The evolutionary design of a Knowledge Network to support knowledge management and sharing for lifelong learning

Knowledge Management (KM) and knowledge sharing are important factors that support lifelong learning, and enable people to continue developing throughout their careers. The concept of a Community of Practice ( Wenger, 2000 ) is attractive in drawing together people whose work shares similar aspects, and consideration is given here to how technology can be used to develop and support such a community. In this paper, concepts from the Community of Practice literature are used to consider the development of a software environment for people working as a community in the area of lifelong learning. The intention was to design the system in an evolutionary way, using a minimal set of essential elements which would be elaborated according to user feedback. Three key design questions are considered: Who can contribute resources to such a system? What happens to existing practices? How is the community engaged? We conclude that, in lifelong learning, knowledge management supported by a software environment offers a good way to bring together communities, resources and experience, but to achieve these benefits, great care needs to be exerted in introducing the system and maintaining existing work practices.     

大型仪器设备开放补贴管理系统的设计与应用

武汉大学设立了大型仪器设备开放补贴,作为高校大型仪器设备效益评价体系中的重要部分,旨在鼓励事业处于起步阶段的青年教师使用大型仪器设备资源以及使大型仪器设备机组积极参与开放共享工作。为配合开放补贴管理工作的顺利进行,同时为大型仪器设备效益评价体系的指标数据提供收集方法,引进了大型仪器设备开放补贴管理系统。通过说明学校开放补贴的管理流程,介绍了该系统中用户教师、机组人员、实验室管理员、评审专家及系统管理员5类角色的使用权限,并结合应用实际,对系统的5个管理功能和2个特色服务功能做了简单的说明。管理系统的引入,实现了该项工作的科学管理与服务效益的提升。     

Virtualization and new geographies of knowledge in higher education: possibilities for the transformation of knowledge,pedagogic relations and learner identities

This article considers some of the ways in which the transformative power of Web 2.0 digital technology is reconfiguring learning, knowledge and academic identities in the contemporary university. Through a focus on five specific examples, we consider the impact of virtualization processes on spatiality, materiality and embodiment, and pedagogic relations. We argue for the benefits of taking a microsociological approach in order to reflect on the potential of virtualization to bring about new geographies of knowledge production and as a means to identify the ways in which potential transformations are uneven, problematic and contested.     

提高资源利用率和开放性的计算机专业实验室管理模式研究

在分析了实验室资源利用率和开放程度不高的原因后,提出了一种基于云计算技术的专业实验室管理模式以解决上述问题。与传统管理模式相比,该模式能够利用云计算技术将未被实验项目充分利用的计算资源组织起来,在正常开展实验教学的同时,向实验室之外的用户（学生和教师）提供计算服务,从而有效的提高实验室资源的利用率,增加开放程度和扩展教学潜力。     

A structural model of customer relationship management (CRM) strategies,rapport, and learner intentions in lifelong education

Asia Pacific Education Review - The purpose of this study is to suggest an alternative to maximize the relationship between education service provider and learner in CRM in the implementation of...     

A knowledge management technology architecture for educational research organisations: Scaffolding research projects and workflow processing

There is growing recognition that the economic climate of the world is shifting towards a knowledge‐based economy where knowledge will be cherished as the most prized asset. In this regard, technology can be leveraged as a useful tool in effectually managing the knowledge capital of an organisation. Although several research studies have advanced knowledge management frameworks catering to the requirements of organisations specialising in diverse fields of expertise, no comprehensive knowledge‐management architecture has been found that is technology mediated and orientated towards the emergent needs of an educational research organisation. In this paper, we review a knowledge management technology approach modeled as a web portal that was developed to create a repository and to facilitate shared resources in a research organisation. This technology‐based framework encapsulates the knowledge management processes that capture and augment the explicit knowledge resources of the research organisation. The framework also supports social networks that enable the sharing and encoding of tacit knowledge by facilitating online exchanges and feedback.     

