Object permanence in child and chimpanzee

In a repeated-measures design, two infant chimpanzees and three human infants were tested in like manner using the Uzgiris and Hunt (1975) stepwise assessment instrument for the development of object permanence in human infants. Comparisons between chimpanzee and human subjects showed similarities in the number of steps achieved, in the order and rate of achieving the steps, and in the detailed characteristics of searching behavior. These results suggest that the course of development of the concept of object permanence, as described by Piaget, is a very general one.     

The need for educational reform and the role of teacher training: The case of Papua New Guinea

This paper examines the current problems of educational provision in Papua New Guinea which occupied the attention of the 1991 Education Sector Review. These problems include the failure both to achieve universal primary enrolment and to retain primary children entrants over the six year cycle, the limited uptake of upper secondary and higher education opportunities, especially by girls, and the inadequacy of present arrangements for vocational education. The proposals of the 1991 Review are then described concentrating on changes to the educational structure, reforms in the primary school curriculum and the changes, which have already been initiated, to the length and organization of teacher training.     

Beyond graduation: The educational and employment experiences of graduates of an elective studies degree program

This study describes the results of a questionnaire follow-up study of the employment and educational experiences of the graduates of a nontraditional elective studies degree program. Graduates of the experimental Bachelor of Elected Studies (BES) program at the University of Minnesota were compared with regular liberal arts graduates in terms of their postgraduation educational and employment experiences as well as their attitudes toward their undergraduate education. Results showed that although there were some differences between BES and regular liberal arts graduates in their attendance at graduate school, job history, and attitudes, goals, and expectations toward their undergraduate education, there were many similarities between the two groups. In most cases, BES graduates compare rather favorably with regular liberal arts graduates on most of the indicators examined in this study.     

Blended Perspectives: A Global Vision for High-Quality Early Childhood Education

What are the attributes of a high-quality early childhood education program worldwide? An group of experienced early childhood educators that represent diverse international backgrounds attempts to respond to this question by examining six dimensions of quality set forth by the Association for Childhood Education International: (1) philosophies and goals, (2) high-quality physical environments, (3) developmentally appropriate and effective pedagogy and curriculum, (4) attention to basic and special needs, (5) respect for families and communities, (6) professionally prepared teachers and staff, and (7) rigorous program evaluation. The article concludes with an annotated list of references, both in professional publications and online, that examine early childhood education from an international perspective.     

A surprising discovery: five pedagogical skills outdoor and experiential educators might offer more mainstream educators in this time of change

This article draws from the experience of outdoor and experiential educators working in the context of a radical, long-term formal public education research project. One of the accidental findings from the research is that experienced outdoor educators may have particular pedagogical skills, likely honed by the contexts in which they work, that can be of use to mainstream educators trying to expand their pedagogical repertoire, teach outdoors or be more environmentally focused in their practices. The article begins by contextualising the Maple Ridge Environmental School Project, describing the researchers and methods and explaining how the research team came to their insights. A discussion follows of five pedagogical skills identified by the researchers that outdoor and experiential educators may possess which might be offered more clearly to classroom teachers and formal teacher training processes and/or be more clearly enunciated for those involved in formal and informal outdoor and experiential training contexts.     

The role of context in a collaborative problem-solving task during professional development

This article analyses how a group of teachers managed the resources available while performing computer-supported collaborative problem-solving tasks in the context of professional development. The authors video-recorded and analysed collaborative sessions during which the group of teachers used a digital environment to prepare a pedagogical scenario for subsequent implementation in their schools. The findings provide evidence that some aspects of context management can be explained in terms of explorative (opening problem space) and focused (closing problem space) actions. The results indicate that (a) the focused problem-solving took place when the problem space reached a provisional stability and problem-solvers developed a plan for proceeding with the task, (b) the individual exploration of the context was associated with the process of appropriation of a digital educational environment, and (c) the collective exploration of the context fostered the advancement of collaborative problem-solving and the introduction of new elements in the joint problem space.     

Perceptions in Role Change from Teacher to Counselor

12 school counselors, former teachers who had been counseling no more than 2 years, were interviewed on how they experienced the processes of role change from teacher to counselor. Theoretical constructs from sociological research on role and reference groups were used in the analysis. Anticipatory socialization was found not to have been engaged in by the new counselors. Having been a teacher was found to be dysfunctional to the extent that (a) it gave rise to ambivalence between the two roles, (b) demanded change in perspective toward the student, the school system, and the teachers, and (c) caused conflict by the necessity of changing the compliance system used with students. Having been a teacher was found to be functional to the counselor role in understanding and working with counselees and teachers on student-teacher problems. The dysfunctional aspects of having taught outweighed the functional aspects and inhibited positive identification with, as well as impeding adjustment to, the new role of counselor.