Analogue equivalents in number processing of simple arithmetic sums

This study had two aims. The first was to test the postulate of analogical equivalents in number processing using a stimulus set based on the differences between pairs of numbers, and second, to look for IQ-dependent differences in this processing. Participants were asked to make judgments concerning the differences between pairs of numbers—each number pair being defined according to overall numerical size and level of difference—and to draw the magnitude of the differences using a free-hand line. In agreement with previous findings, results indicated that the magnitude of participants' responses was dependent on the sizes and levels of the differences within the number pairs. In particular, participants' responses to a difference of nine units at the highest level were based on unit lengths smaller in magnitude compared with other number pairs. In contrast, participants' responses to a second test requiring them to estimate the length of a line using an independent number scale showed remarkable accuracy across all lengths. The results of the two tests did not, however, indicate any difference in responses based on IQ. The results gave support to the idea that transformation of numerical quantities to their analogical equivalents occurs during simple arithmetic sums, and that this transformation was flawed as suggested by the number size effect.     

An Exploratory Analysis of a Subjective Well-Being Model for Chinese University Students

College students experience great stress due to many factors, such as an uncertain future, academic responsibilities, and pressures imposed by social communication. Many institutions of higher education are focusing on how to mediate stressful situations and increase the subjective well-being (SWB) of students to sustain a lifestyle focused on wellness. The online survey used for this study focused on testing an exploratory SWB model by implementing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques. The participants were 470 college-aged students enrolled in seven different institutions in six cities across China. Findings yielded a good model fit (the Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual [SRMR] = .054) with the validity of manifest variables, reliability of the latent variables (LVs), and overall SWB model indicating moderate predictiveness (GoF R2 = .476) by the LVs. Additionally, all of the direct path coefficients and indirect path coefficients that consisted of four partial mediators and one full mediator yielded statistically significant results via bootstrapping. Furthermore, path coefficients for utilization of emotion to life satisfaction for the cognitive exercise group were significantly higher than for the non-cognitive exercise group. The findings illustrated a good model fit for an exploratory SWB model that can predict an individual’s SWB, and cognitive and non-cognitive exercises had different effects on the individuals’ SWB.     

The effects of age of viewer and gender of the narrator on children's visual attention and recall of story ideas

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the age of viewers and the gender of the narrator in a film, and to examine the interaction between these two variables. Subjects in second and fifth grades were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. One group watched a film narrated by a female and the other watched the same film narrated by a male. As subjects watched the film, the experimenters measured their visual attention to the program. Recall of story ideas was also measured, using a multiple-choice test. The results indicated that the gender of the narrator influenced the recall of second-graders, but did not influence the recall of fifth-graders. Results suggest that older children pay greater visual attention to a program than younger children. Implications for developing audio-visual materials for children are discussed.     

Diversifying the secondary school curriculum: The African experience

The paper discusses some African experiences in the diversification of secondary education, which is taken to mean curriculum change in a practical or vocational direction. This approach is intended to provide a wider set of future career options than is offered in the more uniform academic curriculum. The diversification policy has generally been seen as a solution to a number of economic and social problems facing the independent African countries, notably the increasing youth unemployment and the escalating costs of formal education.Studies which have so far been carried out have, however, revealed that diversification programmes have not met the intended objectives, although there is sustained interest in vocationalising formal education. Problems which commonly face these programmes include high unit costs, an absence of clarity in aims and objectives, a shortage of qualified teachers and the low status of vocational subjects as viewed by the students and the community.For future development, it is suggested that diversification programmes be reorganised to relate to more realistic goals through wider community participation and through the work-orientation of post-school training programmes.

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Zusammenfassung In diesem Artikel werden einige afrikanische Erfahrungen mit der Diversifikation der Sekundarbildung behandelt, wodurch eine Änderung des Curriculums zu einem praktischen oder beruflichen Schwerpunkt bewirkt werden sollte. Dieser Ansatz soll eine größere Auswahl bei der späteren Berufswahl ermöglichen als sie das einheitlichere akademische Curriculum bietet. Die Politik einer Diversifikation wurde allgemein als Lösung für eine ganze Reihe wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Probleme der unabhängigen Länder Afrikas gesehen, besonders hinsichtlich steigender Jugendarbeitslosigkeit und eskalierender Kosten formaler Bildung.Bis heute durchgeführte Studien zeigten jedoch, daß die Diversifikationsprogramme die angestrebten Ziele nicht erreichen konnten, obwohl ein anhaltendes Interesse an einem mehr beruflichen Schwerpunkt formaler Bildung besteht. Probleme, mit denen diese Programme gemeinhin zu kämpfen haben beinhalten hohe Kosten für jeden einzelnen Posten, das Fehlen klar umrissener Ziele, ein Mangel an qualifizierten Lehrern und die geringe Anerkennung beruflicher Fächer durch Schüler und Gesellschaft.Zur Weiterentwicklung wird der Vorschlag einer Umstellung der Diversifikations-programme gemacht, damit realistischere Ziele durch eine erweiterte Beteiligung der Gesellschaft und durch die berufliche Orientierung der Fortbildungsprogramme nach Beendigung der Schule erreicht werden können.

