学业不良儿童与普通儿童社会支持的对比研究

社会支持是学业不良儿童社会性发展研究的重要内容,本文采用问卷法对189名学业不良儿童和205名普通儿童进行对比研究,结果表明:(1)学业不良儿童在获得父母亲、教师和同性朋友的总体社会支持上均少于普通儿童,并且在母亲支持和教师支持上存在显著差异;(2)在父母和教师的多项具体社会支持内容上,学业不良儿童的得分也显著低于普通儿童;(3)学业不良儿童更倾向于从异性朋友那里获得陪伴娱乐性支持和亲密感。     

Self-efficacy from the perspective of adolescents with LD and their specialist teachers

This study used qualitative methodology to investigate the self-efficacy beliefs of early adolescents with learning disabilities (LD). We conducted a series of focus group interviews with 28 Grade 8 and 9 students with LD and individual interviews with 7 specialist LD teachers. Content analyses of the student and teacher data resulted in 2 a priori and 3 inductive themes: self-efficacy, calibration and levels of self-efficacy, students' self-awareness, attributions for failure, and problems and solutions. The students viewed themselves as low in self-efficacy and generally accurate in the calibration of their efficacy and performance, whereas the teachers viewed the students as overconfident about academic tasks. In contrast to the teachers, the students viewed verbal persuasion as a valued source of self-efficacy. Students attributed their failures to lack of effort, whereas their teachers attributed student failure to uncontrollable deficits. Problems and solutions related to student motivation were discussed from student and teacher perspectives.     

Helping students with LD to succeed: the role of teachers’ hope,sense of coherence and specific self-efficacy

Teachers play a critical role in facilitating the academic achievements of students with learning disabilities (LD). The personal resources of teachers, such as sense of coherence (SOC) and hopeful thinking, may predict self-perception of the competency and efficacy they possess to help students with LD acquire needed learning skills. Several studies have shown the importance of SOC and hope to the success of students with LD, but research has not focused on how the hope of their teachers may help these students succeed in inclusive classrooms. The goal of the current study was to identify profiles of teachers, based on their personal resources of SOC and hope, and to examine their self-efficacy (SE) in helping students with LD acquire learning skills. The sample consisted of 624 teachers (567 females and 57 males) from inclusive classes; 143 teachers in this sample had special education training. Using cluster analysis four distinct clusters were identified suggesting that both SOC, as a global personality measure, and hope, as a measure of future expectations, contributed to the SE of teachers: their belief in their ability to help the students with LD acquire learning skills. In each cluster, teachers with special education training had higher levels of hope and SE. The results highlight the important role of teachers’ personal resources in predicting their belief in their professional ability to help students with LD.     

Varieties of discourse in supervisory conferences

The logic and substance of discourse between university supervisors and student teachers during post-observation supervisory conferences were studied in an elementary student teaching program in the United States. The findings describe these aspects of the discourse in relation to the program's goals and (a) the conceptual levels of supervisors and student teachers, (b) the content area of the lesson under analysis, and (c) the structure of the supervisor's role. Implications of the findings for research, program development, and for the preparation and training of supervisors are discussed.     

The Influence of Repeated Teaching and Reflection on Preservice Teachers’ Views of Inquiry and Nature of Science

This study describes the influence of a secondary science methods program on secondary science preservice teachers’ views and enactment of nature of science and inquiry-based instructional practices. Built into the structure of this program were three cycles of practice teaching and reflection in which the preservice teachers focused on key pedagogical ideas in classroom settings with middle and high school students. The nine secondary preservice teachers improved both their understanding and enactment of inquiry and nature of science throughout the program period. This study provides evidence of the importance of incorporating multiple low-stakes practicum experiences that are closely tied to methods course goals that are highly scaffolded through both methods instructor and cooperating teacher support and tied to analytic self-reflection.     

LD, interpersonal understanding, and social behavior in the classroom

This study used Baron and Kenny's (1986) criteria for mediation to investigate the extent to which interpersonal understanding mediates the relation between learning disabilities (LD) and social adaptation in the classroom. Twenty-two children with and 22 children without a diagnosis of LD completed a semistructured developmental clinical interview measure of interpersonal understanding. They were also rated by their fourth- and fifth-grade teachers on a measure of social adaptation in the classroom. Interpersonal understanding and social adaptation in the classroom were found to be positively correlated. Children with LD exhibited less interpersonal understanding and social adaptation. Although this group difference on social adaptation was greatly reduced when interpersonal understanding was statistically controlled, it remained statistically significant. These results suggest that reduced social adaptation in the classroom and lower interpersonal understanding are both associated with a diagnosis of LD. However, they do not conclusively support the claim that interpersonal understanding mediates the relation between LD and social adaptation. Thus, whether the social difficulties of people with LD stem from the same complex phenomena that produce these people's learning problems remains an open question.     

