Gender-specific responses to multifaceted factors associated with disordered eating among adolescents of 7th to 9th grade

Background The prevalence of disordered eating is increasing among adolescents in Asia. The prevalence and predictors of disordered eating in boys have often gone unrecognized. This study examined gender-specific responses to multifaceted factors associated with disordered eating, including personal, behavioral, family, and school-related characteristics. Methods After excluding responses with incomplete information, a sample of 729 adolescents (48.97% boys) between the ages of 13 and 16 were surveyed through convenience sampling from 37 classrooms in three junior high schools in New Taipei City of Taiwan were analyzed. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 questionnaire was used to identify disordered eating. Results No difference in the prevalence of disordered eating between the genders was found. Adolescent girls exhibit a preoccupation with fatness and a desire to be thinner, whereas boys are more likely to engage in extreme dieting behaviors such as vomiting, keeping the stomach empty, and avoiding sweets. Girls engaging in disordered eating reported relatively high levels of interpersonal stress involving family member weight-teasing, low peer acceptance, and high peer pressure to control weight. High intensity of regular exercise was found in girls with disordered eating. The perception of body weight is a more critical factor of engaging in disordered eating for boys than girls. Adolescents with immigrant parents were associated with disordered eating among both genders. Conclusions Changing gender-specific weight-related norms in schools and families is essential to reduce the prevalence of disordered eating, particularly among girls. Future studies using representative samples to confirm this study’s findings are warranted.

Smartphone and teamwork as a methodological tool for teaching and learning physics

This research is based on the usefulness of mobile phones as a tool for students to learn about uniform rectilinear motion in vertical free fall, based on experimental practice. To evaluate whether these mobile devices allow better learning on the subject, a pre-test/post-test design was carried out with 43 students participating in the 9th grade in natural sciences. McNemar and Stuart-Maxwell non-parametric tests were applied. The proposal on the experimental practice gave satisfactory results when comparing the pre-test and post-test, in the analysis of the particular and global form of the answers.

The Effect of Arabic-Supported Educational Game on the Success of 9th-Grade Syrian Students in the Symbolic Language of Chemistry: Example of Turkey

This study was carried out with a total of 75 students attending 9th grade in two high schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Reyhanlı district, which hosted many Syrian refugees in Hatay province in the spring semester of 2018-2019 academic years and lasted for three weeks. A total of 75 students, 43 from two different 9th grade classes taught by the same teacher from the first high school, and 32 from the other high school, participated in the study. Two of these classes were assigned as the control group and one as the experimental group. While the symbolic language of chemistry was taught with the traditional teaching method in the control groups, an educational game with Arabic support was used in the experimental group based on the constructive learning approach. Prior knowledge, attitude-perception towards chemistry, and chemistry achievement tests were applied to all three groups before the implementation in order to control their prior knowledge and attitude and perception towards chemistry; the chemistry success test was applied again after the implementation. ANCOVA analysis was used to evaluate the data obtained from the tests. As a result of the study, it was concluded that High school 9th-grade students studying with the educational game based on constructivist learning approach had significantly higher mean score in the chemistry achievement test on the symbolic language of chemistry than the students studying with traditional teaching method, they relate the concepts more accurately, and performed more meaningful learning.

Development and Validation of a Model Predicting Students’ Sense of School Belonging and Engagement as a Function of School Climate

For many years, studies have explored the relationship between school belonging and engagement, two concepts that are associated with several positive outcomes. However, the relative influence that school climate may have on these components has received little attention. Based on the theoretical perspective of Janosz et al (1998), school belonging and engagement were examined as a function of multiple dimensions of school climate, and were tested across genders. The research took place in Morocco, and participants were 238 students from 9th grade (101 males, 137 females; Mage = 15.1) living in the cities of Casablanca and Témara. Students completed a questionnaire aimed at measuring school belonging, school engagement, and school climate. Correlational and structural equation modeling methods were used to analyze the aforementioned relationships. Results showed that only the climate of justice had a positive effect on school belonging, which, in turn, had a positive effect on the three types of school engagement. The multigroup analysis revealed the relation between school belonging and behavioral engagement to be partially invariant across genders. These results highlight the benefits of creating a positive school climate which can support students' belonging and engagement.

Examining the Differential Role of General and Specific Processing Speed in Predicting Mathematical Achievement in Junior High School

Processing speed is divided into general (including perceptual speed and decision speed) and specific processing speed (including reading fluency and arithmetic fluency). Despite several study findings reporting the association between processing speed and children’s mathematical achievement, it is still unclear whether general or specific processing speed differentially predicts mathematical achievement. The current study aimed to examine the role of general and specific processing speed in predicting mathematical achievements of junior high school students. Cognitive testing was performed in 212 junior school students at the beginning of the 7th grade year, along with assessment of general and specific processing speed. Relevant academic achievement scores were also recorded at the end of the 7th and 9th grade years. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that specific processing speed made a significant unique contribution in mathematical achievement by the end of the 7th grade and could significantly predict mathematical achievements in the high school entrance examinations by end of the 9th grade after controlling for age, gender, and general cognitive abilities. However, general processing speed could not predict mathematical achievements. Moreover, specific processing speed could significantly predict all academic achievements for both the 7th and 9th grade. These results demonstrated that specific processing speed, rather than general processing speed, was able to predict mathematical achievement and made a generalised contribution to all academic achievements in junior school. These findings suggest that specific processing speed could be a reflection of academic fluency and is therefore critical for long-term academic development.

