Sheryl Macmath - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sheryl Macmath

Research paper thumbnail of A research-into-practice series produced by a partnership between the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat and the Ontario Association of Deans of Education

Research paper thumbnail of Curriculum Integration: Opportunities to Maximize Assessment as, of, and for Learning

McGill Journal of Education, 2000

Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Érudit offre des ser... more Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Érudit offre des services d'édition numérique de documents scientifiques depuis 1998. Note : les règles d'écriture des références bibliographiques peuvent varier selon les différents domaines du savoir.

Research paper thumbnail of Curriculum integration and at-risk students: a Canadian case study examining student learning and motivation

British Journal of Special Education, 2010

The combining of subject areas or disciplines, referred to in this article as curriculum integrat... more The combining of subject areas or disciplines, referred to in this article as curriculum integration, has been recognised as being linked to high levels of student motivation and learning. Sheryl MacMath of the University of Toronto, Jillian Roberts of the University of Victoria, and John Wallace and Xiaohong Chi of the University of Toronto discuss the findings of their case study (n = 23 students) based in a Canadian secondary school where an integrated unit on energy was taught to pupils identified as being 'at risk' of not completing high school. Teacher and student interviews, classroom observations and surveys were used in the case study to investigate student motivation and learning. Results from the study illustrate that students experienced higher levels of motivation and academic success compared to work on previous units. The authors explore how higher levels of student self-efficacy were also recorded due to the repetition of content in different classrooms and across different contexts. The authors argue that further research in this area should examine more than student learning and motivation and highlights the need to focus specifically on opportunities for successful academic experiences where student efficacy is increased.

Research paper thumbnail of Body Disfigurement and the Quality of Life of Adolescents with Pectus Excavatum: Effects of the Nuss Procedure

Physical Disabilities Education and Related Services, 2006

This article takes a comprehensive look at the effects of pectus excavatum, a congenital deformit... more This article takes a comprehensive look at the effects of pectus excavatum, a congenital deformity with psychosocial and physical ramifications, and the Nuss procedure on the quality of life of adolescents. The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive corrective surgery. Twenty-five participants from Calgary, Alberta were interviewed (10 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16, 8 mothers, and 7 fathers) regarding their experiences with pectus excavatum before, during recovery, and after surgery. We gathered qualitative data on four areas of quality of life: well-being, social belonging, satisfaction, and empowerment. Pectus excavatum had a negative effect on quality of life, with participants demonstrating decreased self-confidence, increased feelings of self-consciousness, and a variety of avoidance and concealment behaviors. After the Nuss procedure, all areas of adolescent quality of life improved. Adolescent and parent recommendations are provided. We also explore theoretical implications in relation to body disfigurement research, qual-

Research paper thumbnail of A research-into-practice series produced by a partnership between the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat and the Ontario Association of Deans of Education

Research paper thumbnail of Curriculum Integration: Opportunities to Maximize Assessment as, of, and for Learning

McGill Journal of Education, 2000

Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Érudit offre des ser... more Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Érudit offre des services d'édition numérique de documents scientifiques depuis 1998. Note : les règles d'écriture des références bibliographiques peuvent varier selon les différents domaines du savoir.

Research paper thumbnail of Curriculum integration and at-risk students: a Canadian case study examining student learning and motivation

British Journal of Special Education, 2010

The combining of subject areas or disciplines, referred to in this article as curriculum integrat... more The combining of subject areas or disciplines, referred to in this article as curriculum integration, has been recognised as being linked to high levels of student motivation and learning. Sheryl MacMath of the University of Toronto, Jillian Roberts of the University of Victoria, and John Wallace and Xiaohong Chi of the University of Toronto discuss the findings of their case study (n = 23 students) based in a Canadian secondary school where an integrated unit on energy was taught to pupils identified as being 'at risk' of not completing high school. Teacher and student interviews, classroom observations and surveys were used in the case study to investigate student motivation and learning. Results from the study illustrate that students experienced higher levels of motivation and academic success compared to work on previous units. The authors explore how higher levels of student self-efficacy were also recorded due to the repetition of content in different classrooms and across different contexts. The authors argue that further research in this area should examine more than student learning and motivation and highlights the need to focus specifically on opportunities for successful academic experiences where student efficacy is increased.

Research paper thumbnail of Body Disfigurement and the Quality of Life of Adolescents with Pectus Excavatum: Effects of the Nuss Procedure

Physical Disabilities Education and Related Services, 2006

This article takes a comprehensive look at the effects of pectus excavatum, a congenital deformit... more This article takes a comprehensive look at the effects of pectus excavatum, a congenital deformity with psychosocial and physical ramifications, and the Nuss procedure on the quality of life of adolescents. The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive corrective surgery. Twenty-five participants from Calgary, Alberta were interviewed (10 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16, 8 mothers, and 7 fathers) regarding their experiences with pectus excavatum before, during recovery, and after surgery. We gathered qualitative data on four areas of quality of life: well-being, social belonging, satisfaction, and empowerment. Pectus excavatum had a negative effect on quality of life, with participants demonstrating decreased self-confidence, increased feelings of self-consciousness, and a variety of avoidance and concealment behaviors. After the Nuss procedure, all areas of adolescent quality of life improved. Adolescent and parent recommendations are provided. We also explore theoretical implications in relation to body disfigurement research, qual-