A case of supporting distributed knowledge and work in the U.S. Navy: The challenges of knowledge management to human performance technology

Conclusion The goal here has been to offer just one possible path that HP technologists might take to meet the theoretical and practical challenges presented by knowledge management precepts and practices. Thinking about knowledge as a process and contemplating interventions at collective and organizational levels are not easy tasks, especially given our conventional roots. Fortunately, there are emerging perspectives that may greatly facilitate the HP technologist’s venture into this arena. My suggestion is that we begin to use these and related theories to inform and improve development.     

A structured writing programme for staff: Facilitating knowledge,skills, confidence and publishing outcomes

The growing interest in the higher education sector in publishing pedagogical research has led to a focus on professional development for staff who wish to engage in this endeavour. This paper describes and evaluates a specific programme designed to help university staff to prepare and submit a high-quality paper to a peer-reviewed journal. Features of the programme that contributed to outcomes include the systematic, structured support provided by the programme and facilitator and the opportunity to work with a peer support group, as well as the use of technology to allow participation across campuses. The positive outcomes of the programme in terms of publications and professional and personal benefits for participants are outlined. The programme resulted in peer-reviewed and other publications, as well as increasing the participants’ knowledge and confidence related to academic writing and publishing.     

A Web Site That Provides Resources for Assessing Students' Statistical Literacy, Reasoning and Thinking

The Assessment Resource Tools for Improving Statistical Thinking (ARTIST) Web site was developed to provide high-quality assessment resources for faculty who teach statistics at the tertiary level but resources are also useful to statistics teachers at the secondary level. This article describes some of the numerous ARTIST resources and suggests ways teachers may use these assessment resources.     

Families at risk of poor parenting: A model for service delivery,assessment, and intervention

The At Risk Parent Child Program is a multidisciplinary network agency designed for the secondary prevention of poor parenting and the extremes of child abuse and neglect. This model system of service delivery emphasizes (1) the coordination of existing community resources to access a target population of families at risk of parenting problems, (2) the provision of multiple special services in a neutral location (ambulatory pediatric clinic), and (3) the importance of intensive individual contact with a clinical professional who serves as primary therapist, social advocate and service coordinator for client families. Identification and assessment of families is best done during prenatal and perinatal periods. Both formal and informal procedures for screening for risk factors are described, and a simple set of at risk criteria for use by hospital nursing staff is provided. Preventive intervention strategies include special medical, psychological, social and developmental services, offered in an inpatient; outpatient, or in-home setting. Matching family needs to modality and setting of treatment is a major program concern. All direct services to at risk families are supplied by professionals employed within existing local agencies (hospital, public health department, state guidance center, and medical school pediatric clinic). Multiple agency involvement allows a broad-based screening capacity which allows thousands of families routine access to program services. The administrative center of the network stands as an independent, community-funded core which coordinates and monitors direct clinical services, and provides local political advocacy for families at risk of parenting problems.     

Using teachers' prior knowledge,attitudes and beliefs to develop in-service teacher education courses for inclusion

This paper examines one important dimension of inclusive education: the development of in-service teacher education courses. Using an example from Cyprus, it discusses the issue of contextualizing teacher training courses to suit teachers' prior knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about inclusion. The paper considers some of the findings of a survey about issues relating to inclusion. The findings suggest that teachers' conceptualizations of inclusion are problematic. According to the findings, teachers tend to think on the basis of a medical and charity model and they favour special schooling for specific groups of children. The discussion considers how a training course for inclusion can be academically robust and professionally useful, while at the same time taking into consideration teachers' prior knowledge and expectations.     

Classroom management: A model for the identification,development, and assessment of competencies

This article looks across effective collaborations involving schools and colleges of education and other organizations to identify most commonly voiced reasons for collaboration and factors perceived as being most important to collaboration. Partnerships are often founded as means for a school or college of education to better fulfill its own mission through working with other departments on campus, community organizations, and schools. Those involved with effective collaboration report that willingness to listen, mutual respect, long-term commitment, frequent communication, flexibility, and careful selection of partners were key factors in the success of their collaboratives.     

