The Transformation of Teaching Habits in Relation to the Introduction of Grading and National Testing in Science Education in Sweden

Research in Science Education - In Sweden, a new curriculum and new methods of assessment (grading of students and national tests) in science education were introduced in grade 6 in 2012/2013. We...     

A dialogical self approach to the conceptualisation of teacher-inquirer identity

European Journal of Psychology of Education - Over the last 30 years, a substantial number of publications have attempted to conceptualise the ways in which teachers carry out inquiries in...     

Breaking the habit: engineering students’ understanding of mathematical creativity

ABSTRACT

In higher education, engineering students have to be prepared for their future jobs, with knowledge but also with several soft skills, among them creativity. In this paper, we present a study carried on with 128 engineering undergraduate students on their understanding of mathematical creativity. The students were in the first year of different engineering first degrees in a north-eastern Portuguese university and we analysed the content of their texts for the question ‘What do you understand by mathematical creativity?’. Data collection was done in the first semester of the academic years 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 in a Linear Algebra course. The results showed that ‘problem solving’ category had the majority of the references in 2014/2015, but not in the academic year 2016/2017 were ‘involving mathematics’ category had the majority. This exploratory study pointed out for ‘problem solving’ and ‘involving mathematics’ categories and gave us hints for teaching mathematics courses in engineering degrees.     

WOMEN IN THE AUSTRIAN UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT

The article begins by presenting some background material on the employment in Austrian universities of women academics, pointing out that progress has been very slow and the way paved with obstacles. A commitment to equal opportunity for women has come from the Austrian Conference of Rectors which has created a working group on equal opportunity for men and women and has engaged the services of two consultants who are specialists in gender equality. Both of them are advising working groups in the various higher education institutions of Austria on the establishment of preferential hiring and promotion schemes for women academics.     

Risk on Elder Abuse and Mistreatment - Instrument: Development,psychometric properties and qualitative user-evaluation

Prevalence data of elder abuse from social and health services only present a tip of the iceberg. A large amount of situations of abuse is left undetected. Professionals often lack knowledge and skills on the topic of abuse. Consequently, this paper focuses on supporting professionals to prevent and assess elder abuse by developing and testing the Risk on Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Instrument (REAMI), using a mixed method design. Quantitative data from a widespread screening among 1920 older clients of home care are analysed with exploratory and confirmatory analysis. In addition, 24 professionals who have used the REAMI have been qualitatively interviewed about their practical experience and critical reflection on the instrument and its use. These interviews were transcribed and content analysed. Findings provide evidence of good internal reliability and internal validity of the REAMI and its three dimensions: 1) risk factors of the older person, 2) risk factors of the environment, 3) signals of abuse and mistreatment. Users report an increase of knowledge and awareness among staff, satisfaction with the possibilities for prevention and the user-friendliness and brevity of the REAMI. However, some users are missing a follow-up protocol: what to do when risks are assessed? In the discussion, the argument is developed that the REAMI can be used to examine risk at elder abuse, although an overarching protocol to support prevention and intervention which embeds the detection instrument is needed.