Perceptions of Secondary School Students with Mild Disabilities to the Academic and Social Support Mechanisms Implemented in Regular Classrooms

The Student Perceptions of Classroom Support Scale (SPCS), which measures the perceptions of students with mild disabilities of academic and social support mechanisms implemented in regular classrooms, was administered to 60 secondary school‐aged students. Data were obtained with reference to curricular, instructional, physical and peer support mechanisms. Item affectivity and multivariate analysis of variance revealed that significant differences were evident in student’s perceptions in regard to academic versus social support mechanisms. Support mechanisms rated highly by students in terms of positive academic and social outcomes often represented traditional teaching values. Conversely, support mechanisms such as one‐to‐one assistance from teacher assistants or volunteers were perceived as positive in terms of completing classroom activities, but of limited value in establishing friendships with peers. The SPCS not only provides researchers, clinicians and educators with a method of objectively evaluating students’ perceptions of support mechanisms, but also as a method of developing effective practical applications for students included in regular classrooms.     

ADHD,LD and support teachers: Towards an integrated support model

Abstract

There is growing community interest in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and quite a lot of misinformation that needs to be corrected. There is also a pressing need for Learning Support Teachers to understand and work with parents of students with ADHD. With a clear overlap between ADHD and Learning Disabilities, it is essential that Support Teachers involve themselves in assessment and programming for students with ADHD. There are no extant models for Support Teacher intervention in educational assistance to students with ADHD. This article provides useful information and perspectives on ADHD, LD, parental coping and support, support teaching, and instructional matters. An integrated model to assist Support Teachers in planning and evaluating their support for students with ADHD is proposed.     

Support Across the Curriculum

The planning, preparation and delivery of learning experiences tend to be vertically determined by subject departments but pupils experience the curriculum as horizontal, moving across from one subject to another through any typical day. Support teaching may be less effective if it operates through the practices of the vertical at the expense of the realities of the horizontal. Ian C. Copeland, senior lecturer, Department of Education and Management, Reading University, and part time support teacher in a comprehensive school, proposes a horizontal model.     

How can academics stay in control?

As universities transform into enterprises, academics are facing new challenges, especially in their teaching. This is because of the demands for student‐centred programmes that offer more flexibility, the use of Course Management Systems such as Blackboard, and the expectation that instructors will perform (more) efficiently and effectively. In this research, the focus is on teaching‐related activities to support instructors to stay in control, given these increasing pressures. A Personal Performance Model that shows key aspects of academics’ performance relating to teaching tasks was developed. A series of studies relating to gaps between expected and actual performance was carried out using the Human Performance Technology methodology. As an intervention based on these gaps, a Personal Performance Support Tool was developed to support instructors with their time and task management in relation to teaching, as well as to develop an elaborated insight on how to support instructors as they respond to changing expectations for their teaching performance. Key steps to guide universities in implementing such a support tool have been identified as a result of the research.     

Prospective gymnasium teachers' conceptions of chemistry learning and teaching

The aim of the study was to investigate prospective gymnasium teachers' conceptions of chemistry learning and teaching. Data were collected through individual interviews with nine prospective teachers at one German university. Phenomenography served as the methodological framework for the study. The findings revealed that chemistry learning is conceptualized as gaining knowledge, problem-solving and constructing personal understandings; and that chemistry teaching is conceptualized as transferring knowledge, problem-posing and interacting with pupils. The majority of the prospective teachers' conceptions of learning chemistry were considered reproductive rather than constructive and their conceptions of chemistry teaching were viewed as facilitating reproductive learning. Comparisons of the dominant conceptions of learning chemistry and teaching chemistry held by each prospective teacher revealed mixed support for the assumption that if one holds a reproductive (or constructive) conception of teaching, then (s)he will also hold a reproductive (or constructive) conception of learning. Support for the assumption was found in the reproductive-oriented relationship between conceptions of learning chemistry as gaining knowledge and of teaching chemistry as transferring knowledge, but not found in the relationships between learning chemistry as problem-solving and teaching chemistry as problem-posing and between learning chemistry as gaining knowledge and interacting with pupils.     

