Dimensions of Elementary School Student Teacher Concerns

The present study used a factor analytic procedure for identifying basic dimensions of elementary school student teacher concerns. A hierarchical factor analysis was applied to the intercorrelations among 122 situationspecific items rated by students completing their teaching practicum in Columbus, Ohio elementary schools. Results indicated the presence of a major factor, which accounted for over one-quarter of the variance. This factor, termed “Concern with Being an Effective Teacher,” reflects the teacher’s concern with generating a classroom environment conducive to effective learning and social growth. Seven other factors, together accounting for an additional 20 percent of the variance, were also identified and characterized. It is suggested that further studies investigate the utility of employing scores on such factors to identify successful teachers.     

A Factor Analytic Study of the Infant-Toddler and Early Childhood Versions of the HOME Inventory Administered to White, Black, and Hispanic American Parents of Children Born Preterm

Factor analyses were performed on the Infant-Toddler and the Early Childhood versions of the HOME Inventory for 3 groups (blacks, whites, and Hispanics) of premature, low-birthweight children. Participants lived in 8 different U.S. cities. On the IT-HOME, 5 factors were originally retained for each group using the principal factors method of extraction. Factor structures for blacks and whites were similar, accounting for 85% and 75% of the variance, respectively. The structure for Hispanics was somewhat different; a 7-factor solution accounting for 65% of the variance was most interpretable. For the EC-HOME, 6 factors were retained for both black and white groups, accounting for 80% and 73% of the variance, respectively. For Hispanics, an 8-factor solution accounted for 59% of the variance. The factor structures for blacks and whites were largely in agreement with the current organization of items into subscales. The fit for Hispanics was not quite as good, but most factors also corresponded to current subscales.     

基于SIOP模式的大学英语教学对本科生批判性思维影响的实证研究

SIOP模式是“语言学习与应用能力相结合”､“学科知识与思维发展相结合”的教学模式,它为语言知识的学习和思维能力的培养提供了可行性途径。本研究以语言类课程——大学英语为依托,选取某省属 重点大学一年级157名学生,分为实验班和控制班,分别采用 SIOP 模式和传统模式教学。一学年之后,两班 前后测结果说明,SIOP 教学模式对大学英语学习者批判性思维能力的提升具有积极的促进作用。该研究结果对 SIOP 教学模式的本土化应用以及我国本科生批判性思维的培养具有一定的启示和参考价值。     

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF HIGHLY GIFTED AND ‘NORMAL’ SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

About 9,000 West German students representing the whole range of academic aptitude were examined at the beginning of their 13th school year. A general scholastic aptitude test was administered, and school marks and information on the pupils’ extracurricular interests and activities recorded. A group of highly gifted students was defined in terms of exceptional performance both in school and on the scholastic aptitude test. The extracurricular activities of this group were compared with those of the representative group. The popular hypothesis that superior cognitive giftedness and outstanding achievement in school go with an ‘impoverishment’ of extracurricular activities was not supported: In most areas a larger percentage of the highly gifted than of the reference group were actively involved. Furthermore, the range of individual activities was somewhat broader among the top students than among the representative group.     

Are scholastic aptitude tests in Israel biased towards Arab college student candidates?

This study sets out to examine empirically the cross-cultural validity of the test bias contention as applied to scholastic aptitude testing in the Israeli scene. The analyses were based on the test scores of 1017 Arab and 1778 Jewish student applicants to a major Israeli campus, who were administered standardized scholastic aptitude tests as part of routine precollege admissions procedures. The psychometric properties of four subtests appearing on both the Arabic and Hebrew versions of the University admissions aptitude test battery were compared for Jewish and Arab student candidate subgroups, via a variety of internal (e.g., factor structure, reliability, standard error of measurement, discrimination indices, etc.) as well as external (e.g., predictive validity, standard error of estimate, etc.) criteria. A comparison of the reliability indices, by culture, shows aptitude tests scores to be somewhat less reliable measures for Arab compared to Jewish student candidates. Also, scholastic aptitude test scores reveal significant, but slight, intercept bias, tending to overpredict the scholastic achievement of Arab student candidates. On the whole, however, the data were consistent with the results of previous research carried out in the American cultural scene, reporting negligible differences in construct or predictive test validity across varying cultural groups and the findings appear to be more consistent with the psychometric than with the cultural bias position.     

