Numeracy‐related exchanges in joint storybook reading and play

Studies of the processes by which parents encourage early numerical development in the context of parent–child interactions during routine, culturally relevant activities at home are scarce. The present study was designed to investigate spontaneous exchanges related to numeracy during parent–child interactions in reading and play activities at home. Thirty‐seven families with a four‐year‐old child (13 low‐income) were observed. Two types of numeracy interactions were of interest: socio‐cultural numeracy exchanges, explaining the use and value of money or numbers in routine activities such as shopping or cooking, and mathematical exchanges, including counting, quantity or size comparisons. Results indicated that high‐income parents engaged in more mathematical exchanges during both reading and play than did low‐income parents, though there were no differences in the initiation of socio‐cultural numeracy exchanges. The focus of parental guidance related to numeracy was conceptual and embedded in the activity context, with few dyads focusing on counting or numbers per se. The findings suggest the importance of parent education efforts that incorporate numeracy‐related discourse in the context of daily routines to augment young children’s numeracy development.     

Academic engagement: A review of the literature 2011-2019

We provide a systematic review of the literature on academic engagement from 2011 onwards, which was the cut-off year of a previous review article published in Research Policy. Academic engagement refers to knowledge-related interactions of academic scientists with external organisations. It includes activities such as collaborative research with industry, contract research, consulting and informal ties. We consolidate what is known about the individual, organisational and institutional antecedents of academic engagement, and its consequences for research, commercialisation, and society at large. Our results suggest that individual characteristics associated with academic engagement include being scientifically productive, senior, male, locally trained, and commercially experienced. Academic engagement is also socially conditioned by peer effects and disciplinary characteristics. In terms of consequences, academic engagement is positively associated with academics’ subsequent scientific productivity. We propose new areas of investigation where evidence remains inconclusive, including individual life cycle effects, the role of organisational contexts and incentives, cross-national comparisons, and the impact of academic engagement on the quality of subsequent research as well as the educational, commercial and society-wide impact.     

Psychological Development and Females' Sport Participation: An Interactional Perspective

Dorothy Hams's writings have consistently reflected a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of an integrated sport science perspective for understanding females' participation and performance in the physical domain. Her advocacy for a 7ldquo;somatopsychic” approach included a consideration of the sociological, psychological, biological, and physical factors that interact to influence patterns of involvement and performance potential. Although a complete integration of subdisciplines within the sport sciences would be a formidable task, the purpose of this article is to first review selected research findings pertaining to females' sport socialization, psychological development, and biological and cognitive maturation. Then, a heuristic model is proposed as an initial attempt to represent an interactional approach to understanding females' sport participation and as a framework for future research.     

A Continuing Dance

Religious educators who emphasize the public nature and mission of the religious congregation and advocates of national and community service have much in common. Both groups point to a need in the society of the United States to balance the language of individualism and individual rights with a renewed emphasis on communitarian social action. A constructive dialogue between community service‐oriented advocates of school reform and religious educators advocating the social and political nature of being religious addresses a crisis in American spirituality: how can we rouse citizens from our respective secular and religious confessional slumbers.     

Rainbows,Faeries, and Sandcastles: A Differentiated Approach to Literature for the Gifted and Talented from Montgomery County,Maryland

Research suggests that the world is no longer predictable and linear but rather is increasingly characterized by unrelenting volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. The convergence of these disruptive currents threatens the sustainability of contemporary classroom teaching and learning strategies. When an envisioned future and the present are in conflict, fundamental change must necessarily occur to create a new story. The dance of change in classrooms of the future will redefine the traditional role of “teacher as leader” to that of “teacher as enabler.” In tomorrow’s classrooms, the nature of students’ daily work will focus increasingly on skills and tasks that advancing technology cannot do well: higher-order critical thinking, problem solving in novel situations, creative and innovative thinking, and instructional activities that require high emotional engagement with others.     

Cross-Validation of a Model of Intrinsic Motivation With Students Enrolled in High School Elective Courses

The purpose of this study was to cross-validate a model of relationships among social-contextual factors, individual differences, and intrinsic motivation in adolescent students enrolled in required courses (E. Ferrer-Caja & M. R. Weiss, 2000) with an independent sample of students taking elective courses. Female and male high school students (N = 219) completed measures of motivational climate, teaching style, perceived competence, self-determination, goal orientation, and intrinsic motivation. Motivated behavior was assessed by teachers who rated the students on effort and persistence in class activities. First, the authors used structural equation modeling to examine model invariance between the original and the new samples, which yielded a lack of equivalence. Next, the authors examined several alternative theory-based models using the elective sample. The results indicated that the data were best represented by a model that separated social-contextual factors, individual factors, intrinsic motivation, and motivated behaviors. The strongest predictors of intrinsic motivation were task-goal orientation and perceived competence. These results are discussed from both theoretical and methodological perspectives.     

ADULTS IN EXPANDED GRANDPARENT ROLES: CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRACTICE,POLICY, AND RESEARCH

The number of middle-aged and older adults assuming primary caregiver roles to their grandchildren has dramatically increased in the past decade due to a myriad of serious family-related problems. Gerontology professionals in human service and mental health positions as well as policy makers and researchers can play important roles in helping these women and men function effectively in their expanded grandparent roles. The primary goal of this article is to provide a representative picture of (1) the circumstances surrounding grandparents' acquisition of the surrogate parent role; (2) the consequences of the caregiving roles for the older generation (positive as well as negative outcomes); and (3) recommendations of types of support (socioemotional and instrumental) that would be most helpful for grandparents raising their grandchildren. Recommendations for future programs, policies, and research on this growing population of family caregivers are also provided.     

Evaluation of third age learning in Hong Kong: Why and how?

ABSTRACT

Facing the challenges of a fast-growing ageing population – amidst the worldwide trends of declining birth rates and longer lifespans – the Hong Kong government has since two decades ago developed and implemented policies and plans for senior adults in Hong Kong to engage in third age learning, both formally and informally. This paper first argues for a critical need to evaluate the efficacy, adequacy and value of the policy and provision of third age learning in Hong Kong. It then discusses the choice between the functionalist approach and the critical educational gerontology (CEG) approach for a critical evaluation of the content and purpose of education for older adults. In this paper, CEG is conceived to be more comprehensive and robust than the functionalist approach that focuses primarily on learning for self-fulfillment and adjustment to older age. More broadly though, CEG views third age learning from a sociopolitical perspective and takes into account the empowering and liberating nature of learning for and by senior adults.