Higher education institutions are expected to continuously evaluate graduate programs to ensure that curricular offerings remain relevant, responsive, and aligned with the evolving demands of professional practice. This study assessed the relevance and applicability of the Master of Arts in Educational Management (MAEM) curriculum of Guagua National Colleges to the current professional work of its graduates and identified areas for curriculum enhancement. Using a quantitative descriptive-comparative research design, data were collected from 33 MAEM graduates through a structured survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and ranking were utilized to analyze quantitative data, while thematic analysis was employed to examine graduates' recommendations. Results revealed that most graduates occupy positions closely related to educational leadership and management, with 87.88% indicating that their present work is highly related or related to educational management. The overall relevance and applicability of the curriculum obtained a very high rating (M = 4.69), while the adequacy of competencies developed through the program received a mean rating of 4.67. Human Resource and Organizational Management emerged as the highest-rated competency area (M = 4.76), whereas Problem-Solving and Evidence-Based Decision-Making obtained the lowest mean rating (M = 4.64), though still interpreted as very high. Graduates recommended strengthening content related to digital leadership, educational technology, artificial intelligence, instructional leadership, research utilization, and experiential learning. Based on these findings, a Responsive MAEM Curriculum Enhancement Framework was proposed. The study concludes that the MAEM curriculum remains highly relevant to current professional requirements but should continuously evolve to address emerging educational challenges and technological advancements.
The increasing use of electrical and electronic devices in students’ daily lives highlights the importance of introducing electrical safety awareness at the high school level. Improper use of electrical installations, such as overloading electrical outlets and using inappropriate components, may increase the risk of short circuits, electric shocks, and fires. Therefore, practical education on safe electrical installation is important to equip students with basic electrical safety knowledge and awareness. The electrical workshop aimed to introduce basic science and technology concepts through a practical workshop on electrical installation safety for students of SMA Yos Sudarso Cilacap. The workshop consisted of theoretical explanations, demonstrations, hands-on practice, and safety simulations covering basic electrical installation principles, component selection, safe assembly, and testing. A total of 35 students participated in the activity. Among the 35 students who completed the questionnaire, 60% reported that they had not previously been familiar with the material, while 91.4% perceived the workshop as beneficial. Observations during the practical session indicated active student participation in assembling simple electrical circuits and applying safety procedures. The activity provided students with practical knowledge and strengthened their awareness of safe electrical installation practices.
This study examines the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) assisted by flashcard media to improve third-grade elementary students’ critical thinking skills in Landscape (Bentang Alam) material. Methods: This study used a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control-group design. The sample consisted of 44 third-grade students from SD Negeri in Semarang, divided into an experimental class (22 students) taught using PBL assisted by flashcards and a control class (22 students) taught using conventional learning. Data were collected using pretest and posttest instruments with 120 multiple-choice items (30 per skill) and analyzed using normality and homogeneity tests, paired-sample t-tests, independent-sample t-tests, Normalized Gain (N-Gain) analysis, and analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with the pretest as the covariate. Because of third-grade students' cognitive capacity, the test was administered in four separate sessions on four different days, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Effect size was reported using Partial Eta Squared to measure the magnitude of the intervention’s impact. Both groups showed increased critical thinking ability after treatment, but the experimental group's increase was significantly higher than the control group's. After controlling for pretest scores, the ANCOVA results showed a significant difference between groups (F = 16989.679; p < .001; η²p = .998), indicating a large effect size. The experimental group's average N-Gain score was 0.7336, categorized as high and fairly effective, while the control group's average was 0.3784, categorized as medium and less effective. The greatest improvement occurred in the analysis and evaluation indicators. Implementing PBL assisted by flashcards effectively improves students’ critical thinking skills on Landscape material, as flashcards function not merely as visual media but as contextual problem triggers integrated into each stage of the PBL syntax. Keywords: problem-based learning, flashcard, critical thinking, landscape, elementary school.
