Age-related differences in the relation between motivation to learn and transfer of training in adult continuing education

This meta-analysis (k = 38, N = 6977) examined age-related differences in the relation between motivation to learn and transfer of training, using data derived from the literature on adult continuing education of the past 25 years. Based on socioemotional selectivity theory, a lifespan approach to expectancy theory, and research on interest and workplace curiosity, two views on motivational change over the trajectory of a working life were evaluated: the view of age-related motivational decline and the view of age-related motivational maintenance. Results showed a main effect of age on motivation to learn (β = .44) and a moderating effect of age (β = .59) on the relation between motivation to learn and transfer of training (ρ = 0.33). Both effects were in the positive direction, indicating support for the view of age-related motivational maintenance. Age-related differences were moderated by boundary conditions of training design (social training vs. individual training), study characteristics (publication source, study setting, SS/SMC bias, use of control groups, survey modality, instrument), and participant characteristics (level of education, attendance policy, work context). The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for theories of age-related changes in training motivation and their significance for the design of training programs for older learners.     

Implementing History and Philosophy in Science Teaching: Strategies, Methods, Results and Experiences from the European HIPST Project

This paper presents a rationale for utilizing HPS to teach physics and the NoS developed in the course of a project funded by the European Union. A core feature of this approach is formed by the development of historical case studies for the use in lessons. Furthermore, the learners?? perspectives are explicitly taken into account. Teaching methods comprise student-centered activities as creative writing for understanding science and scientists and role-play activities. Emphasis is laid on experimental work which is performed with the help of true-to-the-original replications of historical apparatus, especially built for this purpose. A new characteristic for NoS learning is introduced, namely the reflection corner giving the opportunity to explicitly discussing the relationship between history, knowledge acquisition, and the application of scientific findings. In order to make use of the special skills, creative potentials and experiences of teachers a symbiotic strategy for the development and evaluation process of the teaching material was adopted where a close and long-standing cooperation between science teachers and science educators could be established. On this basis the German partners were able to complete numerous case studies from the fields of mechanics, electricity, magnetism and heat.     

教育变革五十年

在过去的50年间,教育的发展对经合组织各成员国的社会根本转型做出了贡献。经合组织自从成立以来,就一直强调教育和人力资本对经济和社会发展的重要性。目前,随着经济竞争全球化,各国不能仅仅通过国家标准来衡量它们的教育系统。国际指标的作用变得越来越大,成为变革的催化剂,影响着教育系统。经合组织未来在追踪和支持教育的作用方面将可以做得更好。     

Assessing the Quality of Expertise Differences in the Comprehension of Medical Visualizations

Understanding how best to assess expertise, the situational variations of expertise, and distinctive qualities of expertise that arises from particular workplace experiences, presents an important challenge. Certainly, at this time, there is much interest in identifying standard occupational measures and competences, which are not well aligned with such variations and distinctiveness in performance. Therefore, this paper addresses the methodological issues posed by such a challenge through reviewing the expertise literature to identify ways forward. Based on the example of one target domain, medicine, and one criterion task, the comprehension of visualizations, the study identifies, elaborates, and evaluates assessments used to study qualitative changes in professional vision that occur as a result of extended periods of workplace learning experiences. It identifies the kinds of sample, materials, measures, and analysis methods used to assess the quality of expertise differences, as well as what elements of and differences in visual expertise are revealed in particular assessment processes. In doing this, the study seeks to illuminate how assessing the quality of expertise differences matured over the past 20 years, noting that strategies of scanning brain activity and tracking eye movements are now being used in ways that augment traditional approaches such as using verbal reports and observing representational practices. The findings demonstrate how the assessment of visual expertise has become more multidisciplinary over the past two decades. Implications for educational practice and future research directions on the development of professional vision are discussed.     

Dimensions of Motivation to Transfer: A Longitudinal Analysis of Their Influence on Retention, Transfer, and Attitude Change

This longitudinal study examined the multidimensionality of motivation to transfer training. Based on self-determination theory, expectancy theory, and the theory of planned behaviour, motivation to transfer was conceptualized in three dimensions: autonomous motivation to transfer, controlled motivation to transfer, and intention to transfer. Relationships of these dimensions with attitudes toward training content, knowledge test performance, and self- and supervisory-assessed transfer were investigated to understand further the mediating role of intentions in the transfer process. Participants were 128 trainees in occupational health and safety programs. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit of the proposed three-factor structure. Partial least squares (PLS) based path modelling indicated partial support of the hypothesized relationships. Knowledge gain following training was large (Cohen’s d?=?1.00), while attitude change was small (Cohen’s d?=?0.27). The findings are discussed in terms of their significance for the development of theories of training effectiveness and their implications for evaluating professional development.     

From Doing to Learning: Changed focus during a pre-school learning study project on organic decomposition

We explored the use of the learning study (LS) model in developing Swedish pre-school science learning. This was done by analysing a 3-cycle LS project implemented to help a group of pre-school teachers (n?=?5) understand their science educational practice, by collaboratively and systematically challenging it. Data consisted of video recordings of 1 screening (n?=?7), 1 initial planning meeting, 3 analysis meetings, 3 interventions, and 78 individual test interviews with the children (n?=?26). The study demonstrated that the teachers were initially uncomfortable with using scientific concepts and with maintaining the children's focus on the object of learning without framing it with play. During the project, we noted a shift in focus towards the object of learning and how to get the children to discern it. As teachers’ awareness changed, enhanced learning was noted among the children. The study suggests that the LS model can promote pre-school science learning as follows: by building on, re-evaluating, and expanding children's experiences; and by helping the teachers focus on and contrast critical aspects of an object of learning, and to reflect on the use of play, imagination, and concepts and on directing the children's focus when doing so. Our research showed that the LS model holds promise to advance pre-school science learning by offering a theoretical tool useable to shift the focus from doing to learning while teaching science using learning activities.     

Physics knowledge of first semester physics students in Germany: a comparison of 1978 and 2013 cohorts

ABSTRACT

Over the last decades, the percentage of the age group choosing to pursue university studies has increased significantly across the world. At the same time, there are university teachers who believe that the standards have fallen. There is little research on whether students nowadays demonstrate knowledge or abilities similar to that of the preceding cohorts. However, in times of educational expansion, empirical evidence on student test performance is extremely helpful in evaluating how well educational systems cope with the increasing numbers of students. In this study, we compared a sample of 2322 physics freshmen from 2013 with another sample of 2718 physics freshmen from 1978 at universities in Germany with regard to their physics knowledge based on their results in the same entrance test. Previous results on mathematics knowledge and abilities in the same sample of students indicated that there was no severe decline in their average achievement. This paper compares the physics knowledge of the same two samples of students. Contrary to their mathematics results, their physics results showed a substantial decrease in physics knowledge as measured by the test.     

基于国际大规模学生评估的中国高中毕业生质量研究

在过去的二十年间,国际大规模学生评估主要对教育研究、学校体系和教育政策产生影响.本文着重介绍这些项目的主要结果,并在此基础上,于2003年在中国四个省份展开数学胜任力测试.作为过去几十年国际大规模学生评估的非参与国,中国无疑提供一个特殊视角.因而,本文所报告的中国学生成绩国际比较是一项独特工作.