Cultural influences on the relation between executive functions and academic achievement

Reading and Writing - The purpose of this study was to examine which of the components of executive functions (EF)—inhibition, shifting, and working memory—predict reading and...     

Some things we should forget

The way we work with students and plan curricula is driven by what we know and remember. But sometimes it's important to forget—especially when it comes to the fundamental challenge of ensuring students are prepared for the workplace of the future. Here's what we need to let go of to meet that challenge and create dynamic, seamless learning experiences for students.     

An analysis of flexible learning and flexibility over the last 40 years of Distance Education

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we report the major themes we identified in the literature surrounding flexible learning that has been published in Distance Education over the last 40 years. We identified six themes: the qualities of flexibility as affording “anytime, anyplace” learning; flexibility as pedagogy; liberatory or service-oriented aspects of flexibility; limitations of flexibility, especially in terms of technology, the constraints of time and space, as well as cultural differences; flexibility as a quality needed by instructors and instructional designers themselves; and critiques of flexibility as a concept. These themes suggest a complex understanding of flexibility, and one that could support future teaching and scholarly endeavours.     

International Best Practices in Career Development: Review of the Literature

This paper presents a review of the literature to identify exemplary international career planning programs. Following the National Career Development Guidelines as a guide, a framework was created to organize the research: Content, process, and infrastructure. This review of the literature supports the general tenets of career development – that self-knowledge and career exploration, and an interactive and integrated method of delivery, are key to sound career decision-making. The focus of the international community indicates increasing interest of the world on career guidance services, and commonalities among countries differing along many cultural, social, and economic lines.

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Résumé. Les bonnes pratiques internationales dans le développement des trajectoires de vie professionnelle: revue de la littérature Cet article présente un examen de la littérature pour identifier des programmes internationaux exemplaires de planification de carrière. En prenant les Directives Nationales de Développement des Trajectoires de Vie Professionnelle comme guide, on a créé un cadre de références pour organiser la recherche: contenus, processus et infrastructures. Cet examen de la littérature conforte les principes généraux du développement de la vie professionnelle, à savoir que la connaissance de soi, l’exploration de carrière et une méthode interactive et intégrée sont des éléments clé pour une prise de décision de carrière éclairée. La communauté internationale insiste sur l’intérêt croissant dans le monde pour les services d’orientation de carrière et sur ce qu’il y a de commun entre des pays qui diffèrent en termes d’aspects culturels, sociaux et économiques.Zusammenfassung. Internationale Praxisempfehlungen in der Berufsberatung: Literatursichtung Dieser Artikel stellt eine Literatursichtung vor, die vorbildliche internationale Berufswahlprogramme ausgewählt hat. Auf der Grundlage der Nationalen Berufsberatungsrichtlinien wurde eine Struktur entwickelt, an der sich die Suche ausrichtete: Inhalt, Prozesse, Infrastruktur. Diese Literatursichtung belegt die allgemeinen Grundannahmen der Berufsberatung – dass nämlich die Kenntnis der eigenen Person, die Berufskunde und die interaktiven und integrativen Verfahren des Berufswahlunterrichts die Schlüssel für eine abgesicherte Berufsentscheidung sind. Die Aufmerksamkeit des internationalen Beratungsfeldes weist auf ein wachsendes Interesse der Welt an Berufsberatungsdienstleistungen hin, sowie auf Gemeinsamkeiten über Ländergrenzen hinweg, die sich jedoch entlang verschiedener kultureller, sozialer und wirtschaftlicher Linien durchaus auch unterscheiden.Resumen. Buenas Prácticas Internaciones de la Orientación para el Desarrollo de la Carrera: Revisión de la Literatura Este artículo presenta una revisión de la literatura para identificar programas ejemplares de planificación de la carrera internacionales. Tomando como guía las Directrices Nacionales del Desarrollo de la Carrera (National Career Development Guidelines, EEUU), se creó un marco de referencia para organizar los elementos de la investigación: contenido, proceso e infraestructura. Esta revisión respalda los principios generalmente aceptados del desarrollo de la carrera – que el auto-conocimiento y la exploración de la carrera, y que los métodos de intervención interactivos e integrados, son claves para el proceso de toma de decisiones. El foco de atención de la comunidad internacional indica un interés creciente por los servicios de orientación para la carrera en el mundo, así como las semejanzas entre los países que difieren por otro lado en aspectos culturales, sociales y económicos.

     

Students teach students: Alternative teaching in Greek secondary education

The students of a Greek junior high school collaborated to prepare the teaching material of a theoretical Computer Science (CS) course and then shared their understanding with other students. This study investigates two alternative teaching methods (collaborative learning and peer tutoring) and compares the learning results to the traditional learning context. A test was used to measure all participating students’ learning results and a questionnaire was distributed to record participant student attitudes towards the alternative teaching conditions. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate each aspect in terms of perceived knowledge, experience, satisfaction, diversity, oddness and interest. The analysis explores potential differences of students’ learning results between alternative and traditional teaching and also differences in the two aspects in relation to students’ preferences. Results provide evidence that active-learning methods can promote positive attitudinal shifts and improve skills in creativity, teamwork, collaboration and communication. Students perceived higher levels of learning than with traditional teaching. Finally in terms of students’ preferences, the majority wanted to have more courses taught with active-learning methods.     

The effect of diversified schools on employment status and earnings in Colombia

This paper reports the results of an evaluation of the effects on employment of a new type of secondary schools (INEM) in Colombia, which offer prevocational subjects alongside the traditional academic curriculum. The evaluation is based on a follow-up survey of about 1800 graduates of INEM and other schools 3 yr after leaving school. The central finding is that the new schools have not produced a further training or employment pattern different from that of the control schools. In particular, INEM graduates (relative to traditional graduates) are not more likely to enter employment immediately upon graduation and do not realize higher earnings once employed. According to this initial evaluation, there is virtually no difference in the social rate of return to the resources invested in the two types of schools.     

The Black Arts Movement and African American Young Adult Literature: An Evaluation of Narrative Style

In this article I question whether or not African American young adult literature serves as a primer for, and a version of, African American adult literature. Using the Black Aesthetic as my literary theory and the Coretta Scott King Award as the young adult canon, I note that while the content of adolescent literature is consistent with the tenets of the Black Aesthetic and African American adult literature, the literary elements and style are not. As such, young readers of African American young adult literature are not necessarily prepared for the literary elements and style of canonical African American adult literature. Further, I note that editors, publishers, and literary critics may contribute to the construction of young adult literature, in that editors may discourage authors from experimenting with form and style. Finally, I call for reorienting Black children’s and adolescent literature away from White literary elements and style and toward Black literary elements and style.