The differential antecedents of self-efficacy beliefs of novice and experienced teachers

Among the sources of teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, mastery experiences are postulated to be the most potent. Thus it seems likely that other sources of self-efficacy would play a larger role early in learning when fewer mastery experiences are available. Among the 255 novice and careers teachers who participated in this study, contextual factors such as the teaching resources and interpersonal support available were found to be much more salient in the self-efficacy beliefs of novice teachers. Among experienced teachers, for whom an abundance of mastery experiences were available, contextual factors played far less important a role in their self-efficacy beliefs.     

Cream skimming and elitism in state/municipality-regulated enrolment: A case study of two elementary schools in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Cream skimming and elitism in public elementary education is closely related to the question of selection criteria used by the schools in their selection procedure. Although equity in access seems to be important part of any education policy, individual school's practices are often selective. In the Slovenian context, state and municipalities seemingly regulate admission and selection criteria by catchment areas, yet the case study of two Ljubljana schools reveals different practice for undersubscribed schools. The paper, therefore, describes, discusses and analyses how schools in the state regulated system and defined catchment areas choose students and, thus, operate on a quasi-market.     

A meta-analysis on the influence of gamification in formal educational settings on affective and behavioral outcomes

Educational technology research and development - The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of gamification used in formal educational settings on student affective and behavioral...     

“If you stop playing you get old”: investigating reflections of play in older adults

Research shows various benefits of play in terms of children’s development. However, very little investigation has explored play from a lifespan perspective, linking early play experiences to older adulthood. Although some prior research has explored play memories, very little information is available on play memories of older adults, specifically, and perceptions of the importance of play in older adults. Using a lifespan perspective, this study explored the phenomenon of play through stories and memories from interviews with 15 older adults. Major study themes highlight changes between past and present play activity. Implications for practitioners and researchers are presented.     

Teleapprenticeship partners program: The lunch project

Summary The number of partnerships between businesses and schools is increasing rapidly. They are expanding into other areas besides the traditional vocational area and they are addressing the current issues of school reform. The frequency of pre-college level partnerships is increasing and reaching even preschool students as business is finding that early intervention for future employees is most productive. Businesses, schools, and communities have been shown to benefit from partnerships. Strong community support develops when employees of local businesses are involved in the schools. Business and school employees alike have enhanced morale when the community places priority on education. Through partnerships, industry has a hand in training future employees, schools receive timely knowledge about the skills necessary for entry level employees, and students receive relevant schooling for chosen careers. For a partnership to be successful, it must reflect the needs of all partners, have an organizational structure in which all partners have a voice, and share mutual goals. Activities which are the result of these goals must be monitored and evaluated both formatively (to modify activities in progress) and summatively (to plan goals and activities for future years). Successful partnerships often start small with a single school or project. When the short term goals are met, the project can then be expanded. Open communications, trust, and rapport are suggested as the most important factors in successful partnerships     

Education Reform in Hong Kong: The “Through-Road” Model and its Societal Consequences

Although Hong Kong’s education system has long been criticized as lacking in creativity and over-emphasising rote learning, on the whole it has served Hong Kong well in the past years, breeding outstanding business, academic and political leaders who continue to maintain Hong Kong’s competitive edge. The traditional elite schools have played a crucial role in the process. The education reform, which is still on-going, aims to overhaul the entire system by introducing the “through-road” model. To accomplish this, some mechanisms need to be changed. J.P. Farrell’s concepts of equality and equity, C.W. Mills’ concept of elitism, and P. Bourdieu and J. Coleman’s concepts of cultural and social capital will be applied to analyse the consequences of the reform. The paper argues that the education reform may be well-intentioned in eliminating some elements of inequality and inequity in education, but that this comes at the expense of Hong Kong’s cultural and social capital and leads to the development of new forms of inequality.     

Education Reform in Hong Kong: The “Through-Road” Model and its Societal Consequences

Although Hong Kong’s education system has long been criticized as lacking in creativity and over-emphasising rote learning, on the whole it has served Hong Kong well in the past years, breeding outstanding business, academic and political leaders who continue to maintain Hong Kong’s competitive edge. The traditional elite schools have played a crucial role in the process. The education reform, which is still on-going, aims to overhaul the entire system by introducing the “through-road” model. To accomplish this, some mechanisms need to be changed. J.P. Farrell’s concepts of equality and equity, C.W. Mills’ concept of elitism, and P. Bourdieu and J. Coleman’s concepts of cultural and social capital will be applied to analyse the consequences of the reform. The paper argues that the education reform may be well-intentioned in eliminating some elements of inequality and inequity in education, but that this comes at the expense of Hong Kong’s cultural and social capital and leads to the development of new forms of inequality.     

The development of oceanographical instruments

Oceanography is necessarily a three-dimensional science, for the open surface of the sea conceals tremendous variations in depth and marked differences in temperature, salinity, and water movement, all of which are critical for marine life. Today the major research programmes study the oceans in four dimensions, since changes with time—daily, seasonal, and year-to-year—are no less important than those in space. Oceanography and meteorology have much in common: the temperature and movement of air and water cannot be directly seen from the ground or sea level, but must be investigated by means of specialised instruments whose readings can be brought back to the observer.