A meta-analysis of outcome studies of visual-based instruction

This article describes a statistical integration of findings from 74 studies of visualbased college teaching. In the typical study, students learned slightly more from visual-based instruction than from conventional teaching. In the typical study, visual-based instruction had no special effect on course completion, student attitudes, or the correlation between aptitude and achievement. Students were equally likely to complete visual-based and conventional classes; their attitudes toward the two kinds of classes were very similar; and aptitude played a strong role in determining student achievement in each kind of class. This study was supported by National Science Foundation Grant SED 77-18566.     

Characteristics of child abuse in immigrant Korean families and correlates of placement decisions

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the characteristics and patterns of child abuse among immigrant Korean families in Los Angeles and critical variables that contribute to the type of placement made by the child protective services (CPS) system. METHOD: Data were obtained from reviewing and analyzing 170 active Korean case files maintained by the Asian Pacific Unit (APU) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (LAC-DCFS) during July through September, 2001. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the odds of children being kept in or removed from the home. RESULTS: Some of the major findings from this study include: (1) immigrant Korean families are more likely to be charged with physical abuse (49.4%) and less likely to be charged with neglect (20.6%) in comparison with all other groups in Los Angeles (13.2% and 27.1%, respectively); (2) the circumstance under which physical abuse occurred most frequently was corporal punishment used by Korean parents with an intention to discipline their children; and (3) the context under which emotional abuse occurred among the Korean families was likely to be children's witnessing domestic violence. In addition, the logistic regression showed that response status, referral source, living arrangement, victim's relationship to perpetrator, and chronicity of abuse were significant in predicting out-of-home placement. CONCLUSIONS: An analysis of Korean child abuse cases reported to child protective service revealed that culture and child rearing practices shaped the patterns of child maltreatment. A culturally sensitive approach is strongly suggested for effective child abuse prevention and intervention services with this group by CPS agencies.     

Assessment for Effective Intervention: Enrichment Science Academic Program

Israel suffers from a growing problem of socio-economic gaps between those who live in the center of the country and residents of outlying areas. As a result, there is a low level of accessibility to higher education among the peripheral population. The goal of the Sidney Warren Science Education Center for Youth at Tel-Hai College is to strengthen the potential of middle and high school students and encourage them to pursue higher education, with an emphasis on majoring in science and technology. This study investigated the implementation and evaluation of the enrichment science academic program, as an example of informal learning environment, with an emphasis on physics studies. About 500 students conducted feedback survey after participating in science activities in four domains: biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. Results indicated high level of satisfaction among the students. No differences were found with respect to gender excluding in physics with a positive attitudes advantage among boys. In order to get a deeper understanding of this finding, about 70 additional students conducted special questionnaires, both 1 week before the physics enrichment day and at the end of that day. Questionnaires were intended to assess both their attitudes toward physics and their knowledge and conceptions of the physical concept “pressure.” We found that the activity moderately improved boys’ attitudes toward physics, but that girls displayed decreased interest in and lower self-efficacy toward physics. Research results were used to the improvement of the instructional design of the physics activity demonstrating internal evaluation process for effective intervention.     

TRENDS RESHAPING COLLEGES

The annual Community College Futures Assembly is usually a trend-setting experience and this year was no exception. This special issue highlights lessons learned from the institutions who competitively presented and broke new ground at the 2002 Assembly. The theme, Trends in the New Economy , was evident in each presentation and the vehicle of web-casting demonstrated how the community college could be reshaped by technology. Attendees were introduced to the ideas reshaping the new economy by the keynote speaker Britt Beemer and the Bellwether Finalists presented viable examples of college adaptation to these reshaping trends. Important pre-assembly workshops introduced innovative concepts relating to the future of community colleges, including access to baccalaureate degrees. The stimulating presentations, enthusiastic camaraderie, and great meals set the stage for all attendees to take home trend-setting information to their institutions and communities. This introduction focuses on the experience of attending the 2002 Community College Futures Assembly. Approximately 200 community college trustees, presidents, vice-presidents, deans, faculty members, and other decision makers representing 25 states attended the Assembly which was held in Orlando, Florida. The Assembly is sponsored annually by the Institute of Higher Education (IHE), University of Florida (UF) and cosponsored this year by Dell Computers, Saville & Holdsworth, and the numerous organizations identified in this introduction. The assembly has provided quality learning experiences since 1995 and is proud to be an independent national policy forum recognized by the Association of Community College Trustees for its Trustee Education Recognition Program.