Marketing Theory and Practice On‐line: a Development Towards International Collaboration

The authors detail the development of an on‐line course, “Marketing Theory and Practice On‐line” (MTPO) as part of the charter‐mandated commitment of Monash University of Australia to deliver quality flexible education transnationally. The course, that is now offered to both on‐campus and distance education students, uses a full range of media and computer technologies, including the Internet, e‐mail, bulletin boards, on‐line library facilities, video animations, and hypertext. The guiding principles for the development of the course were that the methodology must enrich the learning experience; the communication shell must enrich a scholarly environment; and the subject development should encourage and facilitate new opportunities. The ultimate aim is to utilize MTPO as the basis for international collaboration and to use the collaboration in question to develop a stronger intellectual package with specialist marketing subjects at both the undergraduate and the postgraduate levels.     

Seasonal variation in physical activity among preschool children in a northern Canadian city

Little research has examined seasonal differences in physical activity (PA) levels among children. Proxy reports of PA were completed by 1,715 parents on their children in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Total PA (TPA) minutes were calculated, and each participant was classified as active, somewhat active, or inactive. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine associations between PA status and seasons. Significant seasonal differences were observed for TPA, weekday PA, weekend PA, and active play. Children were significantly more likely to be physically active in the summer and spring and somewhat physically active in the summer and fall, relative to winter Children living in cold climates are less likely to be physically active in the winter.     

Categorising computer science education research

The interdisciplinary nature of Computer Science Education as a field of study is a complicating factor when authors are choosing appropriate journals and conferences for publishing research results. This paper reports a survey of 42 such publications in order to identify the types of paper frequently accepted for publication in each. We review existing taxonomies developed for the general fields of Computer Science and Education, and from this starting point, we develop a novel faceted taxonomy, specifically aimed to help new researchers in the field understand what types of papers are published and where they appear. Our results confirm previous studies indicating the predominance of practice-based, technology-driven reports. We also observe certain differences in educational themes between those found in publications grounded in the Computer Science Education corpus and those emerging from more general Higher Education literature.     

Learning to talk: community support and views of parents from socially disadvantaged families

Part of a multimethod ethnographic study that aimed to explore the knowledge of local parents concerning children learning to talk is described. The study was carried out with parents from several different ethnic and language groups in a socially disadvantaged part of Sheffield, a large city in the northeast of England.
In the phase of the study reported here, parents (either English, Urdu/Punjabi and Arabic speakers) took part in interviews, as well as contributing to the validation of the project. This study found that parents from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds living in this socially disadvantaged area, believed learning to talk to be very important and that family, community, including faith community, and professionals, have roles in promoting learning to talk. They indicated that local community groups, including faith communities, could play a positive role in supporting and developing their knowledge.
This paper will be of interest to those seeking innovative ways to support parents in socially excluded communities, particularly parents of children learning to talk, and so contribute to better outcomes for children, families and communities. It also contributes to our understanding of the development of parental knowledge about learning to talk in socially disadvantaged communities.     

Women’s Studies Collections: A Checklist Evaluation

A checklist evaluation on thirty-seven Women's Studies programs conducted using the individual institutions' online public access catalogs (OPACs) is presented. Although Women's Studies collections are very difficult to build, an evaluation of existing programs shows that collections, for the most part, have managed substantial coverage of the subject area.     

Implementing the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD): achievements, open questions and strategies for the way forward

This paper looks at the implementation of the DESD from a global perspective. It takes the position that quality education is fundamental for learning how to live sustainably, and that the DESD needs to be better positioned in the education landscape and conceived as a global social movement that must be fostered and nurtured for the well-being of humankind. It suggests that, while there has been progress, much remains to be achieved. Several key challenges are identified. With regard to overcoming these obstacles, it focuses on macro-level strategies that would allow the development of environments in which actions can take root and grow so that the work of the DESD endures beyond the decade itself. Finally, it suggests that there are some opportunities that can be seized to make the task ahead easier to accomplish.     

The Academic Influence of Mentoring Upon African American Undergraduate Aspirants to the Professoriate

In this study, I examine academic influences of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunity Program’s mentoring component. Interviews with African American undergraduate student participants of the faculty–student mentoring initiative suggest mentorship’s influence upon the academic experiences of participants and illustrate the importance of faculty-directed research in preparing racial minorities for graduate education.     

