QUESTIONING THE HOMOGENIZATION OF IRREGULAR MIGRANTS IN EDUCATIONAL POLICY: FROM (IL)LEGAL RESIDENCE TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

In this article Elias Hemelsoet questions the way irregular migrants are approached in educational policymaking. In most cases, estimations of the number of irregular migrants serve—despite large methodological problems—as a starting point for policymaking. Given the very diverse composition of this group of people, the question is whether residence status is an appropriate benchmark for dealing with the social problems related to these people. There seems to be a homogenizing tendency at work that reduces the complexity of irregular migration. Preferable distinctions are overlooked or even denied. Inclusive education seems to provide an alternative that does not reduce individuals to a group they belong to, claiming that differences only matter at the individual level. The question is whether such an approach entails a new form of homogenization. Using the case of Roma people, Hemelsoet argues here that group differences do matter for educational practice, theory, and policy. Qualitative data on the social practices of groups can help provide insight into the particularity of situations. This “insight” or “understanding,” in its turn, is a requirement in order for policymakers to make well‐considered choices.     

Szenario-basierter Systemtest von Software-Produktfamilien

Zusammenfassung In der Produktfamilienentwicklung werden durch zwei Entwicklungsprozesse, Domain und Application Engineering, zun"achst wiederverwendbare Entwicklungsartefakte produziert, um diese anschlie?end zur Konstruktion von kundenspezifischen Applikationen einzusetzen. Die Wiederverwendbarkeit wird durch die explizite Definition der Variabilit"at der geplanten Applikationen einer Produktfamilie erzielt. Diese proaktive Wiederverwendung ist bisher in den konstruktiven Entwicklungsphasen realisiert, jedoch noch nicht im Test. Mit ScenTED (Scen_ario based TE_st Case D_erivation) wird in diesem Beitrag eine wiederverwendungsorientierte Technik zur Testfallerstellung f"ur den Systemtest, dem Test eines ausf"uhrbaren Systems gegen spezifizierte Use-Cases, von Produktfamilien vorgestellt. ScenTED basiert auf zwei Kernideen: der Erhaltung der Variabilit"at in Testf"allen und der Szenario-basierten Verfeinerung der Testf"alle. Durch die Erhaltung der Variabilit"at wird die Wiederverwendbarkeit von Testf"allen gesichert; die Szenario-basierte Verfeinerung erm"oglicht Nachvollziehbarkeit durch die durchg"angige Nutzung von Szenarien. In diesem Beitrag wird die ScenTED-Technik an einem Beispiel erl"autert und Erfahrungen aus dem industriellen Einsatz diskutiert.

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Product family engineering consists of two development processes: Domain engineering and application engineering. Reuseable artefacts are created in the domain engineering process. These artefacts are used for the creation of customer specific applications during the application engineering process. Reusability is achieved with the explicit definition of variability that specifies the potential applications of the product family. The proactive reuse has been realized in the construnction phases of the development process, but not within the test phases. We propose ScenTED (Scen_ario based TE_st Case D_erivation) for the creation of reusable test cases for a use case based system testing in product family engineering. ScenTED has two key ideas: The first is the preservation of variability in test cases and the second idea is the scenario-based refinement of test cases. The preservation of variability ensures the reusability of test cases. The scenario-based refinement enables the traceability from requirements to test cases. We present the ScenTED technique in this article with an example and discuss an industrial case study.

CR Subject Classification D2.5     

Putting proficiency: contributions of the pelvis and trunk

Putting proficiency is a key determinant of golfing success and yet minimal biomechanical research has been published on this important skill. Little is known about the motion and coordination of the pelvis and trunk during the putting motion. The purpose of this study was to present detailed three-dimensional (3D) kinematic profiles of the pelvis and trunk during the putting motion, and to determine if differences in kinematics exist between proficient and non-proficient golfers. A 3D analysis (100 Hz) was conducted on 10 single figure handicap golfers using a six-camera motion capture system. Participants completed 18 putts (2 m) towards a cup in an indoor facility and were subsequently divided into two groups based on putting proficiency (Proficient: >79%; Non-proficient: <79%). Variables assessed were the linear movements of the centre of mass (COM) and head, and the angular movements of the pelvis and trunk. Effect size statistics showed that the Proficient putters tended to move predominantly in the frontal plane (towards the target), while the non-proficient putters moved more sagittally. In addition, the Non-proficient putters recorded greater movement variability. The implications of this study suggest that putting proficiency is enhanced when the COM moves towards the target.     

The Engagement Model of Opinion Leadership: Testing Validity Within a European Context

Explicating and measuring opinion leadership continues to bean important theoretical topic, as personal influence and interpersonaldiscussion are widely recognized as shaping public opinion andpolitical behavior. However, the concept of opinion leadershiparose out of empirical research conducted primarily within theUSA. Whether it may be applied to other national contexts remainsto be fully explicated. Furthermore, media information-seekingbehaviors of opinion leaders, such as newspaper use or televisionexposure, seem to be culturally contingent based upon the scantcross-national research to date. This paper examines the ecologicaland constructive validity of the engagement model of the opinionleadership developed within the USA. Employing the EuropeanSocial Survey, I apply this model to fifteen European nationsto assess its validity and explore how media information-seekingbehaviors of opinion leaders may vary across national contexts.The findings suggest that the model may be most valid in WesternEuropean nations. Furthermore, the media use and behaviors ofopinion leaders vary greatly across nations in Europe, thoughlevels of interpersonal political discussion and specific individualsocio-psychological traits do not.     

National Assessment of New Standards for Mathematics in Elementary Education in Flanders

A baseline assessment of the new curriculum standards of mathematics for elementary education in Flanders is presented and discussed. A total of 24 measurement scales, each representing a cluster of standards, covered the whole mathematics curriculum. A total of 5,763 6th-grade students participated in the study. Performance on each scale was summarized by estimating the proportion of students who were nonmasters, intermediate, and good masters. Overall, the more innovative curriculum standards were mastered worse. Few gender differences in performance were observed.