But We Paid for it

踏进大英博物馆中国馆的感受是和浏览北京的故宫博物院完全不一样的，尽管中国的文物们在异国博物馆宽敞的大厅里同样甚至更加受到尊重，然而它却无法在我心中激起丝毫的民族自豪感。我说服自己睁只眼闭只眼地在中国馆游荡，直至被一个很小的文物吸引，这是戴在古代中国女人头上的一种饰物，我叫它簪子，     

A new role for the school psychologists— who needs it?

Educators are expressing concern over the wide and growing gap which they perceive to exist between research and practice in our nation's schools. A review of the literature reveals that this important, long-standing concern is well founded. It is proposed that the school psychologist with his/her specialized training in research theory and methodology and unique role as a practitioner in the school setting is the ideal professional to effect a linking of formal knowledge to educational practice. Presumably, the provision of such a vitally needed function will serve to enhance school psychologists' often less than favorable image with their educator colleagues. A paradigm is offered for effecting research into practice utilizing the school psychologist in the role of knowledge-linker.     

But Who Is it for? The History of School Science in England

Science & Education -     

Transformation for adults in an Internet‐based learning environment—is it necessary to be self‐directed?

This research explores the relationships between self‐directed learning readiness and transformative learning theory (TLT) reflected by the Constructivist Internet‐based Learning Environment Scale (CILES). A questionnaire survey about adult learner's perceptions of Internet‐based learning was administered to adults enrolled in classes in community colleges in Taiwan. A total of 593 valid questionnaires were used for the structural equation modeling analysis. The findings confirmed a second‐order hierarchical factor relationship of TLT (technical, dialectical and emancipatory learning interests) from CILES. Moreover, the three domains of learning interests of transformative learning were proved to have a developmental relationship, moderated by the readiness of self‐directed learning for adult learners in Internet‐based learning.     

But is it fair? Developing students’ understanding of grading complex written work through peer assessment

Peer assessment of long written tasks poses particular problems as these tasks typically involve complex learning and solving ill‐structured problems which require divergent responses. Marking reliability of this kind of writing task is difficult to achieve. The author illustrates this through an evaluation of two implementations of peer assessment, involving 81 students, in a UK university. In these implementations, all peer assessor grades were returned to students (not just mean grades). In this way students were exposed to subjectivity in marking. The implementations were evaluated through questionnaires, focus groups, observations of lectures and tutor interview. While students reported a better understanding of quality in student writing as a result of their experience, many complained that peer assessors’ marks were not ‘fair’. The article draws on recent research on the reliability of tutor marking to argue that marking judgements are subjective and that peer assessment offers the opportunity to explore subjectivity in marking, creating an opportunity for dialogue between tutors and students.     

But does it work? Reflective activities,learning outcomes and instrumental learning in continuing professional development

This paper examines the relationship between reflective practice and instrumental learning within the context of continuing professional development (CPD). It is argued that instrumental learning is a unique process of adult learning, and reflective practice’s impact on learning outcomes in instrumental learning contexts remains unclear. A new conceptualisation of instrumental learning in CPD is provided to illustrate the issue’s relevance and potential implications. Three justifications for further investigation are suggested: (a) to clarify the function of reflective practice activities in the immediate context of instrumental learning; (b) to protect the welfare of clients and professionals; and (c) to sustain the continuing success of the field of CPD. It is argued that an empirical investigation using scientific methodology is the most effective approach to address this issue.