Context matters: increasing understanding with interactive Clicker Case studies

Although interactive technology is presumed to increase student understanding in large classes, no previous research studies have empirically explored the effects of Clicker Cases on students?? performance. A Clicker Case is a story (e.g., a problem someone is facing) that uses clickers (student response systems) to engage students in understanding the meaning of the science contained within the story. Using an experimental randomized Solomon design across 11 institutions, we found that Clicker Cases increased student understanding more than PowerPoint lectures in large introductory biology classrooms, although there was variation across institutions and topics. By examining student performance in conjunction with faculty experience, we found that strong Clicker Cases created dissonance, captured attention and involved students in interpreting data or making decisions. This study provides a model for collaborative research across multiple institutions and demonstrates the need for using multiple institutions and topics in research on education.     

When Is Teleconsultation Acceptable to School Psychologists?

ABSTRACT

School psychologists report a desire to increase consultation with teachers but are limited by competing job demands. Consultation via videoconference (i.e., teleconsultation) offers one possible means of increasing consultant availability to teachers, but little is known about the acceptability of this technology in actual practice. In this exploratory study, we conducted an online survey to assess the conditions under which school consultants would use teleconsultation to assist teachers remotely. Sixty-two school psychology practitioners, trainers, and trainees completed a choice-based conjoint survey designed to assess teleconsultation acceptability in the context of varying commute times, consultee comfort levels, and student problem severities. Findings suggest important differences in teleconsultation acceptability in the context of real-world tradeoffs. Implications of these results are discussed, as well as the potential for using conjoint analysis to better understand technology decisions among school consultants.     

Equity in access? The number of the books available in grade 1, 3 and 5 classroom libraries

Learning Environments Research - In this study, we examined students’ access to text, defined as the number of texts freely available to children in their classrooms. From 60 elementary...     

如此多的信息,如此少的时间--如何使用搜索引擎评估网络资源

虽然因特网上的信息爆炸已经让人们感到无所适从，但是其快速发展的趋势还未停止。在巨量的信息中找到有用信息方法之一是通过搜索引擎的使用，因此掌握有效的资源搜索策略，学会如何选择与使用搜索引擎成为了敲开因特网这个信息宝库的必备素质。     

ADHD Coaching With College Students: Exploring the Processes Involved in Motivation and Goal Completion

College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience increased academic difficulties, which can negatively impact graduation rates, employment, self-esteem, and mental health. ADHD coaching assists students with ADHD to reduce such difficulties. The present study evaluated the processes involved in ADHD coaching by examining undergraduate and graduate level students (n = 23) who attended individualized ADHD coaching sessions for 8 weeks. Specifically, the study examined the types of goals established, the use of weekly objectives (tasks to be completed), barriers to task completion, the use of incentives and consequences to increase motivation, and the role of task enjoyment and therapeutic benefit on task completion. The most common goals involved time management and academic performance. Results showed a significant effect for use of incentives/consequences on weekly task completion. Therapist-coach ratings were predictive of task completion, while client ratings were not. The primary barriers to task completion were lack of motivation and poor time management.     

Shifting The Burden: Public and Private Financing of Higher Education in the United States and Implications for Europe

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant change in the financing of higher education in the United States. A decrease in student and institutional support in real terms, tuition increases at all types of institutions, along with the view that students are the primary beneficiaries of higher education has resulted in policies that reduce the proportion of higher education costs borne by the federal and state governments. This paper will describe this financing shift in the United States, and analyse its impact on college participation with a particular focus on equity and opportunity. It will also provide an analysis of some questions that European countries should address as they implement their own policies that shift the burden of paying for college from the government to individuals, and as they consider various forms of financial assistance to help students pay for college.     

Contradictory Messages: A Content Analysis of Hollywood-Produced Romantic Comedy Feature Films

This study analyzed the romantic content of a sample of 40 romantic comedy films using a basic grounded theory methodology. Analyses revealed that such films appear to depict romantic relationships as having qualities of both new and long-term relationships; that is, to be both novel and exciting, yet emotionally significant and meaningful. Furthermore, relationships were shown to have both highly idealistic and undesirable qualities but for any problems or transgressions experienced to have no real negative long-term impact on relationship functioning. The potential for viewer interpretations is discussed and the need for future research highlighted.     

Senior Citizens Who Use E-mail

Increases in the aging population and use of computer-related technology have spawned research regarding older adults' use of the Internet. This study examined characteristics differentiating rural Midwestern senior citizens (N = 298) who use e-mail from those who do not. Compared to those who did not use e-mail, e-mail-using seniors were younger and wealthier, less likely to report health-related limitations, and more likely to report being able to do things independently. Given the potential benefits associated with use of the Internet, results of studies such as this could help in identifying factors associated with successful aging.