Understanding dynamic electricity is important because students often experience difficulties in understanding the relationships among electric current, voltage, and resistance in series and parallel circuits. This study aimed to analyze changes in students’ conceptual understanding before and after learning with the Physics Education Technology (PhET) virtual laboratory supported by student worksheets (LKPD), test the statistical significance of these changes, and determine the magnitude of improvement. The study employed a quantitative approach using a one-group pretest-posttest design without a comparison group. The participants were 20 eighth-grade students at MTs Alkhairaat Biromaru. Data were collected through conceptual understanding tests administered before and after instruction and an observation checklist assessing implementation. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a paired-samples t-test, and N-Gain. The results showed that the mean score increased from 43.75 to 53.75, with a statistically significant difference (t(19) = −5.210; p < 0.001). Cohen’s dz was 1.17, indicating a large effect size, whereas the N-Gain of 0.18 was categorized as low. All instructional stages were implemented as planned. Thus, students’ scores increased following the intervention; however, the effectiveness of PhET supported by LKPD cannot be conclusively established without a comparison group. Future research should include a comparison group and a longer instructional period. ABSTRAK Pemahaman konsep listrik dinamis penting dikembangkan karena peserta didik sering mengalami kesulitan memahami hubungan antara arus, tegangan, dan hambatan dalam rangkaian seri maupun paralel. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis perubahan pemahaman konsep peserta didik sebelum dan sesudah pembelajaran menggunakan laboratorium virtual Physics Education Technology (PhET) berbantuan Lembar Kerja Peserta Didik (LKPD), menguji signifikansi perubahannya, serta menentukan besarnya peningkatan. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan desain one-group pretest-posttest tanpa kelas pembanding. Subjek penelitian terdiri atas 20 peserta didik kelas VIII MTs Alkhairaat Biromaru. Data dikumpulkan melalui tes pemahaman konsep sebelum dan sesudah pembelajaran serta lembar observasi keterlaksanaan kegiatan. Data dianalisis menggunakan statistik deskriptif, uji-t berpasangan, dan N-Gain. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata skor meningkat dari 43,75 menjadi 53,75, dengan perbedaan yang signifikan secara statistik (t19 = −5,210; p < 0,001). Ukuran efek Cohen’s dz sebesar 1,17 termasuk kategori besar, sedangkan N-Gain sebesar 0,18 termasuk kategori rendah. Seluruh tahapan pembelajaran terlaksana sesuai rencana. Dengan demikian, terdapat peningkatan skor setelah pembelajaran, tetapi efektivitas PhET berbantuan LKPD belum dapat dipastikan tanpa kelas pembanding. Penelitian selanjutnya disarankan melibatkan kelas pembanding dan durasi pembelajaran yang lebih panjang.
The collection of papers in this special issue examines the dynamics of math and science education from one large urban school district in United States. Papers range from early to late elementary classrooms with diverse student populations in K-7 schools. This editor’s essay provides a brief overview of each of the 7 articles and the authors’ contribution to the expanding STEM research on math and science education and academic performance within the context of project-based learning. Included is a mix of action research studies conducted at 7 different elementary schools by teacher-researcher-practitioners. The papers present diverse vantage points on the circumstances that influence student motivation, student learning, and student engagement within the context of project-based learning.
