Creating Positive Lived Experiences in Schools for International Relocatee Parents and Their Children

Early Childhood Education Journal - Children benefit from strong home–school relationships. Yet, parents who are immigrants and refugees are expected to follow frameworks for school...     

Heterogeneity in the Effects of College Course Placement

Traditionally colleges have relied on standalone non-credit-bearing developmental education (DE) to support students academically and ensure readiness for college-level courses. As emerging evidence has raised concerns about the effectiveness of DE courses, colleges and states have been experimenting with approaches that place students into credit-bearing coursework more quickly. To better understand which types of students might be most likely to benefit from being placed into college-level math coursework, this study examines heterogeneity in the causal effects of placement into college-level courses using a regression discontinuity design and administrative data from the state of Texas. We focus on student characteristics that are related to academic preparation or might signal a student’s likelihood of success or need for additional support and might therefore be factors considered for placement into college-level courses under “holistic advising” or “multiple measures” initiatives. We find heterogeneity in outcomes for many of the measures we examined. Students who declared an academic major designation, had bachelor’s degree aspirations, tested below college readiness on multiple subjects, were designated as Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and/or were economically disadvantaged status were more likely to benefit from placement into college-level math. Part-time enrollment or being over the age of 21 were associated with reduced benefits from placement into college-level math. We do not find any heterogeneity in outcomes for our high school achievement measure, three or more years of math taken in high school.

     

CD-ROM talking books: what do they promise?

This study describes one teacher's use of multimedia, specifically CD-ROM talking books, in the classroom. The goal of the investigation was to reveal and analyse how a primary (Grade 3) teacher integrated CD-ROM books into her curriculum. Issues emerging from the study included how features of the software interact with features of classrooms, how patterns of instruction are affected by the infusion of technology, and how students interact with the software, and each other, while reading the CD- ROM books     

Same mission, same methods, same results? Academic and religious outcomes from different models of Catholic schooling

A study of comprehensive schools in one English local education authority shows two Catholic schools at opposite ends of the effectiveness spectrum in helping pupils achieve examination success. Subsequent investigation of their understanding and interpretation of Catholic education finds them to represent two paradigms of Catholic school. Some possible causal relationships are explored between their values, attitudes and practices and their pupils' academic achievement.     

Modular designs and integrating practices: Managing collaboration through coordination and cooperation

Collaboration in large-scale projects introduces challenges involving both coordination (the ability to collaborate) as well as cooperation (the willingness to do so). Existing research has shown how modular designs can improve coordination by locating interdependencies within rather than between different modules. Based on an in-depth case study of collaboration in a large-scale infrastructure project, our study highlights an effect of modularity on collaboration that previously has been overlooked. Specifically, we show that while modular designs may help overcome coordination challenges by reducing interdependencies between modules, they can in turn hamper collaboration by emphasizing specialization within modules. Therefore, though existing work typically perceives modularity and integration as opposites, we clarify how they can also act as complements. In particular, we show how firms need to complement modular designs with integrating practices that stimulate cooperation. Overall, we contribute to the literature on collaboration and modularity by explaining when and how organizations can combine modularity and integration.     

Defining'science-based targets'

The 2015 Paris Agreement to keep global warming well below 2℃above pre-industrial levels and aim towards limiting warming to 1.5℃marked a wa-tershed in planetar...     

Analysis of teaching physical education to second-grade students using sport education

The purpose of this article was to provide an account of second-grade students and teachers, as well as a non-participant observer, after they participated in a season of Sport Education. For a total of 12 lessons, students participated in a season of developing throwing and catching and kicking skills. Interviews were conducted at the conclusion of the season to collect data from students and teachers regarding their experience. Field notes from the non-participant observer were also recorded. Although Sport Education is commonly introduced to students no earlier than the fourth grade, results revealed that there is the potential for introducing Sport Education to students as early as the second grade, a year in which the children typically turn eight years old. It is suggested that future studies of Sport Education with second-grade students could potentially enhance the learning experience of physical education students at the beginning of their school career.     

An exploration of Outward Bound New Zealand’s organisational culture

This article examines the key factors of organisational culture (artefacts, values and beliefs, and core assumptions) that have led to the development of Outward Bound New Zealand (OBNZ) over the past 50 years. Primary data for this case study were obtained through the use of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with past and present school and executive directors. A key finding is that OBNZ, founded on the beliefs of the German educator Kurt Hahn, has reviewed its values and formalised these into the ‘fundamentals’ of greatness, compassion, responsibility and integrity. Important visible symbols of the OBNZ brand are the badge, the logo with ‘to serve, to strive and not to yield’ and the cutter. The core assumption is still focused on self-discovery and the Outward Bound motto ‘there’s more to you than you think’. Internationally, Outward Bound course length has declined to just 4 days compared with OBNZ’s average of 14 days. In contrast, OBNZ has remained true to Hahn’s original belief, the ‘fundamental’ values, core assumptions and the Standard/Classic (three-week) course. These findings have implications for the development of outdoor adventure education and business organisations’ culture and leadership.     

世界著名沉船事件之一玛丽号

1545年“玛丽·罗斯”号在海港沉没。然而, 50年前,她却是亨利八世舰队的骄傲。