Improving Education for African American Gifted Students Through African American Intellectualism

Researchers have consistently advocated for more culturally relevant and responsive practices in gifted education to better meet the academic and social-emotional needs of Black gifted students. This chapter provides overviews of contemporary views of culturally relevant practices but also provides alternative perspectives of the elements that comprise culturally relevant experiences for Black gifted students by exploring the lives and work of early Black gifted scholars. Recommendations for designing culturally relevant and responsive learning experiences by utilizing elements of African American intellectualism along with curricular models from gifted education will be discussed and shared.

Student-generated learning objectives and curricular innovation

Introduction Recent focus from accrediting bodies emphasizes learning objectives as a means of mapping and standardizing content coverage. While most educational training centers on faculty-derived learning objectives that are geared towards didactic lectures, student-centered teaching modalities like problem-based learning continue to gain popularity. One opportunity is the integration of student-generated learning goals in curriculum development. The educational philosophy at the Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus centers on discussion-based Inquiry Groups that focus on students’ experiential case learning which leads to student-generated learning objectives. This study examined a student-centered approach to learning objectives. Methods Our quantitative analysis explored student-generated learning objectives during the first-year curriculum. Primary outcome measures included process variables investigating the growth and change of objectives across the year that include Bloom’s taxonomy-based verb scores, verb numbers per session, and learning objective word lengths. Knowledge-based content coverage variables were compared with existing curricular models. Results Student-derived learning objectives changed substantially over the year. Taxonomy scores decreased while the learning objective verb number, word length, and calculated value per session increased significant. Content and comparator analyses showed that coverage and verb quality met or exceeded existing curricular models. Discussion Student-generated learning objectives are not only plausible and achievable, they also provide distinct pacing and engagement benefits. Our findings serve as a model for student-centered educational innovations.

Cobertura del nuevo Plan de Estudios para el Ingeniero de Software de la UADY: Un Análisis desde la óptica de la ANIEI

En este artículo se presenta un análisis para la cobertura del nuevo Plan de Estudios de la Licenciatura en Ingeniería de Software de la Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), respecto de los Modelos curriculares propuestos por la Asociación Nacional de Instituciones de Educación en Tecnologías de Información (ANIEI). Del análisis se pudo identificar la dificultad de establecer equivalencias al medir el esfuerzo de aprendizaje de los estudiantes en horas presenciales y no presenciales, con respecto al plan de enseñanza diseñado por los profesores para los alumnos, definido en horas teóricas y prácticas. El artículo presenta fortalezas y debilidades del Plan de Estudios, en relación con la cobertura de las áreas de conocimiento consideradas en los modelos de la ANIEI, en particular, en el perfil “B” que se corresponde con el de Ingeniero de Software. This article presents an analysis for the coverage of the new Curriculum Models of the Bachelor in Software Engineering of the Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY), regarding the Curricular Models proposed by the National Association of Information Technology Education Institutions (ANIEI). From the analysis, it was possible to identify the difficulty of establishing equivalences when measuring the learning effort of the students in face-to-face and non-face-toface hours, with respect to the teaching plan designed by the teachers for the students, defined in theoretical and practical hours. Also, the article presents strengths and weaknesses of the Curriculum, in relation to the coverage of the areas of knowledge considered in the ANIEI models, in particular, in the "B" profile corresponding to that of Software Engineer.

“My mindset has completely shifted from asking what to asking why and how”: Influence of two effective and expert teachers’ value orientations on their curricula and pedagogies

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of two effective and expert physical education (PE) teachers’ value orientations on the curricula they delivered and the pedagogies they employed. The specific research questions we attempted to answer were: (a) What were the teachers’ current value orientations? (b) How had these value orientations influenced their curricula and pedagogies? and (c) How had the teachers’ value orientations, curricula, and pedagogies evolved during the course of their careers? Data were collected from PE teachers Hudson and Garrett with the short form of the value orientation inventory and six interpretive techniques (i.e. formal, informal, and stimulated recall interviews; non-participant observations; document analysis; and reflective journaling). Value orientation profiles were graphed. Qualitative data were analyzed by employing analytic induction and constant comparison. Key findings were that the two PE teachers prioritized the disciplinary mastery and social responsibility orientations and they employed curricular models and pedagogies that were congruent with these perspectives. Data also indicated that the self-actualization perspective had a minor influence on Hudson and the learning process orientation had a similar influence on Garrett. Both PE teachers began teaching with a primary focus on disciplinary mastery and expanded their views to include social responsibility later in their careers. The study highlights the importance of exposing preservice and in-service teachers to different value orientations, curricular models, and pedagogies and requiring them to consider the congruence between their goals and objectives and the models and methods they employ.

Interests, limits and possibilities of curricular structures in physical therapy

Introduction: In Brazil, the field of physical therapy education has undergone transformations with regard to curricular models. However, changes require conscious, collective efforts to align multiple interests and achieve agreed goals, which usually do not occur without conflicts. Objective: To verify the tensions involving the curricular changes in a physical therapy course based on the concepts of field, habitus and capital of Pierre Bourdieu. Method: Qualitative study with field observation and interviews with teachers using a semi-structured script and content analysis. Results: Much internal resistance was observed, which prevented the process of change from expanding. Key disciplines were created with the aim to interconnect the curriculum matrix and favor content integration; however, these disciplines functioned, ultimately, like any other. Conclusion: Teachers continued to play by the rules of the field unaware of its determinations, that is, the agents’ habitus reflected the existing structure without changing the practices, and the discipline curriculum remained linear.