Electronic Course Surveys: Does automating feedback and reporting give better results?

This paper discusses an electronic course survey system designed to support evaluation of a modular programme in management taught through distance education. The scale and communication issues raised by distance education, when compounded by a complex rolling modular programme, make conventional evaluation complicated, slow and expensive. To overcome these problems, an automated evaluation process was introduced, partly based on web-based surveying, but significantly emphasising the reporting process and allowing performance indicators and complex analyses to be embedded in high quality word-processed reports, that can be quickly and easily generated after each presentation of a module. The paper discusses the system and the impact that it has had on the evaluation process, before looking to future opportunities for developments in this field, and discussing some of the implications - both expected and unanticipated - that have come out of using automation in the evaluation process.     

如何提高"两课"教学的实效

高校“两课”教学现状有喜有忧，如何提高“两课”教学的效果，确实让大学生感到“两课”必不可少，还需广大教师做大量扎实的工作，同时也需要学校给予多方面支持，才能使“两课”教学改革收到实效。     

Toward a better understanding of student perceptions of writing feedback: a mixed methods study

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study investigated the writing feedback perceptions of middle and high school students (N = 598). The predictive and mediational roles of writing self-efficacy and perceptions of writing feedback on student writing self-regulation aptitude were examined using mediation regression analysis. To augment the quantitative findings, the explanations students provided for either liking or disliking writing feedback were explored using open-ended questions. Quantitative findings revealed that students’ perceptions of the feedback they receive about their writing partially mediated the relationship between writing self-efficacy and writing self-regulation aptitude. Qualitative data suggested ways in which students perceive writing feedback—both positive and negative. Collectively, the quantitative and qualitative data illustrate the influential role writing feedback perceptions plays in middle and high school student writing motivation and self-regulation beliefs.     

加强行为养成教育 增强德育工作的实效性

中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅《关于适应新形势 ,加强和改进德育工作若干意见》中指出 :“要增强德育工作的针对性和实效性。”《国务院关于基础教育改革与发展的决定》指出 :“切实增强德育工作的针对性、实效性、实践性。小学从行为习惯入手。”实践证明 ,以加强学生行为养成教育为切入点 ,能极大地增强德育工作的实效性。现将我们的做法与体会介绍如下。一、领导重视 ,明确目标国家的进步与发展需要物质文明和精神文明 ,我国要建设社会主义现代化强国 ,更需要高素质的人才 ,而培养人才的历史重任就落在我们教育工作者身上。我们认为 ,尽…     

推销交流论

在研讨推销内涵的基础上，从交流性态的新角度探讨社会流中普遍存在的微循环现象即推销交流现象；尝试按性态将社会交流分成弱态交流、中态交流、强态交流和超强态交流等4种级态，明确定位推销交流为其中的第3级态；首次提出推销交流场的概念，初步给出了由4个交流效应模块构成的推销交流场的定性模型，并研究了它的基本特性。     

Making better decisions by better managing information

This article examines how to improve decision making. We tend to prefer simplified thinking and revise our bias only when we are under overwhelming pressure. The article suggests some ways to better use information technology and offers a prioritizing approach to using information to produce better decisions.     

Use of individual feedback during human gross anatomy course for enhancing professional behaviors in doctor of physical therapy students

Medical professionals and public consumers expect that new physical therapy graduates possess cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills required to provide safe and high‐quality care to patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if a repertoire of ten professional behaviors assessed at the beginning of doctorate of physical therapy education and before the first significant clinical internship could be enhanced in a semester course in gross human anatomy using individual formative feedback. During the human anatomy course, 28 first‐year physical therapy students completed six biweekly, anonymous self‐ and peer assessment surveys that targeted ten professional behaviors important to physical therapists. All professional behaviors were assessed using a five‐point Likert scale. Feedback reports occurred at week eight (mid‐semester) and week 16 (end‐of‐semester) and comprised the direct intervention components of this study. At the midpoint of the semester, professional behavior scores and narrative comments from weeks two, four, and six were compiled and shared with each student by one of three faculty members in a feedback session. Students then submitted biweekly self‐and peer professional behavior assessments (weeks 10, 12, and 14) for the remainder of the human anatomy course. Differences between preintervention and postintervention scores for each of the ten professional behaviors were compared using the Wilcoxon signed‐ranks test. Upon receiving mid‐semester individual feedback, students demonstrated significant improvement in each of the ten professional behaviors. Results from this study indicated a gross anatomy laboratory dissection experience during the first academic semester provided an effective opportunity for teaching and assessing professional behaviors of doctoral students in physical therapy. Anat Sci Educ 6: 324–331. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

Giving feedback: Development of scales for the mum effect,discomfort giving feedback,and feedback medium preference

Research in organizational behavior and human resources promotes the view that it is critical for managers to provide accurate feedback to employees, yet little research addresses rater tendencies (i.e., the mum effect) and attitudes that influence how performance feedback is given. Because technology has changed the nature of communication in organizations (e.g., feedback given by e‐mail), there is a need to determine how a feedback giver's preference for the delivery medium might influence the message. In this article, we develop three scales measuring the mum effect, discomfort with giving feedback, and feedback medium preference to determine feedback givers' tendencies, which may be used to improve feedback delivery. We then used these scales in a feedback situation. Findings are reported and practical implications discussed.     

A better social unit for American schools

Concerns about leading ethnically diverse urban schools imply that principals of color may play an important role in accomplishing their schools' goals. Findings from this study revealed that in areas of image management and relationship development, teachers of color and European American teachers in urban schools perceive their principals' leadership differently. Results revealed that (a) leaders of color were critical in creating an inclusive school among groups of ethnically diverse groups of teachers; (b) due to their racial affiliation, leaders of color played an important role in recruiting and retaining teachers of color; and (c) leaders of color were responsible for ensuring that European American teachers were culturally responsive to students of color.