Tag: Today

WVU research shows students with disabilities will benefit from COVID-19’s fast-tracking of app-based learning | WVU Today

WVU professionals on adapting actual physical action for individuals with disabilities saw gym academics and other educators make innovative use of applications through the pandemic. They explained they consider app accessibility capabilities reward pupils with disabilities, but their research reveals people capabilities usually are not all they could be. Now they are education a rising generation of actual physical education teachers to use apps in a way that rewards all learners.
(WVU Picture/Aubree Johnson)

Soon after COVID-19 moved lessons on the internet in 2020, a West Virginia College pro in adapted actual physical action found out that apps aren’t created equivalent when it comes to accessibility. 

Even so, Samantha Ross, an assistant professor in the College of Utilized Human Sciences, understood apps like Chrome or YouTube could even now profit consumers with disabilities, delivering various different strategies to entry info, from display readers that switch composed phrases into spoken language, to closed captions that transform spoken terms into text. And once educational facilities reopened lecture rooms, she observed that apps continued to be a huge section of how K-12 instructors engaged classes.

Ross now makes sure the undergraduate learners she prepares for professions as physical schooling lecturers recognize how to decide on classroom apps that greatly enhance studying for all students, which include these with disabilities this sort of as dyslexia, lower eyesight or hearing impairments.

Her paper in the Journal of Bodily Training, Recreation and Dance presents physical educators — and all lecturers — a realistic toolkit for analyzing app accessibility and for implementing features these types of as shut captioning, keyboard navigation or textual content enlargement in the classroom.

“After the pandemic moved courses on the web, health and fitness center teachers commenced employing Zoom and other systems to direct their actual physical training lessons,” Ross recalled. “I saw artistic techniques, like scavenger hunts, that concerned pupils participating in quick physical exercise bouts within just their properties.”

Nonetheless, watching and analyzing students’ engagement in front of pcs was substantially diverse than checking activity in a classroom.

“For 1 point, the little ones rarely at any time stayed in the video clip body,” Ross reported. “It was a massive problem, not just for bodily schooling academics, but for every single teacher. Faced with that obstacle, quite a few educators located that, when intended very well and utilised thoughtfully, apps could greatly enhance the studying practical experience for anyone, and supply an alternative format for evaluating pupil efficiency.”

Ross investigated two totally free education applications, Flipgrid and Padlet, which produce private digital spaces exactly where lecturers share exercise and discussion prompts. Pupils publish content in response to all those prompts and every single other’s posts. She observed that Flipgrid and Padlet omit key accessibility characteristics, raising boundaries to understanding for college students with disabilities. 

For example, neither enables including “alternative text” that describes an picture, protecting against students with eyesight impairments from obtaining audio descriptions of pics. 

And even present characteristics can be tough. For instance, vehicle-captioning functions for most applications develop inaccurate transcriptions of video or audio posts when the speaker has a speech impairment, accent or is in a noisy place.

“This may hinder the trade of concepts from a varied college student group or demotivate participation among students with disabilities,” Ross claimed.

Ross’ paper gives ideas and workarounds that empower educators to make the most out of these characteristics and to support their students master to do so.

“It’s hugely annoying that accessibility features are not embedded at the entrance conclude of app progress — that applications are formulated and then you can find repair, back again-conclude operate to make them available, or we have to go by roundabout strategies of making use of them accessibly.

“But as accessibility options turn into much more user-welcoming and simple to implement, that’s going to drive adoption. For case in point, Twitter now will allow you to connect text descriptions to photos and helps make that simple for finish buyers. You will find a ton of dialogue out there about fairness entry — well being that reaches all — and the new technology wishes to be component of that movement.”

The paper’s co-authors included WVU doctoral university student Kayla Abrahamson and Assistant Professor James Wyant.

“Zoom, Google Fulfill and YouTube grew to become regular practice for instructing learners,” Wyant said. “Now K-12 academics have a larger comfort level with electronic systems, and the market for instructional technological know-how, in particular cell applications, retains acquiring greater. Although expense has been a roadblock, accessibility to open-supply, free of charge-to-use know-how has grown considerably.”

Ross said she believes technology has turn out to be indispensable for adapting instruction to each individual student’s person learning strengths, whether or not those people are formed by capability, incapacity or discovering choices.

