Preoccupation with Quality

The teacher, like the artist, the philosopher, and the man of letters, can only perform his work adequately if he feels himself to be an individual directed by an inner creative impulse, not dominated and fettered by outside authority. (Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays, 1961.)

Conformity then becomes the criterion by which the pupil is judged in spite of the fact that initiative, originality and independence are precious qualities of life. (John Dewey, The Need for a Philosophy of Education, 1974a.)     

Inclusive education policy: what the leadership of Canadian teacher associations has to say about it

In inclusive education research, rarely are teacher associations a topic of investigation despite their critical role in its implementation and efficacy. A study was conducted as part of the Canadian Disability Policy Alliance using a learning collaborative methodology that explored the extent to which Canadian provincial/territorial teacher association leadership personnel were aware of inclusive education legislation and policy. Using a semi-structured protocol, 14 participants were interviewed, representing 12 Canadian jurisdictions. Results indicated a complex theme with three linked issues: leadership participants stated that their teacher membership was well aware of inclusive education policy, that their membership generally endorsed it, contingent upon adequate resourcing. The particularities of this theme, awareness-endorsement-resources, are contextualised throughout the results, and the implications are raised in the discussion.     

Modeling and Diagnosing Domain Knowledge Using Latent Semantic Indexing

A Latent Semantic Index (LSI) was constructed from arguments made by navy officers concerning events in an anti-air warfare scenario. A model based on LSI factor values predicted level of domain expertise with 89% accuracy. The LSI factor space was reduced using MDS to five dimensions: aircraft route, aircraft response, kinematics, localization, and an unclassifiable element. Arguments in the localization category were reliably more common among officers with the greatest expertise. Automated classification of arguments into these elements achieved 84% accuracy. LSI may be a useful tool for automating aspects of modeling expertise and diagnosing knowledge deficiencies.     

Knowledge Types Used by Researchers and Wool Producers in Australia under a Workplace Learning Typology: Implications for Innovation in the Australian Sheep Industry

Abstract

This paper reports on research into the learning aspects of adopting integrated parasite management practices for sheep (IPM-s) applying a workplace learning framework. An analysis of four primary data sources was conducted; a postal survey of Australian wool producers, a Delphi process with IPM-s researchers, focus groups and interviews with wool producers.

Researchers had a high expectation of conceptual and high level procedural knowledge for IPM-s, while wool producers had a tendency to rely on low- and high-level procedural knowledge for parasite management. Researchers also showed concern for disposition as it related to parasite management. Practices identified as potentially problematic for extension, included worm egg count testing (according to best practice), supplementary feed (specifically for worm management), selecting estimated breeding value-tested rams, weighing and monitoring body condition scores, and keeping written paddock histories.

This research provides significant empirical insights into the knowledge differences between researchers and producers that can affect how research is developed and communicated for the IPM-s project to facilitate behaviour change. The identification of some IPM practices as problematic for producers will also allow targeted extension for these practices.     

Research methods and Guides

The Territory of the Historian by E.. Le Roy Ladurie(Chicago: University of Chicago Press,1979 —S21.00)

Harvard Guide to American History edited by Frank Freidel, (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Universiry Press, 1974 with 1479 as first date for this paperback edition—$12.50 (on tne book cover) or 39.95 (in the slip inside from the publisher)

Witham Katz Your Library: A Reference Guide (New: York: Holt. Rinehart & Winston, 1919—price not given, gaper)

Alan E. Thompson, Understanding Futurology: An Introduction. to Futures Study (Newton Abbot, U.R /North Pomfret, Vt. : David & ,1979 —$12.50)     

Telecommunications History

Henry M. Field, The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph (originally published by Scribner's in 1893, 415 pp.)

John E. Kingsbury, The Telephone and Telephone Exchanges: Their Invention and Development (Longmans, Green, 1915, 558 pp.)

George B. Prescott, Bell's Electric Speaking Telephone: Its Invention, Construction, Application, Modification and History (Appleton, 1884, 526 pp.)

Robert Luther Thompson, Wiring a Continent: The History of the Telegraph Industry in the United States, 1832-66 (Princeton University Press, 1947, 544 pp.)

The Horn Speaker (P.O. Box 12, Kleberg, Texas 75145 -- $3.00 per year/10 issues)     

Leveraging Technology and Staffing in Developing a New Liaison Program

With nearly all library resources and services delivered digitally, librarians working for the New York University Health Sciences Library struggled with maintaining awareness of changing user needs, understanding barriers faced in using library resources and services, and determining knowledge management challenges across the organization. A liaison program was created to provide opportunities for librarians to meaningfully engage with users. The program was directed toward a subset of high-priority user groups to provide focused engagement with these users. Responsibility for providing routine reference service was reduced for liaison librarians to provide maximum time to engage with their assigned user communities.     

An analysis of social style among disparate cultures

Using the Assertiveness‐Responsiveness Measure, scores of Finnish, Japanese, Korean, and American university students were compared. The American scores indicated that they were significantly more assertive than were the participants from the other cultures. The Korean men scored as more responsive than the other men, the American men more assertive, and the American women as more responsive than any of the men and women.