RESUMEN
This review article addresses the historical context of power dynamics in individualized education planning processes for exceptional students within Canada's K-12 (i.e., from kindergarten to grade 12) education system. It highlights how such dynamics have created conditions for educators' internalized bias toward students with special needs. This article presents empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of the strengths-based approach in individualized education planning and documentation to reshape the school-educator-student alliance and accomplish special education goals, emphasizing the importance of incorporating input from exceptional students and their families, advocating for students' self-determination, and shifting away from the traditional pathological approach. This article calls for future research on strengths-based approaches, mental health literacy, and post-school transitions while addressing multiscalar barriers using an intersectional lens.
RESUMEN
The conventional science curricula generally favour educational practices that yield high scores on immediate examination, though it may not accurately predict students' long-term academic achievement. In view of the pre-exam cramming phenomenon, this article shows the evidence of spacing effect in science education and probes into its theoretical mechanisms, effectiveness in experimental settings, and current applications in science learning. In brief, spacing works by repeatedly presenting the learning material across various temporal intervals. This paper suggests that spacing could significantly result in greater memory strength by alleviating multiple neurocognitive and behavioural properties of learning that are hampered by cramming. Together with the analysis of its relevance in science education, the spacing effect may further provide leverages for promoting long-term conceptual understanding and reflective skill development. However, there are many reasons that students and teachers may not be aware of or fully appreciate its benefits. Finally, this article discusses systemic barriers to why spaced repetition is underutilized in science curricula.