School efficiency in low and middle income countries: An analysis based on PISA for development learning survey

This study provides new evidence on school efficiency for low and middle income countries. We use data from PISA for Development (2017) for seven countries to obtain estimates on school efficiency using data envelopment analysis, both for cognitive and non-cognitive outputs, and their determinants. We find that there is a scope to increase efficiency by 20–22% via boosting both types of educational outputs and by reducing within-country disparity on schools’ efficiency scores by weakening the impact of students’ disadvantages. Our results suggest that schools cognitive inequality can be reduced alongside inefficiency. Cross-country results suggest similar drivers of efficiency across countries, at least for students’ school determinants, though we find more nuanced results on teachers and policies determinants for efficiency.     

African American late adolescents' relationships with parents: developmental transitions and longitudinal patterns

Five-year longitudinal patterns and the influence of developmental transitions on 76 middle-class African American late adolescents' (M=18.43 years) relationships with parents were examined. Late adolescents were closer to mothers than to fathers. Controlling for age, late adolescent females who had left home reported less negative relationships with mothers than did adolescents living at home or in transition to leaving home, and late adolescent females living at home reported more intense conflicts with parents 3 years earlier than did boys living at home and girls living away. Earlier attachment led to more attached and supportive relationships with both parents and less negative interactions with mothers in late adolescence. Stable father presence also influenced more positive relationships with fathers.     

Assessment of pedagogical practices and processes in low and middle income countries: Findings from secondary school classrooms in Uganda

This article outlines the development and validation of a classroom observation instrument for use in low and middle income countries. The Teacher Instructional Practices and Processes Systemⓒ (TIPPS) was designed to be a rigorous research instrument as well as a practical feedback tool. Based on data from 197 Ugandan secondary schools, we were successful in assessing the quality of instructional practices and classroom processes in this context. The results reveal a 3-factor structure, good rater reliability, and concurrent validity with in biology, English, and mathematics scores. Strengths and limitations as well as future directions of the study are discussed.     

Effectiveness of a group-based program for parents of children with dyslexia

Parents of children with dyslexia experience more parenting stress and depressive symptoms than other parents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a cognitive-behavioral group-based program for parents of dyslexic children on parenting stress levels, parent–child homework interactions and parental competencies. 39 children with dyslexia and their mothers were randomly assigned either to a cognitive-behavioral-therapy group or a waiting-list control group. The intervention lasted for 3 months. Mothers filled in the Parenting Stress Index and a paper–pencil questionnaire assessing dyslexia specific stress, conflicts in homework situations and competencies in dealing with dyslexia. Assessment took place before, immediately after, and 3 months following intervention. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed overall effectiveness of the program (partial η² = .091), which can be mainly attributed to the reduction of parenting stress and dyslexia specific stress as well as an enhancement of parental competencies. Planned contrasts showed that effects could not be approved directly after the training but 3 months later, indicating a delayed effect. Future studies should examine program effects on mothers and fathers on the basis of a larger representative sample.     

台湾地区家长参与教育的发展趋向及其启示

近年来,台湾地区非常重视家长参与教育工作,除了政策上鼓励和实践上推进外,还特别重视有关家长参与教育法律法规的制定.拟订中的《家长参与教育法》对家长参与的目标、家长参与的机制、家长的权利和责任等都做了明确具体的规定,不仅对推动台湾地区的家长参与教育工作起积极作用,对国内开展相关的研究与实践也有启示作用.     

Seven deadly sins of childhood: advising parents about difficult developmental phases

Seven of the more difficult developmental phases for any parent to deal with are colic, awakening at night, separation anxiety, normal exploratory behavior, normal negativism, normal poor appetite, and toilet training resistance. For the child living in a high-risk family, these innocent acts can trigger dangerous or even deadly abuse. The two behaviors most commonly associated with fatal abuse are colic and toilet training. When we recognize a child who is going through a provocative phase, we should be prepared to advise the parents on some practical alternatives to a physical response. Such advice is welcomed by most types of families. Any treatment plan for an abusive family that fails to include this type of problem solving may be inadequate.     

