Proposal for national targets in the framework of the European reduction goal for early school leaving

According to the European Commission’s “Europe 2020” strategy, the early school leaving (ESL) rate in European Union (EU) Member States must be reduced to a maximum of 10 per cent by 2020. This paper proposes a nonlinear distribution method based on dynamic targets for reducing the percentage of early school leavers. The aim of this method is to provide policymakers with alternatives in terms of transferring the EU-wide headline target to individual national targets. Weighting was based on four indicators: ESL rate, unemployment rate, expenditure on education as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP), and expenditure on schools per student. As a result, nine possible scenarios for ESL reduction have been constructed for each of the EU Member States in three groups: the whole EU up to June 2013 (EU27), EU Member States which joined before 30 April 2004 (EU15) and EU Member States which joined after 30 April 2004 (EU12). This method allows the European policy to be translated into specific national targets that would converge in the aggregate goal.     

Understanding a Phenomenon in Two Domains as a Result of Contextualization

This study illustrates how contextualization influences students' reasoning. An experiment on the properties of air was demonstrated with alternative designs to two groups of primary students (n = 45). Students' written explanations to the observations show that an experiment in which science equipment and chemicals are used poses a significant problem to these students, who have not yet been introduced to the different disciplines of school science. We argue that the scientific arrangement of experiments might in fact obstruct students' sound reasoning in explaining phenomena. In relation to its role as a trigger for reasoning, scientific equipment calls for a more conscious utilization than is often the case in school science.     

The Role of Metacognition in Reading Instruction

A new approach to improve children's cognitive activities is to increase their awareness and regulation of the skills to be trained through thinking aloud. This study deals with how to utilize metacognition in teaching children to read for meaning (comprehension) and learning from texts (studying). First, the general theoretical issues and practical implications of the concept of metacognition are discussed. This is followed by a presentation of a cognitive training program, together with the effects of the program on sixth‐graders’ reading skill. According to the findings of the present study, the training program used has the potential of improving instruction in comprehension and learning.     

The Influence of Teachers in the Operation of Basic Schools in Iceland1

The governance of basic schools (grades 1–10) in Iceland was transferred from state control to municipal control in 1995 with a new Basic School Act. This transfer was in line with the emphasis on school‐based management that was stressed in the Act. This policy was criticised by many, including teachers and their union representatives. Research indicates that basic principals are very pleased with their new working environment, but showed indication of dissatisfaction amongst teachers. Accordingly, it was of interest to investigate how this policy has influenced the working environment of basic school teachers: Has it facilitated increased autonomy of schools? Has it enhanced participative decision‐making and co‐operation amongst teachers? What kind of pressures and expectations has it generated from parents and municipal educational authorities? A questionnaire was sent to a sample of 750 teachers during the spring of 2005. The findings indicate that there seems to be a gap emerging between the perceived professional independence of schools and the professional independence of teachers. This study also indicates that the general teacher wants to be more involved in decision‐making in his/her school in areas such as development projects, in‐service planning and distribution of financial resources. The study also shows that external demands and pressures on teachers have increased considerably, particularly in urban areas.     

Predictors of Gender Inequalities in the Rank of Full Professor

This article examines whether age, work-related, and family-related predictors explain differences in the academic advancement of women and men in Iceland. Survey data were analyzed by binary logistic regression. The findings put that women climb the academic career ladder at a slower pace than men. This finding puts one of the widely known excuses for the underrepresentation of women in full professor positions into jeopardy, namely that this is because of family responsibilities. Work-related variables explain some of the gender differences. The study shows that as promotion is slower among women, even if family-related variables are not negatively affecting the odds, the academic pipeline is leaking despite Iceland's reputation for being at the forefront where gender equality issues are concerned.     

Evaluación de la percepción visual en el jardín de infancia

RESUMEN

Se presenta una batería de evaluación de la percepción visual en la edad preescolar, momento clave para subsanar cualquier trastorno y valorar sus posibles incidencias en el aprendizaje de la lectoescritura. Basándose en los planteamientos con los que Frostig elaboró su test de desarrollo de la percepción visual se intentan evaluar las siguientes funciones: reconocimiento de la forma, distinción figura-fondo, orientación de un objeto en relación con el observador, transposición o reproducción de ángulos y líneas, y coordinación visomotora. A la vista de los resultados obtenidos en la aplicación de este test en una población escolar de 184 niños de párvulos y 93 del primer curso de EGB, se elaboran unos cuadros y gráficos de referencia y se describe el nivel de eficiencia y el rendimiento mínimo exigible en cada grupo de edad.     

De la comunicación gestual al lenguaje verbal

RESUMEN

El artículo se centra en la evolución de la comunicación en el niño, desde el gesto hasta el establecimiento del lenguaje verbal. Se describen las características de la comunicación gestual (intención significativa, ausencia de límites del significante) y su evolución desde el nacimiento. La palabra forma parte de la gesticulación que acompaña a la actividad del adulto en su relación con el niño. El niño aprende el significado de las palabras porque forman parte de una gesticulación significativa. En este proceso se destaca el papel de la entonación, que parece constituir el eslabón intermedio entre el gesto y la palabra y tiene gran importancia en el posterior aprendizaje de las estructuras sintácticas y gramaticales. La intervención del adulto en el desarrollo infantil tiene una intención pedagógica: estimula, desarrolla y rectifica las emisiones del niño. El paso a la comunicación verbal se da en varias fases: comunicación afectiva, uso de apelativos o denominación, aprendizaje de la oposición (negación), expresión de la calificación de sus experiencias, invitación a la acción, designación, designación de objetos ausentes, aprendizajes sintácticos y semánticos. Con la aparición de las frases el lenguaje se separa definitivamente de la comunicación gestual.     

Programa para enseñar a leer la hora

Resumen

En el presente trabajo exponemos el programa que usamos actualmente en nuestros centros para enseñar a los alumnos a leer la hora, utilizando un reloj con agujas. Para la elaboración de este programa hemos tenido en cuenta el procedimiento empleado en sesiones individuales de recuperación, entendiendo que las modificaciones hechas a nivel de reeducación individual incorporadas al programa general, reducirían la posibilidad de fracaso.

Con el programa presentamos las gráficas de aprendizaje, donde se refleja, a partir de una evaluación inicial, los aprendizajes experimentados por los sujetos a los que se les ha aplicado.

Aunque el período de tiempo en que se ha llevado a la práctica ha sido relativamente corto, creemos que los avances conseguidos han sido positivos.