The Experience of Skill Development in First-year Undergraduates: a comparison of three courses

This paper reports on the first year of a qualitative longitudinal study to examine the development of skills on undergraduate courses — specifically Manufacturing Management degrees. Over the last 10 years there has been considerable debate about skill development within higher education (HE). However, little research has been conducted in order to understand how skill development is experienced by students within the context of different teaching strategies. This article begins by looking at current research into personal skills and highlights problems with these studies. It goes on to interpret the results from three case studies currently under way. From this analysis two main types of account of skill development are described: tacit and negotiated development within joint activity, and rational individualistic development. The paper goes on to argue that while factors such as skill-based modules, learning contracts and assessment facilitate skill development they also promote an individualistic discourse which 'hides' much of the socially negotiated nature of development. Suggestions are then made as to how skill development can be facilitated within courses taking this dilemma into account.     

哲学视域中的技能知识

为消解传统科学哲学遇到的二元困境,基于科学家技能知识的哲学探讨已经成为科学哲学的一个前沿论题。技能知识是关于个体在实践活动中运用规则和创造规则的知识,它包括动作技能和智力技能两个方面的知识。技能知识的获得是一个成长的动态过程,它离不开明言知识和意会知识的作用。在科学发现过程中,科学家的直觉、灵感等活动是建立在丰富的技能知识之基础上的。     

思维训练：技术有效促进学习的催化剂

以信息网络技术、移动通信技术为代表的新技术在教育教学中发挥着越来越重要的作用,然而国内外的大量研究表明,这些技术并没有如人们预期那样带来教育教学的本质提升。片面注重物化形态的信息技术、忽视意识形态的思维技术是造成这一尴尬的主要原因。思维能力培养及学习力提升是数字化时代教育教学的根本目标。直接思维训练和学科思维训练是思维技能教学的两种方式,二者相辅相成、相互促进,有助于对学习者进行全面完善的思维能力培养。积极性思维、批判性思维和创造性思维是思维训练的三大导向,可通过“隐性思维显性化——显性思维工具化——高效思维自动化”三大训练阶段提升。     

Learning from Worked-Out Examples: The Effects of Example Variability and Elicited Self-Explanations

It was investigated to what extent example variability and the elicitation of sophisticated self-explanations foster the acquisition of transferable knowledge by learning from worked-out examples. In addition, it was asked whether the effects of these factors are moderated by the learners' levels of prior topic knowledge. To this end, we had 56 apprentices from a bank learn calculation of compound interest and real interest. They were randomly assigned to the four conditions of a 2 × 2-factorial design (factor 1: uniform vs. multiple examples; factor 2: spontaneous vs. elicited self-explanations). The learning results were measured by a post-test comprising near-transfer problems and far-transfer problems. It was found that the acquisition of transferable knowledge can be supported by eliciting self-explanations. In the case of near transfer, especially learners with low levels of prior topic knowledge profited from the elicitation procedure. On the whole, the findings underline the “causal” relevance of the quality of self-explanations for knowledge acquisition by learning from worked-out examples. The assumption that multiple examples foster transfer performance, at least when sophisticated self-explanations are elicited, was not supported.     

The use of electronic media to develop transferable skills in science students studying anatomy

Transferable skills such as team working, communication, information gathering, critical thinking, and peer assessment are essential for graduates seeking employment in the competitive jobs market. Use of online discussion boards have grown to allow students to communicate with each other at a time and location of their choosing. This study aimed to develop transferable skills using specially developed online components supported by discussion boards and chat rooms. Students enrolled in the Human Anatomy and Histology module at the University of Manchester were put into groups of six or seven students (26 groups in total). Two e-learning components were constructed to develop transferable skills. Each group had a discussion board and chat room available to assist communication in completion of the components. Peer marking was also done on this media. Data collected showed the discussion boards were heavily utilized (average number of posts per group was 48). Eighty-three percent of students found the discussion boards useful to complete the tasks. Students felt their team building and critical analysis skills had improved. Peer assessment was well received by students. Using online discussion boards proved an excellent way to develop transferable skills in a large group of science students.     

职业院校教师知识管理平台的设计与开发

针对职业院校教师知识管理存在的诸多不足,开发了符合职业教育发展规律的教师知识管理平台。平台采用B／S的架构模式,主要设计了公共资料库、教学设计屋、交流研讨室和技能展播厅等功能模块。平台能够使教师快速获取有用的知识资源,在促进知识的分享交流中实践性隐性知识得到转换,最终达成知识的创新应用。     

