The classroom learning environment as perceived by students in Arab elementary schools

In this study, students’ perceptions of the classroom learning environment in Arab elementary schools were investigated. The sample included 261 students from Grades 5 and 6. The questionnaire was developed at an Arab college of teacher education by 16 fourth-year student teachers who were completing their studies toward a BEd degree. Articles on classroom learning environment were distributed to the students, who then wrote items to assess learning environment. The items were evaluated for content validity in relation to the Arab school culture, language, teachers’ teaching, students’ learning styles, teacher–student relations, order and organisation, discipline and behaviours. The Classroom Learning Environment of Elementary Students (CLEES) questionnaire consists of 32 items in four scales: Teacher’s Image, Group Work, Students’ Participation, and Order and Organisation. The CLEES was used in a pilot study in two Grade 5 and 6 classes in order to validate it. The student teachers administered the questionnaire to students in elementary schools. Data were analysed using SPSS (e.g. factor analysis and one-way ANOVA) to validate the CLEES. No significant differences were found between boys and girls in classroom learning environment. However, significant differences in CLEES perceptions were found between students from different grades (Grade 5 vs. Grade 6), age groups and schools. The results are explained in the discussion section in relation to the characteristics of their schools.     

Orthographic learning through self-teaching among learners of English as a second language

Reading and Writing - Children can teach themselves new words via independent text reading. Previous studies on self-teaching heavily focused on learning to read in a first language (L1). Limited...     

Adult education as experienced by the learners

This article discusses how central words in education were transformed into a technocratic and economic language during the 1980s, and how the concepts of lifelong learning and knowledge are laden with other content. This means that they lose their humanistic and democratic content, and become wares to buy and sell at the market. The main answer to this international development is some kind of conservative humanism. This paper attempts to redefine concepts of lifelong learning and knowledge with a humanistic and democratic sense, of a new kind in a new situation. The opportunity is to widen our understanding of what we mean by knowledge, education and learning. For this work, the resources brought from history can be used and be transformed to a new form. This has to be done in multiple ways from different perspectives, depending on what aims we have and what values we believe in.     

The professional learning community as perceived by Israeli school superintendents, principals and teachers

A professional learning community (PLC) facilitates collaborative learning among colleagues at all levels in their common working environment. PLCs are particularly useful in schools, with teachers and principals meeting regularly to solve problems relating to teaching and learning. Being a means of improving student achievement, PLCs have received growing support from researchers and practitioners alike, yet some professionals are still exploring ways to develop learning networks focusing on teaching and learning issues. The purpose of this study was to examine Israeli teachers’, principals’, and superintendents’ perceptions of inhibiting and fostering factors of the PLC. In this qualitative, topic-oriented study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 15 teachers from elementary, middle and secondary schools and their respective principals (15) and superintendents (15). Generating themes was inductive, grounded in the perspectives articulated by participants. The principals and the teachers indicated that overload, a lack of resources and top-down commands were PLC-inhibiting factors. The superintendents saw the principal’s leadership style as a main PLC-fostering factor. Understanding how these three echelons in the school system perceive the inhibiting and fostering factors of a PLC could indicate whether and how this collaborative learning process can be nurtured and sustained in schools.     

成人学习者远程学习适应性研究的思考

本文主要对远程教育成人学习者学习适应性研究的现状及一些问题进行了思考。认为应从多角度、多层次来理解和研究成人学习者的学习适应性:可以从宏观和微观的不同层次来分析和强调成人学习者与远程教育院校之间的彼此主动适应;可以从内外两方面以及观念、制度、活动三个层面对成人学习者远程学习适应性作一结构化的理解;可以从教与学相关联的角度,从学习者所处的不同群体层次来考察他们的学习适应性问题。在提高成人学习者的学习适应能力方面,除了学习者自身的努力外,还应注重远程教育院校对学习者的引导和帮助,注重学习者与他人(包括老生在内)全方位的人际往来。     

日语学习者学习策略研究

日语教学研究认为,影响日语学习者成绩提高的一个重要因素是缺乏学习策略.文章分析了学习策略中认知策略、记忆策略、情感策略、文化补偿策略在日语学习中的作用,介绍了日语学习的方法.     

Transfer of learning: paradoxes for learners

There are three kinds of transfer: from prior knowledge to learning, from learning to new learning, and from learning to application. The central thesis of this chapter is that all three should start from the dilemmas or paradoxes learners may have when trying to reach transfer. Six of these are described. They are finding relevant prior knowledge; the paradox of tacit knowledge; using relevant prior knowledge while learning; recognizing relevant situations and conditions; the paradox of near transfer and far transfer; and the paradoxical “what” of transfer, including learning to learn. In order to optimize transfer one needs to help learners solve the problems they encounter and to find ways out of the various dilemmas and paradoxes. For the three kinds of transfer exemplary studies are described that illustrate the kinds of solutions developed and their effectiveness.     

