Unemployment,expected returns,and the demand for university education in Ontario: some empirical results

This article presents the results of empirical analysis of the influence of labour market factors on the private demand for university education in Ontario. Contrary to a widely held belief, the analysis indicates that the effect of youth unemployment upon enrolment demand is very weak. High unemployment, by itself, does not appear to drive youths into universities. On the other hand, expected earnings upon completion of a degree is shown to have a strong positive impact upon enrolment demand, particularly for post-graduate students. A 10 percent increase in the expected earnings of persons with post graduate degrees relative to persons with only bachelor's degrees is associated with more than a 20 percent increase in post-graduate enrolment. These findings are subject to qualifications regarding certain weaknesses in the data, as well as the usual problems of making inferences about expectation behaviour from ex post data. One important policy implication of this study is that attempts to use educational spending as a contra-cyclical device may not be successful unless students are given extra inducement to enrol when unemployment is high. Second, the apparent responsiveness of enrolment demand to changes in earnings expectations of degree holders underscores the importance of providing good up-to-date information on earnings prospects. It should be emphasized, however, that this study dealt only with aggregate (undergraduate or postgraduate) enrolment, and further research is needed to examine the responsiveness of specific program and subject choices to variation in occupational earnings prospects. Moreover, the responsiveness of student enrolment decisions to prospective earnings is only one of several factors — though a very important one — which must be taken into account in deciding upon the role of manpower considerations in educational planning.     

Curriculum as policy: some implications of contemporary policy studies for the analysis of curriculum policy,with particular reference to post-primary curriculum policy in the Republic of Ireland

An overview of contemporary curriculum discourse shows a worrying drift to the technical; in current curriculum debates, technique is winning out over substance, procedures over principles. This article shows how this theoretical vacuum is ascribed by many in the field to the dominance of the Tyler rationale in curriculum planning. However, the symptoms of means-end rationality are not confined to curriculum - they are found across the breadth of educational studies and have reached epidemic proportions, suggests the article, in the discourse of educational reform. A number of serious implications for the lack of analysis of curriculum policy are identified and particular reference is made to the Republic of Ireland where, it is suggested, the size of the education system should facilitate greater debate. Instead, the discussions focus on the management rather than the meaning of change. In searching for sources for new curriculum theory,the author suggests that the field of policy studies offers considerable potential, in particular the work of Stephen Ball on mapping the policy cycle. The possibilities for a theory of curriculum as policies are explored. A model of a curriculum policy cycle is proposed and subjected to some analysis.     

Managing conduct: a comparative policy analysis of safe schools policies in Toronto,Canada and Buffalo,USA

Public school districts in Buffalo, USA and Toronto, Canada reviewed their safe schools policies in 2008. Revised Codes of Conduct are compared to earlier versions and each other, and a conceptual policy web is used to understand how local, state/provincial, national, and international influences affect local safe school policies. The comparison demonstrates that while influenced by international beliefs about unsafe schools and youth violence, affected by local social, economic, and historical contexts, and constrained by state/provincial and federal policies, local school districts are nevertheless able to exercise some agency. The study also highlights the importance of Ontario's Human Rights Commission as a policy actor, and suggests zero tolerance for non‐serious incidents may be practised in Buffalo schools. This finding and the continued practice of excluding students from schools in both districts as a discipline approach casts doubt on the sincerity of governments' commitments to evidence‐based policy in education at all levels. Contributions of the conceptual policy web for policy analysis are discussed.     

Diversified structures and a structure for diversity: some recent trends and developments in engineering education cooperation in the European Community

In times of economic recession, countries, institutes and people are unfortunately tending to turn away from international relations. They seek salvation near to their home. They are taken up by internal affairs, within their own country, within their own university [...]; a certain provincialism is prevailing [1].     

胡春香题下龙湾诗五首译注与评介(续)

四、水云乡 云根石窦似蜂房,满目山光接水光．涉海凿河痴李勃,负舟藏壑拜元章．螺痕夕霁嶙峋出,雾影朝迷次第藏．漫说渔人舟一叶,数重门户水云乡。……     

新加坡、欧美的双语(多语)教育--比较与语言学透析

本文首先简述新加坡双语教育、卢森堡的三语教育、欧洲语学校的多语教育和加拿大的“浸没法”教育,在此基础上从心理语言学、教育语言学、社会语言学等语言学视角对新加坡双语教育和欧美典型的双语(多语)教育进行比较与透析。     

Learning for an unknown context: a comparative case study on some Swedish and Polish Political Science students' experiences of the transition from university to working life

This comparative small‐scale (Swedish and Polish sample) longitudinal qualitative study investigates political science students' conceptions of their studies, their future profession and their workplace learning. The students (10 in Sweden and 11 in Poland) were interviewed twice, first when they were at the end of their studies and a second time when they had worked for approximately one year. The questions asked were designed to try to understand the transition from higher education to work life. The results indicate that they bring with them a set of academic generic skills from their education when they enter working life. Furthermore, the students in the two countries have very different perceptions of the subject Political Science, and the expectations they have regarding their studies and future working life also differ considerably.     

