An Analysis of the Implementation and Perceived Effectiveness of the SchoolMAX Family Portal

ABSTRACT Title of Document: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHOOLMAX FAMILY PORTAL Warren Wesley Watts, Doctor of Education, 2015 Directed By: Margaret J. McLaughlin, Ph.D. Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education School districts have spent millions of dollars implementing student information systems that offer family portals with web-based access to parents and students. One of the main purposes of these systems is to improve school-to-home communication. Research has shown that when school-to-home communication is implemented effectively, parent involvement improves and student achievement increases (Epstein, 2001). The purpose of the study was to (a) understand why parents used or refrained from using the family portal and (b) determine what barriers to use might exist. To this end, this descriptive study identified the information parent users accessed in the SchoolMAX family portal, determined how frequently parents accessed the portal, and ascertained whether parents perceived an increase in communication with their children about academic matters after they began accessing the portal. Finally, the study sought to identify whether barriers existed that prevented parents from using the family portal. The inquiry employed three data sources to answer the aforementioned queries. These sources included (a) a survey sent electronically to 19,108 parents who registered online for the SchoolMAX family portal; (b) SchoolMAX portal usage data from the student information system for system usage between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015; and (c) a paper survey sent to 691 parents of students that had never used the SchoolMAX family portal in one elementary school, one middle school and one high school that were representative of other schools in the district. Survey results indicated that parents at all grade levels used the family portal. Usage data also confirmed that approximately 19% of the students had parents who monitored their progress through the family portal. Usage data also showed that parents were monitoring approximately 25% of students in secondary schools (6th – 12th grade) and 16% of students in elementary schools. Of the wide menu of resources available through the SchoolMAX family portal, parents used three areas most frequently: attendance, daily grades, and report cards. Approximately 70% of parents responded that their communication had improved with their children about academic matters since they started using the SchoolMAX family portal, and 90% of parents responded that the SchoolMAX family portal was an effective or somewhat effective tool. Parents also expressed interest in the addition of additional information to the SchoolMAX family portal. Specifically, the top three additions parents wanted to see included homework assignments, high stakes test scores, and graduation requirements. Parents also reported that 92% of them spoke to their children at least 2 to 3 times per week about academics. Due to the low response rate of the parent non-user survey, potential barriers to using the SchoolMAX family portal could not be addressed in this study. However, this issue may be a useful research topic in a future study. Keywords: school to home communication, student information systems, family portal, parent portal

Schulwege in den beiden deutschen Staaten. Kinder- und Jugendkulturen zwischen Elternhaus und Schule

Der Schulweg ist ein Intermedium zwischen dem Zuhause und der Schule. Hier findet die Transformation vom Kind bzw. Jugendlichen zum Schüler oder Schülerin statt. Auf diesem Weg bilden sich einzigartige Kinder- und Jugendkulturen. Gerade diese „space-time“ fand in der erziehungswissenschaftlichen Forschung bisher kaum Beachtung. Denn Untersuchungen zum Schulweg befassen sich oftmals mit dem Weg als physikalische Größe oder Fragen aus psychologischer Perspektive nach Problemen wie Angstzuständen. Hintergrund ist dabei immer, den Schulweg für die Kinder angenehmer und schöner zu gestalten. Nicht beachtet wird, dass er von den Erwachsenen in der Regel nicht kontrolliert wird. Die vorliegende Studie blickt aus historischer Perspektive auf Schulwege in den beiden deutschen Staaten der 1970er Jahren. Es wird herausgearbeitet, wie sich Kinder- und Jugendkulturen in der Bundesrepublik und in der DDR auf Schulwegen konstituiert haben. (DIPF/Orig.)

Online organic chemistry

This is a comprehensive study of the many facets of an entirely online organic chemistry course. Online homework with structure-drawing capabilities was found to be more effective than written homework. Online lecture was found to be just as effective as in-person lecture, and students prefer an online lecture format with shorter Webcasts. Online office hours were found to be effective, and discussion sessions can be placed online as well. A model was created that explains 36.1% of student performance based on GPA, ACT Math score, grade in previous chemistry course, and attendance at various forms of discussion. Online exams have been created which test problem-solving skills and is instantly gradable. In these exams, students can submit answers until time runs out for different numbers of points. These facets were combined effectively to create an entirely online organic chemistry course which students prefer over the in-person alternative. Lastly, there is a vision for where online organic chemistry is going and what can be done to improve education for all.

