COVID-19 in school settings: webinar aimed at both teachers and educators.

Background: In the COVID-19 era, we designed the webinar "COVID-19: instructions for use" with the aim of providing clear and actionable information to school staff about the characteristics of the disease, the preventive measures to adopt and the path for early detection and control of COVID-19 in primary schools of Modena province. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey using a 7-item closed-ended satisfaction questionnaire self-administered to webinar participants among school staff of the Modena Municipality and neighbouring. Results: A total of 103 out of 152 (68%) participants delivered the questionnaires. The participating staff came from 29 schools. Most of respondents (83.5%) were primary school teachers following by kindergarten teachers and educators. The overall webinar assessment index was "very good" for 51% of attendees and "good" for the remaining. Nevertheless, 25.2% highlighted the need to have more time dedicated to the discussion. Conclusions: Our project promotes a virtuous circle between school-family and community; so that the benefits can be sustained and enhanced. This may improve the effectiveness of the preventive measures in terms of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other virus.

Exploring the physical activity and screen-viewing-related knowledge, training, and self-efficacy of early childhood education candidates.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood educators greatly influence young children's physical activity and screen-viewing behaviours in childcare. However, educators have requested additional training in physical activity programming, and one logical place to provide this education is during their pre-service schooling. This study explored the physical activity and screen-viewing-related knowledge, training, and self-efficacy of early childhood education (ECE) candidates across Canada, to determine their confidence and ability to facilitate physical activity opportunities and limit screen-viewing among young children in childcare. METHODS: Key program personnel at 61 (of 110) Canadian colleges/universities offering an ECE program agreed to participate in this cross-sectional study. An online survey (112 items; 9 domains), developed by experts using the Tailored Design Method, was administered via Qualtrics© to a sample of 1292 ECE candidates. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and chi-square tests were used to report participant demographics and physical activity and screen-viewing-related knowledge (i.e., of physical activity and screen-viewing concepts), training (i.e., physical activity and screen-viewing courses/content received), and self-efficacy (i.e., to facilitate physical activity and limit screen-viewing in childcare) of candidates. RESULTS: ECE candidates exhibited the least amount of knowledge regarding the impact of screen-viewing on physiological outcomes (i.e., blood pressure) in young children. Further, only 32.2 and 26.7% of candidates reported completing physical activity or screen-viewing courses during their post-secondary training, respectively. Candidates who completed one or more physical activity or screen-viewing courses exhibited significantly greater (p <.05) self-efficacy than those without such training related to ensuring children were engaging in adequate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Confidence to limit screen time did not differ. Candidates reporting meeting national physical activity recommendations (i.e., 150+ minutes of MVPA/week) exhibited significantly greater (p <.05) physical activity-related self-efficacy than those not meeting these guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this work highlight both the need for and the potential of supplementary physical activity and screen-viewing content in post-secondary ECE programs to benefit candidates' knowledge and self-efficacy in these areas. Introducing this content at the post-secondary level will ensure that all early childhood educators are appropriately trained regarding physical activity and screen-viewing before entering a childcare-based profession, where they can positively influence young children's health behaviours.

An evaluation of the implementation of cascade training for suicide prevention during the 'Choose Life' initiative in Scotland - utilizing Normalization Process Theory.

BACKGROUND: 'Cascade training' or 'train-the-trainers' has been widely utilised in the dissemination of information and expertise in health and social care, but with little examination of the work required for optimal delivery. National suicide prevention strategies commonly include such training initiatives. METHODS: A qualitative study to characterise the work, according to the concepts of Normalization Process Theory, required to disseminate STORM, a model of suicide prevention training across Scotland, and then implement it within organisations. This utilised a cascade style 'train-the trainers' intervention delivered as part of the Choose Life suicide prevention strategy in Scotland during 2008-11. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 19 training facilitators, 30 of their group participants within organisations and 11 local managers within health boards in Scotland. RESULTS: Crucial to the process of a cascade training approach to implementing suicide prevention within an organisation was the multi-layered activity of constructing coherence of the intervention at every level in order to prevent dilution of the training. This necessitated collaborative work within and between groups of actors- managers, facilitators and participants. Where facilitators were effectively engaged in their role, confident in their ability to train, supported by supervision and possessed the leadership skills to engage both with participants and their local context to deliver training, there was evidence of both successful delivery and embedding within the organisation. However, there was little systematic evidence of institutional level appraisal- crucial to truly implementing a novel intervention within the system - despite efforts at local managerial engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Successful cascade or train-the-trainer implementation of an intervention requires extensive collaborative work to take place between and within groups of actors at all levels of an organization from those working at policy level to the 'coalface'. A priori application of Normalization Process Theory, to specify aims and goals for the necessary work to be carried out between different groups of actors, would assist in embedding a novel working practice at all levels. Future national training strategies for suicide prevention should address what is required to establish a flourishing culture of high-quality skills acquisition and development within healthcare organisations.

