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Summers A, Calderon GV, Klein LM, Wang J, Dinh J, Suliman T, Hager ER, Edwards L, Collins ME, Johnson SB. Development of a community-informed communication toolkit to prevent spread of viral illness in schools, including SARS-COV-2. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1285453. [PMID: 37954051 PMCID: PMC10634313 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1285453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Schools were uniquely impacted during the COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) pandemic. We sought to elucidate how parents/guardians of elementary and middle school students in Maryland navigated the return to in-person school following remote instruction. We also sought to understand how they perceived communication about school-based COVID-19 mitigation strategies and their preferences for the content and format of public health communication about COVID-19 mitigation in schools. Methods We engaged a community advisory board comprised of key partners and implemented a survey and focus groups. Results Results indicated that parents/guardians wanted clearer communication about COVID-19 mitigation policies in schools and were experiencing fatigue and confusion. These insights informed the development of a tailorable communication toolkit. The toolkit was designed to (1) inform parents/guardians about the importance and effectiveness of mitigation strategies for preventing viral spread to keep children in school, (2) promote a sense of community and support, and (3) help school communication teams effectively communicate information about mitigation strategies being implemented. Discussion We describe a process for leveraging schools as a trusted messenger, engaging school communities in the development of communication messages, and utilizing a tailorable communication toolkit in the context of shifting public health guidance and local needs. The toolkit development and dissemination process offers a model for targeting public health messaging to parents/guardians in school settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Summers
- Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Gabriela V. Calderon
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lauren M. Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - June Wang
- Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Janny Dinh
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tina Suliman
- Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Erin R. Hager
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lorece Edwards
- School of Community Health & Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Megan E. Collins
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sara B. Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Porter K, Miles PJ, Donaldson DI. Teachers’ emotions in the time of COVID: Thematic analysis of interview data reveals drivers of professional agency. Front Psychol 2022; 13:987690. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
PurposeWe explored two complex phenomena associated with effective education. First, teachers’ professional agency, the volitional actions they take in response to perceived opportunities, was examined to consider individual differences in its enactment. Second, “strong” emotions have been proposed as important in teaching and learning, and we wished to clarify which basic emotions might be involved, besides curiosity, which is a known emotional factor in engagement in teaching. We also explored how agency and basic emotions might be related.ApproachThirteen teachers working in Scottish secondary schools were interviewed at the start of the covid pandemic in 2020 to discuss relevant feelings, thoughts and actions arising from unprecedented changes in their lives and professional practices. Thematic analysis was used to identify aspects of agentic behavior and basic emotions expressed.FindingsTeacher agency was expressed through adaptability, collective agency, constrained agency, and non-action. Four basic emotion percepts were identified, which we label as “CARE”, “CURIOSITY”, “COOPERATION”, and “CHALLENGE”.OriginalityWe extend the definition of agency to include volitional non-action as a response to opportunity. In contrast to prior research emphasizing emotions as an outcome of volitional behavior, we explore emotions preceding agency. We develop four theoretical propositions related to teacher emotions. (1) Four emotion percepts substantially influence teachers’ voluntary motivated behavior. (2) The amount and proportion of emotions experienced varies between individual teachers. (3) The four percepts are experienced concurrently or in rapid succession in engaged teaching contexts. (4) Professional experience and specific situational factors also influence teachers’ behavioral choices. For future consideration, we suggest that awareness of emotion percepts may encourage both teachers’ engagement and their professional agency for the benefit of their pedagogical practice and outcomes for their students.
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