Simulation in Higher Education: A sociomaterial view

This article presents a sociomaterial account of simulation in higher education. Sociomaterial approaches change the ontological and epistemological bases for understanding learning and offer valuable tools for addressing important questions about relationships between university education and professional practices. Simulation has grown in many disciplines as a means to bring the two closer together. However, the theoretical underpinnings of simulation pedagogy are limited. This paper extends the wider work of applying sociomaterial approaches to educational phenomena, taking up Schatzki’s practice theory as a distinctive basis for doing so. The question ‘What is being simulated?’ is posed, prompting discussion of multiple bodies, performances and experiences. The potential of adopting such a framework for understanding simulation as a pedagogic practice that brings the classroom and workplace together is illustrated with reference to clinical education in nursing.     

Prisons,old cars,and Christmas trees: A metaphoric analysis of familial communication

This paper is a metaphoric analysis that explores college students’ perceptions of their families in relation to their family of origin, concept of family, and family communication. Metaphors were thematically analyzed and placed in categories of positive, negative and neutral responses given by individuals. Constant comparative method was also used to identify themes and dimensions among the metaphors. Throughout the results, students had an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward their family of origin and the concept of family. Responses about family communication, however, tended to range mainly from a neutral to negative perception. Additional results, implications, and future directions for family communication research are also discussed.     

Copyright and Regulation

Information Hotline, “Special Copyright Issue, (November 1976)“ (Science Associates/International, Inc., 1841 Broadway, New York 10023—$8.50, paper, with a discount scale for bulk purchase)

Copyright Revision Act of 1976: Law, Explanation, Committee Reports (Commerce Clearing House, Inc., 4025 West Peterson Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60646—$12.50, paper)

Media Law Reporter has come to light since the brief note in the January issue (see 8:52)

Robert Trager and Donna L. Dickerson's College Student Press Law (NCCPA Publications, School of Journalism, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701—$5.00, paper)

William Ruckelshaus and Elie Abel, eds. Freedom of the Press (Washington: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 1976—$2.50, paper)

Richard Olin Berner's Constraints on the Regulatory Process: A Case Study of Regulation of Cable Television (Cambridge, Mass.: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1976—price not given, but about $15.00)     

Slavic‐Related Pamphlets from the Communist Party USA's Reference Center for Marxist Studies

This article describes the nearly 1,000 Slavic‐related pamphlets acquired in 2006 by New York University's Tamiment Library from the Reference Center for Marxist Studies, which was the library of the Communist Party USA.     

Relational messages in conflict situations among siblings

The purpose of this study was to explore the association of sibling conflict style (i.e., integrative, distributive, avoidant) with perceived relational communication themes (i.e., immediacy, similarity, receptivity, composure, formality, dominance, equality, task orientation). Participants were 186 undergraduate students who reported on a recent conflict episode with a sibling. Results indicate that (a) siblings who used the relational communication themes of immediacy, similarity, receptivity, composure, and equality reported using the integrative conflict strategy, but not the distributive conflict strategy, and (b) siblings who used the relational communication theme of immediacy and to a lesser extent the theme of task orientation, but not the relational communication themes of similarity and equality, reported not using the avoidant conflict strategy.     

Reference and PDF-Manager Software: Complexities,Support and Workflow

In the past, librarians taught reference management by training library users to use established software programs such as RefWorks or EndNote. In today's environment, there is a proliferation of Web-based programs that are being used by library clientele that offer a new twist on the well-known reference management programs. Basically, these new programs are PDF-manager software (e.g., Mendeley or Papers). Librarians are faced with new questions, issues, and concerns, given the new workflows and pathways that these PDF-manager programs present. This article takes a look at some of those.     

Evolving,Not Extinct: Music Reference in the 21st Century

As reference work changes dramatically due to computer technology, tangible reference collections are disappearing from academic libraries in many fields. Such is not the case in music research libraries, however. While many important online music reference resources exist, many print resources remain vitally important, and because of limited funding, they are unlikely to be digitized soon. Music libraries and music reference collections are currently a combination of traditional and online resources, enhanced by human expertise. This beneficial combination should be maintained.     

Teaching and Learning Science Through Song: Exploring the experiences of students and teachers

This qualitative, multi-case study explored the use of science-content music for teaching and learning in six middle school science classrooms. The researcher sought to understand how teachers made use of content-rich songs for teaching science, how they impacted student engagement and learning, and what the experiences of these teachers and students suggested about using songs for middle school classroom science instruction. Data gathered included three teacher interviews, one classroom observation and a student focus-group discussion from each of six cases. The data from each unit of analysis were examined independently and then synthesized in a multi-case analysis, resulting in a number of merged findings, or assertions, about the experience. The results of this study indicated that teachers used content-rich music to enhance student understanding of concepts in science by developing content-based vocabulary, providing students with alternative examples and explanations of concepts, and as a sense-making experience to help build conceptual understanding. The use of science-content songs engaged students by providing both situational and personal interest, and provided a mnemonic device for remembering key concepts in science. The use of songs has relevance from a constructivist approach as they were used to help students build meaning; from a socio-cultural perspective in terms of student engagement; and from a cognitive viewpoint in that in these cases they helped students make connections in learning. The results of this research have implications for science teachers and the science education community in developing new instructional strategies for the middle school science classroom.     

Introduction: Through our eyes and in our own words

The realities of Indian belief and existence have become so misunderstood and distorted at this point that when a real Indian stands up and speaks the truth at any given moment, he or she is not only unlikely to be believed, but will probably be contradicted and "corrected" by the citation of some non-Indian and totally inaccurate "expert." More, young Indians in universities are now being trained to see themselves and their cultures in terms prescribed by such experts rather than in the traditional terms of the tribal elders ?. In this way, the experts are perfecting a system of self-validation in which all semblance of honesty and accuracy is lost. This is not only a travesty of scholarship, but it is absolutely devastating to Indian societies. (Deloria, as cited in Rose, 1992, p. 404)     

Who Am I and Where Do I “Stand?”

Objective: Students can reflect upon and articulate how they have been shaped by their “standpoints” in life. This assignment allows students to truly see themselves reaching out (understanding others) and reaching in (examining selves) to reflect upon their standpoint in society. Secondary goals are to dispel stereotypes of various standpoints and create more openness in class discussions.

Potential courses: Gender Communication, Communication Theory, Cultural Communication, and Introduction to Public Speaking