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Beyond the Exam Score: An Examination of the Kenyan Education System, Its Reforms, Inefficiencies, and Impact on Individuals and Society at Large
Full text linkIn Kenya, secondary education plays a decisive role in shaping students’ university and career opportunities as well as their social mobility. The national exam, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), acts as a key gateway to higher education and employment. The quality and accessibility of education for Kenyan youth, however, has been impacted by systemic inefficiencies ranging from underfunding and disparities in resource allocation to an exam-centric curriculum. This study takes a qualitative approach, using both purposive and convenience sampling to gather data through a questionnaire sent to university students and adults that have graduated from a Kenyan secondary school. Participants reflected on teacher support and quality of instruction, classroom environments, exam preparedness, and the long-term impact of KCSE scores. Findings reveal widespread resource shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and negative psychosocial and physical learning environments. The KCSE exam system prioritizes rote learning over critical thinking and skills development, reinforcing socio-economic inequalities through school-based disparities. Without active reform, Kenya risks producing unprepared graduates, hindering economic development and individual intellectual advancement. The study emphasizes the need for systemic changes to create an education system that is more equitable, holistic, and effective
Virtue in Their own Words: AI-assisted analysis of moral identity in student narratives
No full textOne hundred and thirteen students were analyzed with ChatGPT to rank (1-7) each story’s alignment with the Jubilee Centre’s four virtues categories: intellectual, performance, moral, and civic. There was acceptable interrater reliability (Cronbach’s α’s = .60-.67). Moral virtues were the most prominently expressed (M = 6.11), followed by performance (M = 5.71), intellectual (M = 5.31), and civic virtues (M = 4.93). Bonferroni-corrected comparisons show moral virtues are significantly more prominent than civic, t(112) = 11.66, p \u3c .001, d = 1.10; intellectual, t(112) = 7.51, p \u3c .001, d = 0.71; and performance virtues, t(112) = 3.85, p \u3c .001, d = 0.36
The identity of our parts: A standardized approach to categorizing parts of the internal system
No full textInternal Family Systems Therapy is a growing therapeutic modality that has demonstrated itself to be capable of providing significant therapeutic outcomes through a multitude of unique applications. While the central tenants of IFS contend that individuals have parts within themselves that can be categorized in to exiled, managerial, and firefighter parts; there is not a standardized categorization of the presentation of these parts beyond their namesake. This qualitative analysis proposes to assess the accounts of 50 individuals who received the IFS intervention of in-sight that focused on the exploration of the nature of a particular part. Transcripts of these accounts will be randomly assigned to a group of certified IFS therapists, who created three possible subcategories of the part presented. We predict that results of assessment will show that managers and firefighters can be subcategorized into three to five groups, while exiles cannot be subcategorized
Shaped by story: A qualitative exploration of narrative therapy as an embodied practice
No full textAlthough marriage and family therapy training programs publish demographic data, there is little attention drawn to how such markers impact therapists’ work and well-being. This is particularly pertinent for narrative therapists given the focus on how dominant discourses directly shape life stories. Through qualitative interviews and survey data, this study aims to uncover emerging connections between intersectionality, locations of practice and living, community activism, well-being, and self-perceptions about therapy. The goal of this research is to open up further exploration of how narrative therapy may challenge itself and the significance of its operation as a formative and embodied practice
Enhancing Health Literacy in Adolescents at a Homeless Shelter
Full text linkEnhancing Health Literacy in Adolescents at a Homeless Shelter
Over the past two months, our group of seven Seattle Pacific Nursing Students collaborated with a local nonprofit homeless shelter for families. After meeting with the agency’s health services coordinator, we decided to focus on the teen population and enhance their health literacy. This choice was due to our population primarily not being exposed to the American healthcare system. Our team gathered information from the teens and found that nutrition, sleep, and mental health were of particular interest. Based on this, we planned and implemented a health literacy intervention tailored to their needs.
Background
Low health literacy is often related to poor preventive behaviors, unhealthy diet, increased substance use, increased use of emergency services, obesity, poor medication adherence, and decreased satisfaction with disease status and health care (Park et al., 2018). Additionally, the health literacy of adolescents is a cost-effective preventive measure against adverse health outcomes later in life, which are more expensive. Our agency liaison suggested focusing on teen health due to limited resources and the underserved nature of this group. We wanted to provide an interactive education session to enhance our target population\u27s health literacy and equip them with resources to help with health-related decision making.
