From social interaction to individual reasoning: an empirical investigation of a possible socio-cultural model of cognitive development

This study explores the theory that individual reasoning ability, as measured using standard reasoning tests, has part of its origin in dialogue with others. In the study, 64 eight- and nine-year-old children were taught the use of ‘exploratory talk’, a type of talk in which joint reasoning is made explicit. The relationship between the talk of the children and the solving of Raven's test problems was studied using discourse analysis of groups working together. The findings of the study support four claims: that use of exploratory talk can improve group reasoning, that exploratory talk can be taught, that the teaching of exploratory talk can successfully transfer between educational contexts and that individual results on a standard non-verbal reasoning test significantly improved as a result of the intervention teaching exploratory talk. Our results offer support for the hypothesis that experience of social reasoning can improve scores on measures of individual reasoning. The stronger hypothesis that general cognitive development is a product of induction into social reasoning remains in doubt.     

The Ocular Communicator: A Device to Enable Persons with Severe Physical Disabilities to Communicate Using Eye Movements

This report describes the Ocular Communicator(OC) and its use with a person who is severely physically disabled. The device is designed for persons who have minimal motor function and employs eye movements for the operation of a printer or computer keyboard.     

Knowledge development in adult learning groups

Adult learning groups have often been studied in terms of the inter‐personal relations and problems which they generate. But how do adults develop, and build on, a shared understanding in such groups ‐ which is, after all, their main purpose ‐ and how can tutors best facilitate these processes? Neil Mercer, of the Open University's School of Education, and Derek Edwards, of Loughborough University's Social Sciences Department, address these questions here by applying research methods developed in schools. A tutor group at a recent Open University summer school is analysed as an example, but the implications of the study are more general.     

Early Journals and Their Influences on the Development of Gerontology

This examination of early gerontology journals identifies the multidisciplinary backgrounds of contributors, methods of investigation, nascent theory development, and formative themes and controversies. Through use of content, thematic, and critical analyses of second year issues of The Gerontologist, Educational Gerontology, Research on Aging, Journal of Applied Gerontology, and Canadian Journal on Aging, this study highlights the influence of these journals on the formation of the discipline of gerontology. The analyses indicate that education and awareness of ageism, policy planning to address changing demographic patterns, cultural diversity, and disciplinary development were key themes in these early publications. The study also reveals that researchers and scholars in the social sciences and health sciences established the foundations of the discipline. Controversies were evident in various debates about knowledge formation and dissemination. The early journals further included diverse perspectives, theories, research methods, directions, and critiques of issues of age, aging, and the aged.     

Higher education leadership in Russia: a case study of mid-level academic management at an elite State university

This paper analyzes the Head of Department (HoD) role at an elite State university in Russia. It draws upon documentary analysis of government texts and focus groups with both HoDs and lecturers. It concludes that most HoDs are invited to apply for the role by more senior university colleagues. Once in post, they are offered a range of helpful courses, but also learn from experience and by observing others. The primary purpose of the role is seen as clarifying and interpreting central university expectations, though there is scope for influencing the departmental vision. Whilst the role is very time-consuming, it does not seem to generate the kind of managerialist ‘values' conflict reported elsewhere. The paper ends with a tentative framework for explaining how certain contextual factors (motivation, mode of appointment, perceived level of surveillance and previous experience of higher and/or lower levels of centralized control) might increase or decrease ‘values' conflict.     

An Architecture for Case-based Learning

We report on the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a case-based instructional environment designed for learning network engineering skills for cybersecurity. We describe the societal problem addressed, the theory-based solution, and the preliminary testing and evaluation of that solution. We identify an architecture for scaffolding case-based learning for problem-solving to inform design of case-based learning environments.     

试论知识迁移的广义相似说与体育教学

综合各家迁移理论,应用广义相似原理在教材的选编、教法的选择和练习的设计等方面实现"为迁移而教"的 目的。展望未来,广义相似说在体育教学中的应用具有积极的意义。本文就广义相似说在教材的选编、教法的选择和练 习的设计中的应用作一尝试研究。