“I like to assume about no matter if there’s much more than 1 way for learners to take part,” she explained. “Some learners are cozy in the classroom and comfy primary. Some like time to system and replicate and would fairly lead later on. Some are cozy typing, others want to verbalize. Applications present a number of methods learners can share written content on a flexible timeline.”

Ross included, “As instructors, the intention is to engage each individual college student. The resources we use will make the distinction in whether or not we are profitable or unintentionally make limitations to participation, and for that reason unequal finding out options. Applications are incredibly practical in that regard — they’re fun, they increase engagement and we can use them responsibly when we take into account the accessibility of the articles we’re submitting there to optimize engagement of all learners.”

-WVU-

mm/04/20/23

MEDIA Get in touch with: Micaela Morrissette
Analysis Writer
WVU Investigate Communications
304-709-6667 micaela.morrissette@mail.wvu.edu

Get in touch with 1-855-WVU-News for the most current West Virginia University information and data from WVUToday. 

Comply with @WVUToday on Twitter.

Shealey named board chair for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education | Rowan Today

The American Affiliation of Schools for Instructor Education (AACTE) has named Dr. Monika Williams Shealey, Rowan University’s senior vice president for Variety, Fairness & Inclusion, chair of the organization’s board of administrators.

A submit on the internet internet site EdPrepMatters revealed by the AACTE stated Shealey will provide as board chair for 1 12 months. Her support to the AACTE will come during its 75th anniversary 12 months and which is fitting, she claimed, thinking of her commitment to schooling all through her career.

“At the main of anything I do is the belief that instruction is transformative and the positions wherever I provide in increased schooling allow for me to tap into my expertise and expertise as an educator,” Shealey mentioned. “My commitment to advocacy was at the root of my perform as a distinctive training teacher, as dean of the School of Schooling and in my current purpose of senior vice president for Variety, Equity and Inclusion. I’m honored to stand for Rowan University and operate on behalf of AACTE customers who contain education and learning candidates, doctoral pupils, training gurus and school and leaders of instruction preparation applications to advance our profession.”

Shealey has held educational appointments at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Florida International University in Miami and the College of Missouri at Kansas Metropolis. She joined Rowan in 2013 as the first African American dean of the College or university of Training and, in 2019, President Ali Houshmand asked her to lead the University’s new Division of Variety, Fairness & Inclusion. The Division was the initial of its kind in the region and strives to be a model for systemic alter in better instruction that effects in equitable results for pupils, faculty and workers.

Shealey been given her B.S. and M.A. from the College of South Florida, her Ed.S. from the College of Miami, and her Ph.D. in training from the University of Central Florida. Her investigation has focused on the ordeals of minoritized teams in special training and on Black women of all ages in instructor training and leadership.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Shealey serve as board chair for the duration of a year when AACTE will commemorate its 75-year historical past as the leading voice in educator preparing,” reported President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D. “With her qualified leadership, the business will amplify its perform to expand and diversify enrollments in colleges of education and learning and systems of instructor training and raise the quantity of qualified PK-12 academics, as properly as the faculties of faculties of education.” 

In addition to serving as AACTE board chair, Shealey is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Spouse and children Services and the Close friends Faculty at Mullica Hill. She is also previous president of the Countrywide Affiliation of Holmes Scholars Alumni variety, equity and inclusion council chair for the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, and chair of the American Educational Exploration Association’s Committee on Students of Color.

Can you pass a sex ed quiz based on what teens learn today?

Depending whom you ask, intercourse instruction is possibly a crucial element of college or a breeding ground for inappropriate classes. But what is actually taught in sex ed classes today?

Intercourse instruction is mandated in half the states, with a further 11 necessitating HIV education but not intercourse ed, according to a tally from the Guttmacher Institute. However, what districts and individual schools train may differ. Some conservative states and communities push an “abstinence only” information — indicating the conversation is about why not to have intercourse, not how to mitigate the challenges of ailment or being pregnant.

Liberal states just take a incredibly various solution. How forthright do they get in discussing intercourse and sexuality with young adults? We seemed at a few curriculums for superior college pupils in progressive districts: the 3Rs, created by the advocacy team Advocates for Youth HealthSmart, produced by the ETR, a nonprofit and FLASH, from the King County wellness department in Washington state. Some of the content would be located in any district in America other subjects are more probably to convert up in progressive districts.

