The Usefulness of a Science Degree: The “lost voices” of science trained professionals

This paper reports a study of science graduates who are employed in positions outside their discipline specialisation. The research was designed to uncover the reasons for them choosing to study science at university, the competencies they utilise in their work and their lives, and how these relate to their undergraduate education in science. The study is seen as important in that already about one‐half of science graduates are in such positions and it is argued that there is a need in scientific and technologically based societies to have a greater representation of such people in decision‐making positions in government and industry. The directions for the science degree that can be drawn from the data gathered are congruent with those arising from other relevant studies. That is, attention should be paid to widely used skills, such as communication and problem‐solving, and to developing an understanding of science within its social and ethical context. An argument is mounted for considering the way the science degree is presented to potential students and to the general public.     

Open secrets and problems of queer ethnography: Readings from a religious studies classroom

This article questions the logic of ethnographic inquiry that seeks to make gay and lesbian subjects seen and heard. I consider poststructural and queer challenges to ethnography's project of representing subjects, experiences, and voices to suggest that inquiry into gay and lesbian subjects analyze practices as they are constituted in social and institutional locations. Queer theorists' explorations of the "open secret" and the "epistemology of the closet," characterized by circulations of knowledge and ignorance, point to a need to place the contours of (un)knowing at the center of inquiry. I turn to participants' readings of Introduction to Christianity, taught by a lesbian faculty member, to theorize the effects of religious and sexual open secrets in constituting her pedagogy. Based on the intangible circulations of knowledge and ignorance in and around her teaching, I posit possibilities for ethnography that engage with queer theory to understand the construction and effects of practices.     

Anxieties of beginning physical education teachers

The early years of a teacher's career have been recognized as being stressful. Some of the causes of anxiety may be the same as for experienced teachers ‐ e.g. concern with discipline, motivating pupils, dealing with individual differences ‐ but some may be unique to inexperienced teachers ‐ e.g. concern about classroom management. This study looked at causes of anxiety in 104 physical education teachers in their first or second year of teaching, with six or 18 months’ teaching experience respectively, who were administered a questionnaire in February 1991. Results showed that these teachers were relatively anxious about teaching, with most anxiety being caused by assessment by school staff and/or the adviser, followed by how school staff may react to one or more unsuccessful lessons if they should occur. Least anxiety was caused by completing lesson plans in the required form and then co‐operation with the school staff. Factor analysis yielded four factors. These were: Being evaluated, Discipline, Paperwork and Getting on with school staff. Thus most anxiety for teachers at the beginning of their career appeared to result from evaluation of their performance rather than the mechanics of teaching ‐ e.g. classroom management or lesson preparation.     

Subject knowledge development by science student teachers: the role of university tutors and school‐based subject mentors

Following the introduction of a National Curriculum for Science, all secondary science teachers in England need to be prepared to teach all aspects of a broad and balanced science curriculum. This is the second paper in which we explore science student teachers’ subject knowledge development during a one‐year postgraduate teacher preparation course. In this qualitative study we explore the role of university tutors and school‐based subject mentors in science student teachers’ subject knowledge development as perceived by student teachers, school‐based subject mentors and university tutors. The findings reveal that student teachers are reluctant to use university tutors and school mentors for subject knowledge development because they are aware of their assessment roles. The role of the university tutor in subject knowledge development is perceived as one of facilitation and of developing student teachers’ sense of professionalism. School mentors perceive that they do provide support for subject knowledge development and they are largely unaware of any potential conflict arising from their assessment role. The findings of the study are discussed in terms of the nature of student teachers’ professional learning in communities of practice. The implications for mentor training programmes are considered.     

Open learning for child care

This paper describes the development and evaluation of Open University course P653, Caring for Children and Young People, produced by the Centre for Continuing Education in collaboration with the Child Care Open Learning Project. This is an introductory level course aimed at all those who work with other people's children, many of whom have low levels of previous educational attainment. The course was designed to be both student‐centred, starting from a reflection on the individual's experience and knowledge, and to involve partnership in study through group work. The author, Susan Hurley, is Regional Director of the Open University's North Region.     

Mind‐Mindedness and Theory of Mind: Mediating Roles of Language and Perspectival Symbolic Play

Relations among indices of maternal mind‐mindedness (appropriate and nonattuned mind‐related comments) and children's: (a) internal state vocabulary and perspectival symbolic play at 26 months (N = 206), and (b) theory of mind (ToM) at 51 months (n = 161) were investigated. Appropriate comments were positively associated with ToM, but were unrelated to internal state language and perspectival symbolic play. Nonattuned comments were negatively correlated with internal state language and perspectival symbolic play, but were unrelated to ToM. Path analyses indicated that the best fit model assumed: (a) indirect links between nonattuned comments and ToM via children's perspectival symbolic play, (b) a direct link between appropriate comments and ToM, and (c) an indirect link between appropriate comments and ToM via children's concurrent receptive verbal ability.     

“It is not the same”: relationships and dementia

People living with dementia may live in relationship with partners, family members, and significant others. Dementia has been shown to impact on such relationships but relationships also impact on the dementia condition. Thirteen people took part in the study: all were caring for a person living with dementia and two were themselves living with dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants focusing on changes in close relationships, including changes in intimate (sexual) relationships where appropriate. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified: changes in couple relationships; changes in non-partner relationships; talking about oneself in relationship; and talking about people with dementia in relationship. In conclusion, participants’ lived experiences highlight the need for ongoing relational support and an education-based counseling program that could potentially address many of participants’ highlighted needs.     

CHILDREN'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE ELDERLY AND AGING

This article describes the attitudes of children aged 3 to 11 toward the elderly and what they think about the aging process. It examines the development of the ability to discriminate aging in people as defined in Piaget's theory. Education must reach children long before 6 years of age if it is to modify their perceptions of older people and to create positive images of aging.