Between eclecticism and orthodoxy in instructional design

This paper presents the concept of critical flexibility as an alternative to eclecticism in instructional design. Eclecticism is often viewed as a persuasive alternative to theoretical orthodoxy (i.e., rigid use of a single perspective or process) due to the openness and flexibility it purports to offer. In contrast, the authors argue that eclecticism ignores or discourages critical reflection regarding background understanding (e.g., implicit assumptions and values) and perpetuates the lack of openness and flexibility commonly associated with orthodoxy. Critical flexibility, as an alternative to eclecticism, emphasizes an awareness of background understanding, but construes it as capable of being explicated, critically examined, adjusted in specific contexts, and refined or developed over time to facilitate increasingly flexible and effective design practices. The authors clarify the nature of critical flexibility as a general way of being involved in the design process, suggest how it helps overcome the traditional theory–practice split, and discuss several of its implications for scholarship and training.     

ICT reform initiatives in Singapore schools: a complexity theory perspective

The past two decades have witnessed an exponential growth in the use of technology in our daily life. Notwithstanding its phenomenal influence, the use of technology in education remains sporadic and disjointed. The promise that technology will bring deep-seated changes in the way that educators teach and students learn remains, disappointedly, elusive. This paper argues that the lack of systemic frame of reference may have explanatory power over such less than impressive performance of ICT in education. Tracing the trajectory of Singapore’s ICT-related policies in the educational sector, this paper adopts the complexity lens to study the systemic policy changes that are imbued in the different stages of Singapore’s ICT-based reforms. In particular, the paper delves into the three constructs of complexity theory: self-organisation, coevolution and fitness landscape. By juxtaposing the interdependencies of these three concepts against the backdrop of Singapore’s educational landscape, the paper contends that the complexity theory perspective has the potential to help policymakers understand the dynamic and complex nature of reforms so as to devise multi-faceted solutions that will address the concerns of all key stakeholders in the learning ecology. Implications for policymaking are also discussed.     

In the red? Debt levels at higher education institutions in China

Borrowing from banks has become a common practice among Chinese higher education institutions (HEIs), and operating with a heavy debt load has become a characteristic of Chinese higher educational development. Substantial financial commitments acquired by HEIs during their rapid expansion since 1998 are now having serious consequences: numerous universities and colleges have found themselves with major debt problems. Some are even facing insolvency. This paper describes the background of Chinese HEIs’ debt problems, assesses the present debt and repayment situation, and suggests a possible solution for the university debt crisis, using empirical evidence from one HEI in China.     

Facing multiculturalism’s challenges in Korean education and society

Multicultural policy in South Korea faces variants of challenges endemic to multiculturalism. These challenges are “dilemmas of difference,” “variable terms of inclusion,” and “legitimacy.” In Korea, these challenges arise in a setting in which ethnic diversity is of relatively recent origin, an ideology of ethnic homogeneity is prevalent, and official multicultural policy is limited in its reach to those who are designated as “multicultural families,” that is families in which one spouse is Korean and the other an immigrant, usually the wife, and their offspring. The exclusion of migrant workers and their families from Korea’s multicultural framework poses a core contradiction in Korean multicultural policies. This contradiction must be resolved if multiculturalism in education and other spheres is to promote equality and provide a foundation for national integration on terms that are equitable to the diverse constituents of Korean society. Inevitably, this will require a redefinition of what it means to “be Korean.” Even if multicultural policies fall short in their immediate effects on those toward whom they are directed, multiculturalism represents a significant shift in the discourse of Korean identity and will be terrain on which the status of diverse groups in Korea will be contested.     

提高学前教育专业学生对体育课兴趣的有效途径

学前教育专业体育课是学前教育专业课程体系的基础课程,不仅对学前教育专业学生自身身体素质与运动技能的提高有着重要的发展价值,而且应为学生将来成功组织和实施幼儿体育教学奠定相关知识与能力基础.然而受学前教育专业学生生理与心理发展特点的限制,当前学前教育专业学生普遍对体育课兴趣不高.为此,教师应通过提高学生对体育课价值的认识、选择符合学生兴趣与需要的体育内容与项目、努力提高教师自身的教学组织能力与方法、建立和维持融洽的师生关系等途径,激发学生参与体育活动的兴趣与积极性,提高学前教育专业体育课的教学效果.     

从不同类型幼儿园经费收支状况看城市学前教育的发展

不同类型幼儿园的经费收支状况表明不同类型幼儿园的办园成本不同,其中自收自支型公办园与差额拨款型公办园都因政府财政投入不足而运转困难,资金十分紧张;小区配套民办幼儿园的成本开支最大,在良性运转模式下需较高收费方能维持。生存的压力迫使前两种类型的公办园不得不在实际运作中扩大班额,举办举趣班,压缩教师工资、福利及公用开支等;而对利润的追求与对尽快回收成本的迫切希望也促使民办园在实际运作中扩大招生,尽力压缩教师待遇与公用开支。可以说在政府投入与扶持十分匮乏的情况下,无论公办园还是民办园都面临着生存的困难与无奈。为改变这种现状,政府应积极承担起发展学前教育的职责,一方面全额投入、全力办好城市公办园,使之能切实发挥示范与引领的作用,另一方面积极扶持和引导民办园良性运作和发展,将民办园纳入统一的管理体系,在对幼儿园评级分类、财政性经费投入与分配等方面使之享受与公办园同等的待遇。虽然目前城市一般已基本普及学前三年教育,但是以家长的较高经济负担为代价的,未能充分体现学前教育的普惠性质与公益性,因此未来城市学前教育的发展仍应致力于优先保证适龄幼儿学前教育的基本普及,这需要政府有相应的政策和经费保证,同时合理利用社会力量,根据居民...     

基于民俗文化传承的幼儿园环境创设

环境是重要的教育资源.基于民俗文化传承的幼儿园环境创设应以民俗文化为载体,以幼儿发展为目的,巧妙利用幼儿园的各种物质条件与活动形式,创设以民俗戏曲文化、民俗节日文化、民俗工艺文化和民俗饮食文化等为内容的环境,增进幼儿对民俗文化的了解和对家乡的热爱之情.     

Adaptive early termination of fast mode decision in MVC based on inter-view correlation

Variable size motion estimation (ME) and disparity estimation (DE) are employed to select the best coding mode for each macroblock (MB) in the current joint multiview video model (JMVM).This technique achieves the highest possible coding efficiency,but it results in extremely large computation complexity which obstructs the multiview video coding (MVC) from practical application.This paper proposes an adaptive early termination of fast mode decision algorithm for MVC.It makes use of the coding information o...     

关于基础教育国际化的几个问题

教育国际化成为当前理论和实践热点话题,不同于高等教育国际化的是,基础教育的国际化特别需要讨论和澄清一些基本问题,如基础教育是否必须国际化,基础教育国际化与民族化的关系,基础教育与国际接轨问题,国际化人才培养与基础教育关系问题等.