Female computer science students: A qualitative exploration of women’s experiences studying computer science at university in the UK

Education and Information Technologies - The under-representation of w omen in computer science education courses is well documented, and the social and commercial need to address this is widely...     

Event-based H∞ filtering for discrete-time Markov jump systems with network-induced delay

The problem of event-based H_∞ filtering for discrete-time Markov jump system with network-induced delay is investigated in this paper. For different jumping modes, different event-triggered communication schemes are constructed to choose which output signals should be transmitted. Through the analysis of network-induced delay’s intervals, the discrete-time system, the event-triggered scheme and network-induced delay are unified into a discrete-time Markov jump filter error system with time-delay. Based on time-delay system analysis method, criteria are derived to guarantee the discrete-time Markov jump error system stochastically stable with an H_∞ norm bound. The correspondent filter and the event-based parameters are also given. A numerical example is given to show that the proposed filter design techniques are effective and event-triggered communication scheme can save limited network resources greatly.     

Learning with videos vs. learning with print: The role of interactive features

Two complementary studies, one in the laboratory and one in the field, compared the usage patterns and the effectiveness of interactive videos and illustrated textbooks when German secondary school students learned complex content. For this purpose, two videos affording different degrees of interactivity and a content-equivalent illustrated textbook were used. Both studies showed that in contrast to previous studies working with non-interactive videos, the effectiveness of interactive videos was at least comparable to that of print, probably due to the possibilities provided for self-regulated information processing. It was shown that the interactive features of the videos were used spontaneously. However, features enabling micro-level activities, such as stopping the video or browsing, seemed to be more beneficial for learning than features enabling macro-level activities, such as referring to a table of contents or an index. This finding is explained by students’ misconceptions about the use of features enabling macro-level activities.     

Preparing for the inclusive classroom: changing teachers’ attitudes and knowledge

India’s educational policy on inclusive education for students with disabilities is in sync with general global developments. Especially in the last couple of years there have been significant legislative achievements towards this endeavour. However, the implementation of inclusive education remains elusive. Besides this, teachers’ preparedness for inclusion has received little attention. This survey study had two aims. Firstly, we aimed at finding or constructing a reliable instrument to measure three aspects: the attitudes, knowledge about disability and inclusive teaching methods of regular schoolteachers. Secondly, we aimed to describe the outcomes of the three aspects. For attitudes and teaching methods we found a reliable instrument, which was selected for the usage in this study. We constructed and assessed the reliability of a scale in measuring knowledge about four disabilities: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, intellectual disability and autistic spectrum disorder in pilot and main studies. The results revealed that teachers hold neutral attitudes towards inclusive education. Their knowledge about disabilities, however, was low, but knowledge about inclusive teaching methods was acceptable, which was a significant finding. The practical implications for preparing teachers to work towards inclusion are also discussed.     

On the role of impact evaluation of quality assurance from the strategic perspective of quality assurance agencies in the European higher education area

In this paper the current national legislations, the quality assurance approaches and the activities of impact analysis of three quality assurance agencies from Romania, Spain and Germany are described from a strategic perspective. The analysis shows that the general methodologies (comprising, for example, self-evaluation reports, peer reviews, on-site visits, assessment reports, follow-up measures) and main subjects of quality assurance in higher education (such as study programmes and institutional structures and processes) are very similar in the sample cases. However, up to now, impact evaluation of quality assurance has not been implemented systematically in the sample agencies (as in many others). This is the more relevant since the European standards of quality assurance in higher education oblige quality assurance agencies to analyse their general findings and observe the effects of their activities. Against that background, it is argued that methodologically sound impact analyses of quality assurance interventions in higher education institutions should be seen as an integral part of the agencies’ own quality assurance because it would make their work more transparent and easier to improve systematically. The paper identifies some professionalisation needs required for impact evaluation competences: staff and peers who are qualified by methodological knowledge but also by ‘soft’ skills such as project and conflict management.     

Activating Students’ Argumentative Resources on Socioscientific Issues by Indirectly Instructed Reasoning and Negotiation Processes

The present study analyses the impact of negotiation processes on activating argumentative resources for decision-making in a socioscientific issue (SSI) in biology classes. The research focuses on the potential of group-based negotiation processes to activate the use of relevant argumentative resources without any prescribed or explicit instructions on these resources and arguments. In the corresponding intervention with a pre-post-design, students are encouraged to reason and weight their own arguments, which are based on protecting local biodiversity. The students have to reason and weight individually (pre-phase) immediately before they discuss their own reasoning and weighting with others in groups (treatment). The students have to then, once again, reason and weight their arguments individually (post-phase). The students are instructed, during these three steps (pre-phase, treatment, post-phase), using an educational tool, target-mat, which structures the reasoning and weighting visually, but does not prescribe the way of argumentation. By analysing the students’ argumentative resources, normative and fact-based elements can be measured immediately before and after the negotiation process. In terms of the pre-phase, the use of differing and appropriate argumentative resources can be analysed in relation to different arguments. The pre- and post-comparison reveals relevant changes leading to a substantial increase of the quality of reasoning. Therefore, in a student-centred decision-making process with minimal guidance, students are encouraged to become aware of the appropriateness of different argumentative resources.

     

International large-scale assessments in education: Insider research perspectives

International Review of Education -     

Potentials,dissonances and reform initiatives in field-based learning and mentoring practices in the early childhood sector in Germany

In Germany, the field-based element in the education/training of early childhood educators is given high priority in the development of professional competencies. Nevertheless, Germany lacks a firmly anchored regulatory and curricular framework for early childhood education and care settings as ‘workplace learning sites’ (Lernort Praxis) and the current approaches towards practical placements have been strongly criticised. Debates have focused on the (inadequate) interface between theory and practice and the overriding influence of the vocational colleges as sites of professional preparation. The examination of existing regulations regarding practical placements shows that the practice sites and the mentors who work there receive too little attention. Beyond this, the education/training of (early) childhood educators is dominated by the vocational colleges – not least because the two places of learning (i.e. the college and the workplace) are assigned to different authorities and ministries. The quality of workplace-based learning can therefore only be enhanced by relevant policy decisions and by integrating the interface between theory and practice on a curricular basis.