The Self‐Generative Mind in Education: Review and Future Directions

Since the turn of the millennium, there has been a surge of interest in diverse forms of spontaneous thinking, such as mind‐wandering, and their associated brain networks. Studies demonstrate the pervasiveness of these phenomena as well as their effects on education‐relevant domains such as academic skills, well‐being, creativity, executive functions, and socioemotional competencies. Based on a neurophenomenological approach and drawing on cognitive and neuroscience research, this article reviews this field and develops a framework for understanding deliberate and nondeliberate states of students' minds in the classroom and their associated brain circuitry. Different approaches to these states are examined from an educational perspective and ways in which this discourse can further be developed are suggested.     

Lexical problems in large distributed information systems

The lexical problems in large information systems are created by the necessity of handling a great number of names and their interrelations. Such lexical problems are not covered completely by the concept of data dictionaries, which are mostly concerned with database schema design rather than the execution of operations. In this paper we introduce our view of a lexical subsystem as a separate component in an information system architecture, to deal with linguistic and control functions concerning the lexical problems in local and network environments. The lexical subsystem is a special efficiently organized program package, which plays the role of a “linguistic filter” in a broad sense for lexically incorrect queries, promotes integration of databases and information retrieval systems, and facilitates the creation of local information systems. We hope that lexical subsystems can become productive for any large, especially distributed, information system.     

DESCP factors: the ‘invisible’ impediments to reforms in education

ABSTRACT

Policymakers often overestimate the power of agentic players in the system and their own as the causes for the successes and failures of reforms. These are but a small part of the powers in play. The article sheds light on contextual factors that are underestimated when planning and implementing reforms in education. The study utilises a case study method to explore three failed reforms in public education to identify the influence of DESCP (i.e. demographic, economic, social, cultural and political) factors on reform success. The study provides an in-depth understanding of why factors in the action environment are as important as agentic players when aspiring to improve national education. The analysis highlights the impact of DESCP factors on basic capacities toward successful implementation of educational reforms. The DESCP factors are discussed, their relevance to reform success is explicated, and their impact is exemplified with policy cases.     

Educational reform hyperwaves: Reconceptualizing Cuban’s theories of change

The present work builds on Cuban’s (Educ Res 19(1):3–13, 1990) seminal work on reform waves. The research explores reform waves in Israeli educational policies since 2000s. The historical case study analysis focuses on conservative and liberal–progressive reforms in education, and reveals that these reforms took place as reoccurring alternating cycles, connected with political and institutional pressures that promote reform waves. The paper argues, however, that it is necessary to further develop Cuban’s theory because it does not provide an explanation for the temporal frequency of reform waves. The paper suggests betwixt and between situations as factors pushing reform waves into hyperdrive. The paper ends with a discussion of the implications of reform hyperwaves.     

Fevatools:网络课程设计的形成性评估工具

本文介绍了圣地亚哥州立大学帮助大学教授评估网络课程效果的一个工具性网站：Fevatools（http：／／fevatools．wikispaces．con／）。该网站将22种工具和技术分为以下几类：典范做法、课程便利、学生成绩、平行调查和学习风格调查。部分教师试用Fevatools参与了调查,并提供了对这个网上工具的反馈。初步调查显示,这些教师通常使用调查和投票来评估课程。他们主要关注学生的学习成果,而不是网上课程的特点或如何促进学生的学习。为了能更有效地应用Fevatools,研究者推荐增加对教师进行相关的培训和支持,并深入研究网站的可用性。     

The effect of autonomy-supportive climate in a second chance programme for at-risk youth on dropout risk: the mediating role of adolescents’ sense of authenticity

European Journal of Psychology of Education - This study aimed to extend the limited knowledge on the motivational and identity aspects of youth at risk in second chance programmes. The study...