Interaction between motor ability and skill learning in children: Application of implicit and explicit approaches

The benefits of implicit and explicit motor learning approaches in young adults have been studied extensively, but much less in children. This study investigated the relationship between fundamental motor ability and implicit/explicit learning in children using the errorless learning paradigm. First, the motor ability of 261 children (142 boys, 119 girls) aged 9–12 years (M?=?9.74, SD?=?0.67) was measured. Second, children with motor ability scores in the upper and lower quartile learned a golf-putting skill in either an errorless (implicit) or errorful (explicit) learning condition. Four groups were formed: Errorless High-Ability (n?=?13), Errorless Low-Ability (n?=?11), Errorful High-Ability (n?=?10), and Errorful Low-Ability (n?=?11). Learning consisted of 300 practice trials, while testing included a 50-trial retention test, followed by a 50-trial secondary task transfer test, and another 50-trial retention test. The results showed that for high- and low-ability errorless learners, motor performance was unaffected by the secondary task, as was the case for high-ability errorful learners. Low-ability errorful learners performed worse with a secondary task and were significantly poorer than the corresponding high-ability group. These results suggest that implicit motor learning (errorless) may be beneficial for children with low motor ability. The findings also show a trend that children of high motor ability might benefit from learning explicitly (errorful). Further research is recommended to examine the compatibility of implicit and explicit approaches for children of different abilities.     

Rapid Prototyping in the Instructional Design Process

Instructional models guide designer activity as they attempt to solve instructional problems. Models provide structure to the project, problem solving strategies, evaluation, and feedback. This paper is designed to examine Rapid Prototyping, a model born in the computer age. Rapid Prototyping embraces computer design strategies, constructivist learning theory, and cognitive psychology. This paper will first look at the “classic” forms of instructional design models, which form the foundation of instructional design. A review of the critical elements of these models will provide the framework to understand the concepts behind the Rapid Prototyping model. Next, this paper will examine how researchers define Rapid Prototyping, how the model is used, whether it is successful, and why some consider it a major shift in the way instruction is designed. By clarifying how RP is structured to solve instructional problems and the processes it uses to produce instructional materials, this paper will strive to determine whether it is a viable alternative to traditional design models.     

The Effects of a Monetary Incentive System on Work Performance of Mental Health Counselors

Improving the productivity of mental health counselors was investigated with the use of an incentive system. Ten Masters-level mental health clinicians (5 females, 5 males) with a range of 1.5 to 17 years experience participated in the study. Single-case and between-group methodologies were used to assess the effects of the incentive on the number of direct client contact sessions conducted per day. Incentive payments were provided to clinicians above a minimum number per two-week pay period. The number of session credits improved from a baseline of 73.6 to a mean of 85.9 during the program.     

Making as worlding: young children composing change through speculative design

A pedagogical perspective for rendering ways of knowing, being and being known, making and the larger maker movement are shaping contemporary educational places, practices and discourses. Despite these advances, its intersection with early literacy and childhood education are nascent. Thinking with theories of multiliteracies and speculative design, this article puts forth a making as worlding analytic frame for literacy research and practice. In doing so, we examine how two young children operate as speculative designers working towards possible, not solely plausible or preferable futures. Drawing on data from a multi‐sited study exploring making in early childhood settings, this article charts how early years and primary students used the contemporary affordances of analogue and immersive technologies to ‘make' a difference. Findings suggest that making provided opportunities not only for re‐storying realities but speculative worldbuilding encouraging young people to participate and problematise present realities.     

Benefits of multisensory structured language instruction for at-risk foreign language learners: A comparison study of high school Spanish students

In this study, the benefits of multisensory structured language (MSL) instruction in Spanish were examined. Participants were students in high-school-level Spanish attending girls’ preparatory schools. Of the 55 participants, 39 qualified as at-risk for foreign language learning difficulties and 16 were deemed not-at-risk. The at-risk students were assigned to one of three conditions: (1) MSL—multisensory Spanish instruction in self-contained classrooms (n=14); (2) SC—traditional Spanish instruction provided in self-contained classrooms (n=11); and (3) NSC—traditional Spanish instruction in regular (not self-contained) Spanish classes (n=14). Not-at-risk students (n=16) received traditional Spanish instruction in regular classes similar to the instruction provided to the NSC group. All three at-risk groups made significant gains over time on some native language skills regardless of teaching method. The MSL group also made significant gains on a foreign language aptitude measure. The MSL group and the not-at-risk group made greater gains than the two other at-risk groups on foreign language aptitude and native language measures of reading comprehension, word recognition, and pseudoword reading. Although most at-risk learners achieved an “expected” level of foreign language proficiency after two years of instruction, significant group differences were found. On measures of oral and written foreign language proficiency, the MSL and not-at-risk groups scored significantly higher than the at-risk groups instructed using traditional methods. After two years of Spanish instruction, no differences in foreign language proficiency were found between the MSL group and the not-at-risk group.     

Quality markers and use of electronic journals in an academic health sciences library.

OBJECTIVES: Patterns of use of electronic versions of journals supplied by an academic health sciences library were examined to determine whether they differed from patterns of use among corresponding print titles and to relate the applicability of print collection development practices to an electronic environment. METHODS: Use data supplied by three major vendors of electronic journals were compared to reshelving data for corresponding print titles, impact factors, and presence on Brandon/Hill Lists. RESULTS: In collections where one-click access from a database record to the full text of articles was possible, electronic use correlated with print use across journal pairs. In both versions, Brandon/Hill titles were used more frequently than non-Brandon/Hill titles, use had modest correlations with journals' impact factors, and clinical use appeared to be higher than research use. Titles that had not been selected for the library's print collections, but which were bundled into publishers' packages, received little use compared to electronic titles also selected in print. CONCLUSIONS: Collection development practices based on quality and user needs can be applied with confidence to the electronic environment. Facilitating direct connections between citation databases and the corresponding journal articles regardless of platform or publisher will support scholarship and quality health care.