Modeling Nonlinear Structural Equation Models: A Comparison of the Two-Stage Generalized Additive Models and the Finite Mixture Structural Equation Model

Researchers have devoted some time and effort to developing methods for fitting nonlinear relationships among latent variables. In particular, most of these have focused on correctly modeling interactions between 2 exogenous latent variables, and quadratic relationships between exogenous and endogenous variables. All of these approaches require prespecification of the nonlinearity by the researcher, and are limited to fairly simple nonlinear relationships. Other work has been done using mixture structural equation models (SEMM) in an attempt to fit more complex nonlinear relationships. This study expands on this earlier work by introducing the 2-stage generalized additive model (2SGAM) approach for fitting regression splines in the context of structural equation models. The model is first described and then investigated through the use of simulated data, in which it was compared with the SEMM approach. Results demonstrate that the 2SGAM is an effective tool for fitting a variety of nonlinear relationships between latent variables, and can be easily and accurately extended to models including multiple latent variables. Implications of these results are discussed.     

Evaluating the Influence of an Urban High School Reform Effort on College Readiness and Access Outcomes: A Quasiexperimental Cohort Study

It is widely accepted that postsecondary education has become a necessity for US youth. College access, however, has been found not to be equal for all. As a result, federally funded college-readiness programs, such as Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), have been established to increase the numbers of economically disadvantaged students with access to college. This quasiexperimental case study compared academic and nonacademic college-readiness indicators between cohorts of GEAR UP students and nonparticipants in 1 urban high school. Overall, cohorts of GEAR UP students outperformed their non-GEAR UP peers on all measures (grade-point average, attendance rate, behavior, graduation rate, and college enrollment) despite a dramatic demographic shift that led to greater proportions of educationally disadvantaged students in the GEAR UP cohorts.     

The relationship between behavioural integrity,competence, goodwill,trustworthiness, and motivating language of a principal

Utilising the oral language of a principal leading an inner-city at-risk elementary school in a large urban school district in the southwestern USA, the researchers tested behavioural integrity and the dimensions of source credibility (competence, goodwill, and trustworthiness) as antecedents to Motivating Language Theory and the ML Model. Teacher perception data at the Title I elementary school was used for this quantitative study. Over 95% of the teachers responded to a survey each year for a three-year period. Each year, there were statistically significant correlations between each of the antecedents and motivating language. The antecedents accounted for 66–75% of the total variance for motivating language depending on the year based on regression analysis. The results of this study extend the field of Motivating Language Theory and the ML Model, and further explain how the work of principals is accomplished.     

Editorial for EAIT issue 3, 2021

Education and Information Technologies -     

Cuba: Au Dela De L'education Rurale Integree

Résumé Se basant sur des expériences d'éducation rurale intégrée faites par certains pays en voie de développement, l'auteur examine l'objet d'une telle éducation et ses chances de succès. Un exemple positif est donné par Cuba où tout l'ancien système d'éducation, essentiellement centré sur l'activité urbaine a été transformé et axé sur la terre pour répondre avant tout aux besoins de la population rurale. Le plan d'apprentissage prévu pour les ouvriers et les paysans a été unifié dans son contenu et dans ses structures afin que l'éducation en zone rurale et destinée à des personnes qui auront une activité rurale, ne présente pas ce caractère de bouche-trou qu'elle a dans d'autres pays. La solution aux problèmes pratiques est rangée au premier plan; on le constate dans l'éducation secondaire et universitaire où la réforme n'a pas seulement introduit des stages (agricoles) mais a aussi changé l'orientation du système tout entier afin d'offrir à la population rurale une occasion d'améliorer ses conditions de vie.

---

On the basis of experiences made by some developing countries with integrated rural education, the goal of such education and its chances of success are discussed. A succesful example is the land-centred education in Cuba, where the entire—previously urban—centred educational system has been transformed into one serving primarily the needs of the rural population. Learning provision for workers and for peasants has been largely unified in content and organisation. Thus education in rural areas and for rural occupations does not have the stopgap character it has in some other countries. Emphasis is on the solution of practical problems. This is illustrated by the example of university and secondary education. The goal has been not merely to introduce practical (agricultural) training but to change the orientation of the entire system so as to offer the rural population a chance of improving their living conditions.

---

Zusammenfassung Ausgehend von den Erfahrungen mit einer integrierten ruralen Erziehung in einigen Entwicklungsländern, wird das Ziel und die Erfolgschancen dieser Erziehung diskutiert. Als positives Beispiel wird die land-zentrierte Bildung in Kuba vorgestellt, wo das gesamte Bildungswesen bewusst auf die Bedürfnisse der Landbevölkerung ausgerichtet wurde. Das Bildungswesen wurde vereinheitlicht, wobei Bildungsweg und Bildungsinhalte nicht mehr nach dem alten Typ des stadtzentrierten Unterrichts organisiert sind. Das Bildungsangebot ist für Arbeiter und Bauern weitgehend vereinheitlicht. Dadurch bekam die Bildung auf und für das Land nicht den Lückenbüssercharakter wie in manchen anderen Ländern. Bei dieser mehr auf ländliche Gebiete hin orientierten Bildung steht die Lösung praktischer Probleme im Vordergrund, wie dies am Beispiel der universitären- und der Sekundarbildung erläutert wird. Es geht nicht darum, nur (landwirtschaftliche) Praktika einzuführen, sondern die gesamte Orientierung zu verändern, um insbesondere der Landbevölkerung die Perspektive besserer Lebensverhältnisse auf dem Lande zu vermitteln.

---

---

Les opinions exprimées dans cet article ne reflètent pas nécessairement celles de l'UNESCO.     

Future themes of mathematics education research: an international survey before and during the pandemic

Educational Studies in Mathematics - Before the pandemic (2019), we asked: On what themes should research in mathematics education focus in the coming decade? The 229 responses from 44...