The Relationship of Learning and Performance Diagnosis at Different System Levels

The importance of performance diagnosis to the success of performance improvement interventions is widely recognized. Yet, while research in the last decade has sought to distinguish between learning and performance improvement, the relationship between learning and performance diagnosis remains unexamined. It is important to examine this relationship because human resource development professionals are urged to develop expertise in performance diagnosis, and it should be clear whether they are supposed to learn better or something else. This paper examines learningad performance diagnosis, separately and in relation to each other, asthey function in organization systems. Using a three-levels of performance model, the relationship between learning and performance diagnosis are examined at the individual, process, and organizational levels.     

An Investigation into Target Setting and Academic Tutoring to Promote Student Learning

There has been a move in schools towards the use of pupil performance data to set targets. It is believed that effective target setting can motivate pupils and staff to strive to reach, or beat, target grades. Alongside this has been a move to promote more effective dialogue about learning between teachers and pupils through the use of academic tutoring. There is a belief that in combination a system of target setting and academic tutoring might lead to more effective learning, increased achievement and therefore school improvement. This investigation into one system of target setting and academic tutoring suggests that although these systems may promote increased achievement in terms of examination performance, they do not necessarily help students to learn more effectively. For this schools must attempt to develop in ways that make learning an explicit subject of discussion, and help students learn about learning. Therefore, it is on the development of student meta–learning that such school improvement efforts should focus.     

The Relationship of Learning and Performance Improvement at Different System Levels

The importance of learning for organizational effectiveness is no longer questioned. Research in the last decade has identified the central role of learning for enhancing individual development. team effectiveness, leadership. innovation, and competitive advantage. However, this acknowledgement of learning's importance has been accompanied by the lack of conceptual clarity when learning, change, innovation, and performance‐all desirable states and co‐variants of each other‐are necessarily studied together. Because learning and performance strongly influence each other, we are often left confused by which is the phenomenon of interest. This confusion is compounded when levels of analysis are considered. This paper examines learning and performance improvement first as separate constructs, then as complimentary elements in organization systems. Using a four‐level systems model, changes in the relationship between learning and performance improvement are examined at different levels of the model.     

Using strategy maps to prioritize learning and performance improvement agendas

There are best practices that organizations can employ to link their learning initiatives to corporate strategy. Human capital and human performance technology (HPT) professionals need to push their organizations to embrace a performance improvement agenda that is linked to strategy, and organizations need to include a learning representative in the strategic development process. If the human capital or HPT professional and CEO work together toward a common goal, the business can achieve the greatest benefit from learning initiatives.     

The developmental dynamics of task-avoidant behavior and math performance in kindergarten and elementary school

Besides cognitive factors, children's learning at school may be influenced by more dynamic phenomena, such as motivation and achievement-related task-avoidant behavior. The present study examined the developmental dynamics of task-avoidant behavior and math performance from kindergarten to Grade 4. A total of 225 children were tested for their arithmetic skills in kindergarten and in Grades 1, 2, and 4 of elementary school. Children's task-avoidant behavior in learning situations was rated by their teachers. The results of latent growth curve analyses showed that math performance and task-avoidant behavior develop in tandem: an increase in task-avoidant behavior was related to less improvement in math performance. Furthermore, a high initial level of task-avoidant behavior predicted less improvement and slower improvement in math later on.     

Strategic factors and barriers for promoting educational organizational learning

This article uses a global model to analyse empirically how the personal and professional development of educators (personal mastery) facilitates the creation of a series of basic shared values (shared vision) and of team learning by the members of the educational centre, these inter-related strategic factors favouring, in turn, educational organizational learning and subsequent improvement in organizational performance. Likewise, verification is made of different learning barriers that hinder the acquisition, dissemination and sharing of knowledge by blocking shared vision and team learning. Using a national survey in educational centres in Spain, we found that these hypotheses are verified and that organizational learning plays a key role in the generation of organizational performance.     

Transforming School Improvement now and for the Future

School improvement is in danger ofbecoming simply a tool for the agendas ofpolicy makers to raise attainment in westernschool systems. While this agenda is importantwe argue that the focus on attainment andschool performance is inadequate to meet thechallenges of young people's futures.Furthermore we argue that an emphasis onperformance and delivery of outcomes is takingthe focus off learning. Schools will have nocurrency in the future unless there is greateremphasis on learning. This paper is acontribution to the debate about the futuredirection of school improvement.To develop these arguments this paperexplores three inter-linked themes:1. School improvement theory and practiceneed to change direction to take more accountof schools' contexts and their likely futurecontexts.2. Our beliefs about the purposes ofschooling and assumptions about schoolimprovement, its aims and how it is promotedare affected by our worldviews. The worldviewscurrently holding sway in schools and educationoften work against an emancipatory agenda.3. School improvement must focus more onthe learning of all members of the schoolcommunity.     

