Search Results (12,299)

Deaf people experience significant barriers to education, healthcare, employment, and information access, resulting in inequities across a myriad of contexts. To better understand these disparities, our all-deaf research team conducted semi-structured interviews with deaf and hearing (parents, caregivers, and educators) adults across Ecuador, exploring how structural, institutional, and social factors influence daily life and well-being. Participants (n = 36) described systemic exclusion from education and employment, limited access to interpreters and assistive technologies, and constrained autonomy due to insufficient family support and institutional resources. These barriers compound health risks by restricting access to care, information, and social participation. Participants’ narratives highlighted how political and economic instability, institutional neglect, and discrimination create structural vulnerabilities that extend beyond individual-level factors. Findings underscore the importance of public health interventions that address structural and communicative inequities, including inclusive education, accessible health services, and community-based support, to improve health equity and quality of life for deaf populations in Ecuador. Full article

In this case study, we examined a school in Northern Norway that has integrated outdoor learning as a core element of its pedagogical practices. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of outdoor learning and the factors contributing to the school’s success, we conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of outdoor learning: six students, three teachers, one teaching assistant, and the principal. Our interviews were thematically analyzed using a whole-school approach framework, and our findings indicate that outdoor learning is embedded in the school’s identity. The regularity of outdoor learning for all students, with support from the school’s leadership and committed teachers, ensures predictability and continuity. Students and staff are broadly positive about outdoor learning and report that it strengthens student–teacher relationships. Outdoor learning is understood as interdisciplinary, and the practice enhances both academic learning and environmental awareness. Nevertheless, we identified limited opportunities and a weak culture for sharing outdoor learning practices among teachers. The school therefore aims to develop a progression plan for outdoor learning and to facilitate greater sharing to strengthen the professional community and improve coherence. This case study contributes to the literature by specifying organizational and contextual conditions for successful implementation and by highlighting the need to align outdoor and indoor teaching. Sustained outdoor learning requires holistic support from everyone involved in the school community. Full article

This study designed and developed a Portable Drill and Grinder Holder with an Integrated Measurement Guide to improve stability, safety, and accuracy in hand-held power tool operations. Addressing workshop challenges like excessive vibration and uncontrolled tool movement, the project employed a developmental research design involving sixteen (16) welding experts. The prototype was constructed using durable, locally available materials to ensure affordability. Evaluation results showed significant improvements in operator control, with Safety receiving the highest rating (M = 3.66). The findings confirm that the tool meets industry standards for instructional and workshop use. Full article

Teacher–AI collaboration is increasingly present in educational settings, yet little is known about how it is conceptualized in empirical research and what this implies for teacher preparation. This review synthesizes 39 empirical studies on teacher professionalization published between 2015 and 2025 to examine how responsibilities for detecting, diagnosing, and acting on educational data are distributed between teachers and AI systems. Results indicate a predominant focus on learning analytics and natural language processing tools, largely operating at intermediate to high levels of automation. In these configurations, teachers are primarily positioned as interpreters or monitors of AI outputs. In addition, our analysis identifies a consistent pattern: as AI systems assume greater pedagogical autonomy, teacher training described in the literature remains brief, procedural, and largely limited to technical familiarization. These findings suggest that different automation configurations entail distinct competence demands, and that teacher preparation must move beyond technical training to conceptualize teacher–AI collaboration as ongoing professional sensemaking within hybrid intelligent systems grounded in educational values. Full article

