The evidence for the impact of policy on physical activity outcomes within the school setting: A systematic review

BackgroundDespite the well-established health benefits of physical activity (PA) for young people (aged 4–19 years), most do not meet PA guidelines. Policies that support PA in schools may be promising, but their impact on PA behavior is poorly understood. The aim of this systematic review was to ascertain the level and type of evidence reported in the international scientific literature for policies within the school setting that contribute directly or indirectly to increasing PA.MethodsThis systematic review is compliant with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Six databases were searched using key concepts of policy, school, evaluation, and PA. Following title and abstract screening of 2323 studies, 25 progressed to data synthesis. Methodological quality was assessed using standardized tools, and the strength of the evidence of policy impact was described based on pre-determined codes: positive, negative, inconclusive, or untested statistically.ResultsEvidence emerged for 9 policy areas that had a direct or indirect effect on PA within the school setting. These were whole school PA policy, physical education, sport/extracurricular PA, classroom-based PA, active breaks/recess, physical environment, shared use agreements, active school transport, and surveillance. The bulk of the evidence was significantly positive (54%), 27% was inconclusive, 9% was significantly negative, and 11% was untested (due to rounding, some numbers add to 99% or 101%). Frequency of evidence was highest in the primary setting (41%), 34% in the secondary setting, and 24% in primary/secondary combined school settings. By policy area, frequency of evidence was highest for sport/extracurricular PA (35%), 17% for physical education, and 12% for whole school PA policy, with evidence for shared use agreements between schools and local communities rarely reported (2%). Comparing relative strength of evidence, the evidence for shared use agreements, though sparse, was 100% positive, while 60% of the evidence for whole school PA policy, 59% of the evidence for sport/extracurricular PA, 57% of the evidence for physical education, 50% of the evidence for PA in classroom, and 50% of the evidence for active breaks/recess were positive.ConclusionThe current evidence base supports the effectiveness of PA policy actions within the school setting but cautions against a “one-size-fits-all” approach and emphasizes the need to examine policy implementation to maximize translation into practice. Greater clarity regarding terminology, measurement, and methods for evaluation of policy interventions is needed.     

Demand for culture in Spain and the 2012 VAT rise

This paper analyzes the effects that the 2012 VAT rise in Spain had on household’ demand for cultural goods and services. Household’ demands are modeled as a two-stage QUAIDS. After estimating price and expenditure elasticities, and the pass-through parameter associated with the reform, our results show that the individual welfare loss and the increment in the tax bill increase, but less than proportionately, with income. Consequently, the reform can be considered as regressive. Relating the effects of the VAT reform to households’ incomes also implies a low quantitative effect, because of the low proportion of total household expenditure that cultural expenditure represents. From a social perspective, the size of the induced welfare loss would positively depend on society’s inequality aversion. Regardless of the latter, it cannot be concluded whether the reform would have increased or reduced inequality in the distribution of cultural spending. Our results prove qualitatively robust to alternative values of the pass-through parameter.     

农村劳动力转移培训:问题与对策

大力开展农村劳动力转移培训对于提高农民素质,从根本上解决“三农”问题,促进城乡统筹协调发展具有重要的意义。当前农村劳动力转移培训存在着地方政府部门认识不足,缺乏稳定的经费来源,培训教学工作不适应农民的需要等问题。面对新的发展形势,应提高对农村劳动力转移培训工作的认识,完善管理体制和运行机制,坚持以就业为导向,以培训促转移,全面推进农村劳动力转移培训的发展。     

化学教学中的合作学习及合作意识、能力培养

合作学习是以生生互动为主要途径促进学生学习的教学活动和学习策略。结合我国基础教育改革的发展和新课程标准的实施,从合作学习的基本理念入手,探索在化学课堂教学、化学实验教学、课外学习的活动中引导学生学会尊重与欣赏,培养自信心与团队精神,营造合作学习氛围,创设实验条件,增加课外实验,深入社会实际生活,实施合作学习,培养合作意识和合作能力。通过对教学评价的调整,实现教学评价的科学化,提高学生对合作的内涵和价值的认识,促进合作意识的形成。     

新《义务教育法》的突破与创新

有效解决我国义务教育改革发展面临的重大问题是修订1986年《义务教育法》的根本动因。新《义务教育法》在义务教育法的立法目的、义务教育的基本性质、经费投入、政府责任、学校安全、教育公平与均衡发展、教师队伍、法律责任等方面都有一些新的、重大的突破。这部《义务教育法》是我国义务教育立法和义务教育发展进程中的一个新的里程碑。     

美国教育法规基本精神评介

在美国学校教育领域的各个环节,不仅可以看到相关的教育法规文本和案例,而且可以看到大量具体的司法介入。可以说,教育政策的制定、教育活动的开展,甚至在具体的课堂教学和课外活动之中,都可以清楚地感受教育法规的作用。而贯穿于美国教育法律的基本原理和根本精神就是持续不断地追求教育平等,这集中体现在教育机会平等、受教育权利平等、教育资源平等和教育过程中的程序平等。     

职业本位的高等职业教育人才培养模式探索--以市场营销专业为例

以培养学生职业素质和能力为核心的职业本位是高等职业教育的本质特征。基于职业本位的高职院校市场营销专业人才培养创新模式,注重对学生进行职业理想教育,指导学生进行职业生涯规划,强调根据行业对职业素质和能力的需求设计市场营销人才培养的课程体系、教学体系、考核体系。建立科学的多层面立体式的教学评估体系,建设高技能的教师队伍,是高职院校市场营销专业人才培养创新模式的保障。     

教育理论与实践的本然统一

解释学是哲学,而且是实践哲学。在实践哲学视野下,理论不再被概念所固化为抽象的认识,理论总是在实践中不断生成和实现自身。在此意义上,理论可以生动、鲜活,与丰富的实践具有本然统一的联系。从教育之作为实践的本性出发,在一个相当根本的层面上,教育理论可以有这样一种探索和建构:它属于实践哲学的范畴,作为实践的理论形态,完成并实现于教育实践活动之中,它并不与教育实践相对立、相分离,而是具有不可分割的本然联系。