A Triangulated Approach to the Modelling of Learning Outcomes in First Year Economics

Initial insights derived from modelling aspects of learning outcomes in the first year study of economics are presented. Of particular interest are three forms of entering students' prior knowledge: (a) subject-specific prior knowledge; (b) conceptions of learning, and (c) learning history. Part 1 compares the analyses of variance of inventory responses of the 1998 first year cohorts of the Universities of Adelaide and South Australia. Results across the two universities are consistent in confirming the significant effects of having studied economics at school, having English as a second language, and holding economic misconceptions, on (end of semester one) learning outcomes. Part 2 models learning outcomes using three approaches: (a) a single dimension of variation (selected from a more complex common factor model) which is then used to inform; (b) a k-means cluster analysis; and (c) a non-linear regression analysis. This "triangulation" of approaches produces different but complementary insights into the underlying relationships being modelled and improves our understanding of the learning engagement processes of entering first year economics students.     

To maintain circularity: Biological roots of education

Truisms have the disadvantage that by dulling the senses they obscure the truth. Almost nobody will become alarmed when told that in times of continuity the future equals the past. Only a few will become aware that from this follows that in times of socio-cultural change the future will not be like the past... At any moment we are free to act toward the future we desire. In other words, the future will be as we wish and perceive it to be. This may come as a shock only to those who let their thinking be governed by the principle that demands that only the rules observed in the past shall apply to the future. For those the concept of change is inconceivable, for change is the process that obliterates the rules of the past (Von Foerster, 1972).     

Code‐switching in US ethnic literature: multiple perspectives presented through multiple languages

For the multilingual author, switching between two or more languages is not an arbitrary act, nor is it simply an attempt to mimic the speech of his or her community; code‐switching results from a conscious decision to create a desired effect and to promote the validity of the author's heritage language. This article looks at code‐switching in literary texts between Spanish and English, English and Chinese, and English and Jemez, a Native American language. Incorporating native and heritage languages along with English within a literary work, usually through code‐switching, creates a multiple perspective and enhances an author's ability to express his or her subject matter.     

The effectiveness of science supervisors and their membership status within a faculty

…Teachers tend to say they find their supervision of little value. Supervisors say their work has a lot of value. Supervisors seem to be saying that they want to spend more time doing what their clients (the teachers) consider to be relatively useless.     

Digital Youth Divas: Exploring Narrative-Driven Curriculum to Spark Middle School Girls’ Interest in Computational Activities

Women use technology to mediate numerous aspects of their professional and personal lives. Yet, few design and create these technologies given that women, especially women of color, are grossly underrepresented in computer science and engineering courses. Decisions about participation in STEM are frequently made prior to high school, and these decisions are impacted by prior experience, interest, and sense of fit with community. Digital Youth Divas is an out-of-school program that uses narrative stories to launch the creation of digital artifacts and support non-dominant middle school girls’ STEM interests and identities through virtual and real-world community. In this article, we discuss the framework of the Digital Youth Divas environment, including our approach to blending narratives into project-based design challenges through on- and offline mechanisms. Results from our pilot year, including the co-design process with the middle school participants, suggest that our narrative-centered, blended learning program design sparks non-dominant girls’ interests in STEM activities and disciplinary identification, and has the potential to mediate girls’ sense of STEM agency, identities, and interests.     

Reflections on working with critical action learning

Critical action learning engages participants in a process of drawing from critical perspectives to make connections between their learning and work experiences, to understand and change interpersonal and organisational practices. But what does this mean in practice? How can critical action learning be expedited? What outcomes can critical action learning have for participants, and can the hopes for critical action learning be fulfilled? The intentions of this paper are to contribute reflections of our empirical experience on working with critical action learning in management development.