Body matters in vocational education: the case of the competently trained

Over the last decade, a competency-based approach to education and training has become widely used in a broad range of education and training contexts, most particularly, vocational education and training (VET). Among other things, this approach emphasizes the importance of knowledge and skill that is portable, visible and expressible. Various products have been developed (e.g. competencies, competency standards, Training Packages) to enable access to this knowledge and skill and secure its foundational role. Other knowledge and skill - that is, knowledge and skill that is situated and not easily visible and expressible - is seemingly rendered redundant. This paper discusses the role and significance of situated practises in competency-based training (CBT), most particularly embodied knowledge and tacit skills. Using empirical material collected in the course of a recent research project on CBT, the argument is made that the body, as currently constituted in VET products, is understood more as a symbolic/informational than material/physical entity. This understanding gives rise to a ‘thin’ conception of vocational competence and, sometimes, a thin practise of developing this competence. More broadly, the body is a critical site of contestation between radically different goals (e.g. industrial/educational, global/local). Bodily specificity (e.g. tacit skills, experienced judgement) can be mobilized to challenge the universalizing impulses of CBT. Indeed, this specificity completes or is necessary to these impulses. It plays a constitutive role in the practice of vocational education and training and could, with profit, be more fully recognized and supported in its policy.     

The CLIA-model: A framework for designing powerful learning environments for thinking and problem solving

A major challenge for education and educational research is to build on our present understanding of learning for designing environments for education that are conducive to fostering in students self-regulatory and cooperative learning skills, transferable knowledge, and a disposition toward competent thinking and problem solving. Taking into account inquiry-based knowledge on learning and recent instructional research, this article presents the CLIA-model (Competence, Learning, Intervention, Assessment) as a framework for the design of learning environments aimed to be powerful in eliciting in students learning processes that facilitate the acquisition of productive knowledge and competent learning and thinking skills. Next, two intervention studies are described that embody major components of this framework, one focussing on mathematical problem solving in primary school, and a second one relating to self-regulatory skills in university freshmen. Both studies were carried out in parallel with the development of the framework, and were instrumental in identifying and specifying the different components of the model. They yielded both promising initial support for the model by showing that CLIA-based learning environments are indeed powerful in facilitating in students the acquisition of high-literacy learning results, especially the acquisition and transfer of self-regulation skills for learning and problem solving.     

默会知识视角下的英语词汇习得

针对传统外语词汇习得往往局限于简单单词量积累，学习效率较难得到保证的状况，认为默会知识理论为外语词汇习得方法拓展了广阔的发展空间．进而阐述了熟练使用默会知识者，可以通过学习中集中意识和辅助意识的转化，调整、平衡对词汇量和词汇定性知识的关注，从整体把握部分，让已经掌握的词汇知识以节点的形式相互联接，形成贯通的词汇网络，从而有效提高词汇学习的效率。从引入默会知识的概念入手，分析了默会知识对外语词汇习得方法的有效改进．探讨了默会知识与接受词汇知识和能产词汇知识之间的相互关系，揭示了默会知识理论对外语词汇〉-／得的重要意义。     

THE COLLABORATIVE COURSE: INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING

Advances in information technology provide an opportunity for academic librarians and professors to offer innovative collaborative courses. The purpose of collaboration between a faculty member and a professional librarian is to integrate instruction in the course subject matter with bibliographic instruction. This integration promotes learning information acquisition skills and critical thinking, as well as the use of library resources. Research skills that students need in order to use contemporary information technology are included. The integration of those skills with the subject material of the course is described.

Two applications of freshman/sophomore level courses are discussed in the paper. Course rationale, topics, and course assignments are illustrated. It is argued that students must learn modern methods of acquiring information in order to make informed independent judgments and in order to achieve understanding in any particular discipline. Providing students with the skills required to achieve access to the ever‐widening body of available information is an essential requirement of contemporary liberal education. These skills are transferable to subsequent course work and will provide the basis for life‐long learning habits. The paper presents the argument that students' achievement of “library literacy” can be promoted by effective course collaboration between faculty members and professional librarians. Benefits and problems of such collaborative courses are also discussed.     

关于研制小学管理概论课程标准的几个问题*

在设定《小学管理概论》的课程目标时，应注生学生管理技能和方法的培养；小学管理就其所涵盖的知识类型而言，主要是一类隐含性的知识。因此，在该课程的内容编排上，应该兼顾小学管理中知识与技能，显性知识与缄默知识多方面的不同要求；同时，在教学策略的选择上，则应注重引入便于学生获取缄默知识的亲验性教学方法。     

语言技能“听”的认知神经学阐释

认知神经学领域有关语言内源知识、语音环认知结构以及语言理解产生过程等方面的理论研究证实,＂听＂是人类语言交际中一个非常重要、不可缺少的环节。在任何一门语言的学习过程中,＂听＂是重要的语言技能,提高学习者的听力水平不仅有利于说、读和写以及其它技能的发展,还有助于全面提高语言交际能力。     

Brand-Name Schools: The Deceptive Lure of Corporate-School Partnerships

In discussions about information literacy and required research assignments, several high school teachers lamented that student research papers had regressed to the point that the completed work represented nothing more than “point and click” exercises. Similarly, Asselin and Lee (2002, 10) began their article on the need for library instruction for teacher education candidates by quoting a student who stated, “I wish someone had taught me how to develop my library information literacy skills through resource-based learning … in school [pre–K—12]. I might not have had such a horrendous time of it when I came to the university.” The problem is apparent; students on university campuses lack basic research and information literacy skills, and do not have a clear understanding of how to use the resources of their campus library. Students also lack the ability to synthesize knowledge gained from the academic classroom, the library, and information technology for the betterment of academic scholarship.

