La zona de desarrollo próximo: donde cultura y conocimiento se generan mutuamente

RESUMEN

El artículo expone los distintos enfoques que nos llevan al estudio del conocimiento y del desarrollo cognitivo basado en la cultura, áreas de estudio que tradicionalmente se han disociado y estan íntimamente relacionadas. En particular se centra en: la teoría sociocultural de los procesos psicológicos de Vygotski; Leontiev y su concepto de “actividad”; y las aportaciones de la antropología cultural. El concepto “zona de desarrollo próximo”, acuñado por Vygotski, ha tenido muchas aplicaciones educativas y se han llevado a cabo muchas investigaciones psicoantropológicas. La adquisición de conductas culturalmente adecuadas es un proceso de interacción del niño con los adultos y es un proceso de interacción y aculturación. Desde esta perspectiva, el enfoque sociocultural ofrece el marco necesario para el estudio de diversas facetas de la naturaleza humana.     

Argumentation,Dialogue Theory,and Probability Modeling: Alternative Frameworks for Argumentation Research in Education

Toulmin's model of argumentation, developed in 1958, has guided much argumentation research in education. However, argumentation theory in philosophy and cognitive science has advanced considerably since 1958. There are currently several alternative frameworks of argumentation that can be useful for both research and practice in education. These frameworks include Walton's dialogue theory and Bayesian models of everyday arguments. This article reviews and evaluates these frameworks and shows how each can be applied instructionally (e.g., through the teaching of critical questions or probability modeling) and, from a research standpoint, in evaluating the content and quality of informal arguments. It is concluded that attention to these and other contemporary argumentation frameworks can help move the study of argumentation in education forward.     

‘Schools are no longer merely educational institutions’: the rhetoric of social efficiency in Ontario education, 1931–1935

This article examines educational rhetoric in Ontario, Canada, during the Great Depression. It notes how the government, through the Annual Reports of the Minister of Education, and the College of Education, through its journal, The School, espoused themes of social efficiency regarding educational ideas and policies. The Depression struck schools hardest between 1932 and 1935 in Ontario, providing cause and context for reflection and reform in pedagogy. While social efficiency remained within the educational discourse of the province, the notion was problematised in Ontario as the province began to shake off the worst of the economic Depression.     

A Review and Meta-Analysis Examining the Relationship of Music Content with Sex,Race, Priming,and Attitudes

This meta-analysis (k = 35, N = 11,629) examines the effect that listening to music, particularly popular music, has on consumers. Results demonstrate that listening to music generates an effect on listeners consistent with the content of the music (average r = .210, k = 35, N = 11,629). This effect was similar when considering survey research (r = .227) or experimental research (r = .265). The tenets of excitation transfer theory received some support, particularly when considering the effects of music as a priming material (r = .399), demonstrating the impact of music as a means of establishing mood, and ultimately the subsequent reactions of individuals. One conclusion is that efforts toward media literacy or education may prove far more productive than media content restrictions when attempting to curb potential undesirable media effects. Additional implications for policy and theory are discussed.     

The effect of gender,deceit orientation and communicator style on macro‐assessments of honesty

Recently, deception research has focused primarily on micro‐analytic methods of lie detection (e.g., eye contact duration, response latency, vocal errors). This study adopted a macro‐assessment approach, where deception detection is based on global evaluations of communication, specifically honesty evaluation based on communicator style. 385 subjects viewed four different videotape segments of individuals participating in a simulated job interview. Two of the individuals were truthful throughout the interview, and two fabricated false information on some questions. Subjects were asked to evaluate or assess the honesty level of these individuals, as well as assess a number of communicator style dimensions. Multiple regression analyses revealed that honesty assessments can be predicted from communication style characterized by high friendliness, attentiveness, and preciseness, and low animated and dramatic styles. Some differences were observed for communicator style predictions of honesty based on liars/truthers, subject gender, target gender, and deceit‐orientation differences. Implications for future research are noted.     

An Evaluation of a Pilot Service‐Learning Course for Criminal Justice Undergraduate Students*

This article focuses on a pilot service‐learning program implemented with undergraduate students enrolled in a juvenile delinquency course. An evaluation of the service‐learning program on students’ attitudes toward diversity, interpersonal skills, personal and intellectual development, and citizenship behavior using qualitative analysis is presented. The results indicate that the majority of students came to view the youth in a positive light, reported learning how to work with youth, experienced a reduction in stereotypes, gained career insights, learned how to apply academic theory to real‐life experiences and developed attitudes about how society addresses delinquency that were sympathetic to the youths’ condition.     

THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: SHARED AUTHORITY IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

The department chair position is vital to the effective administration of both the academic unit and the entire college. Inherent in the roles and tasks of the individual position is a responsibility for consensus development, which in turn requires the involvement of faculty in decision-making activities. This consensual development dictates that faculty who are specialists in their particular academic disciplines be involved in decisions ranging from admissions and grading to institutional policy formation and cross-disciplinary curricula development. The current study was conducted to examine the perceptions of department chairs in the involvement of faculty in departmental decision-making.     

Sexuality in Older Adults: Effect of an Education Intervention on Attitudes and Beliefs of Residential Aged Care Staff

The sexual needs and wellbeing of older people living in residential aged care receives scant attention in practice, is easily dismissed by care staff, and remains a significant challenge for aged care service providers. This study reports on the evaluation of an education program delivered to residential aged care nurses to improve their knowledge about, and attitudes towards, older people's sexuality in this context. Participants' attitudes and beliefs towards older people expressing their sexuality in long-term care, including same sex couples and people with dementia, were more permissive following education. Findings further underscore the value of sexuality education as an important factor in dispelling the commonly held negative views of residential aged care staff about older people expressing their sexuality, thereby improving staff responses to this issue.     

Four Perspectives on Flipping the Statistics Classroom: Changing Pedagogy to Enhance Student-Centered Learning

Abstract

The term “flipped” or “inverted” classroom includes a broad range of pedagogical innovations, and has recently received a significant amount of press. Although flipping an entire course might be a more extreme step than most are able to take, we discuss modular ideas for change that can be more easily implemented. This paper offers the perspective of four faculty members at different institutions who have all flipped material in statistics courses that were already highly interactive and activity-based. We share common pitfalls and core ideas that were found among diverse environments.