The impact of staff training on special educational needs professionals' attitudes toward and understanding of applied behavior analysis.

BACKGROUND: Research-based evidence points to the efficacy and value of applied behavior analysis (ABA) in meeting the needs of individuals with learning disabilities and autism. Nonetheless, public, government, and professional perception of ABA can be negative. The current study was designed to measure the impact of a short intervention on professionals' attitudes toward, and knowledge of, ABA. METHOD: Teachers and classroom assistants from two separate schools for children with severe learning difficulties completed a self-report survey on knowledge of and attitudes toward ABA. They were then presented with a 90-min training module designed to increase their knowledge of the history of ABA and their functional assessment skills. Following training, the self-report was readministered. RESULTS: The mean scores for each group increased only after the training had been delivered. Discussion and conclusions: Further research is needed to address the impact of training on classroom practice.

An Intervention to Improve Teachers' Interpersonally Involving Instructional Practices in High School Physical Education: Implications for Student Relatedness Support and In-Class Experiences.

Research grounded in self-determination theory has demonstrated the important role of teachers in shaping students' physical education experiences. Utilizing a cluster-randomized controlled design, this study aimed to examine whether an interpersonally involving training program based on self-determination theory principles could enhance students' in-class experiences. With 18 teachers (males = 8, females = 10, Mage = 32.75, SD = 8.14) and a final sample of 382 students (males = 155, females = 227, Mage = 13.20, SD = 1.66), we implemented linear mixed modeling to investigate the effects on students' (a) perceived relatedness support and (b) enjoyment of physical education, tripartite efficacy beliefs (i.e., self-efficacy, other-efficacy, relation-inferred self-efficacy), self-determined motivation, and amotivation. Relative to those in the control condition, students in the treatment condition reported positive changes in teacher-provided relatedness support, enjoyment, other-efficacy, and peer-focused relation-inferred self-efficacy. These findings demonstrate support for strategies designed to aid physical education teachers' relatedness-supportive instructional behaviors.

A hidden history: A survey of the teaching of eugenics in health, social care and pedagogical education and training courses in Europe.

Knowledge and understanding of how eugenics has historically affected the lives of people with intellectual disabilities is vital if professionals are to mount an effective defence against its contemporary influences. An online survey of European providers of health, social care and pedagogical education and training courses was undertaken to find out how the history of eugenics is taught to those wishing to work in services for people with intellectual disabilities. Two hundred and six educational providers were contacted with a response rate of 35.9% (n = 74). Findings showed that the majority of educational providers recognize the importance of including the history of eugenics in their courses, although fewer feel confident that it is sufficiently well covered to prepare future professionals for their role as protector. Course content differs on both the emphasis given to the different components of this history, time dedicated to its delivery and the extent to which it is used to inform legal and ethical debate. Specific recommendations for developing the way in which this subject area is taught are outlined.

Does a training course on early childhood communication have an impact on the knowledge of early childhood education professionals? / Um curso de capacitação sobre comunicação na primeira infância impacta no conhecimento de profissionais da educação infantil?