Urban low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) logistics networks face critical operational bottlenecks due to complex three-dimensional spatial blockages, continuous communication diffraction, and severe vulnerability to information-layer threats such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) signal anomalies. To address these interconnected challenges, this paper proposes an event-driven, cloud–edge collaborative digital twin framework to guarantee continuous multi-link communication and flight safety. The architecture operates through a dual-tier “Teacher–Student” paradigm. Under secure conditions, a cloud digital twin acts as a high-capacity “Teacher,” employing Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) to partition heterogeneous user topologies. It then utilizes an energy-guided stochastic diffusion sampling (EGSDS) method to refine initial macroscopic routing, generating precise, outage-free global trajectories by systematically minimizing non-line-of-sight (NLoS) observation penalties and kinematic regularization costs. To counteract signal anomalies, a distributed Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) anchor network continuously validates UAV coordinate integrity. If a threshold is breached, control authority is instantly transferred to the UAV’s edge digital twin. This resource-constrained edge tier relies on a localized “Student” network trained via progressive distillation. By compressing the computationally heavy iterative diffusion process into a rapid one-step inference model, the UAV autonomously generates a secure, short-range emergency path that strictly adheres to minimum communication thresholds. Once interference clears, the cloud seamlessly regains control to complete the logistics mission. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms conventional heuristic routing methods in cloud-based scenarios. Furthermore, the edge-based distillation mechanism substantially improves the overall trajectory survival rate under signal anomalies, ensuring resilient and continuous logistics operations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Teachers in educational institutions are continuously exposed to high occupational demands, which may contribute to the development of increased adiposity and comparatively unfavorable health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores. However, there is limited evidence regarding how years of professional experience is associated with these indicators in teachers. The objective of this study is to examine the association between years of professional experience, adiposity indicators, and HRQoL among teachers in educational institutions. Methods: An observational, relational, exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in 175 teachers from educational institutions in the city of Temuco, Chile. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were assessed as adiposity indicators, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using the SF-12. Age, sex, and years of professional experience were recorded. Simple and multivariable linear regression models were used to analyze the association between years of experience and the study variables, adjusting for age and sex. Additionally, experience tertiles were compared using ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results: In the unadjusted analyses, greater years of professional experience were associated with higher adiposity indicators, including BMI (β = 0.071; 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.129). However, after adjustment for age and sex, these associations were attenuated and no longer statistically significant (adjusted BMI: β = −0.172; 95% CI: −0.434 to 0.053). Associations with PCS and MCS scores were also not statistically significant after adjustment. Conclusions: Teachers exhibited high levels of adiposity and HRQoL scores suggesting an unfavorable perceived health profile. The observed associations between years of professional experience and adiposity or HRQoL appear to be largely explained by age rather than by professional experience itself. Future longitudinal studies are needed to more precisely distinguish between the effects of aging and prolonged occupational exposure. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously given the convenience sampling design and the inclusion of teachers from a single city. Full article

This study focuses on the design and development of the Double Purpose Bench Vise to address safety, efficiency, and adaptability challenges in welding and fabrication environments. The project responds to limitations of conventional vises that restrict precision and increase the risk of strain-related injuries when handling heavy, irregular, or vertically oriented workpieces. Through an engineering-based development approach involving analysis, design, fabrication, and performance evaluation, the study introduces a Double Jaw Vertical Bench Vise equipped with a dual-clamping system and an integrated hydraulic jack mechanism for precise vertical adjustment with minimal physical effort. The device is designed to securely hold various materials, including metal bars, pipes, and wooden components, during cutting, grinding, shaping, welding, and assembly operations. Evaluation results from functional testing and user feedback indicate improved clamping stability, alignment accuracy, and ergonomic performance compared to traditional models, although refinements in structural optimization, weight distribution, and user interface components are recommended. The study suggests further prototype enhancement, extended field testing, and integration of advanced ergonomic and safety features to maximize durability, usability, and overall productivity in professional workshops and technical training laboratories. Full article

Students with disabilities, particularly those needing additional support or intervention to manage emotions and behaviors, build healthy relationships, and navigate social and academic demands, face heightened risks of high school pushout that can be traced back to their transition into high school. Project Elevate (PE) is a multi-component intervention that strategically invests in early coordinated student, family, and school supports to prevent barriers associated with high school pushout, such as a lack of continuity of effective services across school sites. This mixed-methods pilot study examined the implementation of PE with three 8th-grade students and their parents during their last term in middle school. This study includes quantitative pre–post descriptive analyses of multi-informant reports of students’ social, emotional, and behavioral skills, as well as descriptive analyses of weekly teacher- and parent-reported behavior and student attendance. Qualitative analysis using the Framework Method was applied to student and parent interviews and open-ended responses on a satisfaction questionnaire to understand their experience receiving PE support. Session case notes were also used as contextual data to describe implementation processes and contextualize findings. Results indicated improvements in student attendance and reductions in home-based behavioral concerns, with mixed findings across school-based outcomes. Students and parents reported high satisfaction with the intervention, highlighting the value of individualized support, goal setting, and strengthened communication with schools. Findings from this intervention development pilot study provide preliminary evidence regarding the implementation and perceived value of PE. Results also highlight the importance of culturally responsive, relationship-centered practices that affirm student strengths and support access to educational opportunities. Further investigation of PE in larger studies is warranted. Full article

