Reception learning and self-discovery learning in histology: Students' perceptions and their implications for assessing the effectiveness of different learning modalities

Two questionnaires were used to investigate students' perceptions of their motivation to opt for reception learning (RL) or self‐discovery learning (SDL) in histology and their choices of complementary learning strategies (CLS). The results demonstrated that the motivation to attend RL sessions was higher than the motivation to attend SDL to gain new knowledge (P < 0.01) and to apply this acquired knowledge to diagnosis (P < 0.01), therapy (P < 0.01), and research (P < 0.05). Students also showed a stronger preference for RL based on motivations related to leadership (P < 0.01) and competition (P < 0.01), although the rates were very low in both cases (≤ 1.9 ± 1.1). Statistically significant differences were found between male and female students for leadership (higher in males), responsibility (higher in females), and acquiring new knowledge (higher in females only in RL). This study's findings for students' preferred CLS strategies suggested a greater need for additional complementary resources after RL than after SDL (P < 0.01). In conclusion, RL was associated with a greater need for complementary training resources such as textbooks, atlases, the internet, audiovisual media, and tutorials, whereas SDL was associated with a greater need to orient teaching and training toward medical practice. These results suggest the need to reorient both types of learning processes to enhance their effectiveness in teaching histology, especially in the case of SDL, which should place more emphasis on clinically oriented knowledge. Anat Sci Educ. © 2012 American Association of Anatomists.     

Teacher Education for the New Century in Sweden

The future of teacher education (TE) is currently under discussion in Sweden and a reform proposal has been presented. Future TE provides one single examination for all types of teachers. It also provides a flexible choice of alternative courses, a mandatory course in inclusive education and a range of optional specialisations. After many post-war years of reform in the Swedish school system, the education of comprehensive schoolteachers was itself eventually reformed in 1988. Since then, major changes in schools have occurred: legislation has been liberalised and economic constraints have accelerated. A shortage of teachers in certain subjects and certain parts of the country is a cause for concern. In this article, the new TE proposal is presented and discussed, and the possible future of the Swedish school and TE are outlined. It is argued that implementation of certain parts of the reform proposal will cause problems. L'avenir de la formation des enseignants est un sujet discuté actuellement en Suède et une proposition de réforme vient d'être présentée. La prochaine formation des enseignants stipule un examen unique pour tous les types d'enseignants, ainsi qu'un choix flexible de cours alternatifs, un cours obligatoire en éducation spécialisée et une partie de spécialisation optionnelle. Après plusieurs années d'après-guerre de réformes du système scolaire suédois, la formation des professeurs d'écoles a été finalement réformée en 1988. Depuis lors, des changements majeurs sont intervenus: la législation a été libéralisée et les contraintes économiques se sont accrues. Le manque d'enseignants dans certaines disciplines et dans certaines régions du pays est une préoccupation. Dans l'article, la proposition de formation des enseignants est présentée et discutée, et l'avenir probable de l'école suédoise ainsi que celui de la formation des enseignants y sont esquissés. Il y est aussi démontré que l'application de certaines parties des propositions de réforme causera quelques problèmes. El futuro de la formación de profesores se estádiscutiendo actualmente en Suecia y una propuesta de reforma ha sido presentada hace poco. La futura formación implica un solo examen para todas las categorías de profesores. Asimismo implica una mayor flexibilidad en la elección de cursos alternativos, un curso obligatorio en educación especial y una variedad de cursos de especialización opcionales. Después de varios años de reforma del sistema educativo en Suecia en el período de posguerra, una reforma de la formación del profesorado de secundaria se llevóa cabo en 1988. Desde entonces, se han evidenciado varios cambios: la legislación se liberalizó y los recortes económicos se incrementaron. La falta de profesores para ciertas asignaturas y en ciertos lugares del país constituye un problema cada vez más grande. En el artículo se presenta y se discute la propuesta del nuevo currículo asícomo el posible futuro de la educación en Suecia. Se argumenta que será difícil llevar a cabo ciertas partes de la propuesta de la reforma. Die Zukunft der Lehrerausbildung (LA) wird gegenwärtig in Schweden diskutiert, und ein Reformvorschlag ist vorgestellt worden. Die künftige LA sieht einen einzigen Abschluß für alle Lehrerkategorien vor. Sie bietet auch eine flexible Auswahl an alternativen Kursen, einen obligatorischen Kurs in Sonderpädagogik und einen Vertiefungsteil nach Wahl an. Nach vielen Reformen des schwedischen Schulsystems in der Nachkriegszeit wurde schließlich im Jahr 1988 die Ausbildung für Lehrer der Klassen 1-9 reformiert. Seitdem haben große Veränderungen stattgefunden: die Gesetzgebung ist liberalisiert worden, und die wirtschaftlichen Hindernisse haben sich zunehmend vermehrt. Ein Lehrermangel in gewissen Fächern und in gewissen Regionen des Landes schafft Probleme. In dem vorliegenden Artikel wird der Vorschlag der neuen LA vorgestellt und diskutiert, und die mögliche Zukunft der schwedischen Schule und Lehrerausbildung wird skizziert. Es wird für die These argumentiert, daß die Verwirklichung gewisser Teile des Reformvorschlags Probleme verursachen wird.     