PURPOSE: To analyze whether a training course on communication development in early childhood has a positive impact on the knowledge of early childhood education professionals and to verify the participants' perception of the course. METHODS: A longitudinal study conducted in a virtual environment between September 2021 and December 2022. A total of 91 early childhood education professionals took part and completed a training course. The course consisted of three modules on communication development in early childhood, offered through the Google Classroom platform, with a total workload of 50 hours spread over four months. Participants answered a questionnaire made up of 20 items related to the topics covered before starting the course, immediately after completing it and six months after finishing. For each question answered correctly, 1 point was awarded. The data was analyzed using a descriptive and inferential approach, and the total number of correct answers at the three moments was compared using Friedman's ANOVA, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Both the analysis of the correct answers to each item in the questionnaire and the overall score showed a gradual increase between the three moments. The participants' perception of the course was highly satisfied. CONCLUSION: The participants showed an increase in the number of correct answers to the questionnaire before and after the training course, which suggests greater knowledge about the development of communication in early childhood both immediately after the course and after six months.

OBJETIVO: Analisar se um curso de capacitação sobre o desenvolvimento da comunicação na primeira infância tem impacto positivo no conhecimento de profissionais da educação infantil e verificar a percepção dos participantes sobre o curso. MÉTODO: Estudo longitudinal conduzido em ambiente virtual entre setembro de 2021 e dezembro de 2022. No total, participaram 91 profissionais da educação infantil que concluíram um curso de capacitação. O curso consistiu em três módulos sobre desenvolvimento da comunicação na primeira infância, ofertados por meio da plataforma Google Classroom, com uma carga horária total de 50 horas distribuídas ao longo de quatro meses. Os participantes responderam um questionário composto por 20 itens relacionados aos temas abordados antes de iniciar o curso, imediatamente após a conclusão e seis meses após o término. Para cada questão respondida corretamente foi atribuído 1 ponto. A análise dos dados foi conduzida por meio de uma abordagem descritiva e inferencial, sendo a comparação do total de acertos nos três momentos realizada por meio da ANOVA de Friedman, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Tanto a análise dos acertos de cada item do questionário, quanto a pontuação geral revelou aumento gradual entre os três momentos. A percepção dos participantes sobre o curso teve alto índice de satisfação. CONCLUSÃO: Os participantes demonstraram aumento no número de acertos no questionário nos momentos pré e pós curso de capacitação, o que sugere maior conhecimento sobre o desenvolvimento da comunicação na primeira infância tanto imediatamente após sua conclusão, quanto após seis meses.

Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness Training in Lao PDR: A Pilot Study of an Adaptable Approach to Training and Supervision.

Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) has been part of the national strategy for child health in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic since 2003. The program, while running for an extended period, has faced multiple challenges including maintaining the teaching quality for the implementation of the IMNCI guidelines and a structure to enable and support healthcare workers trained to apply the training in their workplace. A revised training model that focused on building skills for teaching according to adult learning principles in a pool of facilitators, a practical and hands-on training workshop for healthcare workers, and the establishment of a program of health center supervision was developed and implemented in three provinces. Participants in the revised model reported increased confidence in implementing IMNCI guidelines, they demonstrated competence in the steps of IMNCI and on follow-up assessment at a supervision visit were found to have improved patient care through the measurement of pediatric case management scores. This study highlights the importance of a focus on education to ensure the translation of guidelines into practice and thereby lead to improvements in the quality of pediatric care. The IMNCI training approach is acceptable and valued by healthcare worker participants.

What really impacts the use of active learning in undergraduate STEM education? Results from a national survey of chemistry, mathematics, and physics instructors.

Six common beliefs about the usage of active learning in introductory STEM courses are investigated using survey data from 3769 instructors. Three beliefs focus on contextual factors: class size, classroom setup, and teaching evaluations; three focus on individual factors: security of employment, research activity, and prior exposure. The analysis indicates that instructors in all situations can and do employ active learning in their courses. However, with the exception of security of employment, trends in the data are consistent with beliefs about the impact of these factors on usage of active learning. We discuss implications of these results for institutional and departmental policies to facilitate the use of active learning.

