Learning relations of knowledge transfer (KT) and knowledge integration (KI) of doctoral students during online interdisciplinary training: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT

Interdisciplinary training for doctoral students is an emerging scenario in higher education. The learning relations of knowledge transfer (KT: transferring knowledge from one person to another) and knowledge integration (KI: integrating or synthesizing perspectives from different disciplines) built by doctoral students play an important role in the process of interdisciplinary training. This study explores how doctoral students from a wide range of disciplines build learning relations of KT and KI during online interdisciplinary training. A mixed-methods approach was applied. First, longitudinal social network analysis (SNA) was employed to investigate the patterns of KT and KI relations over a seven-month training period. Subsequently, interviews were conducted to triangulate the SNA findings. SNA results show that the establishment of KI relations is significantly less than that of KT. Qualitative results show three themes explaining the challenges of KI relations, including challenges of online settings, the design of the training modules, and student involvement. Practical implications are drawn for the improvement of online interdisciplinary training, such as suggestions to promote KI and strategies for group learning.     

What Makes the Difference in Reading Achievement? Comparisons Between Finland and Shanghai

Finland and Shanghai are strong performers in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). The current study explored the similarities and differences in educational effectiveness between these 2 strong performers. To this end, 14 predictors representing student background and school process characteristics were selected from the PISA 2009 database. The results show that the Finnish educational system is more efficient in transforming given inputs, specially student background characteristics, into reading achievement, while the general condition of the school climate in Shanghai, in terms of value and effect size of the predictors, contributes a large part to its comparative strength in reading achievement. Suggestions for improvement at school and system level are given.     

Simulating serious games: a discrete-time computational model based on cognitive flow theory

This paper presents a computational model for simulating how people learn from serious games. While avoiding the combinatorial explosion of a games micro-states, the model offers a meso-level pathfinding approach, which is guided by cognitive flow theory and various concepts from learning sciences. It extends a basic, existing model by exposing discrete-time evolution, allowing for failure, drop-out, and revisiting of activities, and accounting for efforts made and time spent on tasks, all of which are indispensable elements of gaming. Three extensive simulation studies are presented involving over 10,000 iterations across a wide range of game instances and player profiles for demonstrating model stability and empirical admissibility. The model can be used for investigating quantitative dependences between relevant game variables, gain deeper understanding of how people learn from games, and develop approaches to improving serious game design.     

How do high school students solve probability problems? A mixed methods study on probabilistic reasoning

When studying a complex research phenomenon, a mixed methods design allows to answer a broader set of research questions and to tap into different aspects of this phenomenon, compared to a monomethod design. This paper reports on how a sequential equal status design (QUAN → QUAL) was used to examine students’ reasoning processes when solving probability problems. A select clustered sampling resulted in the inclusion of 168 high school students in a first, quantitative phase, in which a questionnaire was used to assess how they solved probability problems. This questionnaire included probability items that were based on the outcome orientation, the representativeness misconception, and the equiprobability bias. In a second, qualitative phase, 18 students who were purposefully sampled from the first research phase were interviewed in order to conduct an in-depth study of their probabilistic reasoning processes. In this paper, we illustrate and discuss how several mixed methods research purposes were realized throughout our study: development, expansion, and initiation.     

Reconsidering group cognition: From conceptual confusion to a boundary area between cognitive and socio-cultural perspectives?

Various strands of research in educational, social and organizational psychology focus on structures of collectively created meaning that emerge in and coordinate activities of groups. Despite expanding, this field still lacks conceptual clarity, enhanced by the multitude of terms used, such as common ground, shared understanding, collective mind, team mental models, and distributed cognition.We conducted a review of the conceptual frameworks being used in empirical studies, focusing on the premises of the conceptualizations. Therefore, we connected these conceptualizations to either cognitive or socio-cultural perspectives on the social nature of cognition. Some studies are identified as representing initial ways of boundary crossing between these perspectives. To conclude, we explore ways for boundary crossing and cross-fertilization in future research.     

