Exploring the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Needs of Basic Schoolteachers in Ghana

This study aims to understand teachers’ perceptions of their professional development needs and examine how these needs are utilised to design CPD interventions for teachers in Ghana. The study uses a qualitative case study research approach to collect data from 25 teachers and five key informants in in-depth interviews. The results demonstrate teachers’ on-going learning needs in pedagogical content knowledge, technology integration in teaching and learning, and school and student management practices. Teachers also revealed that existing CPD interventions inadequately address their specific development needs. Teachers expressed their lack of voice and self-directedness in CPD program planning, design, and implementation, which they attributed as a significant cause of CPD ineffectiveness. Thus, the study recommends that teachers’ learning needs be formed as the pivot around which CPD is organised; to increase teacher participation and CPD program effectiveness.

Teleworking Research

A March 2021 survey is used to consider three hypotheses relating to working adults. Hypothesis 1 is that teleworking perceptions of leaders and employees are related in terms of promoting increased trust and improved performance. Hypothesis 2 is that a structured plan with associated resources to sustain long-term telework situations will be positively associated with program effectiveness. Hypothesis 3 is that a structured plan with associated resources to sustain long-term telework situations will be positively associated with improved performance. Presidents/CEOs (67%), upper managers (80%), and mid-level managers (75%) believe there is daily telework accountability, but the level of belief is different for those who are subordinate to them. Just 55% and 29% of supervisors and employees, respectively, share that belief. These differing viewpoints can make it difficult to manage the kind of work environment and work relationship issues that are crucial in addressing a pandemic or other crisis. In the search for shared understanding, one path to success is rules-based trust.

Virtual exchange program building: an assessment-based approach

Virtual Exchange (VE) provides a strategic approach for higher education institutions to internationalize. This study investigated how a USA Community College (US-CC) system and their partners started and grew their internationalization program through VE with teacher training, assessment, and support from a nonprofit bridge organization. Data were collected on program growth over three years, 2017-20, totaling 13 modules, 29 faculty, and 14 campuses. Cumulatively, students completed 341 pre-module and 202 post-module surveys which assessed the community colleges’ student learning goals: intercultural competence and awareness of the wider world, confidence in finding success in the global workforce, and ability to deploy 21st century skills (e.g. technology and teamwork). Quantitative and qualitative results provided concrete and nuanced evidence of program effectiveness and suggested positive impact. Our findings have two main implications: (1) positive student impact can help grow and sustain VE and other international programming; and (2) teacher training informed by and adapted with student assessment can help institutionalize VE programs.

Film Pedagogy to Encourage Reflection of Juvenile Offenders Serving their Sentence in Juvenile Correctional Facilities

Introduction. The article is aimed at characterizing reflection as a mechanism for social rehabilitation of juvenile offenders serving their sentence in correctional institutions; justifying the possibility of boosting this process by educational means; proving the expediency of using film pedagogy as a tool for the formation of self-reflection in juvenile convicts in correctional facilities. The purpose of this study is to identify the dynamics in the development of reflection of juvenile convicts under the influence of film pedagogy. Methods: theoretical analysis of the research problem, theoretical analysis of statistical data and normative documents, survey, experiment, methods of mathematical statistics, and an interpretative method. Results: after analyzing the statistical data reflecting trends in the penal enforcement policy in relation to juvenile convicts, the author forecasted the effectiveness of awareness-raising work stimulating the development of reflexivity in adolescents by means of film pedagogy. During theoretical description of a special film program, key ideas, pedagogical conditions and methodological solutions for its implementation were outlined; in further experimental study during the real pedagogical process, they were confirmed. The critical indicator of the proposed film program effectiveness was the level of reflexivity in juvenile convicts; positive dynamics in its development was determined with the help of the reflexivity diagnostic method developed by A.V. Karpov. The information obtained in the course of this study can serve as a basis for using the means of film pedagogy in solving a wide range of educational work with convicts in places of deprivation of liberty

