Special needs education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): a systems perspective

In order to obtain maximum benefits from the educational system, it is imperative that the system should work as a unified coherent unit. Gaad, Arif and Scott (2006) conducted the systems analysis of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) general education system. They analysed three components of the system in order to assess the development, delivery and evaluation. This paper utilises the same framework to analyse the special needs education (SEN) system in the UAE. Data for the research were collected through observations and semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data identifies some possibilities for improvement. In the area of development, more teaching and supplemental material specific to special needs education needs to be developed. Currently, teachers are working with what is known as the 'para curriculum'. It is based on the regular textbook; with chapters that are difficult being simplified or removed. In the area of delivery, more training would be beneficial to teachers. The monitoring and evaluation component's analysis points out that the evaluation instrument used currently needs to be modified for special needs education monitoring and additional resources in the area of special needs education would required.     

日本小学语文教科书研究(一) --教材内容倾向及其编排特点

本文以日本小学语文教科书中的教材为主要研究对象 ,通过对教科书中阅读教材的内容及其编排特点的系统考察 ,试图从中窥视其教材编写的指导思想。日本教科书中对学生品德、心灵教育的重视 ;科学、严谨的内容编排体系 ;特别是以情动人的教育理念 ;给我们带来很多启示。     

日本小学语文教科书研究(二)--单元类型与编排体例

本文以日本小学语文教科书中教材为主要研究对象 ,对其教材的编辑方针、单元类型、编排体例等进行了系统研究。日本教科书中单元、教材类型多样 ;单元目的明确 ,思路清晰 ,编排严谨、周密 ,使教师和学生对教材编写意图极易把握 ,为教师创造性地开展教学活动奠定了基础。     

The effectiveness of student team-achievement division (STAD) for teaching high school chemistry in the United Arab Emirates

Education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces major problems which may hinder its future development. These include low achievement in science and a negative attitude toward science subjects, which have resulted in a high number of student dropouts from the science track in high school. It is believed among UAE educators that the main reason is the way science that has been taught in its schools. A solution to this problem depends on finding effective teaching methods, which maintain student achievement, improve students' attitude and provide opportunities to develop essential scientific skills. The effectiveness of Student Team-Achievement Division (STAD) for teaching science to high school classes in the UAE was investigated. The sample was selected randomly. A representative group of UAE high school students was chosen from the northern province, which includes urban areas, and from the eastern province, which includes rural areas. The study involved sixteen tenth grade classes. During the second semester of the academic year 1998/1999, three units in the chemistry curriculum were covered. This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of STAD in teaching high school chemistry in the UAE and to find out which groups, gender, area, and ability benefitted most.     

Gender and hyper-linear history in the representation of the female Australian primary school teacher in Marion (ABCTV, 1974)

Abstract

Building on the author’s previous work on Australian national cinema and schooling, this article explores the representation of the female primary school teacher in the television mini-series entitled Marion (Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1974). Using narrative analysis, it argues that this representation is disruptive of patriarchal gender relations, demonstrating ‘hyper-linear history’ where an exemplary relationship is created between the disrupted gender relations in school leadership in Australia caused by the Second World War and the ongoing disruption of gender relations occasioned by the second-wave women’s movement in the 1970s. This mini-series shows how history, gender and representation are mobilised to create a unique cinematic historical argument about the gendered nature of Australian primary school teaching. Finally, the article reflects briefly on the situatedness of this reading out of the Global South.     

Social interaction and language use in Irish infant classrooms in the context of the revised Irish Primary School Curriculum (1999)

This article concerns the gap between government intention and classroom outcome. The author examines the treatment of spoken language in the Revised Irish Curriculum, which came into effect in 1999. He finds much to be commended in the recognition of its central role in learning. He then examines the implementation of this curriculum with children of 5 to 6 years, in fifteen Senior Infant classrooms. Extensive observations and interviews lead him to the view that pupil talk is still seen by most of the teachers observed as a distraction from the essential business of education, namely listening, reading and writing. The interviews revealed that these teachers did not seem to understand the important role of dialogue and discussion in developing learning or recognize the need to promote sustematically opportunities for oral interactions. He concludes that educational change cannot be achieved simply by producing new curriculum statements.     

尝试新的教学--《新世纪国家基础教育课程标准实验教材·数学》(七年级·上)介绍

本文简单地介绍了"实验教材"(七年级·上)的基本特征、实施过程中的若干教学与评价建议,并对教材第1、2章中有关教学的问题作了一些具体阐述.     

