The impact of teacher–student relationships and classroom engagement on student growth percentiles of 7th and 8th grade students

The study examined the extent that teacher–student relationships (TSR) influenced basic psychological needs, engagement, and student growth using the self‐systems process model as a framework using structural equation modeling. Based on prior research, it was hypothesized that context (TSR) influenced self (basic psychological needs), which influenced action (engagement), and consequently, influenced outcome (student score and grade point average‐GPA). The findings of the study supported prior research that a TSR positively influenced levels of engagement in the classroom and, consequently, student outcomes as measured by classroom grade point average (GPA) and standardized assessment results. Using an identical methodological setup that substituted student growth percentiles (SGP) for scale scores, it was determined that TSR, basic psychological need satisfaction, and level of engagement do not influence SGP. Implications and potential contributions are discussed.     

The systematic evaluation of a strategic management program in an Irish Institute of Technology

Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) worldwide are investing significant resources in strategic planning and self-evaluation programs to improve institutional performance and to meet external stakeholder demands. Little empirical evidence exists however which demonstrates that these programs are effective in leading to improvements in institutional performance, let alone shed light on the reasons why. This paper reports on the systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of a strategic planning program in an Irish HEI over a 5-year-period in leading to improvements in institutional performance.     

The professional development needs of special needs assistants in Irish post-primary schools

According to government policy in Ireland, special needs assistants (SNAs) may be employed in post-primary schools to support students deemed to have chronic and serious care needs. There is currently no national policy regarding the continuing professional development (CPD) of SNAs, to meet the requirements of their role. This study investigated the CPD needs of SNAs, working in post-primary schools, in the Border, Midland and Western region of Ireland. Findings from a survey of SNAs and principals revealed that while the majority agreed CPD for SNAs should be compulsory, an ad hoc approach to provision of CPD prevailed, and barriers to CPD were identified. Findings also indicated that CPD in supporting students with Emotional and Behaviour Disorders was a key requirement identified by principals and SNAs. Supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and promoting student independence were also identified as areas for CPD. The need for a national policy with regard to CPD for SNAs is highlighted.     

What We Found on Our Journey through Fantasy Land

This paper sketches a “map” of certain patterns in current children’s fantasy. Beginning with literal maps of fantasy worlds, I point out the similarities of the physical layout of a number of invented worlds, suggesting that sameness of geography often indicates a lack of innovation in the ideological or philosophical ideas behind the stories. Where we find a departure from conventional fantasy geography we also find originality in plot and metaphysics, such as in the work of Ursula K. Le Guin, Philip Pullman and Diana Wynne Jones. A change in geography can also signal a new approach to gender roles, as I explore in works by Le Guin and Wynne Jones, over and against fantasies in which female heroes conform to traditionally male models. Finally, I suggest that in Wynne Jones’ and Terry Pratchett’s children’s novels the strict gender roles of fairy tale become an avenue by which the reader questions the conventional destinies of narrative both in literature and in life.     

Bringing Guidance Research and Practice Closer Together: The UK National Guidance Research Forum Website

This article outlines the development of a website in the UK that seeks to bring guidance research and practice closer together. The shared knowledge base underpinning the website was created from the contextualised problems faced by potential user groups (policy makers, managers, practitioners, students, trainees, researchers and trainers). Six expert groups, drawn from these user groups, looked at key issues related to their expertise and provided an on-line commentary on relevant documents and research findings. This developmental process represented a major contribution to research capacity building within the UK guidance community.

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Zusammenfassung. Forschung und Praxis der Berufsberatung näher zusammenbringen: Das Internet-Forum Berufsberatungsforschung in England Dieser Artikel stellt die Entwicklung eines Internetangebots in England vor, dessen Ziel es ist, die Forschung auf dem Gebiet der Berufsberatung und die Berufsberatungspraxis näher zueinander zu bringen. Die vereinigte Wissensbasis, auf der dieses Internetangebot beruht, wurde auf der Grundlage von kontextbezogenen Fragestellungen zusammengetragen, denen potenzielle Benutzergruppen (politische Entscheidungsträger, Führungskräfte von Beratungsdiensten, Berater, Studenten, Wissenschaftler, Lehrende und Lernende) gegenüberstehen. Sechs Expertengruppen, die diesen Benutzergruppen entsprechen, bewerteten zentrale Aspekte und erstellten einen Online-Kommentar zu wichtigen Dokumenten und Forschungsergebnissen. Dieser Entwicklungsprozess lieferte einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Weiterentwicklung der Leistungsfähigkeit der Forschung innerhalb des Berufsberatungsfeldes in England.

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Resumen. Acercando la Investigación y la Práctica de la Orientación: la Página Web del Foro Nacional de Investigación sobre Orientación del Reino Unido Este artículo describe el proceso de desarrollo de una página Web en el Reino Unido que busca un mayor acercamiento entre la investigación y la práctica de la orientación. La base de conocimientos que fundamenta los contenidos de la página se ha creado a partir de la contextualización de los problemas a los que se enfrentan diversos grupos de usuarios potenciales (responsables de las políticas, gestores, orientadores en ejercicio, estudiantes, orientadores en formación, investigadores, y formadores). Seis grupos de expertos, provenientes de estos grupos de usuarios, examinaron algunas cuestiones fundamentales relacionadas con su campo de experiencia, e hicieron comentarios on-line sobre documentos relevantes y resultados de investigación. Este proceso de desarrollo ha supuesto una gran contribución y un importante avance en la construcción de la capacidad investigadora dentro de la comunidad orientadora del Reino Unido.

