Relationships and learning: a review and investigation of narrative coherence in looked‐after children in primary school

This review and investigation draws on principles from attachment theory regarding the importance of early relationships and their impact on the coherence and organisation of psychological functions. Comparisons are made between the narrative coherence scores of an experimental group of 17 looked‐after children with problematic relationship histories in mainstream school and a matched control group of 17 of their peers. There were significant differences between the groups in the coherence of children's narratives, denial and avoidance in story play themes and in their use of intentionality. The paper considers the theory and discusses the results in terms of the implications for teaching, learning and intervention.     

Using formative assessment to influence self- and co-regulated learning: the role of evaluative judgement

European Journal of Psychology of Education - Recently, the concept of evaluative judgement has gained attention as a pedagogical approach to classroom formative assessment practices. Evaluative...     

Anonymity as an instructional scaffold in peer assessment: its effects on peer feedback quality and evolution in students’ perceptions about peer assessment skills

Although previous research has indicated that providing anonymity is an effective way to create a safe peer assessment setting, continuously ensuring anonymity prevents students from experiencing genuine two-way interactive feedback dialogues. The present study investigated how installing a transitional approach from an anonymous to a non-anonymous peer assessment setting can overcome this problem. A total of 46 bachelor’s degree students in Educational Studies participated in multiple peer assessment cycles in which groups of students assessed each other’s work. Both students’ evolution in peer feedback quality as well as their perceptions were measured. The content analysis of the peer feedback messages revealed that the quality of peer feedback increased in the anonymous phase, and that over time, the feedback in the consecutive non-anonymous sessions was of similar quality. The results also indicate that the transitional approach does not hinder the perceived growth in peer feedback skills, nor does it have a negative impact on their general conceptions towards peer assessment. Furthermore, students clearly differentiated between their attributed importance of anonymity and their view on the usefulness of a transitional approach. The findings suggest that anonymity can be a valuable scaffold to ease students’ importance level towards anonymity and their associated need for practice.     

From Screening to Improving Quality: The case of Latin America

Use of testing expanded in Latin America during the last 50 years from academic centres to policy makers and mass media. The expansion has been the result of the perseverance of many researchers and practitioners, cheaper and more user-friendly technol ogy, demands on labour and its ability to compete in a global market, and international comparisons showing the low adult functional literacy and poor performance of Latin American students. The first boost to testing was generated by the need for screening students for higher education. Later on there was a demand for identifying quality gaps causing repetition problems and low performance. In the 1980s a few countries used testing to assess alternative solutions and new ways to deliver teaching and managing classroom processes. By the mid-1990s a dozen countries were operating national testing systems. Recent tasks have been the identification of reading problems; the conducting of international compari sons; and the selection of effective models to raise quality. Even though only a few countries have taken full advantage of the whole set of possible uses of testing, there is a growing interest in using testing for raising students' achievement.     

Constraints to change in traditional educational systems: Lessons from the Chilean case

Educators from developed countries arrive in the third world with a set of recipes large enough to cope with all the problems of the country they want to help. Their advice, however, is usually not taken into account. The present paper describes the main constraints limiting innovation in the Chilean case. It is hoped that a better understanding of the functioning of this school system (representing the actual situation in more than 90% of the less developed countries) will help those experts to design more realistic proposals.

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Résumé Les éducateurs des pays développés offrent au Tiers-Monde toute une série de formules suffisamment élaborées pour remédier aux difficultés que rencontre le pays auquel ils viennent en aide. Il reste que ces éducateurs ne sont pas toujours écoutés. La présente communication décrit les principaux obstacles qui se dressent lors des tentatives d'innovation au Chili. Le fonctionnement du système éducatif Chilien est représentatif de la situation réelle qui prévaut dans plus de 90% des pays en voie de développement et l'on espère qu'une meilleure compréhension de ce système aidera les spécialistes en question à élaborer des projets plus réalistes.

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I have benefited greatly from advice and criticism from many friends, especially Russell Davis, Noel McCinn, Joseph Farrell, Sister María José Tresch, Richard Durstine, and Jane Hobson. I am grateful to all colleagues participating in the experiment.     

Qualities Related to Success in Women's Physical Education Professional Preparation Program

Abstract

Sixty-nine physical education majors were used as subjects in an attempt to identify those personal and physical qualities of women physical education students which would most effectively predict success in the professional preparation program of physical education. The criteria of success included the cumulative academic index, a rating by the faculty, and a rating by the student's peer group. Predictive variables consisting of measures of physical fitness, general motor ability, temperament traits, mental ability, interests, and values were evaluated.

The single predictive variable yielding the highest positive relationship with success in the professional preparation program was physical fitness; the value and interest variables showed practically no relationship. The best combination of variables for predicting success was the physical fitness index, the active temperament trait score, and the mental ability score.     

The impact of a rubric and friendship on peer assessment: Effects on construct validity,performance, and perceptions of fairness and comfort

Construct validity of peer assessment (PA) is important for PA application, yet difficult to achieve. The present study investigated the impact of an assessment rubric and friendship between the assessor and assessee on construct validity of PA. Two-hundred nine bachelor students participated: half of them assessed a peer's concept map with a rubric whereas the other half did not use a rubric. The results revealed a substantial reliability and construct validity for PA. All students over-score their peers’ performance, but students using a rubric were more valid. Moreover, when using a rubric a high level of friendship between assessor and assessee resulted in more over-scoring. Use of a rubric resulted in higher quality concept maps for peer and expert ratings.