Paulo Freire's relevance to online instruction and performance improvement

Paulo Freire argued that learning should be conversational, accessible, and centered on the experience of the participants. Freirean theory remains strong in adult education and has implications for human performance technology applications in such areas as online learning in terms of design, accessibility, and content, as well as performance improvement.     

Using learning styles theory in engineering education

Studies have shown that, while learning different concepts, people sometimes take different approaches (learning styles). Accordingly, their performance reflected differently in their academic studies. With the effect of globalisation to the educational environments, the influence of individual learning styles on educational performance is getting more significant. In this study, a learning style assessment tool was used to examine the relationship between students’ learning styles and their performance in engineering education programmes. At the beginning of the programme, 285 students’ learning styles were measured using a learning style assessment tool. Four years after the engineering education, their performance in the programme was compared with their individual learning styles. This study shows that most of the students are assimilators. Divergers and convergers follow the assimilators. The number of accommodators is very limited. The relationship between engineering students’ learning styles and their performance is found: assimilators and convergers performed better than the divergers and accommodators. The performance difference between assimilators and divergers is statistically significant. The results of this study show that the learning style theory is a potential tool for guiding the design and improvement of courses and helping students to improve their individual performance.     

学习云空间中基于情境感知的移动学习自适应模型及其应用研究

随着移动互联网等新技术的快速发展,移动学习成为网络学习空间的主要学习方式之一,然而移动学习效果的提升面临着复杂移动情境下空间化学习的自适应挑战。文章以云计算支持下的网络学习空间(即学习云空间)为背景,分析了移动学习的自适应因素,提出了一个基于情境感知的移动学习自适应模型,并探讨了移动学习的自适应实现机制及其应用策略。研究依托iStudy的移动学习自适应系统进行应用实践和实证分析,结果表明:该系统更有利于提高场独立型与场依存型两种风格学生的自我效能感,以及场依存型学生的学习成绩;不同知识类型学习中均使用该系统,其学习成绩没有差异;两种风格学生均认为该系统更加便捷适用,场依存型学生认为该系统更有利于促进学习。研究为促进移动学习的自适应和个性化理论与实践探索提供了有力支撑。     

基于虚拟全景的学习方式促进学习动机与写作成绩的实证研究

虚拟现实(Virtual Reality)技术在学习领域的融合将成为未来教育发展的新趋势。以写作学习为研究主题,在分析小学阶段写作学习存在的诸多现实问题基础上,认为利用虚拟现实技术构筑全景式学习场景并应用到写作学习过程中,能够促进学生学习动机与写作成绩的提升。由此,进一步开展了实证性分析,通过创设以《长城》为写作主题的虚拟全景式学习方式,研究某小学三年级学生的学习动机与写作成绩是否会因学习方式改变而得到一定提升。研究利用独立样本t检验法与单因素方差分析法对实验组与对照组开展写作学习活动的实验数据进行了处理与分析。结果表明:基于虚拟全景的学习方式能够促进写作整体成绩的提高,但是学习动机并不因虚拟环境的介入有所提升;写作成绩在四个维度(主题契合度、结构完整性、语言表达力、思维创新性)的表现上,思维创新性维度上的成绩提升力度相对较低,这需要在分析其原因的基础上,进一步采取措施提升学生创意性写作能力。     

学习干预对在线学习者的影响及其学习行为序列差异

根据社会比较理论可知,利用学习干预帮助学习者了解自己和同伴的学习情况,有助于激发学习动机、改善学习行为。基于此,文章利用滞后序列分析法,探究学习干预对高成就学习者、中成就学习者、低成就学习者学习行为的影响及其学习行为序列差异,结果发现:学习干预对问题解决行为的影响最大,对协作行为的影响最小;中成就学习者的学习行为序列受学习干预的影响最大;学习干预导致部分学习者层次发生改变,其中低成就学习者的成绩提升幅度最大。借鉴社会比较理论分析不同层次在线学习者的学习行为序列差异,旨在提供更有效的学习干预,以改善教学决策、提升学习成效。     

Deliberate Practice in Medicine: The Motivation to Engage in Work-Related Learning and Its Contribution to Expertise

This study examined physicians’ motivation to engage in work-related learning and its contribution to expertise development beyond work experience. Based on deliberate practice theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 residents and 28 experienced physicians in internal medicine, focusing on the activities they engaged in during work that might contribute to professional development and the goals underlying this behavior. Learning motivation was also measured using a goal orientation questionnaire. Expertise was measured by a case test derived from the Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP). The interviews showed that participants’ learning was largely embedded in everyday work; most of their learning activities were inherent to the job rather than motivated by competence improvement goals. The problems encountered in patient care played a key role in prompting learning. Role, work experience and work situation affected the type of activities engaged in, as well as the intensity of practice. Deliberate engagement in work-related learning activities was related neither to goal orientations nor to case test performance, except activities by the experienced physicians to keep up-to-date. Work experience, in contrast, showed a clear positive relationship with the performance of residents. Two main conclusions can be drawn from this study: (1) patient care induced relevant learning activities aimed at performance improvement for the patient’s sake; (2) deliberate investments in learning can be enhanced to promote expertise development. Self-regulated learning by physicians needs to be strengthened and the organization for which they work should facilitate and encourage learning in daily practice.     

