Attitudes Towards Science: A Study of Gender Differences and Grade Level

<p style="text-align: justify;">It should be noted that learning outcomes are not students’ only achievement; attitude is also the main output in learning. This research explores students’ attitudes toward science learning based on gender and the grade level of schools in Aceh, Indonesia. The participants are 1,023 students from the sixth grade of primary schools and the eighth grade of secondary schools. The total sample includes 16 schools spread across the province. The data have been collected using TOSRA. By using the Likert scale, this questionnaire is useful for obtaining descriptions of the students’ attitudes and assigning scores for a certain group of participants. Based on gender, the results show females reflect more positive attitudes toward science than male students do. According to the grade level of the schools, the data reflect the equality of students’ attitudes toward science between primary and secondary schools. Nevertheless, when primary school students enter secondary school, the majority of students enjoy learning science less. This fact is meaningful feedback for science teachers. This result supports the scholars seeking ways to avoid the gender gap in learning activities. Pedagogical implications are also discussed.</p>

Trichotillomania in an Autistic Spectum Disroder: Single Case Intervention

The following work addresses trichotillomania and dermatillomania, both symptoms of the impulses control, in a 11 years old girl, who courses the sixth grade in a private elementary school and with a diagnose of first degree autism spectrum disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a comorbidity. The objective was to reduce the frequency of tearing her hair and the skin imperfections in the school context throughout an intervention based on cognitive behavioral techniques. Within the used methodology to analyze the case an exhaustive evaluation of the patient has been performed using grade observation records, before and during the intervention period in order to systematize the whole process. The intervention techniques used where Token Economy and self-instruction. The results show a progressive improvement of the symptoms, reflected in the diminish of frequency of the behaviors registered that were conducted. In spite of the limited time for the intervention for these kinds of behaviors and the base line phase, it was possible to get to know the girl well and establish bonds with her, in spite of her condition, which can be noted in a better adaptation on her school context. This work seeks to favor the increase of research on this disorder since there is information related on the etiological factors, but it still is not enough, likewise, the related information on these disorders and its possible comorbidities is useful to continue with the advance on the treatments in this area.

Readability Analysis of Otolaryngology Consent Documents on the iMed Consent Platform

ABSTRACT Introduction The American Medical Association (AMA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend all patient information and consent materials be provided at the fourth- to sixth-grade level. The iMed Consent platform is used nationally by the Veterans Health Administration and private hospitals. We aimed to assess the readability of otolaryngology consents at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (WLA-VA) hospital to determine whether they conform with AMA/NIH guidelines. Materials and Methods A readability analysis of 27 otolaryngology iMed consent documents was performed. The main outcome measure was the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). The setting of the study was an otolaryngology clinic at a major VA hospital. All consents used in the WLA-VA otolaryngology clinic for the month of October 2018 were analyzed using readability metrics. These included the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) score, the FKGL, the Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Coleman–Liau Index (CLI). Results The following means of all consents were calculated for each of the readability metrics: FRE 56.3, FKGL 8.3, GFI 14.5, SMOG 11.3, and CLI 11.2. The standardized anesthesia and blood consent were analyzed separately with the following scores: FRE 45.1, FKGL 11.7, GFI 15.5, SMOG 14.6, and CLI 12.6. The average FKGL of the consents was found to be significantly above the sixth-grade level (P: .0013). Conclusion The average grade level of the otolaryngology iMed consents reviewed was at a reading level above the AMA/NIH recommendations. This objective measure should be taken into consideration when revising the iMed system and in the creation of future standardized consents. Readability analysis does not take into consideration the significant variance that exists as part of the verbal consent process that takes place between patient and provider.

¿Harry Potter en Educación Deportiva? Percepciones del profesor, estudiantes y familias