The concept of ‘originality’ in the Ph.D.: how is it interpreted by examiners?

This paper explores ways in which examiners, supervisors and others interpret the concept of ‘originality’ when evaluating candidates’ achievements in the final Ph.D. examination. It is based on institutional responses to a question in a 2006 discussion paper on doctoral assessment about how universities define originality for the purpose of Ph.D. assessment and what other criteria are used to guide examiners in making judgements in the final examination. The paper also includes emerging findings from the first stages of data generation for a Ph.D. study about how examiners assess the Ph.D. This study involves viva observations and interviews with candidates, examiners, supervisors and independent chairs of vivas. Most participants, irrespective of role, discipline or field, confirmed that ‘originality’ or ‘a contribution to knowledge’ is required for a candidate to pass the Ph.D. examination, and that this criterion is interpreted in a subject-specific context by examiners. The studies suggest that the discipline or field in which the candidate’s topic is situated influences the examiners’ interpretation of ‘originality’ and their expectations of the candidate. However, ‘originality’ is not the only criterion for the Ph.D., and students are also required to demonstrate other achievements to pass the doctorate. The studies show that there is some degree of consistency among examiners in the general criteria used to evaluate the candidate’s thesis and performance in the viva. These findings are discussed in the light of the literature.     

Ask the instructional designers: A cursory glance at practice in the workplace

The purpose of this exploratory study was to make better connections between what is professed in instructional design degree programs and what happens in the workplace. Findings from the study of how three corporate instructional designers navigated and made sense of their daily practice included the factors that mostly influence their instructional design (ID) decisions, their perspectives on ID theories and models, how they compensated for any deficits in their knowledge or skills, and their hiring preferences.     

Developing communities of practice within and outside higher education institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are largely built on the assumption that learning is an individual process best encouraged by explicit teaching that is, on the whole, separated from social engagement with those outside the university community. This perspective has been theoretically challenged by those who argue for a social constructivist learning theory and a more collaborative approach to learning. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) afford lecturers and students an opportunity for extending the boundaries of a learning experience, not merely beyond the lone individual, but beyond the limits of discipline boundaries within a specific university community and beyond the institution into the local community. This paper illustrates how a collaborative effort between lecturers and students from the Computer Science and Education Departments at Rhodes University, teachers from the local community, the provincial Department of Education and a non-governmental organisation developed into an unfolding virtual and physical community of practice which enabled ICT take-up in a number of schools in the Grahamstown District, South Africa. This discussion of what has become known as the e-Yethu project provides an example of how ICTs, underpinned by the insights of social constructivism, the notion of 'community of practice' and in particular Hoadley and Kilner's C4P Framework for Communities of Practice, can serve to help HEIs understand ways in which ICTs can provide opportunities for developing collaborative learning within HEIs, and between the HEI and the local community.     

Teaching,research and scholarship in different disciplines

Teaching and research are the primary functions of academics in all academic disciplines in all Australian universities. Scholarship is expected of all academics whether in the university or college sector. Under a new policy Australian higher education institutions have to develop educational profiles that will describe their strengths in teaching and research. The federal government, and indeed, institutions, are developing and using performance indicators to distribute resources. Some of these, e.g. number of publications, number of research grants, and number of Ph.D. graduates are disadvantaging the Humanities. This paper addresses differences in four disciplines, Chemistry, Engineering, English and Law as they are described by other researchers and emerge from a questionnaire study at an Australian university.