Teachers' predictions and pupils' destinies: A West African survey

This article presents a case study of the primary schooling and post-primary careers of a group of West African pupils. Their school performance and later careers were studied in relation to a number of variables, some relating to the school itself, others to background factors. Among the most important of the former were the predictions made by teachers about the pupils' ability to succeed. While teachers' predictions tended to be fairly accurate, they also functioned to some extent as self-fulfilling prophecies. The study shows that socio-economic and cultural variables are as important as school variables in explaining variations in former pupils' geographical location and socio-economic position eight to nine years later. The study has implications in relation to the improvement of the quality of primary education, since out-of-school variables cannot be manipulated through educational policies alone.

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Zusammenfassung In dem vorliegenden Artikel werden Ergebnisse einer westafrikanischen Studie dargestellt, die sich mit dem Schulbesuch und mit der Laufbahn nach abgeschlossenem Schulbesuch beschäftigt. Die Ausbildung der Schüler in zwei senegalischen Dörfern und ihre Laufbahn nach der Ausbildung werden im Verhältnis zu gewissen Schulvariablen und Hintergrundsvariablen studiert. Unter den erstgenannten waren die Voraussagen der Lehrer über die Möglichkeit der Schüler, von einer Klasse in die nächste versetzt zu werden, wichtig. Die Annahmen der Lehrer waren ziemlich sicher, aber sie funktionierten auch in hohem Grade als selbsterfüllende Prognosen. Die Studie zeigt, daß sozioökonomische und kulturelle Variablen genauso aussagekräftig sind wie Schulvariablen, wenn man die Unterschiede in dem geographischen Wohnort und in der sozioökonomischen Position der früheren Schüler acht bis neun Jahre später erklären will. Das hat Implikationen für eine Menge Richtlinien und Vorschläge, die in den letzten Jahren im Hinblick auf die Verbessergung der Qualität der Schule vorgelegt wurden, weil sich die Variablen außerhalb der Schule durch rein bildungspolitische Maßnahmen nicht manipulieren lassen.

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Resumen Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio que se ocupa de la enseñanza primarla y de las carreras post-primarias en un grupo de alumnos de Africa Occidental. La formación que recibieron los alumnos en dos pueblos senegaleses y las carreras que hicieron después de la escuela se estudian en cuanto a determinadas variables; relacionadas con la escuela misma y con el medio. Una de las más importantes de la primera catgoría eran las predicciones que los maestros hacían sobre las posibilidades que tendrían los alumnos de pasar al grado superior. las suposiciones de los maestros eran bastante acertadas, pero también funcionaban, en bueno grado, como pronósticos que se cumplirían automáticamente. El estudio demuestra que las variables socioeconómicas y culturales son tan importantes como las variables escolares, si se quieren explicar, ocho u nueve años desputés, las diferencias en localizatión geográfica y posición socioeconómica de los antiguou alumnos. Esto tiene implicaciones en una cantidad de directivas y sugerencias que se presentaron en los ültimos años para mejorar la calidad de la enseñanza primaria, ya que las variables del entorno extra-escolar no pueden manipularse a través de meras medidas de política educacional.

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Résumé Cet article présente une étude de cas en Afrique Occidentale se rapportant à l'enseignement primaire et aux carrières post-primaires, le succès scolaire des élèves ainsi que leurs carrières sont examinés par rapport à des variables scolaires et des variables concernant le milieu de l'élève constituent les variables importantes. Ces prédictions sont pluôt exactes, mais dans une certaine mesure elles relèvent de la prédiction qui s'accomplit automatiquement. L'étude démontre que les variables socio-économiques et culturelles sont aussi importantes que les variables scolaires; elles expliques les variations les variations dans la localisation géographique ainsi que le statut socio-économique de l'élève entre huit ans et neuf ans plus tard. Ceci a des implications pour un grand nombre de suggestions soumises récemment pour améliorer la qualité de l'enseignement primaire primaire étant donné qu'il est impossible de modifier les variables extra-scolaires uniquement à travers la politique de l'éducation.

     

Assessing System Thinking Through Different Concept-Mapping Practices

System thinking is usually investigated by using questionnaires, video analysis, or interviews. Recently, concept-mapping (CM) was suggested as an adequate instrument for analysing students' system thinking. However, there are different ways with which to use this method. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether particular features of CM practices affect the valid assessment of students' system thinking. The particular features analysed were the medium (computer versus paper–pencil) and the directedness (highly directed versus nondirected) of CM practices. These features were evaluated with respect to their influence on (a) students' performance in CM and (b) the validity of different CM practices for system thinking. One hundred fifty-four German fourth graders (mean age: 9.95 years) and 93 eighth graders (mean age: 14.07 years) participated in the study following an experimental pre-test–post-test design. Three variations of CM practices were applied: (a) highly directed computer mapping, (b) highly directed paper–pencil mapping, and (c) nondirected paper–pencil mapping. In addition to the CM task, a paper–pencil questionnaire was employed to investigate the validity of the CM practices. Results showed that the computer positively influenced student performance in CM when compared with paper–pencil. By contrast, there was no difference between highly directed and nondirected mapping. Whereas the medium rarely influenced the validity of CM for system thinking, high directedness showed a positive influence. Considering the limitations and benefits of particular CM practices, we suggest highly directed and computer-based CM as an appropriate assessment tool—in particular, with regard to large-scale assessments of system thinking.     

