Influences on the struggle over content: considering two fine art studio practice curricula in developing/ed contexts

This paper considers the influences of curricula content on the nuances of teaching and learning practices, and the ways in such influences are complicated by the contexts within which they are situated. Generated data from within the particularity of two fine art schools, one operating from the developed world in the global ‘north’ and another the developing world in the ‘south’, considers how they have negotiated the contemporary push from the professional community of practice, led by ‘western’ artmaking, towards the discourse-interest of contextualism in fine art practice education, compared to the focus on skills and mastery of more out-dated formalism. Particular emphasis is placed on the significance of such influences and pressures on the structures and cultures of teaching and learning.     

基于教师评定的留守儿童学校适应特点

采用学生学校适应教师评定量表对650名留守儿童和698名非留守儿童进行研究,发现：留守儿童学校适应的总体水平极其显著低于非留守儿童,在适应良好的学生中,留守儿童显著少于非留守儿童;留守儿童积极完成学校任务、人际自表与交往信心显著低于非留守儿童,而学习中的消极行为、学校问题行。为以及不良社交问题显著多于非留守儿童;不同性别、学段、学习成绩留守儿童学校适应差异性显著,监护的不同对学校适应影响不明显;留守儿童中,男生、初中生、学业成绩不良学生应得到更多的关注和引导。     

诊断性语言测评视角下大学英语写作课堂教学改革模式探究

测评是写作课堂实施过程中的一个必要环节,通过定期“诊断性”的语言测评,教师能够及时了解学生对知识点的掌握和运用情况,发现他们在写作中遇到的问题,并及时给出针对性的指导意见,真正做到答疑解惑。在诊断性语言测评视角下探索写作教学新模式,结合网络平台实现大规模、高频率的写作目标任务,“诊断”学生阶段性的写作现状,实现评教衔接、以评促教、以评促学,从而达到更好的教学效果和学习效果,真正培养学生的写作能力。     

What Is Measured Is Treasured: The Impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on Nonassessed Subjects

In this article, the author reports the results of a national survey taken by state assessment directors on the impact of No Child Left Behind on nonassessed subjects between the years 2001-5. Results indicate that during this time, statewide assessment of science and writing increased whereas it decreased in the social studies, arts and humanities, listening, and technology and computers. Four themes emerged when survey takers queried participants about the impact of No Child Left Behind on nonassessed subject areas. First, reduction of resources and time for nontested subject areas was evident. Second, curriculum integration of nontested subject areas into the tested subjects increased. Third, alignment of curriculum and assessment with state standards increased. Fourth, several state assessment directors relayed they observed no impact.     

Grading as a Reform Effort: Do Standards‐Based Grades Converge With Test Scores?

Standards‐based progress reports (SBPRs) require teachers to grade students using the performance levels reported by state tests and are an increasingly popular report card format. They may help to increase teacher familiarity with state standards, encourage teachers to exclude nonacademic factors from grades, and/or improve communication with parents. The current study examines the SBPR grade–state test score correspondence observed across 2 years in 125 third and fifth grade classrooms located in one school district to examine the degree of consistency between grades and state test results. It also examines the grading practices of a subset of 37 teachers to determine whether there is an association between teacher appraisal style and convergence rates. A moderate degree of grade–test score convergence was observed using three agreement estimates (coefficient kappa, tau‐b correlations, and classroom‐level mean differences between grades and test scores). In addition, only small amounts of grade–test score convergence were observed between teachers; a much greater proportion of variance lay within classrooms and subjects. Appraisal style correlated weakly with convergence rates, but was most strongly related to assigning students to the same performance level as the test. Therefore using recommended grading practices may improve the quality of SBPR grades to some extent.     