This paper proposes a conceptual framework for strengthening school quality assurance through knowledge management to support sustainable education. Drawing on the international priorities of the OECD and UNESCO, the study positions school self-evaluation as a central quality-assurance mechanism that can promote continuous improvement, accountability, equity, and better learning outcomes. Methodologically, the study adopts a quantitative research design to collect data from 978 teachers across 20 schools in Hong Kong. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were employed to identify the latent variables and validate the conceptual framework. Results show that effective quality assurance depends on both formal procedures and the school’s capacity to create, share, and use knowledge. Key knowledge management enablers include visionary leadership, professional autonomy, bureaucratic control, information technology infrastructure, and a collaborative culture of knowledge sharing. Within this model, professional autonomy and knowledge sharing link management conditions to evidence-informed reflection, planning, and improvement. The framework is situated in the context of Hong Kong schools while offering broader relevance for education systems seeking sustainable development. The study concludes that sustainable school self-evaluation is driven primarily by teacher professional autonomy (β = 0.738, total effect = 0.795), with knowledge sharing functioning as a critical mediating mechanism that transmits the effects of visionary leadership (indirect β = 0.343) and enabling bureaucratic control (indirect β = 0.103) into evaluation quality. IT infrastructure does not exert a significant direct effect on SSE (β = 0.056, p = 0.098), indicating that technological provision is a necessary but insufficient condition for evaluation effectiveness in the Hong Kong context. Full article

The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in higher education has opened new possibilities for optimizing administrative and academic services, particularly in contexts characterized by high-demand communication processes. Within the framework of service science, this study addresses the challenge of efficiently managing high volumes of email inquiries in a university master’s program, aiming to improve service quality and operational efficiency. The study examines the implementation of GenAI-based assistants, specifically NotebookLM and custom Gem AI assistants, trained in regulatory, curricular, and historical data from the University Master’s in Teacher Training at Rey Juan Carlos University. A mixed analytical approach is adopted, combining elements of data science to quantify efficiency gains and service science to analyze organizational and service-related transformations. The implementation of GenAI assistants contributes to improved response times, enhanced accuracy of information provided, and a reduction in administrative workload. The results suggest that GenAI can support the scalability and quality of academic administrative services when integrated within a structured service framework. However, its effective adoption requires careful consideration of ethical, organizational, and governance dimensions to ensure sustainable and responsible implementation. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases impose a substantial global health burden and often require timely detection, creating strong demand for real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring on resource-constrained devices. Although portable single-lead wearable ECG devices are valuable for daily monitoring, their diagnostic performance is limited by spatial information loss and hardware constraints. Moreover, conventional lightweight models lack interpretable analysis beyond coarse classification. This study proposes an edge–cloud collaborative ECG-assisted analysis method combining lightweight ECG model distillation with large language models. At the algorithmic level, a cross-lead distillation framework transfers knowledge from a 12-lead InceptionTime–Transformer teacher to an ultra-lightweight single-lead student via a hybrid loss integrating hard-label, temperature-scaled soft-label, and auxiliary multi-label objectives. At the system level, a three-layer architecture integrates edge-side real-time screening with cloud-side report generation through a LoRA-fine-tuned Qwen3-8B model. Experiments on PTB-XL show that, under 123.7× parameter compression and 12-to-1 lead reduction, the student retains 92.8% of the teacher’s Macro-F1 and 94.7% of its AUC-ROC. After 8-bit integer (INT8) quantization, the TFLite file is 20.8 KB; QEMU-based Cortex-M4 simulation shows approximately 63.0 KB SRAM usage and 11.6 ms latency, suggesting potential on-device deployment under simulated conditions. Validation on physical hardware—including power consumption, BLE latency, and motion artifacts—remains necessary. Full article

