A case study of lifelong learning in Japan: objectives,curriculum, accountability and visibility

Various conceptualizations of lifelong learning have been developed and various practices of lifelong learning have been identified. This paper introduces several recent conceptualizations of lifelong learning before considering the case for Japan, both in general and through examination of the state of lifelong learning in a rural prefecture and a case study of one lifelong learning programme in a rural city. While the case for the prefecture as a whole mirrors the literature on lifelong learning in Japan, the case study presents four specific characteristics that may direct future development of lifelong learning programmes as well as research: a clearly stated societal objective, a knowledge and skills curriculum, participant accountability, and social visibility and presence.     

Assessment of student learning: Evolution of objectives in engineering education and the consequences for assessment

The focus of objectives of engineering education has evolved from knowledge to skills. This is a logical consequence of the changing demands of employers of graduated engineers. This change is referred to as a paradigm shift in engineering education. It is therefore not surprising that the views on assessment of student learning are changing as well. In this paper the relation between the demands and the educational objectives are reviewed. Consequently, the implications for assessment are discussed. Assessment is introduced as a feedback procedure. It is discussed that in fact four different feedback pathways can be identified. Finally, the relation between educational methods and their relation to assessment is discussed in detail. As an example, the problems in assessment of group work are discussed.     

Evaluation of curriculum and student learning needs using 360 degree assessment

This research used a 360 degree assessment tool modelled from the competing values framework to assess the curriculum. A total of 100 Master’s of Business Administration students and 746 of their work colleagues completed the 360 degree assessment tool. The students were enrolled in a course on leadership and management. The results of the assessment demonstrated similar patterns of strengths and development needs between the mean self-assessment of the students and those of their work colleagues, although work colleagues tended to assess the students slightly higher. The patterns revealed development needs in soft skills such as conflict management and mentoring, as well as in strategic management and project planning. Gender effects were evident with women needing particular development in competencies related to developing and communicating a vision, setting goals and objectives and designing and organising. The results provide evidence-based approach to assessing curriculum. As many programmes use a variety of assessment tools in their programmes, collecting data across cohorts can be a valuable evidence-based strategy to assess and evaluate curriculum content against real learner needs.     

Enhancing professional writing skills of veterinary technology students: linking assessment and clinical practice in a communications course

Veterinary technology is an emerging profession within the veterinary and allied animal health fields in Australia and affords graduates the opportunity to contribute to the small but growing body of literature within this discipline. This study describes the introduction of a contextualised assessment task to develop students’ research capability, competence and confidence in professional writing, and to engage them with the academic publishing process. Students worked in self-selected dyads to author a scientific case report, of publishable standard, based on authentic cases from their clinical practicum. Intrinsic to the task, students attended a series of workshops that explored topics such as critiquing the literature, professional writing styles and oral presentation skills. Assessment was multi-staged with progressive feedback, including peer review, and culminated with students presenting their abstracts at a mock conference. Students reported the task to be an enjoyable and valuable learning experience which improved their competence and confidence in scientific writing; supported by a comparison of previously submitted work. Linking scientific writing skills to clinical practice experiences enhanced learning outcomes and may foster the professionalisation of students within this emerging discipline.     

Enhancing students' learning through differentiated approaches to teaching and learning: a Maltese perspective

Within the context of Malta, differentiated teaching pervades the National Minimum Curriculum (NMC) published in 1999 , in 11 of 15 principles that the NMC supports. The study seeks to explore how well prepared and equipped the teachers are with the necessary skills to fulfil a differentiated teaching approach. The aim of this research study was to explore the current pedagogical procedures teachers are adopting in order to ensure curriculum access to all students, and to what extent these actually reflect differentiated instructional strategies.
Data was collected through questionnaires. All teachers in the school were asked to participate and the response rate was high. The results are therefore representative of this particular school but cannot be generalised to the whole teaching population.
It was found that many teachers were taking an individualised role to teaching, and in the future the school will need to adopt policy decisions and a School Development Plan (SDP) which feature differentiation. Such an approach will be needed in order to encourage the teachers to utilise strategies that reflect a differentiated approach to teaching within a whole school context. In-service training will be required to enable teachers to be made aware of the varying ways of responding to the needs of all students through differentiated teaching approaches in order to provide paths to learning so that the classroom becomes a 'good fit' for varied learners.     

实践与反思:新课程的"三维目标"

课程目标是课程的第一要素,而“三维目标”是新一轮课程改革所要达到的目标。深入学习和理解新课程的“三维目标”,准确把握其内在辩证关系,是新一轮课程改革持续、稳妥进行下去的关键。     

新课程三维目标内涵解读及设计

新课程改革提出了三维目标,即知识与技能、过程与方法、情感态度价值观。三维目标之间既有各自不同的内涵,又有联系。它们是相互依存、互为基础,是学生发展必不可少的三个方面。设计三维目标时应注意三维目标既是一个整体,又不是均等存在的,陈述方式要灵活。     

Engineering learning objectives and computer assisted tools

ABSTRACT

The different technology fields have increased in complexity, especially during the last two decades, giving place to the concept of Complex Technology. An example is Electronics also characterised as a horizontal technology being incorporated in many products and processes of other technological areas. Bloom’s taxonomy of learning objectives and the revised version of Bloom disciples, which have been used by several experts in pedagogy, suffers from a generalist character and are not adapted to technology learning. In this article an engineering learning taxonomy is presented. Also a computer learning assisted tool called ISETL (Integrated System for Electronics Technology Learning) has been developed to facilitate the Electronics fundamentals understanding. ISETL has been evaluated taking into account not only the results of the theoretical assessments but also through the results obtained in the laboratory. These results demonstrate the advantages of this approach and can be depicted by the progressive improvements registered in student performance.     

Purposeful play during learning centre time: from curriculum to practice

This article explores the correspondence between the vision of play articulated in Singapore’s national kindergarten curriculum framework and the play-related pedagogies enacted by teachers on the ground, particularly during Learning Centre Time (LCT). Influenced by neo-liberal ways of thinking, the curriculum states that purposeful play is a medium to achieve intended learning outcomes. The study is part of a longitudinal project where 108 Kindergarten 1 classrooms were videotaped during a full ‘typical day’ (3–4 h). While learning centres were set up in all classrooms, only 36 LCT episodes were identified. Certain learning centre types (literacy, arts) were more common than others (numeracy, science), and time spent by teachers in the different centres varied widely. Children were allowed limited freedom of choice while playing in learning centres, and some were even required to complete assignments. While teachers tended to adopt facilitative roles, quality of instructional support provided to children was low. We conclude that pedagogical practices during LCT in the observed classrooms do not adequately reflect the curriculum’s vision of purposeful play. This theory/practice gap might be due to curriculum expectations, teacher-related factors (beliefs, lack of preparation) and parental pressures. Implications, limitations and lines for future research are discussed.