The trans-contextual model: perceived learning and performance motivational climates as analogues of perceived autonomy support

The trans-contextual model of motivation (TCM) proposes that perceived autonomy support in physical education (PE) predicts autonomous motivation within this context, which, in turn, is related to autonomous motivation and physical activity in leisure-time. According to achievement goal theory perceptions of learning and performance, motivational climate in PE can also affect autonomous motivation in PE. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of an integrated approach of perceptions of motivational climate in PE by incorporating aspects of perceptions of motivational climate from achievement goal frameworks on autonomous motivation in PE within the TCM. High school students (N?=?274) completed self-report measures of perceived autonomy support, perceived learning, and performance motivational climate and autonomous motivation in PE. Follow-up measures of autonomous motivation in a leisure-time context were taken along with measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions from the theory of planned behaviour 1 week later. Self-reported physical activity behaviour was measured 5 weeks later. The results of the path analyses indicated that perceived learning climate was the strongest predictor of autonomous motivation in PE and leisure-time contexts and mediated the effect of perceived autonomy support on autonomous motivation in PE. Perceived performance climate showed no significant effect on autonomous motivation in PE and leisure-time. Results also confirmed the premises of TCM regarding the effect of autonomous motivation in leisure-time on leisure-time physical activity and the mediating role of the planned behaviour theory variables.     

Educators,learners and active learning methodologies

Picking up from a previous publication in IJLE, the primary objective of this article is to engage in a critical analysis of the concept and practice of ‘active’ (including ‘participatory’) learning as well as the usefulness to educators of ‘active learning methodologies’. Through a review of relevant literature and research, highlighting problems in theory, and an analysis of examples of active learning in practice, the article addresses a number of issues raised by previous attempts to promote active learning. It argues, in conclusion, that while promoting active learning is generally a good thing, the success of an active learning methodology depends not on methodology alone but, ultimately, on the constantly‐evolving, dialectical relationship between methodology and learners, mediated by the educator. Practical implications are that educators need not be over‐obsessed about questions of methodology, though it is important to experiment with new methods and make them a constant focus of discussion between educators and learners; further research could focus on the extent to which (and under what circumstances) educators and/or learners might change (or already have changed) their perceptions about different ways of teaching and learning.     

Scaffolding in problem-based learning for low-achieving learners

This research investigates scaffolding approaches for supporting low-achieving learners in a problem-based learning environment. The study was conducted in a vocational school with 3 different approaches to scaffolding using 3 groups in addition to a control group. The area of focus was a learning module using computer spreadsheets. The results showed that there was a significant difference in outcomes among the 4 groups. The group that used a semicollaborative approach combined with worksheet performed significantly higher on posttests than the other group. This study illustrates the value of scaffolding for low achievers in problem-based learning environments and identifies the specific type of scaffolding that is most effective.     

Instructional principles for fostering learning with ICT: teachers' perspectives as learners and instructors

Educational literature identifies several instructional principles essential to fostering learning with ICT, such as contextual learning, active learning, social learning and reflective learning. Since the ways teachers are taught relate strongly to the ways they later teach, this study sought to explore teachers' use of ICT as university students and their perception of the potential for ICT in school. Data were collected through interviews, questionnaires and the analysis of participants' online activities. The results indicate that while teachers exploit ICT for their own learning, they are cautious about integrating advanced technologies into school studies. Teachers value the potential of technology for making school studies relevant to pupils' real-life contexts and for stimulating their learning, but do not think that ICT is preferable to class-based instruction in terms of promoting cooperation and reflection processes in learning.     

联通主义学习中学习者社会网络特征研究

联通主义理论揭示了"互联网+"时代教与学的新规律,学习者社会网络的形成是联通主义学习的重要过程,因此,深刻认识联通主义理论中的社会网络规律显得尤为重要。该研究使用社会网络分析法对国内第一门cMOOC微信群中的交互数据进行收集与分析,探究了联通主义学习情境中的社会网络特征。研究发现:在宏观层面,整个课程微信群交互形成的社会网络是一个多中心的复杂网络;在中观层面,内部子结构形成了8个凝聚子群;在微观层面,度数中心性和中间中心性较高的节点(参与者)在网络中发挥着重要的联通作用。最后,从三个方面进行了总结:联通主义学习中教师是引导者、促进者,符合联通主义课程的教师观;自组织是联通主义理论的重要特征;联通主义学习者的网络地位可以反映其联通主义学习的情况。     

A mobile informal learning solution for workplace learners

This paper reports on the development of the “MobLearn@Work” App, which emerged from a study of informal learning among five employees at different companies in China. The purpose of the study was to develop a strategy for the design of mobile learning support tools that would enhance informal learning in the workplace. The App was developed by creating a platform to support informal learning through the integration of two sets of issues that emerged in the study: (a) affordances of contemporary Web 2.0 tools identified from the literature and by exploration of the participants’ mobile technology uses, and (b) informal learning activities of the participants that emerged in the context of their work. Consideration of these issues led to the conclusion that an effective App for informal learning should include functionalities such as really simple syndication, podcasting, Web-searching and microblogging, all of which were integrated into the “MobLearn@Work” App. The implementation of the App in these five cases over a six-month period yielded a further set of design recommendations, which are discussed in the paper.     

把学习的选择权还给学生

教育规划纲要提出要改革人才培养模式,这就要求充分发挥学生在学习中的主体作用,改变现在学生被教育、被学习的状况。给每个学生提供适合的教育,就要把学习的选择权还给学生。学校要减少必修课,增加选修课,为学生的学习选择创造条件。     

Antenatal education as perceived by health professionals

This article aims to identify the learning needs of expectant and new parents for antenatal education as perceived by health professionals. In Australia, antenatal education programs are predominantly designed by health professionals, and recent research has challenged the efficacy of this approach. The data collected from 73 health professionals, reported here, demonstrates that their perceptions of the concerns and interests of expectant and new parents were divided into three interrelated categories: "need to know...what's happening," "they won't listen," and "balanced information." The health professional ideas for improving antenatal education were limited and identified a reluctance to change practice.