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Résumé. Approcher la recherche et la pratique en orientation: le site Web du forum de la recherche nationale britannique en orientation Cet article décrit le développement d’un site Web au R-U qui cherche à rapprocher la recherche et la pratique en orientation. La base de connaissances partagées qui sous-tend le site Web a été créée à partir de problèmes contextualisés face auxquels des groupes d’utilisateurs potentiels (décideurs, directeurs, praticiens, étudiants, stagiaires, chercheurs et formateurs) peuvent se trouver. Six groupes d’experts, tirés de ces groupes d’utilisateurs, ont examiné les questions clés liées à leur expertise et fourni un commentaire en ligne sur la documentation pertinente et les résultats de la recherche. La mise en oeuvre de ce processus représente une contribution importante à l’élaboration d’un potentiel de recherche au sein de la communauté britannique de l’orientation.

     

Exploring the nature and implications of student teacher engagement with development education initiatives

In this article, the authors outline and discuss the findings of a research study, which explored student teacher engagement with development education (DE) interventions implemented within Professional Master of Education (PME) programmes across eight Irish Higher Education Institutions. Interpretivist methods were employed incorporating questionnaires administered to 536 student teachers pre and post the DE intervention and 6 focus group discussions conducted with 26 student teachers. Findings indicate that the capacity of PME students to engage with development issues and integrate DE into their teaching has strengthened considerably because of their participation in the intervention. However, in order to build upon this more must be done with respect to: strengthening student teachers’ knowledge of development issues; embedding DE further across PME programmes; enhancing practical engagement with DE on School Placement and prioritising DE-related research and reflection. Findings align with a conceptual understanding of DE as a complex system.     

Redefining what it means to be a teacher through professional standards: implications for continuing teacher education

This article connects with an international debate around the place of professional standards in educational policy targeted at enhancing teacher quality, with associated implications for continuing teacher education. Scotland provides a fertile context for discussion, having developed sets of professional standards in response to a recent national review of career-long teacher education. That review called for a reprofessionalisation of the teaching profession and the revision of the standards was an element of this process. Scotland is utilised as a lens through which one country’s response to international trends is viewed, with a focus on ‘teacher leadership’ and ‘practitioner enquiry’ as policy endorsed sets of practices. The analysis demonstrates the complex and contested nature of these terms and the tensions posed between the need to meet professional standards as part of teacher education and aspirational dimensions of the current policy project of reprofessionalisation. The article concludes by considering the implications for continuing teacher education.     

Relationship of performance on the sensory organization test to landing characteristics

Jump landing tasks have been used to assess landing characteristics and require significant sensorimotor feedback to maintain functional joint stability (FJS) throughout the task. Postural stability (PS) also requires significant sensorimotor feedback and control and would seemingly involve similar sensory feedback pathways. However, previous literature clarifying the relationship between these two processes, maintaining FJS and PS, is limited. 80 Special Tactics Operators. PS was assessed using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT). SOT variables included: Composite, Somatosensory, Visual, Vestibular, and Preference scores. Landing characteristics were assessed using motion analysis during a double-legged (DLSJ) and single-legged (SLSJ) stop jump task. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between SOT scores and landing characteristics (α < .05). For the DLSJ, significant correlations were found between: Composite and peak posterior ground reaction forces (?.257), Vestibular and peak knee abduction moment (?.237), and Preference and initial contact hip flexion (?.297), peak hip flexion (?.249). For the SLSJ, significant correlations were found between: Somatosensory and peak vertical ground reaction forces (?.246); Preference and initial contact hip flexion (?.295), peak hip flexion (?.262). The results indicate that the SOT may not be a sensitive enough tool to assess sensorimotor control in a healthy, athletic population.     

Exploratory factor analysis of parent ratings of child and adolescent anxiety: A preliminary investigation

This study explored the factor structure of a parent rating scale designed for use in the assessment of child and adolescent anxiety. A total of 176 usable surveys were returned from parents of children in grades kindergarten through 11. Exploratory common factor analyses on the 29‐item scale suggested one second‐order factor yielding an internal consistency estimate of .93 which accounted for 70% of the covariance among items. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

‘You feel ashamed that you are not in the higher group’—Children’s psychosocial response to ability grouping in primary school

The impact of performative focused agendas on how teachers ‘do’ teaching and how children ‘do’ learning cannot be understated. While research continues to highlight the negative impact of ability grouping on children’s academic and social learning experiences in the classroom, policy imperatives (both global and local) continue to promote ability grouping as an ‘effective’ pedagogic tool for meeting the diverse needs of children, especially in the areas of numeracy and literacy. We argue that this is a symbolically violent process that negatively impacts the psychosocial positioning of children as they negotiate their identities within the figured world of the primary school classroom. This in turn influences their learner identities, as well as their perceptions of their ability to learn. Drawing on data collected with 100 children in three case study schools, we show how ability grouping evoked strong emotional and psychosocial responses characterised by feelings of ‘shame’, ‘upset’ and ‘inferiority’ for those in the low-ability groups. In contrast, children placed in higher-ability groups felt a sense of ‘pride’, ‘happiness’ and ‘confidence’. Ability grouping maps a geography of affect within the classroom demarcating not only how children ‘do’ learning, but also how they embody learning through a particular feeling of ‘being’ a learner in the classroom.