‘Foreigners in Our Schools’ : Cultural Diversity, Othering, and the Desire for Justice in Schools

This study explored ‘cultural diversity’ in urban schools in Portugal by conducting discourse analysis on interviews with school practitioners. Findings show that ‘cultural diversity’ was dominantly anchored in Othering ‘foreigners’ that mainly associated ‘non-native speakers’ to difficulties in integration, participation and teachers’pedagogical work. However, contradicting discourses somewhat resisted Othering by highlighting meaningful differences, all students’ rights, and calling for pedagogical changes. By showing the ambivalences in how students, teachers and pedagogical relationships are viewed, we both alert for an exclusionary conceptualization of ‘cultural diversity’, and question Othering as a fundamentalizing discourse to fully govern ‘cultural diversity’ in schools.

Exploring Veteran Teachers' Collaborative Action Research Experiences Through a School-University Partnership: "Old Dogs" Try New Tricks

This article shares insights from the experiences of three high school practitioners and two university faculty who participated in a school-university-based action research program as a voluntary part of the teachers’ professional development. The three high school practitioners conducted action research projects around questions that stemmed from and were relevant to their own teaching practice. As part of the action research program, the practitioners were paired with university faculty to support the research. Building on practitioner inquiry traditions and critical case study methodologies, this study used qualitative methods to explore the experiences of practitioner action research processes. Drawing on in-person meeting notes and reflective memos, four key ideas emerged: Infrastructure, We are all Partners in Education, Engaging Pathway for Experienced Teachers, and Challenges. Insights gained from this inquiry will have implications for professional practices in the areas of school-university partnership, professional development, and action research process.

The Core Values of Information Literacy in the Ubiquitous Information Society

This research aims to study the perception of school practitioners on the core values of information literacy in the ubiquitous information society. An information literacy framework has been proposed that includes four dimensions and eleven derived standards. Seventeen focus group discussion sessions were conducted to gain an understanding of the views of school practitioners. The research findings show that information literacy education should be designed with the humanistic rationale of guiding learners to develop information processing skills, which requires both cognitive capability and the associated affective elements. Students should further develop in the meta-cognitive and socio-cultural domains.

Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Students who meet criteria for disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders generally present with a wide range of challenging behaviors that impede their ability to function appropriately at school and at home. Understanding the differential diagnosis and comorbid manifestations of these disorders—particularly the two most common disruptive disorders (i.e., oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder)—can assist school practitioners in addressing students’ behavior and socioemotional well-being in school. It is also important that school practitioners are knowledgeable about Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) categories for which students exhibiting the symptoms of these disorders are most likely to qualify for school-based services. This chapter provides resources to assist schools and school-based practitioners in implementing universal screening, progress monitoring, and rapid assessment of students, as well as evidence-based psychosocial interventions to meet the needs of students with disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders.

The feasibility of biology module based on Stim-HOTS models

Based on the needs analysis done, the empowerment of higher-order cognitive skills of the students in Surakarta was not optimal yet. This research addressed to determine and describe the feasibility of biology module which was arranged based on Stimulating Higher-Order Thinking Skills (Stim-HOTS) model. This Research and Development (R&D) involved six expert validators, including material validator, module development validator, language validator, learning instrument validator, and school practitioners. The results showed that the percentages of the module feasibility were between 83% and 98% which were categorized as very good. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be implied that the Stim-HOTS-based module can be used as learning resource.

Confronting our beliefs about poverty and discipline

Many school practitioners think of poverty as a kind of “culture,” characterized by dysfunctional behaviors that can only be corrected by imposing harsh discipline on students. Further, beliefs about poverty are often used to justify racial disparities in disciplinary referrals, achievement, and enrollment in gifted, AP, and honors courses, as well as to justify harsh punishments for “disobedience” or “disorderly conduct” or “disrespect.” Edward Fergus suggests that educators learn to understand their blind spots related to race and culture and to seek out feedback on the degree to which members of the school community experience bias.