The impact of formative and shared or co-assessment on the acquisition of transversal competences in higher education

The use of formative and shared or co-assessment has been shown to improve the motivation, involvement and learning of university students. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect that implementing these processes has on university students’ perception of their acquisition of transversal competences. The participants in the study were 1021 students from five Spanish universities taking degree courses in primary education or physical education and sport science. They all experienced formative and shared or co-assessment throughout a complete academic year of their courses. For the data collection, a Self-Perception Scale of Transversal Competences was created, which had adequate values of reliability and validity. Using a transversal design (inter-subjects), inferential statistical analysis was undertaken of the differences in means between the perception of a range of transversal competences before and after the course. The results show significant perceived improvements at the end of the course for most of the competences analysed, which indicates, among other thing, the value and importance of this type of assessment for the educational process.     

Effect of political socialization on children: quasi-experimental study with Argentinian children / Efecto de la socialización política en población infantil: estudio cuasi-experimental con niños/as argentinos/as

This study evaluates the effect that two experiences of political socialization had on different psychosocial and psychopolitical variables (social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, attitudes towards equality, socially conscious behaviour, empathy, attitude towards unfair behaviour by authorities, sociopolitical participation) in children in the city of Córdoba (Argentina). Specifically, it analyses the effect of participation in a social organization that promotes citizen education (Study 1), and participation in the Alternative Political Socialization Programme (APSP) (Study 2) created for this research. Likewise, a comparative analysis of both experiences was performed (Study 3). Children aged 10 and 11 participated in the experiences. A quasi-experimental design was used with a pre- and post-test, along with a quasi-control group. The results suggest a significant effect in the variables studied based on participation in these experiences, with differences according to the kind of programme. The study underscores the importance of designing alternative political socialization mechanisms geared at citizen training in childhood.     

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International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance -     

Transitions in the representation and implementation of a language-learning project within a multicultural context

European Journal of Psychology of Education - The paper explores the involvement of teachers, children, and parents in a project based on learning a second language (L2) within a multicultural...     

Using an adaptation programme to introduce children to the early years of schooling in Slovakia

The article presents a new adaptation programme entitled ‘With a smile to school’ for pupils of the first year at primary schools. The adaptation programme comprises several methods and measures which are focused on the regulation of pupils’ adaptation process. The efficiency and effectiveness of the adaptation programme were verified through an experiment at selected primary schools in Slovakia in the school year 2016/2017. Based on the experiment results, a proposal for implementation of the adaptation programme to school practice was drawn up. The experiment results were evaluated by means of selected statistical methods.     

Effects of orthographic consistency and word length on the dynamics of written production in adults: psycholinguistic and rTMS experiments

Reading and Writing - Recent studies on written word production aim at studying how information is transmitted between central (linguistic) and peripheral (motor) processes. Neurocognitive models...     

Orphan Works at Theatre Library and Information Centres: Assessing Librarians' Perceptions and Management in Spain

Currently, libraries and other information services are facing new professional challenges in relation to digitization policies and orphan works after the publication of European Directive 2012/28/EU on certain permitted uses of orphan works and Spanish Royal Decree 224/2016. This paper aims to analyse how Spanish library and information centres specialising in theatre and performing arts meet users' textual and non-textual information needs, by respecting copyright issues and being involved in a dynamic and digital environment. For this purpose, an online questionnaire, which was used as a methodological tool, was sent to library directors in February 2018. At the same time, some research questions based on orphan works and digitisation approaches are discussed in the paper, specifically in reference to graphic and audiovisual materials.     

Irreplaceable ISSN: From 2007 to the Future

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 3297 governs the assignment of International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSNs) for continuing resources worldwide. It is subject to systematic review every five years and, in 2017, an ISO Working Group was set up to review the standard. This working group took the decision to survey the views of stakeholders including publishers, libraries, and others. This article reports on the global survey that was undertaken, describing the questions and answers about which the committee sought opinions. It also sought details on the respondents to provide context. The replies are summarised in chart form with conclusions and an appraisal of the key issues, which suggest that whilst respondents are supportive of expanding the ways in which the ISSN is deployed, they are less convinced of the need for more ISSNs for any given title. They are split on the need for the structure of the ISSN to be revised but there is strong support for the notion of a “Family ISSN” that would describe resources that are linked through, for example, title changes or geography or language. The article notes the next steps to be taken.     

Comprehension of the night and day cycle among French and Cameroonian children aged 7–8 years

Cultural Studies of Science Education - In this article, we compared French and Cameroonian schoolchildren’s initial conceptions and comprehension of the night and day cycle in order to test...     

Effects of treadmill running and fatigue on impact acceleration in distance running

The effects of treadmill running on impact acceleration were examined together with the interaction between running surface and runner's fatigue state. Twenty recreational runners (11 men and 9 women) ran overground and on a treadmill (at 4.0 m/s) before and after a fatigue protocol consisting of a 30-minute run at 85% of individual maximal aerobic speed. Impact accelerations were analysed using two lightweight capacitive uniaxial accelerometers. A two-way repeated-measure analysis of variance showed that, in the pre-fatigue condition, the treadmill running decreased head and tibial peak impact accelerations and impact rates (the rate of change of acceleration), but no significant difference was observed between the two surfaces in shock attenuation. There was no significant difference in acceleration parameters between the two surfaces in the post-fatigue condition. There was a significant interaction between surface (treadmill and overground) and fatigue state (pre-fatigue and post-fatigue). In particular, fatigue when running overground decreased impact acceleration severity, but it had no such effect when running on the treadmill. The effects of treadmill running and the interaction need to be taken into account when interpreting the results of studies that use a treadmill in their experimental protocols, and when prescribing physical exercise.