October - Volume 1, Number 1 (2023)
BOOSTING READING COMPETENCE: EARLY DETECTION OF RISK THROUGH WORKING MEMORY TESTING
S.J. Pickering
Early identification of potential reading difficulties in children is crucial for implementing effective intervention and preventing educational underachievement. While phonological awareness skills are emphasized in contemporary assessment measures, research suggests a role for working memory (WM) in reading, particularly the central executive component. This study aimed to develop an easily administered WM assessment battery for identifying children at risk of WM and reading difficulties. One hundred and two pre-readers (mean age = 62.25 months) were assessed on measures of reading ability, phonological memory capacity, processing speed, and components of WM functioning over three years. Three groups were identified: ‘at risk...
INSIGHTS INTO ENGLAND'S EDUCATION POLICY ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY
C. Vincent
This paper critically evaluates the UK government’s sustainability and climate change strategy for the education and children’s services systems in England. The approach followed was a critical discourse analysis of the strategy document, which was then compared to qualitative data gathered from more than 200 teachers and teacher educators who co-created a manifesto for education and environmental sustainability. Our study reveals that the government’s strategy prioritizes economic concerns and focuses primarily on a “net zero” policy agenda and increased science-focused knowledge and skills. The political dimensions of climate change are overlooked, which has a depoliticizing effect and leads to the...
EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS: EVIDENCE FROM PISA DATA IN IRELAND
Denny K, V Oppedisano
Based on data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), this study examines the relationship between attending single-sex schools and academic performance, using Irish data. The study aims to investigate whether there is a difference in reading, mathematics, and science performance between those attending single-sex or mixed-sex schools after controlling for socioeconomic and school-level factors. The sample consists of 15-year-olds, and the study found no statistically significant difference in academic outcomes between those attending single-sex or mixed-sex schools. However, gender differentials in mathematics and reading are more substantial for students educated in single-sex schools than for those in coeducational...
THE POWER OF MEDIA IN PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY: A STUDY OF TEACH FOR AUSTRALIA
I. Walters
Teach For Australia (TFAus) is a government-funded program modeled after Teach For America, aimed at improving school education in Australia. This study explores the dominant media narratives surrounding TFAus between 2008 and 2020, analyzing 122 articles from print and online media outlets. The study identifies four key narratives: prestige, benevolence, alternative, and critique. While the first three narratives posit TFAus as a viable policy option to improve Australian education, the fourth narrative provides a critical assessment of the initiative. The study argues that media discourses play a crucial role in shaping education policy and underscores the need for support from...
COLONY SHEATH REDUCTION FOR IMPROVED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY FROM BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII
M. Smith Gottschling
Dinoflagellate cysts play a crucial role in the preservation of dinoflagellate species in the geological record. However, little is known about the effects of different oxygen regimes on the survival of these cysts. In this study, we investigated the differences in the preservation potential of dinoflagellate cysts in oxygenated and anoxic environments. Results showed that there was a significant difference in survival rates between cysts in oxygen-rich environments compared to those in anoxic sediments. After the first year, only 5% of cysts remained alive in oxygen-rich environments compared to 21% in anoxic environments. Our findings suggest that the oxygen availability...