Service learning as a tool to enhance future teachers’ media competence / Aprendizaje-Servicio como estrategia favorecedora del desarrollo de la competencia mediática en futuros docentes

Abstract

This paper presents a study of service learning (SL) as a methodology to facilitate the development of media competence in future teachers. The SL methodology fulfils a training and service need for two different populations: in our case, a preschool/primary school and students from the Bachelor’s in Education degrees at the Universidad de Jaén. The study involved 193 university students who carried out 63 projects involving new technologies. The goal of these projects was to produce materials to be used on smartboards, advertising materials, picture-reading materials or multimedia resources, among others. These materials were designed and created in the university classes as a part of the practical sessions of a course and were then given away to be used at a preschool/primary school. At the end of the project, the university students filled out a questionnaire that required them to compare SL to traditional activities in terms of how well each type of practice helps them to achieve the 20 competences of the course. The results show that students recognize the value of the SL methodology more than traditional practice, which suggests the relevance of this methodology for university students.     

The merging of criminology and geography into a course on spatial crime analysis

This article discusses the development and implementation of a course in spatial crime analysis, an interdisciplinary course merging together materials from geographic information systems (GIS) and criminology. The article explains the rationale for the course, the topical substance of the lectures, and the nature of the laboratory and computer-based exercises. There is a brief discussion of the pedagogy and the problems encountered in offering the course.     

Children's understanding of familiar astronomical events

In this paper I describe the notions used by children aged 9‐16 years to account for a number of easily observed astronomical events. General features in the development of the notions are identified and historical parallels are noted.

The data presented come from a wider study intended to develop materials and approaches for teaching astronomy as part of the science curriculum of all pupils. An indication is given as to how the findings of the survey are being used in developing appropriate curriculum materials.     

Advocating for Sustainability: A Report on and Critique of the Undergraduate Capstone Course

ABSTRACT

The authors provide an overview of what capstone courses do by presenting information from across the field based on materials received from and interviews with technical and professional communication program administrators and faculty. The authors then point to opportunities to improve the course. Finally, the authors argue for sustainable program development as the theoretical framework to perform programmatic work.     

Senior Design Project Course: A Case Study

The two‐quarter Senior Design Project course given in the Computer Science and Engineering Department of Auburn University gives undergraduate students a significant computer system development experience by working on a project from proposal to prototype. Heavy emphasis is placed on team‐ and project‐management principles, team presentations, the application of standard structured development methodologies, and the generation of formal deliverables after each project phase. Project ideas are canvassed from faculty, graduate students, local industry and community, and from the students themselves. We believe that the knowledge and experience acquired by students from working in a team on a substantial project gives them an insight and perspective that is unattainable through the standard lecture paradigm. The course has received enthusiastic endorsement from industry, accrediting boards, and participating students (albeit at the end of the course!).     

Design Issues in the Use of Robots as Cognitive Enhancement Aids

Abstract

Robotic manipulators are being used in an investigation of their potential as effective classroom learning aids when used by severely orthopaedically disabled children to manipulate educational materials and to play games. During the course of the design and development of a prototype robotic system for educational use, several issues have surfaced that constitute serious considerations in the process. Of particular importance are issues involving accessibility, software design, curriculum integration and specific research questions involving spatial visualisation. Performance data from previous investigations has shown that learning to use robots can be easily accomplished, and that the consequent learning is remarkably resistant to decay over time.     

The Impact of Quality Matters Professional Development on Teaching across Delivery Formats

ABSTRACT

This study explored the impact of professional development workshops for online course design on faculty’s pedagogical practices in online, face-to-face (f2f), and blended instructional modes. It specifically focused on trainings offered by the Quality Matters (QM) organization on a rubric for assessing quality in online course development. A mixed-methods analysis of survey data collected from 2,148 participants in QM workshops over a three-year period (2012–2015) demonstrated that, across all three teaching modes, participants revised learning objectives, improved course alignment, and paid greater attention to communication with students. Additional benefits from participating in QM training related to specific modalities. Common online and blended impacts included changes in assessment practices as well as in modifying course materials to be more compliant with accessibility standards. In f2f settings, frequent changes involved redesigning learning activities to increase learner-learner interaction.     

