Developmental Trajectories of Acculturation: Links With Family Functioning and Mental Health in Recent‐Immigrant Hispanic Adolescents

The present study was designed to examine acculturative changes, and their effects on mental health and family functioning, in recent‐immigrant Hispanic adolescents. A sample of 302 Hispanic adolescents was assessed five times over a 2½‐year period. Participants completed measures of Hispanic and U.S. practices, collectivist and individualist values, and ethnic and U.S. identity at each time point. Baseline and Time 5 levels of mental health and family functioning were also assessed. Latent class growth analyses produced two‐class solutions for practices, values, and identifications. Adolescents who increased over time in practices and values reported the most adaptive mental health and family functioning. Adolescents who did not change in any acculturation domain reported the least favorable mental health and family functioning.     

Motivational profiles as a combination of academic goals in higher education

The aim of the current study was to obtain information from students in higher education on different motivational profiles that resulted from the combination of three academic goals (i.e. learning goals (LG), performance-approach goals and performance-avoidance goals). Moreover, information related to the relevance of each goal within each motivational profile was explored to explain conditions closely related to the academic engagement. The sample consisted of 2556 students from five Spanish universities. Motivational profiles were obtained by using cluster analysis followed by a relevance analysis of each goal within each motivational profile. The results support the hypothesis concerning motivational profiles, and further suggest for motivational profiles with a predominance of LG to be more adaptive. According to our findings, high level of LG in one’s motivational profile appear to be a powerful protective factor in maintaining high interest in academic work, as well as high control beliefs and self-efficacy.     

Parental discipline in Spain and in the United States: differences by country,parent-child gender and education level / Disciplina parental en España y en Estados Unidos: diferencias en función del país,del sexo de padres e hijos y del nivel educativo

This study aimed to analyse and compare the frequency of a wide range of parental discipline methods between Spain and the United States of America, according to country, parent-child gender and education level. To this end, 2,755 undergraduates, 1,416 from Spain and 1,339 from the United States, retrospectively reported the discipline that their parents had administered. Spanish parents, compared with Americans, showed a higher frequency in all types of discipline. Mothers in both countries more often applied most of the discipline methods, while the gender of the children was generally not related to the discipline received. Finally, a higher parental education level was associated with a higher rate of verbal explanation, a higher frequency of penalty tasks and with a lower use of physical punishment by the mothers. The implications of these findings are discussed based on the results of previous studies and cultural differences between the two countries.     

Development of word reading fluency along primary education: a six-year follow-up / El desarrollo de la fluidez en la lectura de palabras en educación primaria: un seguimiento longitudinal de seis años

Word reading fluency is a key component in the process of reading. In order to understand its acquisition it is crucial to conduct longitudinal studies. The aim of this work was to describe the development of word recognition in Spanish, considering accuracy and speed, from a longitudinal perspective. A group of 31 children were followed for six years. Reading performance was assessed with a list of 72 stimuli in which lexicality, frequency and length were manipulated. Results show that initial gains in reading accuracy occurred very rapidly. However, the growth of reading speed was found to be more difficult and complex, and automatic word recognition remains low at the end of Grade 6. Low frequency, long words were the most difficult stimuli. High stability in reading speed was observed and it was a relevant indicator that differentiates between good and poor readers. The findings also highlighted the need to develop training programs with the specific aim of improving word reading fluency throughout primary education.     

Professional development for design-based learning in engineering education: a case study

Design-based learning (DBL) is an educational approach in which students gather and apply theoretical knowledge to solve design problems. In this study, we examined how critical DBL dimensions (project characteristics, design elements, the teacher's role, assessment, and social context) are applied by teachers in the redesign of DBL projects. We conducted an intervention for the professional development of the DBL teachers in the Mechanical Engineering and the Electrical Engineering departments. We used the Experiential Learning Cycle as an educational model for the professionalisation programme. The findings show that the programme encouraged teachers to apply the DBL theoretical framework. However, there are some limitations with regard to specific project characteristics. Further research into supporting teachers to develop open-ended and multidisciplinary activities in the projects that support learning is recommended.     

The Promise of Spanish Publishing in Mexico and the United States

The publishing industry in Mexico is a distinctive environment due to several elements: the role of the State government as the main publisher or buyer of books, the historic and central role of the Spanish publishing industry in the direction and influence of Mexican market through their affiliate companies, and the influence of the US book market concerning influences and trends. In a country of 120 million people, where the book reading rate is very low, as is the number of bookstores, I explore the changes that are taking place right now in the context of the crisis in the Spanish book market and why I see a promising future for the general interest publishing market in the Spanish language in Mexico and the US.     

Toward an instructional design model based on learning objects

The present moment in the history of higher education requires setting strategies and specific action plans to guarantee a place in the highly competitive and demanding world scenario. The incorporation of information and communication technologies is one of the feasible paths to be considered, but this requires formulating proposals insuring appropriate use of said technologies seeking improvement of education quality. For this purpose, Universidad de La Sabana has developed an instructional design model based on learning objects.