The materials that they cover is not generally what adults were being taught, because our comprehension of these troubles — and sights on what teenagers need to know — has altered over the yrs. Do any of these inquiries shock you? Get our quiz to study what teenagers discover right now — and see how significantly you know.

Query 1 of 10

The vast majority of teenagers are not sexually energetic.

The HealthSmart curriculum introduces this concept early in its plan as a way of easing any tension on teenagers who could come to feel like they need to have intercourse to in shape in. “Fewer than half of all significant faculty learners have ever had sex,” the lesson instructs. “Most teenagers your age are deciding on to be sexually abstinent, or not have sex. You will be understanding extra in impending lessons about why abstinence is the safest choice for teens.”

A slide in an additional lesson, citing 2017 facts from the Facilities for Disease Command and Prevention, says far more than 87 per cent of ninth-graders and extra than 75 percent of 10th-graders are “currently abstinent.”

Concern 2 of 10

An egg is fertilized in the uterus.

The egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube.

Sex ed classes demonstrate how being pregnant happens: Just after ejaculation in the course of vaginal sexual intercourse, sperm vacation up the vagina and via the uterus, with some achieving the fallopian tubes. Separately, eggs ripen in the ovaries and then are unveiled, one per month, into the fallopian tube. If there is a ripe egg in just one of the tubes, a one sperm may perhaps enter the egg and fertilize it. Fertilized eggs travel into the uterus. A FLASH lesson notes that pregnancy begins when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining.

Issue 3 of 10

People today whose gender identity differs from the intercourse assigned at start generally realize this right before they commence kindergarten.

The FLASH curriculum defines gender identity as “a deep experience individuals have about no matter if they are a person, a female, each, neither or someplace in involving.” It says people often know this when they are really little, ahead of kindergarten, although some are older.

A important concept is that gender identity differs from sexual orientation, which determines who another person is captivated to. It also differs from biology, or the body areas that figure out the sex identified at birth.

Problem 4 of 10

Performing oral sex is riskier than acquiring it if your lover has a sexually transmitted disorder.

The 3Rs curriculum involves a quiz for high schoolers where several activities are as opposed centered on the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disorder. It says open-mouth kissing is riskier than holding fingers or making use of a community bathroom “outercourse” (sexual call without the need of penetration) is riskier than abstinence or “mutual masturbation” and acquiring unprotected intercourse in a swimming pool is riskier than having guarded oral intercourse or mutual masturbation.

It also explains that when it arrives to oral sex, the person carrying out it is at greater threat since their mouth is coming into contact with the other person’s genitals.

Concern 5 of 10

Abstinence is the most powerful way to avoid being pregnant and sexually transmitted ailments.

About several several years, there has been considerable nationwide debate more than regardless of whether sex instruction really should teach “abstinence only,” which instructs teens to delay intercourse right up until relationship and omits dialogue of delivery regulate. 30-seven states demand that any sexual intercourse education and learning lessons include things like abstinence, together with 26 that call for it be pressured, according to a tally from the Kaiser Family members Foundation.

Complete sexual intercourse instruction, by distinction, includes facts about how to prevent pregnancy and sickness — such as, for occasion, how to properly use a condom. Nevertheless quite a few of these courses also talk that abstinence is the most helpful approach.

A person superior college lesson in the FLASH curriculum has students act out how to say no to sex when they do not want it. Another HealthSmart lesson instructs immediately, “The surest way to prevent STIs is to be sexually abstinent.” A third lesson inquire pupils to contemplate strategies to express attraction although even now remaining sexually abstinent.

Some curriculums, this kind of as “Promoting Health Between Teens! Abstinence Only,” also dispersed by ETR, emphasis on information and techniques to aid college students to abstain from sex, devoid of discussion of condoms or other sorts of delivery handle.

Question 6 of 10

Noticeable bumps and sores are the most common symptom of a sexually transmitted condition and a very good way to know if you carry the virus.

The most widespread symptom of an STD is no symptom at all. Some individuals do develop bumps and sores on their genitals, but other signs are on the within of the entire body and easy to overlook. It is a mistake to believe that just due to the fact an individual does not seem ill, they are not carrying a transmissible virus. It is a great strategy to use condoms each time you have oral, anal or vaginal sex.

Issue 7 of 10

Some sexually transmitted disorders, such as chlamydia and syphilis, can be healed.

