A critical incident study: Exploring Korean workers’ experiences with career chance events

We investigated South Korean workers’ reflections on career chance events in terms of types of chance occurrences and factors that influence how these are reacted to. A critical incident technique was used to collect data from 85 participants using an open-ended questionnaire. Various types of events that happened unexpectedly were identified through a two-dimensional framework: whether an event was relationship based or experienced based, and whether it occurred in personal areas or work areas. Influencing factors that affected the participants’ reactions were also categorized using a two-dimensional framework: internal or external, and facilitating or discouraging dimensions.

     

The unintended consequences of school inspection: the prevalence of inspection side-effects in Austria,the Czech Republic,England, Ireland,the Netherlands,Sweden, and Switzerland

It has been widely documented that accountability systems, including school inspections, bring with them unintended side effects. These unintended effects are often negative and have the potential to undo the intended positive effects. However the empirical evidence is limited. Through a European comparative study we have had the rare opportunity to collect empirical evidence and study the effects (both intended and unintended) of school inspections (a key system of accountability) in a systematic way, across seven countries. We present the findings of the unintended effects in this paper. Survey self-report responses from school principals in each country, with differing school inspection systems, are analysed to measure the prevalence of these unintended effects and to investigate the part played by pressure to do well in inspections. A key finding is that increasing pressure in school inspection systems is associated with the undesired effect of the narrowing and refocusing of the curriculum and instructional strategies. We also show that a proportion of school principals admit to misrepresenting the school in data sent to the inspectorate and show evidence for formalisation/proceduralisation (excessive focus on records) and ossification (fear of experimentation in teaching), although these factors are less related to changes in pressure.     

水电建设项目风险评价方法概述

水电建设项目受地质、地理位置,气候等一些自然或非自然因素的影响,不可避免地存在诸多风险因素,业界相继对风险识别、风险分析以及风险评价等做了深入研究,但鲜有人概括了水电建设项目前的常用的风险评价方法。通过对水电建设项目前存在的风险评价方法进行概括,在其中提出了一种新的改进的评价方法,并比较分析了各自的适用条件以及优缺点,能为水电建设项目合理选择使用评价方法提供了有效的参考依据,进而能使风险预测与客观实际相接近。     

浅谈情感教育在高职高专英语教学中的应用

情感教育是现代学校素质教育不可忽视的重要方面和核心内容,在高职高专英语教学中,针对学生特点融入情感教育,对于开发学生的身心潜能、培养学生的创新素质、提高教师教学素养、优化教育教学过程,深化学校素质教育具有关键性的作用。     

体育专业大学生身体成分与心肺功能的相关性研究

以身体成分与心肺功能之间的相关性为研究目的,对本单位社会体育专业09级64名男生进行了身体成分、心率及肺活量测试,研究结果表明：各项身体成分同心率之间相关性不显著;体重与肺活量之间呈显著正相关（P〈0.01）,体脂百分比、肌肉百分比同肺活量之间的相关性不显著;体重、体脂百分比与肺活量体重指数之间呈极显著负相关（P〈0.01）,肌肉百分比与肺活量体重指数之间呈极显著正相关（P〈0.01）.     

Socioeconomic strata, mobile technology, and education: a comparative analysis

Mobile devices are highly portable, easily distributable, substantially affordable, and have the potential to be pedagogically complementary resources in education. This study, incorporating mixed method analyses, discusses the implications of a mobile learning technology-based learning model in two public primary schools near the Mexico-USA border in the state of Baja California, Mexico. One school was located in an urban slum and the other in a rural village community. Empirical and ethnographic data were collected through a series of achievement tests, observations, surveys, and interviews involving 160 s grade school children recruited by convenience sampling. The general technology infrastructure, distinctive features of mobile learning to supplement literacy development, profound contextual phenomena arising from the two uniquely underserved communities, and social factors possibly influencing the educational experiences are discussed. The findings suggest that students in the rural village, seriously lacking educational resources and technology exposure, may have benefited substantially more from mobile technologies than urban school students possibly due to their relatively higher socio-economic status and higher parental involvement and interest in education. In contrast, there was no evidence of interaction with parental education levels, the experience of teachers or school principals, or the teacher’s perception or preparation of the technology. Overall, the mobile learning technology adoption was rapid, seamless, and actively driven by the students rather than the teacher. The challenges of the phenomenal migratory nature of most families in this unique geographical region are also discussed to benefit future studies.     

Korean Immigrant Mothers’ Perspectives: The Meanings of a Korean Heritage Language School for Their Children’s American Early Schooling Experiences

This study examines what a Korean heritage language school means to Korean immigrant families and their children, considering Korean immigrant mothers’ perspectives on American early schooling. As part of an ethnographic research project on Korean-American children’s peer culture in a heritage school, seven mothers, two guardians (grandmothers), and their young children were observed and interviewed during one academic year. The analysis showed that the heritage language school functions as a social and emotional support system, a buffer for reducing the detachment from parents, and a safety net for the Korean-American children’s challenging lives. The Korean immigrant mothers also showed that they felt burdened by different cultural views of their children’s behaviors, and described how their children were often considered problematic. The social and culture barriers caused by their immigrant status profoundly influenced their reasons for sending their children to a Korean heritage language school. This study suggests that teachers’ deep understanding of culturally different perspectives on children’s behaviors, along with systematic social and emotional support, can help these children attain psychological well-being.     

Reclaiming Kindergarten: Part II: Questions About Policy

Part II of “Reclaiming Kindergarten” continues the discussion related to responding to the crisis in today’s kindergarten. In Part II, two policy questions are posed, the answers to which seek to respond to this continuing crisis. The questions center on issues related to engaging families in kindergarten and the need to consider a new early childhood paradigm where kindergarten is part of a continuous and seamless educational experience spanning prekindergarten through third grade. As in Part I, examples of classroom practice are used to illustrate the effective implementation of these principles in a kindergarten classroom.     

A synthesis on the research of the comorbidity of ADHD and LD in Korea: perspective and trend

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities (LD) are the most commonly diagnosed childhood disorders, and they frequently co-occur with each other. It has been found that students with comorbidity of ADHD and LD experience more difficulties in school. Even though the research interests in the comorbidity of ADHD and LD are increasing, there are inconsistent results in research studies and insufficient understanding of the comorbidity of ADHD and LD. This study attempts to grasp the progress of the studies in the comorbidity of ADHD and LD in Korea and to suggest the future directions for following research. A total of 90 studies published between 1987 and 2009 are examined. First, we analyze the studies that examined the learning problems of ADHD and then identify the characteristics of the learning problems in ADHD group. Afterwards, we investigate the studies that dealt with the attention problems of LD and then discuss the characteristics of the attention problems in LD group. Third, we identify the differences between ADHD and LD and synthesize the research findings. Finally, we analyze the studies conducted in conjunction with the comorbidity of ADHD and LD. On lightening the research of the comorbidity on three aspects, we find the research trend in Korea and provide the implications for future studies on the comorbidity of ADHD and LD. Furthermore, we suggest that it is important to identify comorbid conditions at the early stage, and it is necessary to conduct multidisciplinary research and international comparison research.