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Résumé On examine dans le présent article quelques expériences africaines en matière de diversification de l'enseignement secondaire, dont l'objectif est de donner une orientation pratique ou professionnelle au curriculum. Cette approche cherche à offrir un plus grand choix d'options professionnelles que ne le font les programmes d'études théoriques plus uniformes. Cette politique de diversification est généralement considérée comme une solution à un certain nombre de problèmes économiques et sociaux auxquels font face les pays africains indépendants, notamment le chômage des jeunes et l'augmentation du coût de l'éducation formelle.Les études ayant été effectuées jusqu'ici ont, cependant, révélé que les programmes de diversification n'ont pas atteint les objectifs fixés, bien qu'on s'applique particulièrement à donner une orientation professionelle à l'éducation formelle. Les problèmes qu'on rencontre habituellement dans ces programmes incluent des coûts unitaires élevés, une absence de clarté dans les buts et les objectifs, un nombre insuffisant d'enseignants qualifiés et le bas statut des matières d'enseignement professionnel perçu par les élèves et la communauté.En vue de renforcer davantage le développement, on suggère de réorganiser les programmes de diversification afin qu'ils s'apparentent à des objectifs plus réalistes grâce à une participation accrue de la communauté et à des programmes de formation postscolaire orientés vers le travail.

     

A Pilot Study of a Self-Administered Parent Training Intervention for Building Preschoolers’ Social–Emotional Competence

Social–emotional skills are equally as crucial for school success as cognitive and academic skills (Webster-Stratton and Reid in Infants Young Child 17:96–113, 2004), yet many young children lack these skills (Lavigne et al. in J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:204–214, 1996). Therefore, it is essential to invest in the development of social–emotional competence at an early age—a task that necessitates active parent involvement (Webster-Stratton and Reid 2004). This pilot study explored the effectiveness, integrity, and acceptability of a self-administered parent training intervention [Devereux Early Childhood Assessment—Second Edition (DECA-P2) family guide (Mackrain and Cairone in Promoting resilience for now and forever: a family guide for supporting the social and emotional development of preschool children, 2nd edn. Kaplan Early Learning Company, Lewisville, 2013)] targeting the promotion of social–emotional competence in young children (N = 12). Pre- and post-test parent reports revealed that children’s social–emotional competence increased and behavior problems decreased following program completion. Parent ratings indicated the intervention was carried out as intended (i.e., integrity) and that it was helpful (i.e., acceptability). These exploratory findings suggest that this self-administered parent intervention shows promise as an alternative to face-to-face early childhood prevention services.     

Improving Writing of College-Bound Students with Rubrics: An English Department's Collaborative Journey through Teacher Leadership

A high school English department collaboratively addressed the issue of college-readiness in writing while utilizing a focused four-phase leadership model to guide their efforts. Although this discussion highlights the strategic use of writing rubrics, it is the intention to share the benefits of using the four phases of collaborative teacher leadership model with a clear path that strategically uncovers instructional problems, identifies solutions, and analyzes data within a sustainable process. This discussion illustrates how the leadership model guided the department in identifying core causes of students' struggles with academic writing and solutions of strategically using writing rubrics to guide students to higher levels of mastery.     

Analysis of the Meanings of the Antiderivative Used by Students of the First Engineering Courses

In this article, we present the results of the administration of a questionnaire designed to evaluate the understanding that civil engineering students have of the antiderivative. The questionnaire was simultaneously administered to samples of Mexican and Colombian students. For the analysis of the answers, we used some theoretical and methodological notions provided by the theoretical model known as Onto-Semiotic Approach (OSA) to mathematical cognition and instruction. The results revealed the meanings of the antiderivative that are more predominantly used by civil engineering students. Also, the comparison between the mathematical activity of Mexican and Colombian students provides information that allows concluding that the meanings mobilized could be shared among their communities and are not particular of their classroom or university.     

The Impact of Prior Counseling on Predictors of College Counseling Center Use

Path analyses revealed that one's tendency to conceal distressing information, social support, psychological distress, and attitudes toward seeking help predicted intended use of counseling services for college students who had and had not previously been in counseling. Prospective analyses revealed that attitudes toward seeking help predicted actual use of the campus counseling center. These findings have implications for campus outreach programs and in‐session work with clients.