A multiple-case study investigation of the discontinuation of nine chat reference services

Using the multiple-case study method, this research investigates reasons why nine virtual reference (chat) services have been discontinued. The investigation of these five academic, one public, and three consortial chat services was conducted through structured e-mail and telephone interviews with the library decision makers and analysis of available reports and documents. The major reason for discontinuation was funding problems, followed by low volume (including low volume by target audience). Other reasons were staffing problems, technical problems, and institutional culture issues. Staffing issues included the need for comfortable staffing patterns, maintenance of sufficient volume to maintain proficiency, and cultivation of positive attitudes. Technical problems centered on software malfunctions and connectivity difficulties. Within two of the consortia, different patterns of funding, staffing, and mission posed difficulties for blended cultures that caused the consortia to break up. Despite all these issues, the possibility of restarting chat services, perhaps in consortia or with simpler chat software, exists for all services, with two services desiring to restart when funds and reorganization permit.     

Modeling acquisition of an advanced skill: The case of Morse code copying

To determine characteristics of those who pass, 21 soldiers were tracked through a course in Morse code copying. Passers differed from attrites in the form of functions relating reaction times to presentation speed (p < 0.05). We suggest this is due to differing rates of copying behind and offer a model in which an initially speeded task converts, at expert level, to one of delayed responding. We then show how the model explains otherwise puzzling data. This success demonstrates the need to understand the information-processing complexities of an advanced skill before an appropriate student model can be created for instructional purposes.     

素质教育与高等学校德育课程改革与发展

素质教育并不是一个专门的教育学术语,但在我国却具有良好的纠正应试教育偏差的纠偏功能, 它要求高校德育课程按照教育本身的特点和功能进行设计与开发。长期以来,我国高校德育课程由于受传统学科课程观念的影响,形成了较为狭义的学科德育课程观念,即把德育课程仅仅理解为直接学科德育课程,较为重视直接学科德育课程建设,而忽视其他渠道德育课程建设,存在着德育课程主渠道与其他渠道之间的矛盾、德育课程稳定性与变化性的矛盾、德育课程结构和层次不清等问题。高校德育课程建设的基本思路是根据素质教育和教育改革和发展要求,树立一种大的德育课程观念,从直接学科德育课程、间接学科德育课程、活动德育课程、学校教育物质条件层面的隐性课程、组织制度层面的隐性课程、精神文化层面的隐性课程等多角度、全方位地进行德育课程综合性建设,更好地促进高校德育课程改革与发展。     

Understanding Teacher Change: A National Survey of U.S. Physical Educators

Physical education is critical to addressing childhood obesity, yet many school-based programs do not meet established quality standards and teachers are called upon to change. Little is known about how change is initiated and its associated internal and external factors. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate physical education teacher change that was self-initiated and externally initiated and to examine dispositions toward the change process relative to initiation. Method: A random national sample of physical educators representing each SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators regional district participated in a survey measuring past programming changes, primary initiators of change, and teachers’ dispositions toward change. In total, 2,423 teachers (46% response rate) completed electronic, paper, or telephone questionnaires. Results: Teachers most often made minor curriculum changes, and they added/subtracted student assessments (primarily informal assessments) least often. Self-initiated (bottom-up) change was most frequently (83.1% of the time) reported. Externally initiated (top-down) changes were less frequent and were most often associated with professional development. Teachers reported principals’ involvement in both top-down and bottom-up change processes was minimal. Teachers who were more disposed to making future changes reported making significantly (p < .01, η² = .046–.119) more past changes than those who were less disposed to change. Conclusions: Physical education teachers primarily self-initiated minor programming changes without involvement from administration. Externally initiated change was infrequent and mostly involved professional development. Dispositions toward change were individual and enduring such that teachers who had made more past changes were more likely to also make future changes.     

骨髓细胞的模糊识别

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Conceptions of wayfinding: decolonizing science education in pursuit of Native American success

Cultural Studies of Science Education - The purpose of this forum paper is to address how conceptions of “success” in STEM education are culturally informed, and how supporting students...     

Inside a beginning immigrant science teacher’s classroom: an ethnographic study

Teaching is a highly personal endeavor shaped by ‘funds of knowledge’ and beliefs about teaching, learning, and students. This case study examines how one Asian immigrant teacher’s personal expectations and beliefs influenced his expectations of students and the teaching and instructional strategies he employed. His expectations of students’ behavior and their failure to conform to his expectations influenced him to utilize more traditional, didactic instructional practices and responses to classroom management dilemmas. It is generally assumed that immigrant and minority students will benefit from exposure to teachers from similar backgrounds, and that ethnically diverse teachers can better prepare minority students for the multicultural workplace and global economy. This study focuses on the role a teacher’s background and experiences play in development of their beliefs about teaching and learning, their expectations of students, and the instructional decisions they make regarding teaching and learning. This study suggests that teachers draw on their personal histories and cultural understandings to create classroom practices which are molded by microcosms of personal ‘funds of knowledge’ and beliefs about teaching and learning. In contrast to conventional wisdom and unquestioned myths, this study emphasizes the importance of knowing that teachers’ cultural backgrounds do not necessarily qualify them to provide the most appropriate instructional environment for students from similar cultural backgrounds. This study suggests that all teachers need to learn to recognize and negotiate the unique social elements culturally diverse students bring to the classroom.     

COLLEGE CHOICE INFLUENCES: URBAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RESPOND

There is an increasing need to know and understand the patterns of minority high school students' choices regarding postsecondary education. The literature contains very limited information on current high school students. The information from the study discussed in this article will help guide community colleges' recruitment of traditional college-age students. An immediate outcome of participation for students in this study was heightened awareness concerning postsecondary education. Schools participating in the study included 5 magnet schools housed in one complex and 15 traditional highschools located in a major urban metropolitan area in the southwest. Study results indicated that higher education was not a tradition in students' families but was strongly encouraged. Financial aid was an important consideration for many students. A small percentage reported planning on attending a 2-year institution. Several reported planning to attend both a 2-year institution and a 4-year institution. A smaller percentage did not respond to the question, possibly indicating that they were unsure of what they planned to do after high school.