Measuring teacher beliefs about curriculum orientations using the modified-curriculum orientations inventory

Although curriculum orientations are widely discussed in educational literature, the extent to which teachers and other educational specialists in the United States hold these curriculum orientations is neither well documented nor well known. The relationships between a teacher's beliefs and the five dominant curriculum orientations (Academic Rationalism, Behavioural, Humanistic, Social Reconstruction and Cognitive Process) are unclear. Therefore, it is difficult to discuss the nature of how these curriculum orientations influence teacher choices and their execution and implementation of educational policy. This study replicated the 2002 research of Cheung and Wong in Hong Kong. A sample of 308 teachers in the United States participated. Findings indicate that the reliability and validity of the data were weak to moderate, and gender, level, subject speciality and experience influence a teacher's value of the particular curriculum orientations. The research also indicates that the construct of complementary pluralism (a strong positive relationship between the orientations of an individual teacher) does not exist with the same level of intensity for teachers in the United States. Rather, the theoretical opposition of the curriculum orientations is a practical opposition.     

An exploration of how programme leaders in higher education can be prepared and supported to discharge their roles and responsibilities effectively

Background: Within Higher Education in the United Kingdom (UK), programme leaders are under increased pressure to be more productive and are expected to undertake a complex range of demanding activities. However, perceptions of the role through the lens of the programme leader have not been explored sufficiently. Clearly, a university’s ability to enhance and sustain improvement in programme delivery depends largely upon its ability to nurture and foster professional learning, most notably at a programme level. The need for a review of programme leader training and support was reinforced through the experience of facilitators at programme leader workshops at one Higher Education Institution in the UK. Critically, these workshops highlighted a need to review and enhance the preparation and on-going training and support available to programme leaders.

Aim: The overall aim of this study was to explore the role of the programme leader, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of what the role involves and a detailed appreciation of the knowledge and skills required to discharge the role effectively and efficiently. Such insight would inform the review of the provision of initial and on-going training and support workshops for new and experienced programme leaders. Indeed, the ultimate aim was to drive improvements in programme leader performance.

Method: A qualitative design was selected to allow the complexity of the programme leader role to be explored and captured. A purposeful sample (n = 25) was recruited from a range of newly appointed and experienced undergraduate and postgraduate programme leaders and associate deans with academic quality assurance and learning and teaching expertise across seven schools in one post-1992 university in England. In total, four semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted. A modified version of the data analysis method advocated by Chenitz and Swanson was employed to examine the data.

Findings: Four dynamic, interrelated conceptual categories form the basis of the emergent findings. These are Operational Diversity, which addresses the different duties carried out by participants, highlighting certain tensions in their ability to meet the demands placed upon them; Interaction with Others, which identifies the diverse range of stakeholders that shape and impact on the multifaceted programme leader role and highlights the importance of collaborative working; Mechanisms of Support, which describes the training and personal development experience of the participants and the extent to which it matches their needs; and Required Knowledge and Skills, which considers the need for initial and on-going training to enable programme leaders to meet the demands of this role.

Conclusion: Examination has revealed that within an ever-changing Higher Education sector in the UK, the role of a programme leader is not without challenge as most have to deal with complex academic, pastoral, moral, administrative and pragmatic decisions on a daily basis. Moving forward must involve bespoke preparation and on-going training and support. Specific emphasis should be placed on opportunities for self-reflection, debriefing and the sharing of experiences with peers. At the heart of on-going training and support should be the strategic engagement of students, professional staff and other key personnel from services offered across a university.     

Possible Pythagorean Influences on Plato's Views of Physical Education in the Republic

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the Pythagoreans and Plato in order to further illuminate the derivations of Plato's views of physical education. Concepts from Pythagorean and Platonic writings were examined. A search for historical connections between Plato and the Pythagoreans was made. Possible Pythagorean influences on specific Platonic concepts of physical education were suggested. General concepts in The Republic which appear to be influenced by Pythagoreanism were the theories of soul, forms, harmony, justice, and simplicity. Related to these concepts, but more inherent to physical education specifically, the following concepts were thought to be of Pythagorean origin: that the pre-eminent objective of physical education was character training, that the body was inferior to the soul and needed physical education primarily to prepare it for service to the soul, that simplicity of diet and regimen was to be maintained for an adequate physical education program, and that participation in physical education was not reserved for men but also included women.     