Community Schools As An Educational Alternative In Africa: A Critique

With a view to basic formal education, this study explores actual experiences and potential values of current community-school initiatives in Africa. Using data from different programmes around the continent, it examines their dynamics in terms of various conceptions about alternative provisions for basic education. The wider policy question posed is whether community schools can respond in a meaningful and viable manner to the interests of learners and their communities, meet social-policy goals of equity and social justice, and foster reform. While its conclusions remain tentative, the study explores effective but problematic approaches supported by communities, non-governmental organizations and governments. It gives particular attention to those elements promoting empowerment and transforming educational provision and local socio-economic conditions. It also raises fundamental questions about sustainability and equity as well as the responsiveness of schools to community needs and their ability to assist learners in overcoming disadvantage and marginality.

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Zusammenfassung GEMEINDESCHULEN ALS EINE ERZIEHERISCHE ALTERNATIVE IN AFRIKA: EINE KRITIK – Mit einem Blick auf die formale Grundbildung erforscht diese Studie tatsächliche Erfahrungen und mögliche Werte gegenwärtiger Gemeindeschul-Initiativen in Afrika. Anhand der Nutzung von Daten aus verschiedenen Programmen vom ganzen Kontinent untersucht sie ihre Dynamik in Bezug auf verschiedene Konzeptionen von alternativer Grundbildungsversorgung. Die weitere politische Frage, die aufgestellt wird, lautet, ob Gemeindeschulen in einer bedeutungsvollen und gangbaren Weise auf die Interessen von Lernern und ihren Gemeinden antworten, sozialpolitische Ziele von Fairness und sozialer Gerechtigkeit erreichen und Reformen fördern können. Während ihre Schlussfolgerungen vorläufig bleiben, erforscht die Studie wirkungsvolle, aber problematische Zugänge, die von Gemeinden, Nicht-Regierungs-Organisationen und Regierungen unterstützt werden. Sie widmet jenen Elementen besondere Aufmerksamkeit, welche die Handlungskompetenz fördern und die erzieherische Versorgung sowie die örtlichen sozio-ökonomischen Bedingungen weiterentwickeln. Sie erhebt darüber hinaus grundlegende Fragen über die Nachhaltigkeit und Gerechtigkeit ebenso wie die Verantwortlichkeit von Schulen gegenüber den Bedürfnissen der Gemeinden sowie ihre Fähigkeit, die Lernenden darin zu unterstützen, Benachteiligung und gesellschaftliche Ausgrenzung zu überwinden.

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Resumen ESCUELAS COMUNITARIAS COMO ALTERNATIVA EDUCATIVA EN ÁFRICA: UNA CRÍTICA – Con miras a una educación básica formal, el autor explora con este estudio experiencias concretas y valores potenciales de iniciativas actuales relacionadas con escuelas comunitarias en África. Usando los datos de diferentes programas implementados a lo largo y a lo ancho del continente, examina su dinámica en cuanto a diferentes conceptos referentes a provisiones alternativas de educación básica. El interrogante político, más amplio, es el de si las escuelas comunitarias pueden ofrecer una respuesta razonable y viable a los intereses de los educandos y sus comunidades, alcanzar los objetivos sociopolíticos de igualdad y justicia social y promover las reformas. Si bien las conclusiones del estudio siguen siendo provisionales, explora enfoques efectivos, pero problemáticos sostenidos por comunidades, organizaciones no gubernamentales y gobiernos, prestando especial atención a aquellos elementos que promueven el fortalecimiento y la transformación de la provisión educativa y de las condiciones socioeconómicas locales. También plantea interrogantes fundamentales sobre persistencia y equidad y la capacidad de las escuelas de responder a las necesidades de las comunidades y de asistir a los educandos para superar desventajas y marginación.

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Résumé LES ÉCOLES COMMUNAUTAIRES EN TANT QU’UNE ALTERNATIVE ÉDUCATIVE EN AFRIQUE : UNE CRITIQUE – Tout en ayant un regard sur l’éducation formelle de base, cette étude explore les expériences actuelles et les valeurs potentielles des initiatives en cours dans les écoles communautaires en Afrique. Faisant usage des données des différents programmes sur tout le continent, elle examine leur dynamique en termes de conceptions différentes quant aux dispositions alternatives en faveur d’une éducation de base. La question politique plus large qui se pose est si les écoles communautaires peuvent répondre d’une façon significative et viable aux intérêts des apprenants et de leurs communautés, si elles vont à l’encontre des buts socio-politiques de l’équité et de la justice sociale, et si elles favorisent les réformes. Alors que ses conclusions demeurent provisoires, l’étude explore les approches effectives mais problématiques soutenues par des communautés, des organisations non gouvernementales et des gouvernements. Elle accorde une attention particulière à ces éléments qui promeuvent la mise en vigueur et transforment les besoins éducatifs et les conditions socio-économiques. Elle soulève en outre des questions fondamentales sur la persistance et l’équité ainsi que sur la responsabilité des écoles vis à vis des besoins de la communauté et sur leur capacité à aider les apprenants à surmonter des désavantages et la marginalité.