Young children's knowledge and skills related to sexual abuse prevention: A pilot study in Beijing,China

To examine the level of knowledge and skills related to prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample of Chinese preschoolers in Beijing and to explore the associations between children's scores on the knowledge and skills and their parents’ reports on the knowledge and communication with children about CSA prevention. One hundred and thirty-six preschoolers were interviewed by researchers using the Chinese versions of Personal Safety Questionnaire and the “What If” Situation Test, and one parent of each child was invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire regarding parental knowledge and parent–child communication about CSA prevention. Less than half children knew that strangers were not the only perpetrators and only 16% thought that children should report secret touching. In 3 inappropriate touching requests, less than 30% of the children were aware of using verbal response to definitely refuse the inappropriate touching and less than 20% of the children were aware of definitely removing themselves from the abusive situations. Parent–child communication about CSA and parental educational level were the significant factors for children's self-protection skills. Preschool children lack CSA prevention knowledge and related self-protection skills. Culturally relevant primary CSA prevention programs in China need to be developed and parental education should be a part of CSA prevention. Parents need to be informed about CSA knowledge concepts and need to be encouraged to communicate with their children about sexual abuse prevention.     

Comprehension,recall, and dyslexia: A proposal for the application of schema theory

Evidence suggesting that dyslexia is a multifaceted syndrome is beginning to accumulate. Furthermore, a reexamination of some literature suggests that in addition to having word recognition problems, some dyslexics may also have problems understanding language. Whereas there is a rather extensive literature on word recognition, and even on word understanding, few studies have examined the problems dyslexics may have in understanding and remembering connected discourse. This paper explores issues related to certain possible problems of comprehension and recall among dyslexics and proposes a new direction for research through the application of schema theory. A version of this paper was presented at the meeting of the New England Branch of the Orton Society, Boston, May 1978. Preparation of this paper was supported in part by a grant from Harvard University with funds supplied by the Spencer Foundation. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of Harvard or the Spencer Foundation, and no official endorsement should be inferred.     

What does it mean for teachers to be data literate: Laying out the skills,knowledge, and dispositions

This article reports on the evolution of a conceptual framework for a construct called data literacy for teachers. Data use has become an emphasis in education but few educators have received sufficient training or preparation pertaining to data literacy skills. This article lays out the framework, identifying the specific knowledge, skills, and dispositions teachers need to use data effectively and responsibly. It concludes with a call to schools of education and teacher preparation programs to begin to integrate data literacy into curricula and practical experiences.     

A critical meta-analysis of all evaluations of state-funded preschool from 1977 to 1998: implications for policy, service delivery and program evaluation

The number of state-funded preschool programs for low-income children has increased dramatically over the past few decades, and recent research has indicated that these programs vary considerably along a variety of dimensions. By 1998 only 13 of the current 33 state preschool programs (which serve children 3 to 5, provide some form of classroom-based educational service, and are primarily funded and administered at the state level) had completed a formal evaluation of the program’s impact on child outcomes. This paper presents a critical meta-analytic review of these evaluations, providing measures of standardized effects for all significant impacts to facilitate comparisons across differing domains of outcome and evaluative methods. Although several methodological flaws in these studies are identified, the pattern of overall findings may offer modest support for positive impacts in improving children’s developmental competence in a variety of domains, improving later school attendance and performance, and reducing subsequent grade retention. Significant impacts were mostly limited to kindergarten and first grade; however, some impacts were sustained several years beyond preschool. The results of these studies were similar to evaluations of other large-scale preschool programs for low-income children, such as Head Start. Modest outcome goals are warranted for preschool programs serving low-income children, for example, the promotion of school readiness. Suggestions are presented for improved preschool and early intervention program evaluation.     

Women,educational management and the third world: A comparative framework for analysis

The comparative under-representation of women in senior levels of administration in schools and colleges is posed as a possibly international problem. Explanations are sought and some evidence suggested in three interlocking areas. Individual sex role learning relates to differences in career mapping, qualifications, unionisation and attitudes towards job application. Organisational constraints refer to possibly discriminatory practices concerning the sexual division of labour in schools, promotion, and notions of ‘leadership’. Finally, a discussion of societal power relations focusses specifically on the economy of the family and women's dual roles. Each area engenders different policy implications for increasing female participation in management.