The weakening role of education studies and the re-traditionalisation of Swedish teacher education

Research suggests that certain common policy presuppositions can be identified regarding teacher education programmes in advanced knowledge-based economies, most notably?the relationship between formal education (schooling) and economic production, and the role of teacher education in respect to this relationship. This article draws on the work of Basil Bernstein to engage theoretically and critique the nature of that evolving policy relationship within the context of Sweden. While the article concentrates on developments in one country, however, it is contended that the findings are symptomatic of a wider European or even global trend in which the scientific foundation of teacher education is under threat.     

Soldier education in the British army, 1920–2007

This article surveys the history of compulsory education for soldiers’ career advancement in the British army. It begins with an examination of the organisational context before analysing the rationale, syllabus, teaching and assessment of soldier education. It concludes that for members of the army education organisation their self‐perception as soldiers and educators is of crucial importance; that the justifications for soldier education have been debated constantly between the ‘liberal’ and ‘utilitarian’ groupings within the organisation; and finally that significant work remains to be done in this nexus between British military and educational history.     

Inter-session Reliability of Glenohumeral Internal and External Rotation Range-of-motion Measurements is Unaffected by Use of Applied Load Feedback

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated whether real-time applied load feedback and a predefined applied load limit improved inter-session reliability and measurement error of passive glenohumeral rotation range-of-motion measurements. Twenty-one male recreational overhead athletes completed two data collection sessions, approximately 1-week apart. Measurements of internal and external rotation range-of-motion and clinician-applied loads were obtained and side-to-side differences were calculated. A load limit of 4 Nm was used for feedback trials. Perception of a capsular end-feel was used for no-feedback trials. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement (SEMs) and minimal detectable changes (MDCs) were derived. ICCs from single trials with and without feedback ranged from 0.72–0.93 and 0.63–0.89, respectively. SEMs ranged from 2.6°-6.1° with feedback and 3.3°-6.0° without feedback. MDCs from single trials with and without feedback ranged from 7.2°-16.8° and 9.1°-16.7°, respectively. Applied load feedback did not improve, already moderate to excellent, inter-session reliability and SEM for passive glenohumeral rotation range-of-motion measurements.     

Teachers’ implicit theories of intelligence: influences from different disciplines and scientific theories

A sample of 226 Swedish high school teachers from various knowledge domains completed self-report measures of intelligence regarding implicit theories and scientific theories of intelligence. A mixed ANOVA showed that teachers from language, social science and practical disciplines had a significant preference for an incremental theory of intelligence compared to an entity theory of intelligence whilst the teachers in mathematics did not. One of the conclusions was that entity theories of intelligence may be more pronounced among teachers in mathematics. Second there is a significant relation between naïve beliefs in intelligence as fixed and inborn, entity theories, and the scientific g-factor theory. Last, it was the oldest and most experienced and youngest and least experienced teachers who preferred an entity theory of intelligence the most.     

Changing professional discourses in teacher education policy back towards a training paradigm: a comparative study

Modern definitions of professions connect professional knowledge to scientific studies and higher education. In the present article we examine the changing nature of this relationship in initial teacher education in two European countries: Sweden and England. The article is based on policy analyses from recent decades of teacher education reforms. The findings suggest a policy convergence through a shared policy return that has moved teacher education back toward a teacher training paradigm.     

Organizing A Painting Set-Up For Young Children

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of teacher competence within and among three groups of educators (teachers, college supervisors, and public school administrators) as measured by the interview scales of the Instrument for the Observation of Teaching Activities (IOTA) . Six teachers were interviewed, and the interviews were recorded on video tape. Thirty educators, stratified into three groups, and randomly selected from those trained in use of the Instrument, scored the taped interviews. A reliability coefficient for each group of recorders and for the total of the three groups of recorders was calculated from the statistics generated by a three-way analysis of variance. A two-way analysis of variance was then utilized to test for the significance of differences among the three groups of recorders and within each group of recorders and within all recorders on each individual scale. The major findings and conclusions of this study were as follows: 1.) The reliability coefficients as determined by the three-way analysis of variance for each of the three groups and for the total (30) recorders indicated a difference in perception as follows: administrators, .773; teachers, .618; college supervisors, .952; total (30) recorders, .961; 2.) the interview, normally considered a qualitative tool, can be evaluated with quantitative techniques; and 3.) administrators, teachers, and college supervisors perceive many areas of teacher competence similarly.     

Volunteer Utilization Report Prepared for Future of the Library Task Force of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, 2010

The author has prepared a planning document on how her library system can use volunteers as one strategy for keeping libraries open in the face of severe budget cuts by the county government that provides most of the library's funding. The document is addressed to the Future of the Library Task Force, the planning group that makes policy recommendations to governance officials. The author also estimates the number of volunteers and the number of hours they will contribute as Charlotte Mecklenburg Library works to implement the plan. These calculations generate several tables with information about volunteer activities within the system to provide the planners with sufficient information to make appropriate decisions.