Obtaining Diagnostic Classification Model Estimates Using Mplus

Diagnostic classification models (aka cognitive or skills diagnosis models) have shown great promise for evaluating mastery on a multidimensional profile of skills as assessed through examinee responses, but continued development and application of these models has been hindered by a lack of readily available software. In this article we demonstrate how diagnostic classification models may be estimated as confirmatory latent class models using Mplus, thus bridging the gap between the technical presentation of these models and their practical use for assessment in research and applied settings. Using a sample English test of three grammatical skills, we describe how diagnostic classification models can be phrased as latent class models within Mplus and how to obtain the syntax and output needed for estimation and interpretation of the model parameters. We also have written a freely available SAS program that can be used to automatically generate the Mplus syntax. We hope this work will ultimately result in greater access to diagnostic classification models throughout the testing community, from researchers to practitioners.     

Digital Portfolios

Abstract

Educators are faced with developing performance indicators for reporting to state and national agencies on pre-service teacher candidates' ability to teach using innovative pedagogy as well as content-specific standards. Portfolio assessment has gained momentum as a standard in assessing student-learning outcomes. This paper is a discussion of digital portfolio development as a stimulus to the intellectual involvement of the learner (a Type II application). Digital portfolio development is an activity that naturally involves intellectual involvement as the learner identifies the problem (developing the digital portfolio) and then problem solves as he or she creates the digital portfolio. Each student is in control of portfolio development and manipulates the Web-based software to create the professional portfolio.     

The Impact of Assessing Technology Competencies of Incoming Teacher Education Students

In an effort to establish a baseline of technology competency among our entering education students, our College of Education began implementing the Assessment of Technology Competencies (ATC) in Fall 2003. This performance-based assessment evaluates word-processing, presentation, spreadsheet, graphic/drawing, and Internet skills. Although students are not required to pass the ATC, failure impacts their final grade in an Introduction to Education course. This paper explores the impact this assessment has had on the students' use and development of technology in subsequent courses. Student perceptions of the ATC and its impact were elicited through a self-reported survey administered in a junior-level education course. Results indicate that the ATC has facilitated technology use among the participants. Respondents also revealed that their high school experiences with technology adequately prepared them for passing the ATC, despite the fact that most students are unable to pass the ATC in the first attempt.     

Curriculum and assessment for the knowledge society: interrogating experiences in the Republic of Ireland and Queensland,Australia

The ‘knowledge society’ has become a central discourse within educational reform. This article posits that the impact of the knowledge society discourse on curriculum and assessment has led to the emergence of what the authors term a new-form/re-form curriculum, and it asks whether what is transacting in contemporary movements in curriculum is less the reform of curriculum and more the emergence of a new-form/re-form curriculum. What is emerging is well beyond the discussions of outcomes and curriculum alignment that characterised much curriculum reform effort in the late 1990s. In this new-form/re-form curriculum ‘content’ is displaced by ‘skills’ and ‘knowledge acquisition’ by ‘learning’. Curriculum coverage is replaced by learner engagement. In this context, assessment also begins to take on new-form/re-form. Assessment now engages and promotes learning as process rather than as product. Two cases – the Republic of Ireland and Queensland, Australia – are analysed and compared to illustrate this shift in the conceptualisation of curriculum and assessment. Consideration is given to the possibility that this new-form/re-form curriculum represents a settlement in the contestation associated with learning outcomes and their perceived technical rationality and market focus. The paper concludes that the new-form/re-form curriculum is emerging in locations as diverse as Ireland and Queensland.     

法律上等位利益冲突的刑法评判

刑法上的等位利益冲突是在具体情形下予以评价的。包括作为义务冲突、不作为义务冲突及作为义务与不作为义务冲突三种情况。等位利益冲突在下述三种情况下是不违法的：（1）为了自己利益。不主动剥夺他人的机会,以此来提高自己的获救机会,同时行为人对他人并无特殊义务;（2）在不可能救助全部等位利益的情况下,救助了尽可能多的利益;（3）如果为了救助家庭成员而未考虑其他的救助义务,行为人为保全自己生命而转移危险,并且受威胁的家庭成员没有基于自由意思自找危险。