User Democracy in Schools? Comparing Norwegian Schools With Nursing Homes

Democratic user control is a hallmark of Scandinavian schools, but also of other services of the Scandinavian welfare states. This article studies variations in parental control and influences in public and non-public schools. In addition, how the use of different governance tools inspired by markets affects user control is analyzed. The empirical investigation consists of matching public and non-public schools and nursing homes in three Norwegian municipalities. The study concludes that there is important variation between public and non-public schools, while there is little variation between public and non-public nursing homes. The organization of the quasi-market is an important explanation for this.     

The importance and development of ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills in basketball players for different positions

This study first investigated the importance of ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills in achieving the elite level in basketball. The second aim was to gain insight into the development of, and association between ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills that contribute to achieving the elite level, with taking into account positional differences. Talented male players (N = 73; age 16.56 ± 1.96) completed the STARtest to measure ball control and a questionnaire to measure (self-reported) self-regulation from 2008–2012. Results showed that (self-reported) reflective skills were most important to achieve the elite level (OR = 11.76; P < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in (self-reported) reflection over time for guards, forwards, and centers. Improvement in ball control was evident for guards (r = ?0.65; P < 0.05). Furthermore, guards and forwards had better ball control compared to centers (P < 0.01). For those two positions, negative correlations were found between (self-reported) reflection and ball control, i.e., higher reflection was related to better ball control (guards r = ?0.19; forwards r = ?0.18) in contrast to centers (r = 0.34). It is concluded that (self-reported) reflective skills are important to achieve the elite level, while ball control seems especially important for guards.     

Development of the Exercise Motives and Gains Inventory

There are existing measures of exercise motives (what people want from exercise), but corresponding measures of gains (what people get) are needed, because motives and gains could influence each other and together influence other variables. An exercise motives and gains inventory (EMGI) was developed by creating gains scales to complement existing Exercise Motivations Inventory 2 scales. Confirmatory factor analyses of EMGI items established that items reflected their intended constructs; and that motive and gain constructs were distinct. Exploratory structural equation modeling of EMGI scales established that the higher-order structures of motives and gains were somewhat different: Appearance motive was associated with weight management, whereas appearance gain was associated with health and fitness. Paired-sample t-tests established that gains were less than motives in some instances (ill-health avoidance, positive health), and greater in others (e.g., affiliation, challenge). The EMGI can be used to investigate the consequences and causes of motives and gains.     

Girls and Information Technology in Denmark—an account of a socially constructed problem

The author offers an interpretation of why we resist associating the female sex with competence on the computer, and conversely, why the male sex is not regarded as a problem in terms of learning to deal competently with the computer. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between gender and computers.     

Evaluation of fellowships awarded to developing countries — What do the studies tell?

Despite the expansion in the developing countries of institutions of higher education the award of fellowships to nationals from these countries for study abroad, in particular in developed countries, is still important. In order to learn about the effectiveness of various elements of the fellowship programmes - for example, the selection process, the relevance and use of the training, and the brain drain - many donor agencies as well as a few recipient countries have evaluated the activity. However, as most of these studies are never published, there is very little readily available information about the outcome of the fellowship training. Against this background, the present article analyses and discusses the findings of a number of evaluations undertaken. The analysis points out the more important problem areas in the activity. It also draws attention to some methodological issues which, if not considered, may invalidate the findings of studies.     

Identifying different registers of digital literacy in virtual learning environments

In this paper social semiotics, and systemic functional linguistics in particular, are used in order to identify registers of digital literacy in the use of virtual learning environments. The framework of social semiotics provides means to systemize and discuss digital literacy as a linguistic and semiotic issue. The following research question was investigated in the paper: What different registers of digital literacy could be identified when students and teachers communicate and interact in a VLE?The research question was answered by, initially, an application of social semiotics to virtual learning environments, and its relation to the knowledge domains of everyday, specialized and reflexive digital literacy. This application was then further developed, using an analysis of a course specific use of a virtual learning environment in a case study. The study identified discrepancies between the digital literacies of teachers, designers and students. These discrepancies mean that a shared semiotic register was sometimes difficult to maintain. The conclusion is that the designers and teachers as co-designers of virtual learning environments need a better understanding of everyday digital literacy in order to design more sufficient learning environments. The paper shows that digital literacy must be considered as a situated practice, and that it concerns functional and communicative competencies rather than acquiring a set of technical skills.     

The Dangers of using Film in Schools

This is an account of a situation which is in no way a fictitious case and one which unfortunately happens only too often.     

PISA and scientific literacy: similarities and differences between the nordic countries

In this paper we have set out to search for similarities and differences between the Nordic countries concerning patterns of competencies defined as scientific literacy in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study. The first part focuses on gender differences concerning the two types of competencies, understanding of scientific concepts versus skills in scientific reasoning, based on analyses of sum scores of groups of items. The second part focuses on differences and similarities between countries based on item‐by‐item analyses. Correlations between each Nordic country (as well as the Nordic group as a whole) and every other country have been used to look for a Nordic pattern. In the last part cluster analysis has been used to see how countries establish clusters and whether these clusters represent meaningful groups in a geographical, cultural or political context.     

Predicting Achievement Goals in Two Different Academic Contexts: A longitudinal study

The relative contribution is examined of epistemological beliefs and implicit theories of intelligence to students' adoption of mastery, performance‐approach and performance‐avoidance goals in two different academic contexts, business administration and teacher education, in the short as well as the long term. The results showed that epistemological beliefs about the speed of knowledge acquisition predicted achievement goals. Students who believed that learning occurs quickly or not at all were less likely to adopt mastery goals and more likely to adopt performance‐avoidance goals. In addition, students who believed in stable and given knowledge were less likely to adopt mastery goals. Differences in predictive patterns across the two contexts concerned the prediction of performance‐approach goals and gender differences in goal adoption. Epistemological beliefs played a more important role in goal adoption than implicit theories of intelligence.     

Fourth Graders' Social Standing with Peers: A Prospective Study on the Role of First Grade Physical Activity,Weight Status,and Motor Proficiency

We prospectively examined the role of physical activity involvement, weight status, and motor functioning capability in 1^st grade for social status among other pupils in class in the 4^th grade. Our sample included 80 Norwegian 1^st grade pupils (Girls N = 44; Boys N = 36). 1^st grade motor proficiency and objectively measured physical activity, but not weight status was predictive of 4^th grade social standing among pupils in class as measured by socio‐metric status. Interaction findings also revealed that 1^st grade healthy weight children being proficient in the motor domain benefit more in terms of their social standing among peers in 4^th grade than do 1^st grade overweight but equally motor proficient children. Being physically active in the 1^st grade seems more important for social standing among peers in 4^th grade for 1^st grade girls than for boys. Results may inform early intervention efforts in school to enhance pupils' psychosocial development.