Determinants of college students' overall evaluations of their academic programs

This research explored the determinants of college seniors' overall evaluations of their academic programs (i.e., their major departments). The research was conducted with a sample of 775 students at two universities. The results suggest that, in general, stimulating course work and good teaching were somewhat more important than opportunities for faculty/student interaction or perceived faculty knowledgeability. There were significant field and gender differences, however. For example, faculty availability and course stimulation were more critical among women than among men, and faculty teaching ability was particularly significant in artistic fields. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, April 1985.     

Reasoning and working memory as predictors of school grades

The present paper contributes to individual difference research in the field of working memory (WM) and reasoning and their contribution to the prediction of real-life criteria. Therefore, a broad WM test battery, a well-established measure of reasoning, and school grades were applied. It is argued that abilities as assessed with the WM component coordination are relevant for good performances at school, especially for science courses. The verbal task of the WM component storage in the context of processing was assumed to be relevant for the prediction of performance in language courses. As expected, reasoning turned out to be the best predictor of school grades. However, it was also confirmed that variance shared by coordination and reasoning can explain school performance, especially as concerns science courses. The verbal storage in the context of processing task significantly accounted for variance in language courses above and beyond reasoning. Thus, the present study provided further insights into the differential validity of different WM components.     

Do grades contaminate student evaluations of instruction?

The correlation between grades and student satisfaction has been interpreted as providing support for belief in a grading leniency bias hypothesis. That is, easy graders are assumed to receive better evaluations than hard gradersbecause they are easy graders. Howard and Maxwell have demonstrated that the relationship between grades and satisfaction might be viewed as an expected result of important causal relationships of other variables (student motivation and progress in the course) with satisfaction and grades, rather than simply evidence of contamination due to grading leniency. Eighty-three students in a research methodology course provided data at two points in a semester. Cross-lagged panel correlation analysis was employed to ascertain the direction of casuality in the relationship between student satisfaction and grades. The findings replicate the Howard and Maxwell path analytic results in finding no evidence that a grades-influencing-satisfaction interpretation is more likely than its opposite, namely, a satisfaction-causing-grades one. The weak relationship between grades and student satisfaction, and the study's inability to find evidence to impugn a satisfaction-causing-grades interpretation of that relationship, renders the grade contamination objection to student evaluations even less poignant.     

The superior college teacher from the students' view

This analysis attempts a systematic synthesis of the rather large body of research on college students' views on teaching and their assessment of the effectiveness of various attitudes, behaviors, and pedagogical practices of instructors. Across studies, the following characteristics are consistently associated with superior college teachers or teaching (as determined in a variety of ways): stimulation of interest; clarity and understandableness; knowledge of subject matter; preparation for, and organization of, the course; and enthusiasm for the subject matter and for teaching. Friendliness (concern and respect for students), helpfulness (availability), and openness to others' opinions (encouragement of class questions and discussion) are characteristics that students say they prefer in teachers (especially when they freely describe their ideal or best teacher and the characteristics they see as important to good teaching). However, a teacher's standing on these characteristics appears not to be particularly important to students' global assessment of their actual teachers on teacher-evaluation questionnaires. Finally, relative to other characteristics, certain regulative activities of the instructor are typically and consistently lower in importance for superior teaching, at least by the several indicators used in the studies under review. The analysis concludes with interpretations and cautions.     

Work environment predictors of beginning teacher burnout

This study investigated elements of school environments that explain variance in burnout scores in a sample of university graduates from Brisbane, Australia, two years after they commenced work as teachers. Using a longitudinal survey methodology, 79 beginning teachers completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) on four occasions over a two‐year period, first, six weeks after they commenced work as teachers and finally, in the concluding term of their second year of teaching. Beginning teachers also completed the Work Environment Scale each time they were surveyed. The revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire was administered when the graduands were first surveyed. In a series of hierarchical regression analyses, reports of how innovative the work environment was perceived to be added significantly to the explanation of variance in all three MBI subscales after first controlling for initial levels of burnout and the personality trait Neuroticism.     

Cognitive ability and personality variables as predictors of school grades and test scores in adolescents

The predictive power of cognitive ability and self-control strength for self-reported grades and an achievement test were studied. It was expected that the variables use of time structure, academic procrastination, and motivational interference during learning further aid in predicting students’ achievement because they are operative in situations of school-leisure conflict. A sample of 697 eighth-graders was tested twice within the interval of a single school year (about eight months). Cognitive ability and self-control explained substantial variance of grade changes. Procrastination displayed a further portion of the variance. Personality variables were better predictors of grades, while cognitive ability showed higher variance with the achievement test. Variables tapping aspects of self-control strength have been interpreted as key determinants of learning outcomes. The findings suggest that it might be useful to identify students who are at risk, allowing these students to train their ability to shield studying from leisure distractions.     

