A student perspective on nontraditional graduate education

This discussion article seeks to uncover those aspects of nontraditional programs which carry the highest priority for students. Alternative graduate education is explored from the perspective of one student who has participated in two nontraditional programs. Highlighted issues include: changing roles and responsibilities for both faculty and students, problems with shared decision-making, the need for team building and problem solving, and the importance of maintaining open channels of communication.Dr. McDonnell recently completed the Doctor of Education Degree in Organization and Leadership at the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Her Master of Arts Degree in Human Development was earned through St. Mary's College, Winona, Minnesota. She now lives in Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny, Ireland.     

A Delphi study on collaborative learning in distance education: The faculty perspective

This paper focuses on the factors that influence collaborative learning in distance education. Distance education has been around for many years and the use of collaborative learning techniques in distance education is becoming increasingly popular. Several studies have demonstrated the superiority of collaborative learning over traditional modes of learning and it has been identified as a potential solution to some of the weaknesses of traditional distance education courses. There are a rapidly growing number of technologies in use today and educators and practitioners face an increasingly difficult challenge to successfully implement collaborative learning in distance education; precipitated not only from technical advances but also from wider social and organisational concerns. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the factors that influence collaborative learning in distance education, by eliciting the opinions of an expert panel using a Delphi survey. The aim was to produce an integrated list of the most important implementation factors and to investigate the role that technology is perceived to contribute. The findings identified 17 of the most important factors; these factors cover a range of themes including course rationale and design, instructor characteristics, training, group dynamics, the development of a learning community and technology. The potential of technology, however, does not seem to be fully realised and newer technologies such as multi‐user environments would seem to be of limited use in practice according to the expert panel.     

党建视野下研究生思政教育内涵发展路径研究的几点思考

研究生教育是我国高等教育的重要组成部分,随着高等教育内涵发展的提出,规模扩大的外延式发展逐渐向追求质量和效益的内涵式发展转变,提高研究生思政教育质量内涵发展是研究生教育的核心任务。通过建设党建工作队伍、占领党建工作阵地、搭建“网络+”党建平台和强化党支部建设充分发挥研究生党建的龙头作用、凝聚作用、堡垒作用和服务作用,从而改变当前研究生思政教育中“重显效、轻潜绩”“重形式、轻质量”“重考核、轻激励”和“重结果,轻过程”的现象,促进研究生思政教育的内涵发展。     

基于就业视角——中外研究生教育取向探究

从就业视角探讨各国研究生教育在满足少数研究生从事基础理论研究,重点培养国家重要部门所需要的精英人才外,大多数都要转向适应本国社会经济、科技发展需要的应用型研究及开发的高层次人才培养发展趋势下,我国应借鉴国外研究生职业教育有益经验,并根据我国社会经济、科技发展的特色,从国家宏观需求和研究生培养单位适应高层次就业行业来培养应用型、复合型研究生高层次人才需要出发,探索了研究生教育今后的就业取向。     

A perspective on education for sustainable development: Historical development of environmental education in Indonesia

This article examines the historical development of environmental education (EE) in Indonesia with emphasis on the non-formal sector, and applies its findings to the discussion on education for sustainable development (ESD), which seldom draws on case studies from developing countries. Local socio-economic and political conditions have made EE in Indonesia similar to ‘ESD’ in terms of its topical scope involving various social issues, although whether it should be referred to as ESD remains unclear. In contrast to the existing concerns about ESD, it involves critical views on the prevailing models of (neo-liberal) economic development. This article also shows that EE, like ESD, is at risk of exploitation by vested interests.     

