Social development of primary aged children through a movement education program

Unique in Canada, is a university based movement program offered to children aged 1-12 which is diverse and inclusive in its design to foster healthy physical, cognitive, affective and social development. The purpose of this study is to investigate how children's involvement in a weekly movement education program influences their social development. The primary-aged children involved in this research are participants in the university based Saturday morning program, The Children's Movement Program (CMP), in which creative dance, educational gymnastics and developmental games are employed to enhance optimal development. The 15 participants were systematically observed for 8 weeks as they naturally engaged in the program's activities. Interviews were conducted with both children and their caregivers throughout the duration of the program. Particular attention was paid to the perceptions of caregivers regarding the advantages of a program based upon principles of movement education. Results indicate that participation in the program increases children's opportunity to interact socially and address ways in which program content, pedagogy and context encourage social development. A figure was developed with these components to assist teachers in creating inclusive and meaningful movement experiences. 'Content' is referred to as the material to be learned or the desired outcome for the learner. 'Pedagogy' refers to the process in which the student will engage and 'Context' refers to the environment in which the experience occurs (eg. skating rink with playground balls). It is recommended that each is thoroughly addressed individually for its potential in lesson design.

Dynamic Upper Leg Strength and Neuromuscular Function in Children, Adolescents and Adults

This study examined muscle strength, muscle performance, and neuromuscular function during contractions at different velocities across maturation stages and between sexes. Participants included pre-pubertal, late-pubertal and adult males and females. All completed 8 isometric and 8 isokinetic leg extensions at two different velocities. Peak torque (PT), rate of torque development (PrTD), electromechanical-day (EMD), rate of muscle activation (Q30), muscle activation efficiency and coactivation were determined. Sex, maturity, and velocity main effects were found in PT and PrTD, reflecting greater values in men, adults, and isometric contractions respectively. When values were normalized to quadriceps cross-sectional area (qCSA), there was still an increase with maturity. EMD decreased with maturity. Adults had greater activation efficiency than children. Overall, differences in muscle size and neuromuscular function failed to explain group differences in PT or PrTD. More research is needed to investigate why adults may be affected to a greater extent by increasing movement velocity.

Understanding the Integration of Living Skills Through the Context of Health and Physical Education: A Case Study of Educators’ Experiences

The research presented is a qualitative case study of educators’ experiences in integrating living skills in the context of health and physical education (HPE). In using semi-structured interviews the study investigated HPE educators’ experiences and revealed their insights relative to three major themes; professional practice, challenges and support systems. Professional practice experiences detailed the use of progressive lesson planning, reflective and engaging activities, explicit student centered pedagogy as well as holistic teaching philosophies. Even further, the limited knowledge and awareness of living skills, conflicting teaching philosophies, competitive environments between subject areas and lack of time and accessibility were four major challenges that emerged throughout the data. Major supportive roles for HPE educators in the integration process included other educators, consultants, school administration, public health, parents, community programs and professional organizations. The study provides valuable discussion and suggestions for improvement of pedagogical practices in teaching living skills in the HPE setting.

Teacher-Student Rapport: Investigating its Impact on the Dropout Rate in Physical and Health Education

This study was an investigation into whether strong teacher-student rapport relates to the drop-out rates of students in grade 9 and 10 health and physical education (HPE). In the study, One hundred and thirty-six grade 9 students from five high schools in Ontario participated in this study. Findings of whether or not rapport related to students’ decision to take an additional HPE credit beyond grade 9 did not prove conclusive. A significant multivariate interaction effect was not found; however, tests of between-subject effects on sex and grade 10 dropouts showed some interesting trends. More research is needed to further illuminate the link between teacher-student rapport and students’ enrollment in optional HPE classes.

Perspectives of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on a Community-Based Parent Education Program

In 2012 a community-based agency that oversees Intensive Behaviour Intervention services for young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) began delivering newly developed curricula to parents of eligible children. The curricula’s intent was to inform parents about ASD and Applied Behaviour Analysis, to increase their awareness of available community resources, and assist them to be active and engaged in their child’s learning. This mixed-method study used a program-specific survey and focus groups to explore the perspectives parents had on their involvement in these education sessions. Through constant comparison analysis 4 major and 3 minor themes emerged. In general, parents acknowledged that this parent education program included relevant content and a favourable delivery format. The study summarized a number of well-articulated, practical suggestions parents provided. Implications for practice would be applicable to educators interested in providing quality group-based education to parents of young children with ASD.

Recommendations for a mathematical curriculum to be used in conjunction with an oral deaf education program

Students who are deaf or hard of hearing have typically had difficulty in mathematics; however, this problem often is overlooked because of difficulties in language and reading abilities. This study aims to identify the most appropriate mathematics curriculum for deaf or hard of hearing students in an oral deaf education program.

The social difficulties children encounter transitioning from a self-contained deaf education program into a general education program

This study examines the difficulties, particularly social, a child who is deaf/hard of hearing encounters transitioning from a self-contained program into the general education setting. The information gathered was used to create a children's story as a helpful tool.

