Exploring the Relationship between Interest in Higher Education and 12th Grade Mathematics NAEP Scores

This study presented a secondary analysis of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) dataset. The paper examined if a gap exists between the mathematics scores of 12th-grade public school students who have different levels of interest in higher education. - This study used a quantitative descriptive research design to analyze data from the 2013, 2015, and 2019 NAEP data sets. The findings include (1) the average mathematics scale score of students who complete college entrance exams, ACT/SAT, is higher than those who do not complete these exams. (2) The average mathematics scale score of students who complete the FAFSA is higher than those who do not complete the FAFSA. (3) Students who applied to four-year colleges performed significantly higher on the 12th-grade mathematics NAEP than those who did not. (4) Students who applied to two-year colleges performed significantly lower on the 12th-grade mathematics NAEP than those who did not. (5) Students who perceived a future benefit to mathematics scored higher on the mathematics NAEP. These findings indicate that students who are interested in higher education, particularly four-year education, do have higher 12th NAEP mathematics scores. These findings may provide insight into college preparation and guidance at the high school level.

Higher Education Institutions and Post-Covid In-Demand Employability Skills: Responding Through Curriculum that Works

This study explained that the post-Covid world of work would demand a new set of employability skills. Higher education institutions need to respond by preparing graduates with manifest post-COVID-19 employability skills through innovatively delivered curricula. Through literature review, the study identified post-Covid-19 in-demands employability skills and ways of innovatively fostering them. The study adopted the descriptive survey method and canvassed (104) faculty members’ (from 9 public universities) opinions through an online poll on the skills they considered relevant for post-pandemic graduate employability and integrating them into universities curricula. Data collected were descriptively analyzed using frequency count and percentage. Findings showed that when universities commit to innovative curriculum delivery, students can easily acquire skills and competencies required to effective security and create jobs in the post-Covid job market effectively recommended that universities should innovate their curricula by integrating post-Covid in-demands skills needed for students’ post-Covid job market.

Globalization, Academic Migrants and Education: Case Study of Palestine Scholars in India

The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the most complex issues in nature; the issues of sovereignty, territorial issues, and much more are still unresolved in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. More specifically, this ongoing conflict had affected the Palestinians' life, identity, psychology, and development. A thorough literature review reveals that there is an absence of scholarly research in the area of academic migration of Palestinian scholars about the educational challenges in Indian universities. This research uses a qualitative approach with case study methods. The researcher used field study and Snowball Sampling methods to select the study samples. The in-depth perception of six cases was analyzed on the issues of their stay in India, educational challenges in universities, a pedagogical transaction in the classroom, and the different cultural contexts (of their home country and destination country). The study revealed the academic disparities they face about language were problematic, and this hampered the conversation. Critically understanding the international scenario and position of the Palestinian scholars, this research study will contribute to the development of an empathetic understanding of the students from different conflict zones.

Combining Active Learning Strategies: Performances and Experiences of Grade School Filipino Students

This study combined computer simulation and predict-observe-explain as a new strategy known as Computer Simulation Supported Predict-Observe-Explain (CSSPOE) to explore other ways to facilitate the teaching and learning in physics. This strategy was tested in determining the conceptual understanding and scientific reasoning among grade school Filipino students. A quasi-experimental method was used to gather quantitative data from 38 participants then a case study was used to acquire information from the students. After the CSSPOE intervention, post-test results showed that students had positive conceptual changes, and this increase was significant. The interview data showed that participants pointed out the affordances of CSSPOE, such as visualization, autonomy, recognition of alternative conceptions, and consequently accommodating the scientific notions, and noticing the departure of the strategy from the usual lecture method. The recommendation is to adapt CSSPOE in the K to 12 science curriculum or even in college Physics classes. Physics teachers should strive to utilize constructivist and active learning approaches like CSSPOE.

Thriving Amidst the Pandemic: Examining the Lived Experiences of Work from Home Filipino Teachers

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual experiences of work-from-home (WFH) Filipino teachers. It also provides descriptions of the positive and negative aspects of working from home and how they adapt to the new culture. This study describes exceptional or new thoughts and feelings of WFH Filipino teachers. Using a qualitative phenomenological methodology, the researchers explored teachers’ lived experiences in teaching in a work-from-home environment. This study included ten (10) teachers from both public and private schools in Metro Manila. Analyses of the data revealed key themes from the teachers’ perspectives of the work-from-home environment. Respondents accepted the new culture of working from home, opened their minds to all possibilities, and were eager to learn new things to adapt to changes. Online teaching-learning is not possible without the respondents' participation in training and seminars. Technical issues, communication concerns, student learning conditions, family concerns, household issues, and health conditions are some of the challenges in teaching and working at home based on the research. Teacher participants expressed that WFH experiences were challenging and exhausting but they found it fulfilling as well. They cultivated the teachers’ traits of being flexible, innovative, dynamic, and sociable despite the many challenges that they have encountered in the intricate setup to enhance success and effectiveness in the teaching and learning process.

