The systematic measurement of the perceived characteristics of information technologies I: Microcomputers as innovations

This study reports the results of the development of a test designed to measure the perceived characteristics of microcomputers as innovations. A three factor solution was obtained, with factors measuring complexity, compatibility, and trialability/observability. No factors emerged measuring relative advantage or perceived expense. All of the defined factors had acceptable levels of reliability and validity checks confirmed that the developed scales had construct validity. Issues relating to future research, model and theory building in the diffusion process, and longitudinal studies were discussed.     

Assessing functional effectiveness of pictorial representations used in text

Conclusion Recent literature concerning the use of illustrations in text has stressed the need for an assessment of the instructional function being served by the illustration. When an illustration is incorporated into textual matter, it should be serving a specific, pedagogically sound instructional function. Otherwise, the reader probably will not benefit from the illustration’s inclusion in the text; in fact, the reader might be distracted from the text by the illustration, with no cognitive gain being derived from this distraction. Therefore, to the traditional criteria for selection of illustrations used with text must be added the instructional function that is to be served. To determine whether an illustration will serve an intended instructional function effectively, a close examination of both the illustration’s attributes and its relationship to the text must be made. Research has shown that illustrations are composed of a variety of attributes pertaining to physical, instructional, and relational qualities of the illustrations, and that these attributes affect the way in which illustrations can be used as instructional tools. Therefore, the attributes present in an illustration will account in part for its effectiveness in serving an instructional function. The findings of this study suggest that illustrations possessing literal representation are more effective than illustrations possessing analogical representation when the instructional function to be served is identification of properties of phenomenal information, and that illustrations possessing analogical representation are more effective than illustrations possessing literal representation when the instructional function to be served is clarification of nonphenomenal information. Thus, this study is one of many needed to provide a comprehensive analysis of illustrations functioning as instructional supplements to text. Until a thorough understanding of the relationship between attributes and functions of illustrations is achieved, textbooks will in all probability continue to include illustrations which do not fulfill their instructional potential.     

PARENTING PROGRAMMES: Do generalist parenting programmes improve children's behaviour and attendance at school? The parents’ perspective

Previous research has demonstrated that parenting programmes can be an effective intervention in changing behaviour and parent/child interactions. However, less attention has been given to the impact of these programmes in relation to improving attendance and behaviour at school. Lynne Rogers, lecturer in teacher education specialising in the post-14 sector, Susan Hallam, Professor of Education and Dean of the Faculty of Policy and Society, and Jacquelene Shaw, educational psychologist, all working in the University of London, set their debate in this article in the context of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Respect Action Plan 2006. These authors use their article in order to describe parents' perceptions of the impact of parenting programmes on their own and their children's behaviour, with particular reference to behaviour at home and at school. The perceptions reported here, and enlivened with direct quotes from parents, are based on questionnaire data from 142 parents and interviews with a sample of parents and teachers. Parents were broadly positive about the benefits of parenting programmes. However, where the child's problem was rooted in school-related issues, some concerns about behaviour and attendance remained. Lynne Rogers, Susan Hallam and Jacquelene Shaw close their article with a call for parenting programmes to be more closely aligned with activities in school and with educational processes.     

ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM: The integration of an alternative curriculum: Skill Force

The introduction of alternative curricula in the UK for students in the secondary phase is one of a number of strategies designed to improve attendance at school, reduce exclusion and improve attainment. Skill Force is a charitable youth initiative that offers 14‐ to 16‐year‐old students a key skills based vocational alternative to the traditional curriculum. In this article, Lynne Rogers, Susan Hallam and Jacquelene Shaw of the Institute of Education, University of London, and Jasmine Rhamie of the University of Southampton set out to explore the views of Skill Force instructors and team leaders, school staff and Skill Force Regional Directors. These participants perceived the critical factors in the successful integration of Skill Force to be: effective introduction of the programme to pupils and parents; careful selection of students; clear introduction of the programme to staff; integrated discipline policies; strong support from senior management; good communication; and a willingness to resolve practical difficulties.     

Limits and potentials of social networking in academia: case study of the evolution of a mathematics Facebook community

The use of social networking services has rapidly increased in recent years, especially by university students. Some authors assert that they have educational potential in terms of promoting collaborative learning practices among undergraduate students which enhance engagement and understanding. This possibility is particularly relevant to mathematics learning, because university communities are frequently experienced as isolating and performance-oriented. This case study reports on the use of Facebook to support mathematical communication and more participative learning identities within a UK university mathematics department. It describes how the reactive formation of a student-led Facebook community became a source of conflict within the wider academic social community and how this conflict was eventually resolved. While it raises questions about the extent to which Facebook can encourage open collaborative learning within the wider context of student aspirations in a competitive climate, it notes its potential for fostering cross-cohort student support in a subject which frequently induces anxiety in its students.     

‘Possible selves’ of young people in a mainstream secondary school and a pupil referral unit: a comparison

This research uses the psychological construct of ‘possible selves’ to investigate the aspirations of 25 students in Year 11. ‘Possible selves’ provide a conceptual link between self-concept and motivation. The study compared the positive, negative and impossible possible selves of Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) attendees with participants from a secondary school. Whereas 100% of the school students generated positive possible selves, only 69% of the PRU participants did so. The school students were more able to provide sub-goal strategies to achieve positive possible selves and could articulate alternatives if their first aspiration eluded them. PRU participants generated divergent impossible selves. The findings suggest that in comparison with those in school, PRU attendees have fragile positive selves and more negative perceptions of their prospects. This may indicate a lack of internalisation of positive future options. There are implications for practice as those who work in the PRU context aim to provide meaningful experiences.     

ePortfolio use by university students in Australia: a review of the Australian ePortfolio Project

In October 2008, the Australian Learning and Teaching Council released the final report for the commissioned project ‘ePortfolio use by university students in Australia: Informing excellence in policy and practice’. The Australian ePortfolio Project represented the first attempt to examine the breadth and depth of ePortfolio practice in the Australian higher education sector. The research activities included: surveys of stakeholder groups in learning and teaching, academic management and human resource management, with respondents representing all Australian universities; a series of focus groups and semi‐structured interviews that sought to explore key issues in greater depth; and surveys designed to capture students’ pre‐course expectations and their post‐course experiences of ePortfolio learning. Further qualitative data was collected through interviews with ‘mature users’ of ePortfolios. Project findings revealed that, while there was a high level of interest in the use of ePortfolios in terms of the potential to help students become reflective learners who were conscious of their personal and professional strengths and weaknesses, the state of play in Australian universities was very fragmented. The project investigation identified four individual, yet interrelated, contexts where strategies may be employed to support and foster effective ePortfolio practice in higher education: government policy; technical standards; academic policy; and learning and teaching. Four scenarios for the future were also presented with the goal of stimulating discussion about opportunities for stakeholder engagement. It is argued that the effective use of ePortfolios requires open dialogue and collaboration between the different stakeholders across this range of contexts.