درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This study aims to explore the insights of educators on the implementation and impact of peer-mediated instructional strategies within inclusive education settings. A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 22 educators currently working in inclusive educational settings. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure a diverse representation of experience with peer-mediated instructional strategies. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes related to the implementation, benefits, and challenges of peer-mediated instructional strategies. The study identified five key implementation strategies: training and professional development, collaborative planning, resource availability, student pairing, and monitoring and feedback mechanisms. Educators reported numerous benefits, including academic improvement, social skills development, increased inclusion and acceptance, peer leadership, motivation and engagement, and behavioral improvements. However, they also highlighted significant challenges, such as time constraints, lack of resources, diverse student needs, teacher preparedness, peer dynamics, administrative support, and difficulties in evaluation and assessment. Based on these findings, the study recommends policy changes, enhanced teacher training programs, the development of collaborative networks, flexible implementation models, and increased student involvement. Peer-mediated instructional strategies show great potential for enhancing inclusive education by fostering academic and social benefits for all students. However, successful implementation requires addressing challenges related to resource availability, teacher preparedness, and administrative support. By prioritizing comprehensive training, collaborative planning, and adequate resources, educators and policymakers can improve the effectiveness of inclusive education practices.

This study aims to explore the impact of social support networks on the mental health of gifted students. The study utilized a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach to capture the lived experiences of gifted students. Twenty-seven participants aged 12 to 18 were recruited from diverse educational settings through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, which provided in-depth insights into the participants' perceptions of social support and its impact on their mental health. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically, with themes emerging through iterative coding and constant comparison until theoretical saturation was achieved. The findings revealed that emotional, academic, and peer support are critical for the mental health of gifted students. Family support, characterized by parental encouragement and emotional reassurance, and peer support, through empathetic friendships and social inclusion, were particularly significant. Teacher support also played a crucial role in addressing both academic and emotional needs. However, several barriers to support were identified, including stigma, lack of resources, overemphasis on achievement, peer competition, and reluctance to seek help. These barriers exacerbate feelings of isolation and stress, impacting the overall well-being of gifted students. Social support networks are essential in mitigating the challenges faced by gifted students and promoting their mental health. Creating inclusive and supportive environments in educational settings, addressing barriers, and providing targeted interventions can enhance the well-being of gifted individuals. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and the intersectionality of giftedness with other demographic factors to develop comprehensive support strategies.

In order to cater for the ever-increasing demand for learning English, private language institutes have mushroomed across Iran. These institutes adopt different policies such as designing their own Teacher Training Course (TTC), following the syllabus of Certificate for Teaching English to Adults (CELTA), or localizing it for the Iranian context to train competent English teachers. Surprisingly, there exists little research evaluating these TTC's or investigating if localizing CELTA is an effective strategy for the Iranian context. This study aimed to fill this gap by delineating the steps taken by a widely-known Iranian language institute in localizing CELTA for the Iranian context, and secondly to determine if the teachers were satisfied with this localized TTC. Data collected through the websites and interviews were subjected to conceptual content analysis; while the data mined through evaluation questionnaires were analysed through quantitative descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the Iranianized TTC suffered from discrepancies such as unreliable selection of the participants, lack of opportunities for teaching practices, not observing experienced teachers' classes, and focusing on received rather than experiential knowledge. These findings are discussed, and a number of practical suggestions are offered to improve the Iranian TTC.