Differences Between Schools of Choice and Traditional Comprehensive Schools in Their Grade 9 Academic Performance

This study was conducted to determine the differences between schools of choice and traditional comprehensive high schools in terms of their Grade 9 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End-of-Course (EOC) exams in Biology, English 1, and Algebra 1 during the 2017-2018 school year. Inferential statistical analyses revealed the presence of a statistically significant difference between the two types of schools on their EOC exam passing rates in all three content areas for students who were not at-risk and for students who were not in poverty. In contrast, statistically significant differences were not revealed between the two types of schools in terms of the EOC exam passing rates of their CATE and Non-CATE students. Knowing that students who have choice appear to perform better academically, policymakers are encouraged to study the feasibility of channeling more funding to help school districts expand their school choice programs to (a) motivate more students to find the school that fit their needs and their future college and career aspirations, and (b) to solicit more support from parents and community businesses to invest in their communities to improve schools through taxes. Given that the data for this research were gathered for only 16 school districts in South Texas, researchers are encouraged to conduct a study that will involve all school districts in the whole state and possibly the whole nation to reach more conclusive evidence on the differences between schools of choice and neighborhood schools.

Differences in Reading by the Economic Status of Texas Grade 4 Boys and Girls in Special Education: A Multiyear Statewide Investigation

In this investigation, the degree to which the economic status (i.e., Not Economically Disadvantaged, Economically Disadvantaged) of Texas Grade 4 boys and girls in special education was related to their reading performance was addressed. Archival data from the Texas Education Agency Public Education Information Management System were analyzed for 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school years on the Texas state-mandated reading assessment for Grade 4 students. Inferential statistical analyses, conducted separately for boys and girls in special education, revealed that boys and girls in poverty had statistically significantly lower reading test scores than boys and girls who were not in poverty. Results in all four school years were consistent with the existing research literature in that poverty negatively affects reading performance. Implications for policy and practice were provided, as well as recommendations for future research.

The Quality of Supervision and Assessment in Industry-Based Learning

Effective student assessment measures the rigor, effectiveness and quality of learning and teaching. There is a persistent concern among higher education practitioners about the accuracy and quality of academic supervision and assessment, particularly in areas of experiential learning. The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate practitioner conceptions on the effectiveness of supervision and assessment practices of industry-based learning in enhancing quality academic practices carried out at five universities in Zimbabwe. This paper analyses stakeholder views, reflections and understandings on student supervision and assessment processes in industry-based learning programs in Zimbabwe universities. Through interviews, focus group discussions, and open and closed questions in structured questionnaires, the participants in the mixed methods study, drawn from universities and their workplace partner organizations, give insights into their activities that characterize the dominant student supervision and assessment practices. The research results show that the participants were moderately satisfied with the overall assessment processes, raising concerns on quality issues, supervisor qualities and competencies, assessment visits by lecturers, and student guidance in the workplace. It is evident that the assessment systems in the work-integrated learning program in the affected universities not only compromised the desired confidence and trust of the students in their assessors but unsettled the assessors themselves, a situation that would naturally invite appropriate corrective action. Participative assessment, an approach where the facilitator seeks to directly involve and share the responsibility for assessment with learners is compatible with industry-based learning approaches because students can engage in self-regulation and intrinsically sanctioned learning.

Emergency Remote Early Childhood Teaching: A Temporary Setting or Contemporary Necessity?

The COVID-19 pandemic and the protection of social distance between educators and learners have impacted all levels of education – significantly, early childhood. It has hindered activities carried out in a direct meeting and has forced education in the 2020-2021 school year to continue through emergency remote teaching. The study determined the fundamental structure of the views of early childhood educators on emergency remote teaching to reveal how they are thinking forward regarding their teaching skillset for either the continuity or change of education in the next school year. A phenomenological design of qualitative research was employed, and a local sample of 10 educators voluntarily informed the study. Through the interviews, five theme clusters emerged that reflected their 88 significant statements. The results evidenced to the extent that early childhood educators view emergency remote teaching as beyond being a temporary solution to learning when a pandemic threatens physical classes, but its potential to become a contemporary necessity is premature and highly dependent on how families will respond and how schools will proceed as a result of their response. Thus, further exploration of professional development topics is needed to support early childhood educators to teach in any situation moving forward.

Gadget Addiction and the Students’ Achievement

Using gadgets cannot be avoided in daily life. It becomes more primary for students in higher education since they change to learn online during the covid−19 pandemic period. They should use gadgets focusing on education, but unfortunately, studies had reported that students are addicted to using gadgets to access some entertaining applications. Therefore, it was essential to investigate how the students manage using gadgets and their effects on their achievement. This survey research required the student's responses to a Gadget Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) Addict item. The researchers collected data using a survey questionnaire on Google Form to determine how using gadgets affects the students' achievement. This research was done from August to December 2020. The results showed that both male and female students were identified as high-risk addicted. Moreover, the gadget addiction had terrible effects on the student's physical and psychological even though it did not significantly impact their academic achievement. However, based on the results, it was hoped that there should be the best management for using gadgets to improve the students’ achievement and prevent the long-term risk of gadget addiction.