Research priority setting for integrated early child development and violence prevention (ECD+) in low and middle income countries: An expert opinion exercise

Child development in low and middle income countries (LMIC) is compromised by multiple risk factors. Reducing children’s exposure to harmful events is essential for early childhood development (ECD). In particular, preventing violence against children – a highly prevalent risk factor that negatively affects optimal child development – should be an intervention priority. We used the Child Health and Nutrition Initiative (CHNRI) method for the setting of research priorities in integrated Early Childhood Development and violence prevention programs (ECD+). An expert group was identified and invited to systematically list and score research questions. A total of 186 stakeholders were asked to contribute five research questions each, and contributions were received from 81 respondents. These were subsequently evaluated using a set of five criteria: answerability; effectiveness; feasibility and/or affordability; applicability and impact; and equity. Of the 400 questions generated, a composite group of 50 were scored by 55 respondents. The highest scoring research questions related to the training of Community Health Workers (CHW’s) to deliver ECD+ interventions effectively and whether ECD+ interventions could be integrated within existing delivery platforms such as HIV, nutrition or mental health platforms. The priority research questions can direct new research initiatives, mainly in focusing on the effectiveness of an ECD+ approach, as well as on service delivery questions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic exercise of its kind in the field of ECD+. The findings from this research priority setting exercise can help guide donors and other development actors towards funding priorities for important future research related to ECD and violence prevention.     

中学生及其家长内隐智力观的发展研究

采用半结构式访谈调查与问卷调查相结合的方法,对中学生及其家长的内隐智力观进行了研究.在对聪明男生和女生的最重要特征的评定中,研究发现:①学生对于智力的理解多集中于与学习和人际交往有关的因素,并且其深刻性随着年龄增长达到更高水平.②家长对于智力的理解多集中在与学习及身·心健康有关的因素,并表现出随被评价人年龄增长而调整的趋势.③学生与家长的内隐智力观既具有某些一致性,主要表现为时不同年龄和性别的评价对象进行了不同的评价;也有一定的差异,具体为学生和家长关注的方面有所不同.     

男高音中低声区训练之我见

造成男高音声部高音困难的原因是多方面的,但没有较好、系统的把握好中低声区往往是问题的关键。文章主要从气息、音量、声音特性、学习特点四个方面分析了男高音中低声区训练中应该注意的问题,并提出了相应的解决办法。     

Parental involvement in education during middle school: Perspectives of ethnically diverse parents,teachers, and students

Maintaining productive partnerships between families and schools is more complex when youth enter middle school. A systematic and inclusive understanding of the strategies parents use, youth want and need, and teachers' desire is needed to broaden our conceptualization and deepen our understanding of parental involvement in education. The authors captured the voices of 3 primary stakeholders in education (i.e., parents, teachers, and students) to identify the goals for parental involvement in education, identify consistencies across stakeholders in the conceptualizations of parental involvement in education, and deepen our understanding of the types of involvement that matter for adolescents. The study used grounded-theory analysis of 20 focus groups, with ethnically diverse parents, youth, and teachers (N = 150), along with quantitative indicators of involvement and interactions with schools. From these analyses scaffolding independence, linking education to future success, and communication emerged as the most consistent strategies for promoting achievement. Conceptualizations of home-based involvement were broadened. Ethnic variations in the general experiences of families at school were highlighted.     

Applying learning strategy questionnaires: problems and possibilities

This article discusses measuring learning strategies by means of questionnaires. In ‘multi-method’ research, in which think-aloud measures are compared with questionnaires, low or moderate correlations are found. A conclusion often drawn is that learners are not able to verbally report on their learning activities. Alternative explanations concern two other possibilities: first, that different learning strategies may be measured by the two methods; second, that the measuring methods may be aimed at different learning tasks. Keeping these prerequisites in mind, we constructed a task-specific questionnaire directly based on a taxonomy for coding think-aloud protocols in text studying. We found a higher correlation (r=.51) between the questionnaire and think-aloud protocols than is regularly reported. A case-study, in which four students answered the questionnaire while thinking aloud, led to new insights into why a questionnaire may lead to somewhat different ratings of activities than the think-aloud method. Based on these results, task-specific questionnaires may be improved. Our studies involved a fair comparison between a questionnaire and think-aloud protocols. We cautiously conclude that if task-specific questionnaires are meticulously constructed and examined in new ways, they might become reasonably adequate alternatives for the labor-intensive think-aloud method in measuring learners’ learning strategies.     

A study of urban middle school students with high and low attitudes toward science

Scientific literacy is essential to survive in this technological world, but it appears that scientific literacy is not of high priority for many students. This research project was undertaken to gather demographic data, intentions to engage in science, and attitudes of urban, middle school students. Scores on the Simpson-Troost Attitude Instrument were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System. Results indicate less than 50% of the students come from high-school-graduated parents who work full-time to support the family. Less than 50% of these students indicate any interest to engage in science at the high school level, yet many plan to enter a science-related career. A majority of the students possess an uncertain attitude toward their science teachers and science curricula. However, all possessed high achievement motivations, strong positive attitudes toward their families, and high self-concepts.     