Where Are We on the Animal Welfare Map? Using GIS to Assess Stakeholder Diversity and Inclusion

Inequities exist in all facets of society, and animal welfare organizations (AWOs) and their communities are no exception. These organizations interface with multiple stakeholder groups. An active analysis of stakeholder groups to identify under-served areas and communities has not been performed. Using stakeholder data from Toronto Humane Society (THS) from 2015–2019, this study performed a retrospective spatial analysis to identify well served and under-served geographic areas for adopters, surrenders, public veterinary service (PVS) clients, volunteers and foster parents, using Hot Spot analysis. Correlation analysis was performed to determine whether the spatial distribution of the groups correlated with the four socioeconomic metrics of the 2016 Ontario Marginalization Index (residential instability, material deprivation, dependency, and ethnic concentration), and a metric representing the distribution of Indigenous residents. For each stakeholder group, there were well served areas, typically in central Toronto where THS is located, and under-served areas, typically in the north-west and north-east corners of Toronto and in the surrounding cities of the Greater Toronto Area. The area served by THS PVS extended further north than the other hot spot areas. The number of adopters increased as the residential instability metric increased, whereas the number of adopters decreased as the ethnic concentration metric increased. The rate of surrenders increased as the Indigenous metric increased. Public Veterinary Service clients increased as the residential instability, material deprivation, and Indigenous metrics increased. One of the primary limitations of this study was the confounding factor of distance from THS. Individuals living further from THS are less likely to utilize its services, particularly if there is another accessible AWO nearby, and therefore may appear to reflect an under-served population that may not truly be under-served. A regional approach would help to overcome this limitation. The results provide useful insights into stakeholder engagement and provide a foundation for analysis of more targeted areas, as well as for strategies to reach under-served demographics. Similar analyses by other AWOs would be helpful to address inequities in a larger geographic area. Animal welfare organizations can improve program effectiveness by adding data analytics skills to the more traditional skills associated with this sector.

Evaluating a Geriatric Educational Program: Exploring Opportunities for Increasing Impact and Scale

The geriatric population is rapidly growing, and this growth is beyond the pace of increase in the number of healthcare professionals who are qualified to care for and tend to the various needs of this significant subgroup of the population. The current university curricula have not been sufficient in terms of quantity as well as their ability to address the ageism inherent in the perspectives of students from across the educational spectrum. In recognition of the absence of standardized geriatric guidelines, medical associations across Canada and the United States have established geriatric learning competencies for medical programs. Nevertheless, there are exiting gaps regarding the development and evaluation of geriatric-focused didactic programs that adequately train and build competency among the students interested in pursuing careers with geriatric-specific elements. A university-wide program was developed to enhance aging education and build competency through sparking interest, providing better education related to aging, and building better relationships between future healthcare professionals and older adults. To evaluate the impact of this program, a logical framework was developed a-priori and revised through constant iterations and following discussion with the program’s multidisciplinary stakeholder group. Quantitative measures are being augmented with in-depth qualitative interviews to explore elements influencing students’ experiences with the program and the effect on their interests in and attitudes towards geriatrics. The results will inform our conclusions regarding program effectiveness in enhancing interest in geriatric-focused education among the students and trainees and assist with recommending future directions regarding impact and large-scale dissemination and implementation.