论高师学生的个性发展

发展高师学生的个性既是人的全面发展的需要,也是社会发展对高师教育的客观要求;既是适应中学素质教育的需要,也是高师教育改革的目标之一,突出学生的主体地位、深化教育教学改革、广泛开展第二课堂活动、发挥教师个性影响的积极作用是促使高师学生个性得以发展的有效途径。     

试论高中班主任如何开展德育工作

德育是素质教育的灵魂,对高中生的健康成长起着关键作用,因此高中生思想道德的教育必是班主任工作的重中之重。教师通过分析高中生的特点和当前班主任德育工作存在的问题,有针对性的提出了高中班主任德育工作的方法和策略,旨在帮助班主任高效地开展班级德育工作,培育更加有思想有道德的社会主义接班人。     

Medical students' perceptions of the body donor as a first patient or teacher: a pilot study

University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS) students attending a seminar on the history and ethics of anatomical dissection were fascinated by a report on the dissection room experience in Thailand that relates the body donor's status as a teacher. The students felt that they had naturally adopted the body as teacher approach in their dissection course, rather than the body as first patient approach that is encouraged by faculty. It was decided to explore the question whether other medical students shared these perceptions. A questionnaire was sent out to all UMMS students who had finished the anatomical dissection course. One hundred twenty-eight responses from a population of 500 students were received. Results indicate that students believe the body as teacher approach is more effective in engendering respect and empathy towards the body and towards future patients, and in facilitating students' emotional development. Students also reported wanting a more personal relationship with their donors. Eighty four percent of students preferred the body as teacher approach to the currently taught body as first patient approach. The results support the hypothesis that students' desired closer personal relationship with donors might be better facilitated by the body as teacher approach, and that this closer relationship engenders empathy and respect towards the donor and future patients. A new model for anatomy programs could introduce the donor first as a teacher and later transition into viewing the donor as a patient.     

High school ranks and admission tests as predictors of first year medical students' performance

This article focuses on the predictive values of certain academic variables, high school ranks and admission tests, as related to grades at the end of the first year of the Licenciate in Medicine in Spain. Multiple regression equations were calculated for each first year subject. Multiple R values ranged from 0.41 to 0.61 which implies explained variance percentages of 16.5 and 37.5. The best predictor was found to be the high school grade point average in science courses, the global examination and the admission test average. The importance of taking into account these variables in the admission process is considered. Also the inclusion of some aptitudinal variables is discussed. Finally the need to establish prediction performance tables to be used in the counselling process of admitted students is considered.This is based on a paper presented at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Spanish Society for Medical Education held at Zaragoza on 26–27 October 1984.     

浅议视唱练耳教学对学生整体素质的推升

视唱练耳的目的是让学生经过严格的音乐技巧训练,以达到能够及时、准确地读懂和理解乐谱实质意义的目的,通过视唱练耳所养成的训练有素的内心听觉来理解音乐、表现音乐,同时,通过视唱练耳教学也可以提升学生的音乐记忆能力、创新能力和音乐想象能力,最终达到提升学生的整体音乐素质的目的。     

关联规则分析在学生成绩管理中的应用

介绍了数据挖掘中的关联规则分析的概念、特点和常用算法,并利用改进的Apriori算法对高职高专院校信息技术公共课考试成绩进行了分析指导。     

The quantity versus the distribution of teacher behavior

The overall quantity and distribution of teacher interaction are the respective concerns of research on teacher effectiveness and research on teacher expectations. Factors that have kept both these research areas and their applications to teacher education distinct are considered. Limitations of teacher education programs that deal with either the quantity or distribution of teacher behavior are noted. Next, research that examines both indices of teacher behavior is considered. The paper ends with suggestions for how the content and sequencing of teacher education programs could benefit from an integration of quantity and distribution concerns.     

Grades and college students' evaluations of their courses and teachers

From a review of existing research, it is concluded that college students' anticipated or actual grades in class are positively related to their evaluation of their courses and teachers. In general, the size of the association is small but not unimportant. A student's overall grade-point average appears to have little or no relationship to teacher or course evaluation, although limited evidence shows that a discrepancy between a student's grade-point average and his or her grade in a class is related to evaluations. Also, teacher- or course-induced interest in the subject is positively associated with evaluation, as are students' perceptions of the amount they have learned in a class and their performance on objective or standardized tests of achievement. Although it is thus possible that either these or other motivational and learning variables may account for the relationship between grades and evaluation, there is no evidence one way or the other that this indeed is the case. In all, currently available evidence cannot be taken as definitely establishing a bias in teacher evaluation due to the grades students receive or expect to receive in their courses, but neither is it presently possible to rule out such bias.This is the first paper of a projected series on teacher and course evaluation.     

高校校园文化建设对大学生全面发展的影响

高校校园文化是大学综合实力的体现,是高校发展的灵魂,是凝聚人心、展示学校形象、注重人才培养质量的重要体现。校园文化对学生的影响、熏陶往往是任何课程所无法比拟的。校园文化品牌对学生的品性形成具有渗透性、持久性和选择性。本文基于实践的探索,通过对如何构建高校校园文化品牌体系的探讨得出相关结论,为进一步实践及相关研究提供参考。