A culturally embedded model for effective intercultural communication

The goal of this paper is to outline a model of intercultural communication that provides a theoretically rigorous foundation for the training of intercultural workers. This model exists, as any does in a vast field of multiple spatial and temporal, social and political contexts. Primary among those is the increasing migration of people across and into new cultural settings. This can precipitate a range of results from increased interpersonal stress through to an awareness of an increase in the richness of experience with a culturally diverse context. The model presented in this article has been developed in response to what has been perceived as an urgent need to improve intercultural relations in various national and local institutions.     

Middle School Engagement with Mathematics Software and Later Interest and Self-Efficacy for STEM Careers

Research suggests that trajectories toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) emerge early and are influenced by multiple factors. This paper presents a longitudinal study, which uses data from 76 high school students to explore how a student’s vocational self-efficacy and interest are related to his or her middle school behavioral and affective engagement. Measures of vocational self-efficacy and interest are drawn from STEM-related scales in CAPAExplore, while measures of middle school performance and engagement in mathematics are drawn from several previously validated automated indicators extracted from logs of student interaction with ASSISTments, an online learning platform. Results indicate that vocational self-efficacy correlates negatively with confusion, but positively with engaged concentration and carelessness. Interest, which also correlates negatively with confusion, correlates positively with correctness and carelessness. Other disengaged behaviors, such as gaming the system, were not correlated with vocational self-efficacy or interest, despite previous studies indicating that they are associated with future college attendance. We discuss implications for these findings, which have the potential to assist educators or counselors in developing strategies to sustain students’ interest in STEM-related careers.

     

Career decision-making of high school students in Kenya

The aim of this study was to identify importantfactors that influence career decisionmaking of highschool students in Kenya. The study indicates thatrural students tend to seek help from parents andteachers more than urban students, and that parents,more than career teachers, play a major role in thecareer decision-making of students. Findings alsoindicate that gender, selfconcept and vocationalstereotyping are among the major factors thatinfluence career decisions of high school students inKenya.     

Remembering Hans: His Ongoing Legacy for Guidance and Counselling

Dr. Hans Hoxter played a central role in facilitating the development of guidance and counselling in many parts of the world. This retrospective focuses on Hans' work that led to the creation and development of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance and the International Round Table for the Advancement of Counselling. The article also includes perspectives that he shared in an interview conducted with him in late 2001.