Using Interactive Digital Television to Support Basic Skills Learners

This paper outlines why television, and especially interactive digital television, is an effective medium for reaching people with basic skill learning needs. It describes the Upgrade2000 project, which developed a series of interactive television programmes for use in the home, workplace and training environments, together with a supportive learning surround. The programmes are being broadcast under the series title Give It A Go! The paper particularly focuses on: emerging digital television technologies; the project's framework for structuring learning content; the potential for using digital interactive television in education, highlighting opportunities and constraints     

NGSS,disposability, and the ambivalence of science in/under neoliberalism

This paper explores the ambivalence of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and its Framework towards neoliberal governance. The paper examines the ways that the NGSS serves as a mechanism within neoliberal governance: in its production of disposable populations through testing and through the infusion of engineering throughout the NGSS to resolve social problems through technical fixes. However, the NGSS, like earlier standards, is reactionary to forces diminishing the power of institutional science (e.g., the AAAS) including neoliberal prioritizing market value over evidence. The NGSS explicitly takes on neoliberal junk science such as the anti-global-warming Heartland Institute.     

Close Reading of Literary Nonfiction: The Three-column Journal

The Common Core State Standards have placed more emphasis on the close reading of all texts, and have made a point of increasing the use of nonfiction in secondary English classrooms. In this article, the author describes an approach for implementing close reading of literary nonfiction. The approach comes from a small-scale classroom-based research study that revealed statistically significant gains on the subtest measuring analysis of literature. After defining close reading and discussing how and why instructional methods differ, based on elements of analysis within fiction and nonfiction, the author describes the close reading approach using student samples. The approach described in detail is a three-column journal used for guiding students in the close reading of literary nonfiction.     

Counselor Trainee Self-Perceived Disability Competence: Implications for Training

We explored the relationship between master's-level counseling students' (N = 285) disability competence, disability-related life experience, and multicultural course completion. Results indicated disability-related life experience and multicultural course completion may differentially affect self-perceived disability competence. Implications and recommendations for counselor training are discussed.     

Relationships between reading profiles and narrative writing abilities in school-age children with autism spectrum disorder

Reading and Writing - Reading and writing are distinct skill areas that influence each other across development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are noted to exhibit challenges in both...     

Comparison of force-related performance indicators between heavyweight and lightweight rowers

The aim of this study was to examine biomechanical variables relating to the force production of men's Lightweight (LW) and Heavyweight (HW) rowing pairs. Seven HW and seven LW coxless pairs were studied under a range of stroke rates, from 20 spm to race rating (average of 33.7 spm for the HWs and 33.9 spm for the LWs). Each crew was equipped with biomechanical apparatus allowing the measurement of gate force, horizontal oar angle, and boat velocity. The HW crews exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) values for all variables examined, at all rates. Peak handle force was 26.2% to 30.2% higher in the HW group. Average handle force ranged from 18.7% to 22.1% higher than the LW group. Work per stroke was found to be 26% to 28% higher for the HW crews, and Power Per Kilogram was also greater for the HW crews, from 24.0% to 29.2%. The LWs were observed to be consistently, but not significantly, slower than the HWs (from 96.9% at the race situation, to 98.7% at 28 spm). These observations are important when considering biomechanical performance indicators in rowing, as significant changes in performance indicators may lead to only minimal alteration in boat velocity.     

Teacher behavior, student interest and affective learning: putting theory to practice

Students of Project Adapt (PA), an instructional program for at-risk middle school students in Brooklyn NY, have displayed startling improvement on cognitive outcome measures. Teacher given grades and standardized tests illuminate the progress students have made since entering the program. The current investigation attempts to analyze PA on students' affective responses in a pre/post-test experimental design. Upon entering PA, students completed measures of interest, affect, and their previous teachers' behavior (pre). These ratings were then compared to end of year ratings on the same instruments (post). Results indicate students' perceive PA teachers utilizing different behaviors than their previous teachers. Additionally, student affect and interest increased significantly. Results of this study have implications for both instructional researchers and educational practitioners.