Education as Invitation to Speak: On the Teacher Who Does Not Speak

As a response to Le Fils, a film directed by the Dardenne brothers ( 2002 ), we explore the idea of speaking as an invitation and juxtapose it against ideas of speaking as a transactional, calculative, calibrated, activity. Speaking tends to be understood as a relatively straightforward matter: as a means of communication structured by such values as the reciprocal balancing of rights and obligations, of clear communication of information, of the gaining of insight into what is happening. Speaking, then, is a means by which we explain, prove or pass judgement on something. Understood this way, it is easily associated with ideas of empowerment or of the mediation of information: one directs or commits oneself to a (shared) orientation—for example to what Jürgen Habermas refers to as ‘communicative reason’. It presupposes a particular attitude of the subject; speaking that addresses the listener and the speaker herself in the name of an orientation or particular expertise to which access is claimed. In this article, by contrast, we would like to explore a different avenue of thought whereby speaking appears rather as an abandoning or exposing of oneself. It is less an activity than a passivity or passion, through which one becomes present in the present, which is at once also a kind of invitation. In exploring this form of speaking, we take up some ideas of Martin Buber. Our discussion relates speaking to being inspiring and being inspired, revealing in the process the way that to be inspiring is at the same time to be inspired. Speaking as invitation, we conclude, is what education is about.     

Transferring primary generalists’ positive classroom pedagogy to the physical education setting: a collaborative PE-CPD process

Background: The primary school age group (aged 5–11 years) is acknowledged as a critical period in the development of physical activity patterns and healthy lifestyle behaviours. Furthermore, high quality physical education (PE) is crucial for the development of lifelong physical activity behaviours and is highly dependent on the interaction between the teacher and the pupil. Despite this, there is a lack of training and confidence of many primary generalist teachers to teach PE in the UK. It is argued that effective continuing professional development (CPD) to address this issue should be supportive, job embedded, instructionally focused, collaborative and ongoing.

Purpose: This study was funded by a national government funded organisation and led by a university in collaboration with a secondary PE specialist and two primary teachers. The purpose was to develop a replicable PE-CPD process to improve primary generalist teachers’ PE pedagogy by transferring their positive pedagogy from the classroom to the PE setting.

Participants: The participants were two Year 3 (age 7–8 years) primary classroom teachers from the same school and one secondary PE specialist teacher who acted as a mentor.

Research approach: A collaborative professional learning (CPL) approach was utilised to develop the PE-CPD intervention process. CPL involves teachers and other members of a profession working together to improve their own and others’ learning on pedagogic issues. A six-week needs assessment phase was completed through classroom and PE lesson observations to identify key areas for development in the PE-CPD process over the duration of a 23 week intervention.

Data collection and analysis: Reflective logs, structured lesson observations and teacher interviews were used to collect the data during the PE-CPD intervention. Inductive and deductive qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data.

Findings: A number of key themes were generated during the data analysis including the transfer of positive pedagogy from the classroom to the PE setting and the implementation of effective pedagogic principles including the setting of clear learning outcomes, differentiation and inclusion to enhance the PE pedagogy. A key element to the success of the intervention was the trusting relationships built by the secondary PE specialist with the primary teachers. Further, the results also revealed the importance of CPL in ensuring rigorous, evidence-based PE-CPD and providing the time and support required for fundamental sustainable changes in practice, which can endure beyond the life of the research project.

Conclusion: The major contribution of this paper is in demonstrating the potential of CPL between national organisations, universities, secondary and primary schools to improve the PE pedagogy of primary generalist teachers. Future research should build upon the findings in this study and replicate this PE-CPD approach with other classes and schools.     

The Effect of Passive and Active Education Methods Applied in Repetition Activities on the Retention of Anatomical Knowledge

This study examines the long-term retention of anatomical knowledge from 180 students after various repetition activities. The retention of anatomical knowledge was assessed by multiple-choice tests at five different points in time: before and after a course in Functional Anatomy, before and after repetition activities that occurred 14 weeks after this course, and 28 weeks after this course to establish long-term retention. Students were divided into five groups: one without any repetition activity, one with a restricted repetition activity (the multiple-choice test), and three groups that were offered repetition activities (traditional lecture, e-learning module, and small group work in the dissection room). During all three repetition activities the same information was conveyed, and this content was not revisited in other courses for the duration of the study. The results showed that students who did not engage in a repetition activity scored significantly lower on the long-term retention test compared to all other groups (ANCOVA: P = 0.0001). Pair-wise comparison with estimated means showed that the other four groups, regardless of the type of repeating activity, did not differ in the amount of knowledge they retained during any of the five assessments (P = 0.008, P = 0.0001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.0001, respectively). This study suggests that the type of repetition activity has no effect on knowledge retention both immediately following the activity and in the long term. It is concluded that the repetition of anatomical knowledge in any form is beneficial for students and will likely improve student outcomes in a curriculum that builds on prior knowledge.     

Community sport programmes and social inclusion: what role for positive psychological capital?

