Using an online microfiche catalog for technical service and retrieval of bibliographic data

A prototype system is created that integrates a microfiche catalog into an online computer system for bibliographic control. Costs and operational data are collected and analyzed. The system permits the more economical microfiche storage of catalog records than would be feasible for comparable online magnetic disk storage. Experimental tests demonstrate the feasibility of the online microfiche catalog system for use in library technical services and retrieval of bibliographic data. The primary result of the project is the creation of a completely operational facility, including all equipment, software, procedures, and data bases necessary to demonstrate the system. A second set of results is derived from the experimental use of the system and the evaluation of costs and times for various operations. The cost effectiveness of the online microfiche catalog is demonstrated.     

Bidimensional sorting in preschoolers with an instrumental learning task

74 lower- and middle-class children aged 2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2 years who were successful at unidimensional sorting of 2 objects by either color or form were given feedback for correct bidimensional sorting of 3 objects, 2 of which had been used in unidimensional testing. Four of the 10 2 1/2-year-olds and 58 of the 64 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-year-olds reached criterion on the bidimensional sorting task. Neither social class nor performance on a verbal comprehension test (the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test) was significantly correlated with success on either unidimensional or bidimensional sorting, although social class and test scores were significantly correlated. The results indicate that Piagetian centration (i.e., the inability to transcend unidimensional attention) is a task- or situation-specific phenomenon, and biodimensional responding is the rule rather than the exception for 3 1/2- and 4 1/2-year-olds in an instrumental situation involving a limited number of stimuli.     

Screening Higher‐Education Students for English Language Problems: Development of the Australian Tertiary‐English Screening Test

The number of NESB students in higher education has increased in recent years. Among the cultural factors that adversely affect the studies of some of these students are difficulties associated with the English language. Students with language related problems need to be identified early so that they can be encouraged to participate in the available support programs. A 20 item screening test (AUSTEST), quickly administered to large groups, has been developed on medical students at the University of Sydney. The test has evolved through a program of screen testing 1146 first‐year students (40% NESB) over the course of 5 years. The final cross‐validation study of a three‐phase process of test development with 81 students produced a correlation of 0.86 with a well established but more expensive individually administered English‐language proficiency battery, correctly identified 31 of the 33 students who were below the general population average, and correlated 0.43 with aggregated final marks in first‐year medicine. Although developed on medical students, the AUSTEST may be of more general use to other faculties who enrol significant numbers of able NESB students.     

Classroom behaviour management strategies in response to problematic behaviours of primary school children with special educational needs: views of special educational needs coordinators

Children identified with special educational needs (SEN) and behavioural difficulties present extra challenges to educators and require additional supports in school. This paper presents views from special educational needs coordinators (SENCos) on various strategies used by educators to support children identified with SEN and problematic behaviours. The data were collected from telephone interviews with six SENCos from the UK’s South West Peninsula. The SENCos were invited to participate because their school was participating in a cluster-randomised trial of a teacher classroom management course (Incredible Years). Using thematic analysis to analyse the data, this paper illustrates strategies deemed by SENCos to be successful in the support of children identified with SEN. The management strategies generated by participating SENCos were then mapped onto those taught as part of the classroom management course for comparison. Findings indicate that strategies from the training programme appear to be appropriate for children identified with both SEN and behavioural difficulties.     

Perceptions of Video Scenarios to Learn Human Pathophysiology Among Undergraduate Science Students

Pathophysiology describes and explains the physiological dysfunctions that occur in human diseases. Pathophysiology is content heavy, often leading to medical/biomedical science students adopting a surface approach to learning. To encourage more engagement, we developed clinical simulation practical classes using manikin patients. Students considered these were more effective than paper-based case studies. However, they found the first encounter with the manikins daunting. In addition, they did not have a strong sense of responsibility towards the outcome of their treatment choices largely because they recognized this as a simulated experience. Video is a powerful teaching tool to demonstrate situations that are difficult to explain in words, to see theory applied to practice or create enthusiasm and confidence in the viewer regarding the use of new practices. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of exposure to a video scenario, in which a high-fidelity manikin was used as the ‘patient’, before the students’ own interactions with the manikin in later classes. Survey results suggested that the students felt more engaged with the case study. They felt the video helped them appreciate aspects of clinical communication and prepare for their time in the simulation laboratory interacting with the manikin. They saw the video as a useful addition to the written case study notes. Their criticisms were mainly around the production quality. This study supports the use of video scenarios as a valuable adjunct to the teaching of pathophysiology to medical/biomedical science students when using either paper- or simulation-based case studies.

     

Personal knowledge management: supporting individual knowledge worker performance

Based on an exploratory study of the work and learning processes of highly skilled and experienced knowledge workers, this paper explores an alternative perspective to knowledge management, one that focuses on how individual workers apply knowledge processes to support their day-to-day work activities – broadly characterized as problem solving – and learning practices. Developing the concept of Personal Knowledge Management, the paper presents an emergent model that links distinctive types of problem solving activities with specific cognitive, information, social and learning competencies, supported by an individual, social and organizational enablers.     

Training Students to Use Maps to Increase Text Recall

In this study, high school students were trained to use adjunct maps strategically while studying a History text. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a control or map training group which read a lengthy passage which was accompanied by three maps. The control group was instructed to study the materials and write an essay about them. The map training group was instructed to study the materials and to place important event information from the text on their maps; they also discussed how their maps could be used to help them remember the text. One week later multiple choice, probed recall, free recall, and map recall tests were administered. Three weeks after training both groups read a transfer text and were instructed to use the attached map to help them remember the information. Free recalls were gathered after a short delay. Results showed that map training subjects obtained higher scores on all of the training text recall measures and on the main idea level transfer text measures. High ability map training subjects also recalled more details. Maps used in the transfer task showed trained subjects using the strategies they had been taught.     

Differentiation of Learning Processes within Ability Groups

This paper describes a mediational model for conceptualising the relationship between individual differences and academic achievement and presents the results of a study concerning some predictions of that model. According to this model, intervening or mediating variables mediate between stable personological traits (e.g. mental abilities) and task performance. Mediating variables are thus transitory and situation‐specific to some degree, and in academic tasks, are represented by the learning process complex, which consists of motives and strategies for learning. The mediational model predicts that students’ information processing abilities will help determine the number and the nature of learning processes differentiated within the learning process complex. Results conform to the model's predictions, indicating that (1) as students’ processing abilities increase, they show greater learning process differentiation and (2) for students intermediate in differentiation, the learning processes that do emerge are dependent upon which processing abilities they possess. These results are discussed with respect to their implication for the mediation model and for strategy instruction.