竞走速成教学法新探

本文结合 98年田径规则对竞走支撑腿技术新的要求 ,在原有速成教学法重视髋部技术的基础上 ,改进了“直腿落地技术”和“保持支撑腿伸直技术”的教学方法     

Teacher Candidates' Perceptions About Grading and Constructivist Teaching

The Survey of Assessment Beliefs (SAB) was developed to measure teacher candidates' perceptions about grading practices. After piloting, the SAB was administered to 222 teacher candidates at a large northeastern urban university, along with a measure of their beliefs about teaching. Candidates were found to support many grading practices not recommended by professional standards. Support for grading practices that deviate from professional recommendations was positively associated with support for constructivist approaches. Significant differences were found in grading and teaching attitudes between elementary and secondary education teacher candidates. Teacher candidates became more moderate in endorsing nonstandard grading practices following coursework in classroom assessment but on average maintained a tendency to approve academically enabling grading practices. This study provides empirical evidence about possible areas of tension between constructivist learning theory and principles of educational measurement, and it helps classroom assessment teachers understand the needs of their target audiences.     

Beyond Generic Mentoring: Helping trainee teachers to teach primary science

Support material to assist primary teacher mentors to help trainee teachers improve their medium-term and individual lesson plans, as well as their science lessons, was developed. This support material comprised checklists that focused on science, rather than generic teaching, illustrated by examples of trainee teachers' work, with a commentary. The trial of the material involved 64 teacher mentors and 26 trainee teachers. Trainees' practice in science was found to have improved in subsequent unmentored lessons, but good practice was not transferred to other subjects. Teachers also reported that their own practice improved and indicated that the material would be valuable in science in-service training with their colleagues.     

Validating teaching competencies for graduate teaching assistants: A national study using the Delphi method

In this study the Delphi Method was used to validate teaching competencies of graduate teaching assistants (TAs). Through the use of expert opinion, a panel of national leaders in teaching assistant support and training validated twenty six competencies as important in the preparation of teaching assistants. Feedback from panelists suggested that some instructional competencies depend on the specific responsibilities that are assigned to an individual TA.Ronald D. Simpson is Director of the Office of Instructional Development at The University of Georgia, where he also is professor of Higher Education and Science Education. He holds degrees from The University of Tennessee and The University of Georgia. Kathleen S. Smith is Coordinator of Teaching Assistant Support at The University of Georgia, Office of Instructional Development. She holds graduate degrees from The University of Georgia and has served as Administrative Coordinator and Acting Head of The University of Georgia's intensive English program. Her research and teaching focuses on the development and administrative support of teaching assistants with emphasis on International Teaching Assistants.     

The role of the student support specialist: the possibilities and challenges of a long-term,proactive, and scaffolded relationship

In the Urban Teacher Fellows (UTF) program, Student Support Specialists are responsible for recruiting, advising, and supporting students on the teacher pathway, beginning at the community college and continuing through the four-year university degree and credential programs. This is a program designed specifically to address serious concerns about the success of community college students in transferring to universities and completing teaching credential programs. The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (2013) reports that only 25.4% of the 2007–2008 statewide cohort transferred to a university after four years. This qualitative study, conducted by us as participant-observers of the UTF program, describes one of the strategies currently in use that may increase opportunities for community college students to successfully navigate this challenging transition. In particular, it presents findings on the role of the UTF Support Specialist based on interviews with the first two Support Specialists in the UTF program and a survey of the first cohort of students to work with them. Our study shows that this long-term scaffolded relationship evolved throughout the pathway program in response to students’ needs. Starting as a mostly technical role, it became a family-like role; and finally, it became a smaller role as students themselves took on those support activities for each other. Based on these findings, our recommendations are to identify and select Support Specialists who are reflective and caring and to carefully plan for the challenges of long-term, cross-institutional student support.     

The teaching researcher: faculty attitudes towards the teaching and research roles

Results from a survey on faculty attitudes towards the teaching and research roles are presented. Attention is given to: (i) the perceived value of teaching (and teaching achievements) relative to research, (ii) approaches for research and teaching integration, (iii) the satisfaction gained from typical work tasks, and (iv) the importance of various work-life factors. Factors such as academic freedom, an intellectual work environment, flexible work hours, inspirational colleagues, and work diversity are found to be highly valued. Support from peers and colleagues is also seen as a key in learning to manage the different academic roles. A relatively low value is attributed to teaching achievements. Likewise, there is often little utilisation of teaching opportunities to support research work (other than senior-year research projects). Female faculty were found to give marginally a higher importance to teaching recognition and collaborative teaching opportunities. Based on the findings, general recommendations for supporting the teaching researcher are presented.     