Neurophilia is stronger for educators than students in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Educational products claiming to be "brain-based" are common. Due to neurophilia, including a brain in a product's marketing can enhance perceptions. However, schooling background may play a protective role. OBJECTIVE: As previous neuromarketing research has been conducted predominantly in English speakers, we examined whether the effects of neurophilia extend to a Portuguese-speaking Brazilian population. METHOD: Teachers and students (N = 262) viewed one of four advertisements for a hypothetical product translating to ''Right Brain'' or ''Right Start'' Training; half the advertisements contained an MRI brain image. Participants rated their perceptions of interest, efficacy, and scientific rationale. RESULTS: The presence of a brain image or the word 'brain' did not influence responses. However, occupation had a significant effect: teachers' ratings were higher than students' ratings. Importantly, teachers were more susceptible to neurocontent, rating "Right Brain" training significantly higher than students. CONCLUSION: These results thus highlight the need to improve teachers' neuroscience literacy.

Brain knowledge and predictors of neuromyths among teachers in Morocco.

The objective of this study was to evaluate brain knowledge and the prevalence of neuromyths among teachers in Morocco. We aimed also predicting factors that may improve teachers' brain knowledge and widespread of neuromyths. An online questionnaire was sent to a large population of Moroccan teachers. The questionnaire contains 32 questions, 20 of them are designed to assess teachers' knowledge about the brain and the remaining 12 questions are neuromyths. The mean score of brain knowledge was (64.34% (SD = 27.9%)) and the mean score of neuromyths was (66.56% (SD= 25.73%)). Besides, 50% of teachers were unable to correctly answer seven out of the 20 brain knowledge questions. Moreover, half of the teachers believed in 9 out of the 12 neuromyths. Knowledge about the brain was the foremost predictor of neuromyths. The study disclosed a real lack of brain knowledge with a widespread of neuromyths among teachers in Morocco.

Teachers' networked professional learning with MOOCs.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are used to support professional learning at scale in many countries. The present study examined a MOOC named Flipped Classrooms that was specially designed for in-service teachers in China. This MOOC was offered for seven consecutive iterations across three years and allowed teachers to re-take this course in connection with their teaching practice. Overall, 16% of all 105,370 learners enrolled in at least two iterations of the MOOC. To understand their learning motivations, their learning engagement within the MOOC, and the connections they forged between the MOOC and their teaching, we conducted a mixed-methods study using multiple data sources including course registration records, course entry surveys, learning performance data, click logs, and semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that teacher-learners re-took the MOOC for various reasons such as refreshing domain understanding, improving grades, and addressing practical problems. Click log analysis found MOOC re-takers with different performance trajectories demonstrated distinct learning patterns across iterations. Qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed additional insights into learning within the MOOC and connections forged by the re-takers between the MOOC and their teaching practice. This study contributes fresh insights into the MOOC literature by investigating MOOC re-takers and sheds light on the promise of using MOOC to support networked professional learning. Implications for future MOOCs and teacher learning opportunities are discussed.

Effects of an education program on knowledge and self-perception of school personnel in preparing to care for type 1 diabetes students.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the academic and professional background of school personnel; to assess the impact of the Diabetes + Support given by School Personnel to Children with Type 1 Diabetes Program on the school personnel's knowledge and confidence to support students with type 1 diabetes; to compare their level of knowledge with the academic and professional variables of the school personnel. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study design without a Control Group. Study with a sample of 129 (before intervention - T0) and 113 (after intervention - T1) pre-school to secondary school personnel from participating schools, with at least one student with type 1 diabetes. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Portuguese Ministry of Education. RESULTS: Most school personnel included in the study were teachers (51.2%). After training, they were more confident than before to support children with type 1 diabetes (p<0.05). Regarding knowledge levels, the differences between T0 (10.8±2.8; P 50 =11) and T1 (13.7±2.1; P 50 =11) were statistically significant (p<0.001). Of the 113 school personnel who participated in the final assessment, 89 (78.85%) increased their level of knowledge. CONCLUSION: The program was effective to enhance knowledge and boost confidence to support students with diabetes.

Managing Food Allergy in Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and massive disruptions to daily life in the spring of 2020, in May 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released guidance recommendations for schools regarding how to have students attend while adhering to principles of how to reduce the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. As part of physical distancing measures, the CDC is recommending that schools who traditionally have had students eat in a cafeteria or common large space instead have children eat their lunch or other meals in the classroom at already physically distanced desks. This has sparked concern for the safety of food-allergic children attending school, and some question of how the new CDC recommendations can coexist with recommendations in the 2013 CDC Voluntary Guidelines on Managing Food Allergy in Schools as well as accommodations that students may be afforded through disability law that may have previously prohibited eating in the classroom. This expert consensus explores the issues related to evidence-based management of food allergy at school, the issues of managing the health of children attending school that are acutely posed by the constraints of an infectious pandemic, and how to harmonize these needs so that all children can attend school with minimal risk from both an infectious and allergic standpoint.