Resolução de problemas de dedução lógica na promoção da comunicação matemática na oralidade

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico.

Video lectures and online activities to engage students in a flipped classroom

In recent years there have been several proposals for alternative pedagogical practices. Most of these proposals are based in the, so called, “active learning”, in opposition to the common “passive learning”, which is centered on transmission of information inside classrooms as well as recognized as teacher-centered procedure. In an active learning pedagogical structure, students have a more participative role in the overall learning/teaching process, being encouraged to face new learning challenges like, for instance, solving problems and developing projects, in an autonomous approach trying to make them, consequently, able to build their own knowledge. The flipped or “inverted” classroom is one of these active learning pedagogical methodologies that emphasizes a learner-centered instruction. According to this approach, the first contact that students have with the content on a particular curriculum subject is not transmitted by the lecturer in the classroom, this teaching strategy requires students to assess and analyze the specific subject before attending to class, therefore the informational component from the lecture is the homework, and class time is dedicated to exercises and assignments, always with support from the instructor, who acts as a facilitator, helping students when needed and offering supplementary explanation as required. The main objective of this paper is to discuss and explore how the use of different types of instructional videos and online activities may be implemented in the flipped classroom procedure (as means of incorporating new content and teaching new competencies) and to describe students’ perceptions of this approach within a course in a Higher Education Institution (HEI), presenting some positive and negative features of this pedagogical practice.

“Enjoy your baby” Internet-based CBT for mothers with babies: a feasibility randomised control trial

Background: Postnatal depression is a global health problem with lasting effects on the family. Government policy is focussed on early intervention and increasing access to psychological therapies. There is a growing evidence base for the use of computerised CBT packages and this study investigated the feasibility of a CBT-based self-help internet intervention for new mothers. Objective: To assess the ability to recruit mothers, deliver an internet course, obtain follow-up data and evaluate what mothers think of the course. Design: A feasibility randomised control design was used to compare a waiting list control group (delayed access= DA) to the Enjoy Your Baby course (immediate access= IA). Measures were administered at baseline and 8 week follow-up. Methods: Adverts were placed in the Metro freesheet, on charity web pages, on social media, posters were put up in the community, and leaflets were handed out at mother and baby groups. Participants had to be 18 years old or over with a child less than 18 months old. The IA arm was given access to the course straight away. After 8 weeks all participants were asked to recomplete the original measures and those in the IA arm also gave feedback on the course. Participants in the DA arm were given access after recompleting the questionnaires. Due to a lack of follow-up data a small discussion group was conducted. Intervention: The course contains 4 core modules including helping mothers understand why they feel the way they do and helping them build closeness to their babies. Additional modules, worksheets and homework tasks were available. The DA group were given a list of additional support resources and services, and encouraged to seek additional help if required. All participants received weekly automated emails for 12 weeks as they worked through the course. It was not possible to deliver individualised support. 34 Results: Despite using a number of recruitment strategies, recruitment was lower and slower than anticipated, and attrition was high. 41 women, primarily recruited via the internet, were randomised (IA n=21, DA n=20). No significant differences were observed between participants in either arm at baseline and no statistically significant differences were identified when the demographics and baseline measures of participants who logged-on to the course were compared to those who did not, or when participants who completed follow-up measures were compared to those who did not. Pre and post intervention scores on the EPDS approached statistical significance (P=.059, r=.444) favouring the intervention arm. The discussion group suggested strengths of the course and recommended areas for improvement, including making the course more mobile friendly. Conclusion: Internet interventions show promise; however it is difficult to recruit mothers, engagement is low and attrition high. A number of recommendations are made and a further pilot or an internal pilot of a larger substantive study should be conducted to confirm recruitment and retention. Trial ID: ISRCTN90927910.

Programa de prevención del consumo de drogas Saluda: evaluación de una nueva versión en adolescentes españoles

En la actualidad se han evaluado numerosas intervenciones preventivas de drogodependencias en el medio escolar. Sin embargo, en España son pocos los estudios que analizan la influencia precisa de cada uno de los componentes específicos a los programas con el fin de determinar cuáles se consideran cruciales para el cambio de conducta de consumo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de una nueva versión del programa de prevención del consumo de drogas Saluda en la que se prescinde del componente fomento del ocio saludable y las tareas para casa. Esta versión reducida fue dirigida a una muestra de 106 escolares (44.6 % chicos) entre 14 y 17 años (M = 15.20; DT = 0.92) de un centro de Educación Secundaria. Se trata de un estudio exploratorio de tipo cuasi experimental y un diseño pre-post de un único grupo. Se realizó diferencia de proporciones mediante la prueba Z y diferencia de medias mediante la prueba T para muestras relacionadas. Los resultados muestran una reducción en el porcentaje de episodios de embriaguez, así como un efecto de mejora significativa sobre las variables protectoras del consumo. Se discuten estos hallazgos y se realizan propuestas para la mejora de futuras intervenciones.