The effect of inquiry‐based learning on the achievement goal‐orientation of grade 10 physical sciences learners at township schools in South Africa

Due to apartheid policies, Black African learners in South Africa have been severely disadvantaged in school science. Despite policy changes to redress these historical imbalances, Black African learners continue to underperform in science. Previous research has identified motivation as a key factor that impacts performance. Achievement goal orientation is a construct of motivation that explains learning behaviour. In an attempt to address the problem of learner motivation, this study investigated the effect of inquiry‐based learning on the achievement goal‐orientation of grade 10 physical sciences learners at historically disadvantaged township schools in South Africa. In South Africa, the term “township” usually refers to under‐developed urban areas that were historically created for “non‐whites” during the apartheid era. The findings showed that the experiment group of learners who experienced inquiry‐based learning significantly gained in mastery goal orientation, while the control that were taught through a traditional direct didactic approach had an insignificant change in their mastery goal orientation. From these results, it can be concluded that inquiry‐based learning does support a mastery goal orientation in learners. This orientation is regarded as desirable because mastery approach goals could support positive outcomes in conceptual learning, leading to an improvement in science achievement of learners.     

Implications of the My School Website for Disadvantaged Communities: A Bourdieuian Analysis

Abstract

Drawing on the theoretical constructs of Pierre Bourdieu, this article explores implications of the Australian My School website for schools located in disadvantaged communities. These implications flow from the legitimisation of certain cultural practices through the hidden linkages between scholastic aptitude and cultural heritage and the resulting reproduction of social and cultural inequalities. Seeing transformative potential rather than determinism in Bourdieu’s theoretical constructs, the article also suggests ways forward for improving the educational outcomes of students in disadvantaged communities. A transformation of the ‘field’ is central to this.     

Interdisciplinary Course Design

America's unyielding academic achievement gap has been a national priority for a long time; yet, some schools have succeeded with academically disadvantaged youth. Usually, these institutions embrace a culture of success and follow an academic curriculum that is grounded in core knowledge and scholastic vocabulary. Academically disadvantaged students need school-wide programs that meet their distinct needs. These programs emphasize basic knowledge, grounded in contextual references. Students are taught to decode and comprehend domain specific and academic vocabulary. They learn skills and content that will help them achieve as successful adults. These schools are the antithesis of “mean streets.” They welcome disadvantaged students and provide the intellectual and emotional tools they need to thrive, while instilling self-discipline and hope in their pupils.     

The dimensions of reading attitude for children in the intermediate grades

This study represents the first phase of an ongoing research program aimed at identifying the dimensions of reading attitude and determining how these dimensions relate to a broader range of variables such as reading achievement, scholastic aptitude, classroom behavior, and cognitive styles. The 150 items which comprise the experimental edition of A Survey of Reading Altitudes (Wallbrown, Brown, & Engin, 1974) were factor analyzed along with measures of scholastic aptitude, reading vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The analysis was based on the responses of 853 intermediate grade students. The attitude items were presented orally to control for reading problems, but the students also had booklets so they could read the items to themselves. Seven independent dimensions of reading attitude and one reading achievement factor were identified, interpreted, and discussed. The findings are encouraging, since they suggest that investigating the expressed reading attitudes of intermediate grade children constitutes a promising line of educational research.     