Career‐span education for the chemistry teacher

This paper considers the implications of the Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (case) project results for science teaching methods. Results are summarized briefly and then the peculiar features of the case methodology and subject‐matter are described and consideration given to how they could be incorporated into any science curriculum. In particular, the use of cognitive conflict, metacognition, and bridging are described, and set in the context of the development of formal operational thinking. Finally, the potential roles of printed materials and INSET are reviewed for introducing such features into the professional repertoire of science teachers.     

How to Reduce Authoritarianism among Teachers: the Human Development Approach

Abstract

The attitudes of education students toward themselves and others were measured before and after a course in human development. Large changes in attitudes were found to be associated with initial attitude positions, sex and the composition of individual sections of the course. Comparisons of this sample with others indicated that education students have initially more authoritarian attitudes than other college students, but that they change markedly when enrolled in a human development course.     

Student Ratings of Televised Classroom Demonstrations

Abstract

Student attitude toward classroom observation experience in an educational psychology course were explored as a function of whether observations were made in person, by closed circuit television, or kinescope recordings. Two hundred fifty-seven college juniors were randomly grouped to observe the same classroom demonstrations by different means or to receive a control lecture.

At the conclusion of the course mean subject ratings of the special observation (or lecture) experience were significantly different for the four treatment groups. Highest ratings were given by students who observed In person, next highest were given by “live” television observers, next highest by kinescope observers, and lowest by those who received the control lecture. No significant differences were observed between groups on ratings of the course of which the observations were a part.     

Community-Oriented Environmental Education

Abstract

This paper presents an account of developments in an environmental education course for practicing teachers. The course is open campus (its materials are packaged and sent to distant off-campus students) and has been running now for six years. This account reports some of the changes that have taken place as the course has been taught—changes that are responses to reflections on the course by both faculty and students. The view is taken that deliberate changes in course organization and practice and careful reflection on the outcomes of those changes ought to proceed together in a cyclic fashion, toward an improved understanding of the relationship between the course's theoretical rationale and its practical embodiment. Four such cycles of revision, are reported here.     

Towards Student Self‐Direction in a First‐Year Undergraduate Physics Course

Summaries

English

This article describes a new physics course, developed for non‐science majors, which is largely based on student self‐direction. Problems of developing and implementing the course in the context of a more normal undergraduate study programme are identified and student reactions to the physics course are reviewed. Finally, some recommendations are made concerning the development and adoption of courses involving student self‐direction.     

The National Development of TEC Programmes: A New Approach

Summary

This article arises from course design and curriculum development work carried out by the authors with respect to a novel engineering degree course, the Master of Engineering in Electronic Systems Engineering, at Kingston Polytechnic. This degree has been validated by the Council for National Academic Awards and commenced at Kingston in October 1984. This four and a half year course is innovative in that contains a significant business/management component as an integral part of the curriculm.

The background for engineers¶ education in the United Kingdom is out‐lined, and a somewhat polemical view of their education for the future is advanced. The authors believe that if engineers are to manage technological innovation, they must first of all become managers in business firms. They must be taught from the start to think of themselves as business professionals with others, and they must be taught to think as corporate technologists rather than as engineering technicians.

The structure of the course is outlined and the learning objectives of the subjects comprising the business/management component are given. The authors hope that the ideas presented in this article will contribute towards other educational initiatives to change engineers' attitudes and develop their expertise as managers of technological innovation in business firms.     

Making Courses More Imaginative

Abstract

This article describes the organization and implementation of a class survey project. The exercise, which can be applied across disciplines, may be tied to course materials or campus activities. Three surveys conducted by the authors and their students are detailed and the students' roles in the projects are discussed. Students benefit from the group survey projects by gaining valuable experience under the guidance of their professors.     

