The purpose of the study was to examine the most critical dimensions of summer enrichment programs (SEPs) for gifted students. The researchers conducted the study in Saudi Arabia with students from grades nine to 11 at a gifted summer program in a public university. The total number of students was 172 gifted students (62 female and 110 male). The…

This study explored students' prosocial efficacy and reading outcomes in a culturally relevant summer reading program for underrepresented students. From a positive developmental approach, the reading program focuses on topics rooted in multicultural education, with books organized according to themes such as making a difference for oneself, one's…

High levels of teacher self-efficacy are positively correlated with more job satisfaction, less burnout, and a greater commitment to the profession, however sources of teacher self-efficacy outside of teacher preparation programs are rarely examined. Because formal teacher preparation programs and alternative teacher certification pathways account…

Nature-based interventions (NBI) have demonstrated positive effects on a range of student outcomes, including enhanced prosocial behaviors, decreased levels of stress, and improved mood and concentration. Further, school-aged children's participation in NBIs supports students' reconnection with the natural world. Although schools represent an…

This evaluation research addressed the gap in the stress management education literature related to short-term mindfulness programs for youth in non-formal educational settings. The Mindfulness Moments: Today and 4-Life program was adapted from existing curricula and delivered in Ohio and Pennsylvania during summer 2019. The purpose of the program…

The COVID-19 pandemic, which suddenly took the whole world under its influence, also radically affected the educational environments. This research aimed to examine the attitudes of undergraduates towards distance education, their perceptions of readiness for e-learning, and the relationship between these two variables during the COVID-19…

Summer is a time of reduced physical activity (PA) for children; however, summer care programs (SCPs) can provide opportunities for children to be active and foster friendships. This study investigated associations between PA and friendship formation at SCPs. Children (ages 8-12 years) from two SCPs reported demographics, PA, and up to five…

Despite well-documented benefits for students--particularly students belonging to minorized groups--all tenets of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) are rarely fully enacted in practice. This study examines the interrelationship between the race-related beliefs of Servant Leader Interns (SLIs) who facilitated class sessions during a summer,…

Friendships and self-determination are two factors that positively influence success in school and adult life. Examining the relationship between these two constructs among a sample of students who were deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), the researchers used the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (Shogren, Wehmeyer, Burke, & Palmer,…

The Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory--Time Attitude Scales (AATI-TA) were used to examine the association between time attitudes and self-reported academic and social-emotional outcomes in 967 academically talented adolescents (M age = 14.27, SD = 1.42) attending a summer educational program. The AATI-TA consists of six subscales assessing…

This research focuses on student-robot interaction in the learning environment of robotics education (RE) and attempts to explore how it cultivates students' computational thinking (CT). Different from child-robot interactions as investigated in the social robot field, student-robot (S-R) interactions focus mainly on the process of interaction…

Child physical activity (PA) is influenced by social environment. Self-perception and perception of others' behaviors may impact health behaviors such as PA. This study examines associations between child networks, perception of their own PA and the network's perception of their PA. Children (n = 89, M age = 10.00, SD = 1.34) at a summer care…

Purpose/Objectives: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participation rates often underserve the number of children in the community needing access to food. Each year, District 87 in Bloomington, Illinois offers children 18 years old and younger a free lunch at six feeding sites throughout the community as part of the SFSP. During the summer of…

In spite of the superior effects of semester- or year-long educational experiences abroad, the majority of students prefers short-term study abroad for which participation numbers are steadily rising. Due to the increased student interest in short-term study abroad options, investigations into how a short stay abroad can be designed to maximize…

Social, motivational, and instructional factors impact students' outcomes in STEM learning and their career paths. Based on prior research and expectancy-value theory, the study further explored how multiple factors affect students in the context of integrated STEM learning. High school STEM teachers participated in summer professional development…