Adolescents’ Personality Development – A Question of Psychosocial Stress

Following the relational-developmental systems approach, this three-wave study examines whether acute stress (T2) mediates the relationship between the development of personality traits from the beginning of 8th grade (T1, Mage = 15.63, SD = 0.59; 22 girls) to the end of 9th grade (T3). Using the Montréal Imaging Stress Task, which is a task that provokes acute social stress by negative social feedback, this study combined the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), heart rate, and longitudinal survey data of 41 adolescents. Mediation analysis revealed that stress-induced left insula activation partially mediates the longitudinal stability of conscientiousness. These results highlight the impact of negative social feedback during stress on students’ personality development.

Pengaruh Pembelajaran Daring Masa Pandemi Covid-19 terhadap Motivasi Belajar Peserta Didik pada Mata Pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam

This research was conducted with the aim to be achieved, namely to find out how much influence online learning has on the learning motivation of 8th and 9th grade students in Islamic religious education subjects at SMP Plus Al-Ijtihad 2 Kutabaru, Pasar Kemis Subdistrict, Tangerang Regency. The research method used is a descriptive method with a quantitative approach. A method that describes a phenomenon in the field with a data analysis approach. The instrument in this study is to use a questionnaire (questionnaire) and interviews as a source of data. And the sample used in the study used systematic random sampling. Respondents of this study amounted to 54 students. Based on the results of data processing and discussion that the effect of online learning on the motivation of students in Islamic religious education subjects can be proven by calculating the Product Moment correlation, the result is 0.557. In variable X online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic and variable Y student learning motivation in the PAI folder, there is an influence between variables X and Y, the correlation is moderate/sufficient in the coefficient interval 0.40-0.599. So it can be concluded that the effect of online learning on students' learning motivation in PAI subjects is 31.0% and the remaining 69.0% is influenced by other factors which may be family environment factors, the environment between friends and so on.

Making 20% Matter Most: Meeting the Needs of Gifted and High Ability Students Through Type III 20Time (T4) Projects

A 9th grade Honors English class creates and publishes original poems, art, fiction, and nonfiction products through an activity called “Type Three – Twenty Time = T4.” The instructional method merges elements from Renzulli’s Type III process with elements from Brookhouser’s 20Time Project-based learning model. Each student researches an interest passion topic and creates a related original product or service for a real audience. Upon reflection on the experience, the author identifies evidence-based practices including compacting ELA course content to create time for the T4 process; enhanced student engagement; active learning versus passive learning; improved writing skills; quality presentation skills; higher level creative and critical thinking; and upgraded 21st Century skills.

New Evidence of the Effect of Literacies in Reducing Disinformation and Fake News

Context: The production of scientific knowledge is not clearly understood by most individuals. In the information age, society faces challenges generated by discrediting institutions, including science, the proliferation of false news, disinformation and the relativisation of truth. These are significant issues that the school cannot refrain from discussing if it wants to educate for citizenship. Objectives: To investigate how conceptions about science influence and are influenced by fake news conveyed by the media and the contribution of literacy to minimise the effects of misinformation. Design: The methodology used in this research used a mixed-methods approach through content analysis of students’ responses combined with descriptive statistical techniques. Environment and participants: The research was carried out with 32 students, divided into two groups, attending the 9th grade of an elementary public school in Bom Princípio/RS. Data collection and analysis: Two questionnaires were applied: one for the conceptions about science and another to identify fake news. Results: Most students have a limited view of science and find it difficult to identify fake news through verification criteria. A correlation between student perceptions and the identification of false news was observed. Conclusions: Knowledge about science possibly enhances students’ perception of doubtful information. It is crucial to develop mediatic and information literacy skills as they can positively impact the identification of fake news and reduce its shares.

PENGGUNAAN MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN ONLINE UNTUK MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR DAN RESPONSIF SISWA SAAT PEMBELAJARAN JARAK JAUH DI MASA PANDEMI

The purpose of this research was to find out the increase in understanding of junior high school science concepts and student responsiveness by using the Google Meet, WhatsApp and Google classroom. The research was conducted in 9th grade during the online learning process. The method in this research uses quantitative and descriptive qualitative. Data obtained from the average of daily test and questionnaire. Based on the results of the research, there was an increase in learning outcomes by 32.4% and student responsiveness stated that 66.7% of communicative and fun learning also 85.2% of students stated that it was easy to understand the course. there is an increase in understanding of science concepts and pleasant responses by combining the Google Meet, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom applications. ABSTRAKTujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui peningkatan pemahaman konsep IPA SMP dan responsif siswa dengan penggunaan gmeet, WA, Google classroom. Penelitian dilakukan di kelas 9 selama proses pembelajaran daring. Metode dalam penelitian menggunakan kuantitatif dan kualitatif deskriptif. Data diperoleh dari rata-rata ulangan harian dan angket. Berdasar hasil penelitian, terdapat peningkatan hasil belajar sebesar 32,4 % dan responsif siswa menyatakan 66,7 % pembelajaran komunikatif dan menyenangkan dan 85,2 % siswa menyatakan mudah memahami pembelajaran. Terdapat peningkatan pemahaman konsep IPA dan respon menyenangkan dan paham dengan penggabungan aplikasi gmeet, WA, dan google classroom.