Co‐evolution of mobile language learning: Going global with games consoles in higher education

Game consoles have been adopted as a learning platform in school education. However, there is a scarcity of studies examining the utility of games consoles with built‐in WiFi as affordable learning platforms in universities. This paper contributes to knowledge about the capacity of the Nintendo DSi to create new learning spaces mediated and supported by DSi consoles, free Flipnote Studio software for DS and a dedicated course website. An application of the DSi is described for remote supplemental language tutorial activities linking a dispersed body of students on a year‐abroad programme. It was found that the use of DSi as a mobile learning platform has great potential if it is used in combination with shared webspace, such as Hatena, by increasing students' learning motivation and eliminating fears/uncertainty about their progress.     

Varietal differences in photosynthetic characters and chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics parameters among intergeneric progeny derived fromOryza×Sorghum, its parents, and hybrid rice

A comparative study on the photosynthetic parameters among intergeneric progenies derived fromOryza sativa L.×Sorghum vulgare L., its maternal parent Gui 630 and commercial 3-line hybrid rice Shanyou 63 in pot experiment in greenhouse was conducted. The morphological and photosynthetic characters of canopy leaves and chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic parameters includingF _v/F _m,F _v/F ₀, photochemical quenching coefficient and non-photochemical coefficient of canopy leaves of 3 varieties were measured. The results showed the progeny, Yanyou 1, derived from an intergeneric cross of rice and sorghum possesses better canopy spatial architecture with thicker, heavier and bigger canopy leaf than its maternal parent Gui 630. Higher photosynthetic rate due to higher chlorophyll content, higher primary energy transformation efficiency, potential of PSII and non-photochemical quenching coefficient (q _E) were also measured in Yuanyou 1. These explain partly why the intergeneric progeny has higher biomass production, and better tolerance to adverse conditions and higher field yields even under stress conditions.     

Adult attachment, parent emotion, and observed parenting behavior: mediator and moderator models

In a middle-class sample of mothers of 2-year-olds, adult attachment classifications measured in the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) were related to maternal self-reported emotional well-being and observed parenting behavior, and the potential mediating and moderating roles of maternal emotion were tested. Mothers classified as dismissing on the AAI reported significantly lower levels of positive affectivity. Mothers classified as preoccupied reported significantly higher levels of negative affectivity and anxiety. Preoccupied mothers were observed to be significantly higher on angry/intrusive parenting, but this association was not mediated by attachment-related differences in maternal emotion. Maternal emotional well-being did, however, moderate the associations between adult attachment and parenting behavior: Dismissing attachment was significantly associated with lower warmth/responsiveness only among mothers with higher levels of depressive symptoms.     

Addressing the challenge of legitimate international comparisons of classroom practice

In this article, we address the choice of suitable instructional units that might serve as the basis for cross-cultural analyses of classroom practice. Our argument draws on analyses undertaken as part of the Learner's Perspective Study (LPS). The database comprised a three-camera video record of sequences of 10 consecutive lessons in each classroom, supplemented by post-lesson video-stimulated interviews with teachers and students: a total of over 180 videotaped lessons, over 50 teacher interviews and almost 400 student interviews. The results of these analyses challenge the suitability of the lesson as the unit of comparative analysis. In particular, the location of the lesson in the topic sequence is seen to be a key influence on the lesson's structure, critically affecting the teacher's deployment of the constituent activities that we have called ‘lesson events.’ The lesson event is proposed as an alternative unit of international comparative analysis of classroom practice.     

日本"幼小衔接"热潮剖析

本文在对近几年日本出现的"幼小衔接"热潮的发展历程和主要特点进行研究的基础上,对其原因进行了分析,认为地方分权化的推动、"小一问题"的驱使和终身教育思潮的影响是当今日本出现"幼小衔接"热潮的主要原因.     

Teacher Agency in South African Education Policy Related to School Safety

Abstract

Safety in and around schools is an on-going concern in South Africa. Current education policy related to school safety institutes mechanisms to reduce violence as a measure of promoting safety. The highest rate of violence reported by learners occurs in the classroom. By implication, how teachers are either enabled or constrained to respond to violent incidents in classrooms is critical. With the aim to determine how education policy related to school safety either enables or constrains teacher agency in South African education policy related to school safety, the article reports on a study that examined the mechanisms of the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) together with the context at schools. The study found that the NSSF mechanisms and school context find little enabling teacher agentic action, where learning is concerned. Although the NSSF mechanisms require teachers to perform many roles as measures of reducing violence to promote school safety, none involve pedagogic strategies or techniques. Given that teachers’ greatest challenge in the context of violence is the disruption of teaching and learning, the NSSF mechanisms are inadequate as an education policy related to school safety within the current context of insecurity in South African schools.     

青少年乒乓运动员的焦虑和运动成绩关系

多维焦虑理论认为认知和躯体焦虑对运动成绩会产生不同的影响.根据这个理论,运动员在赛前具有较高的认知焦虑水平或躯体焦虑水平出现极端值(过高或过低)或自信心较低时,他们将取得较差的运动成绩.先前的研究还认为焦虑与运动成绩间的关系还取决于所要完成动作的特点.不同的运动技能有各自最佳的焦虑水平.总的来说,焦虑水平较高有利于完成体力消耗较大的运动项目.而焦虑水平较低时,则有利于完成精确类项目.就乒乓球项目而言,它既需要体力又需要精确性,因此,本研究调查分析了乒乓球运动员赛前焦虑水平与运动成绩间的关系.研究对象3 6名青少年乒乓球运动员,男、女运动员各1 8名,平均年龄为12.28±0.74岁.研究方法采用运动竞赛状态焦虑量表(CSAI-2C).让运动员在参加地区赛第一场比赛的赛前30分填写问卷.研究结果认知状态焦虑水平不能用来预测运动员的成绩.获胜运动员和失利运动员赛前的躯体状态焦虑和自信心没有差异.这表明本研究没有支持多维焦虑理论的假设,或许是乒乓球运动的特点和运动员的个体差异比运动员的焦虑水平对运动成绩的影响更大.因此,如果运动员的个人特点与他们的技术风格相适应,不同焦虑水平的运动员都可能取得好成绩.     

Operating at the margins while seeking a space in the heart: the daily teaching reality of Japanese high school teachers experiencing workplace stress/anxiety

The esteem historically attributed to the teaching profession in Japan is eroding, and some Japanese teachers who identify with the ideal of being a ‘life educator’ are becoming disillusioned with teaching. While the stress and anxiety associated with teacher disillusionment have been researched from a Western perspective, little is known about the work-related stress and anxiety experiences of Japanese teachers. Thus, this grounded theory qualitatively details the teaching experiences of 14 Japanese high school teachers. The findings reveal that whereas only two teachers within the present study had actually achieved a ‘space in their heart’ where they were able to create a balance between the negative and positive forces operating within their teaching careers and home lives, this was a position that many other teachers strove toward.