Automatic spelling correction using a trigram similarity measure

A nearest neighbour search procedure is described for the automatic correction of misspellings. The procedure involves the replacement of a misspelt word by that word in a dictionary which best matches the misspelling, the degree of match being calculated using a similarity coefficient based on the number of trigrams common to the two words. Experiments with a collection of 1544 misspellings and a dictionary of 64,636 words suggest that the procedure results in the unique identification of the correct spelling for over 75% of the misspellings if the correct form of the word is in the dictionary, and that this figure may be increased to over 90% if near, rather than nearest, neighbours are acceptable.     

The cross-cultural transfer of educational technology: A myth

This paper argues that technologies can never be transferred from one culture to another. The implementation by Costa Rica of the Open University system of technologies developed in England is used as a case in point. The paper focuses on the non-applicability of using the term “transfer” with its attendant connotations, to signify the implementation of similar technologies in different cultures; differentiates between system specific and culture specific problems in the process of this implementation: and discusses the interaction of three cultures in the process of “transferring” a system of technologies from one of these cultures to another. The Open University system of technologies is described as it exists in England and the system specific problems of these technologies are delimited. The system of technologies is then “transferred” to Costa Rica and the culture specific problems discussed as seen by two evaluators from yet a third culture (the United States). The expectations of individuals from all three cultures (English, Costa Rican and U.S.) are raised in tight of these culture specific problems.     

Stimulus change and complexity in exploratory behavior

It has recently been proposed (Fowler, 1967, 1971) that the incentive value of novelty can be defined in terms of stimulus change. An experiment is reported which examines the relationship between changes in complexity and the consequent exploratory behavior. Following extended exposure to a midcomplexity stimulus, rats were allowed to choose between a stimulus change and the now familiar midcomplexity stimulus. For some Ss the change was to a stimulus of higher complexity, and for others the change was to a lower complexity stimulus. The results suggest that physical stimulus changes to a stimulus of greater complexity is a more effective novel stimulus than physical stimulus changes to lesser complexity, although both changes may function as incentives.     

Beyond the Rhetoric: A framework for evaluating improvements to the student experience

A framework is described to assist institutions in evaluating the extent to which activities described as “quality improvements” or “quality enhancements” are likely to directly improve the student experience. The framework classifies ways of improving the student experience into “coaching improvements”, “umpiring improvements”, and “facilities improvements”, while also considering the location of improvements along a “risk avoidance—quality assurance—quality enhancement” continuum. The utility of this framework is explored through case studies of sector‐wide initiatives in Scotland and Australia. If used to stimulate internal discussion, the framework can help institutions to better balance their efforts to improve the student experience.     

Disabilities and inclusive practices within Toronto preschools

A current objective in Canada is a provision of childcare services for all children. This objective has not been achieved as many children, especially those with disabilities, are often denied services from publicly funded daycare centres. The authors argue that policy discussions framed from an inclusive perspective provide a better understanding of how the Ontario child care system should function to ensure daycare services for children of disabilities. They interviewed the directors of 354 licensed preschools in Toronto about the inclusion of children with disabilities into their centres. Analysis revealed that only 2.4% of the students in these centres were identified as having a disability; the two most frequently identified disabilities were Autism Spectrum Disorders and speech and language disorders. The majority of directors stated that they would turn away a child because of a disability. The centres that were most inclusive had service providers come into the centre, but very few (17%) of these centres had resource teachers as support. The analysis further indicates a large number of centres that currently are not identified as capable of providing special need services and are not directly operated by the Ministry of Education. With staff development and funding, these centres have the potential to provide services to children of disabilities.     

Managing students with ADHD in out‐of‐class settings

Many students with Attention‐Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) present with behavioral problems that are particularly evident in out‐of‐class settings (in the lunch room, on the playground, during field trips and special assemblies, etc). Barkley's (1997 Barkley, R. A. 1997. Defiant children: A clinician's manual for parent training. 2nd ed., New York: Guilford Press.  [Google Scholar]) technique has been known to help parents handle ADHD children's behaviors in out‐of‐home situations, and so its effectiveness to reduce problems in out‐of‐class settings was investigated with 65 teachers of male students previously diagnosed with ADHD. ANOVA revealed that Barkley's technique was effective in reducing the students' behavioral problems in out‐of‐class settings. This technique is easy to administer and school psychologists will likely find it useful in assisting teachers to handle ADHD students' behavioral problems.     

Role of Schemas in One-Step Word Problems

This study focuses on the structures and relationships involved in one-step additive and multiplicative problems. Thirty-three problems were given to 450 students in grades 2, 3 and 4. The analysis of results showed that the facility ratio of the problems differs by structure, by situation and by the sequence of the data within the same situation. It was also verified that students’ ability to solve one-step problems increases with age, but the relative difficulty of the problems is grade independent. Four cognitive developmental levels were indicated. It is envisaged that teachers may facilitate students to develop efficient problem solving schema networks, by hierarchically sequencing activities related to one-step problems.