The 1970s in France: A period of student retreat

After the student turmoil of 1968–69, the seventies are characterized by an overall mood of retreat on the part of students. This can be explained by three main factors: (1) the institutionalization of politics within the university system which resulted from the 1968 Loi d'orientation which gave the minority willing to be politically active an opportunity of being so, while dissuading the majority; (2) as a consequence of the 1968 movement, universities are more diversified than they were prior to 1968 giving the students more choice. The increased diversity contributed to the substitution of the exit for the voice strategy; (3) in the seventies the returns from higher education decreased absolutely while they remained constant or increased relatively. This circumstance among others contributed to transforming the ideal-typical model of the full-time student into a new model of student economically active for a part of his time. As a result of these factors the conflicts of the seventies were of the corporalist-particularistic-materialistic type, contrasting with the cultural-universalistic conflicts which characterized the late sixties. In spite of the retreat, surveys show that a high proportion of students feel close to political ideologies weakly represented, if at all, in societal political institutions.     

Learning with Maps and Texts: An Overview

This paper serves as an overview of the research done on learning with geographic maps that are presented in conjunction with a related text. First, the review looks at a model of map and text learning and the factors such as prior knowledge and individual differences that affect the model. Second, the review examines how the location of features on a map has a significant effect on what is learned from the map; namely, that features located on the edge of a map are learned and remembered more often and at higher rates than those features located in the interior of the map. Next, the review looks at several ways maps can be used effectively in classrooms. The order of presentation, situated cognition, and the use of technology to improve map learning in classrooms are all discussed. Finally, the review looks at the future of learning from maps and texts.     

Looking for inhibition of return in pigeons

We conducted four experiments in order to investigate whether pigeons' responses to a recently attended (i.e., recently pecked) location are inhibited. In Experiments 1 and 2, stimulus displays were similar to those used in studies of inhibition of return (IOR) with humans; responses to cued targets tended to be facilitated rather than inhibited. In Experiments 3 and 4, birds were presented with stimulus displays that mimicked clusters of small grains and were relatively localized, which should have been more appropriate for detecting IOR in pigeons. The results from these experiments again provided evidence for facilitation of responding to cued targets, rather than for IOR.     

JPE-The Journal of a True Profession

The Journal of Perinatal Education (JPE) is to be admired, not just because of its new look, but because it offers a model of a professional journal that other occupational groups would do well to emulate. Childbirth educators have found a way to organize themselves that avoids the pitfalls of professionalism, and JPE reflects that attitude toward professional service. It is a journal that offers original, high-quality research, translates research for practical use, and treats its readers as whole people.     

Symptoms and long‐term outcomes for children who have been sexually assaulted

Violent behaviors by and toward children have become an increasing concern within the American school system, with a good deal of energy devoted to developing profiles about which children are likely to exhibit these behaviors (Goldstein & Huff, 1993). Unfortunately, much less publicity has been devoted toward children who are sexually abused, despite the fact that over 300,000 children and adolescents are sexually abused annually in this country (National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect, 1996). As such, this figure reflects about a 600% increase in actual reported cases since 1980 (Burgdoff, 1980). These data suggest that a large number of school‐aged children are experiencing this kind of personal assault and professional educators are likely to encounter these children in the routine course of the educational process. This article provides a summary of the issues involved in the determination of sexual assault against a child and reviews the empirical literature describing the symptoms which may be manifested by a child who has been sexually abused. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Loss of the world: A philosophical dialogue (1)

Humanity has begun to move from the natural world intothe cyber world. Issues surrounding this mentalmigration are debated in philosophical dialogue. Thelead character is Becket Geist, a romantic philosopherwith views tempered by 20th century science. He openswith a monologue in which he argues that loss of theworld in exchange for the cyber world is dark andinevitable. His chief adversary is Fortran McCyborg,a cyborg with leanings toward Scottish philosophy. The moderating force is Nonette Naturski who championsnaturalism, conservation of humanist ideals, andprudent conclusions. The ensuing dialogue examineseight counter-arguments to Geist's vision. Thearguments and Geist's replies lead to unanticipatedchanges in position that cascade to a chillingclose.     

A Qualitative Analysis of the Immediate and Short-term Impact of an Environmental Interpretive Program

This study utilized qualitative measures to further understand if an environmental interpretive experience can enhance an environmental ethic. A discursive approach to emergent design was used to generate grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). In the methods used, the phenomenological data gathered during the study directed the design of each step of the research as it evolved. Twenty-four 4th graders were randomly selected from three classes from a rural town in southern Indiana (USA). These students participated in a field trip to a US Forest Service site near their school district. Methodologies utilized in this program included ranger-led discussions, facilitated explorations, and nature 'games'. The data was collected through post interviews (1 week following treatment) and post post interviews (4 months after program). The findings indicated that the environmental interpretive program had a strong positive impact on students' affect toward the resource site. The findings also indicated retention of game mechanics and the content imbedded in these games. Cognitive and behavioral impacts were limited.     

Development and application of a diagnostic instrument to evaluate grade-11 and -12 students' concepts of covalent bonding and structure following a course of instruction

This article initially outlines a procedure used to develop a written diagnostic instrument to identify grade-11 and -12 students' misconceptions and misunderstandings of the chemistry topic covalent bonding and structure. The content to be taught was carefully defined through a concept map and propositional statements. Following instruction, student understanding of the topic was identified from interviews, student-drawn concept maps, and free-response questions. These data were used to produce 15 two-tier multiple-choice items where the first tier examined content knowledge and the second examined understanding of that knowledge in six conceptual areas, namely, bond polarity, molecular shape, polarity of molecules, lattices, intermolecular forces, and the octet rule. The diagnostic instrument was administered to a total of 243 grade-11 and -12 chemistry students and has a Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.73. Item difficulties ranged from 0.13 to 0.60; discrimination values ranged from 0.32 to 0.65. Each item was analyzed to ascertain student understanding of and identify misconceptions related to the concepts and propositional statements underlying covalent bonding and structure.