Blended learning (BL) has become increasingly established in higher education, yet research has focused more on effectiveness, engagement, and learning regulation than on how face-to-face and online learning jointly facilitate value internalization. In Pancasila Education, this issue matters because learning outcomes extend beyond knowledge of values to students’ decision-making and relationships. This exploratory qualitative study analyzed open-ended questionnaire responses from 67 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia students using directed qualitative content analysis, complemented by a contextual review of learning materials and activities available through SPOT UPI. The findings reveal four patterns. First, students perceived face-to-face learning primarily as a relational space for dialogue, clarification, deliberation, and collaboration. At the same time, online learning served mainly as a regulatory space for flexibility, access to materials, time management, and independence. These functions complemented each other but were not exclusive. Second, value internalization became visible when Pancasila shifted from content to be understood into a basis for decision-making, respect for differences, rule compliance, and responsibility. Third, good character was associated with relational pathways toward justice and collaboration and self-regulatory pathways toward discipline, responsibility, and work ethic. Social support, digital culture, and LMS reliability influenced these processes. Fourth, discrepancies between ideal values and reality triggered moral reflection for some students, described as productive moral dissonance. The study interprets BL as an architecture of relational-regulatory functions and suggests connecting social interaction, self-regulation, authentic cases, reflection, process assessment, and reliable digital infrastructure in Pancasila Education. Keywords: Pancasila education, Value internalization, Blended learning; Good character; Higher education
Conceptual understanding of fractions among third-grade elementary school students remains a challenge because the topic is abstract and teacher-centered instruction provides limited opportunities for students to study materials independently and actively. The initial condition in Grade III of SD Negeri 077279 Si’őfabanua showed that only 4 of 21 students (19%) achieved the school mastery criterion of 70, with a class average of 60. This study aimed to describe the implementation of an animated video-based flipped classroom and determine its improvement in students’ conceptual understanding of fractions. The study employed Classroom Action Research based on the Kemmis and McTaggart model and was conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consisted of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The participants were 21 third-grade students, consisting of 10 boys and 11 girls. Data were collected through conceptual understanding tests, teacher and student activity observations, student response questionnaires, and documentation. The data were analyzed descriptively using mean scores and learning mastery percentages. The results showed that the average score increased from 60 in the pre-cycle to 68 in Cycle I and 76 in Cycle II. Learning mastery increased from 19% in the pre-cycle to 57% in Cycle I and 86% in Cycle II. Teacher activity increased from 61% to 88%, while student activity increased from 69% to 82%. Student responses in Cycle II reached 86%, categorized as very positive. Therefore, the implementation of an animated video-based flipped classroom improved students’ conceptual understanding of fractions and encouraged more active participation in learning. ABSTRAK Pemahaman konsep pecahan pada siswa kelas III sekolah dasar masih menjadi permasalahan karena materi bersifat abstrak dan pembelajaran yang berpusat pada guru belum memberikan kesempatan yang cukup kepada siswa untuk mempelajari materi secara mandiri dan aktif. Kondisi awal di kelas III SD Negeri 077279 Si’őfabanua menunjukkan bahwa hanya 4 dari 21 siswa (19%) yang mencapai KKM 70 dengan nilai rata-rata kelas 60. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan penerapan flipped classroom berbasis video animasi dan mengetahui peningkatan pemahaman konsep materi pecahan siswa. Penelitian menggunakan Penelitian Tindakan Kelas model Kemmis dan McTaggart yang dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus. Setiap siklus meliputi perencanaan, tindakan, observasi, dan refleksi. Subjek penelitian berjumlah 21 siswa yang terdiri atas 10 laki-laki dan 11 perempuan. Data dikumpulkan melalui tes pemahaman konsep, observasi aktivitas guru dan siswa, angket respons siswa, serta dokumentasi. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif melalui rata-rata dan persentase ketuntasan belajar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai rata-rata meningkat dari 60 pada pra-siklus menjadi 68 pada Siklus I dan 76 pada Siklus II. Ketuntasan belajar meningkat dari 19% pada pra-siklus menjadi 57% pada Siklus I dan 86% pada Siklus II. Aktivitas guru meningkat dari 61% menjadi 88%, sedangkan aktivitas siswa meningkat dari 69% menjadi 82%. Respons siswa pada Siklus II mencapai 86% dengan kategori sangat positif. Dengan demikian, penerapan flipped classroom berbasis video animasi dapat meningkatkan pemahaman konsep materi pecahan sekaligus mendorong keterlibatan siswa dalam pembelajaran.