     

Overeducation and the returns to enterprise-related schooling

This paper examines the relation between overeducation and enterprise-related schooling. If overeducation and enterprise-related schooling are substitutes the social costs of Overeducation are less. We find that correctly allocated workers have the highest probability of participation in enterprise-related schooling, while undereducated workers have the lowest probability of participation. There is no evidence of overeducation and enterprise-related schooling being either substitutes or complements. If we do not correct for self-selection, the average return on a year of education for correctly allocated workers is higher than the average rate of return to education for under- and overeducated workers. If we correct for self-selection in the participation in enterprise-related schooling the rate of return to education increases. The rates of return to under- and overeducation increase as well. If we correct for self-selection the rate of return to a year of undereducation becomes higher than the rate of return to a year of actual education. For undereducated workers the wage gain of participation in enterprise-related schooling is higher than for a correctly allocated worker. A year of Overeducation decreases the wage gain of participation in enterprise-related schooling for participants.     

Leading the process of reculturing: Roles and actions of school leaders

In this article, we focus on the role and actions of individual school leaders in initiating and governing the process of reculturing. First, we elaborate on the core elements of the process of reculturing, referring to a complex learning process of finding a new balance between cognitions and emotions both individually and collectively. We then review the literature for issues related to school leaders’ roles and actions during reculturing. We argue that the role of leadership power largely has been left out of the picture so far while at the same time leadership power is so crucial for teachers’ roles and actions in educational innovation processes. To illustrate our line of thinking, we analyse the stories of three school leaders about their roles and actions during successful processes of reculturing and retrospectively analyse the role of leadership power during these processes, building on a framework of Hetebrij (2006) for judging the quality of power use.     

Using pencil‐and‐paper lexical‐decision tests to assess word decoding skill: aspects of validity and reliability

The viability of a pencil‐and‐paper version of the lexical‐decision (LD) task to assess children's word decoding skill was investigated. Participants in this study were Dutch second and third graders. Lexical decision and oral reading appear to be highly correlated, in second grade more than in third grade. Retest reliability of the LD tests is sufficient, at least for screening purposes, to good. The correlation with tests designed to measure pencil‐and‐paper test‐taking skills shows that such skills at most play a minor role. Materials of different phonological and morphological structure caused systematic differences in score level, but a single factor suffices to explain common reading test variance. LD scores appear not to be particularly subject to inappropriate strategies.     

The Illusion of Linearity: Expanding the evidence towards probabilistic reasoning

Previous research has shown that – due to the extensive attention spent to proportional reasoning in mathematics education – many students have a strong tendency to apply linear or proportional models anywhere, even in situations where they are not applicable. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the ‘illusion of linearity’. For example, in geometry it is known that many students believe that if the sides of a figure are doubled, the area is doubled too. In this article, the empirical evidence for this phenomenon is expanded to the domain of probabilistic reasoning. First, we elaborate on the notion of chance and provide some reasons for expecting the over generalization of linear models in the domain of probability too. Afterwards, a number of well-known and less-known probabilistic misconceptions are described and analysed, showing that they have one remarkable characteristic in common: they can be interpreted in terms oft he improper application of linear relations. Finally, we report on an empirical investigation aimed at identifying the ability of 10^th and12^th grade students to compare the probabilities of two binomial chance situations. It appears that before instruction in probability, students have a good capability of comparing two events qualitatively, but at the same time they incorrectly quantify this qualitative insight as if the variables in the problem were linked by a linear relationship. Remarkably, these errors persist after instruction in probability. The potential of this study for improving the teaching and learning of probability, as well as suggestions for further research, are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.