Characteristic behaviors of students with LD who have teacher-identified math weaknesses

Mathematics learning disabilities (LD) have gained increased attention over the last decade from both researchers and practitioners. A large percentage of students receiving learning disability services experience difficulties with mathematics, but little research has examined the specific mathematics behaviors of students with LD who have teacher-identified math weaknesses. This study examines the literature on mathematics LD and identifies specific behaviors from that body of research for the purpose of determining the extent to which those behaviors are observed in students with LD. Data are presented from observations of 391 special education professionals on 1724 students with LD, 870 of whom had identified math weaknesses and 854 of whom did not. Our results validate the existing literature and provide implications for teachers, researchers, and others interested in studying mathematics LD.     

Common Core State Standards,Writing, and Students with LD: Recommendations

This article examines the Common Core State Standards as they apply to writing and students with learning disabilities (LD). We first consider why the implementation of these standards is advantageous to writing instruction for students with LD as well as the challenges in implementing them. Next, we make the following four recommendations in terms of their implementation: (1) increase general and special education teachers’ knowledge about writing development; (2) create a writing environment in which students with LD can thrive; (3) employ evidence‐based writing practices in general education classes (where most students with LD are taught); and (4) use evidence‐based writing practices effective with students with LD. We conclude by considering research that still needs to be undertaken to help educators maximize the probability that students with and without LD meet the writing benchmarks proposed in these Standards.     

Teachers’ Longitudinal NOS Understanding After Having Completed a Science Teacher Education Program

The study reported here investigated experienced teachers’ views on several nature of science (NOS) issues 2 to 5 years after they completed a demanding secondary science teacher education program in which the NOS was an extensive and recurring component. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed to determine study participants’ NOS understanding. Study participant’s NOS views were determined to be generally accurate and robust, suggesting that experiences in their science teacher education program had a long-lasting positive impact on NOS understanding. The preservice program that study participants completed has several unique features that may account for that long-lasting impact and has implications for preservice and inservice science teacher education professional development.     

Assessing Technology Based Instruction in Biology and Geography

Abstract

The article is a report on a development project arising from collaboration between the Department of Education in the University of Oulu, the university training school in Oulu, and some secondary schools in Northern Finland. The key aims of the project have been to promote the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teacher education and in schools, to develop methods for distant education, and to train student teachers in telematics instruction in biology and geography. The concept of pedagogical action, socio-cultural communicative perspective, constructivist views of pedagogy, ideas of reflective teachers and learners, and new forms of assessment provided the theoretical basis for the project. The main findings were that student teachers are able to plan, conduct, and evaluate telematics instruction. The greatest problems are technical problems and lack of time. Sustained and effective communication between students, local teachers, student teachers, and supervisors is seen to be the key to the successful cooperative work in developing curricula and instructional methods in telematics learning environment.     

Teachers’ Longitudinal NOS Understanding After Having Completed a Science Teacher Education Program

The study reported here investigated experienced teachers’ views on several nature of science (NOS) issues 2 to 5 years after they completed a demanding secondary science teacher education program in which the NOS was an extensive and recurring component. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed to determine study participants’ NOS understanding. Study participant’s NOS views were determined to be generally accurate and robust, suggesting that experiences in their science teacher education program had a long-lasting positive impact on NOS understanding. The preservice program that study participants completed has several unique features that may account for that long-lasting impact and has implications for preservice and inservice science teacher education professional development.

     

Virtual connections,personal resources,loneliness, and academic self-efficacy among college students with and without LD

The goals of the study were first to compare the social and academic well-being (loneliness and academic self-efficacy (ASE) among college students with and without learning disabilities (LD), as well as three personal strengths (hope, optimism and sense of coherence (SOC). The second goal was to identify the predicting factors to their loneliness and ASE. The sample consisted of 178 female students from the special education programme in a teachers’ college, divided into two subgroups: 59 students with LD and 119 students without LD. The following questionnaires were used: the loneliness scale; ASE; Internet and smartphone activities; hope, optimism and SOC. As expected, students with LD reported higher levels of loneliness and lower levels of ASE. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed that the use of the Internet for avoidance coping was a significant predictor for the loneliness and ASE. Results of the mediation analysis further demonstrated that LD was positively associated with online avoidance coping. However, hopeful thinking had a significant mediation effect between LD and online avoidance coping. Students with LD who have hopeful thinking were less engaged in avoidance coping than their peers, focusing attention on the importance of hope as a mediation factor.     