This study aimed to develop and examine the validity, practicality, and preliminary effectiveness of the Outcome-Based Authentic Learning Model (OBALM) for strengthening the professional competence of prospective vocational educators. This Research and Development (R&D) study employed the ADDIE model and involved 54 third-semester students of the Vocational Makeup Education Study Program at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Padangpanjang. Data were collected through expert validation, implementation observations, student responses, and a professional performance rubric, and were analyzed using Aiken’s V, percentage scores, N-gain, and inferential statistics. OBALM comprises six stages: Authentic Problem Orientation, Problem Analysis, Strategy Design, Implementation, Feedback, and Reflection. Expert validation yielded an Aiken’s V of 0.89, indicating high content validity, while the overall practicality score was 85.0%. Students’ mean professional competence score increased from 62.18 to 82.94, with an N-gain of 0.55. The pretest–posttest difference was statistically significant, t(53) = 13.44, p < .001, with a very large effect size (Cohen’s dz = 1.83). Improvements were observed across the seven targeted professional competence dimensions. These findings provide initial empirical support for OBALM as a structured learning approach that integrates outcome-based learning, authentic problems, practical performance, feedback, and reflection in vocational higher education. Keywords: outcome-based education, authentic learning, professional competence, vocational education, instructional model.
This action research study examined the impact of interactive math games on engagement and achievement in a second-grade classroom at an urban Title I elementary school. Fourteen students participated in a six-week multiplication unit that integrated weekly math games alongside standard instruction. Data sources included pre- and post-tests, interest surveys, and understanding surveys. Results showed very high student engagement, moderate gains in conceptual understanding, and a positive trend in achievement scores, with most students demonstrating growth. Results suggest that game-based learning can support mathematical practices and may help address achievement gaps for students of color when thoughtfully implemented.
Currently, no practical instrument is available to evaluate sleep health literacy in nurses. This study aimed to translate the Sleep Health Communication scale into Chinese and examine its psychometric properties. Translation was performed following the standard procedures of the classic Brislin translation model. Cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 1 and June 1, 2025, in a large general hospital located in Southeast China. The survey battery consisted of demographic information, the Sleep Health Literacy scale (SHL), and the Anxiety and Preoccupation about Sleep Questionnaire (APSQ). Random subsample 1 ( n = 317) was used for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Random subsample 2 ( n = 318) was utilised to test internal consistency, perform confirmatory factor analysis, and calculate convergent validity and discriminant validity. Forty randomly selected participants were retested one month later to assess test-retest reliability. Six experts in relevant disciplines were recruited to evaluate content validity. Concurrent validity was assessed via Pearson correlation analysis between the total score of the SHC and the overall score of the APSQ. The Chinese version of the SHC scale comprised 2 dimensions with a total of 9 items. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported this two-factor model with acceptable model fit indices: χ 2 /df = 2.946, RMSEA = 0.078. The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient of the scale was 0.889, and the McDonald’s ω coefficient was 0.894. The test-retest reliability yielded an r value of 0.881, and the two-way mixed-effects model intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value of 0.866. The item-level content validity index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.833 to 1.000, and the scale-level average content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) was 0.944. Concurrent validity was calculated by correlating total SHC scores with total APSQ scores; the correlation coefficient was r = − 0.187( p < 0.01). The SHC-C exhibited preliminary reliability and validity. Notably, the overall concurrent validity of this scale with the APSQ was weak. The two-item Critical Application factor exhibited an even weaker, non-significant correlation and limited internal consistency. Its psychometric properties should be further validated using larger and more diverse samples. Not applicable.
