A developmental perspective on dyslexic subtypes

In this paper we apply a developmental model of reading to the question of dyslexic subtypes. Groups of normal readers (n=40) and dyslexic children (n=50), matched on reading level and IQ, were given a comprehensive test battery measuring level of development of visual, phonological, and orthographic skills. As a group, dyslexics deviated from normal readers of equivalent reading achievement primarily in phonological skills (spelling-to-sound translation and phonemic analysis), although limited differences in knowledge of word-specific spellings were also observed. Dyslexics were superior to the younger normal readers in visual processing of print. Analysis of individual data by reference to the reading level control group revealed three major subgroups: a group with a specific deficit in phonological processing of print (52 percent), a group with deficits in processing both the phonological and orthographic features of printed words (24 percent), and a group with phonological deficits in language (8 percent). The remainder of the sample (16 percent) had specific deficits in visual or orthographic processing of print, in spelling, or did not differ from the control group. The data support the view that most developmental dyslexics have a specific language disorder involving some aspect of phonological processing. However, small subgroups with very different configurations of reading and nonreading difficulties may exist as well. This research was supported by an NICHD grant to the first author (USPHS grant 1 R23 HD20231).     

Hemispheric asymmetry in a face discrimination task in infants

A right-hemisphere advantage in a mother's face recognition task in infants aged between 4 and 10 months was found to exist by de Schonen, Gil de Diaz, and Mathivet. The present study was designed to test (a) whether the right-hemisphere advantage would still prevail if the task requirements were different from those in the previous study, and (b) whether any information was communicated from one hemisphere to the other. 18-42-week-old infants were presented with an operant conditioning situation where they had to discriminate between their mother's and a stranger's face within one visual hemifield. Transfer of learning from one visual hemifield to the other was also measured. The results confirm the existence of a right-hemisphere advantage in discriminating between face stimuli. This advantage was weaker in the female than in the male population. No hemispheric transfer of learning was observed to occur.     

The Hermeneutics of Learner-Centered Approaches and Initiatives in the Philippine Basic Education Sector

This paper highlights how a developing country like the Philippines incarnates a learner-centered approach in its overall education framework. Specifically, key policies and strategies relative to curriculum development, pedagogical issues, educational innovation and evaluation, professional development of teachers and school-community dynamics are discussed on the basis of the platform of hermeneutics of retrieval, the hermeneutics of the actual and the hermeneutics of the potential.

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《西铭》蕴析论

张载的《西铭》在历史上受到高度重视,对其主旨进行过不同归结和热烈讨论。有必要对其义蕴和价值重新进行深入探讨,发掘其现代意义。     

Forgetting about Friendship: Using Conflict in Teacher Communities as a Catalyst for School Change

It is widely recognized that teacher communities figure among the most vital factors for promoting educational change within schools. While there is widespread consensus on the idea of collegiality as an instrument for promoting and sustaining change, scholars are much less clear on the characteristics that teachers' professional communities within schools must possess in order to promote and sustain such change. This paper discusses the role of friendship and conflict in teacher communities and argues for a rethinking of the way the intermingling of professional and interpersonal ties in schools contributes to school change.     

Competence and performance in causal learning

The dominant theoretical approach to causal learning postulates the acquisition of associative weights between cues and outcomes. This reduction of causal induction to associative learning implies that learners are insensitive to important characteristics of causality, such as the inherent directionality between causes and effects. An ongoing debate centers on the question of whether causal learning is sensitive to causal directionality (as is postulated by causal-model theory) or whether it neglects this important feature of the physical world (as implied by associationist theories). Three experiments using different cue competition paradigms are reported that demonstrate the competence of human learners to differentiate between predictive and diagnostic learning. However, the experiments also show that this competence displays itself best in learning situations with few processing demands and with convincingly conveyed causal structures. The study provides evidence for the necessity to distinguish between competence and performance in causal learning.     

The Heterogeneity of Self-Portraits of Gifted Students in France

The objective of this research is to understand the diversity of gifted students’ self-representations through self-portrait analysis. Two hundred twenty-seven French gifted students (intelligence quotient ≥ 130; 45 girls, 182 boys), aged from 9 to 15 years completed the GPS instrument (Genèse des Perceptions de Soi [Genesis of the Self-Concept]). The authors analyzed data with ALCESTE content analysis software (Reinert, 2003). Using a descending hierarchical classification, results suggested a distinct six-class solution, as well as differences between classes depending on degree of academic achievement, age, type of schooling, and gender. These results do not support the notion that gifted students represent a homogeneous population in regard to their self-perceptions.     

Some cultural and economic factors leading to neglect, abuse and violence in respect of children within the family in Sri Lanka

The paper provides an overview of the present position. It attempts to identify the causational factors in situations of child neglect, abuse and violence and to pinpoint areas where there is a lacuna in information and knowledge. The study takes prevalence of abandoned children, failure to meet a child's basic needs and underutilization of services provided free by the state as indices of neglect. Measured in these terms it seems that though in Sri Lanka children are considered a blessing, yet they are also subject to neglect though this is not deliberate on the part of parents but arising from numerous factors, mainly poverty and ignorance. Other influences also operate such as cultural values and weaknesses in the delivery systems. Today females of all socioeconomic levels seek employment, both locally and abroad. This can lead to child neglect since community services for child care are inadequate and traditional help is dwindling. The negative impact on children of certain aspects of modernization is also considered. Abuse of children manifests itself mainly in child domestic labour and the exploitation, particularly of malformed and diseased children, in the trade of begging. Violence as judged by reported cases is minimal. But considering social attitudes regarding physical punishment, its prevalence may be wider than generally believed. The need for statistics and studies on all aspects of child care and child behaviour have come out in the study.     

Prospects for Identity Formation for Lesbian,Gay, or Bisexual Persons with Developmental Disabilities

The theoretical and practical constraints of identity formation for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons with developmental disabilities are explored. Firstly, disability and queer theory and conceptions of identification and community are presented. This is followed by a synopsis of some of the common societal myths about disability and about homosexuality. Thirdly, we trace how these myths affect and filter into caregiver attitudes, lesbian and gay communities and communities of persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities. All these factors conspire to inhibit self-identification as LGB for persons with developmental disabilities. It is further argued that neither disability theorists nor queer theorists have adequately accounted for such complex identities, and that, perhaps, a fusion of disability theory and queer theory may provide a more comprehensive lens to capture these complexities. We conclude with tentative yet practical suggestions to begin to create community for LGB persons with a developmental disability.     

Examining the role of Filipino elderly attitudes toward computer and internet on their behavioral intention for telehealth participation

ABSTRACT

Health technologies like computers and the internet are considered as essential tools in addressing various health problems of various age groups including the elderly. Through a multi-aspect survey questionnaire, this study examined the role of attitudes toward computer and internet on the behavioral intention for telehealth participation among a select group of Filipino elderly who underwent a basic computer and internet training for Telehealth program. Using regression analysis, results showed favorable attitude toward computers (x = 6.23) and internet (x = 6.40) among the elderly respondents after a computer literacy training. Their behavioral intention to use telehealth was greatly influenced by ‘computer confidence’ (β = 0.24) and ‘web usefulness’ (β = 0.24). Results of this study highlight the importance of telehealth literacy program in ensuring compliance and engagement among the older adults.