The critical role of executive functioning in autism as well as the co-occurring mental health challenges common among autistic youth support to the immense value of interventions targeting executive functioning for enhancing mental health services for autistic children. The goal of the present study was to conduct a randomized feasibility trial…

Environmental interpretation provides visitors with positive experiences in nature while managing their impacts. Existing research has concentrated on the influence of interpretive programs on visitor knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. Little empirical research exists on how visitors perceive their environment. In this research we examine the…

We present two studies to investigate the extent to which attending a planetarium presentation increases secondary school students' understanding of the apparent motion of the Sun and stars. In the first study, we used the Apparent Motion of Sun and Stars (AMoSS) test in a pretest/post-test/retention test setting to measure learning gains and…

The present study investigates perceptions toward inclusive restrooms after implementation on a college campus. The campus implemented 'all-gender restrooms' to reduce restroom-related stress and belonging threats faced by gender-diverse students. Signs labeled 'all-gender' were added to the restroom doors along with notes explaining that the…

Objective: To assess the efficacy of utilizing dining hall napkins as a novel health messaging strategy to promote mindfulness. Participants: Undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university. Methods: Utilizing a place-based promotional strategy, mindfulness messages were printed on over 8-million napkins at dining halls. Surveys (N = 573)…

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education is a high priority in many countries, seen to enable future economic growth and competitiveness. An integrated STEM approach seeks to combine these disciplines to solve real-world problems. Teachers play a central role in this endeavour. This paper reports on a research project which…

Live animal shows, which combine animal facts with trained behaviours, are commonly used to engage zoo visitors globally. However, such shows have been criticised for portraying a potentially unhelpful image of 'performing animals' and have raised issues of animal welfare ethics. Little is known about the educational effectiveness of these shows.…

Assessing customers' satisfaction with service quality has been a common practice that allows leaders and managers to improve service delivery to the customers in business studies. In education, the measurement of student satisfaction has received popularity and so does the satisfaction of teaching staff. Studies examining student teachers' and…

Wildflower seeds have been distributed by zoos and other organizations to facilitate native plant gardening and promote pollinator conservation, but the effectiveness of these campaigns has not been formally evaluated. We use Toronto Zoo members as a sample population to assess the efficacy of distributing wildflower seeds versus informative…

To address widespread weight stigma across the physical activity landscape, scholars have emphasized the need to provide exercise professionals with educational programs that help them (a) identify their biases, (b) reflect on their assumptions about higher-weight individuals, and (c) apply tangible strategies to enhance the inclusivity of fitness…

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a PRECEDE model-based educational program in enhancing awareness, attitudes and preventive behaviors against diabetes complications among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design/methodology/approach: This quasi-experimental study included 160 T2DM patients from rural health centers in…

The William Penn Foundation launched Philadelphia's Informal Learning Initiative (ILI) to support the development of literacy-rich programming for families with children aged 3 to 9. The initiative was designed as a network of partnerships in which a cultural organization--usually a museum--paired with one or more, community-based organizations…

Multi-Sensory Environments (also called sensory or Snoezelen® rooms) are specialised spaces that contain equipment to modify the environment. They are commonly used in special-needs schools with autistic children, but empirical investigation into how to best use Multi-Sensory Environments with autistic children has been limited. Based on…

Environmental education has an important role in higher education institutions as it leads to understanding the importance of sustainability, thus creating a positive impact on students. This impact extends beyond the classroom, inspiring them to actively engage in environmentally responsible behaviors and become conscientious stewards of our…

The use of non-face-to-face services and kiosks has expanded due to the development of information and communication technology and accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Korea, the use of self-service kiosks has grown to about four times pre-pandemic levels. Therefore, it is pivotal for students with intellectual and developmental…