Differences in translation strategies can be seen in the rendering of āyāt al-ifk in the 2019 Qur’anic translation published by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag RI) and the 2020 translation published by the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII). Although both translations convey the main messages of Q.S. An-Nūr [24]: 11–20, they differ in word choice, sentence structure, and contextual explanations. This study aims to analyze the similarities and differences between the two translations and identify their respective strengths and limitations. It employs a qualitative descriptive-comparative method with a library-based approach. The data are drawn from both Indonesian translations and analyzed using the concepts of tarjamah ḥarfiyyah and tarjamah tafsīriyyah, supported by linguistic, semantic, and Qur’anic interpretive analysis. The analysis focuses on key expressions related to false accusations and how each translation conveys the social and ethical messages of the verses. The findings show that the Kementerian Agama RI 2019 translation tends to provide more contextual explanations, making implied meanings and the social implications of the verses clearer. However, some added explanations may limit the meanings of certain Arabic expressions. In contrast, the UII 2020 translation generally uses shorter and more direct expressions that remain close to the Arabic text, although its limited contextual explanations may leave some aspects of meaning less clear. These findings indicate that the two translations adopt different strategies to balance fidelity to the source text, contextual accuracy, and readability. Neither is translation superior in every respect; rather, each has its own strengths and limitations in conveying the meanings of āyāt al-ifk.
This article sought to adapt and validate an instrument for the perception of management policies and practices aimed at higher education professors, since the available instruments were designed for organisations in general and do not address the particularities of academic work. The instrument was based on two scales already validated for Brazilian organisations, with the addition of items on research incentives, publication support and the teaching career. Content and criterion validity derived from the published origin of the items, complemented by prior definition of the constructs, peer review and pre-testing. A total of 386 professors from Brazilian public and private institutions took part, answering on an interval scale based on adverbs of quantity and frequency. Internal consistency reached a Cronbach's alpha of 0.956. Exploratory factor analysis, used for the statistical validation of the constructs defined a priori, retained six factors explaining 67.3% of the accumulated variance, with a sampling adequacy of 0.948. The expected dimensions were reproduced, and the added items formed a factor of their own. It is concluded that the adapted instrument is suitable for measuring teachers' perception of institutional management.
This study aims to examine the effect of the CTL assisted by audiovisual with a deep learning approach on the critical thinking skills of tenth-grade students at SMA Negeri 2 Tasikmalaya. Although the effectiveness of CTL has been widely investigated, studies integrating CTL, audiovisual media, and a deep learning approach simultaneously in economics learning remain limited, creating a research gap that underpins this study. The novelty of this research lies in examining the synergistic effect of these three components as a unified instructional intervention. The study employed a quasi-experimental method using a non-equivalent control group design. The research instrument was an essay test measuring critical thinking skills based on Ennis's indicators. The results revealed a significant improvement in the experimental group, with the mean score increasing from 36.22 on the pretest to 85.84 on the posttest, while the control group improved from 35.55 to 73.13. The independent samples t-test showed a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), with a Cohen's effect size of 1.29, indicating a very large effect. It can be concluded that the CTL model assisted by audiovisual media with a deep learning approach is effective in improving students' critical thinking skills in economics learning.
The “My First Pages” project was launched by a local authority in Braga, northern Portugal, with the initial goal of fostering early contact with books and children’s literature among children aged 0 to 10, encouraging parental involvement in promoting family reading habits. Implemented through voluntary family registration, and supported by a range of public and private partners (including hospitals, health centres, libraries, and post offices) books are distributed periodically to participating children. This paper presents the initiative as a distributive public policy and critically examines its evaluation process, conducted by education researchers from the University of Minho in close collaboration with the project coordinator. Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the evaluation draws on data from an interview with the project lead, as well as socio-cultural profiling of participating families and their reading practices, obtained through a questionnaire completed during the registration phase.
