Roscoe Elementary School: Cultivating a Caring Community in an Urban Elementary School

The cultivation of a caring community within an urban neighborhood public elementary school is viewed by some educators as an impossibility, by others as being in conflict with academic effectiveness, and by still others as unnecessary for the successful achievement of students. Nevertheless, a significant group of educators advocates schools as caring communities, particularly in meeting the needs of low-income urban students of color. The research reported in this article is grounded in the assumption that there is a relationship between school culture and student achievement. An ethnographic case study of one urban public elementary school that exhibited both a strong caring community and a push toward academic excellence resulted in an analysis of the underlying characteristics that existed in the school. The findings suggest that a climate of mutual trust and respect, fluid boundaries centered around an ethic of caring, and a schoolwide sense of ownership and responsibility for students were central to the cultivation of the school' s caring community. Adapted school structures also fostered an ethos of community and ownership. In addition, the school expanded the definition of effectiveness beyond standardized test scores by focusing broadly on student learning, the link between the success of the individual and the success of the group, and the role of affect in promoting student achievement.     

构建“学习共同体”的学校改革

日本学校改革的目标是创建“学习共同体”，“学习共同体”的建立，不仅使其可成为孩子们学习和成长的天地，也是教师共同学习成长的地方，并且还可以作为家长、市民支持和参加学校改革、共同学习成长的重要场所。改革的理论基础主要是杜威的公共哲学。推进作为“学习共同体”的学校建设，需要遵循少则多、简则优、小则精的原则。这种改革并没有特定的形态、特定的运动以及特定的处方，是任何一所学校的任何人都可以参与挑战的“活动体系”。     

实践共同体理论对学校教育变革的启示

在莱芙和温格提出了"实践共同体"理论之后,不少教育工作者尝试将这一理论引入教育领域,在课堂上构建实践共同体。但基于日常社会生活的学习与学校教育不可避免地存在着差异,在学校教育中生硬地套用实践共同体理论有损教学的有效性。因此,有必要先厘清概念,分析实践共同体理论的长处与不足,阐明实践共同体与学校教育的异同,以真正深入探讨如何将学校和社会联结起来,一起构建真正意义上的实践共同体,使学生早日实现相关共同体的合法边缘参与,获得广泛的学习经验,向着成为共同体中的核心成员的方向成长。     

学校教育与社区教育的融合路径——日本“学社融合”的经验与启示

“学社融合”是日本在其终身学习发展过程中摸索出的一项切实可行的策略。本文通过总结其“学社融合”的实践经验,提出对我国学校教育与社区教育的融合发展的帮助和启示。     

Professional Learning Community in Relation to School Effectiveness

This is a study of schools as professional learning communities, defined by nine characteristics and their relationship with the schools' level of effectiveness. The study was conducted within three schools in Iceland. It was designed as a mixed methods study, conducted in two phases: a correlational study of survey data on schools as professional learning communities and an experimental study, where effort was made to improve the level of the professional learning community and evaluate its effects on pupils' outcomes. In both phases relatively strong evidence was obtained on the relationship between a school's level of effectiveness and its level as a professional learning community. In the experimental school, interventions resulted in higher scores on national tests, especially in mathematics.     

美国的学校与社区的关系

文章介绍了美国学校与社区关系紧密的两个理由,即发展学校的特征以及争取获得对于学校的公共支持。文章还论述了学校与社区紧密关系的目的,即:改善学生学习与成长的质量;提出社区的目标以改善社区的生活质量;增进公众对学校的社区项目的理解和支持。     

The Impact of Blended Learning on Community of Inquiry and Perceived Learning among High School Learners Enrolled in a Public Charter School

Abstract

This study examined how blended learning impacts high school learners’ community of inquiry (CoI) and perceived learning in comparison to online instruction. Archival data collected from a public charter high school in the U.S. southeast was examined. The results demonstrate a statistically significant difference in social presence among students enrolled in blended learning courses as compared to online learning only. No statistically significant difference in perceived learning existed between groups. Findings are discussed in light of the community of inquiry framework and add to current understanding of the impacts of distance learning on K-12 student outcomes and the applicability of the CoI framework to K-12 learning environments.     

日本“学社融合”的若干理论问题探析

笔者结合赴日留学的考察,对日本“学社融合”的特点、实施意义和基本要求等问题进行了探讨。文章认为“学社融合”是学校和社区所结成的新教育系统,“学社融合”中学校教育和社会教育的目标同步实现,“学社融合”期待第三方组织在活动中起主导作用。指出,日本“学社融合”促进了学校和社区的双向互动机制的建立,提高了终身学习的可操作性,促进了终身学习体系的建立。为了实现“学社融合”,学校教育及社会教育之间需要实现公有性及协作性,并且在学校教育和社会教育间建立弹性的运作机制。     

Art Animates: Ideas Inspired by a University-Sponsored Summer Arts Academy for Middle and High School Students

ABSTRACT

Art can provide a vehicle for animating learning. Teachers bring ideas to life through curriculum, while artists realize their ideas through images, often translating between forms, media and spaces. This paper describes the context, content and format of a residential Summer Arts Academy for gifted and talented middle and high school students, held on a university campus. In 2013, the theme of the visual art program at the Summer Arts Academy was animation, which linked to the summer exhibition at the local art museum. Collaborations among university faculty, public school teachers, community artists, and art museum and gallery staff have potential to animate learning for students, while stimulating additional forms of public engagement.     

