The novels of Patricia Wrightson

Patricia Wrightson is an Australian writer whose first novel was published in 1955. She has produced six other novels and a collection of short stories and poems for children-Emu Stew (1977). Her best-known novel,I Own the Racecourse (A Racecourse for Andy), was runner-up for the 1968 Australian Children's Book of the Year Award. She has made a special study of the Aboriginal nations of S. E. Australia and feels that in her novels she responds to places and people.Betty Gilderdale, born and educated in England, has an Honors degree in English. She has lived in New Zealand for the last ten years and has been a lecturer in English at North Shore Teachers College, Auckland, for most of that time. She was a founder member and president of the N.Z. Children's Literature Association.     

An investigation of general education requirements in college curricula

The subject of study is the impact of general education or “core” requirements on students in the Purdue School of Humanities, Social Science, and Education. The investigation, begun in 1969, deals with approximately 1100 beginning freshmen of which over 400 make up the experimental group. All students are being followed through their undergraduate years, the first two of which are reported here. The experimental group is differentiated from the other groups in that its constituents have been permitted to waive any or all core requirements. The experimental group has achieved a higher grade index while carrying a slightly higher course load. Contrary to expectation, they selected many core courses. They also indicated greater satisfaction with their programs, their school, and the University. Core requirements for future students have been modified as a result.     

The alienation response of children abused in out-of-home placement

THIS BRIEF COMMUNICATION addresses program abuse in out-of-home placement which deepens what we identify as the alienation response in the already alienated child. Alienation is defined as a state of feeling separate, apart, not being able to relate effectively with another, not belonging, and with impaired ability to connect the inside world of feelings with the outside environment. Program abuse is seen as any act or condition permitted in a program that further alienates a child. In evaluating a child's degree of alienation and developing creative methods to reach the most severely “child alone,” the use of the Alienation Chart in Figure 1, has been helpful to our staff.     

A methodological morass? How we can improve quantitative research in distance education

This article is about the quantitative research practices and methodologies that are used in distance education (DE). It begins with an analysis and assessment of a segment of the DE research literature, DE/classroom comparison studies, based on a recently completed meta-analysis of that literature from 1985 to 2002. Overall, the 232 studies reviewed were judged to be of poor methodological quality and severely lacking in critical information about research practices. Studies of synchronous and asynchronous DE are discussed separately and recommendations are made for improving designs and measures within these patterns. Suggestions for future quantitative research areas are provided. In discussing these findings, we recognize that high-quality research is being conducted in the field and that qualitative forms of research contribute greatly to the mosaic of evidence that is the base of available knowledge about DE. Finally, three organizations, the What Works Clearinghouse (USA), EPPI-Centre (UK), and the Campbell Collaboration (international), all devoted to improving the quality of research and research synthesis in education, are described briefly; suggestions are made as to how their philosophies and approaches for judging the worthiness of research evidence can be used to improve DE research.     

Schools as knowledge work organizations: Perspectives and implications from the new management literature

The authors argue that the knowledge work metaphor is the most powerful image of schools for understanding reform. Using themes from the new management literature, such as shared decision making, collegiality, innovation, and experimentation, as additional guides for school improvement, the authors develop a case for systemic reform based on the professionalization of teaching and the integration of theory, research, and practice, Finally, transformational leadership is presented as the key to facilitating systemic reform.     

"伴性遗传"的课堂教学

1 教材分析 上海科技版《生命科学》（试验本）高二第一学期[1]第1节第四部分内容是＂性别决定和伴性遗传＂,本节课＂伴性遗传＂是在学生了解性别决定的基础上展开的一节重要内容,是区别于常染色体遗传方式的另一种遗传方式.教材首先给出了伴性遗传的定义,然后指出红绿色盲是一种伴性遗传病,其致病基因为隐性基因Xb.通过图解得出红绿色盲的遗传规律,     

Cesarean birth from three research perspectives

Issues surrounding cesarean birth are of interest to researchers from varied disciplines and nations. In this column, three studies that examine aspects of cesarean birth are reviewed. One study presented a review of 11 studies and found differences in the perceptions of white and minority mothers toward labor, vaginal birth, and cesarean birth. In a second study on infant outcomes, Japanese researchers found differences in transient tachypnea in infants born in the first half of the 37th week gestation and those born in the second half of the 37th week and the 38th week of gestation. In a third study conducted in Norway, researchers found more complications when cesarean birth occurred at advanced dilation. The three studies' implications for childbirth educators are discussed.     

浅析WebQuest的作用与局限

从教学的角度分析WebQuest的作用,认为WebQuest有利于激发学生的学习兴趣;培养学生的探索、研究精神;有利于培养学生的团队协作意识,形成协作学习方式;有利于提高学生的思维水平,培养学生的创新意识和能力;有利于学生的全面发展。同时WebQuest还存在不适合所有课程内容的教学和学习、一定程度上限制了老师的思维、学生很难一直都保持较高的积极性和投入高水平的思维等局限性。     

Measuring the Impact of Professional Accreditation on Student Experiences and Learning Outcomes

This research uses a conceptual model to examine the influence of a change in accreditation standards on a representative national sample of 203 engineering programs at 40 institutions. Based on data collected from more than 140 program chairs, 1,200 faculty, 4,300 graduates of 2004, and 5,400 graduates of 1994, the study investigates the differential impact of the change in accreditation standards on programs reviewed in different years during the period of transition. Despite significant variation across most of the measures and groups in 1994 (before the introduction of the new accreditation criteria), the 2004 evidence demonstrates a surprisingly uniform level of student experiences and outcomes. These findings suggest that engineering accreditation is beginning to accomplish its quality assurance goals. This is a revised version of a research paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Institutional Research, May 17, 2006, Chicago, IL.