ABSTRACT Students’ active participation in expressing opinions is an important indicator of engagement in student-centered learning. Initial observations in Class III A at SD Negeri Kendangsari III/278 Surabaya revealed that only 8 out of 26 students (30.77%) actively participated in discussions, while the others tended to remain passive. This study aimed to improve students’ active participation in expressing opinions during Integrated Science and Social Studies (IPAS) lessons on the topic “Stories from the Hometown” through the Think Pair Share (TPS) model integrated with a deep learning approach. The study employed a classroom action research design conducted over two cycles, each consisting of three meetings, from July to August 2026. The participants were 26 students. Data were collected through observation and documentation and analyzed using descriptive quantitative and qualitative techniques. The individual achievement criterion was set at a minimum average participation score of 3.00, while the criterion for class-wide success required at least 80% participation. The results showed that the average percentage of active participation increased from 37.18% in the pre-cycle stage to 60.26% in Cycle I and 87.18% in Cycle II. The final achievement exceeded the predetermined success criterion. These findings indicate that integrating TPS with a deep learning approach may support students’ confidence in expressing ideas and enhance their participation in IPAS discussions. ABSTRAK Keaktifan murid dalam mengemukakan pendapat merupakan salah satu indikator keterlibatan dalam pembelajaran yang berpusat pada murid. Hasil observasi awal di kelas III A SD Negeri Kendangsari III/278 Surabaya menunjukkan bahwa hanya 8 dari 26 murid (30,77%) yang aktif berdiskusi, sedangkan sebagian lainnya cenderung pasif. Penelitian ini bertujuan meningkatkan keaktifan murid dalam mengemukakan pendapat pada pembelajaran IPAS dengan topik “Cerita dari Kampung Halaman” melalui model Think Pair Share (TPS) yang dipadukan dengan pendekatan pembelajaran mendalam. Penelitian menggunakan desain penelitian tindakan kelas yang dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus, masing-masing terdiri atas tiga pertemuan, pada Juli–Agustus 2026. Subjek penelitian berjumlah 26 murid. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan teknik deskriptif kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Kriteria keberhasilan individual ditetapkan berdasarkan skor rata-rata keaktifan minimal 3,00, sedangkan keberhasilan klasikal ditentukan apabila persentase keaktifan mencapai sekurang-kurangnya 80%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata persentase keaktifan meningkat dari 37,18% pada prasiklus menjadi 60,26% pada Siklus I dan 87,18% pada Siklus II. Capaian akhir tersebut melampaui indikator keberhasilan yang ditetapkan. Hasil ini menunjukkan bahwa penerapan TPS yang dipadukan dengan pendekatan pembelajaran mendalam berpotensi mendukung keberanian murid menyampaikan gagasan dan meningkatkan partisipasi dalam diskusi IPAS.
Abstract Educational innovation requires strategies that promote participation, social interaction, and the collective construction of learning. The objective was to analyze the perceptions of educational stakeholders regarding intergenerational play-based strategies as a pedagogical resource related to cognitive and socioemotional dimensions. The theoretical framework integrated play-based learning, intergenerational learning, and socioemotional development. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive-correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted with 502 participants from the educational community. A structured survey was administered, and frequencies, percentages, and associations among categorical variables were analyzed. 96.0% considered intergenerational participation to be important or very important; 89.2% felt comfortable or very comfortable interacting with people of other ages; 93.2% rated their ability to work in teams favorably; and 88.0% rated their memory and concentration skills as good or excellent. A higher frequency of recreational activities was associated with greater cognitive stimulation (76.2% vs. 38.0%; χ²=74.63; p<0.001; V=0.386), and frequent stimulation was linked to a favorable perception of memory and concentration (94.0% vs. 79.4%; χ²=24.35; p<0.001; V=0.220). It is concluded that there is a favorable predisposition toward intergenerational activities, although the cross-sectional design does not allow for the establishment of causality.
This study examined the associations of self-regulation, self-esteem, and digital literacy with students' perceived learning achievement at Ariya Metta Vocational High School, Tangerang. The quantitative ex post facto study included 154 students drawn from a population of 250 through proportional stratified random sampling. Online questionnaire responses were analysed using multiple linear regression in SPSS version 27. Self-regulation (B = 1.349; β = 0.494; t = 6.739; p < .001) and self-esteem (B = 0.624; β = 0.345; t = 4.113; p < .001) were positively associated with perceived achievement after adjustment for the other predictors. Digital literacy showed no significant unique association (B = 0.040; β = 0.019; t = 0.248; p = .804). The model accounted for 63.0% of the observed variation (R² = .630; adjusted R² = .622). Although digital literacy was significant in a simple regression, the association did not persist in the full model, indicating overlapping explanatory information among predictors. The findings support attention to learning management and students' evaluations of themselves while encouraging academically purposeful uses of digital resources. Because achievement was self-reported and the design was observational, the results do not establish causality.