Abstract

(Re-)Engagement with education and employment is a common objective within interventions designed to enhance social inclusion through sport participation. Consequently, the acquisition of capital to expedite the (re)engagement process has become a familiar theme. Literature has examined how various forms of capital may be accumulated through participation in sport. However, competing literature has explored how participation may enable positive psychological capital—which comprises personal qualities such as resilience, hope, optimism and self-efficacy—to be developed. This article adds to this work, by providing insights from a sports-based project which aimed to develop social inclusion among marginalized youth in three regions of the UK. Utilizing data from semi-structured interviews, we highlight how participation enabled young people to enhance the components of positive psychological capital, and offer a further theoretical vantage point from which to understand and debate the relationship between participation in sport and social inclusion.     

Underperforming teachers: the impact on co-workers and their responses

Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability - Research indicates that underperforming teachers have a profound impact on students and on principals who struggle to deal with the...     

Fostering students’ creativity via educational robotics: An investigation of teachers’ pedagogical practices based on teacher interviews

This study explored how educational robotics (ER) was implemented in classrooms to foster creativity among elementary school students and identified challenges associated with its implementation. Twenty-six teachers at different elementary schools were interviewed. In-depth teacher interviews and grounded theory were used to collect and analyze the interviews. We found that the intended creative learning outcome for students was mastery of the developmental process of creativity. The teachers generally reported using a four-phase instructional framework consisting of eight sub-phases and targeted teaching strategies to support students’ learning outcomes. Challenges included insufficient appropriate learning materials, a lack of expansive learning activities and tasks and limited opportunities to engage students in the process of design thinking and developing metacognitive abilities. The findings have practical implications for teachers and researchers who are interested in developing pedagogical practices (PP) incorporating ER to support students’ creativity. The study also has theoretical value, offering insights into teachers’ PP in implementing ER.     

振动力量训练对跨栏跑运动员髋关节肌力变化影响的实验研究

运用对比实验方法,采用JETVIBE(ETS-900N模式)振动训练台,对首都体育学院跨栏跑专项二级运动员进行振动刺激力量训练,振动频率为25～40Hz。经过8周系统的力量训练,在60°/s和300°/s测试条件下,利用ISOMED2000等速测试训练仪器分别对2组受试者髋关节屈伸肌群进行等速力量测试。研究结果:实验后,Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组受试者髋关节屈伸肌群相对峰值力矩、总功都有显著性提高(P<0.05),最大做功有非常显著性提高;组间比较,Ⅱ组受试者髋关节屈伸肌群相对峰值力矩、最大功和总功的增长率均高于Ⅰ组,差异具有显著性(P<0.05)。研究结论:在传统力量训练中附加振动刺激,能更有效地达到提高髋关节力量训练的目的;振动刺激能更好地提高髋关节的最大力量和耐力水平;振动力量训练在前4周使髋关节屈伸肌群肌力保持相同的速度增长,而后4周髋关节伸肌肌群肌力的增长速度明显高于屈肌肌群肌力增长速度。     

Museums as Restorative Environments

Abstract Restorative environments possess a combination of attributes that facilitate recovery from mental fatigue. Most previous research in this regard has focused on natural environments, but this paper explores the extent to which museum environments also provide access to restorative experiences. Visitors (307 tourists and 274 local residents) to a history museum, an art museum, an aquarium, and a botanic garden completed a questionnaire regarding the restorative qualities and benefits of the environment they visited. The findings indicate that for some people, museums are at least as restorative as natural environments. The paper contributes to the development of a theoretical understanding of museums as restorative environments and provides insights into the factors that facilitate and enhance restorative experiences. Such experiences have the potential to contribute to visitors’ well‐being and satisfaction.     

Picture Book Biographies for Young Children: A Way to Teach Multiple Perspectives

In today’s global age, it is important for young students to develop multiple perspectives. Some of the standards that today’s teachers are required to adhere to include an understanding of different cultures. The National Council for the Social Studies, for example, indicates that teachers should provide instruction that complies with various thematic standards which include teaching about global connections and cultural diversity. To encourage young students to develop multiple perspectives, teachers need to pay attention not only to how they teach, but also to what they teach. Educators can guide students to develop cross-cultural understanding at an early age by using well-written picture book biographies which represent people from diverse backgrounds. This article explains what multiple perspectives are and offers resources and strategies for educators that will help young students develop an understanding of the frames of reference that different groups of people hold. It also emphasizes the importance of developing multiple viewpoints at a young age.     

Science Teacher Learning of MBL-Supported Student-Centered Science Education in the Context of Secondary Education in Tanzania

Science teachers from secondary schools in Tanzania were offered an in-service arrangement to prepare them for the integration of technology in a student-centered approach to science teaching. The in-service arrangement consisted of workshops in which educative curriculum materials were used to prepare teachers for student-centered education and for the use and application of Microcomputer Based Laboratories (MBL)—a specific technology application for facilitating experiments in science education. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to study whether the in-service arrangement impacted teacher learning. Teacher learning was determined by three indicators: (1) the ability to conduct MBL-supported student centered science lessons, (2) teachers’ reflection on those lessons and (3) students’ perceptions of the classroom environment. The results of the research indicate that the teachers’ were able to integrate MBL in their science lessons at an acceptable level and that they were able to create a classroom environment which was appreciated by their students as more investigative and open-ended.