An examination of the cohesion‐performance relationship in university hockey teams

The objective of this study was to assess, using the Group Environment Questionnaire, whether team cohesion in university‐level field hockey was a cause for, or an effect of, successful performance. A quasi‐experimental longitudinal design with cross‐lagged correlational analysis was adopted and measures of cohesion and performance were taken midway and later in the season. The results of the synchronous correlations showed a positive relationship (with good stationarity) between team cohesion and performance outcome. Although nonsignificant cross‐lagged differentials indicated a circular relationship, the magnitudes of both the cross‐lagged correlations and the partial correlations, together with multiple‐regression analyses, revealed that the stronger flow was from cohesion to performance. The socially oriented aspects of cohesion, in particular, had significant associations with performance. The results imply that cohesion‐performance relationships should be examined within a circular model, in which cohesion and performance are interdependent.     

The 'Whole Child' in Education

The notion that we should educate the whole child is a familiar one. This paper begins with a cautionary liberal view of the notion and considers the extent to which this caution is justified in education. It does so by extending the possible meaning of 'wholeness' as this applies to the child to include not only the senses of integration and coherence but also continuity and adequacy as well. With reference to four positions on how children should be treated and educated, these additional senses are advanced in order to show that 'educating the whole child' can indeed be justified.     

黑骏马

黑骏马受过良好的训练。他知道他永不能踢、咬或是逃跑,永远都得服从命令。不管多累多饿。他总是举止得体,但是当从一个主人被卖到另一个主人以后,他懂得了一匹马的悲哀。懂得了某些人是多么愚蠢与冷酷……     

Innovations at the boundary: an exploratory case study of a New Zealand school-university partnership in initial teacher education

21st century initial teacher education [ITE] requires teachers and teacher educators to work together in the design and delivery of innovative learning experiences for student teachers. This study investigates a partnership that enabled the co-construction of one core course within a graduate ITE programme in New Zealand. Our partnership aimed to help student teachers to make links between theory taught at the university, and day-to-day practices in classroom settings. Using case study methodology, data were generated from participants in three primary/intermediate schools and one university to identify strategies that supported their collaborative process. Seven affordances were identified to facilitate this school-university collaboration, which enabled the development of a learning community wherein professional values and expertise were made visible, power was shared, and relational trust and respect grew. The findings offer insights for teacher educators and teachers seeking to open up a boundary space between universities and schools within which they might co-design and deliver an ITE course.