A model for teaching an introductory programming course using ADRI

High failure and drop-out rates from introductory programming courses continue to be of significant concern to computer science disciplines despite extensive research attempting to address the issue. In this study, we include the three entities of the didactic triangle, instructors, students and curriculum, to explore the learning difficulties that students encounter when studying introductory programming. We first explore students’ perceptions of the barriers and affordances to learning programming. A survey is conducted with introductory programming students to get their feedback on the topics and associated learning resources in the introductory programming course. The instructors’ perceptions are included by analyzing current teaching materials and assessment tools used in the course. As a result, an ADRI based approach is proposed to address the problems identified in the teaching and learning processes of an introductory programming course.     

Genealogies of governmentality: Producing and managing young children and their education

Genealogies, or histories of the present, create critical spaces to remind us of the nonnecessity of that which we consider necessary to our lives (Burchell 1993). Further, genealogies of governmentality attempt to create this space with a focus on how conduct is conducted. In this paper I suggest that genealogies of governmentality are one way to create critical analyses of the education of young children. Sociologies of childhood consider childhood to be a relational concept, functioning in relation to adulthood. I argue that genealogies are one way to illuminate these relationships, in particular pointing towards the ways in which the education of young children is deeply embedded in a range of complex and contradictory’ adult’ discourses and knowledges, including those of motherhood, politics, worker, citizen and the economy. To illustrate this I provide an analysis of the provision of preschool education in Queensland’s government schools.     

The Effectiveness of Coursework and Onsite Coaching at Improving the Quality of Care in Infant–Toddler Settings

Research Findings: This study evaluated the effectiveness of 2 professional development interventions aimed at improving the quality of care provided by caregivers in ordinary infant–toddler child care settings, both center- and home-based. In all, 183 participants in a community college course on infant–toddler theory and practice, an in-service community model of a 48-hr course plus various levels of 1-on-1 coaching (participants were randomly assigned to 0, 5, or 15 hr), or a no-intervention comparison group were compared on their changes across 3 time points in their job-related self-efficacy, their knowledge of best practices, and the quality of their interactions with children as assessed by objective observers. Results indicated that the group with the most intensive intervention (course plus 15 hr of coaching) displayed the most consistent pattern of improvements, which met multiple analytical criteria for substantiveness. Furthermore, these findings were most apparent in the quality of interactions outcomes, and these were further still concentrated in the area of support for language and learning, the domain that showed the greatest need for improvement in infant–toddler caregivers in this sample as well as in previous research. Practice or Policy: Implications of the study results for systemic improvements to infant–toddler care are discussed, such as the importance of individual-level professional development, minimum dosage of coaching, and in-service supports to prevent declines in the quality of teacher–child interactions.     

Teaching history through the use of story: working with early years practitioners who do not have qualified teacher status,in settings other than schools

This article arose from a series of workshops with practitioners in early years teaching. The workshops addressed how history could be taught to very young children, three‐ to five‐years‐old. The authors were aware that there was a widely held belief that history was inappropriate for the very young child. The authors felt that this was because of a common view that history was solely concerned with facts. There was also a prevalent view that, as history was about chronology (time), it was too difficult a subject for very young children, for whom ‘yesterday’ and ‘tomorrow’ had little meaning.

This article argues that successful teaching of history is possible with very young children if the teaching concentrates on interpretation and enquiry. Through using story, young children are able to interpret the behaviour, motivation and intent of the characters. The practitioners are able to question the child as to why s/he interprets the character’s actions in the way that s/he does. In other words the practitioner asks for evidence: the essence of history. When considering time, the authors’ note that young children have a subjective understanding of time and this can be used to develop a growing awareness of chronology.     

