The Unique Role of Early Spelling in the Prediction of Later Literacy Performance

ABSTRACT

We examined the predictive value of early spelling for later reading performance by analyzing data from 970 U.S. children whose spelling was assessed in the summer following the completion of kindergarten (M age = 6 years; 3 months). The word reading performance of most of the children was then tested after the completion of Grade 1 (age 7;5), Grade 2 (8;5), Grade 4 (10;5), and Grade 9 (15;5). A computer-scored measure of postkindergarten spelling was a significant predictor of later reading performance even after taking into account postkindergarten phonological awareness, reading, and letter-sound knowledge and prekindergarten vocabulary. The results suggest that, by the end of kindergarten, spelling is more than just a proxy for phonological awareness and letter-sound knowledge. Given the information that spelling provides, it should be considered for inclusion when screening children for future literacy problems.     

Body Composition Relative to Motor Aptitude for Preadolescent Boys

Abstract

The data for 40 variables were obtained from 81 Purdue University faculty sons between 10 and 12 years of age inclusive. Among the 40 variables, 680 correlation coefficients were obtained. Factor analysis was used to identify the factors which could explain the items measuring body composition and motor aptitude. As a result, eight factors were isolated and given names. The factors underlying the 40 variables seemed to permit the following names: growth and maturity factor, “body fitness” factor, body balance on object factor, coordination of the lower extremities factor, general kinesthetic sense factor, general static balance factor, directionality factor, and laterality factor. Observing the factor loadings in Factor I, it may be concluded that the measurement of lean body weight by liquid scintillation counting technique is significant in the assessment of growth and maturity in preadolescent boys. Furthermore, in the assessment of “body fitness” pertaining to preadolescent boys, it is revealed that the percent lean body weight is the most important item as indicated by the value of factor loading presented in Factor II.     

Videotape Replay and the Learning of Skills in Open and Closed Environments

Abstract

Female novice tennis players (N = 42) were randomly assigned to one of three videotape replay (VTR) conditions: Performance Information Feedback (PIF); Environmental Information Feedback (EIF); or a combination of both (PEIF) to ascertain whether the treatments differentially affected open (ground-strokes) and closed (serve) skills. Performance measures were obtained on a pretest and posttest as well as during session 4 and session 8. Cues appropriate to the VTR condition were employed to direct the subjects' attention. Two analyses were conducted: a MANOVA on the pretest/posttest improvement scores and a three factor ANOVA for the session 4/session 8 scores. For the first analysis, follow-up ANOVAs revealed that for forehand and backhand PEIF improved more than either PIF or EIF and that EIF improved more than PIF. For the serve PEIF improved more than PIF and EIF but the latter two were not significantly different. In the three factor ANOVA all main effects were significant: PEIF was better than EIF and both were better than PIF; serve scores were higher than those for groundstrokes; and session 8 scores were higher than those for session 4. In addition, all interactions except that for skill × session were significant. Based on the results it is recommended that in closed skills PEIF or PIF be used but not EIF and in open skills PEIF or EIF be used but not PIF. The results were also discussed with respect to the Gentile (1972)and Schmidt (1975) views on open and closed skills. While there is some support for Gentile's position it was concluded that further research is necessary.     

The decline of the modern paradigm in education

The education system is widely perceived to be functioning poorly, and this paper argues that there is in fact a deep crisis caused by the gap between the system and the changing world that surrounds it. Post-modern conditions stress the production of information rather than the productivity of land or capital, and a relativistic world-view rather than adherence to a fixed religion or ideology, which in turn gives rise to pluralism and shifting social frameworks. At the same time, the pursuit of Truth is no longer seen as the highest goal in life, and the possession of proof of education is no longer a guarantee of access to the Good Life. Educational institutions are dysfunctional because they remain wedded to outmoded parameters in their aims, activities, structures, methods and perceptions of their clientele. Through a wide-ranging review of recent conceptual debate and assessment of social trends, the paper explores the implications of radical contemporary changes in the parameters: the search for a new paradigm of education has only just begun.