The challenges of using the Communicative Approach (CA) in the teaching of English as a Second language (ESL) in Zimbabwe: Implications for ESL teacher education

Abstract

This article examines studies done on the use of the CA locally, in addition to insights from studies done abroad, as well as critically examining the nature of the CA and the language situation in Zimbabwe, to identify and discuss the main challenges associated with the use of this approach to the teaching of ESL in Zimbabwe and its implications for ESL teacher education. It explores the status of the CA as ‘imported technology ’, that has been grafted to address the teaching of English as a second language in the local context, necessitating its adaptation and the development of local versions of the approach. It argues that, to address these challenges, various stake holders such as teacher educators, material developers, examination bodies, and other relevant authorities such as the ministry of education should each play their part to ensure the success of the implementation of the CA.     

Increasing teachers' use of communication-supporting strategies: findings from an exploratory study using the Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool (CSCOT) in primary schools in Brunei

The Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool (CSCOT) is used in the UK to identify how teachers support children's communication development. This study evaluates the feasibility and impact of collaborative training for teachers using the CSCOT, delivered by specialist teachers and a speech and language therapist. Classroom practice was observed twice using the CSCOT before the collaborative training (repeated baseline). Five teachers then received the collaborative training, informed by their baseline CSCOT results. The training consisted of detailed feedback, target setting and support from the school Special Educational Needs Assistant (SENA) over a period of 20 weeks. Five further teachers did not participate in this training but acted as a control group. The CSCOT observations were then repeated for all 10 classroom teachers. The total score of the CSCOT significantly increased for the five teachers who received training only. There was no increase during the repeated baseline phase, suggesting that the increase was due to the training. All five teachers who participated in training increased their use of their targeted communication-supporting strategies. The CSCOT can be used as part of collaborative training to increase teachers' use of communication-supporting strategies in primary schools in Brunei.     

Capacity for (quality) instruction: a framework for understanding the use of resources to promote teaching and learning in schools

Abstract

The inception of no-fee schools and a school-fee exemption policy has become a contentious issue but also an exciting one for school managers in South Africa. Managers opposed to the policy have cited amongst others things, academic standards dropping, as well as parents who can afford to pay jumping on the bandwagon and refusing to pay. While the advocates for no-fee schools argue that it is not only a moral obligation for the authorities to ensure that every child is able to get basic education, it is also a basic human right. Notwithstanding these contrasting views, an overwhelming majority (62%) of the purposively sampled principals of public schools in the Free State Province expressed relief and agreement with this decision to declare poor school nofee schools. This article, therefore, intends to explore not only the background to the policy but also the possible impact of this decision on overall school performance as perceived by the school principals.     

The rise in the numbers of pupils identified by schools with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a comparison of the four countries in the United Kingdom

An annual school census is held in the four countries of the UK in which pupils with ASD are identified. This longitudinal study of the total UK school population compares increases in prevalence rates for pupils with ASD over a nine-year period from 2010/11. Northern Ireland had the highest prevalence throughout, reaching 3.20% by 2018/19 compared to 1.92% in Wales. The prevalence rates were higher in secondary than in primary schools. The increases in prevalence and intra-country variations may be linked to a greater appreciation of ASD occurring alongside other developmental difficulties. Greater reliance on school rather than statutory assessments may also contribute to increases in pupils with ASD. More in-depth research is needed to establish the reason for the variations across years and countries.     

试论10年来我国幼儿园语言教育的发展——兼论《幼儿园教育指导纲要(试行)》的进一步贯彻落实

《幼儿园教育指导纲要(试行)》颁布10年来,我国幼儿园语言教育发展的主要成就表现在有关语言运用能力的培养要求、早期阅读能力的培养要求、语言教育与其他领域教育内容相互整合的要求等得到了较好的贯彻落实,不过目前幼儿园语言教育依然存在计划性过强、过于强调语言形式的学习、语言学习活动与其他活动整合不足等问题,改进的措施主要有通过培训进一步提高教师的专业素质、在继续深入研究的基础上进一步细化《纲要》的相关内容等。     

高中生物课程标准教材探究活动的设计和教学建议

教育部2001年印发的《基础教育课程改革纲要（试行）》明确指出，基础教育课程改革的具体目标之一是：“改变课程实施过于强调接受学习、死记硬背、机械训练的现状，倡导学生主动参与、乐于探究、勤于动手，培养学生搜集和处理信息的能力、获取新知识的能力、分析和解决问题的能力以及交流与合作的能力。”     

活化教材升华情感

情感态度和价值观是课程的终极目标。学科教学必须致力于培养学生丰富的情感、积极态度和正确的价值观。单纯的学科知识教学往往导致教学的情感缺失;直接或独立教授情感态度和价值观往往会遭到学生的厌恶。在生物学教学中如何才能把情感态度和价值观的培养与学科知识教学有机地