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>

Model of Methodology for Organizing Project-based Biology Training in Non-core Institutions of Secondary Vocational Education

Biological knowledge is one of the fundamental components of a common human culture, because without knowledge of biology it is unthinkable to develop an ecological way of thinking, to ensure the perception of the scientific principles of interaction of the Man-Nature system. The formation of a healthy lifestyle, the preservation of ecosystems, and the development of mankind are based on knowledge of biology. The purpose of the article is to develop and use a model of a methodology for organizing project-based education in biology in non-core institutions of secondary vocational education. The interrelation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills is a prerequisite for increasing the level of training of future specialists in any industry. In connection with the introduction of new FSES SPE into the work of educational institutions, secondary schools are required to improve the organization of the educational process and teaching materials. The involvement of students in the implementation of various projects leads to the development and development of project competence, and its level is determined by the number and quality of developed projects. The author concludes that the formation of competencies among students at secondary schools through project activities takes place.

Leading with humour and its effect on resilience in the workplace: The perspectives of principals in Kuwaiti secondary schools

This study aimed to explore the extent to which the principals of secondary schools in the State of Kuwait said they practiced leadership with humour and if it impacts on their level of resilience in the workplace. The study sample consisted of 121 male and female secondary school principals from six educational districts in Kuwait who were selected using the random stratified method. The study findings showed that the perceptions of school principals regarding the extent to which they practice leadership with a sense of humour were moderate in all fields. The study also found that school principals enjoy high resilience in their workplace, especially when solving a problem. Finally, the results showed that the more a school principal used humour the more resilient he/she would be in the workplace. The study concluded that humour should be considered as one factor in effective leadership and that leadership training programmes should include this dimension. The level of resilience can be clearly predicted by identifying the extent to which school principals claim to practice leading with humour.

Adolescent school injuries and classroom sex compositions in German secondary schools

Background School injuries are an important adolescent health problem. Previous research suggests that relevant risk behaviors for school injuries, risk-taking and aggression, are highly susceptible to peer effects. Specifically, evidence suggests that the ratio of men and women in peer groups (sex ratio) affects individuals’ propensity for aggression and risk-taking. However, potential associations of classroom sex ratios with adolescent school injury risks have not been studied so far. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association of classroom sex compositions with adolescent school injuries. Methods We investigate the association of classroom sex ratios with school injuries in a longitudinal survey dataset containing 13,131 observations from 9,204 adolescent students (ages 13-16) from secondary schools in Germany. The data also allow us to identify injuries due to aggressive behavior and analyze these injuries in detail. We use multilevel logistic regression models to analyze risks of both overall and aggression-related school injuries. Results Adolescent students’ risk for school injuries is significantly and positively associated with male-skewed classroom sex ratios (OR = 1.012, p=0.012). Specifically, the risk of sustaining a school injury increases by 33.5 percent when moving from the 10th to the 90th classroom sex ratio percentile. Moreover, we find an even stronger positive association between male-dominated classrooms and aggression-related injury risks (OR = 1.022, p=0.010). Compared to classroom sex ratios at the 10th percentile, the risk of an aggression-related injury is 78 percent higher in classrooms with a sex ratio at the 90th percentile. Finally, we find that both boys’ and girls’ injury risks equally increase with a higher proportion of male students in their classroom. Conclusions Our findings indicate that sex composition of classrooms is an important contextual factor for adolescent school injuries, in particular school injuries resulting from aggression. These findings illustrate the need to integrate a contextual perspective on school injuries among adolescent students both into research and into intervention planning.

Developing a Web-Based App to Assess Mental Health Difficulties in Secondary School Pupils: Qualitative User-Centered Design Study

Background Secondary schools are an ideal setting to identify young people experiencing mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression. However, current methods of identification rely on cumbersome paper-based assessments, which are lengthy and time-consuming to complete and resource-intensive for schools to manage. Artemis-A is a prototype web app that uses computerized adaptive testing technology to shorten the length of the assessment and provides schools with a simple and feasible solution for mental health assessment. Objective The objectives of this study are to coproduce the main components of the Artemis-A app with stakeholders to enhance the user interface, to carry out usability testing and finalize the interface design and functionality, and to explore the acceptability and feasibility of using Artemis-A in schools. Methods This study involved 2 iterative design feedback cycles—an initial stakeholder consultation to inform the app design and user testing. Using a user-centered design approach, qualitative data were collected through focus groups and interviews with secondary school pupils, parents, school staff, and mental health professionals (N=48). All transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results Initial stakeholder consultations provided feedback on preferences for the user interface design, school administration of the assessment, and outcome reporting. The findings informed the second iteration of the app design and development. The unmoderated usability assessment indicated that young people found the app easy to use and visually appealing. However, school staff suggested that additional features should be added to the school administration panel, which would provide them with more flexibility for data visualization. The analysis identified four themes relating to the implementation of the Artemis-A in schools, including the anticipated benefits and drawbacks of the app. Actionable suggestions for designing mental health assessment apps are also provided. Conclusions Artemis-A is a potentially useful tool for secondary schools to assess the mental health of their pupils that requires minimal staff input and training. Future research will evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of Artemis-A in a range of UK secondary schools.

Design and Technology in Malaysian Secondary Schools: A Perspective on Challenges

Design and Technology (D&T) is a relatively new curriculum in Malaysian secondary schools. The basic idea of a design-based curriculum is to facilitate deeper learning for learners to design and develop knowledge and application. However, knowing how design-based education is employed in schools is crucially essential. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain insights into the D&T curriculum implementation from students and teachers’ viewpoints. The study involved semi-structured interviews with four teachers and five secondary school students. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, while conclusions were drawn based on theme analysis. The findings indicated that students and teachers recognised the purpose and direction of the D&T curriculum. Nevertheless, challenges exist in various aspects, as the subject is still in the early implementation stages. Challenges such as teachers’ knowledge and skills, students’ lack of understanding in abstract topics and insufficient facilities, equipment, and resources offer opportunities for researchers to explore relevant approaches to assist teachers and students in teaching and learning. Previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of technology-assisted interventions to ease and overcome problems involving cost and time constraints. Thus, suitable technology-assisted strategies should be developed and utilised to facilitate the students’ abstract details visualisation in technological application topics.