One‐year teaching internships and the dimensions of beginning teacher development

The authors draw on data from weekly e‐mail responses to a questionnaire completed by beginning teachers placed in one‐year, paid, internships. Interns were assigned mentors who responded every several weeks, also via e‐mail, to a questionnaire about the interns and their development. Data from 23 interns were analyzed. Seven themes were identified that capture various dimensions of intern development. To portray the nature, direction and complexity of intern development, each of the dimensions is conceptualized in terms of opposable orientations to the defining aspect of each theme. The authors use the dimensions and their related orientations to organize the data for discussion. Conclusions related to each dimension are situated within the wider research literature on teacher development, and some similarities and differences are noted between this group of interns and what is widely reported about beginning teacher development.

One‐year teaching internships and the dimensions of beginning teacher development

All authors

Robert V. Bullough, Jr * , Janet Young & Roni Jo Draper

https://doi.org/10.1080/1354060042000224124

Published online:

04 August 2006

Table     

Changing Epistemological Beliefs in Pre-service Teacher Education Students

A teaching programme designed to foster the reflection on and development of more sophisticated epistemological beliefs was implemented with 29 pre-service graduate teacher education students at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. As part of the year-long teaching programme, students were required to reflect in journal entries on the content of an educational psychology unit in relation to their epistemological beliefs. The students engaged in this teaching programme (the research group) were interviewed in relation to their beliefs at the beginning (Time 1) and conclusion (Time 2) of the teaching programme. Students in a comparison group were not encouraged to explicitly reflect on their epistemological beliefs. They were asked to complete written statements about their beliefs about knowing at the beginning (Time 1) and end (Time 2) of the year-long unit. Schommer's (1988, 1990) epistemological beliefs questionnaire was administered to both the comparison and research groups at Time 1 and Time 2. This questionnaire measured beliefs about knowing. The results of both the quantitative and qualitative data analysis indicated that the group of students engaged in the teaching programme experienced more growth in sophisticated epistemological beliefs. The success of the teaching programme has implications for how teacher educators develop learning environments.     

The Conditions of Work Based Learning

The changing landscape of learning in graduate leadership programs has given way to the potential of online development programs. Currently, a lack of research exists that describes the role of the online leader, particularly in academic programs that utilize mentors as well. Identification and exploration of the leadership role in an online environment given the structural elements of mentorship and academic coursework, then becomes the context of this article. A case study using a systems framework of input-process-output=output was conducted to investigate a program of international collaboration, networking and mentoring relationships that attempted to unite leaders to prepare schools for globalization. What developed within the overall design was the identification of three levels of leaders that were involved in this program: Student (participant) leaders, process leaders, and instructor leaders that struggled to define identity roles within the virtual realm. A clear need for purpose, identification and role clarity to scaffold the virtual experience and fortify the mentoring process surfaced from the experi ences within this case. Further research and development will be needed to successfully design programs for leaders that will meet practical, relevant needs while establishing engaging, collaborative, interdependent relationships to affect the local environment and satisfy the necessary academic criteria.     

泰勒·斯威夫特:我歌写我心,错爱亦无憾

在纳什维尔一个冰冷的二月天,斯威夫特在SIR录音室为其进行中的47城巡回演唱会进行排练,宣传自己的专辑《红》(2012)。她当时正漫不经心地弹着一把镶着珍珠母的泰勒吉他,那是她最钟爱的品牌。斯威夫特擅长写很好听的流行歌曲,这些歌余音袅袅,萦绕你心头就像是棒棒糖粘在你的头发上一样。她的嗓音有时会为人诟病,因为纤细单薄,但是听着很甜美优雅,还带着那么点乡村鼻音。斯威夫特在自己的录影带中塑造笨拙可爱的形象,通常在其中她扮演不     

Adding Value to Usage Statistics: The Journal Usage Statistics Portal (JUSP) Enhancements

The Journal Usage Statistics Portal (JUSP) provides a single point of access to journal usage data from participating publishers on behalf of UK academic libraries. In August 2011 JISC awarded funding to develop two value-added enhancements to support existing service provision and help libraries assess the value and impact of e-resources. This article describes the development of these enhancements and their impact.