打造具有地方特色的社区教育新模式探析

终身教育体系的建立、学习型社会的形成呼唤社区教育的发展。衡水电大作为本地现代远程教育的排头兵,其社会化、开放性的特点以及在办学系统、资源等方面都具有承担社区教育的独特优势。衡水电大充分利用这一特点,主动承担社会角色,在本地社区教育的模式、机制等方面进行了初步的实践和探索。     

公共生活中学校共同体的建构

人类社会以共同体的形式出现。在人类历史发展过程中,不同阶段共同体的性质和形式是不同的。当代社会共同体是指向个体性的共同体,它以契约为中介把人联系起来,因此是公民共同体。学校是社会的一部分,作为一个社会组织,在性质上与社会共同体具有一致性,属于公民共同体。学校是充满理性和友爱的公民共同体,是师生交往的共同体,是彰显公共性的共同体。但学校共同体还具有教育自身的特殊性。建构学校公民共同体,既要按照公民共同体的要求,追求个人的合理利益,以契约构建政治共同体;又要超越契约,追求共同体的公共性,以道德的关爱构建教育共同体。     

Linking School–Family–Community Partnerships in Urban Elementary Schools to Student Achievement on State Tests

This study examines the relationship between the quality of school, family, and community partnership programs and student performance on state-mandated achievement tests. Data from 82 elementary schools, located in a large urban area, were collected to explore the relationship between family and community involvement and students' achievement test performance. Analyses show that, controlling for school characteristics, the degree to which schools were working to overcome challenges to family and community involvement predicted higher percentages of students scoring at or above satisfactory on state achievement tests. The findings suggest that schools' efforts to involve families and the community in students' learning may be a useful approach to help students achieve in school, especially for students in early elementary grades. Also, the findings illustrate the importance for schools located in large urban areas to address obstacles to family and community involvement to realize the benefits associated with family and community involvement.     

校本教师发展与教师专业学习共同体的建构

相对传统教师发展的范式,即自上而下的发展模式——校本教师发展强调教师为改革的中心,教师发展应立足于教师工作的环境和脉络之中,以课堂和学校为本位。教师专业学习共同体则关注教师发展的脉络化,强调通过在学校中建构专业学习共同体,实现教师学习和实践的共享,从而提升教师质素,并实现学校向学习型组织的转变。校本教师发展与教师专业学习共同体在学校脉络这一平台上实现融合,教师在学校的专业学习共同体之脉络中,借由分享领导、集体学习、共享实践,并最终形成教师发展的学校本位之系统建构。     

西北农村中学教师专业发展的网络学习共同体构建研究

西北农村中学教师专业发展对促进西北地区基础教育发展具有举足轻重的作用。西北地区特殊的地域特征导致西北农村中学教师在专业发展上存在一定的问题,而教师网络学习共同体为促进西北农村中学教师专业发展提供了新的途径和方法。利用IM即时通讯工具的特点,建立教师网络学习共同体可以促进学习者间的协作和交流,可以为教师的专业发展提供技术、资源和服务的支持,同时其学习过程注重学习者非智力因素的培养,通过双向交互实现共同学习、共同进步及知识重构,促进教师的专业发展。     

Cultural Misperceptions and Goals for Samoan Children’s Education in Hawai’i: Voices from School, Home, and Community

