Behavior management in cognitive early education

Even though behavior management is a very high priority of teachers of young children, systems of behavior management receive less attention than do methods of teaching academic content. Even when there are well developed sytems of behavior management, they do not necessarily reflect the same philosophy and methods of teaching that are used to teach content. The authors report on “cognitive-mediational behavior management”, a system designed to be consistent with a cognitive early education program, the Cognitive Curriculum for Young Children. In both behavior management and all their other teaching, teachers use in this program a mediational teaching style. Teachers emphasize thinking processes rather than correct answers, take a problem-solving approach to learning, help children to acquire generalizable strategies of thinking and problem-solving rather than using trial-and-error learning, are optimistic about children’s abilities to learn, and facilitate children’s acquisition of fundamental thinking modes. This system is seen as basically incompatible with a behaviorist, contingent reinforcement system. Behavior sequences are suggested for working with unacceptable behavior so as to produce both behavior change and cognitive change.     

THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF ORAL EXAMINATIONS IN ASSESSING COGNITIVE SKILLS IN MEDICINE1

In order to attempt to assess aspects of clinical competence, not adequately assessed by other means, the Center for the Study of Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine together with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery developed oral examinations in formats specifically designed to yield information on high level cognitive functioning. The examinations were administered to 784 candidates for certification in January 1968. Reliability of the oral problem-solving component score pooled from four examiners was approximately .50. Assessment of content, construct, and concurrent validity made by questionnaire and factor analytic studies indicated that the oral tests identified factors not measured by multiple-choice tests and, therefore, significantly improved the relationship between supervisory evaluations and test scores.     

Toward cultural competency in diagnosis

Most counselors recognize the importance ofcultural competence in their work. As part ofeffective treatment, skills in accuratelydiagnosing clients from diverse backgrounds areessential, yet specific techniques addressingcultural differences to aid in the diagnosisprocess are underrepresented in the counselingliterature. The purpose of this article is tooffer one step toward the development ofdiagnostic methods suitable for an increasinglydiverse client base. The importance ofcultural competency during the diagnostic phaseof counseling is discussed, the nature ofculture and its influence on diagnosis isreviewed, and a practical conceptual frameworkthat can assist counselors in makingsystematic, culturally sensitive diagnosis ispresented.     

Combining issues of “girl-suited” science teaching,STS and constructivism in a physics textbook

This paper outlines the design of a physics textbook that addresses issues of gender-inclusive physics teaching, STS and constructivism. Difficulties of addressing these issues in a textbook for normal classes, which has to compete with other textbooks on the market will be discussed. Specializations: constructivist approaches in science education research and practice. Specializations: gender issues in science instruction. Specializations: primary education, integrated science. Specializations: STS, phenomenological oriented physics instruction. Specializations: peace education within science education.     

Developing Research Skills for Civil Engineers: A Library Contribution

A cowse‐integrated programme of library instruction has been developed for the School of Civil Engineering at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia; library instruction being one of the means selected to improve the research efforts of fourth year project students. The programme has been developed through consultation between the Civil Engineering Research Project Coordinator and the Civil Engineering Reference Librarian. Its aims are derived from those established for the fourth year research projects. Attention is focussed on the nature of the programme and the impact of instruction on fourth year research project students. Students who had received extended library instruction were compared with students from the previous year. Evidence suggests that the instruction has improved the information seeking behaviour of the students and their literature reviews.     

Ideologies of adventure: authority and decision making in sail training

Case studies of the contemporary UK sail training movement are used to illustrate the competing expressions of purpose in this field. Two sail training organisations are described and a case study voyage under the aegis of each is presented. The differences between the approaches are analysed as “traditions” or ideologies, articulated through distinctive interpretations of power and contrasting approaches to participation in decision making. It is argued that choices regarding the type of vessel used and the voyages made are not neutral technical decisions but have ideological significance. In conclusion the application of such an analysis to other kinds of outdoor and adventure education is considered.     

In vitro study on ribozyme against hepatitis C virus

Objective: To determine the effective nucleotide sites of ribozymes against HCV, and obtain a highly effective, nontoxic and inexpensive antisense ribozyme specific for HCV. Methods: Two effective ribozymes, targeted to HCV 5’NC region and C region, were designed and synthesized. Eukaryotic expression vectors, pSV2-gpt. CD-SR (, containing either HCRZNC or HCRZC were constructued and transfected into MT-2 cells, which had been infected by HCV. Quantitative PCR and hydridization were used to determine the effect of inhibition of HCV by ribozymes. Results: HCRZNC and HCRZC suppressed the replication of HCV by 54.7% and 62.1%, respectively. Furthermore, when both ribozymes were cotransfected into cells, they suppressed replication by 78.8%. Conclusion: Two specific antisense ribozymes have strong inhibitory effects on the replication of HCV in cultured cells, and have better effect when used together.