Enhancing Library Instruction with Crossword Puzzles in Kinesiology Classes

The poster was presented at the 2016 Tri-Chapter Meeting (MACMLA, NY-NJ and PHIL Chapters), The 3Ls - Librarians, Leadership and Learning on September 25, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA (http://macmla.libguides.com/tri-chapter2016-posters).

Predictors of feelings of depression among Asian American college students

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between various collegiate experiences including substance use, religiosity, campus climate, academic life, social life, self-concept, satisfaction with college, and perceived feelings of depression among Asian American college students compared to other racial groups. Employing Astin’s (1993) I-E-O model, the study utilized the 2008 Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) the Freshman Survey (TFS) and the follow up College Senior Survey (CSS) in 2012 with the final sample of 10,710 students including 951 Asian American students. Descriptive analysis, cross-tabulations, blocked hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the equality of the unstandardized beta coefficients from the regression analyses, and a one-way ANOVA were conducted for the data analysis. Asian American students who are female, from low SES backgrounds, academically less achieved, frequent substance users, less religiously involved, and less satisfied with overall college experiences showed higher levels of feeling depressed. For the rate of feeling depressed across racial groups, Asian American college students showed the highest rate of feeling depressed while White students reported the lowest rate of feeling depressed. For Asian American college students, feeling depressed in high school, hours spent per week on studying and homework, and self-confidence in intellectual ability were the most significant predictors of feelings of depression while drinking beer, drinking liquor, spirituality, failing to complete homework on time, hours spent per week on socializing, self rated self-confidence in social ability, and satisfaction with overall college experiences were significant predictors of feelings of depression. Asian American college students spent the longest hours on studying and homework, reported the highest GPA, but showed the lowest self-confidence on intellectual ability. For all four racial groups, feeling depressed in high school and self-confidence in intellectual ability were significant predictors of feelings of depression in common. Implications for practice and directions for future research emphasize the need for better understanding the unique cultural background and impact of academic life associated with feelings of depression among Asian American college students and developing customized psycho-educational and outreach programs to meet unique needs for psychological well-being for each racial group on campus.

Prevalencia de estrés académico, factores de riesgo y su relación con el rendimiento académico en los estudiantes de la escuela de medicina de la Universidad de Cuenca en el 2015

La Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Cuenca ha sido reconocida por sus logros y trayectoria deviniendo en una de las facultades más prestigiosas del Ecuador, este renombre ha sido el resultado de la excelente preparación académica que los docentes aplican en sus alumnos que si bien ha dado buenos resultados esta preparación pudiese exceder el umbral de tolerancia del alumno y generar lo que hoy en día se conoce como “Estrés Académico”. El presente estudio es descriptivo, cuantitativo y transversal, el mismo se conformó con una muestra de 285 alumnos de la Facultad desde primero hasta décimo ciclo. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de Estrés Académico, sus Factores de Riesgo y la influencia del Estrés Académico sobre el Rendimiento Académico de los estudiantes de la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Cuenca según el I.E.A (Inventario de Estrés Académico) modificado, desde primero hasta décimo ciclo en el año 2015. Resultados: La prevalencia de estrés académico en los estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad de Cuenca es del 91.58%, de estos el 46.7% se ubicó en un nivel moderado de intensidad, seguido del 36.48% quienes se ubicaron en una intensidad alta. El total de prevalencia de estrés académico en mujeres es del 95.45% sobrepasando al sexo masculino el cual demostró una prevalencia de 85.32%. Niveles altos de estrés académico se ven asociados significativamente con un rendimiento académico bajo. Conclusión: La prevalencia de Estrés Académico es alta y su nivel de intensidad es moderada, su intensidad alta se asocia significativamente a un rendimiento académico bajo, siendo las mujeres más susceptibles a sufrir estrés académico

Contextual factors related to chronic condition in portuguese adolescents: Highlights from the HBSC/WHO study

Adolescence’s changes may become more pronounced when living with a chronic condition (CC). This study aims to examined the differences in satisfaction with family life, perception of school competence and “pressure with homework” of Portuguese adolescents’ 1) living with CC; 2) how living with CC affects school participation; taking into account age, gender and family socioeconomic status (SES). Five thousand fifty Portuguese adolescents (mean age 14 ± 1.85) of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC/WHO) were included. Results showed increased vulnerability in adolescents living with CC, presenting a lower satisfaction with family life and poor school outcomes. Younger boys, having a higher SES and not having CC are significantly associated with satisfaction with family life. Older girls, having a lower SES and living with CC were associated with more stress related to school work. Future interventions should include these features combined with ‘listening’ to adolescents and their needs, allowing their participation in the promotion of personal health.