Research lauds the benefits of parent involvement in the schools, yet many schools and communities have not achieved desired levels of involvement. Underlying expectations and methods soliciting parent involvement may be rooted in cultural misperceptions. This study, based on Epstein’s (1987) Overlapping Spheres of Influence model, explored the ways and extent that community members, school staff, and Samoan families interact regarding a public middle school. Qualitative research methods (interviews and observations) involved parents, teachers, administrators, and community agency members and officials in participatory action research. Findings displayed a base of cultural differences regarding parent involvement: Samoan parents were expected to participate in school events and assist children with homework, yet Samoan culture has historically divided the parents’ responsibilities from the teachers’ responsibilities. Parents identified their responsibilities for children’s spirituality and discipline and viewed academic matters as solely the responsibility of teachers. The school’s new activities, parents’ shifting focus, and community members’ diverse actions are demonstrating a start of change. This research supports the need for school personnel to understand the cultural roots of minority families’ parent involvement practices. Marianna F. Valdez is a Ph.D. Candidate in Community and Cultural Psychology. She completed her M.A. degree at the University of Hawaii and B.A. degree at Tulane University. Her research interests involve the development, implementation, and evaluation of culturally appropriate community programs, especially related to the public school setting. She is most interested in understanding and representing emic perspectives to drive action research, informed by culturalist approaches and mixed methods. Peter W. Dowrick is Professor of Disability Studies and affiliate graduate faculty in Psychology at the University of Hawaii. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Auckland, ATCL at Trinity College London, M.Sc. at the University of Auckland, and B.Sc. at the Victoria University of Wellington. He has wide experience working with people marginalized by culture, disability, mental health, and other considerations. His consultation on prevention and intervention extends to 31 states and 21 countries. His overarching contribution has been in the concepts of feedforward and creating futures, applied in situations of personal safety, serious mental illness, social behavior, sports and recreation, daily living, literacy, academic skills, health, housing, management, and jobs, among others. Ashley E. Maynard is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Hawaii. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles, M.A. at the University of California, Los Angeles, and B.A. at the University of Virginia. She studies the interrelationships of culture, contexts of child development, and healthy cognitive and social development of children. Based on a socio-cultural paradigm, the theoretical question that lies at the heart of her research program is the ways in which a variety of culturally based activity settings influence adaptive pathways of development for children and families. She teaches courses in Developmental Psychology and Culture and Human Development.     

基于学习共同体的中小学生学习心理机制及有效教学策略

学习共同体的学习方式有别于传统的教师主讲式的课堂授课形式。学习共同体特别强调"师-生"之间,"生-生"之间缔结一个相互联系、相互制约、彼此促进的共同体来完成学生的学习活动。基于学习共同体的中小学生学习心理机制是一种主动建构、信息加工的过程,即:"1.输入信息、注意保持、认知观念;2.加工信息、内化知识、建构系统;3.改组经验、解决问题、生成能力"。学习共同体旨在教师引导下,让学生通过自主探究、小组讨论、合作分享、获得知识、生成能力。教师实施有效的教学策略,充分发挥学习共同体的功能,会促进培养中小学生的核心素养,提升学生分析问题解决问题能力。     

School Community in Different Magnet Program Structures

This study utilizes self-reported survey data from teachers to compare indicators of school community in whole school-dedicated magnets in which all students are enrolled in the magnet program and program within school (PWS) magnets in which only a portion of the students participate in the magnet program. The indicators of community assessed in this study are categorized as internal (i.e., within the school) and external (i.e., involving home-school relations). Whole school magnets were found to be characterized by higher levels of internal and external community. Specifically, whole school magnet teachers report greater goal congruence, teacher commitment, and parent involvement. These findings are purported to result from all teachers and students choosing whole school magnets, differences in SES of the students enrolled in these school types, and dilution of indicators of community in PWS magnets from mixing magnet students and teachers with those in the traditional school program. The results varied byschool size.     

对我国民族社区参与民族中小学课程的思考

自20世纪中期以来,学校与社区的关系逐步步入了学校向社区开放、社区参与学校的合作阶段.然而,我国很多民族地区的中小学与民族社区处于相互隔离状态.因此,应通过一系列措施实现民族社区有效地参与民族中小学课程建设.     

Capacity-Related Innovations Resulting From the Implementation of a Community Collaboration Model for School Improvement

A new genus of district and school improvement models entails partnerships with other organizations and new working relationships with families, community leaders, and youths. The Ohio Community Collaboration Model for School Improvement (OCCMSI) is one such model. It enables partners to leverage family and community resources for learning, healthy development, and overall success in school. This study presents qualitative research findings about the key capacities developed by 6 schools and 6 districts piloting the OCCMSI. Process and product innovations, as well as facilitators and barriers, were tracked as these sites progressed with their implementation efforts. Implications are drawn in relation to how these new and expanded capacities might be prioritized by district and school leaders, consultants, and other professionals involved in partnership-centered models of school improvement.     

The Case for Restructuring the UK Secondary School

Chris Watkins was a member of the first NAPCE executive in 1982, and has continued on that committee and on the London committee ever since. He was chair of NAPCE from 1992 to 1994, and is currently chair of the Publications Committee. He has been a maths teacher in a large secondary school, a teacher in charge of a unit for pupils whose effect on school was disruptive, and a trained school counsellor.
He is now head of the academic group 'Assessment, Guidance and Effective Learning' at the University of London Institute of Education, where his current areas of work include school behaviour, mentoring, tutoring, personal–social education – all centrally linked to effective learning in classrooms and school. He is course tutor to the MA in Effective Learning and the MA in School Development, and is involved in consultancy to schools and training others in consultation. Current research projects include 'The Violence-resilient School' and 'Learning about Learning'.