Chronicle of Rural Education

Editorial: Rural Still Matters

Gerald Mihelic — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial on the importance of rural communities and rural education, and why the Chronicle of Rural Education has taken up the charge to represent them in academia.

The Case for Academic Regulation: Preliminary Results from an Innovative Intervention for Entry-Level College Students

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Although there are many benefits to a college degree, student attrition continues to be an issue in higher education. Students in low SES, rural areas may be disproportionately impacted by the general factors that influence attrition, including lack of academic preparation and psychological distress. Combining academic skills training and the therapeutic approach of Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT) may help alleviate both issues, promoting student success in college. The current study examines a small pilot application of TIGER PAWS (Targeted Intervention for enhancinG Educational Readiness and Promoting Affective Wellbeing in Students) in sample of 33 entry-level undergraduate students (73% female, age = 18-33 years) in the southern United States. Before and directly following the 8-week intervention, students completed measures of self-efficacy for learning, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and emotional dysregulation. Results indicated encouraging improvements in self-efficacy for learning (t(32) = -5.205, p < .001). There was no change in anxiety symptoms (t(32) = .862, p > .05). Surprisingly, there were modest increases in depressive symptoms (t(32) = -2.219, p < .05), which may be the result of enhanced emotional awareness, rather than symptoms per se, as emotion dysregulation significantly decreased (t(32) = 2.336, p < .05). Although these findings need replication in a larger RCT design, results indicate early promise of a novel intervention to address the academic preparation and psychological wellbeing of entry-level college students.

'I got to sit at the table': The Impact of Distance Social Work Education in Rural and Tribal Communities in Montana

Tess Carlson , Jessica Liddell, Sarah Reese, Deanna Cooper — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Online education has been proposed as a potential tool for addressing social work workforce gaps for meeting student needs in rural and remote settings. However, little research explores the use of distance learning in BSW education for rural states and with large Native American populations. To help fill this gap, we investigated a BSW distance learning program that serves rural and Native American students in the Western United States. Using semi-structured interviews, we elicited the views of student, staff, and faculty perspectives surrounding the programâ€™s unique strengths and areas for improvement. This program is affiliated with an accredited school of social work at a mid-sized state university, which provides technical and staffing support to faculty, staff, and students. Students complete two years of in-person classes at a Tribal or community college in their area, followed by two years of online classes. The interviews were coded and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The results of the study highlight the importance of meeting studentsâ€™ needs, building strong relationships with rural and Tribal partners, and tailoring curriculum to address the needs of communities served. Participant quotes speak to the ability of distance learning to provide a flexible and supportive educational opportunity for rural and Native American students. We believe that online education, when done with care and culturally adapted for communities, can be an important tool in developing the social work workforce for rural and Tribal communities. We discuss implications for future social work distance learning programs.

A Feasibility Study for Implementing and Evaluating an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Intervention in Rural School Settings and its Impact on Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health

Katey Tuchscherer Franklin, Tamara Tribitt — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Through a mixed-methods research design, the researchers explored the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) program in a rural school setting. The program was developed to address the mental and behavioral health needs specific to adolescents in rural communities. In collaboration with a rural school district, students aged 13-18 participated in focus groups to provide insight into their experience of the youth iCBT program. Researchers also utilized results from the Beck's Youth Inventories-Second Edition (BYI-2) and the Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-A2) to determine the efficacy of the youth iCBT program. Results of the study indicate that adolescents prefer to seek support services from a person in the school setting when they face challenges to their wellbeing. Additionally, results suggest there are no statistically significant changes to participants' levels of anxiety, depression, or substance use upon completion of the youth iCBT program.

Reflections on Gardening, Volunteerism, and Wellbeing in Rural Oklahoma

Robin Roberson, Emiley Cole — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Common sense and research both support the idea that gardening and volunteerism are good for personal wellbeing but neither body of knowledge has a strong rationale for why these activities are good for us. Using an open-ended survey and follow-up interviews, this phenomenological study set in rural Oklahoma investigated the lived experiences of local volunteer gardeners and explored how gardening and volunteering affect the wellbeing of these individuals. The resulting thematic analysis agrees in many ways with current findings, however, a new theme emerged – personal relationships and gardening – which is worthy of further study to determine how this combination may contribute to improved wellbeing. The authors propose integrating one element of these findings – intergenerational relationships and gardening – with children in local primary schools. Gardening with local older adult mentor gardeners can provide students with a means to alleviate anxiety and improve attention with nature, as well as develop and maintain personal wellbeing through meaningful relationships with older adult mentors, all of which should help improve classroom climate and student learning.

Undergradute Student Article: Teachers’ Observations of Adolescent Social Behavior Patterns in Rural Oklahoma Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hannah Camp, Robin Roberson — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 changed the lives of many individuals throughout the United States and the world. This study hypothesized that the increased use of digital media following the COVID-19 pandemic impacted adolescent socialization patterns. The sample included 26 fifth through twelfth grade rural public-school teachers in Oklahoma, recruited via email. This mixed methods study used an explanatory sequential design with a quantitative online survey followed by an optional qualitative interview. The quantitative survey employed Likert scales, yes/no questions, ratings, and open-ended questions to gather data about adolescent behavior both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. An optional online interview gathered qualitative data using structured and follow-up open-ended questions. Findings indicated that adolescent socialization patterns have changed, and adolescents are more reliant on digital media as a tool for socialization. Additionally, the data indicated increased anxiety levels in adolescents following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other unexpected results. Although adolescent socialization patterns did seem to be impacted, increased anxiety levels in adolescents following the COVID-19 pandemic could indicate adverse effects in areas not explored in this study.