The goal of this study was to examine teacher, students and parents’ perceptions of a quidditch-muggle Sport Education season at a primary school. Fifty-two sixth-grade students from one primary school participated in the study. A case study research design was followed. One Physical Education specialist with expertise in the Sport Education Model agreed to participate and conducted a season based on the quidditch-muggle sport (17 sessions; 60 minutes/each, two days/week). Finally, forty-five parents, 86.52% of the total sample, agreed to provide their insights on their children’s Harry Potter experience. Several instruments were used to collect qualitative data: teacher’s diary, students’ open-ended question, parents’ open-ended question and students’ discussion groups. From the analysis of all data obtained, four positive categories emerged: enjoyment, novelty, learning and self-construction and one negative: competitiveness. Teacher, students and parents highlighted the usefulness of the SEM despite of the overemphasis on the competition. El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar las percepciones del profesor, estudiantes y familias de una temporada de Educación Deportiva de quidditch-muggle. 52 estudiantes de 6º de Educación Primaria de un colegio participaron en la investigación. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de caso. Un profesor de Educación Física experto en el modelo de Educación Deportiva participó en el estudio y dirigió la temporada de quidditch-muggle (17 sesiones; 60 minutos por sesión, dos días a la semana). Finalmente, 45 familias, esto es un 86,52% del total de la muestra, aceptaron participar y proporcionar sus puntos de vista acerca de la experiencia de Harry Potter de sus hijos. Se utilizaron diferentes instrumentos de recogida de datos: diario del profesor, preguntas abiertas del alumnado, preguntas abierta de las familias y grupos de discusión del alumnado. Del análisis de datos se extrajeron cuatro categorías positivas: diversión, novedad, aprendizaje y autoconstrucción y una negativa: competitividad. El profesor, el alumnado y las familias destacaron la utilidad del modelo a pesar de la competitividad presente.

Employing Disability Simulations and Virtual Reality Technology to Foster Cognitive and Affective Empathy Towards Individuals With Disabilities

The chapter will begin by defining empathy and theory of mind (ToM), key constructs for showcasing the importance of simulations and immersive experiences to help typical children better understand the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities. The authors will delineate strengths and limitations associated with Autism, ADHD, Visual, Hearing and Physical Impairment. Next, the chapter will introduce Affect/Effort Theory to demonstrate how formulating positive expectancies of individuals with disabilities will be critical to interest typical children in their peers with disabilities. Moreover, the chapter will highlight the strengths, limitations and best practices for optimizing VRT and disability simulations to enhance typical children's knowledge, intentions and attitudes towards peers with disabilities. Finally, the authors will share qualitative data from a pilot disability simulation of eight children in third through sixth grade from a Camp in Liberty, NY. The results will be discussed in light of future possibilities for effective VRT-based disability simulations.

Cybergogy and Heutagogy Learning based on Ternate Local Wisdom for Elementary School Students’ Character Education

This study aimed to assess local knowledge as one of the character formation values of Islamic elementary school students through Heutagogy and Cybergogy learning approach. The writers employed a qualitative method with a post-positivism interpretive phenomenology approach. The research subjects were the fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade teachers and students of SD (Elementary School) in Ternate. The writers collected the data through interviews, observation, and documentation and then analyzed the data using phenomenological data analysis. The results showed that the school applied Heutagogy and Cybergogy approaches in learning activities through online learning instructions combined with local wisdom. The values of local wisdom that supported the formation of student characters were tabea (respecting teachers and elders), dodara ngofa (a sense of love and affection with others), and fohaka biasa toma dodoto madaha (providing an example of habituation in education). These three dominant values formed the student characters.

ANALISIS FAKTOR MINIMNYA MINAT MEMBACA SISWA DI KELAS VI SDIT DAARUL ISTIQLAL KECAMATAN PATUMBAK KABUPATEN DELI SERDANG

This research is motivated by the lack of interest in reading elementary school students, especially at SDIT DarulIstiqlal. This study aims to find out what factors cause the lack of interest in reading in students in class VI SDIT DaarulIstiqlal, to find out the role of teachers to increase reading interest in class VI students at SDIT DaarulIstiqlal and to know the role of parents to increase reading interest in students VI. SDIT DaarulIstiqlal, class VI SDIT DarulIstiqlal, Patumbak District, Deli Serdang Regency. This research is descriptive research. The subjects of the study were sixth grade students, teachers and parents of students. Data collection techniques using observation, interviews, and questionnaires. The data analysis technique used descriptive qualitative. The results showed that the internal factors that caused the low reading interest of the sixth graders of SDIT DarulIstiqlalPatumbak were reading skills and lack of reading habits. External factors that cause students' low interest in reading are a less supportive school environment, the role of the library is not maximized, limited books/reading materials, less supportive families, and the influence of watching television and using mobile phones Keywords: Causing factor, Interest in reading, Research