Play to Teach: Coaching Paraeducators to Facilitate Communication in the Preschool Classroom.

Paraeducators are ideal candidates for delivering communication interventions to children with developmental disabilities and delays (DD) because they spend a significant amount of time with these children. However, professional development is often inadequate and limited research supports best practices. Additionally, paraeducators work with multiple children with varying skill levels. Little research has been conducted on the use of existing strategies with multiple children. This single-case study examines the effect of a training package on paraeducators' fidelity of intervention implementation with a child dyad and subsequent child outcomes. Results suggest that formal coaching contributed to improved fidelity of intervention implementation. Furthermore, paraeducators were able to use intervention strategies with children with varying communication skills and goals. Variable increases in child communication were also detected.

Practitioner Implementation of Communication Intervention With Students With Complex Communication Needs.

This study evaluated the effects of a pyramidal training approach that used an expert trainer who taught teachers how to train their paraeducators. Three special education teachers were taught to train four paraeducators to provide students with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to initiate (OTI). A multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the rate and fidelity that paraeducators provided OTI and least to most prompting strategies with students. Rates increased from 0 to an average of .58 per minute. Fidelity of implementation increased from 0% to an average of 94.5%. Maintenance data were recorded for three paraeducators. Schools should consider using this cost- and time-effective training model with staff.

Performance assessment to investigate the domain specificity of instructional skills among pre-service and in-service teachers of mathematics and economics.

BACKGROUND: Key elements of instructional quality include the teacher's ability to immediately react in domain-specific classroom situations. Such skills - defined as action-related skills - can only be validly assessed using authentic representations of real-life teaching practice. However, research has not yet explained how teachers apply domain-specific knowledge for teaching and to what extent action-related skills are transferable from one domain to another. AIMS: Our study aims to examine (1) the relationship between action-related skills, content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge, and (2) the domain specificity of action-related skills of (prospective) teachers in the two domains of mathematics and economics. SAMPLE(S): We examined German pre-service and in-service teachers of mathematics (N = 239) and economics (N = 321), including n = 96 (prospective) teachers who teach both subjects. METHODS: Action-related skills in mathematics and economics were measured using video-based performance assessments. Content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge were assessed using established paper-pencil tests. Correlation analyses, linear regressions, and a path model were applied. RESULTS: In mathematics and economics, we find a similar pattern of moderate correlations between action-related skills, content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge. Moreover, a significant correlation between action-related skills in mathematics and economics can be explained almost entirely by underlying relations between content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge in both domains. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that action-related skills empirically differ from domain-specific knowledge and should be considered as domain-specific constructs. This indicates that teacher education should not only focus on domain-specific teacher knowledge, but may also provide learning opportunities for action-related skills in each domain.

The impact of implementation support on the use of a social engagement intervention for children with autism in public schools.

Several interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving social outcomes for children with autism; however, few have been successfully implemented in schools. This study compared two implementation strategies to improve the use of a social engagement intervention for children with autism in public schools. In total, 31 children with autism in grades K-5 and 28 school personnel participated in a randomized controlled trial. Schools were randomized to (1) training in Remaking Recess, a social engagement intervention, or (2) training in Remaking Recess with implementation support. Linear regression with random effects was used to test the intervention effects on implementation fidelity and social outcomes (peer engagement, social network inclusion, and friendship nominations). In both groups, implementation fidelity improved after training but remained low. Children in the Remaking Recess with implementation support condition had significantly higher social network inclusion and received more friendship nominations than children in the Remaking Recess-only condition (p = 0.03). Children in both groups experienced reduced solitary engagement (p < 0.001) and increased joint engagement (p < 0.001). The results suggest that implementation supports may have an effect on outcomes above and beyond the intervention, and that further research is needed into the active intervention mechanisms.