Developmental Achievements of 7‐year‐old Children in Poland in the Light of International Tests and the Requirements of the Polish Language School Program

The language competence and reading comprehension of 406 7‐year‐old children are examined in the research discussed in this article. The children were tested using comparative tests as part of an international project conducted in 14 countries and sponsored by the IEA and the High Scope Research Foundation in Ypsilanti, USA. The discussion here relates only to a part of this wider research and focuses upon the aims and contents of Polish language teaching in grades I—III of the Polish primary school.     

A Role for Music Therapy in Special Education

Music therapy is the planned use of music to achieve therapeutic aims. This article outlines the role and application of music therapy in special education with reference to findings documented in recent research and practice literature. Music therapy in Australia is practised in medical contexts (e.g., nursing homes, hospice care, hospitals) and education contexts (e.g., special schools, regular schools, and special education development units). Music therapists also work in private practice or in community programs.     

Generating Random Parallel Test Forms Using CTT in a Computer-Based Environment

This paper describes a procedure for automated test forms assembly based on Classical Test Theory (CTT). The procedure uses stratified random content sampling and test form pre-equating to ensure both content and psychometric equivalence in generating virtually unlimited parallel forms. The procedure extends the usefulness of CTT in automated test form construction, yielding classical item statistics based on representative sample distributions and pre-equated test forms with known psychometric characteristics. A rationale for the procedure is presented followed by an example application and discussion of psychometric considerations related to its use.     

Perspectives on… Roaches, Guerrillas, and “Librarians on the Loose”

Sophistication and accessibility can be dangerous bedfellows, especially when it comes to information sources. One of the real challenges in undergraduate academic libraries can be connecting students in a meaningful way to the resources that will be most helpful and understandable for them. This article discusses how techniques borrowed from the world of business and marketing, as well as customer service techniques, can provide some useful strategies for librarians serving undergraduates.     

Using Blackboard in Library Instruction: Addressing the Learning Styles of Generations X and Y

Studies show that recent generations of college students have a learning style with identifiable characteristics. Library instruction efforts must adapt to these learning styles. Course management software (CMS), such as Blackboard, is one resource available to academic librarians to meet the challenges posed by the "Net Generation." At Stetson University, the use of Blackboard courseware in library instruction sessions successfully addressed the unique learning styles of students.     

Influence of improved teaching practices on student satisfaction ratings for two undergraduate units at an Australian university

To track the quality of instruction delivered at the University of Western Australia, the university surveys all units using its Students’ Unit Reflective Feedback (SURF) metrics, and faculties use these metrics to benchmark student satisfaction. Consequently, teaching staff are actively encouraged to adopt teaching practices that will increase the average levels of these metrics. Using a ‘before-after’ approach, we compared these metrics before and after the implementation of improved teaching practices that addressed specific weaknesses identified through student responses for two undergraduate units. Despite the implementation of improved teaching practices, SURF scores did not increase significantly for the two units assessed, due possibly to the components of the academic programme covered by the SURF questions, the field-based nature of the units, and the difficulty in measuring an increase in the SURF scores of units which already score highly. This poor sensitivity of the SURF metrics to the implementation of improved teaching practices could have implications for their use for performance assessment by the university.