Towards comprehensive sexuality education: a comparative analysis of the policy environment surrounding school-based sexuality education in Ghana,Peru, Kenya and Guatemala

The successful implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programmes in schools depends on the development and implementation of strong policy in support of CSE. This paper offers a comparative analysis of the policy environment governing school-based CSE in four low- and middle-income countries at different stages of programme implementation: Ghana, Peru, Kenya and Guatemala. Based on an analysis of current policy and legal frameworks, key informant interviews and recent regional reviews, the analysis focuses on seven policy-related levers that contribute to successful school-based sexuality education programmes. The levers cover policy development trends; current policy and legal frameworks for sexuality education; international commitments affecting CSE policies; the various actors involved in shaping CSE; and the partnerships and coalitions of actors that influence CSE policy. Our analysis shows that all four countries benefit from a policy environment that, if properly leveraged, could lead to a stronger implementation of CSE in schools. However, each faces several key challenges that must be addressed to ensure the health and wellbeing of their young people. Latin American and African countries show notable differences in the development and evolution of their CSE policy environments, providing valuable insights for programme development and implementation.     

Promoting Student Learning in Criminal Justice,STEM, and Forensic Science: Aggie Sleuth Initiative (AggieSI)-Guided Inquiry Learning Experience

This study reported the first interdisciplinary Aggie Sleuth Initiative (AggieSI) conducted between the Departments of Political Science and Criminal Justice, Sociology and Social Work and Chemistry in order to interest underrepresented minority students in the field of forensic science at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T). The AggieSI project involved a “simulated crime scene” and a “hypothetical narrative” that provided the “simulated circumstances” for the AggieSI exercise. The students worked in groups on their AggieSI projects in a guided inquiry laboratory experiment format. The students found their AggieSI project motivating, promoting the students’ critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills with students from other departments. This project also promoted mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships between NCA&T and the local Police Department to further promote forensic studies and to ensure justice and public safety in our community.     

Assessing learning,quality and engagement in learning objects: the Learning Object Evaluation Scale for Students (LOES-S)

Learning objects are interactive web-based tools that support the learning of specific concepts by enhancing, amplifying, and/or guiding the cognitive processes of learners. Research on the impact, effectiveness, and usefulness of learning objects is limited, partially because comprehensive, theoretically based, reliable, and valid evaluation tools are scarce, particularly in the K-12 environment. The purpose of the following study was to investigate a Learning Object Evaluation Scale for Students (LOES-S) based on three key constructs gleaned from 10 years of learning object research: learning, quality or instructional design, and engagement. Tested on over 1100 middle and secondary school students, the data generated using the LOES-S showed acceptable internal reliability, face validity, construct validity, convergent validity and predictive validity.

The Cognitive Affective Model of Immersive Learning (CAMIL): a Theoretical Research-Based Model of Learning in Immersive Virtual Reality

Educational Psychology Review - There has been a surge in interest and implementation of immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based lessons in education and training recently, which has resulted in many...     

信息技术学习、教育和培训质量保障体系标准及其应用研究——以免费师范生学习管理平台的设计为例

本文在研究信息技术学习、教育和培训质量保障体系标准的基础上,结合华中师范大学开展免费师范生教育的契机,依据质量保障活动模型,利用质量方法描述参考框架(RFDQ)的过程模型进行免费师范生学习管理平台的需求分析和框架分析.     

Values,Predicaments, and Countermeasures for a Model Combining Learning with Working in Higher Vocational Education

Combining learning with working is a fundamental way to deepen teaching reform in higher vocational education. Based on an analysis of the social value, individual value, educational value, and current predicaments of higher vocational education, this article explores effective ways to realize the value of this talent development model and proposes using school–enterprise interest communities as a breakthrough point to promote cooperation between education institutions and companies.     

An Early Education Pilot Program Using a Developmentally Appropriate Practice for Children With Language and Learning Problems: The Guidelines for the Early Learning (GEL) Program

The Easter Seal Society of Southwest Florida's GEL Program (Guidelines for Early Learning), based on the developmental theories of Piaget and Chomsky, is an early education program using a developmentally appropriate practice for children four to six years old who have demonstrated language, learning, and/or developmental problems. The program staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of early childhood specialists, early childhood educators, a pediatric neurologist, an occupational therapist, and a speech and language pathologist. The program is developmental in nature and was designed to guide and encourage language, cognitive, social, and motor development. This paper describes how this special program was planned and implemented in a nonprofit organization.     

Factor structure,reliability and validity of the Parental Support for Learning Scale: Adolescent Short Form (PSLS-AS)

Parental involvement in children’s learning has been found to influence academic success. However, very few tools exist for measuring parental involvement, particularly ones that target adolescents’ self-report. The present study assessed the factor structure, reliability and convergent validity of a new scale to assess adolescents’ perceptions of their mothers’ and fathers’ educational involvement: the Parental Support for Learning Scale: Adolescent Short Form (PSLS-AS). The PSLS-AS, as well as a questionnaire measuring the risk of high school drop-out, was administered to a sample of 825 youth (aged 13–14 years). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure representing parental involvement: Controlling Involvement and Autonomy Supportive Involvement. Adolescents’ perceptions of their parents’ involvement correlated with a risk of high school drop-out. Implications and future directions for further validation of the PSLS-AS are discussed.