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Zusammenfassung Das Bildungssystem wird weitgehend als unzulänglich betrachtet, und dieser Artikel argumentiert dahingehend, daß es in der Tat eine tiefgreifende Krise gibt, die durch die Kluft zwischen dem System und der sich ändernden Welt um es herum ist. Postmoderne Bedingungen legen eher Wert auf die Erstellung von Informationen als auf die Produktivität von Land oder Kapital. Man zieht eine relativistische Weltanschauung einer festgelegten Religion oder Ideologie vor, die wiederum Pluralismus und sich ändernde soziale Rahmenbedingungen fördert. Gleichzeitig wird die Suche nach der Wahrheit nicht länger als oberstes Ziel im Leben angesehen und der Besitz von Bildungsnachweisen ist nicht länger eine Garantie für ein gutes Leben. Bildungsinstitutionen funktionieren nicht mehr, weil sie in ihren Zielen, Aktivitäten, Strukturen, Methoden und Wahrnehmungen ihrer Zielen, Aktivitäten, Strukturen, Methoden und Wahrnehmungen ihrer Zielgruppen mit unzeitgemäßen Normen verknüpft sind. Mittels eines weitreichenden überblicks über jüngste Debatten über Konzepte und die Einschätzung sozialer Trends, untersucht der Artikel die Auswirkungen radikaler zeitgenössischer Anderungen der Normen; die Suche nach einem neuen Paradigma der Bildung hat gerade erst begonnen.

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Resumen Hay una percepción general de que el funcionamiento del sistema de educación es deficiente, y este trabajo sostiene que, efectivamente, se produce una profunda crisis causada por la brecha existente entre el sistema y el mundo cambiante que lo rodea. Las condiciones postmodernistas ponen énfasis en la producción de informaciones más que en la productividad de la tierra o del capital, y en una óptica del mundo relativista más que en la adhesión a una religión o ideología fija, lo que por su parte da origen al pluralismo y a sistemas sociales cambiantes. Al mismo tiempo, la busca de la Verdad ya no es considerada como la meta más importante en la vida, y la titularidad de pruebas de formación ya no garantiza el acceso a la Buena Vida. Las instituciones de la educación muestran una disfunción porque aún se atienen a parámetros obsoletos en cuanto a objetivos, actividades, estructuras, métodos y percepciones de su clientela. A través de una amplia reseña de debates conceptuales recientes y de la valoración de tendencias sociales, el trabajo explora las implicaciones que los cambios radicales contemporáneos tienen en los parámetros; la busca de un nuevo paradigma de educaión solamente acaba de comenzar.

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Résumé Le système éducatif a la réputation largement répandue de mal fonctionner, et l'article expose qu'il existe en effet une crise profonde due à l'écart entre le système d'éducation et le monde en évolution qui l'entoure. Les conditions de vie post-modernes font passer au premier plan la production de l'information à la place de la productivité de la terre et du capital, et une vision du monde relativiste remplace l'adhésion à une religion ou une idéologie fixe, qui à son tour engendre le pluralisme et la modification des structures sociales. Parallèlement, la recherche de la vérité n'est plus le but suprême dans la vie, et la détention d'une preuve d'éducation n'est plus une garantie d'accès à une vie réussie. Le dysfonctionnement des institutions éducatives réside donc dans leur attachement obstiné à des modèles périmés quant à leurs objectifs, leurs activités, leurs structures, leurs méthodes et leur vision de la clientèle. Sur la base d'une vaste étude sur le récent débat conceptuel et une évaluation des tendances sociales, l'article analyse les conséquences des changements radicaux contemporains sur ces modèles: la recherche d'un nouveau type d'éducation ne fait que commencer.

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Comparative analysis of delayed alternation learning in cats,mice, and guinea pigs

The performance of cats, guinea pigs, and mice in a delayed alternation paradigm was compared both during initial learning and following a 10-day retention interval. The testing situation (a modified T-maze), the length of the delay period (10 sec), and the amount of training per session and per week were kept identical for all three species. The results indicated that (1) animals of all three species acquired the task within similar time spans, (2) a considerable variance was apparent in the performance of individual animals independent of their species, and (3) guinea pigs, as a group, appeared to need a somewhat longer time to acquire delayed alternation than did mice and cats. Relearning of the task following the 10-day interval seemed to follow similar laws in all three species.     

An analysis of motivation strategies used within the small-group Accelerating Mathematics Performance through Practice Strategies (AMPPS-SG) program

More than half of students in the USA perform below a proficient level in math. Although evidence suggests that intervention in elementary school is critical to supporting struggling learners, and there are several research-supported instructional practices to support students with math difficulties, the existing research is limited with regard to the impact of motivational strategies designed to improve students’ math skills. This study examined the effectiveness of specific motivational strategies used in the small-group Accelerating Mathematics Performance through Practice Strategies (AMPPS-SG) intervention program. A multiple baseline design was used with three instructional groups of second grade students to compare the relative effectiveness of three different conditions on students’ math computation skills. Condition 1 included all of the AMPPS-SG instructional components. Condition 2 included all instructional procedures as well as goal-setting, performance feedback, and reinforcement for performance. Condition 3 included all components used in Condition 2, as well as a group-based reward contingency. Results showed that students’ performance during Condition 3 was significantly better than performance during Conditions 1 and 2.