Using Preservice Teachers to Improve Computer Skills of At-Risk Alternative High School Students

This research examined the impact of preservice teachers delivering individualized instruction of basic computer skills to at-risk, ethnic minority alternative high school students in an urban school district in South Texas. The alternative high school students' achievement of computer skills, motivation to use computers, and self-efficacy as current and future students was assessed. University preservice teachers taught a keyboard/computer skills curriculum developed specifically for this collaborative teaching and learning project in 10 1-hr-long sessions 2 times a week over a 5-week period. A series of 2 by 2 repeated measures analysis of variance showed achievement gains as measured by a survey instrument within the treatment group. This small, preliminary study supports the use of preservice teachers in the delivery of an individualized, computer-based program of instruction for at-risk students.     

The role of domain knowledge in creative generation

Previous studies have shown that a predominant tendency in creative generation tasks is to base new ideas on well-known, specific instances of previous ideas (e.g., basing ideas for imaginary aliens on dogs, cats or bears). However, a substantial minority of individuals has been shown to adopt more abstract approaches to the task and to develop more original products as a result. Because domain knowledge is sometimes thought to be associated with more abstract representations, it is possible that these individual differences are linked to how much people have learned about the domain in question. The present study explored the relationship between domain knowledge, the tendency to rely on specific domain instances and both the originality and practicality of outcomes in a task in which participants designed novel sports. In addition to designing novel sports, participants rated their own knowledge about and participation in sports, and they took a short test of sport knowledge. As in previous studies, there were individual differences in approaches to the task, and participants who relied on specific known sports (e.g., basketball) produced less original designs. Neither the measures of sport knowledge nor the measure of sport participation related to the tendency to rely on specific instances in developing the novel sports or to the originality of those creations. However, there were links between tested knowledge and the rated practicality of the designs.     

UK Work Placements: A Choice Too Far?

Tertiary Education and Management - Increasing expectations are being placed on higher education institutions to ensure the economic relevance of research and knowledge creation as well as...     

Diurnal patterning of eight activities in 14 species of muroid rodents

The diurnal patterning of locomotion, stereotypy, grooming, eating, drinking, sleeping, postural readjustment, and inactivity was studied in 14 species of muroid rodents in the laboratory using a visual observation technique.Microtus canicaudus, M. montanus, M. ochrogaster, andM. pennsylvanicus exhibited acyclic activity patterns, whilePeromyscus eremicus,P. gossypinus, P. leucopus, P. maniculatus bairdi, P. polionotus, Calomys callosus, Mus musculus, andOnychomys leucogaster displayed nocturnality in their behavioral patterning.Rhabdomys pumilio exhibited crepuscular activities andNeofiber alleni displayed a complex pattern of nocturnality. Species differed in total amount of time spent per day for all activities but eating. The acyclicity ofMicrotus species appears to be related to high metabolic rates and a semifossorial life-style.     

Construct validity of the learning behavior scale with an independent sample of students

In this study, the factor structure of the Learning Behavior Scale (LBS; McDermott, Green, Francis, & Stott, 1999) was examined in an independent sample of 257 elementary school students. The LBS is a 29‐item, four‐factor scale on which teachers rate students' positive and negative learning behaviors. The results indicated that the internal consistency of the total LBS scores and the scores on two subscales (Competence Motivation and Attitude Toward Learning) were high enough for individual decision making, whereas the reliability estimates of scores on the Attention/Persistence and Strategy/Flexibility subscales were appropriate only for research or screening purposes. Factor analyses extracted factors similar to three of the factors on the LBS (Competence Motivation, Attitude Toward Learning, and Strategy/Flexibility), and suggested that the fourth factor (Attention/Persistence) may benefit from additional study. In general, the results indicate that the LBS may be a useful tool for examining students' learning behaviors. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Longitudinal factor structure of the WISC‐III among students with disabilities

If the factor structure of a test does not hold over time (i.e., is not invariant), then longitudinal comparisons of standing on the test are not meaningful. In the case of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Third Edition (WISC‐III), it is crucial that it exhibit longitudinal factorial invariance because it is widely used in high‐stakes special education eligibility decisions. Accordingly, the present study analyzed the longitudinal factor structure of the WISC‐III for both configural and metric invariance with a group of 177 students with disabilities tested, on average, 2.8 years apart. Equivalent factor loadings, factor variances, and factor covariances across the retest interval provided evidence of configural and metric invariance. It was concluded that the WISC‐III was measuring the same constructs with equal fidelity across time which allows unequivocal interpretation of score differences as reflecting changes in underlying latent constructs rather than variations in the measurement operation itself. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhancing Preservice Teachers' Understanding of Web-based Scientific Inquiry

Journal of Science Teacher Education -