The effect of the biology critical thinking project on the development of critical thinking

This article describes the Biology Critical Thinking (BCT) project in which carefully designed activities for developing specific critical thinking skills are incorporated into the biology curriculum. The objectives were to find out whether the BCT project contributes to the development of critical thinking skills in various biological and nonbiological topics and how it affects students' biological knowledge and classroom learning environment. The study consisted of 678 seventh graders who were assigned randomly into two groups that studied the same seventh-grade biology textbook. Only one group, the experimental, completed the BCT activities. The results indicate that the students in the experimental group improved their critical thinking skills compared to their own initial level and compared to their counterparts in the control group. Improved critical thinking skills were observed in a new biological context and nonbiological everyday topics, suggesting generalization of thinking skills across domains. The experimental students scored significantly higher than the control on a knowledge test, suggesting that “knowledge of facts” as one educational goal and “learning to think” as another, need not conflict, but rather can interact with each other. Finally, the results show that BCT involvement decreased the frequency of teacher-centered teaching and enhanced student-centered, more active learning.     

Recognition and development of academic talent in educationally disadvantaged students

Abstract

We studied 36 students identified as “educationally disadvantaged” who scored above average on standardized achievement tests and completed a program to reinforce their academic skills in either language arts or mathematics. We pretested and posttested an additional (control) group of 28 students who received no instructional intervention. We found a significant effect of the instructional intervention for both achievement and aptitude test scores in language arts as well as mathematics. Gains in mathematics were significantly greater than in language arts. After instructional intervention, the majority of students were eligible and academically qualified for challenging gifted‐talented programs. These findings are consistent with two other similar research projects using the same instructional program and model, suggesting stability of results. We discuss implications of this study for identifying and developing academic talent in such a population.     

Determining Gain of Selected Learnings in Science Using a Specific Biological Unit

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure of an inventory designed to sample preservice teachers’ opinions about children’s nature and needs, classroom discipline, subject matter, and appropriate teacher behavior. Image component analysis yielded three interpretable factors. The first two factors, accounting for most of the variance, tend to confirm earlier findings that “progressivism” and “traditionalism” are independent attitudinal dimensions, rather than opposite poles of a single continuum.     

Predictability of Giftedness Identification Indices For Two Recognized Approaches To Elementary School Gifted Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine which of 13 giftedness identification measures discriminated between gifted and non-gifted students, and to explore whether these measures discriminated against gifted students in groups such as the economically disadvantaged and/or ethnic minorities. The investigated variables took the form of a design where the dependent measures were the 13 identification measures and the independent variable was 3 levels or groups of second- and third-grade students. Discriminate and classification analyses were the statistical techniques used to respond to the questions of the study. Measures of scholastic aptitude, giftedness potential assessment (learning and creativity), student peer identification, and locus of control were found to be sensitive discriminators of giftedness. Giftedness potential assessment-creativity and learning, basic skills-math, and locus of control were found to discriminate least among economically disadvantaged and/or minority students. Measures of teacher judgmental, student self, and parent perceptual identification appeared to be insensitive discriminators of giftedness and seemed to be somewhat biased toward economically disadvantaged and/or minority students.     

Non-lntellective Self-Report Variables As Predictors of Scholastic Achievement

Abstract

A comparison of two studies in which the utility of two non-intellective variables, self-expectations and self concept of ability, as predictors of scholastic achievement was examined. Because of its established predictive potential, academic aptitude was included as an independent variable in the multiple regression equations. The results of the comparison show that no significant difference existed in the multiple correlation coefficients of the two female high school student samples. A significant difference was found in the coefficients of the two male samples. The sheer magnitude of the multiple R's was noteworthy. When the non-intellective variables were added to the regression equations, a sizeable gain in explaining variance in scholastic achievement was made over that usually reported.     

我国高考改革新方案中的三个关键问题

部分省、区出台的高考改革新方案符合新课程改革的方向,综合评价是素质教育的风向标,高中学业水平考试的设立确立了学科能力的基准阀,学生负担是其身心健康的晴雨表。减轻学生负担任重道远,教育的重要任务是增强学生的承受力。     

Scholastic Aptitude and Achievement as Predictors of Performance on Teacher Competency Tests: A Further Investigation

Abstract

In an extension of an earlier study (McPhee & Kerr, 1985), the authors investigated the relationships among scholastic aptitude, achievement, and performance on the secondary form of the Curriculum Proficiency Exam, a state-mandated teacher competency test. Results were similar to findings with the elementary form of the test, indicating little criterion-related validity and some areas in which apparent validity is questionable. Further investigation and/or revision of the test was recommended.     

