Reconceptualising professionalism in early childhood education: insights from a study carried out in Bologna

This paper explores the issue of early childhood professionalism from a socio-cultural perspective. In particular the article is concerned with how pre-school teachers conceptualise their professionalism by making sense of the work they carry out on an everyday basis in early childhood institutions. In analysing teachers’ perceptions special attention has been paid to the socio-political and historical conditions that have contributed to shaping them. Drawing on a recent empirical study conducted within Bologna province (Italy), contemporary issues in early childhood professionalism are analysed and insights for a possible re-conceptualisation are offered through a critical interpretation of teachers’ perspectives. The findings discussed in the article highlight how a complex conceptualisation of professionalism, building upon continuous learning in relational contexts, is currently challenged by recent neo-liberal influences. In facing these challenges a crucial role will be played by teachers’ collaborative practices in the workplace that, if reclaimed as a space for collective decision-making, could potentially become an arena for rethinking teachers’ professional development in dialogue with local communities.     

Wildly wise in the terrible moment: Kant,Emerson, and improvisatory Bildung in early childhood education

Abstract

This paper aims to show how Emerson provides a reworking of Kantian understandings of moral education in young children’s Bildung. The article begins and ends by thinking of Emersonian self-cultivation as a form of improvisatory or wild Bildung. It explores the role of Bildung and self-cultivation in preschools through a philosophy that accounts for children’s ‘Wild wisdom’ by letting Emerson speak to Kant. The paper argues that Kant’s vision of Bildung essentially involves reason’s turn upon itself and that Emerson, particularly in how he is taken up by Cavell, shows that such a turn is already present in the processes of children inheriting, learning, and improvising with language. This improvisatory outlook on moral education is contrasted with common goals of moral education prescribed in early childhood education where the Swedish Curriculum for the Preschool Lpfö 98 is used as an example.     

The Literacy Early Action Project (LEAP): exploring factors underpinning progress with literacy for a child in his first year of school

In this article, Anthony Feiler, senior lecturer in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Bristol, and Elaine Logan, lecturer in early years education at the City of Bristol College, present a case study of a child who made strong progress with literacy during his first year at school. The child and his family participated in the Literacy Early Action Project (LEAP), a home-visiting scheme for children judged by school staff to be at risk of struggling with literacy. A teaching assistant made weekly home visits during the year and developed literacy support activities with the child's mother and grandparents. Five key factors underpinning the child's progress are identified here: the flexibility in the teaching assistant's approach that enabled extended family members to become engaged in literacy support; the teaching assistant's sensitivity to family culture; the playful approach to learning adopted by the teaching assistant; putting the child at the centre of the intervention; and the existence of a school culture that strongly promoted involvement for parents. Anthony Feiler and Elaine Logan conclude that teaching assistants in the UK might be given more scope to develop support strategies for early childhood education that involve collaborative work with parents.     

世界体操冠军程菲少儿时期训练特点

程菲已成为闻名世界的优秀体操运动员,她在武汉体育学院从事过两年多的初中级体操训练。实践证明,重视思想教育,关心队员学习与生活,扎实抓好全面的、基础的训练内容是培养优秀体操运动员的成功之路。程菲少儿时期的训练特点可为少儿体操运动员的基础训练提供有益的启示。     

基于现金流的财务危机预警

本文主要从现金流的角度出发,以财务危机为研究对象,主要研究企业财务危机的防范和预警问题。本文分析了企业发生财务危机时现金流的反映,探讨了如何准确把握现金流相关指标来进行财务预警,并针对现金流的管理提出了一些建议。     

Experimental evaluation of the effects of cooperative learning on kindergarten children's mathematics ability

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of cooperative learning on the mathematics ability and cooperative social behaviours of kindergarten children and to evaluate teachers’ perspectives on the application of the program. One control (n = 17) and one experimental group (n = 17) were studied. In the experimental group, a curriculum based on cooperative learning method activities was used. Significant improvements in mathematics abilities were found for children in the experimental group that utilised cooperative learning.     

贵阳花溪地区早三叠世碳、氧同位素特征及其古环境意义

对取自贵阳花溪地区改毛剖面上二叠统一下三叠统碳酸盐岩样品进行碳、氧同位素测定,利用所测数据建立相应的演化曲线.根据曲线变化情况,结合地质背景与岩性,着重探讨碳同位素变化的环境原因,并对研究区该时期古环境进行分析解释.研究表明,早三叠世初期,该地区海洋生态环境遭到严重破坏,但在Griesbachian早期有一次短暂恢复,而后又进入长期低迷的缺氧环境直到Smithian中期.     

高科技企业人才流失预警机制研究

以风险信息采集—风险预警指标库构建—风险评估—预警警报发布为逻辑思路阐述高科技企业人才流失风险预警模式。根据对人才流失风险的识别,从个体、组织、环境3个方面构建高科技企业人才流失风险预警指标体系,并利用层次分析法和熵权法对风险指标进行评估。最后,根据BP神经网络原理确定高科技企业人才流失风险预警模型,设计预警模型的构建步骤,进一步对风险等级及临界值进行设计和界定。     

幼儿园语言教育中网络资源的利用

幼儿园语言教育在学前教育中占据着重要的地位,对其他教育产生深远的影响。随着信息技术的发展,网络资源的开发和利用对新的教学改革起到一定的推动作用。网络资源丰富了语言教学的教学内容和教学手段,也减轻了教师的负担,充分弥补了传统语言教学的缺陷。但是,由于网络资源丰富多样,如何对网络资源进行筛选,利用网络资源实施有效的语言教育活动成为目前迫切需要解决的问题。     

Playful fostering of 6- to 8-year-old students’ inductive reasoning

This paper focuses on a training program in inductive reasoning for first-grade students and presents the direct results as well as the longitudinal effects of the evaluation study. The training is based on Klauer's theory of inductive reasoning and on his “Cognitive training for children” concept (Klauer, 1989a). The training program consists of 120 problems which can be solved through inductive reasoning. The tools for the training exercises were selected to correspond with the age of the targeted cohort. The experimental group in the study consisted of 90 students, whereas the control group was made up of 162. An inductive reasoning test was used in the pre- and posttest as well as in the follow-up study (one year later). The test comprised 33 figural, non-verbal items (Cronbach α = .86). On the posttest, the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group by more than one standard deviation. The experimental group scored significantly higher in each skill area targeted by the training. The most noticeable development was found in system formation. No gender differences were detected on the pre- or the posttest. The effect size of the training program was d = 1.12. In the follow-up study, the experimental group still significantly outperformed the control group; however, their respective levels of development had not changed in this one-year period. Thus, the training effect proved to be stable over time independent of individual students’ original level of inductive reasoning. This study provided evidence that inductive reasoning could be developed very effectively at this early age.