Kompleksitas Penegakkan Hukum Ekonomi Di Era Reformasi

Issues that are understood about law relating to the nature of law are made to regulate the order of people's lives so that they are orderly and regularly. Order and regular will not be realized if the rule of law cannot be enforced. The implications of legal regulation in the economic field are various regulatory instruments that affect economic performance, in order to achieve human welfare, both in the short and long term. In this case, the law position is trying to provide a reflection for the creation of an economic justice. Awareness of the need to understand the economic consequences of implementing a rule has actually begun to be discussed, so from this illustration it becomes an argument about the Complexity of Enforcement of Economic Law in the Reformation Era. The aim is to reveal the meaning of a legal action based on law enforcement in the economic field as well as to identify the relationship between variables. Thus, this research produces descriptive data which must be interpreted using qualitative methods. Because this article seeks to provide an explanation of the continuity and integrity of the science and philosophy of law. The reasons that underlie industrial countries and developing countries such as Indonesia, regard the enforcement of economic law as very important, namely program effectiveness, reasons for justice, reasons for credibility, and reasons for efficiency. The phenomenon of economic instability in the reform era is a reflection that management in the economic sector has not fully become our collective commitment, a reductionist and exploitative way of thinking has developed to color the administration of government in the reform era. Enforcement of economic law is actually a preventive or repressive effort in overcoming price volatility and market mechanisms. Law enforcement as a concept that is expected to be one of the foundations for achieving Indonesia's vision in 2030, economic law enforcement occupies an important position to be prioritized because of the vital functions it contains. This concept is an interface between the legal system and the economic system in an effort to realize legal and economic development as a series of stages of nation building. The development of economic law, enforcement in the reform era that its implications for legal institutions and the legal profession. Therefore, it is a challenge for the Indonesian nation in the reform era to find a solution in addition to the challenges of the legal profession, economic actors, and other related professions. In meeting these challenges, an attitude that we need to develop together is openness and “intellectual humility”, realizing that we will be more successful in making contributions if we work together in an interdisciplinary manner. Keywords: Law enforcement, law approach to the economy.

A community-centric multi-disciplinary education program with the 8-section brocade Tai Chi therapy for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee – a pilot study

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common chronic degenerative joint diseases, and a multi-disciplinary approach to educating patients with OA knee are effective in symptoms management. Tai Chi exercise is a novel approach to relieving knee OA symptoms. Combining both educational program and Tai Chi has not yet been explored. Methods Multi-disciplinary education program included a total of 4-week 2-h weekly talks delivered by different health professionals with live demonstrations. This was then followed by a 1-h Tai Chi class (Baduanjin). Results from IPAQ (Physical activity level), WOMAC (evaluate knee OA conditions), and SF-36v2 (quality of life) were collected at the first class of education program, 3 and 6 months after the end of Tai Chi class. CSQ-8 (program effectiveness) was administered on the last day of Tai Chi class. Results One hundred and twelve patients joined the program. The overall attendance was over 90% with close-to-zero dropout rate. Satisfaction scored high in 85% of patients. WOMAC pain scores (p = 0.04) and SF-36v2 emotional role (p = 0.02) were statistically decreasing (improving) at 6 months after the program. SF-36v2 physical role and mental health tended to improve with time. Conclusions Combining both multidisciplinary education program program and Tai Chi exercise for knee OA patients was proven feasible. This program received high satisfaction, high attendance and very low dropout rates without any adverse event. Patients’ pain and emotion were significantly improved. A large-scale randomized trial introducing a control group is recommended. Trial registration Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov Registration number: NCT04204213 Date of registration: 18/12/2019 (Retrospectively registered)

The Training Program Effectiveness to Improve English Pronunciation for Students with Hearing Impairments in the Elementary Level

This study aimed to determine the effect of a training program to improve English pronunciation for hard-of-hearing students. To achieve the aim of the study, the researchers used the quasi-experimental approach, and the study sample consisted of (30) students with hearing impairments from primary schools in the city of Irbid. The experimental group studied based on the training program and consisted of (15) students, and (15) students of the control group studied in the traditional way. A set of instruments has been prepared, which consists of an image-naming test and preparing a training program based on the curriculum for students to see their effectiveness in raising the level of pronunciation for students with hearing impairments in the English language. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the control and experimental groups in favour of the experimental group. The study recommended holding training courses (sound training) targeting parents of hearing-impaired students in order to develop the receptive and expressive language of their children.