Eight Ways to Promote Generative Learning

Educational Psychology Review - Generative learning involves actively making sense of to-be-learned information by mentally reorganizing and integrating it with one’s prior knowledge, thereby...     

A generative theory of textbook design: Using annotated illustrations to foster meaningful learning of science text

In three experiments, college students read a text explaining how lightning works and then took problem-solving transfer tests. Some students (integrated group) also viewed illustrations depicting the major stages in the formation of lightning that (a) were placed adjacent to corresponding text paragraphs and (b) contained annotations repeating the verbal cause-and-effect information from the text. Other students (separated group) viewed the same illustrations (a) on a separate page and (b) without annotations, after they had finished reading the text. The integrated group generated approximately 50% more creative solutions on transfer problems than the separated group, and this pattern was stronger for students who lacked experience in meteorology than for high-experience students. The positive effects of integrated illustrations depended on incorporating annotations (i.e., captions and labels) into the illustrations rather than placing illustrations close to corresponding paragraphs. Results were interpreted in light of a generative theory of multimedia learning which posits that meaningful learning requires constructing connections between visual and verbal representations of a system.     

A Comparative Analysis of the Function of Coordination of Early Childhood Education and Care in France and Italy

In several European countries professionals are in charge of the coordination of Early Childhood Education and Care provision at local community level. For the past 20 years the number of this personnel has grown considerably in Italy and in France. This study provides a comparative analysis of the function of coordinating Early Childhood Education and Care services in these two countries as emerges from two surveys carried out in French and Italian municipalities on the status, training, and tasks of early childhood coordinators. The implications of the coordination function in the promotion of the quality of Early Childhood Education and Care are discussed. Dans plusieurs pays europe´ens, il existe des professionnels charge´s de la coordination de la petite enfance au niveau des communes. Au cours de ces vingt dernie ¤ res anne´es, le nombre de ces personnels a conside´rablement augmente´ en Italie et en France. Cette e´tude fournit une analyse comparative de la fonction de coordination des services de la petite enfance dans ces deux pays a ¤ partir de deux enquetes mene´es dans des municipalite´s italiennes et franc¸aises sur le statut, la formation et les taches des coordinateurs de la petite enfance. Les implications de la fonction de coordination dans la promotion de la qualite´ des soins et de l'e´ducation dans les services de la petite enfance seront discute´es. En varios pa L ´ses europeos, hay profesionales responsables de la coordinacio´n de la educacio´n de la primera infancia y de la provisio´n del cuidado de nin ¨ os a nivel de la comunidad local. Durante los u´ltimos veinte an ¨ os el nu´mero de este personal ha crecido considerablemente en Italia y en Francia. Este estudio proporciona un ana´lisis comparativo de la funcio´n de coordinacio´n de los servicios de la educacio´n de la primera infancia y del cuidado de nin ¨ os en estos dos pa L ´ses como ha sido presentado en dos estudios realizados en municipios franceses e italianos sobre el estado, entrenamiento, y tareas de los coordinadores de la primera nin ¨ ez. Las implicaciones de la funcio´n de coordinacio´n en la promocio´n de la calidad de coordinacio´n de la educacio´n de la primera infancia y del cuidado de nin ¨ os sera´n discutidas.     

New Books: The Reunification of the University

Academic writing is something we all want our students to do well. The ability of our students to use writing in meaningful ways seems to lag far behind what we know they can do. The author introduces a technique to assist in teaching college academic writing. Writing for personal goals is contrasted with student academic writing. The integration of personal writing is used to demonstrate the developmental nature of writing and thinking in the progress of student learning in college so that these learners can understand more clearly and use more effectively their own thinking and writing capabilities.     

A Program of Action

Abstract

Through qualitative analyses of narratives of what students and faculty wanted in their relationships, the authors identified three themes. The Teaching/Learning Environment theme illustrated needs for nurturing, open, nonthreatening, and respectful attitudes in student-faculty relationships. Exchange of Information students reported a desire to learn and interact with each other, but not with the instructor. With regard to Mentor/Peer Association theme, students wanted to develop networks of friends to help with course work, whereas teachers wanted to find principles of effective teaching to help students learn. Applications of this data for improving student-faculty interactions and instructional processes are discussed.     

Film Biographies

A PRIVATE VIEW by Irene Mayer Selznick (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983---$16.95)

A PASSION FOR FILMS: HENRI LANGLOIS AND THE CINEMATHEQUE FRANCAISE (New York: The Viking Press, 1983---$16.95)

MOVIE STAR: A LOOK AT THE WOMEN WHO MADE HOLLYWOOD by Ethan Mordden (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1983---$19.95)     

What's in a Name?

These words critique the ongoing tendency to create false dichotomies between different approaches in media studies. Delivered as part of a panel on the future of media studies at the 2013 Society for Cinema and Media Studies, I offer a definition of critique that all critical media scholars should share.     

Learning in a game-based virtual environment: a comparative evaluation in higher education

The authors define the requirements and a conceptual model for comparative evaluation research of simulation games and serious games (SGs) in a learning context. A first operationalisation of the model was used to comparatively evaluate a suite of 14 SGs on varying topics played between 2004 and 2009 in 13 institutes of higher education in the Netherlands. The questions in this research were: what is the perceived learning effectiveness of the games and what factors explain it? How can we comparatively evaluate games for learning? Data were gathered through pre- and post-game questionnaires among 1000 students, leading to 500 useful datasets and 230 complete datasets for analysis (factor analysis, scaling, t-test and correlation analysis) to give an explorative, structural model. The findings are discussed and a number of propositions for further research are formulated. The conclusion of the analysis is that the students’ motivation and attitudes towards game-based learning before the game, their actual enjoyment, their efforts during the game and the quality of the facilitator/teacher are most strongly correlated with their learning satisfaction. The degree to which the experiences during the game were translated back into the underlying theories significantly determines the students’ learning satisfaction. The quality of the virtual game environment did not matter so much. The authors reflect upon the general methodology used and offer suggestions for further research and development.