Public Schools of Robeson County

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how in-service teachers with 3-5 years of experience perceived their pre-service training regarding integration of 21st Century technology into instruction. Twenty participants from a rural public school system in southeast North Carolina participated. This study attempted to describe: How do 3rd – 5th year teachers in one public school district in North Carolina describe college experiences with educational training to integrate 21st Century technology into their classroom lesson plans? Through interviews and a focus group themes were identified through the participant’s perceptions of the phenomena of 21st Century technology integration training. Participants identified these themes: (a) exposure to basic uses of technology, (b) 21st Century technology assignments were neither purposeful nor rigorous, and (c) the majority of integration of confidence and/or competence began after field placements. Themes were used in developing a list of best practices as articulated by the participants.

Psoriasis affects millions of people in the United States. While there is no cure, treatment can control the disease and improve patients’ quality of life. Regardless of the chosen treatment type, adherence is paramount. Nonadherence to treatment results in an estimated over $100 billion dollars in healthcare costs annually in the United States. One-third of psoriasis patients admit to not following the prescribed medication regimen; often, prescriptions for psoriasis are not even filled. Adherence may be measured through modalities such as patient report, electronic monitoring, or medical record query. Multiple factors may affect treatment adherence in psoriasis patients. Strategies to improve adherence are developed to address these factors. Optimizing physician-patient rapport is the foundation of adherence improvement strategies. Timing of office visits, written instructions, and reassurance concerning side effects are other basic strategies. In psoriasis management, it is just as important to ensure that patients adhere to the prescribed regimen as it is to choose the best treatment plan.