Child, Program, and Family Ecological Variables in Early Intervention

This study is based on a conceptual framework which emphasized the importance of viewing early intervention outcomes in relation to both program and nonprogram variables. Three broad classes of independent variables were included in the framework child, program, and family ecology. The unique and combined contributions of these three sets of variables to the prediction of three indices of intervention outcome was assessed through regression techniques. As much as 68% of the variance in children's post-intervention developmental age (DA2) was explained by the combined influence of all three classes of variables. All three classes of variables again contributed uniquely to the prediction of parental satisfaction with the intervention, explaining 45% of the variance. The three classes of variables explained 36% of the variance in children's rate of development during the intervention (RDI), although the contribution of the program class was very minimal. In addition to ascertaining the contributions of sets of variables, the importance of individual variables within sets was also examined. Results from both types of analysis underscored the important role of nonprogram variables in the determination of both child and parental outcomes. The implications of these findings for the design and evaluation of early intervention are discussed.     

Project THREAD: Technology helping restructure educational access and delivery

This article describes Project THREAD (Technology Helping Restructure Educational Access and Delivery), an initiative funded by the U.S. Office of Education through its PT3 grant program. The project’s overarching goal is to prepare teachers to integrate modern technologies to fundamentally enhance teaching and learning in K-12 schools. Project initiatives include: (a) a series of in-service workshops for university faculty, administrators, field supervisors, and mentor teachers; (b) one-on-one follow-up support provided by project staff; (c) a minigrant program to support the development of technology-based learning activities for university courses; (d) expanded opportunities for students to apply technology in thier courses and field experiences; and (e) a redesign of selected courses that impact a large number of teacher candidates. The project’s evaluation is described, along with a discussion of outcomes and lessons learned. in recognition of the project’s scope and accomplishments thus far, the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), was named the 2002 winner of the Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).     

Language,education and ethnicity: Whose rights will prevail in an age of globalisation?

Education and ethnicity cannot be discussed without taking language into account. This paper will argue that any discussion of ethnic minorities cannot ignore the question of language, nor can any discussion of human rights ignore the question of language rights. Unfortunately, in today's globalised world, governments and minorities are faced with conflicting pressures: on the one hand, for the development and use of education in a global/international language; on the other for the use and development of mother tongue, local or indigenous languages in education. Language complexity and ethnic plurality were largely brought about as a result of the creation of nation–states, which were spread around the world as a result of European colonialism. European languages and formal education systems were used as a means of political and economic control. The legacy that was left by the colonial powers has complicated ethnic relations and has frequently led to conflict. While there is now greater recognition of the importance of language both for economic and educational development, as well as for human rights, the forces of globalisation are leading towards uniformity in the languages used, in culture and even in education. They are working against the development of language rights for smaller groups. We are witnessing a sharp decline in the number of languages spoken. Only those languages which are numerically, economically and politically strong are likely to survive. As a result many linguistic and ethnic groups are in danger of being further marginalised. This paper will illustrate this thesis both historically and from several contemporary societies, showing how certain policies have exacerbated ethnic conflict while others are seeking to promote harmony and reconciliation. Why this should be so will be explored.     

Disseminating the right information to the right audience: cultural determinants in the use (and misuse) of rankings

Rankings and league tables, or Report Cards (RCs), of Higher Education Institutions have become a global phenomenon. Their purpose, it is claimed, is to help “student-consumers” make informed decisions. Yet the degree to which RCs succeed in helping students in their college choice is disputed. Even though RCs are intended for all, which information is sought and how it is used may differ between potential students hailing from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. In particular, RCs may neglect certain cultural determinants that influence students’ college choice behaviour. The article reviews the literature on the cultural determinants of college choice and especially the use of RCs in the ambit of cultural determinants. In the United States, possibly because of evident educational gaps between ethnic groups in society, the issue of cultural perceptions in college choice has been addressed, albeit scantly. In Europe, this field of study is virtually non-existent, despite increasing indications that second and third generation immigrants still lag behind in terms of higher education participation and graduation rates.

My system of career influences: responding to challenges facing career education

The present article explores major challenges facing career psychology, specifically within the field of career education. Several issues are identified including the need for more effective links between theory and practice, the movement towards constructivist theories and the related challenges of applying such theories. These issues are explored within the context of the reformulation of career education and through the lens of the constructivist Systems Theory Framework of career development and its applied activity, the My Systems of Career Influences.

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Zusammenfassung “My System of Career Influences”: Eine Antwort auf Herausforderungen für den Berufswahlunterricht. Dieser Artikel untersucht wesentliche Herausforderungen für die Berufspsychologie, insbesondere auf dem Gebiet des Berufswahlunterrichts. Mehrere Aspekte werden angesprochen, unter anderem der Bedarf für wirkungsvollere Verknüpfungen von Theorie und Praxis, den Trend zu konstruktivistischen Theorien und der Anwendung solcher Theorien. Diese Aspekte werden untersucht vor dem Hintergrund einer Neuformulierung der Berufswahlvorbereitung, sowie aus dem Blickwinkel des konstruktivistischen System-Theorie-Modell (Systems Theory Framework) und dessen Anwendungskonzept, dem ″My Systems of Career Influences” (Meine Systematik für Berufswahl-Einflüsse).

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Resumen Mi Sistema de Influencias sobre la Carrera: Respuesta a los Retos que afronta la Educación para la Carrera. El presente artículo explora los principales retos a los que se enfrenta la psicología de la carrera, en concreto dentro del campo de la educación para la carera. Se identifican varias cuestiones tales como la necesidad de vínculos más efectivos entre la teoría y la práctica, el movimiento hacia teorías constructivistas y los retos derivados de la aplicación de dichas teorías. Estas cuestiones se abordan dentro del contexto de reformulación de la educación para la carrera y a través del lente del marco constructivista de la Teoría de Sistemas del desarrollo de la carrera y su aplicación práctica, Mi Sistema de Influencias sobre la Carrera.

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Résumé Mon Système d’Influences sur la Trajectoire Vocationnelle: une réponse aux défis lancés à l’éducation au choix vocationnel. Le présent article explore les défis majeurs lancés à la psychologie vocationnelle, en particulier dans le champ de l’éducation au choix vocationnel. On identifie plusieurs questions comme la nécessité de liens plus fermes entre théorie et pratique, l’expansion des théories constructivistes et les défis que leur application implique. Ces questions sont explorées dans le contexte de la reformulation de l’éducation au choix professionnel et sous l’angle de la structure constructiviste de la Théorie des Systèmes du développement vocationnel et de son application “Mes Systèmes d’Influences sur la Trajectoire Vocationnelle”.