An Exploratory Analysis of the Attitudinal Impact of Awarding Athletic Scholarships to Women

The impact on women athletes of receiving or not receiving scholarships was investigated in this study. The subjects were 61 women participating in 10 intercollegiate sports. Attitudes were assessed by administering a questionnaire prior to, and after, scholarships had been awarded. The questionnaire items were grouped into three subsets which reflected different attitudes about the “impact” of awarding athletic scholarships. A 4 × 2 × 2 repeated measures design was used to test for significant statistical interaction between the three independent variables: (a) wanting a scholarship, (b) receiving a scholarship, and (c) reacting to the awarding of scholarships.     

Validation of the Rockport Fitness Walking Test in Females 65 Years and Older

Abstract

Speed and energy expenditure of the closed and open freestyle swimming turns were determined on six male swimmers. The subjects were tested while in a post-absorptive state. Resting metabolic rates were determined utilizing an open-circuit, Douglas bag method. The test included swimming a distance of 70 ft. and performing either the closed or open turn without taking a breath. Upon completion of the test, the subject breathed into a Douglas bag for 15 min. Each turn was timed with a stopwatch; a turn started 3 ft. 10 in. before touching and ended as the feet left the side of the pool. Statistical treatment of the date revealed no significant difference in energy expenditure. However, the closed turn proved to be significantly faster than the open.     

Submaximal Treadmill Exercise Test to Predict VO2max in Fit Adults

This study was designed to develop a single-stage submaximal treadmill jogging (TMJ) test to predict VO₂max in fit adults. Participants (N?=?400; men?=?250 and women?=?150), ages 18 to 40 years, successfully completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) at 1 of 3 laboratories to determine VO₂max. The TMJ test was completed during the first 2 stages of the GXT. Following 3 min of walking (Stage 1), participants achieved a steady-state heart rate (HR) while exercising at a comfortable self-selected submaximal jogging speed at level grade (Stage 2). Gender, age, body mass, steady-state HR, and jogging speed (mph) were included as independent variables in the following multiple linear regression model to predict VO₂max (R?=?0.91, standard error of estimate [SEE]?=?2.52 mL?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1): VO₂max (mL?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1)?=?58.687?+?(7.520 × Gender; 0?=?woman and 1?=?man)?+?(4.334 × mph) ? (0.211 × kg) ? (0.148 × HR) ? (0.107 × Age). Based on the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) statistics (R_PRESS?=?0.91, SEE _PRESS?=?2.54 mL?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1) and small total error (TE; 2.50 mL?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1; 5.3% of VO₂max) and constant error (CE; ?0.008 mL?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1) terms, this new prediction equation displays minimal shrinkage. It should also demonstrate similar accuracy when it is applied to other samples that include participants of comparable age, body mass, and aerobic fitness level. This simple TMJ test and its corresponding regression model provides a relatively safe, convenient, and accurate way to predict VO₂max in fit adults, ages 18 to 40 years.     

Promotion of research articles to the lay press: a summary of a three‐year project

The promotion of scholarly journal articles to journalists and bloggers via the dissemination of press releases generates a positive impact on the number of citations that publicized journal articles receive. Research by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. shows that article‐level publicity efforts and media coverage boosts downloads by an average of 1.8 times and were found to increase citations by as much as 2.0–2.2 times in the articles analyzed in this study. We evaluated scholarly journal articles published in nearly 100 Wiley journals, which were also covered in 296 press releases. The results in this case study suggest a need for greater investment in media support for scholarly journals publishing research that sparks interest to a broad news audience, as it could increase citations.