Análise multivariada aplicada ao (in)sucesso escolar a matemática no 3º ciclo : estudo de caso

O insucesso escolar em Portugal é preocupante e é um tema que vem despertando interesse crescente por parte dos políticos, dos professores, dos pais e do público em geral. Entre as disciplinas que mais contribuem para esse insucesso está a Matemática. O insucesso na Matemática é uma realidade incontornável, visível não apenas pelos maus resultados alcançados pelos alunos em testes e exames, mas também pelas enormes dificuldades manifestadas por eles na resolução de problemas, no raciocínio matemático e, sobretudo, pelo seu desinteresse em relação à Matemática. Nesta dissertação procurou aliar-se as metodologias de Estatística Multivariada, nomeadamente de Regressão Logística e de Análise de Clusters, ao insucesso escolar. As técnicas estatísticas foram aplicadas a uma base de dados construída para o efeito a partir dos resultados obtidos num inquérito aplicado aos alunos de uma escola, com o objetivo de investigar associações entre o (in)sucesso dos alunos 3.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico na disciplina de Matemática e um conjunto de variáveis referentes a dados pessoais, familiares e escolares dos alunos. Os resultados obtidos através da Análise de Regressão Logistica sugerem que a repetência a Matemática (nível inferior a 3 no final do ano letivo) está dependente da idade do aluno, das dificuldades sentidas, da participação nas aulas, do empenho e do comportamento do aluno. A Análise de Clusters procurou agrupar as variáveis em grupos homogéneos relativamente a características comuns. Verificou-se que as variáveis comportamento do aluno, fazer os trabalhos de casa e a relação com a professora estão fortemente correlacionadas, bem como as variáveis dificuldades e repetência, mas estas duas últimas bastante distantes das restantes. Da aplicação do Método Duas Etapas às variáveis de opinião, fatores de insucesso escolar e medidas para colmatar esse insucesso, resultou três Clusters, dois grandes grupos, um em que predomina a resposta não concordo nem discordo e outro em que predomina o concordo totalmente. Nesta dissertação conseguiu-se identificar importantes factores que podem ajudar a reduzir o insucesso, pelo que os seus resultados poderão ser usados no futuro na elaboração de medidas para melhorar o sucesso.

Estratégias e práticas familiares de apoio à aprendizagem

Esta investigação visa averiguar quais as práticas educativas dos pais para apoiar a aprendizagem dos seus filhos. A investigação é enquadrada pelo marco sociocognitivo da auto-regulação da aprendizagem (Bandura, 1997; Rosário, 2004; Schunk, 2001; Zimmerman, 2000). A amostra foi constituída por 30 encarregados de educação com filhos a frequentar o 4°ano de escolaridade do ensino básico, numa escola pública localizada no distrito de Lisboa. Os dados foram obtidos através de questionários de resposta aberta, tendo sido utilizados procedimentos qualitativos e quantitativos na sua análise e tratamento. Os resultados revelam que os pais consideram maioritariamente que aprender e estudar são algo que se diferencia. Os factores determinantes sobre quem dá suporte e apoio ao aprender da criança prendem-se sobretudo com a disponibilidade e com o conhecimento por parte do progenitor em causa. Os pais criam condições físicas e ambientais para o apoio ao estudo o qual é sobretudo feito através da realização dos TPC e acreditam que o apoio por si prestado é vantajoso. As estratégias mais utilizadas pelos pais são as de ensaio e monitorização. /ABSTRACT: This investigation's purpose is to inquire what strategies are being used by parents in learning support. The investigation is of quality kind, and it's based on the sociocognitive theory (Bandura, 1997; Rosário, 2004; Schunk, 2001; Zimmerman, 2000) of self-regulated learning. ln this study participated 30 parents whose children are forth grade students, in a public school located in the district of Lisbon. Ali the data was obtained through an open­answer questionnaire and qualitative and quantitative procedures were used in its study and analysis. The results attained reveal that parents consider studying to be something different from learning. The determinant factors on who provides children's learning support are mostly related with the availability and the knowledge of the ancestor in cause. Parents create physical and ambient conditions for study support which over all is made through the accomplishment of homework and believe that the support given from themselves has advantageous. The strategies most commonly used by parents are of rehearsal and monitoring.

