A Case Study of the Use of Internet Photobook Technology to Enhance Early Childhood “Scientist” Identity

There are many influences on a child’s identity. Photobook technology purposefully prepared around science explorations presents a modern opportunity to repeatedly trigger memories that reinforce the “me, as scientist” viewpoint. Semi-structured interviews at 6 and 8 years of age were conducted with a child who was the subject of a photobook of everyday science activities to gain insights into his thinking about the nature of science and how he interprets his younger self participating. Interview data were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using dimensions from the previously established parameters for the nature of science. The child’s statements about his participation in the photos were matched to these dimensions to consider how he sees himself “doing science” through his early years. Preliminary findings suggest that the child recognizes elements of science and regards himself as an active participant. In both interviews, the child reinforces these views by the opportunity to revisit the experiences in the photobook. Affective components may motivate further science involvement as well: the child enjoyed the time and attention that the photos and discussion provided; the child took pride in being the subject of a book. This case study suggests that there is a fertile field of research to investigate how, for whom, and in what ways internet photobook technology may enhance a child’s developing identity as capable science explorer.     

Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Environments in Historic Places to Scaffold Historical Empathy

The authors explore how 3D visualizations of historical sites can be used as pedagogical tools to support historical empathy. They provide three visualizations created by a team at Virginia Tech as examples. They discuss virtual environments and how the digital restoration process is applied. They also define historical empathy, explain why it is important, and discuss how it is taught.     

Inclusion: lessons from the children

Phyllis Jones is assistant professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of South Florida. In this article, she describes the work she did while acting as consultant to an Early Years Childcare Development Partnership (EYCDP) in the north of England. Part of this process entailed developing a Charter for Inclusion for the Partnership. Phyllis Jones and her colleagues decided to draw upon the views of children and designed a picture booklet, with questions, in order to encourage a small group of children, aged between six and 14 years, to talk about inclusion. Parents or primary care workers worked through the booklet with the children, exploring what inclusion may mean for them from general and personal perspectives. A total of 14 booklets were returned, with responses exemplifying the strong contribution children are able to make, not only to the philosophical drive for greater inclusion, but also to our understanding of what helps and hinders inclusive practice. Phyllis Jones reviews those ideas here and also reflects on some of the methodological issues that arise when researching the views of children in innovative and imaginative ways.     

Rituals Improve Children's Ability to Delay Gratification

To be accepted into social groups, individuals must internalize and reproduce appropriate group conventions, such as rituals. The copying of such rigid and socially stipulated behavioral sequences places heavy demands on executive function. Given previous research showing that challenging executive functioning improves it, it was hypothesized that engagement in ritualistic behaviors improves children's executive functioning, in turn improving their ability to delay gratification. A 3‐month circle time games intervention with 210 schoolchildren (M_age = 7.78 years, SD = 1.47) in two contrasting cultural environments (Slovakia and Vanuatu) was conducted. The intervention improved children's executive function and in turn their ability to delay gratification. Moreover, these effects were amplified when the intervention task was imbued with ritual, rather than instrumental, cues.     

Classified,Annotated List of Available Films on Riding,Horses, and Subjects Pertaining to Horses

Abstract

This is a study of the result of some 4,000 inventories being administered to students in eight junior colleges and 13 senior colleges and universities. There was a sampling of 2,000 men and 2,000 women. The inventory included 60 items which were prepared by the author after several years of review, experimentation, and then modified by several authorities in this field.

The purpose of this study was to determine the interests in the various areas for marriage education. The results of the study indicate the differences in interests of both sexes for lower and upper division students. The results can be used as a guide to deter-to determine course content.     

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FACULTY EXPERIENCES OF INTERPERSONAL CLIMATE AND PROCESSES FOR ADVANCEMENT

Gender discrimination in academia was examined by means of a climate survey at a research university, which asked faculty about their experiences, observations, and satisfaction within their work environment. Overall, responses indicated that most faculty felt satisfied with key aspects of their environment, and many felt they had experienced, or observed, little or no discrimination. However, among those who did report personally experiencing discrimination, there were consistent gender differences across all areas. Specifically, women were more likely than men to report that they had experienced exclusion by colleagues, inappropriate sexual attention from colleagues or administrators, demeaning or intimidating behaviors from students, colleagues, or administrators, and unfair treatment in processes of hiring, reappointment, promotion, or tenure.     

Diagnosis and disengagement: exploring the disjuncture between SEN policy and practice

Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy and practice in England and Wales currently relies on an authoritative and accurate diagnosis of need by professionals working in partnership with parents and children. Our analysis suggests there is a ‘continuum of disengagement’ for children and young people with SEN. This will be used as a central theme to illustrate the disjuncture between SEN policy and practice. The continuum becomes apparent under the scrutiny of issues that arise during the diagnostic process. Identification of problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia and dyspraxia lead to methods of intervention that can be identified as either preventative, counteractive or punitive. The ambiguity of the diagnostic process lies in the overlapping characteristics of these conditions. Referring to our research in the field of SEN provision in North Wales, this article explores the link between hidden disabilities, increasing disengagement and youth offending.     

An Investigation of Text‐based Instructional Materials Enhanced with Graphics

ABSTRACT An adaptation of Bagley's (1990) experiment which compared the interaction of instructional format with adult learners was carried out replacing the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) arithmetic reasoning subtest with the Riding & Cheema (1991) Cognitive Styles Analysis (CSA). There was an additional inclusion of graphics to the structured instructional format, as an independent variable. A total of 45 participants attended workshops to learn how to write PASCAL programs. All of the participants completed the CSA and their CSA‐ratio was used to select pairs of similar CSA‐ratios. One participant from each pair was given a text‐only instructional booklet, while the other was given a text‐plus‐graphics instructional booklet. The treatment groups were controlled for instructional format (text‐only/text‐plus‐graphics) and cognitive style. The independent variables were used to test for their effect on learning abstract computer programming concepts. It was found that the Verbal‐Imagery cognitive style and instructional treatment interacted in their effect on the performance‐difference scores. The Novice‐Verbal programmers performed best with a text‐plus‐graphics instructional format, performing significantly better than the Novice‐Imagers’ subgroups using the same text‐plus‐graphics material. Conversely, the Novice‐Imagers participants performed better with the material. However, the Experienced‐Imagery participants performed better with the text‐plus‐graphics instructional material than the Experienced‐Verbalisers. Overall, the Verbalisers’ worst performance occurred with the text‐only materials, while their best performance occurred with the text‐plus‐graphics material. This pilot experiment suggests that learning performance is affected by an interaction of cognitive style and instructional format. However, this interaction was contrary to expectations (Riding & Douglas, 1993), with Verbalisers performing best with text‐plus‐graphics instructional material and Novice‐Imagers performing best with text‐only instructional material.     

Parents reviewing Annual Reviews

In this article, Phyllis Jones and John Swain examine parents' perceptions of their involvement in the process of Annual Review for pupils with Statements of SEN. They report that they conducted a small-scale research project with parents who had experience in a variety of schools, including both special and mainstream. A questionnaire and recorded discussions in two groups were used in order to gather data from parents. The experiences of these parents suggest that, while their views might be valued in principle, they can be devalued in practice. The authors go on to suggest key processes in facilitating the realisation of the principles of Annual Review in practice.