Alternative Models for Doctoral Mentor Organisation and Research Supervision

The design and delivery of a professionally-oriented, management, doctoral programme introduces new criteria for the selection and training of mentors and supervisors. An internationally dispersed student body of mobile, senior business and academic professionals compounds the problems. This article considers alternative models for delivery and exemplifies course design issues through a development in a major management college. Issues of semi-remote and remote mentoring and supervision are illustrated with examples from a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme, showing the need for disaggregation and reconstitution of the mentoring and supervisory roles and their sensitive application, given the international mobility of most of the students.     

Technical Communication Coaching: A Strategy for Instilling Reader Usability Assurance in Online Course Material Development

ABSTRACT

Online course material development requires much writing, often catching faculty by surprise because of either the sheer volume or the specialized role and function of writing in an online only and multimodal environment. technical and professional communication (TPC) faculty are uniquely suited to coach faculty in producing readable writing for online courses. This article explores the professional development strategies and coaching skills necessary for TPC instructors and/or practitioners to serve in this role in online course development training.     

Conservation in Transition

ABSTRACT:

An evaluation of four different dissemination modes distributing activities developed through a teaching materials development program was performed. The activities, developed for use in middle schools, focused on Great Lakes topics in science, history, and social studies. It was found that short intensive workshops were more effective than longer workshops both in participant use of materials and in transmission of the materials to other potential users. The difference in usage seems to be related to differences in the professional orientation of teachers attracted into the two different types of workshops. Simply giving activities to prospective users resulted in no usage. Those individuals who took the trouble to mail order the materials used them but at a somewhat lower frequency than those who participated in a workshop. It is concluded that short intensive workshops are the most cost-effective way of ensuring usage of the type of curriculum materials disseminated in this program.     

Incidental Learning in Foreign Language Learning

Abstract

Students in a college course were given written criteria, divided into teams, and asked to score their own essay examination. Their pooled ratings correlated .922 with the instructor's ratings. Agreement between the ratings of students and instructor was not related to grade point or total test score. However, grade point and test scores were related negatively to the ambiguity of the students’ answers on the examination. The results support the generalization that subjective scoring standards are readily communicable. Theoretical and practical implications are examined.     

Teaching on the internet: Lessons learned from a substantive criminal law class

Universities across the United States offer classes taught entirely over the Internet. Teaching with this medium, however, is still relatively new so faculty and administrators need to understand the salient issues that attend to course offerings in a “virtual classroom.” This paper discusses the benefits and challenges that arose when a Substantive Criminal Law course was developed and taught on the Internet in the Fall of 1997. Pedagogical and technical issues that arose during the development and implementation of the course are addressed. Policy recommendations are also suggested.     

Collaborative Effort to Develop Middle School Preservice Teachers’ Mathematical Knowledge

Abstract

This article describes reflections of two mathematicians and a mathematics teacher educator who collaborated on the development and implementation of courses (probability and statistics connections, number concept connections, and middle school mathematics methods) for middle school mathematics preservice teachers. The instructors of the courses, two in mathematics and one in mathematics education, worked together to more explicitly link course materials, assignments, and the pedagogical approaches. Collectively, the courses were designed to address the five components of preservice teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching (PT-MKT), and to model effective teaching practices. Using their collective experiences co-planning and implementing these course adjustments were made in the subsequent year. The instructors were pleased by their implementation and student outcomes in all three courses.

We describe how each component of the PT-MKT framework was approached in these courses and discuss challenges experienced by the instructors, who were part of a larger effort to develop and implement a middle school teacher preparation program. The information shared is based on data collected as part of a program evaluation effort, and is bolstered by the instructors’ recollection of events. Overall, the instructors enhanced the curricula and their instructional practices and found that the attention placed on developing PT-MKT support the mathematical development of middle school mathematics preservice teachers.