E-Master of Marketing: Phase 2 in Transnational Marketing Education

A previous article in Higher Education in Europe (Vol. 24, No. 2, 1999), by three of the authors of the present article, outlined the beginnings of an on-line course, "Marketing Theory and Practice" (MTP), offered by the Department of Marketing of Monash University in Australia. It noted the opportunities such a development presented in terms of collaboration. Following the successful introduction of MTP on-line (http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/Subjects/MKT/ MTPonline/) into the undergraduate programme, the project team applied for a significant funding grant to implement a department-wide strategy for the electronic delivery of marketing education. This implementation includes the development of an E-Master's degree in Marketing, details of which are discussed in this article.     

Investigation of functional literacy and job-skills used in clerical workplace settings

This paper presents the findings of a study on the functional literacy and job-skills used by clerical workers in a variety of work situations. The study focused on the employees' own perceptions of their tasks. The results revealed three main requirements for successful performance of clerical work: (1) the possession of requisite knowledge and the ability to apply it; (2) thinking skills; (3) the ability to manage oneself and others. None of these capacities was sufficient on its own. The authors argue that the study has important implications for vocational education and training and for easing the transition from school to work.

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Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel präsentiert die Ergebnisse einer Studie über funktionale Alphabetisierung und Berufskenntnisse, die Büroangestellte in unterschiedlichen Arbeitssituationen benötigen. Die Studie konzentriert sich auf die eigenen Wahrnehmungen der Angestellten ihrer Aufgaben. Drei Hauptanforderungen für eine erfolgreiche Bewältigung der Büroarbeit wurden identifiziert: 1. fundiertes Wissen und die Fähigkeit zur Anwendung, 2. die Fähigkeit, mitzudenken, 3. die Fähigkeit, sich selbst und andere zu organisieren. Keine dieser Kapazitäten ist ohne die anderen ausreichend. Der Autorinnen argumentieren, daß diese Studie sich wesentlich auf Berufsbildung und Fortbildung auswirken und den Übergang von der Schule zum Arbeitsplatz erleichtern kann.

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Resumen El trabajo presenta los resultados de un estudio realizado sobre la capacidad funcional de leer y escribir y sobre las habilidades laborales aplicadas por empleados en una variedad de situaciones de trabajo. El estudio se concentraba en las propias percepciones de los empleados en cuanto a sus cometidos. Los resultados revelaron tres principales requisitos para el desempeño exitoso del trabajo de oficina: (1) la posesión de los conocimientos requeridos y la capacidad de aplicarlos; (2) habilidades intelectuales; (3) la capacidad de gestionarse a sí mismo y a los demás. Ninguna de estas capacidades era suficiente por sí misma. El autor sostiene que el estudio tiene consecuencias importantes para la educación y la formación vocacional y para facilitar la transición del colegio al trabajo.

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Résumé Cet article présente les résultats d'une étude sur l'alphabétisation fonctionnelle et les compétences professionnelles des employés de bureau dans diverses situations de travail. L'étude met l'accent sur la perception qu'ont les employés de leurs tâches. Les résultats révèlent trois conditions principales pour la réussite dans le travail de bureau: (1) la maîtrise des connaissances requises; (2) l'aptitude à la réflexion; (3) des capacités d'autonomie et relationnelles. Aucune de ces conditions ne se suffit à elle-même. Les auteurs soutiennent que l'étude a des répercussions importantes sur réduction et la formation professionnelles, pouvant faciliter la transition entre l'école et le monde du travail.

     

Child abuse treated in a psychiatric day hospital

Actuarial, medical and social data are reported on 50 psychiatric day hospital patients known to have abused their children and 50 non-abusers undergoing treatment at the same time. A sub-group of 30 of each completed personality and intelligence tests and the majority had electroencephalograms, and these results were compared with those of a group of 30 healthy mothers selected by health visitors for positive child-rearing abilities.Findings which confirms those of other studies of child abuse include youthfulness, a higher incidence of family violence from childhood onwards, more unplanned pregnancies and lower intelligence in the index group. In this sample, however, all social classes were represented, there was no significant differences in perinatal pathology between the groups, personality scored showed high morbidity in the patient groups but few distinctive features, and EEGs were not significantly more abnormal in the index group than in the two contrast groups. Moreover, the index group did not show the expected discrepancy between verbal and performance sub-tests on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.Treatment of the 50 child-abusers with their children resulted in a re-injury rate of 8% during the four year period of study. A scheme for early identification and prevention is outlined.