Geographies of children, youth and families: an international perspective

This edited collection brings together international experts from the vibrant and growing field of geographies of children, youth and families. The book provides an overview of current conceptual and theoretical debates, and gives a wide range of examples of cutting-edge research from a variety of national contexts across the globe. The theme of 'disentangling the socio-spatial contexts of young people and/or their families' advances debates in geographies and social studies of young people and families by emphasising the context of young people's social agency. The book is designed to provide an introduction to the topic of geographies of children, youth and families and is an invaluable course text for undergraduate and postgraduate students of geography and the social sciences. This interdisciplinary text is also of likely interest to students and practitioners of education, youth work, social policy and social work.

An assessment of criteria to evaluate the graduate education program in Brazil

This study sought to identify criteria adequate for the evaluation of graduate programs in Brazil. A survey was the means for collecting the ratings and rankings given by faculty members at selected Brazilian graduate programs. A questionnaire using Likerttype and ranking items asked the importance attributed by each respondent to each of the 109 items listed. The data analysis reported in this dissertation indicates that the most highly rated criteria and indicators were: (1) Library: current periodicals; (2) Facilities: classrooms and laboratories; (3) Library: books and monographs; (4) Academic Environment: discussion, investigation, and expression; and (5) Facilities: research space and equipment. The study presents the means and standard deviations obtained for each indicator and also includes some figures obtained for a relational analysis. This dissertation was developed to provide useful information to educational planners, policy makers, administrators, and evaluators involved in Brazilian higher education or comparative studies. It is suggested that additional investigations concentrate on more specific and in-depth analysis and interpretation of the policymaking processes, i.e., on the study of social facts or organizational and academic variables in their relationships with aspects of the educational system. The appendices section includes a facsimile of the questionnaire and additional data.

Limites e possibilidades do programa nacional de alimentação escolar enquanto estratégia de promoção da segurança alimentar e nutricional no municipio de Macaíba/RN

This dissertation aims to understand the importance of the National School Feeding as a strategy for ensuring the promotion of food and nutrition security in the municipality of Macaíba / RN, taking into account the implementation of the Law School Feeding, 11,947, 2009. The program was extended to all public basic education, youth and adults, in addition to ensuring that 30% of transfers from FNDE, were intended for the purchase of products from family farms. The survey was conducted with 160 students from public schools and farmers nesting Quilombo dos Palmares II, who produce on their land vegetables, fruits and cereals for their own consumption, for sale in local markets, in addition to providing for PNAE. The reciprocity between neighbors, such as mutual aid and sharing of common goods was noticeable in this group of farmers, since it was necessary to meet weekly deliveries of products to schools. As students, we applied a test of acceptability in two schools located in rural and in urban areas, to learn the opinion of ourselves in relation to school food consumed. It was concluded that to be most effective program in the region, there must be a better match in school menus, so that it can be attractive to students and to ensure greater use of fresh food, the main ingredient of same, practice of nutrition education in schools, to teach students the importance of food to health. In relation to local management, noted the need for adjustments bureaucratic as hiring staff for the departments, in order to be more agile in releasing payments to farmers, in addition to hiring assistants general services for schools, one Since the cooks exert dual role, the cooking while being responsible for cleaning the entire school environment. Government investments in the rural sector would be extremely valuable for farmers, since they need financial resources to purchase inputs, irrigation projects for gardens, availability of land for planting, transportation to facilitate the delivery of its products to schools and technical assistance more frequently

Educação de jovens e adultos na cidade do Natal: uma reflexão sobre sucesso e insucesso

This essay proposes to research the success and failure in Education for Youth and Adults (known as EJA), based on the approval, failure and evasion rates in public schools belonging to the city of Natal, RN. Reflecting upon the reasons why some pupils from this program were dropping out of school while others kept on studying was a necessity. Therefore, we seek to know these subjects and their school environment. In the search this data, we set off by approaching the EJA politics, going through a historical path, highlighting significant facts to Brazilian and Natal history. While bringing together the pieces of information for this essay, we were lead to the State and City Education Department, in search of approval, failure and evasion rates from the year 2009. Based on these rates, two schools have been chosen: the first with a high failure rate and the second with a failure rate lower than the city average. The schools work was researched throughout the year 2010, through interviews with pupils, teachers, managers and employees; school files analysis; the analysis of files the establish the rules for EJA programs in the city of Natal. Nethertheless, this essay points to inner and outer factors which might come to contribute to the failure or success of pupils from the researched schools, emphasizing that the difference between those are in the team work present in the school with low failure rate

Levantamento sobre as concepções e práticas de educação ambiental nos cursos de educação de jovens e adultos do centro expandindo da cidade de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Educação prisional no estado de São Paulo: passado, presente e futuro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O Centro Estadual de Educação de Jovens e Adultos de Presidente Prudente (CEEJA-PP) significa realmente espaço formativo?

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

De movimento social comunitário à institucionalização: análises sobre o Programa Municipal de Alfabetização e Cidadania - PROMAC

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)