Action learning sets and social capital: ameliorating the burden of clergy isolation in one rural diocese

Rural clergy often lack colleagues and may struggle with isolation, especially if over-extended in multi-parish benefices. Theory suggests that this sense of isolation could be addressed by launching clergy action learning sets, which have the potential to establish a peer support network through the formation of social capital as a by-product of the pedagogical process. This case study looks at the effect of action learning set membership upon clergy involved in a new ministry development programme in one rural Church of England diocese. Markers of social capital (networks, norms and social trust) were found among set members, some of whom were prepared to draw on the new resource for assistance with problems, while others were ready to support such colleagues. Pre-existing support networks were one reason for clergy not intending to capitalize on the new links; another was the geographically dispersed set memberships. Geography may militate against exploiting social capital, but a distance of many miles between priest and trusted confidant can be advantageous. The study demonstrates that the notion that social capital formed through action learning will ameliorate isolation among some geographically scattered clergy is grounded not only in theory but also in practice.     

Reviews: 4

Garrison, D R & Anderson, Terry (2003) E-learning in the 21st Century RoutledgeFalmer (London & New York) ISBN 0-335-20791-X 109 pp £17.99 (boards £55)
http://www.tandf.co.uk enquiry@tandf.co.uk     

Students’ knowledge acquisition and ability to apply knowledge into different science contexts in two different independent learning settings

Background: Recently, there is a growing interest in independent learning approaches globally. This is, at least in part, due to an increased demand for so-called ‘21st century skills’ and the potential of independent learning to improve student skills to better prepare them for the future.

Purpose: This paper reports a study that explored the effectiveness of two different independent learning approaches: (i) guided independent learning and (ii) unguided independent learning with independent research, in enabling students in an undergraduate Macromolecules course to acquire knowledge in one chemistry context and apply it successfully in another.

Sample: The study involved 144 chemistry students commencing their first term of undergraduate study at a northern university in England. Students completed pre- and post-intervention tests containing 10 diagnostic questions, of which 4 measured students’ knowledge acquisition in one context and 6 measured their ability to apply it in another.

Design and methods: Diagnostic questions had been identified using a Delphi approach. Paired t-tests and chi-square tests were used to analyse the significance of any change in students’ responses to the diagnostic questions and the number of responses evidencing misconceptions, respectively.

Results: Whilst guided independent learning settings were found to improve students’ knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge in novel situations, unguided independent learning had no statistically significant effect. Unguided independent learning was also linked to a statistically significant increase in the number of student misconceptions in one of the diagnostic questions.

Conclusions: The results of this study show that guidance in independent learning activities is a key necessity for effective learning in higher education. This paper has strong relevance and high significance to tertiary STEM education, especially in the light of increased importance of teaching, such as the Teaching Excellence Framework in the UK, and shifts to more independent learning activities.     

Treating child abuse-related posttraumatic stress and comorbid substance abuse in adolescents

OBJECTIVE: Child abuse is a risk factor for developing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and subsequent Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge about effective treatments for adolescent abuse-related PTSD, SUD, and the co-occurrence of these conditions.METHOD: The literature on empirical treatment studies for these conditions in adolescence was reviewed, summarized, and synthesized.RESULTS: Randomized controlled studies of abuse-related PTSD and SUD in adolescents have supported the efficacy of cognitive behaviorally-based individual and family treatment components. Components overlap considerably in empirically supported treatments for each disorder. An integrated treatment approach is described for use in adolescents with abuse-related PTSD and SUD, with recommendations for optimizing services for this population and for future research.CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence on effective treatments suggests that integrated PTSD- and SUD-focused cognitive-behavioral and family treatment for adolescents with comorbid abuse-related PTSD and SUD may optimize outcomes for this population.     

The Biglan classification revisited

Conclusion The Biglan classification scheme provides a valid framework for studying academic diversity within the higher education system. It continues to be a strong construct for classifying faculty as evidenced by its power to discriminate current faculty on a recent faculty data set. Previously unclassified professional disciplines of Dentistry and Nursing were classified as hard-applied-nonlife and soft-applied-life respectively. Difficulty classifying other fields may be the result of diverse, interdisciplinary subject matter, and the stage of academic development of the discipline. An expanded classification system such as the one by Becher may be more inclusive and deserves further study.     

Phonological awareness,speech development,and letter knowledge in preschool children

Phonological awareness has been shown to be one of the most reliable predictors and associates of reading ability. In an attempt to better understand its development, we have examined the interrelations of speech skills and letter knowledge to the phonological awareness and early reading skills of 99 preschool children. We found that phoneme awareness, but not rhyme awareness, correlated with early reading measures. We further found that phoneme manipulation was closely associated with letter knowledge and with letter sound knowledge, in particular, where rhyme awareness was closely linked with speech perception and vocabulary. Phoneme judgment fell in between. The overall pattern of results is consistent with phonological representation as an important factor in the complex relationship between preschool children’s phonological awareness, their emerging knowledge of the orthography, and their developing speech skills. However, where rhyme awareness is a concomitant of speech and vocabulary development, phoneme awareness more clearly associates with the products of literacy experience.     

Understanding and supporting adoptive families

The number of adopted children in early childhood classrooms continues to rise each year; teachers need knowledge of adoption issues in order to face the unique challenges and meet the special needs of these children and their adoptive parents. This article provides “adoption awareness” for early childhood educators and offers practical suggestions for working with adoptive parents and their children. A list of adoption resources and consultants is included, along with a collection of suggested adoption books for young children.     

Comparing conventional and resource based education in chemical engineering: student perceptions of a teaching innovation

While the adoption of resource based education (RBE) in the teaching of individual engineering subjects is not novel, the introduction of RBE throughout an entire university department is unprecedented. The purpose of this longitudinal study with second year Chemical Engineering students (n = 31) was to detect, quantify and describe the consequences for teaching and learning of some concerns that had arisen in students as a result of the introduction of RBE. These concerns appeared to pose some formidable obstacles to the successful implementation of RBE within the academic department. 62 obstacles to effective study that were rated both serious and frequently occurring (major problems), were identified in conventionally taught course units and in RBE units, using personal interviews, the nominal group technique, and a modified perceived problems inventory (Cruickshank et al., 1974; Otto et al., 1979). Major study problems were isolated in each of the main learning resources provided in RBE and in conventional course units. Resource based education generated study problems for students that were quantitatively and qualitatively different from study problems encountered under conventional engineering education. Conventionally taught course units generated study problems in the lecture and student assessment components of the course, whereas RBE confronted students with new and major problems with use of the resource laboratory, with reference materials, with tutorials, and with student assessment demands.     

Indiana women of achievement: using self-directedness,self-efficacy and self-determination to explore opportunities for leadership

This article shares examples of how leadership opportunities, self-directedness, self-efficacy and self-determination developed in professional women who have been recognised as leaders. This study presents six women honoured as ‘Women of Achievement’. Through narrative interviews, each woman described aspects of her life that guided decision-making and her approach to various life situations. Using the narrative examples provided, one may be able to see themes or strategies for working with other learners to enhance their own leadership. Findings included: growth and development as leaders within their own environments and through interactions with people who mentored or influenced them; openness to opportunities presented to them; the effect that time, place and culture contributed to the goals and tasks that these women undertook. While they were bound by social constraints concerning gender, race and class, each found a way to adapt within those environments and make changes for the better through their contributions. Consistently, these women realised their actions made a difference. Implications for further research include: enhancing self-directedness, self-efficacy and self-determination in women; expanding the definition of leadership; and understanding the motivation for engaging in leadership opportunities. Through this and other research, we seek to expand women’s roles and participation as leaders.