Educational services in the University of Bath

Educational technology units, audio-visual aids centres or television services have been established in many British Universities during the present quinquennium. These have met with varied responses from academics, and several organizational patterns have emerged. This article sets out to describe the organizational structure and the range of services offered by the Educational Services in the University of Bath. The Service grew out of the amalgamation of several discrete and independent provisions within the University—projection services, a City-University television service, a unit in the School of Education and so on.Across the board involvement is achieved via a Senate Committee responsible for overall direction, credibility is established by the appointment of an existing academic staff member as director, and an internal bulletin provides the core of a communications system with the academics. Staff seminars on curriculum analysis and development, methods of evaluation and so on, backed up by occasional visiting speakers, provide theoretical backup to the practical and hardware services. An important aspect of the work of the Service is co-operation and co-ordination with the new University Library which has been designed to provide both book and non-book information services. Professor Austwick is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Educational Technology, and Mr. Harris is the Director of Educational Services in the University.

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Les services annexes de l'enseignement a l'Universite de Bath

Résumé Des services rassemblant les moyens techniques d'enseignement, ainsi que des centres audio-visuels ou télévisuels ont été créés dans de nombreuses universités anglaises ces dernières années. Ils ont suscité des réactions différentes de la part du milieu universitaire et, de ce fait, des formes d'organisation différentes sont apparues. L'article vise à décrire l'organisation et la gamme des services qui se rencontrent en cette matière à l'Université de Bath. Le Service des moyens pédagogiques est né de l'intégration de plusieurs services indépendants qui existaient au sein de l'Université: services de projection, de télévision, un groupe de l'Institut d'éducation etc.Les relations avec le Conseil sont assurées par un comité responsable de la marche générale des services; le sérieux de l'entreprise est garanti par la nomination comme directeur d'une personalité membre du corps universitaire; la publication d'un bulletin intérieur fournit un moyen de communication avec l'ensemble des universitaires. Des séminaires consacrés à l'analyse et à l'élaboration des filières d'études, aux méthodes d'évaluation des résultats et autres sujets semblables sont animés par des spécialistes invités et procurent une aide théorique aux services d'exécution technique. Un aspect important de l'activité du Service réside dans la coopération et la coordination avec la nouvelle bibliothèque de l'Université qui a été concue pour diffuser l'information, que celle-ci soit livrescue ou non. Le professeur Austwick est président du Comité pour la technologie de l'enseigement et M. Harris est directeur du Service des techniques d'enseignement à l'Université de Bath.

     

‘Approaches to the Teaching of Special Relativity Theory in High School and University Textbooks of Argentina’

In this work, we presented an analysis of the representation of the special relativity theory (SRT) in the most used texts in high school, Polimodal level and university level in the teaching in the Argentine Republic, from a historic, epistemological and didactic perspective. The results show that none of the analyzed texts would allow a contextualized approach on such theory.     

Learning about the past: exploring the opportunities and challenges of using an outdoor learning approach

This paper examines the potential of outdoor learning for supporting children’s understanding of and attitude towards history. A class of primary school children participated in an intensive experiential, residential history programme. A range of data was collected before, during and after the residential programme, and the findings suggest that the experience had a positive impact on the children’s attitude towards history and enabled many of the children to be able to easily recall highly specific factual knowledge. However, the children’s understanding of history as a provisional construct was not developed, as it was not a strong feature of the programme. Nor was the experiential nature of the experience fully exploited. Overall the study suggests that such a programme has the potential to support children’s learning of the past, but a deeper understanding of history, drawing on the benefits of outdoor learning pedagogy, needs to be planned for more explicitly.     

Networking around The Waterhole and other tales: the importance of relationships among texts for reading and related instruction

This article explores ways in which children's picture books form networks of relationships, and their implications for readers and classroom teachers. In this exploration, reading is seen to involve making connections within and beyond the text at hand. These connections, evoked differently across readers, shape readers' interpretations of text. Many possible meanings may arise from just one text, reinforcing the idea that no single correct meaning resides in a text. This article demonstrates tools for exploring textual connections with readers, and the value of such explorations for opening‐up reader interpretations of a text.     

Analyzing and Selecting Instructional Strategies and Tactics

“Formulation of instructional strategy to match subject matter and learner requirements” is an integral part of most instructional design models (Andrews & Goodson, 1980, p.5). Yet the meaning and purpose of instructional strategies in these design models vary considerably. An instructional strategy in traditional design models usually refers to the selection of instructional delivery vehicles (e.g., lecture, demonstration, computer-assisted instruction) and support activities (e.g., practice exercises, tutoring) (cf. Tracey, Flynn, <& Legere, 1970). Contrast those conceptions with the many instructional strategies described in elaboration theory (Reigeluth & Stein, 1983), such as sub-sumptive sequencing, internally consistent orienting structures, synthesizers, summarizers, and cognitive strategy activators. What is obvious from these disparate conceptions is that instructional designers do not share a consistent definition of instructional strategies. Many of the activities that are referred to as instructional strategies are not in fact strategies, but rather are presentation vehicles. In this article, we first define instructional strategies and tactics in the context of an iterative design model. Instructional strategies are then distinguished from instructional tactics, which are the implementation of strategies. We then list the range of instructional strategies and tactics that implement them. Finally, we provide a decision tree for assisting designers to select appropriate instructional tactics.     

Teachers in regular classrooms: An applied setting for successful behavior programming

An operant-based program was established to study the effectiveness of regular classroom teachers as mediators for behavior change in regular classroom settings. Fifty-nine first and second graders were matched on several measures and randomly assigned to an experimental condition or a control condition. Experimental children were addressed through teacher-generatedlconsultant-supported behavior intervention strategies. Changes in behavior were examined by assessing differences from initial baseline and from first to second administration of the Child Behavior Checklist. In- class behavior change was significantly greater for the experimental condition than for the control condition, although behavior change from first to second administration of the Child Behavior Checklist was significant for all groups. A moderate to high rate of compliance to the intervention program was maintained by teachers, and moderate to high ratings of satisfaction were obtained for the program from all participants. The effectiveness, feasibility, and applicability of the program are discussed.     

Optimal sampling frequency in recording of resistance training exercises

The purpose of this study was to analyse the raw lifting speed collected during four different resistance training exercises to assess the optimal sampling frequency. Eight physically active participants performed sets of Squat Jumps, Countermovement Jumps, Squats and Bench Presses at a maximal lifting speed. A linear encoder was used to measure the instantaneous speed at a 200 Hz sampling rate. Subsequently, the power spectrum of the signal was computed by evaluating its Discrete Fourier Transform. The sampling frequency needed to reconstruct the signals with an error of less than 0.1% was f_99.9 = 11.615 ± 2.680 Hz for the exercise exhibiting the largest bandwidth, with the absolute highest individual value being 17.467 Hz. There was no difference between sets in any of the exercises. Using the closest integer sampling frequency value (25 Hz) yielded a reconstruction of the signal up to 99.975 ± 0.025% of its total in the worst case. In conclusion, a sampling rate of 25 Hz or above is more than adequate to record raw speed data and compute power during resistance training exercises, even under the most extreme circumstances during explosive exercises. Higher sampling frequencies provide no increase in the recording precision and may instead have adverse effects on the overall data quality.     

Teaching and Learning and the Challenge of Educational Reform

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