Comparison of visual-spatial performance strategy training in children with Turner syndrome and learning disabilities.

This study examined the effects of a verbal mediation strategy on three groups of subjects who had visual-spatial deficits. Thirteen females with Turner syndrome, 13 females with nonverbal learning disabilities, and 14 males with nonverbal learning disabilities, who ranged in age from 7 to 14 years, were taught via a cognitive behavioral modification approach to verbally mediate a spatial matching task. Pretest and posttest performance differences on parallel forms of a visual-spatial orientation task were examined. All three groups showed significant improvement in visual-spatial task performance after the training. There were no significant differences in the degree of improvement among the three groups. The results suggest that children with Turner syndrome may benefit from problem-solving strategy training in a manner similar to children with nonverbal learning disabilities.     

Securing quality and equity in education: Lessons from PISA

Results from PISA show that strong educational performance, and indeed significant improvement over short periods of time, is possible. Whether in Asia (e.g., Japan and Korea), in Europe (e.g., Finland) or in North America (Canada), many countries display strong overall learning outcomes; equally important, they show that poor performance in school does not automatically follow from a disadvantaged socio-economic background. Furthermore, some countries show that educational success can become consistent and predictable, with very little variation in performance across schools. These countries set the goals to which others can aspire. This article sets out some of the key policy levers that are associated with high levels of quality in students’ learning outcomes as well as an equitable distribution of learning opportunities as measured by PISA.     

Exploring the effects of multimedia learning on pre-service teachers’ perceived and actual learning performance: the use of embedded summarized texts in educational media

In light of the increased usage of instructional media for teaching and learning, the design of these media as aids to convey the content for learning can be crucial for effective learning outcomes. In this vein, the literature has given attention to how concurrent on-screen text can be designed using these media to enhance learning performance. The present study sought to examine whether utilizing concurrent on-screen summarized text (CST) could improve students’ learning performance while estimating their perception of performance when learning with educational multimedia content. Although the findings did not show a significant improvement in students’ performance on the retention test among the CST groups, students exhibited a considerable higher level of confidence toward their performance. The findings suggest that students who learned with CST educational media may have overestimated their performance. Further analysis and discussion are included.     

智慧学习空间中师范生自我导向学习实证研究

文章首先聚焦于"自我导向学习"和"智慧学习空间",设计了智慧学习空间支持的师范生自我导向学习模式。之后,文章在某高校"现代教育技术"实验课中开展了为期18周的实证研究,探讨了自我导向学习对师范生自主学习能力、学业成绩和在线学习行为的影响,结果发现:自我导向学习对学习者策略、资源利用两个维度的自主学习能力提升效果明显,但在态度维度提升不明显;自我导向学习整体提升了学业成绩,尤其是对低自主学习水平者的学业成绩和自主学习能力提升效果更明显,但其在在线自主学习行为方面表现欠佳。最后,文章提出给予情感支持、设计多元智能活动组合策略和提供及时高效反馈的适切策略,以期在智慧学习空间中有效开展自我导向学习。     

扩招后影响高校教育质量的因素及对策

扩招后 ,随着高校学生人数超常规的扩大 ,带来了一系列影响提高高校教育质量的不利因素。为此 ,高校必须增强质量意识 ,进一步深化教育教学改革 ,改进和加强教学管理等 ,以保证学校规模扩大和教育质量的提高。     

Using electronic portfolios

The digitized collections of artifacts known as electronic portfolios are creating solutions to a variety of performance improvement needs in ways that are cost‐effective and improve both individual and group learning and performance. When social media functionality is embedded in e‐portfolios, the tools support collaboration, social learning, collection and sharing of best practices, and coaching. By eliminating the constraints of time and geography, electronic portfolios can support organizations' performance management and talent management strategies.     

评价如何促进学习?——从泰勒到厄尔的探索与反思

以评促学是学习评价的终极目标,但是,评价如何促进学习却始终争议不断。在历史上,泰勒的“目标模式”、斯凯瑞文的“目标游离模式”和斯塔弗尔比姆的“改进模式”等理论围绕“评价有什么用”的探索建构了以评促学的“目标—改进—结果”理论框架。进入学本评估时代,关于学习的评价、促进学习的评价和作为学习的评价将“以评价促进学习”理解为过程的“黑箱”,探明了学习评价“评价实施—结果反馈—教学改进+学习改进—效用生成”的作用机理。因此,为推进以评促学的实践,教师和学生等评价相关主体需要辩证看待学习评价的直接结果,反思评价结果的教育价值和改进方向,在评价后的学习和发展上追求更好的绩效。