Peer Assessment Learning Sessions (PALS): an innovative feedback technique for large engineering classes

This paper reports the development of innovative assessment sessions within two core technical courses in Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland. Peer Assessment Learning Sessions (PALS) facilitate a student's peer assessment of a colleague's problem-based learning assignment or tutorial within a ‘traditional’ whole-class setting, under guidance from the lecturer. The assessment is carried out against worked solutions, with a template marking scheme. Following the class, submissions are reviewed by the lecturer and marks moderated if required. In combination, the review and the PALS provide very clear indication where the class or individuals have misconceptions, and where knowledge is below required criteria. This enables the lecturer to provide an accurate synthesis of these points to the class. Students obtain summative feedback, individual formative feedback and whole-class formative feedback within a few days of submission. This significantly improves student's self-reflection and their review of class material. Feedback is very positive and demonstrated here through the presentation of anonymous survey results. PALS address the challenge of providing frequent, efficient and timely assessment for large classes of 100–200+students while simultaneously enabling and providing high quality formative feedback.     

The multiple sources of workplace stress among land-grant university faculty

Workplace stress has received a fair amount of treatment in the research literature over the past decade. What has not been examined, at least not systematically, is this same phenomena inacademe. Our study looked at stress among university faculty at a land-grant university located in the western region of the U. S. Analyses from the self-assessment mail survey (N = 786) reveals that faculty in the Hard Pure Nonlife (e. g., Astronomy, Math, Physics), Hard Applied Nonlife (e. g., Civil Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Computer Science) and Soft Applied Life (e. g., Education Administration, Special Education) experience more stress than faculty in disciplines such as Hard Pure Life (e. g., Botany, Zoology) and Soft Pure Nonlife (e. g., English, Philosophy, Communications). Careful attention was paid to the different levels of stress reported by male and female faculty, with women professors reporting a higher level of stress than their male counterparts. We provide an assessment and explanation for this finding. Research ends with several proposals for individual faculty, department chairs and academic administrators for addressing the problem of workplace pressure and work overload.     

Knowing,Believing, and Understanding: What Goals for Science Education?

Science &; Education - What is a teacher to do when confronted with a student who says “I understand that theory (e.g., evolution), but I don't believe it”? The purpose of this...     

A Note on the Use of Mixture Models for Individual Prediction

Mixture models capture heterogeneity in data by decomposing the population into latent subgroups, each of which is governed by its own subgroup-specific set of parameters. Despite the flexibility and widespread use of these models, most applications have focused solely on making inferences for whole or subpopulations, rather than individual cases. This article presents a general framework for computing marginal and conditional predicted values for individuals using mixture model results. These predicted values can be used to characterize covariate effects, examine the fit of the model for specific individuals, or forecast future observations from previous ones. Two empirical examples are provided to demonstrate the usefulness of individual predicted values in applications of mixture models. The first example examines the relative timing of initiation of substance use using a multiple event process survival mixture model, whereas the second example evaluates changes in depressive symptoms over adolescence using a growth mixture model.     

Discursive Dancing: Traditionalism and Social Realism in the 2013 English History Curriculum Wars

This paper is an exploration of the debates surrounding the publication of a new National Curriculum for history in England. The draft curriculum was published in February 2013 and was withdrawn just 6 months later in the face of considerable opposition. This paper offers a tentative explanation for this example of a rare phenomenon: effective resistance to curriculum change. Using a socio-cognitive approach to discourse analysis, the paper explores the context models of the two antagonists in the contestation: new right traditionalism and social realism. While both context models are viewed as coherent, it is suggested that critics of the draft prevailed because they more fully comprehended the context model of their opponents and were prepared to adapt their strategy accordingly. The paper takes an analytical narrative approach to the contestation. Resistance to the draft is presented in two phases: an initial phase in which criticism was diffuse, instinctive and political; and a more effective mature phase in which opposition united around a depoliticised disciplinary defence of the subject in social realist terms. It is argued that this deft shift went unnoticed by Education Secretary, Michael Gove, rendering ineffective his attacks on his critics as ‘Marxists’ and ‘progressives’.     

An evaluation of the impact of a Year in industry scheme

This paper reports a survey of the progress of participants in a year in industry scheme for A’ level graduates in the UK typically aged 18/19. The scheme involves spending a supervised year in industry prior to a degree programme in engineering. The evidence shows that the year in industry: has a beneficial effect on the degree classification of the academically weaker participants, but little effect on the stronger; encourages all participants to take up further study; provides participants with a more positive picture of industry and engineering; but does not provide greater motivation to enter industry; provides greater financial remuneration in the world of work than would otherwise be the case. These results can be interpreted in terms of the way young people weigh the benefits of different career paths. Our hypothesis is that this involves moving to situations where they are more likely to be treated as adults.     

Creating educational software and transforming the curriculum: Projects that are changing the face of the Russian school

Conclusion Few would doubt that education is the only way to deal with those global problems that are being felt today in virtually all countries of the world. It is sad that everywhere both the educational system and the researchers who work in it are experiencing difficult times. This is especially true for Russian researchers and teachers. The work I have discussed above is being carried out by true professionals and enthusiasts for their cause. The work continues. The authors of these programs believe that the time has arrived for serious international projects on the design of methodological support and typical modules for a system of global education in the context of the developing global information society.     

Contemporary high-profile scientists and their interactions with the community

This article presents a case study of 10 high-profile Australian research scientists. These scientists are highly committed to engaging with the public. They interact with a wide range of groups in the community, including the traditional media. They are aware that they are seen as representatives of science at a time when the authority of science and scientists is threatened in Australia by controversy around issues such as climate change and vaccination. Through their experiences of interacting with non-scientists, they have developed views about qualities, characteristics and knowledge that contribute to, or inhibit, positive interactions between scientists and non-scientists. Their experiences and insights highlight aspects of contemporary science that are not generally acknowledged in science curricula.