Gödöllö. The effects of disk tillage (D) and disk tillage combined with loosening (LD) on soil condition, on yield of maize and winter wheat, and on weed infestation were examined. The evaluation of soil condition measured by cone index and bulk density indicated that use of disking annually resulted in a dense soil layer below the disking depth (diskpan-compaction). It was found, that soil condition deteriorated by diskpan-compaction decreased the yield of maize significantly by 20 and 42% (w/w), and that of wheat by 13 and 15% (w/w) when compared to soils with no diskpan-compaction. Averaged over seven years, and three fertilizer levels, the cover % of the total, grass and perennial weeds on loosened soils were 73, 69 and 65% of soils contained diskpan-compaction.

Time-Dependent Changes in Excitability After One-Trial Conditioning of Hermissenda

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 3460-3464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Crow ◽  
Vilma Siddiqi
Keyword(s):  
Time Dependent ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Type B ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Phototactic Behavior ◽  
Parallel Processes ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
A Site ◽  
Different Levels

Crow, Terry and Vilma Siddiqi. Time-dependent changes in excitability after one-trial conditioning of Hermissenda. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 3460–3464, 1997. The visual system of Hermissenda has been studied extensively as a site of cellular plasticity produced by classical conditioning. A one-trial conditioning procedure consisting of light paired with the application of serotonin (5-HT) to the exposed, but otherwise intact, nervous system produces suppression of phototactic behavior tested 24 h after conditioning. Short- and long-term enhancement (STE and LTE) of excitability in identified type B photoreceptors is a cellular correlate of one-trial conditioning. LTE can be expressed in the absence of STE suggesting that STE and LTE may be parallel processes. To examine the development of enhancement, we studied its time-dependent alterations after one-trial conditioning. Intracellular recordings from identified type B photoreceptors of independent groups collected at different times after conditioning revealed that enhanced excitability follows a biphasic pattern in its development. The analysis of spikes elicited by 2 and 30 s extrinsic current pulses at different levels of depolarization showed that enhancement reached a peak 3 h after conditioning. From its peak, excitability decreased toward baseline control levels 5–6 h after conditioning followed by an increase to a stable plateau at 16 to 24 h postconditioning. Excitability changes measured in cells from unpaired control groups showed maximal changes 1 h posttreatment that rapidly decremented within 2 h. The conditioned stimulus (CS) elicited significantly more spikes 24 h postconditioning for the conditioned group as compared with the unpaired control group. The analysis of the time-dependent development of enhancement may reveal the processes underlying different stages of memory for this associative experience.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document