Formal operational reasoning modes: Predictors of critical thinking abilities and grades assigned by teachers in science and mathematics for students in grades nine through twelve

To test the hypothesis that formal operational reasoning modes are predictors of critical thinking abilities and grades assigned by teachers in science and mathematics, in September 1986 the Group Assessment of Logical Thinking (GALT) and in December 1986 the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) were administered to 101 rural students in Grades 9 through 12. The grades assigned by teachers were collected in May 1987. Construct and criterion-related validities and internal-consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha method were established on the GALT. On the WGCTA, content and construct validities and internal consistency reliability using the split-half procedure, coefficient of stability, and coefficient of equivalence were established. The five formal operational reasoning modes in the GALT were found to be significant predictors of critical thinking abilities and grades assigned by teachers in science and mathematics. The variance in the five critical thinking abilities attributable to the five formal operational reasoning modes ranged between 28% and 70%. The five formal operational reasoning modes explained 29% of the variance in mathematics achievement and 62% of the variance in science achievement.     

Science performance assessments: benchmarks and surrogates

This study examined the exchangeability of alternative methods for measuring science achievement at the elementary level. Observation of a student performing a hands-on investigation was considered to be the “benchmark” method for science performance assessments. Four less-costly methods — or possible “surrogates” for the benchmark — were, in order of decreasing verisimilitude: (a) A notebook report of an investigation, (b) a computer simulation of an investigation, (c) short-answer questions about an investigation, and (d) multiple-choice questions about an investigation. Exchangeability of each of the four surrogates for the benchmark was examined using three different investigations: “Electric Mysteries,” “Paper Towels,” and “Bugs.” One hundred and ninety-seven fifth- and sixth-grade students were given: (a) All investigations with each method, (b) a multiple-choice science achievement test, and (c) an aptitude test. Results of exchangeability analyses indicated that only the notebook provided a reasonable surrogate for the benchmark. This finding was replicated across the three investigations. Moreover, combinations of surrogates, including the multiple-choice science achievement test, failed to approximate information gained from direct observation of student performance, over and above information provided by the notebook surrogate.     

Teacher salaries and teacher aptitude: An analysis using quantile regressions

This study investigates the relationship between salaries and scholastic aptitude for full-time public high school humanities and mathematics/sciences teachers. For identification, we rely on variation in salaries between adjacent school districts within the same state. The results indicate that teacher aptitude is positively correlated with teacher salaries with an elasticity point estimate of 0.132. However, using quantile regressions, we find the elasticity estimates form an inverted U-shape across the scholastic aptitude distribution, and that higher aptitude teachers are more profoundly affected by the percentage of students eligible for free lunch and local street crime, while lower aptitude teachers are more profoundly affected by local education support. Furthermore, studying mathematics/sciences teachers, we find that while the elasticity estimates maintain an inverted U-shape, scholastic aptitude is not correlated with changes in salaries for the lower 40 percentiles of the aptitude distribution.     

Comparison of standardized assessment methods: logistics,costs, incentives and use of data

Critical thinking, problem solving and communication are fundamental elements of undergraduate education, but methods for assessing these skills across an institution are susceptible to logistical, motivational and financial issues. Queen’s University conducted two research studies investigating the use of standardised tests to assess cognitive skill development across the institution. Synthesis of results from implementing the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+), the Critical Thinking Assessment Test (CAT), and the HEIghten^TM test found that student test effort was a significant factor, and effort level correlated with performance at r?=?.33. Test incentives were also a significant factor; effort levels for the $25 financial incentive group were one standard deviation higher than effort for the in-class test group. A dedicated computer lab was the preferred option for computer-based testing. A paper-based test was found to be much simpler to administer, but test results were not available for a long time, therefore limiting the usefulness of data. The true cost of tests was greater than the price of the instrument; recruitment, training, proctoring and marking costs need to be included in the calculation. Generally speaking, alignment of test objectives with student or course objectives, and timeliness of data, were key for participation and motivation.