Social Factors in the Implementation of a Computer Network for English Language Teachers

ABSTRACT

Studies on teacher education networks have unanimously pointed out that networks which allow teachers to share their experience, problems and curriculum materials enhance collegiality and professional growth. This paper reports findings of the implementation of TeleNex (Teachers of English Language Education Nexus) which is a teacher education network linking the Teachers of the English Language Education Centre (TELEC) set up at the University of Hong Kong with secondary schools. It points out that for a network of this nature to be effective, we have to take into consideration in the implementation process social factors such as user needs, motivation, background and psychology as well as user proficency in computer skills. The discussion will be illustrated with data from questionnaires, interviews, meetings, and messages on the network.     

Peer reporting of coworker wrongdoing: A qualitative analysis of observer attitudes in the decision to report versus not report unethical behavior

An employee who observes unethical behavior by a colleague will often question whether the incident warrants reporting. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may affect peer reporting of questionable behavior committed by a colleague. One hundred ninety‐seven (N = 197) registered nurses responded to a survey regarding reports of unethical behavior by coworkers. Results revealed that individual characteristics of the observer (such as personal ethics), situational factors (such as severity of the wrongdoing), and organizational issues (such as compliance or non‐compliance with policy and procedures) contributed to the reporting or not reporting of a coworker's wrongdoing. Discussion and implications suggest that various individual, situational, and organizational issues may affect an employee's decision to either report or not report unethical behavior committed by a coworker     

Love is all you need: A content analysis of romantic scenes in Chinese entertainment television

A large sample of entertainment television programs that were aired on 28 channels in China in 2004 was analyzed for romantic and sexual content. Romantic scenes, typically portraying men and women already in committed relationships, appeared in 80% of the 196 programs analyzed. The analysis suggested that, according to Chinese television in the early part of the twenty-first century, emotional love was more important than physical sexual interaction in romantic relationships. More than half of the 1112 romantic scenes analyzed depicted love between the partners without any discussion or display of physical sexual behavior. Only 8% of scenes included discussion or depiction of sexual behavior (e.g., touching, kissing, and intercourse) without some sense that the partners were in a loving, committed relationship. Sexual intercourse was implied or depicted in fewer than 2% of the romantic scenes. Findings are discussed in light of the Chinese government's periodic regulation of sexually suggestive media content and attempts to filter Internet content. The extent to which such content may affect young viewers' perceptions of romantic relationships and sexual behavior is also discussed.     

Taking Library Instruction into the Online Classroom: Best Practices for Embedded Librarians

ABSTRACT

The proliferation of online courses has led librarians to adapt their instructional techniques and follow teaching faculty and students into the online environment. Moving beyond Web pages and online research guides, librarians are now becoming instructional partners in online course management systems. Through an online survey of librarians and a literature review, the authors examine best practices for these “embedded librarians.”     

Reflecting on Quiz Placement in Online Tutorials: Creating a More Active Learning Experience

As the number of online library tutorials increases, so does the need to create active learning experiences and options for self-assessment. This article looks at embedding short Flash quizzes into tutorials created with Camtasia as a way to address this need. It also attempts to determine how quiz placement affects desire to view online tutorials and information retention.     

One Tool for Many Tasks: Integrating Ipads into the Third-Year Learning Experience

Librarians worked with faculty in the School of Medicine to integrate iPad tablets into the third-year pediatric clerkship. The use of the technology allowed students instant access to information in the clinical setting and simplified the management of the course. In addition, a variety of tablet and e-reader devices were purchased for patron check-out. Library management of the devices is discussed. Use of the devices is described, and student reactions are presented.     

Save the Time of the Avatar: Canadian Academic Libraries Using Chat Reference in Multi-User Virtual Environments

Hundreds of librarians from around the world are exploring and volunteering their time in Second Life, evaluating the possibilities of offering a reference service in this environment. This article places virtual world reference service within the reference continuum and explores how a reference service could be offered by an academic institution in a virtual world, what additional skills are required for such a service, and whether there is a need for a virtual reference service.     

The impact of alternative approaches to comforting,closeness of relationship,and gender on multiple measures of effectiveness

The impact of 6 approaches to comforting (suggesting a diversion, expressing optimism, providing an external account, offering assistance, explaining the perspective of the offender, and a combination of the first 5), attributed to either a good friend or a casual acquaintance, was assessed for 2 situations by 394 students. Distressed individuals responded to comforting messages along two dimension: feeling less upset and feeling demeaned, with some indications that yet a third dimension (appreciating the concern of the comforter) may exist. The message that combined elements from the other 5 approaches yielded generally the most positive responses, but responses to specific message approaches varied with situation and dimension of response. Messages from good friends were more successful than those from casual acquaintances in helping the distressed individual to feel less upset.     

Freshman Overconfidence and Library Research Skills: A Troubling Relationship?

This study focuses on the relationship between freshman college students’ self-reported confidence level in library research and their actual library research skills. A demographic survey and skills test were administered to 377 freshmen at East Carolina University in their first-semester English composition classes. The article addresses two research questions: What is the correlation between freshman students’ self-reported confidence level and tested skills? Do other factors such as age, gender, high school grades, or previous library instruction have an impact on students’ confidence level or skills? Results examine implications for library instruction.     

Improving and Assessing Information Literacy Skills through Faculty-Librarian Collaboration

Academic libraries provide value to their institutions on many levels, one of which is information literacy (IL) instruction. Librarians have the opportunity to guide students through the research process, teach students how to think critically, evaluate resources, and use resources ethically. It is beneficial for librarians to assess student learning after these sessions to demonstrate how libraries support the academic mission of their institutions. This article will address ways to assess the effectiveness of integrating information literacy into college courses by taking a close look at a partnership developed between a professor and two librarians at a small, private four-year institution.