The 3Rs curriculum advises that syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea can all be treated and cured with antibiotics.

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be controlled with a blend of medications but not treated. Genital warts, caused by a virus identified as HPV, also can’t be remedied. The 3Rs lesson also advises that warts do not want to be visible to move the virus on to someone else.

Issue 8 of 10

Sexting, or sharing sexually specific pics of yourself online, can guide to felony prison prosecution.

A lesson in the 3Rs curriculum asks teachers to clearly show learners news coverage of sexting, or the sharing and viewing of sexually specific material on the internet. Even though sexting is typically assumed of as persons sharing naked images of on their own, it claims, it can be deemed a type of kid pornography if the topic is beneath age 18. The lesson cites details that 14 percent of young folks sent a “sext” in 2019 and that 23 p.c gained one. It also asks lecturers to analysis and present aspects of their state’s laws about this.

In the HealthSmart curriculum, a lesson about healthful actions around sexuality asks pupils to rate this statement as legitimate or bogus: “Sexting — sending sexual images or messages by using texting — is a very good way to exhibit you’re captivated to another person.” (Remedy: bogus.)

Problem 9 of 10

If your partner is jealous of the golf equipment you are in, that may possibly be a sign of an harmful marriage.

The 3Rs curriculum incorporates a aim on nutritious interactions and how to spot problematic habits. College students observe a online video that includes different scenarios and then focus on indications that items are heading very well. Indicators that matters are likely mistaken contain an individual obtaining indignant if you really don’t textual content back ideal absent, getting irritated when you shell out time with buddies and relatives rather of them, frequently seeking to know where by you are and who you are with, and starting to be jealous of golf equipment or actions that really don’t involve them.

The FLASH curriculum also works by using eventualities to place difficulties, like a lover who tries to limit or control what the other person does, frequently is jealous, or throws or breaks points through a battle.

Dilemma 10 of 10

If another person talks in advance about acquiring sexual intercourse on a individual night, it’s affordable for their partner to think that they have consented to it.

The HealthSmart curriculum emphasizes that “affirmative consent” is needed and that each and every human being included is dependable for verifying that all sexual get in touch with is consensual. The two persons ought to be awake, conscious and equipped to make choices. And, the curriculum notes, “consent will have to be ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time.” Lecturers are told to solicit from the class possible reasons why anyone may go along with one thing they did not want to do. Some illustrations involve currently being not sure about how to discuss up, not wanting to hurt someone’s thoughts, wanting to steer clear of conflict and fearing the loss of a friend or lover. Pupils also participate in a recreation exactly where they are introduced eventualities and have to decide irrespective of whether each folks have presented consent, a person particular person has mentioned no or if it’s unclear.

FLASH involves a lesson exactly where students are offered genuine-lifetime circumstances that may be not comfortable and asked to consider which of many “bottom-line” statements could possibly apply. For occasion, students are introduced with Aliyah and Malik, who are in a new marriage. Aliyah would like to have sex, but Malik would like to wait around. A “bottom-line” assertion that could help Malik determine out what to say involves “it is vital to have authorization or agreement in advance of having intercourse with another person.”

Kindle e-books are on sale at Amazon, today only

Save big on romance, historical fiction, mystery and more. (Photo: Amazon)

Save big on romance, historical fiction, mystery and more. (Photo: Amazon)

Maybe it’s your New Year’s resolution to read more. Maybe Santa brought you a Kindle for Christmas. Whatever your reason for stocking up on e-books, today is the day to do it, because Amazon is offering digital versions of some of its bestselling titles for $5 and under, with some as little as $3. But just for today!

This Kindle Edition e-book sale includes reading material for all literary tastes. Thrillers, romance, sci-fi, historical fiction, non fiction: there’s a page-turner (or should we say, page-swiper?) for everyone in this sale, and you’ll save big on each title by taking advantage of this end-of-year deal.

Lose yourself in some of these beloved e-books.

Lots of intrigue and fun is expected from Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum — and this New York Times Bestseller does not disappoint.

“I’ve read all of the Stephanie Plum books, and they’re not all equal, but this ranks right up there with the best ones,” wrote one devoted reader. “I was sorry to see it end. The dialogue had me laughing out loud a few times, and that doesn’t happen often for me. I feel like Stephanie is maturing into a strong kick-ass woman. Can’t wait to see her in action in her next adventure.”