网络教学平台支持移动学习的探讨

随着移动通信技术与其他无线接入技术的发展,移动学习逐步得到实现,正在成为人们的一种学习方式。做为E-learning的一种扩展,支持移动学习的网络教学平台是网络教育发展的趋势。文章设计了一个网络教学平台支持移动学习的通用框架,并对其中的关键技术做了介绍。     

高职"学习支持服务体系"的构建

以学生及学生学习为中心的“学习支持服务体系”是一种值得探索和研究的职业教育教学管理模式。谈体系以建构主义和情境认知学习理论为理论依据，在设计时使学生明确如何获得支持，满足学生的多种需要，为学生提供多种学习资源和学习活动以及共享知识的平台。     

教师支持对中学生阅读素养的影响:阅读投入、阅读兴趣的中介作用

为探讨阅读投入、阅读兴趣在教师支持与中学生阅读素养中的中介作用,研究采用阅读素养测验、阅读调查问卷与教师支持问卷对559名初中生进行调研,并运用结构方程模型进行数据建模分析.结果 发现:教师支持通过阅读投入和阅读兴趣的链式中介影响学生阅读素养.建议教师在阅读教学实践中要改革教学方法,从情感关怀、学习指导、能力指导等多方...     

Challenging experiences faced by beginning casual teachers: here one day and gone the next!

The Educational Alumni Support Project (EdASP) indicated that there is an urgent need for the teaching profession to support casual beginning teachers (CBTs). The EdASP that was carried out at the University of New England provided online support for primary and secondary beginning teachers, yet the majority of postings were submitted by CBTs. In general, these casual teachers experienced feelings of alienation, culture shock, a lack of school and systemic support, and are often not considered part of the school community by staff or students. The analysis of postings by CBTs provides further insight into the difficulties they face, as well as reveals or reinforces strategies that could effectively facilitate their teaching. Many of these findings are not new, yet the call to aid casuals continues to be overlooked. This need for support is both professional and pragmatic. Ethically, education – a nurturing profession – should support its novices. In addition, the transition period from pre‐service to professional teacher has significant implications for teacher educators plus the potential retention of teachers.     

Professional development for sessional staff in higher education: a review of current evidence

The aim of this study was to provide an integrated review of evidence published in the past decade around professional development for sessional staff in higher education. Using the Integrating Theory, Evidence and Action method, the review analysed recent evidence using the three principles of the Benchmarking Leadership and Advancement of Standards for Sessional Teaching project – Quality Learning and Teaching, Sessional Staff Support and Sustainability. Quality Learning and Teaching refers to issues affecting the quality of sessional staff teaching and learning, while Sessional Staff Support refers to the provision of consistent support and inclusive infrastructure for sessional staff. The Sustainability principle refers to practices that encourage the retention of good sessional staff and the pursuit of quality teaching. Clear themes emerge from the evidence that suggest long-standing structural issues that are yet to be effectively addressed. However, several examples of effective strategies were also identified, particularly around peer observation and mentorship.     

英国学习支持服务的特色及其对我国继续教育的启示

开放大学是英国高等教育的重要标志,其高质量的教学和良好的社会声誉与其发达的学习支持服务密不可分。目前,在我国大力发展继续教育的语境下,学习支持服务将直接影响着继续教育的发展质量和速度。分析英国开放大学学习支持服务的特色,结合我国继续教育发展实际,进而就构建我国继续教育服务支持体系提出相关对策,以期为更好地推进我国继续教育事业发展有所裨益。     

An analysis of the needs for nonacademic staff and operating funds in a university

Regressions can be used to analyze the relationship between departmental activities and the need for nonacademic staff and operating funds. Support costs are broken into task categories and related to certain basic variables describing the composition and activity of the unit (e.g., FTE academic staff, teaching load). The results are then linked in a total model which predicts the cost for departmental support based on institutional activity variables. Beside the number of students, there are other variables such as the number of fields of study, number of teaching and research staff, and the laboratory equipment. The model is generalizable to many national settings.Presented at the Twentieth Annual Forum of the Institution for Institutional Research, April 1980.     

“教学设计”决策支持系统研究

教学设计是面向教学系统、解决教学问题的一种特殊活设计动,是“教学”所内含的一种必要活动。教学设计是一种灵活的系统性活动,它具有一定的模式,需要按照一定的流程进行,而并非是一种纯线性活动,需要针对具体问题设计具体方案。由于实用方法和工具的缺乏,工作在教学一线的教师往往很少进行系统的教学设计,教学设计理论与方法的实际应用仍然是一个亟待解决的问题。该针对此种教育现象,用决策支持系统的理论和方法设计了“教学设计决策支持系统”概念模型,旨在为推动教学设计在教学活动中真正发挥作用提供一种新的可能性。     

支持服务与数字化校园

在现代远程开放教育的工作中,支持服务工作已与教学过程整合在一起,支持服务的水平会直接影响到现代远程开放教育的进程;现代远程开放教育的发展催生着支持服务的创新,三者相互依存,相互促进。