Culturally-Sensitive Factors in Teacher Trainees' Learning Environments

The aims of this research were to cross-validate the Cultural Learning Environment Questionnaire (CLEQ) in the local context of Brunei and to evaluate culturally-sensitive factors (gender equity, collaboration, deference, competition, teacher authority, modelling and congruence) in teacher trainees' learning environments. Data were collected from 475 teacher trainees enrolled at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam by administering a slightly modified version of the CLEQ (Fisher & Waldrip, 1997). Factor and reliability analyses supported the instrument's suitability to evaluate six of the seven culturally-sensitive factors (excluding teacher authority) associated with the cultural learning environment of Bruneian teacher trainees. The students generally believed that both genders are treated equally and that they are independent learners, although, to some extent, they were reluctant to give their independent views in their classes. Further research is recommended for investigating the factors that contribute to the unusual finding that the students were equally cooperative and competitive. The data revealed no gender differences in trainee teachers' perceptions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Global citizenship and the importance of education in a globally integrated world

As national borders dissipate and technology allows different cultures and nationalities to communicate on a regular basis, more individuals are self-identifying as a global citizen. Using Social Network Analysis and multi-level modelling, this study explores factors associated with global citizen affinity and finds that education plays an important, perhaps the most important, role in individual’s affinity towards this self-identification. Results clearly indicate that more education, not national economic or social integration, is more closely associated with an individual’s positive identity as a global citizen. Additionally, the magnitude of the education effect is greater in more socially integrated societies.     

Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms

This article reports a study of the learning environments in computer networked classrooms. The study is unique in that it involved an evaluation of both the physical and psychosocial classroom environments in these computerised settings through the use of a combination of questionnaires and ergonomic evaluations. The study involved administering a student questionnaire designed to assess aspects of the psychosocial learning environment in these settings, and relating these factors to students satisfaction and to important aspects of the physical learning environment. The sample consisted of 1404 students in 81 classes in Australia and Canada. A questionnaire assessing five aspects of psychosocial environment exhibited good factorial validity and internal consistency reliability. When satisfaction was used as a dependent variable, classroom psychosocial environment (especially autonomy/independence and task orientation) was significantly and directly associated with students satisfaction with their learning. In contrast, no direct associations were found between student satisfaction and measures of the physical classroom environment, such as the workspace and visual environments. However statistically significant associations emerged between physical and psychosocial learning environment variables in classrooms using new information technologies. These associations suggest a model of educational productivity for learning environments in technology-rich classrooms. Qualitative case studies provided more detailed information about selected classrooms.     

Learning Environments Research in Asia: Editor's Introduction

A recent book entitled Studies in Educational Learning Environments: An International Perspective not only traces the remarkable expansion of the field of learning environments internationally, but it also provides a unique focus on the distinctive contributions made by Asian researchers. Asian researchers have translated and cross-validated questionnaires that originated in the West, and have used them in various lines of research. Gaps in Asian research on learning environments and desirable directions for future research are considered.     

Structural characteristics of university engineering students' conceptions of energy*

This study examined structural characteristics of university engineering students' conceptions of energy elicited through paragraph writing and their relations with categories of their conceptions specific to energy in solution processes identified through interviews. We found that structures of students' conceptions are characterized primarily by characteristic, example‐of/type‐of, and lead‐to types of relations, and these relations correspond with categories of students' conceptions. More specifically, categories of students' conceptions are exclusively related to energy transformation, and students failed to apply the notion of energy conservation demonstrated in structures of their conceptions to explain the temperature change in solution processes. It is concluded that although paragraph writing and interviews solicit different student conceptions, the conceptions identified from the two sources are related and paragraph writing tends to provide a more holistic picture of students' conceptions. This conclusion has clear implications for science curriculum development and instruction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 39: 423–441, 2002     

Teachers’ perceptions of the organisational climate: a tool for promoting instructional improvement

The current push for principals’ to be accountable for student outcomes has led to a renewed interest in the role of leadership in instructional improvement. This article describes the development and validation of a survey that focused on organisational management features that are likely to bring about improvement in instruction. The development of the instrument involved a multistage approach that included: identifying key organisational management features important to instructional leadership and an effective school, based on research and theoretical underpinnings; clearly articulating key constructs; and modifying, adapting and developing items to assess those constructs. After pilot testing the survey, the survey was administered to 216 teachers selected from four high schools in Western Australia. To ensure that the survey was reliable, we used [Trochim W. M. and J. P. Donnelly. 2006. The Research Methods Knowledge Base. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: Atomic Dog] framework for construct validity. Analysis of the data provided evidence to support the reliability and validity of the questionnaire in terms of both the translation and criterion validity. The development of this survey provides principals with an economical and psychometrically sound tool that can be used as part of a process involving critical self-reflection.     

Stressed parents with infants: reassessing physical abuse risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between a range of potentially adverse psychosocial and demographic characteristics identified in the immediate postpartum period and child physical abuse potential at 7 months. METHOD: Data collected as part of a randomized controlled trial of a nurse home visiting programme for vulnerable families with newborns was used. Women (181) were recruited in the immediate postpartum period. At 7 months, 151 participants were available for evaluation. Potential for child physical abuse was assessed using the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory. RESULTS: Significant risk indicators identified by univariate analysis were financial stress, elevated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, education level less than 10 years, concern regarding the provision of housing, and domestic violence characterized by verbal and social abuse. There was no association between child abuse potential and sole parenthood, poverty, young maternal age, history of childhood abuse, or psychiatric history. Two variables were found to be of independent significance using a logistic regression model; elevated EPDS and perceived difficulty "making ends meet." CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that perceived stress relating to finances, accommodation and relationships in the immediate postpartum period are associated with heightened child physical abuse potential at 7 months. Elevated EPDS in the early postpartum period is also a risk indicator. The outcome of this study suggests that perinatal assessment of child abuse risk is possible and simple and is related to perceived stressors at the time surrounding delivery. This is independent of a range of demographic variables traditionally thought to predict high risk.     

KEY INFORMANTS' PERSPECTIVES ON TEACHER LEARNING IN SCOTLAND

ABSTRACT:   This article outlines the policy context for teachers' learning and continuing professional development in Scotland and considers this in relation to the perspectives of key informants gained through interview. The analysis draws on a triple-lens conceptual framework and points to some interesting contradictions between the policy text and the expressed aspirations of the interviewees. Current policy and the associated structural arrangements are viewed as broadly positive, but interviewees express concerns that an unintended emphasis on contractual arrangements might inhibit the more transformative elements of professional learning.     

Learning Environment, Attitudes and Achievement among Middle-school Science Students Using Inquiry-based Laboratory Activities

This study compared inquiry and non-inquiry laboratory teaching in terms of students’ perceptions of the classroom learning environment, attitudes toward science, and achievement among middle-school physical science students. Learning environment and attitude scales were found to be valid and related to each other for a sample of 1,434 students in 71 classes. For a subsample of 165 students in 8 classes, inquiry instruction promoted more student cohesiveness than non-inquiry instruction (effect size of one-third of a standard deviation), and inquiry-based laboratory activities were found to be differentially effective for male and female students.