Teachers’ behavioral consistency is recognized as a cornerstone of effective classroom management and of cultivating a positive school climate. This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study examined the extent to which middle-school teachers consistently applied values-based responses to comparable student behaviors across classroom and non-classroom settings. Results revealed higher consistency scores in classroom scenarios (M = 1.6) than in non-classroom scenarios (M = 1.1), with 40–50% of responses showing no overlap in strategy across contexts. Descriptive analyses indicated that behavioral consistency varied according to teacher gender, professional experience, and school socioeconomic context. These findings underscore differences in teachers’ reported responses across school settings and emphasize the importance of schoolwide behavior-management protocols and professional development initiatives that foster consistent, values-oriented practices throughout the school environment. Full article

This study introduces an Electronically Controlled Root Crop Processor, a compact, Arduino-powered simulator designed to transform hands-on learning for TVET students. Built with locally available materials, it seamlessly integrates grating and juice extraction while prioritizing safety, ergonomics, and user-friendly operation. Experts rated the prototype highly for functionality and usability, with ergonomics scoring 3.96, while aesthetics and modularity scored 3.83, highlighting areas for refinement. By bridging classroom theory and practical skills, the processor offers an interactive, real-world food processing experience, empowering learners to develop technical competencies efficiently in laboratory settings. Full article

The study investigated the tensile strength and elongation properties of abaca fiber-reinforced polymer (AFRP) composites after varying durations of seawater soaking, with a focus on their potential for reinforcing fiber-optic cables. It aims to bridge industrial technology education, experiential learning, and green technology by evaluating abaca fiber as a sustainable alternative to synthetic aramid yarn. Conducted at Caraga State University, Cabadbaran Campus (CSUCC), the research utilized a quasi-experimental product development design involving industrial technology students and instructors. Tensile strength testing and comparative analysis were performed on abaca fiber samples (A, B, and C) subjected to different seawater soaking durations. Results show that soaking time significantly affects the fiber strength, with Sample A achieving the highest tensile strength (5631.5 MPa) and Sample C the lowest (1679.8 MPa). Findings indicate that prolonged exposure to seawater weakens abaca fiber, emphasizing the need for controlled treatment to optimize its industrial applications. This study emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning in industrial technology education, promoting critical thinking and technical skills while underscoring sustainability. The research advocates for eco-friendly materials in industrial applications and highlights the potential of abaca fiber composites. Future studies should investigate pre-treatment methods to enhance fiber durability, assess the long-term environmental performance, and conduct large-scale pilot testing to evaluate commercial viability. By integrating sustainable innovations into industrial technology education, this study contributes to advancing natural fiber composites for manufacturing and telecommunications infrastructure. Full article

This paper examines the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on the First Amendment protection of the Free Exercise of religion by focusing on the Court’s judicial role to provide civic education in America’s constitutional principles. It argues that the Court’s current Free Exercise jurisprudence has ignored the Court’s teaching role by favoring brightline tests that fail to apply constitutional principles to the circumstances of each case. In these cases, the Court has refused to model for citizens how to reflect on constitutional principles and carefully apply them to new circumstances. This hesitancy reflects a greater debate over whether the judiciary or the legislature is the best protection for religious liberty and the proper educator on constitutional rights. Despite the Court’s constitutional role as teacher on constitutional rights, there are inherent limits to its authority to educate on religion given the liberal nature of the American regime. The Court limits itself to legal questions affecting religion and leaves religious doctrine and its truth outside of its cognizance in order to restrain its educative function to the proper constitutional limits. The Court’s Free Exercise jurisprudence thus demonstrates the potential and limits for the Court to protect religious liberty and educate citizens on religious freedom. Full article