With over 100,000 five-star reviews from Amazon readers, you’re probably not going to want to put this bestseller down.

“I LOVED this book and this story,” shared a captivated reader. “It was so empowering, watching Evelyn be so unashamed to own her beauty, her sex appeal, her confidence, and to be the ball-buster she was, so unafraid of telling people what she wants, what she deserves — all because she knows her worth.”

Amazon

‘The Hunting Party’ by Lucy Foley

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A group of 30-something friends rent a hunting lodge in an isolated part of Scotland for New Year’s Eve. What starts as revelry turns into something more sinister — and one of them dies at the hands of another.

$10 at Amazon

Labyrinthine, seductive and brain-teasing — this one’s got everything we love in a murder mystery. You’ll be left guessing until the last page.

“This book had so many twists and turns i couldn’t figure anything out,” shared a five-star reviewer. “Every time I thought I knew, the next page changed it. I loved every second of it and am only sad to be done. I have read every book by Lucy Foley and am sad there are no more. Hopefully, she is working on a new one! Recommend to any mystery lover who hates formula!”

Amazon

‘The Lost Apothecary’ by Sarah Penner

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This clever story follows Nella, a mysterious figure who sells poisons for her clients to use against oppressive men. When one patron makes a fatal mistake, however, the secret apothecary’s future is jeopardized.

$15 at Amazon

The award-winning novel is packed with suspense, thrills, chills, and with two alternating time periods, has something for both fans of historical and contemporary fiction.

“Masterfully storytelling!” shared a shopper. “A perfect book club book because it will stir passionate discussion. Fabulous characters combine parallel timelines of women marginalized and mistreated who find ways to help one another in the present and in the 1790s.”

Follow Dr. Madeleine Maxwell’s adventures after being accepted to Britain’s St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research, where she relives history in the most madcap ways. This one’s just $5!

“Most of us understand the disappointment of a book that promises ‘laugh out loud’ moments then fails to deliver. This book not only delivers but does so in almost a machine gun fashion — over and over again before you have the chance to recover from the previous,” wrote someone who previously was not a fan of historical fiction. “As trite as it sounds, I picked up Book One and couldn’t put it down. I eagerly pushed through the rest of the books and the collection of short stories in less than a week.”

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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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Originally published

Elon University / Today at Elon / English education students attend workshop on commitment statements

Students in Jennifer Eidum’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Concept & Observe training course attended a workshop on dedication statements led by Beth Godbee, creator of Coronary heart-Head-Arms: Each day Residing for Justice.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Elon student instructors in TESOL: Theory & Observe ended up invited to consider their training determination and inspiration and how individuals ideas link to how they aim to apply in their upcoming school rooms. They ended up guided in this method by Beth Godbee, creator of Heart-Head-Palms: Every day Dwelling for Justice, a author, educator, and former writing scientific studies professor who now provides community instruction classes, coaching and retreats.

Screen capture of a woman in a professional suit gesturing while leading a zoom workshop.
Beth Godbee sales opportunities a Motivation Assertion workshop on zoom for students in TESOL Principle & Observe.

College students geared up for the workshop by reflecting on their prior experiences as students and teachers and the values they hoped to carry into their training exercise. In the workshop, Godbee clarified the difference between values and commitments, noting that commitments are dedications or priorities as well as comply with-by. These statements also differ from the traditional teaching philosophy statement since they are usually not publicly shared, but are an opportunity to articulate one’s individual commitments with the target of continuously revisiting them for update and revision. Godbee shared two illustrations of determination statements in follow: the Nationwide Council of Lecturers of English’s (NCTE) statement on Antiracist Teaching and the Combahee River Collective Statement.

In addition to searching at motivation statements circulating among educators, Godbee led reflective exercises employing guided relaxation approaches enabling learners to engage with their embodied activities. A number of students mentioned that these pursuits had been their favourite, as they don’t often have possibilities to hook up with their physique during studying exercise routines.

This workshop was developed by Beth Godbee for the English TESOL: Idea & Practice training course in collaboration with professor Jennifer Eidum. This study course, ENG3060, is a foundational class for the new TESOL minor at Elon. The workshop was supported by a CATL mini-grant, as perfectly as money from the English section and Office of Education and learning and Wellness.

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