Activities with rationale
Four weeks before our scheduled intervention, we went to the agency during their lunch hour to build rapport with the teens and learn about their health interests. We prioritized building a trusting relationship by engaging informally, then solicited input from the teens to identify their areas of interest. Based on their input, we created a poster highlighting key aspects of mental health, sleep, and nutrition, along with a take-home pamphlet designed at a 4th-grade reading level—mid-range for teen literacy (National Literacy Institute, 2024). The pamphlet included evidence-based health resources and advice. Additionally, we organized a larger event where we engaged directly with the teens in group conversations based on their areas of interest.
To encourage participation in the event, we hosted an event with pizza and soda to create a welcoming atmosphere. Activities included bracelet-making with affirmation words as a healthy method of managing stress, and an interactive quiz was created to assess their nutrition knowledge. Game-based learning platforms, such as quizzes, are shown to increase participation in a learning environment while also improving comprehension of the material (Ozedemir, 2024).
Outcomes
Our group hosted an hour-long, in-person event at the shelter to enhance the teens’ health literacy on nutrition, sleep, and mental health. During the event, we set up our poster and handed out pamphlets that included information and resources on our topics. Teenagers attended our intervention, and all agreed to take a pamphlet with them. We divided into two groups and discussed the pamphlet while doing an arts and crafts activity with the teenagers, to foster an informal yet educational environment.
To assess understanding, we implemented an evidence-based teach-back method by creating an interactive quiz game. This method verifies participants\u27 understanding by prompting them to verbalize concepts in their own words (Yen & Leasure, 2019). Every participant was able to share at least one key takeaway from each of the topics, demonstrating strong understanding. By answering quiz questions correctly, the teenagers demonstrated both competency and confidence in the material. These findings suggest that the use of an interactive quiz enhanced engagement and learning within our target population.
Conclusion
The intervention to enhance teenagers’ knowledge of nutrition, sleep hygiene, and mental health was both effective and engaging. The use of interactive games and prizes not only captured the participants’ attention but also served as valuable tools for learning. We also incorporated the teach-back method, which allowed us to confirm that the teens understood the information being presented. Through one-on-one conversations with the participants, we also gained insight into their daily habits and challenges, enabling us to provide personalized guidance and support. Their responses and engagement indicated that the health literacy level of the materials and activities was appropriate for their age and developmental stage. We left the poster on display and provided a binder filled with additional resources for ongoing sustainability. Overall, the intervention successfully promoted health education in a fun and meaningful way, demonstrating its value for future projects within similar settings.
References
Park, A., Eckert, T. L., Zaso, M. J., Scott-Sheldon, L. A. J., Vanable, P. A., Carey, K. B., Ewart, C. K., Carey, M. P. (2017). Association between health literacy and health behaviors among urban high schoolers. National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5669371/
National Literacy Institute. (2024). Literacy statistics 2022–2023. https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/post/literacy-statistics-2022-2023
Özdemir, O. (2024). Kahoot! Game-based digital learning platform: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.13084
Readability Formulas. (n.d.). Average reading level consensus calculator. https://readabilityformulas.com/calculator-arlc-formula.php
Yen, P. H., & Leasure, A. R. (2019). Use and effectiveness of the teach-back method in patient education and health outcomes. National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6590951/#:~:text=By%20using%20the%20teach%2Dback,their%20health%20behavior%20and%20outcomes
DON’T TAKE ST. ANSELM FOR A MARRIAGE THERAPIST: THE UTILITY OF SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT THEOLOGY IN LIGHT OF FEMINIST CRITIQUES
Full text linkIn light of feminist critiques from the twentieth and twenty-first century, this paper returns to Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo to examine the earliest expression of the Substitutionary Atonement Model. While acknowledging the harmful rhetoric attached to the model which has been brought to light by feminist theologians, this work examines Anselm\u27s characterization of God, Jesus, and suffering from within his medieval worldview. In addition, this paper utilizes understandings of Christ held by historical women and survivors themselves to provide further context for Anselm’s understanding. Ultimately, this paper asserts that while feminist theologians raise important concerns about the dangers of Substitutionary Atonement transposed uncritically, a deeper analysis of Anselm uncovers themes contrary to the sanctioning and valorizing of suffering
Assessing the Efficiency of Methotrexate (MTX) as an Antiviral Drug Against gammaherpes Virus Replication