推进义务教育课程改革实验工作的实践与思考

从2003年秋季开始，增城市义务教育起始年级整体进入新一轮基础教育课程改革实验，到今年已有两年多。两年多来，我市课程改革实验开局良好，步伐扎实，为我市基础教育水平的提升注入了新的动力，也为我市素质教育的进一步深化融入了新的内涵。我市在义务教育课程改革实验中主要作了如下几方面的探索。     

Household costs and public expenditure on primary education in five low income countries: A comparative analysis

Between 1993 and 1995 UNICEF sponsored the analysis of the cost of primary education in five countries (Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Myanmar, Uganda, and Viet Nam). Some of the results of those studies in terms of the relative importance of private and public costs are presented in this paper. This cost structure is linked to major problem areas in each education system. High total cost countries are found to have low enrolments. High total costs result from high teacher wages relative to per capita income. High private costs induce a large gender gap in outcome indicators, and countries with high-enrolments but low absolute public expenditure on education face serious difficulties maintaining quality and ensuring completion of the primary cycle. Some policies aimed at reducing cost, raising more resources and increasing efficiency are also analyzed.     

Reinscribing urban: teaching high school mathematics in low income, urban communities of color

This article reports findings from a research and professional development project at two high schools located in low-income, urban communities of color. The project collaborates with teachers on improving their instructional practices, using a framework of culturally relevant mathematics pedagogy, which is described in detail here. We present results from a qualitative and quantitative analysis of mathematics instruction in 68 classroom observations of seven teachers. In particular, we use culturally relevant mathematics pedagogy as a lens through which to analyze instruction and the associated opportunities to learn mathematics provided to students.     

Social justice,capabilities and the quality of education in low income countries

The paper sets out a theoretical approach for understanding the quality of education in low income countries from a social justice perspective. The paper outlines and critiques the two dominant approaches that currently frame the debate about education quality, namely, the human capital and human rights approaches. Drawing principally on the ideas of Nancy Fraser and Amyarta Sen the paper then sets out an alternative approach based on a theory of social justice and of capabilities. The paper develops an overall understanding of how education quality can be understood in relation to the extent to which it fosters key capabilities that individuals, communities and society in general have reason to value. It then analyses three inter-related dimensions of the quality of education from a social justice perspective. Each dimension is considered in relation to contemporary policy debates and research including the work of EdQual. The first dimension, that of inclusion draws attention to the access of different groups of learners to quality inputs that facilitate the development of their capabilities, the cultural and institutional barriers that impact on the learning of different groups and priorities for overcoming these. The second dimension, that of relevance, is concerned with the extent to which the outcomes of education are meaningful for all learners, valued by their communities and consistent with national development priorities in a changing global context, whilst the third dimension, that of democracy considers how decisions about education quality are governed and the nature of participation in debates at the local, national and global levels. It is argued that a social justice framework can provide an alternative rationale for a policy emphasis on quality that encompasses but goes beyond that provided by human capital and rights approaches; that through emphasising the importance of context and through providing a normative basis for thinking about quality in relation to development, it provides a useful starting point for re-conceptualising education quality and how it can be evaluated; and, that it draws attention to the central importance of public dialogue and debate at the local, national and global levels about the nature of a quality education and quality frameworks at these levels.     

The impact of patterns of trauma exposure among low income children with and without histories of child maltreatment

Previous research has revealed a large prevalence of trauma experienced by children, creating high risk for the development of psychopathology. Research investigating the negative impacts of child maltreatment and other traumas has typically examined these experiences individually, controlling for co-occurring traumas, or has combined these experiences into a general variable of risk, thereby obscuring the complex relationships among environmental traumas and maltreatment. The current study expands on previous research by elucidating relationships between multiple contexts of overlapping traumas and maltreatment experienced by children, and by categorizing how these experiences join together to impact internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Participants included 316 maltreated children and 269 nonmaltreated children (M age = 9.4, SD = 0.88) who attended a summer day camp research program for low-income children. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) identified three differential patterns of trauma exposure across children: 1) community violence and loss; 2) pervasive trauma; and 3) low trauma. Covariate analyses demonstrated that child maltreatment was significantly associated with class membership, suggesting that maltreated children were more likely to experience diverse traumas extending beyond their maltreatment experiences (pervasive trauma class). A two-way analysis of variance also demonstrated that trauma latent class membership and child maltreatment each represented unique predictors of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with each having an independent effect on symptomatology. This investigation provides unique insight into the differential impact of patterns of trauma exposure and child maltreatment, providing support for further research and clinical practice addressing multiple levels of a child’s ecology.