就业视角下的研究生教育与培养探讨

随着世界经济发展形势的变化,就业环境的不断转变,迫切需要对现有的研究生教育模式进行改革和创新,以更好地适应社会经济发展的根本需要,提高研究生的就业率,推进国家人才战略的更好实施。本文在对研究生就业现状进行分析的基础上,探讨了研究生教育培养中存在的主要问题,并最终提出了就业视角下研究生的教育与培养策略。     

"研究生创新实验中心"建设探索与思考--教育部"研究生教育创新工程"建设项目

借助教育部启动“研究生教育创新工程”的契机,西北工业大学立项启动了“研究生创新实验中心”项目,有效地建设人力资源孵化器,积极鼓励研究生从事“自选项目、自主设计、自己动手、自由探索”原则下的独立创新活动,深入地探索全面免费开放的实验室建设模式,积累了一些经验和体会。     

Practice-based Teaching: A self-study by two teacher educators at the graduate level

This article tells the story of a self-study conducted by two faculty members teaching foundational concepts in a Master of Arts in Teaching initial certification program. Our research question was: “How can we best teach foundational concepts with a practice-based approach that we consider to be critical to our teacher candidates' ability to be successful in their future teaching careers?” Gathering data over three semesters, this research required constant re-examination. Data indicated that candidates had the educational and life experiences to allow them to grasp concepts as they pertained to educational foundations. This did not necessarily mean that, as initial certification candidates, they would be more adept than their undergraduate counterparts in understanding how these concepts would influence their practice. This conclusion resulted in our understanding of the need for more purposeful scaffolding and extensive modeling. It also reaffirmed our need for having cooperating teachers who are theoretically aligned with coursework offered on campus.     

科学发展观视野下的研究生教育发展理念与实践创新

在科学发展观视野下探讨了研究生教育的发展内涵,认为研究生教育应该坚持人格化、生态性、有限理性的伦理指向,并藉此探讨了研究生教育发展思路的创新,指出研究生教育必须在尊重市场规律、尊重教育规律的基础上,运用知识管理以确保研究生教育的全面、协调、可持续的发展。     

Media and adult learning: A forum: The role of the faculty member in distance education

Abstract

This article argues for understanding distance education as a community of practice that must acknowledge and accommodate diversity in the context of increasing economic globalization. It asserts that any community of practice is embedded in a larger social context that influences values and practice. It also examines the historic and contemporary social, economic, and political forces that inform and influence distance education practice. This is followed by reflections on the implications for distance education practice and its current capacity to be sensitive to diversity and to meet the needs of culturally diverse learners.     

Professorship: A faculty development program

A faculty development program was designed to enhance the ability of graduate faculty members to supervise research activities of graduate students. The program was developed to stress interpersonal problem solving in advisement and professional issues. The classroom techniques of discussion teaching, case method, and psychodrama were used to encourage and enhance the full participation of the faculty. Participants indicated that the program enabled them to examine their own beliefs and knowledge regarding issues surrounding graduate education.     

Bringing life to engineering: Biological engineering at the graduate level

Biological engineering will be important for the future application of advances in biology to solve problems facing humankind. The philosophical foundation for broad undergraduate biological engineering programmes has previously been given, but biological engineering graduate programmes, where specialization normally occurs, have remained undefined. While specialization will continue in these graduate programmes, efforts must be made to relate research and teaching results to: (1) the analogical systems approach; and (2) the derivation of biological information to produce new general engineering techniques. Finally, a set of graduate-level core courses is suggested.     

The professor as a person: The role of faculty well-being in faculty development

This article examines the rationale for an expanded definition of faculty development and reviews institutional structures and practices which support the personal and professional development of faculty through faculty and academic development, employee assistance, and health promotion programs.Glenda Hubbard is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling, and a practicing therapist in the Employee Assistance Service of the Hubbard Center for Faculty and Staff Support at Appalachian State University. She received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Miami. Her current interests include the faculty development needs of mid-career faculty and women's issues in counseling. Sally Atkins is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling, and a faculty/staff psychologist for the Hubbard Center at Appalachian State University. She received her Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her current interests include faculty quality of life, therapy and the arts, and cross-cultural psychology.     

Reflections on the role of metacognition in student reading and learning at higher education level

Abstract

This article represents a literature review and interpretation pertaining to the role that metacognition is seen to play in student performance. It begins by providing evidence from research reported in the literature which indicates that not all students are able to accurately assess their capabilities, and suggests that this lack is linked to insufficiently developed metacognitive skills (MS). The concept of metacognition, as well as its role in academic learning and reading, is discussed. On the basis of evidence from research reported in the literature, which has shown that explicit teaching of metacognitive strategies can result in improved performance among students, the article concludes by suggesting practical ways in which lecturers can help their students develop key MS.