Search

Internet resources abound for preservice teacher (PST) use today, but we do not know how they choose and describe their implementation of them. This study investigates 158 elementary PSTs' lesson plans across eight courses to describe plan inspiration and justification. PSTs reported being inspired by cooperating teachers (CTs), friends and family members, university courses, and Internet resources. In some cases, these PSTs simply followed lesson plans given to them. In other cases, they collected, curated, synthesized, and applied ideas based on inspirations, showing dispositions of New Literacies Theory. This study provides evidence that teacher educators need to engage PSTs in intentionally developing the skills of curation by acknowledging and modeling the depth and breadth of resources, including those that are not necessarily sanctioned. Implications include ways that teacher educators can frame PSTs' understandings as they critically consume online resources through Critical Curation Theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese (Mn2+ as MnSO 4 &/or MnCl 2) is a common and essential element for maintaining life in plants and animals and is found in soil, fresh waters and marine waters; however, over exposure is toxic to organisms. MnSO 4 is added to soil for agricultural purposes and people are exposed to Mn2+ in the mining industry. Hypermanganesemia in mammals is associated with neurological issues mimicking Parkinson's disease (PD) and appears to target dopaminergic neural circuits. However, it also seems that hypermanganesemia can affect many aspects of health besides dopaminergic synapses. We examined the effect on development, behavior, survival, cardiac function, and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, we examined the effect of Mn2+ on a sensory proprioceptive organ and nerve conduction in a marine crustacean and synaptic transmission at glutamatergic neuromuscular junctions of freshwater crayfish. A dose-response effect of higher Mn2+ retards development, survival and cardiac function in larval Drosophila and survival in larvae and adults. MnSO 4 as well as MnCl 2 blocks stretch activated responses in primary proprioceptive neurons in a dose-response manner. Mn2+ blocks glutamatergic synaptic transmission in Drosophila as well as crayfish via presynaptic action. This study is relevant in demonstrating the effects of Mn2+ on various physiological functions in order to learn more about acute and long-term consequences Mn2+ exposure. [Display omitted] • Exposure to Mn2+ slows development and decreases survival of Drosophila larvae. • Mn2+ depresses cardiac function in larval Drosophila. • Synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in Drosophila and crayfish is depressed by Mn2+. • Proprioceptive function in crab limbs is compromised by Mn2+ in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]