Practicalising theoretical knowledge in student teachers' professional learning in initial teacher education

This paper reports the findings collected from a four year longitudinal study aiming to investigate the professional learning of student-teachers in Bachelor of Education programmes. Four case studies which suggest a typology of ways of practicalising theoretical knowledge with one extreme as the testing out of teaching approaches mainly to find out their practicality in the school context to the other extreme whereby the student-teacher sought to work out a schema or personal theory were identified. Influences from the campus-based and the field-based components of the teacher education programme are drawn. The paper ends with implications for initial teacher education.     

Teachers' Experience and Management of Young Children Treated Because of Home Conduct Problems: A qualitative study

In the present study, a sample of 27 teachers were interviewed regarding their experience and management of young children with conduct problems in day‐care or school settings. The children had been referred and treated because of oppositional and conduct problems at home. Qualitative analysis of data was performed by using elements of a grounded theory approach. Although the children had complex conduct problems presenting considerable challenges for their teachers, most teachers described a close and engaged relationship with these children. Teachers used within‐discipline and within‐classroom approaches in their work with a main focus on managing the child's daily life in day‐care or school, supported by close colleagues. Their practices were not deeply rooted in evidence‐based knowledge and methods. Most teachers reported collaboration with parents as positive and necessary, however, they only pursued it to a limited extent. Representatives from supplementary services, such as school psychologist, child protection care and child psychiatry, were rarely involved in the work of teachers. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

How are Closeness and Conflict in Student–Teacher Relationships Associated with Demographic Factors,School Functioning and Mental Health in Norwegian Schoolchildren Aged 6–13?

This study explored the association between teacher-reported student-teacher relationship quality (closeness and conflict) and demographic factors, school functioning and child mental health in a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted among a national sample of Norwegian school children (N?=?825) in grades 1 to 7. Bivariate analyses and standard multiple regression analysis were conducted. Conflict in student–teacher relationships correlated highly with child mental health factors and in particular, problems of externalization. For closeness in student-teacher relationships, demographic factors accounted for the largest proportion of variance. Our findings suggest that different strategies may be needed to promote closeness and reduce conflict in student–teacher relationships.     

Teaching interpretation

CHIRONOMIA; OR A TREATISE ON RHETORICAL DELIVERY: COMPREHENDING MANY PRECEPTS, BOTH ANCIENT AND MODERN, FOR THE PROPER REGULATION OF THE VOICE, THE COUNTENANCE, AND GESTURE. TOGETHER WITH AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ELEMENTS OF GESTURE, AND A NEW METHOD FOR THE NOTATION THEREOF; ILLUSTRATED BY MANY FIGURES. By The Reverend Gilbert Austin, A.M. [London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1806]. Edited with Bibliography and Introduction by Mary Margaret Robb and Lester Thonssen; Foreword by David Potter. Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois University Press, 1966; pp. xxix+13+xvi+584+15. $12.50.

AN INTRODUCTION TO ARISTOTLE'S RHETORIC WITH ANALYSIS NOTES AND APPENDICES. By E. M. Cope [London and Cambridge: Macmillan, 1867]. Dubuque: William C. Brown Reprint Library, 1966; pp. xvi+464. $15.00.

IBID. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, 1966. Paper. $16.85.

THE PUBLIC SPEAKING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. By George P. Rice, Jr. [New York: Columbia University Press, 1951]. New York: AMS Press, 1966; pp. x+142. $5.00.

THE RHETORICAL IDIOM. ESSAYS IN RHETORIC, ORATORY, LANGUAGE, AND DRAMA PRESENTED TO HERBERT AUGUST WICHELNS WITH A REPRINTING OF HIS “LITERARY CRITICISM OF ORATORY” (1925). Edited by Donald C. Bryant [Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1958]. New York: Russell &; Russell, 1966; pp. x+334. $8.00.

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH, VOLUME 1, 1915 [Chicago: University of Chicago Press], New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1966; pp. 331, including Index. $20.00.     

Interpretations of formative assessment in the teaching of English at two Chinese universities: a sociocultural perspective

Formative assessment is increasingly being implemented through policy initiatives in Chinese educational contexts. As an approach to assessment, formative assessment derives many of its key principles from Western contexts, notably through the work of scholars in the UK, the USA and Australia. The question for this paper is the ways that formative assessment has been interpreted in the teaching of College English in Chinese Higher Education. The paper reports on a research study that utilised a sociocultural perspective on learning and assessment to analyse how two Chinese universities – an urban-based Key University and a regional-based Non-Key University – interpreted and enacted a China Ministry of Education policy on formative assessment in College English teaching. Of particular interest for the research were the ways in which the sociocultural conditions of the Chinese context mediated understanding of Western principles and led to their adaptation. The findings from the two universities identified some consistency in localised interpretations of formative assessment which included emphases on process and student participation. The differences related to the specific sociocultural conditions contextualising each university including geographical location, socioeconomic status, and teacher and student roles, expectations and beliefs about English. The findings illustrate the sociocultural tensions in interpreting, adapting and enacting formative assessment in Chinese College English classes and the consequent challenges to and questions about retaining the spirit of formative assessment as it was originally conceptualised.     

Revisiting educational equity and quality in China through Confucianism, policy, research, and practice

The promotion of educational equity and improvement of educational quality in China are contextualised in tenets of Confucianism and policy directives, inspiring educational research and practice. In this paper, we first explore the historical and cultural roots of educational equity and quality through Confucianism and elaborate on the current policy priority that aims to address educational equity and quality. We then present an overview of research on equity and quality in Chinese education. Informed by Confucianism, policy, and research, we pose a framework to structure our investigation and analysis of three illustrative examples, namely the Special Post Teacher Plan, amalgamation of rural schools, and schooling of floating children. Drawing insights from Confucianism, policy, research, and practice, we conclude that the promotion of educational equity through high quality provision of education for disadvantaged groups can help to narrow the gap in educational quality currently existing in China.     

Research and development work: developing teachers as researchers or just teachers?

This article focuses on the theoretical frame of action research and the teacher as researcher, working through a Norwegian Research Council‐funded project in a school that explored learning strategies for pupils’ subject and social development. Action research is here called research and development (R&D) work as the term envisages that research and development are being conducted at the same time. Additionally, the term reflects the fact that the research is conducted within the framework of activity theory and Engeström’s expansive learning circle in which work is termed R&D. The article describes the possibilities and challenges for both teachers and researchers cooperating in R&D projects. Reflection on observed teaching are presented as a central activity in development work, covering the form and content of reflective dialogues; quotations from teachers are provided to show how the teachers experienced observation and reflection. The article discusses whether teachers become researchers, or whether they only develop in their role as teachers. The close cooperation between teachers and researchers in this work is also presented as a model for further education for teachers in‐service and for the training of teacher students.     

标准化病人在医学教学中的应用:十年文献回顾

本文的目的是通过对近十年标准化病人应用于教学的相关文献的回顾,了解其应用对于医疗卫生职业学习者的知识、技能和行为方面的实际教育效果.在符合检索要求的69篇文章中,绝大多数研究结果表明标准化病人在医学教育中的应用发挥了积极的作用;同时也暴露出这些研究在设计上的不足.在今后的相关研究中应该加以改进,为教学设计提供证据和支持.