Collaboration between teacher education faculty members and academic librarians for the advancement of academic research and the development of transferable information literacy skills is necessary. These two distinctive, yet interdependent, parts of higher education organizations represent the greatest potential for the development of stronger programs in the fields of research and information literacy by incorporating computer technology and traditional research methods into coursework in a collaborative environment.     

Facilitating Flexible Problem Solving: A Cognitive Load Perspective

The development of flexible, transferable problem-solving skills is an important aim of contemporary educational systems. Since processing limitations of our mind represent a major factor influencing any meaningful learning, the acquisition of flexible problem-solving skills needs to be based on known characteristics of our cognitive architecture in order to be effective and efficient. This paper takes a closer look at the processes involved in the acquisition of flexible problem-solving skills within a cognitive load framework. It concludes that (1) cognitive load theory can benefit from putting more emphasis on generalized knowledge structures; (2) there are tradeoffs between generality and power with respect to specific versus generalized knowledge structures; (3) generalized knowledge structures of “medium” generality are essential for flexible expertise; and (4) cognitive load theory could provide a valuable framework for considering essential attributes of flexible expertise.     

Teacher development and educational change: empowerment through structured reflection

Reflection and change are pivotal themes in this paper, which outlines the rationale, methodology and principal findings of a research undertaking on teacher development in Ireland. The study was based on the premise that teachers’ practices are guided in large measure by a ‘tacit knowledge’ of education, formed in response to personal and contextual factors. It was held that sustained teacher and school development relate primarily to acquiring an awareness of and engaging in ongoing reflection on this implicit theory. Participants were facilitated in structuring such reflection through images—as subjective knowledge structures which capture their latent understandings of teaching and learning processes. It was an enlightening and empowering experience for the teachers involved, who, as a consequence, could both envision and initiate necessary improvements in their educational practices. The findings have notable implications for pre-service and in-service teacher education.     

Evaluating the impact of reflecting on curriculum-embedded skill development: the experience of science undergraduates

ABSTRACT

Meaningful reflection on their learning and skill development is often lacking in the experience of undergraduates. Many students do not recognise the curriculum-embedded development of transferable skills and lack the ability to articulate such skills. This mixed-methods study sought to investigate whether engaging students in reflection would increase their ability to recognise and articulate their skill development. Sixty science undergraduates from Monash University completed a voluntary semester-long program recording and reflecting on course-related skill development, supported by email prompts and group discussions. The impact of students’ involvement was evaluated through pre- and post-participation surveys, reflections and group discussions. Most students were challenged by the unfamiliarity of thinking beyond knowledge attainment in order to identify and reflect on skill-related experiences. However, they recognised a range of benefits from doing so, including an improved ability to recognise their skill development, strengths and weaknesses and to articulate their skills in readiness for seeking employment. They also valued previously unappreciated learning tasks and gained motivation to improve skill deficits and seek out opportunities to improve their employability. Based on this study, recommendations are made regarding best practice for implementing skills reflection in the curriculum.     

默会性知识与教师专业发展

传统的教师教育只注重显性知识的灌输,而忽视了存在于教师教育教学实践中的大量默会性知识。这些默会性知识是教师专业发展的基础。从默会性知识的概念、生成、获得来分析默会性知识的有关特征,并阐明其对教师专业发展的意义,最后指出默会性知识生成的几种策略。     

Assessing context‐based learning: not only rigorous but also relevant

Economic factors are driving significant change in higher education. There is increasing responsiveness to market demand for vocational courses and a growing appreciation of the importance of procedural (tacit) knowledge to service the needs of the Knowledge Economy; the skills in demand are information analysis, collaborative working and ‘just‐in‐time learning’. New pedagogical methods go some way to accommodate these skills, situating learning in context and employing information and communications technology to present realistic simulations and facilitate collaborative exchange. However, what have so far proved resistant to change are the practices of assessment. This paper endorses the case for a scholarship of assessment and proposes the development of technology‐supported tools and techniques to assess context‐based learning. It also recommends a fundamental rethink of the norm‐referenced and summative assessment of propositional knowledge as the principal criterion for student success in universities.     

体验式教学与研究生个人知识管理能力培养

知识型社会改变了人们传统的知识观,知识管理成为信息时代科技创新的重要手段。研究生是大学知识群体的组成部分,其研究能力的提高和创新思维的培养需要较强的个人知识管理能力作为支撑。隐性知识与显性知识的四种转化方式构成研究生个人知识管理的内在机理,灵感知识管理、过程知识管理、环境知识管理是研究生个人知识管理的重要领域,而体验式教学正是通往知识转化和知识管理的技术桥梁。