Iowa Postsecondary Vocational-Technical Teacher Retention Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the reasons for the apparently high turnover rate among postsecondary vocational-technical teachers in Iowa's 15 postsecondary area schools. Two techniques were used in an attempt to identify the reasons for the turnover rate. One technique consisted of comparing background information via Iowa Professional School Employees Data Sheets, for all former and current teachers for the period 1971 through 1975. The second technique consisted of asking former instructors, by use of a mailed questionnaire, to relate their reasons for leaving the vocational-technical teaching program.

The analysis of the data sheets failed to provide any conclusive insight into the reason for the turnover rate. Although the profile was of limited value, some tendencies were observed. Analysis of the data from the survey of current and former teachers revealed that: (a) former teachers showed greater dissatisfaction with preservice workshops than did current teachers; (b) former teachers tended to be less satisfied with external working conditions than did current teachers; (c) both current and former teachers found relationships with students to be the most rewarding aspects of their teaching experience; (d) both current and former teachers found interaction with administrators and supervisors to be the least rewarding aspect of their teaching experience. Finally, former teachers reported they left the program primarily because of problems they experienced with administrators and/or supervisors, and school policies. Current teachers were more likely to cite contract and salary problems as possible reasons for leaving the program.     

Supervisory Conferences: An exploration of some difficult topics

In a survey of student teachers and supervisors at two Hong Kong universities a number of areas that are difficult to discuss in supervisory conferences were identified. Broadly speaking, these difficult areas were characterised by being concerned with 'personal aspects'. Subsequently, a sample of these student teachers and supervisors were interviewed in depth to ascertain their views on how such difficult areas should be tackled. In this paper we analyse the perceptions of both parties with respect to a selection of these difficult topics including presence, enthusiasm, commitment and general attitude, and consider the extent to which these perceptions differ or coincide. Finally, we discuss the implications for the supervisory process and attempt to identify the most important features for successfully dealing with such issues.     

论理工科硕士生协助导师的可持续发展——兼论大学青年教师的学术发展

硕士生协助导师一般是指工作不久、具有博士学位且无高级职称的青年教师,他们协助正式硕士生导师指导研究生。作为协助导师的青年教师虽然对研究生的培养具有多方面的积极促进作用,但其自身发展同样存在不少问题：“协助导师”身份使青年教师在硕士生导师的领导和支配下难以独立发展、“小导师”身份使青年教师难以得到研究生的足够认同和尊重、“非正式导师”身份使青年教师难以得到学校层面的政策支持和制度保障。因此,我们需要对这些现实问题高度重视并予以解决,积极采取各种有效策略来促进青年教师的可持续发展。     

Features and strategies of supervisor professional community as a means of improving the supervision of preservice teachers

This article explores whether features associated with effective professional communities among K-12 teachers are relevant and sufficient for improving the practice of supervisors in teacher education programs. Interview and observational data from nineteen supervisors in one teacher education program illuminate what supervisors want in order to improve their professional practices and how their needs could be met through ongoing collaboration. The article proposes five features of professional communities that can help supervisors improve their work: norms promoting collaboration; trust and familiarity; activities deprivatizing practices; access to logistical information and shared expectations about the role of supervisors; and time for collaboration.     

Learning disabled and emotionally disturbed: Will the labels affect teacher planning?

Teachers' conception and use of the terms “learning disability” and “emotional disturbance” was investigated in two studies to determine the implications for developing educational programs. In Study I, experienced teachers in a special education certification program categorized 106 child characteristics as LD, ED, or both LD and ED. In Study II, in-service teachers specified annual achievement goals and extent of regular class placement for the same child bearing either the LD or ED label. Results from Study I showed that the majority of child characteristics were considered by teachers to be relevant to either LD or ED labels. A subset of 23 characteristics was significantly related to one or the other label—LD characteristics representing academic and health/development areas, and ED characteristics representing psychological and behavioral areas. In Study II, teachers recalled the ED label significantly more often than the LD label, but did not specify significantly different goals or regular class participation for the child under the two labeling conditions. The findings support the conclusion that teachers can treat the LD and ED constructs as mutually exclusive when eligibility for special service is the decision, and as mutually inclusive when program-planning decisions are made.