Full text linkIt is estimated that ~15% of all cancers are caused by oncogenic virus infections. Two of the top seven cancer-causing human viruses are members of the gammaherpesvirus family: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV). Our lab uses Murine Herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68), a mouse gammaherpesvirus with shares significant genetic homology to KSHV and EBV, as a model system to understand how gammaherpesviruses alter the metabolism of their host during lytic infection to promote their replication. We recently metabolically profiled MHV-68 infected host cells at various time points during the lytic infectious cycle. Our data showed nucleotide metabolism is significantly induced in MHV-68 infected NIH/3T3 cells, revealing a potential antiviral target. This study investigates the antiviral efficacy of Methotrexate (MTX), an FDA-approved nucleotide biosynthesis inhibitor currently used to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. MTX inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), an enzyme crucial for producing thymidylate and purine nucleotides, which are essential for de novo nucleotide synthesis. We hypothesized that MTX can block MHV-68 production and be repurposed as an antiviral drug. To test our hypothesis, we first determined a safe concentration of MTX in NIH/3T3 cells using both qualitative (microscopy) and quantitative (trypan blue exclusion) cell viability assays. Next, we infected NIH/3T3 cells with MHV-68 and treated them with a safe level of MTX or solvent control. After 48 hours, we assessed viral production in control vs MTX treated cellular supernatants via viral plaque assays. Our results revealed that MTX significantly suppressed MHV-68 virion production by ~98.5-fold. These findings suggest that targeting host metabolic pathways could be an effective antiviral strategy against gammaherpesviruses in humans. Further research is needed to explore the use of MTX as a broad viral therapy against other viruses
Changing The Narrative: A Meta-Analysis of Narrative Therapy and It\u27s Changes Since Inception
Full text linkThis meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of narrative therapy across 43 studies involving diverse populations and mental health conditions. Studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, and case studies, with outcome measures primarily focused on depressive symptoms, interpersonal functioning, and psychological distress. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges’ g to account for small sample bias. Overall, narrative therapy demonstrated moderate to large positive effects on symptom reduction and client well-being, though variability in study design and reporting limited the precision of some estimates. Findings support narrative therapy as a promising intervention across clinical contexts, while highlighting the need for more rigorous, standardized research
The Role of Gender and Sexual Identity in Mental Health Outcomes for Asylum-Seeking Survivors of Sexual Torture
Full text linkMillions of people worldwide flee violent persecution each year, with more than 6.8 million estimated to have sought asylum in 2023 alone (United Nations High Commission on Refugees, 2025). Up to 40% of refugees and asylum-seekers are reported to be survivors of torture, with sexual torture one of the most commonly-reported means of torture, particularly among women and LGBTQ+ populations (Abu Suhaiban, 2019; Hopkinson et al., 2017; United Nations High Commission on Refugees, 2017). Sexual torture has been associated with severe impacts on mental health, including posttraumatic and depressive symptoms. Despite marked differences in sexual torture risk across gender and sexual identities, little is known about the extent to which these identity factors may also influence outcomes. This study examines gender and sexual identity as potential moderators of the relationship between sexual torture and mental health outcomes using de-identified archival asylum case data from a nonprofit refugee services organization in the Pacific Northwest. Participants were asylum-seeking survivors of torture (N = 108; 35% male, 65% female, and 0% other gender) who received pro bono medical or psychological evaluations to support their United States asylum applications from a professional network partnered with the nonprofit. Using four separate moderation analyses via two-way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), I hypothesized that gender and sexual identity would significantly moderate the relationship between sexual torture and mental health outcomes, with cisgender female and gender minority survivors of sexual torture demonstrating higher levels of posttraumatic and depressive symptoms than cisgender male survivors, and LGBTQ+ survivors demonstrating higher levels than heterosexual survivors. Matched sampling was used to address differences in gender and sexual identity group sizes. While all four moderation models were found to be statistically nonsignificant, women were found to be at significantly greater risk of sexual torture (r = 0.54, p \u3c .01), and sexual torture was found in all matched samples to significantly predict posttraumatic symptoms and depressive symptoms (p = \u3c .001-.01) with large effects (η2 = 0.32-0.38). These findings are consistent with prior literature on the extensive impact of sexual torture and underline the importance of access to effective support for survivors
Alexander Hall trees being cut down
No full textSome trees next to the side of Alexander Hall (now named Alexander and Adelaide Hall) being cut down.https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/archives_images_seminary/1051/thumbnail.jp