This article outlines the rationale for adopting a mixed methods approach within randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and explores challenges associated in doing so. Taking the example of the EASE Back feasibility and pilot study (Evaluating Acupuncture and Standard care for pregnant womEn with "BACK" pain: ISRCTN49955124), we detail why…

The persistent underrepresentation of women in engineering continues to be a complex and difficult challenge. The interactions of young women and their parents during early, family-oriented engineering design experiences can provide girls with opportunities to express agency during an engineering activity, which can ultimately contribute to the…

Over the past years, Greece has been undergoing a severe financial crisis. The main purpose of this study was to examine how early childhood teachers perceive continuing professional development (CPD) under such societal turmoil. More specifically, this study examined the perceptions of 45 in-service kindergarten teachers attending the…

Third-age learning is a subset of lifelong learning enjoyed by individuals in the stage of retirement, and often 60 years or older. Community art education (CAE) for learners in the third age commonly occurs in recreational settings, nursing homes, museums, libraries and places of worship. In addition to these informal learning sites, there are…

The aim of this study was to determine the anxiety level that visually impaired students may have for the future when planning their profession. Anxiety is defined as excessive level fear and worry about real or imaginary situations. So the excessive worry can affect the ability to act to solve a problem. This study was a case study based on the…

Little is known about how university leaders approach the complex task of supporting peer observation of teaching in their Faculties. This paper explores the experiences of four Associate Deans of Learning and Teaching at a research-intensive university in Australia. Interviews revealed three different approaches to supporting peer observation of…

Organic chemistry students struggle with understanding the energetics of chemical reactions. Reaction coordinate diagrams are one tool that is widely used in organic chemistry classrooms to assist students with visualizing and explaining the energy changes that take place throughout a reaction. Thirty-six students enrolled in organic chemistry II…

The current qualitative study sought to examine how male and female principals enact their instructional leadership. Data were collected through 59 semi-structured interviews with 36 female principals and 23 male principals from Israel, and analysed in a four-stage process--condensing, coding, categorising, and theorising. Findings presented two…

The findings from this study suggest that 2-year-old children regularly use mark making as a tool to further support their emergent thoughts and understanding of the world. The qualitative study of three 2-year-old children uses observations and informal interviews to construct narrative stories of their explorations and play both at nursery and…

School attendance problems are associated with a range of adverse consequences, and educational practitioners play a role in identifying and responding to attendance problems. This qualitative study explored educational practitioners' experiences of working with students with attendance problems and interventions to address them. Focus groups were…

A limited number of empirical studies have been conducted to explore how students perceive school engagement and the factors influencing their engagement in school, particularly amongst Asian students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand school engagement from the perspectives of twenty-two secondary school students through two…

The rapid increase in the diversity of school populations in some urban settings in New Zealand creates a challenge for school leaders in relation to fostering ethnic inclusion as an important aspect of leading a school with a diverse student population. The purpose of this small study was to investigate the nature and challenges of diversity in…

This study examines changes to Jewish day school students' narratives of the history of Israel after a two-and-a-half-week trip there. Seventeen students were interviewed about the history of Israel before and after the trip. Before the trip, most students' accounts lacked logical connections among the different events. The observations on the…

This paper describes an innovative way of randomly collecting handwritten homework in calculus classes with approximately 50 students using a standard deck of cards, which does not place an excessive burden on faculty with regard to grading. In addition to the increased awareness students develop in structuring a mathematical solution, the…

Adult learning rests on the foundation of learner experience and involvement in the teaching and learning process. The methods employed in facilitating adult learning have to a large extent sought to place the learner at the centre of the entire teaching and learning encounter. The lecture method is one of the many methods used to facilitate…