Do No Harm—A Comparison of the Effects of On-Line vs. Traditional Delivery Media on a Science Course

This paper presents the results of a study designed to examine the effects of distance delivery on student performance and classroom interactions in an upper level science (Histology) course. Outcomes were assessed by comparing performance on content pre- and posttests for students enrolled in on-campus and on-line sections of the same course. Interactions were classified according to initiator, topic, and Bloom's taxonomy level for content interactions. The resulting patterns were analyzed to compare behaviors in different settings. It was found that although the groups were indistinguishable in content knowledge at the outset of the study, by the end of the semester, students in the on-line group significantly out-performed their peers in the on-campus section. The on-line settings had a greater proportion of high-level interactions (according to Bloom's taxonomy) than the on-campus setting.     

‘The Trouble with Normal’: (re)imagining sexuality education with young people

What do young people believe sexuality education ought to be about? It is within the absence of a sustained and critical consideration of the possibilities and politics of engaging in research with rather than for young people in the reimagining of sexuality education that this paper is positioned. Data were generated as part of an 18-month Youth Participatory Action Research study in one co-educational secondary school with 43 student co-researchers (15–17 years). The findings presented are not intended to provide conclusive statements about future directions for sexuality education, but rather provide a platform on which to discuss how young people’s ideas align with or diverge from current practice and debates surrounding what sexuality education should, could or ought to be about.     

Technology and Technology Education: Views of Some Solomon Island Primary Teachers and Curriculum Development Officers

The implementation of technology as a formal subject – either separate or integrated – in school curricula is a relatively recent phenomenon with most studies confined to Western or developed countries and little known about non-Western contexts. In this study we sought to gain an understanding of primary teachers' and curriculum development officers' perceptions of technology and technology education for a small island nation in the South Pacific. Participants' views were ascertained by means of semi-structured interviews including the use of picture card prompts used by Rennie and Jarvis (1995). The study reveals that the participants hold a rather limited view of technology and technology education. The participants see technology as consisting of a variety of artifacts and skills (including in some cases indigenous artifacts and cultural practices), but the predominant view was technology consists of modern, new, foreign, artifacts especially those associated with information and communication technologies. The participants view technology education as learning about how to use technological artifacts. Personal experiences including pre- and in-service teacher training and encounters with technological artifacts were the main influences on their views of technology and technology education. These findings suggest that primary science teachers will need pre-service training in order to implement a curriculum that provides a comprehensive understanding of technology.     

Book reviews

International Review of Education -     

High‐Risk Drinking in College Athletes and Nonathletes Across the Academic Year

This study compared heavy drinking and alcohol‐related consequences between freshman student‐athletes (n = 137) and nonathletes (n = 318). Differences in high‐risk drinking between the fall and spring terms were also examined. Results indicated that student‐athletes reported heavier drinking and higher levels of alcohol‐related consequences than did nonathletes. In addition, student‐athletes reported the highest levels of drinking and alcohol‐related consequences in the spring term. Implications for college counseling prevention programming are discussed.     

Significado y sentido en el aprendizaje escolar. Reflexiones en torno al concepto de aprendizaje significativo

Resumen

El concepto de aprendizaje significativo es un instrumento potencialmente útil y valioso para el análisis y la reflexión psicopedagógica. Sin embargo, para que pueda desempeñar adecuadamente este papel, es necesario despojarlo de muchas de las connotaciones que ha ido acumulando de forma subrepticia y, al mismo tiempo, desarrollar otras que hasta el momento han sido escasamente tomadas en consideración. En concreto, se sugiere atender tanto al sentido como al significado del aprendizaje escolar, renunciar a las connotaciones más individualistas del proceso de construcción de significados y sentidos; y, por último, resituar este proceso de construcción en el contexto de relación y comunicación interpersonal que es intrínseco al acto de enseñanza.     

Attentional Strategy Use by Experienced Distance Runners: Physiological and Psychological Effects

The purpose of this investigation was twofold: (a) to compare most and least economical runners on use of attentional strategies and (b) to determine whether the least economical runners within the subject sample could improve running economy (RE) with the use of an active associative (relaxation) attentional strategy. Subjects (N = 36) completed an initial assessment of attentional style and RE; then the 12 least economical runners ran in each of three laboratory sessions using control, passive associative, and active associative attentional strategies. Results showed that the most economical and least economical runners did not differ in associative style use. The most economical runners, however, reported less dissociation use and more use of relaxation than did the least economical runners. No significant physiological or psychological changes were associated with any of the three attentional strategy conditions. The findings are related to possible differences in how most and least economical runners use associative strategies.     

Ethics and Values: Their Place in Computer Labs and Classrooms

Articles concerning computer law abound. Institutions of higher learning have produced lengthy documents addressing computer ethics on campus, and several organizations have printed materials to educate the public. Are these efforts working? Are the ethics and values in the business world and in the education world the same? Several scenarios are examined in investigating these questions.