Family-school engagement is key to holistic development and educational equity in early childhood. This study proposes and empirically evaluates a hierarchical model of engagement, composed of five dimensions: communication-participation, trust-inclusion, learning support, institutional resources, and digital mediation. The objective was to analyze the relationships between these dimensions from a dual perspective (families and teachers) in early childhood education contexts. Participants included 299 teachers and 308 family members from urban early childhood institutions, who completed a validated Likert-type questionnaire. A cross-sectional quantitative design was applied, employing descriptive analyses, internal consistency estimation (Cronbach's alpha), interdimensional correlations, and hierarchical modeling. The findings revealed: (a) high internal consistency across all dimensions (α ≥ .90), (b) strong correlations between dimensions within each group, (c) a more cohesive perceptual pattern in families, and (d) a greater weight of relational dimensions in the hierarchical model. This study provides empirical evidence and a robust theoretical framework for evaluating engagement in an integrated manner. Its distinctive value lies in offering a useful tool for institutional assessments, pedagogical decisions, and public policies aimed at improving communication, cultural inclusion, and digital equity in early childhood education settings
Ecuadorian higher education policy combines the constitutional recognition of education as a right with admission rules that allocate scarce quotas through academic background, evaluations, and affirmative action measures. The objective of this article is to determine under what conditions meritocratic admission fulfills a legitimate allocative function and under which it becomes a judgment about the intellectual value of the applicants. A conceptual analysis is employed: Jacques Rancière's concepts of explanatory order, dumbness, intellectual emancipation, and equality of intelligences are placed in dialogue with meritocracy research, with the current regulatory framework, and with the available evidence on unequal access in Ecuador. The analysis distinguishes three propositions that are often confused: that applicants differ in their demonstrated preparation, that institutions should assign limited quotas, and that the resulting ordering reveals unequal intelligences. Only the first two are necessary to admit; the third is an inference that the framework allows to be questioned. Four conditions are specified: semantic totalization, interpretative monopoly, temporal fixation, and public circulation of the verdict under which an assignative procedure becomes part of an explanatory order, and it is shown that they are separable from assignment and therefore institutionally modifiable. Five rights-oriented design principles are proposed, with their stated foundation. It is concluded that a defensible alternative is not selection without standards, but selection that limits the meaning attributed to its instruments and identifies testable directions for future empirical research.
This qualitative descriptive study examined the perspectives of teachers with direct experience implementing the push-in model in general education classrooms in selected schools in Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico, United States. It explored perceived educational value, implementation challenges, collaborative practices, professional roles, and opportunities for growth, and used the findings to formulate the Collaborative Push-In Enhancement Program (C-PEP). Participants were purposively selected from teachers experienced in push-in delivery or collaboration; the methodology described 11 co-participants, although another part of the dissertation reports a different sample count. Semi-structured interview accounts were examined using the six-phase thematic-analysis approach described in the dissertation. Five overarching themes were developed: push-in as inclusive and collaborative support for diverse learners; navigation of instructional, structural, and relational challenges; collaboration as the foundation of effective implementation; evolving instructional roles and complementary push-in/pull-out functions; and professional growth with holistic student development. Participants described greater classroom participation, confidence, access to grade-level teaching, and belonging, while emphasizing constrained planning time, scheduling, resources, and ambiguous teacher roles. The proposed C-PEP integrates differentiated instruction, problem-solving, co-planning, role clarification, mentoring, learner monitoring, and sustainability measures. Findings concern teachers’ reported experiences rather than independently measured student outcomes. The study highlights how inclusive practice depends on both responsive instruction and organizational support.
