Children diagnosed with moderate autism spectrum disorder (MASD) exhibit a range of socially unacceptable behaviors, which notably include social withdrawal behavior (SWB); these individuals tend to disengage from various social contexts, consequently impeding their communication and social interaction capabilities. The primary objective of this research was to employ miniatures (diorama) as a methodological approach to construct semi-naturalistic scenarios for children with MASD that authentically represent their quotidian experiences and facilitate interaction, contributing to the alleviation of their SWB. The research sample comprised 21 children with MASD, aged between 6 and 9 years, who were enrolled at the Al-Jabr Institute in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A quasi-experimental methodology was adopted to align with the research's inherent characteristics, using a three-group design. The instruments utilized included the Social Withdrawal Behavior Scale (SWBS) alongside a training program devised by the authors. The results showed a significant reduction in SWB among those children to whom the diorama program was applied. Results also indicated the continuation of this effect after the end of the diorama program period for two consecutive months. The outcomes encourage further implementation of the diorama methodology on more extensive samples and across a broader geographic scope within Saudi Arabia, thereby facilitating the generalization of the findings to the entire population of children diagnosed with MASD. Findings also encourage the enhancement of the diorama's role in forthcoming experimental inquiries to ascertain its efficacy in mitigating other socially maladaptive behaviors exhibited by children with MASD.

Integrated learning has emerged as an approach to developing critical thinking and creativity skills. This meta-analysis synthesizes the effects of integrated learning on critical thinking and creativity, drawing from experimental studies published over the past decade. This study addresses the research question: What are the impacts and factors influencing integrated learning on students' critical thinking skills and creativity compared to conventional learning over the past decade? In the database, 403 articles were obtained, which were then supplemented by seven articles from manual searches, so that there were a total of 410 articles. After a strict inclusion process, 8 articles were selected for analysis. The inter-rater reliability test using Cohen's Kappa coefficient produced a value of 0.78, which indicates a substantial level of agreement. The analysis includes data from 497 participants for critical thinking and 266 for creativity. Heterogeneity in critical thinking skill data was 96%, and in creative skills, it was 86%; then, a subgroup analysis of education level was carried out to find out where the high heterogeneity was. The results show a significant positive effect of integrated learning, with an SMD of 1.48 (p = .004) for critical thinking and 1.60 (p = .0001) for creativity. Funnel plots and Egger's regression tests indicate no risk of publication bias. In addition, this study also synthesized the causal factors of how integrated learning affects critical thinking skills and creativity. Further research is recommended to explore its long-term impact and implementation strategies in various educational settings.  

The current study sought to evaluate the impact of programs used to enhance the self-regulation and social interaction for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), as perceived by their families. The descriptive approach was used to collect and analyze data and derive conclusions after developing the study instruments. The study sample consisted of 150 families of children with ASD enrolled in special education centers in Amman, Jordan. The study participants were purposefully selected to respond to the two provided measurement scales. To measure the impact of the intervention programs, the researchers developed the Self-Regulation Behavior Scale and the Social Interaction Scale, ensuring the validity and reliability of both scales. The results of the study indicated that from the families’ perspective, programs for children with ASD had a moderate impact on enhancing self-regulation and a high impact on social interaction. Additionally, the findings of the study revealed statistically significant differences in the degree of improvement in self-regulation and social interaction behaviors related to the child’s gender and the severity of their disorder. However, no statistically significant differences were found related to the child’s age and gender in their level of improvement in self-regulation and social interaction behaviors.

Our study examines the link between adolescents’ skills (mathematics, reading literacy, and physical fitness) and the frequency with which they participate in housework. We utilize a large longitudinal dataset of Hungarian adolescents (N = 37,461), making this, to our knowledge, the first European study on this topic. We use a rich set of background variables and fixed effects estimators to account for time-varying and time-invariant individual characteristics. Contrary to most of the literature we find cognitive skills to have no practically significant relationship with housework frequency. This discrepancy can be attributed to methodological choices (i.e., the use of the fixed effects estimator) or sociocultural differences in housework duties between the regions studied. Investigating heterogeneous effects on cognitive skills, we find girls’ literacy scores to be slightly affected by daily housework (-.02 SD), unlike boys’. The difference is more pronounced for children with highly educated parents and working mothers (-.06 SD). Substantially lower mathematics scores are detected for children who almost never participate in housework and have unemployed mothers (-.19 SD). Children who have chores to do almost every day and whose mothers are on parental leave also show signs of worsened mathematics ability (-.1 SD). Fitness levels of students who rarely engage in housework are significantly lower (-.04 SD), suggesting that some participation in household tasks contributes to physical well-being. This effect is pronounced for children of tertiary-educated parents (-.05 SD). Overall, findings suggest that household chores are cognitively neutral for most adolescents, have small physical-fitness benefits when performed in moderation, and become academically detrimental only at the extremes within specific family contexts.

Home economics education connects multidisciplinary knowledge and is crucial in addressing the challenges of changing society at the individual and family levels. For quality home economics education, pupils need to acquire knowledge and skills based on the fundamentals of home economics literacy, content, and goals defined in the curriculum for this subject. Our research aimed to establish the needs and perspectives of teachers, pupils, and parents regarding the importance and utility of home economics education. Areas of home economics to be included in the subject’s curriculum were identified, based on the perceived needs of pupils, parents, and teachers. The Delphi methodological approach was used. The first round of the Delphi study involved 30 teachers, 34 9th-grade pupils, and 34 parents of 9th-grade pupils, and its second round involved 16 teachers, 33 9th-grade pupils, and 29 parents of 9th-grade pupils. Survey results showed that by the end of elementary school, pupils in their home economics classes had acquired knowledge and skills in the economic and financial area, as well as in environmental and consumption, textiles, nutrition, health and well-being, social skills, and family and home. Although individual groups of respondents differed in the perceived importance of particular home economics areas, the respondents considered it important that pupils acquire home economics knowledge and skills in all identified areas. The Delphi research method proved to be an adequate method to identify the areas of home economics education that are important for a quality of life in modern society and need to be included in the home economics curriculum.

This study examines the transformation of higher education through digital solutions, with a specific focus on developing a user-centered digital student handbook prototype for Surin Vocational College in Thailand, with potential scalability nationwide. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative and quantitative data to design a digital tool that enhances accessibility, usability, and personalization for students. The prototype features key components, including mobile accessibility, real-time updates, interactive notifications, and integration with academic tools, designed to enhance student engagement, career readiness, and academic performance. Data collection involved students, faculty, and experts to ensure a comprehensive understanding of user needs and preferences. The findings indicate that the digital format offers significant advantages over traditional paper-based handbooks, particularly in terms of accessibility, real-time content updates, personalized experiences, and environmental sustainability. However, variability in user feedback suggests areas for further refinement,  emphasizing that there must be continuous improvement. This research offers interesting perspectives on the role of digital solutions in higher education, contributing to the ongoing evolution of learning tools that support academic success, student engagement, and institutional sustainability.