Assessing the Development of Educational Research Literacy: The Effect of Courses on Research Methods in Studies of Educational Science

The ability to purposefully access, reflect, and use evidence from educational research (Educational Research Literacy) is expected of future professionals in educational practice. Based on the presented conceptual framework, a test instrument was developed to assess the different competency aspects: Information Literacy, Statistical Literacy, and Evidence-based Reasoning. This paper addresses the question of whether this test allows monitoring students’ development during courses on research methods in educational science. In winter semester 2013/14, two courses in Early Education and Teacher Training degree programs were accompanied. Both cross-sectional (multidimensional latent regression models) and longitudinal (paired t tests of plausible values) comparisons are reported. The results indicate no significant differences in competencies between the degree programs at start of the semester. For the end of semester, only data of the Early Education course was available. These course participants showed higher proficiency in all aspects of educational research literacy. In conclusion, the results are discussed with regard to the goals of the assessment of competencies in higher education, particularly the use of test feedback for course development, and desiderata for future research (e.g., ability to transfer research into practice) are stated.     

Veränderungen in der gruppenspezifischen Nutzung von ganztägigen Schulangeboten - Längsschnittanalysen für den Primarbereich

Since the launch of the public investment program ‘Future Education and Care’ (IZBB) in 2003 the share of primary school aged children participating in all-day schooling in Germany has more than quadrupled. Against this backdrop, this study analyzes, the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics which are possibly related to a higher probability of attendance. Moreover, it analyzes changes in the composition of students participating in all-day schooling. Has there been rather a convergence or a divergence in the characteristics of participants and non-participants over time? Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and the additional survey “Families in Germany” (FiD), our results show that in West Germany all-day school participants have become more similar according to their socioeconomic characteristics (in particular income), hence supporting the convergence hypothesis. In East Germany our findings also provide evidence for convergence. In contrast to West Germany, however, convergence applies to characteristics related to the household structure. Overall, there is no indication for divergence over time.     

Credibility and Economic Value in the Visual Arts

The paper states that the quality of visual arts cannot be measured objectively. An artist must be credible to the public in order to generate economic value. How is credibility and thus economic value generated on the market? To judge the quality of arts, it takes experts. They form a worldwide network relationship and apply cultural knowledge, a highly specific type of knowledge which requires lifelong learning. Cultural knowledge is only in part of a factual nature and includes subjective elements. Since the public cannot in general ascertain the quality of an artist's oeuvre directly, experts must themselves be credible to the public in order to lend credibility to a given oeuvre. It is shown that the process by which experts generate public credibility for a given oeuvre is path dependent, i.e., may by chance end up at inferior solutions.     

Changing ideas about the periodic table of elements and students' alternative concepts of isotopes and allotropes

The Periodic Table of Elements (PTE) is one of the organizing principles in chemistry. Originally it was a list of elements (as substances). Later, the PTE developed into a list of atoms of the elements. However, isotopes and allotropes are difficult to integrate into the PTE. Therefore, difficulties in understanding these terms can be expected. The investigation set off to study secondary school students' concepts of isotopes and allotropes and how the concepts are linked to the PTE. Three specific research questions were addressed: (a) How do secondary school students describe the relationship between fundamental particles constituting an atom? (b) How do they conceive isotopes? and (c) What are students' concepts of graphite and diamond? Multiple choice items were given to 3074 senior high school students. In addition, six interviews were conducted with senior high school students. The data analysis revealed students' alternative concepts, which distinguished between standard atoms and atoms of isotopes. Standard atoms contain neutrons and protons in equal numbers and are more stable. The atomic masses are expressed as integers. Moreover, students considered graphite and diamond as isotopes. The analysis of the results shows that students actively tried to make sense of what they had experienced. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 40: 257–277, 2003     

The Role of Teachers and Schooling Experiences in Learners’ Adult Life Quality: A Senegalese Case Study

School attended, Qur’anic education attendance, fathers’ occupation, and some aspects of teachers’ classroom actions make a difference for the adult life of the former learners. This paper presents findings from a longitudinal study of the career and life situations of Senegalese individuals who were of school age in the beginning of the 1980s. Data was collected on teacher ratings and predictions of school success as well as absenteeism during the academic year 1980/1981. In a follow up study in 1999/2000 the individuals were 25-32 years old and they were interviewed and tested on a simple life-skills test.     

Experimentation in biology lessons: guided discovery through incremental scaffolds

Experimentation is a complex problem-solving process. In biology lessons, experiments involve creative thinking and open discovery; however, they still require some degree of instructional guidance. The right balance between discovery learning and instructional guidance depends substantially on students’ prior knowledge. Students with low prior knowledge in particular might have difficulties with conducting and understanding experiments. Incremental scaffolds might be a valuable tool to meditate between pure discovery and strong guidance while simultaneously taking learners’ individual knowledge and skills into account. In the current study, we examined the effects of incremental scaffolds (IncSc), no scaffolds (NoSc), and worked-out examples (WoEx) on students’ knowledge acquisition while doing inquiry-based experimentation with a special focus on students with low prior knowledge. In a pre-posttest design, 193 students (M_age?=?13.02?±?0.81 years) participated in a four-hour teaching unit on animals’ overwintering strategies. In the pre- and posttest, we assessed the students’ conceptual and procedural knowledge. Our results partially confirmed our hypotheses: Regarding the conceptual and procedural knowledge of all students, incremental scaffolds showed no additional benefit regarding students’ knowledge in the posttest when compared to working with no scaffolds or worked-out examples. For the students with low prior knowledge, working with incremental scaffolds led to higher conceptual and procedural knowledge after the teaching unit than working with worked-out examples.