Developing a university course for online delivery based on learning objects: from ideals to compromises

A course instructor and his assistant at Athabasca University investigated whether the process of transferring interoperable learning objects from online repositories facilitated course production, both pedagogically and economically. They examined the efficiency of the objects‐assembly method from several perspectives while developing an online university course based on learning objects for this, one of Canada's leading online and distance education institutions. The two researchers examined issues that confronted them as they gathered, assessed, repaired, assembled and created learning objects. When their search for suitable objects appeared fruitless, they questioned assumptions made by theoreticians and visionaries about pedagogical and economic efficiencies associated with the objects‐assembly metaphor and production. They highlighted this metaphor's failure to guide their course design based on learning objects in a climate of uncertainty and explained the nature of the compromise that eventually compelled them to acquire a proprietary online delivery system.     

Learning,Training, and Performance Timeline: A Walk Through History

Does your professional tool bag include the well‐known ideas, models, and practices that training and performance improvement professionals use? This article organizes the advent of essential tools using the Learning, Training, and Performance Timeline, describes the major patterns that developed during historical periods, and explores relevant practical and scholarly uses for the Timeline. Resources are provided for those who have further inquiries about the historical background of training and performance improvement.     

Teaching the Social Curriculum: Classroom Management as Behavioral Instruction

Psychological science has identified positive classroom management and climate building strategies as a key element in developing and maintaining effective learning environments. In this article, we review the literature that has identified effective strategies that build classroom climates to maximize student learning and minimize disruption. In general, these strategies indicate a shift away from reactive and punitive approaches towards an emphasis on instructional and preventive approaches, including setting clear expectations, appropriate curriculum to increase student engagement, positive acknowledgment, and building relationships between students and teachers. Emerging research has also begun to identify features of culturally responsive classroom management that can engage and build relationships for a diverse student population.     

Evaluating Records of Student Experience within Initial Teacher Education

This paper describes the evaluation of an innovative approach to student self‐evaluation which was piloted with PGCE (postgraduate certificate in education) students at the University of Bath. It gives background information on the context of the development of the Record of Student Experience (ROSE) and describes the various models adopted for student use. The ROSE evaluation process and findings are described and a discussion of the central issues concerning this form of self‐evaluation is provided. This paper describes the stages in the development of the ROSE with one group of students and offers some conclusions about the future use of this approach within initial teacher education.     

Aggression in Pretend Play and Aggressive Behavior in the Classroom

Research Findings: Pretend play is an essential part of child development and adjustment. However, parents, teachers, and researchers debate the function of aggression in pretend play. Different models of aggression predict that the expression of aggression in play could either increase or decrease actual aggressive behavior. The current study examined pretend play and classroom behavior in preschoolers. Children (N = 59) were administered a measure of pretend play, and teacher ratings of classroom behavior were obtained. Pretend play skills were positively associated with prosocial behavior in the classroom and negatively associated with physical aggression in the classroom. In particular, expression of oral aggression in play related to less physical aggression and more prosocial behavior in the classroom. Practice or Policy: These findings suggest that pretend play should be encouraged, as these skills relate to positive behaviors in the classroom. In addition, it was found that aggression in pretend play was not an indicator of actual aggressive behavior, as it related to positive behaviors in the classroom. Implications for parents and teachers are discussed.     

Validation of a Tennis Rating Score to evaluate the technical level of children tennis players

The purpose of this study was to create a valid and reliable assessment scale for the evaluation of three basic tennis strokes (forehand, backhand, serve) for 6–12-year-old tennis players, named the Tennis Rating Score for Children (TRSC). Altogether 60 players (21: forehand, 22: backhand, 17: serve) were video recorded (30 frames per second) while performing three main tennis strokes and later evaluated using the TRSC by five tennis trainers at Day 1 and Day 7. Agreement between days and raters was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). A Pearson’s correlation was calculated to determine convergent validity (score related to participant’s level of experience). The reliability between raters was very high for all three main strokes (ICC_FOREHAND = 0.874; ICC_BACKHAND = 0.877; ICC_SERVE = 0.877). The intra-rater test-retests ICCs were also very high (ICC_FOREHAND = 0.885; ICC_BACKHAND = 0.891; ICC_SERVE = 0.887). A large (r_FOREHAND = 0.660) and very large (r_BACKHAND = 0.730; r_SERVE = 0.772) Pearson’s correlations were found between all the ratings and the level of experience. The TRSC is shown to be highly reliable and valid when assessing technical skills in novice players, when compared to actual assessment from coaching experts; this tool may be helpful for tennis coaches to make a more objective diagnostic of the technical level of young tennis players.