L’influence de la perte d’un parent et du deuil chez l’élève de niveau primaire sur sa réussite scolaire

La réussite scolaire au primaire est déterminante pour la réussite scolaire future de l’enfant. Certains éléments jouent un rôle important dans cette réussite comme la santé psychologique de l’élève et l’implication parentale. Ces dernières peuvent être ébranlées par certaines situations de la vie telle que le décès d’un parent. Ce mémoire porte sur une recherche qualitative effectuée auprès de trois élèves de niveau primaire régulier ayant perdu un parent au cours des deux dernières années. L’objectif de cette recherche est de connaître l’influence que peuvent avoir la perte parentale et le deuil chez l’élève sur sa réussite scolaire. Il existe peu de recherches qui ont été réalisées sur ce sujet et la plupart se sont principalement intéressées à l’influence des conséquences psychologiques du deuil sur la réussite scolaire. Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous avons décidé d’adopter une vision plus globale du développement de l’élève. Le projet de recherche s’intéresse non seulement à l’élève, mais aussi à ses parents et à son environnement scolaire. La recherche s’articule autour de trois concepts : le deuil, la réussite scolaire et l’implication scolaire. La méthodologie utilisée repose sur une approche qualitative exploratoire et une analyse de contenu. Les participants étaient composés de trois élèves endeuillés et non-immigrants, âgés entre 7 et 10 ans, de leurs parents survivants (deux) et de leurs enseignants titulaires (trois). Les données ont été recueillies à travers des entrevues semi-dirigées avec tous les participants, les bulletins scolaires des enfants et les plans d’intervention scolaire. Les résultats indiquent que les conséquences psychologiques du deuil peuvent avoir une influence négative sur la réussite scolaire des élèves du primaire. De plus, la perte parentale semble influer négativement sur le niveau socio-économique de la famille et sur tous les types d’implication parentale, que ce soit la supervision des leçons, la communication école-famille ou la collaboration du parent avec la communauté. Ces éléments peuvent à leur tour avoir une influence négative sur la réussite scolaire.

L’influence de la perte d’un parent et du deuil chez l’élève de niveau primaire sur sa réussite scolaire

La réussite scolaire au primaire est déterminante pour la réussite scolaire future de l’enfant. Certains éléments jouent un rôle important dans cette réussite comme la santé psychologique de l’élève et l’implication parentale. Ces dernières peuvent être ébranlées par certaines situations de la vie telle que le décès d’un parent. Ce mémoire porte sur une recherche qualitative effectuée auprès de trois élèves de niveau primaire régulier ayant perdu un parent au cours des deux dernières années. L’objectif de cette recherche est de connaître l’influence que peuvent avoir la perte parentale et le deuil chez l’élève sur sa réussite scolaire. Il existe peu de recherches qui ont été réalisées sur ce sujet et la plupart se sont principalement intéressées à l’influence des conséquences psychologiques du deuil sur la réussite scolaire. Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous avons décidé d’adopter une vision plus globale du développement de l’élève. Le projet de recherche s’intéresse non seulement à l’élève, mais aussi à ses parents et à son environnement scolaire. La recherche s’articule autour de trois concepts : le deuil, la réussite scolaire et l’implication scolaire. La méthodologie utilisée repose sur une approche qualitative exploratoire et une analyse de contenu. Les participants étaient composés de trois élèves endeuillés et non-immigrants, âgés entre 7 et 10 ans, de leurs parents survivants (deux) et de leurs enseignants titulaires (trois). Les données ont été recueillies à travers des entrevues semi-dirigées avec tous les participants, les bulletins scolaires des enfants et les plans d’intervention scolaire. Les résultats indiquent que les conséquences psychologiques du deuil peuvent avoir une influence négative sur la réussite scolaire des élèves du primaire. De plus, la perte parentale semble influer négativement sur le niveau socio-économique de la famille et sur tous les types d’implication parentale, que ce soit la supervision des leçons, la communication école-famille ou la collaboration du parent avec la communauté. Ces éléments peuvent à leur tour avoir une influence négative sur la réussite scolaire.