Speaking out about inequities

Cultural Studies of Science Education - In this article, I detail my involvement in sociopolitical conversations as a science education researcher. I present two of the controversies in which I...     

Speaking out: perspectives of gay and lesbian practitioners in outdoor education in the UK

Outdoor education has been shaped historically and culturally by many influences. Physically challenging activities out of doors have been appropriated by a number of traditions. These include militaristic, educational and developmental ideologies. Arguably, central to these ideologies are heterosexual, white middle class values. While women have sought to challenge this and feminist and pro-feminist research is evident, very little research has been undertaken into sexuality in relation to teacher or practitioner perspective and experience. Consequently, gay and lesbian voices within outdoor education are all but silenced. This paper explores the perspectives of three lesbian and four gay men who work in the UK outdoor education ‘industry’.

In-depth interviews were held with the participants exploring a variety of issues relating to their life histories and their experiences of working in a predominantly heterosexist outdoor education culture. This paper focuses upon the ways in which the participants perceived the need to conceal their lesbian and gay identities and the consequential effects of managing their identities.     

"无需举手,自由发言"

“这个问题谁能回答?”教师的话音刚落,一些或许多学生便举起手,然后教师点名,学生回答,这是中小学课堂教学中的一个场景,而在上海外国语大学附属大境中学,这已是上个世纪的事了。现在老师们仍然这样问:“这个问题谁能回答?”但学生已不必再由教师“钦点”,常常是教师一发问,便有十多个学生同时站起来抢着发言。而且现在教师也不用为评判学生回答的“对”或“错”而大费周章,学生们大多会在相互讨论、争论中得出比较正确的答案。一些原先沉默寡言的学生也会受到气氛的感染,情不自禁地站起来发表意见。这就是大境中学实行“无需举手,自由发言”后的课堂教学情景,学生们将此举称为“思维的解放”。     

Speaking Out: Science Anxiety

A positive school climate is important in maintaining an effective educational environment characterized by excellence, productivity, and cooperation. Because of its impact on successful educational experiences, administrators should attempt to assess climate rather than rely on feelings or intuition to estimate it. Individualized surveys offer a flexible method of addressing specific school needs and concerns.

At first glance, the thought of individualizing a climate survey may appear to be an overwhelming task; however, with planning and effort, it can be accomplished. A systematic process outlining a method for individualizing a climate survey includes (a) planning, (b) preparation, (c) survey development, (d) administration, (e) analysis of results, and (f) dissemination.

A tailored climate survey can be used by administrators to assess the current climate, evaluate programs designed to enhance the climate, and periodically monitor a climate for signs of change. Although time and effort are required to individualize a survey, results directly applicable to the school can help administrators achieve and maintain a positive school climate.     

变权力代言为道德代言:大众传播机制与社会和谐

由精英阶层向大众传播其社会信息与价值的过程称“等级传播”,是古今传播机制的主要模式;大众阶层接受、消化、散播、反馈、修正精英阶层对社会信息的意义解释过程,称“平级传播”,是传播机制的辅助模式。当代社会大众传播空前膨胀,但其实质仍然是精英阶层以大众利益的名义,利用大众的认知误区,用“等级传播”来为特殊政治或商业集团利益服务的“权力代言”活动。要实现精英传播与大众传播之间的良性互动,使大众传播由“权利代言”变为“道德代言”,建构和谐社会公平合理的传播秩序,就应采取以下措施:一、在教育和学术机制上确保大众传播对本国优秀文化遗产的有效传承;二、建立国家对媒介产业的评价监测系统,发挥其引导、调节、制衡的作用;三、政府和企业赋予媒介一定程度的监督批评空间,以推行社会规范;四、形成全社会的道德评价机制。     

Speaking, listening and learning: a rationale for the Speaking and Listening Profile

Schools have often not recognised the basis for literacy that oracy provides, but with the issuing of the recent package for speaking and listening to schools, Speaking, Listening, Learning, the tide is now beginning to turn. However, many schools still have not set up any developmentally sequenced structure for assessment in this strand of English. Realising this need, Dorothy Latham has designed such a profile, based on the criteria given in the official package, but with useful additions, showing clear definitive levelling in an easy‐to‐use format. Schools have been consulted and continue to trial its use.     

Cultural Awareness Cultivation in English Speaking Communication:An Analysis of IELTS Speaking Tests

This paper aims to explore the significance of cultural difference in English speaking communication on the basis of the analysis in IELTS speaking tests and it is concluded that the IELTS speaking tests will influence ELT in China. Therefore, the cultivation of cultural awareness in English speaking communication should be given priority and further enhanced in ELT in China. In addition, effective ways are suggested to cultivate and improve the cultural awareness of students in ELT in China.