Integration of technical vocabulary into peer observation of teaching for Taiwanese elementary school English teachers’ professional learning

This study explored the integration of technical vocabulary into pre-observation conferences and its influence on English teachers’ professional learning and discussion in their post-observation conferences. The conceptual framework based on Harvey [2011. “A Sociocultural-Theory-Based Study of the Impact of Mediation During Post-observation Conferences on Language Teacher Learning.” Unpublished doctoral diss., University of South Florida] and Goe, Biggers, and Croft [2012. Linking Teacher Evaluation to Professional Development: Focusing on Improving Teaching and Learning. Denver, CO: National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality] was used to analyse the questionnaire, audio recordings, and documents collected in seven peer observations of teaching in Taiwan. This study has two major findings. First, English teachers regarded the technical vocabulary as stimuli for their professional learning; however, the range of technical vocabulary used during the post-observation conferences was limited. Second, three major factors affected their use of technical vocabulary. A new model was proposed in order to effectively integrate technical vocabulary into peer observations of teaching for elementary school English teachers’ professional learning.     

Mondrian as kitchen tiles? Artistic and cultural conceptions of art museum visitors in Belgium

This article investigates the ways in which art museums' visitors define their relationships to art and culture, and how this affects their perceptions of art museums. Existing approaches have traditionally attempted to define the meaning of art museums on the basis of the socio-economic composition of museum audiences. Using mixed methods analysis, with a particular stress on qualitative data about the audiences of the six main museums of modern and contemporary art in Belgium, I argue for the need for a more complex and comprehensive framework to understand visitors' perceptions. I show that people characterized by similar cultural tastes and practices use similar strategies to interpret their relationship to culture, art and museums (the same principles of classification, legitimation and justification). On this basis, I argue that those with a similar cultural profile belong to the same “interpretive community” (Fish, 1980; Hooper-Greenhill, 2000).     

Reflective peer coaching: Crafting collaborative self-assessment in teaching

Reflective peer coaching is a formative model for improving teaching and learning by examining intentions prior to teaching, then reflecting upon the experience. The goal of reflective peer coaching is to promote self-assessment and collaboration for better teaching and ultimately better learning. There are obvious benefits to colleagues collaborating and sharing ideas, thoughts, and observations. However, many models of assessing teaching effectiveness focus on summative evaluation in which colleagues observe each other once or twice a year and fill out institutional evaluation forms. Rarely do colleagues engage in formative conversations about teaching that are guided by the instructor's personal goals and objectives. Reflective peer coaching necessitates a ten-minute planning conversation prior to the actual lesson and a ten-minute reflective conversation after the lesson. These conversations happen regularly and frequently to build self-awareness and self-assessment of the personal craft of teaching. The following article outlines the dynamics of the reflective peer coaching process as a formative assessment model that leads to better learning through improved teaching.     

企业家全球竞争压力感知与企业国际化扩张行为的关系研究

从企业家个人认知和心理特质因素对企业国际化重大影响视角,对105家中小企业进行了实证研究,探讨了企业家全球竞争压力感知这一高层管理者的心理和认知特质与企业国际化扩张行为的关系。研究表明,企业家全球竞争压力感知与企业国际化扩张行为具有倒U型关系,国际市场导向对企业家全球竞争压力感知与企业国际化扩张行为的关系具有调节作用。     

军校心理服务工作的重要途径——朋辈心理辅导

朋辈心理辅导具有覆盖面广、简便可行、易于见效、发现问题及时的特点。它的特点和优势能够弥补军校专业心理辅导力量的不足,符合学员多层次的需要,也能够有效地提高军校学员的心理健康水平。为了使朋辈心理辅导更好地服务于军校,必须通过招募、甄选、培训、监督等步骤对朋辈辅导员进行科学规范的选拔与培养。     

Chinese Students in Kennesaw State University Libraries: Their Perceptions and Patterns of Use

With the globalization in education, there has been an influx of Chinese students studying in the United States. The needs and challenges of understanding their backgrounds and their perceptions about libraries are becoming more present and urgent for librarians who are on the frontline of serving this special cohort. To discover and address the growing needs and challenges, we surveyed 42 Chinese students at Kennesaw State University, analyzed the data collected, and discussed the research results. Our goal is to identify the characteristics common to this group and to provide some insightful information to our fellow librarians.     

形成性评价在英文报刊阅读教学中的实践探讨

英文报刊阅读课程主要针对学生的阅读、翻译和语言综合运用能力进行培养.形成性评价运用于英文报刊阅读课程中,可以通过跟踪学习过程有效整合语言知识技能目标、文化目标和人文素养目标三者的达成度评价,这样不仅能够弥补以书面考试为主的终结性评价方式的不足,而且也有利于充分激发和维持学生的英语学习热情,培养学生的自我评价能力,发挥学生学习的主观能动性,培养学生的思辨能力、自主学习能力、自我管理能力和自我约束能力,在获得成就感的同时增强学习英语的自信心.教学实践证明,在英文报刊阅读教学中采用教师观察、自评互评、学习档案、访谈等形成性评价手段,能够充分尊重学生个体差异和学习优势,提升学习效果.与此同时授课教师可以及时发现英文报刊阅读教学中存在的问题,及时改进教学,提升教学效果.     

Disability,Stigma and Otherness: Perspectives of Parents and Teachers

This qualitative study explored the perspectives of parents and teachers in the US with regard to the meaning and implications of disability in the context of schoolling, and of raising a child with a disability. The findings revealed broad conceptual differences in the perspectives of these two groups. Teachers’ beliefs were generally consistent with medical model perspectives on disability as biologically defined. Parents’ interpretations, more aligned with a sociocultural paradigm, were situated in the cultural meanings ascribed to disability and linked with issues of stigma, marginalisation and access. The findings also revealed the existence of master narratives on families of children with disabilities, entrenched in assumptions of pathological functioning and negative outcomes among these families. Implications for professional–family partnerships in the education of students with disabilities are discussed.     

The bilateral benefits of providing and receiving peer feedback in academic writing across varying L2 proficiency

Although the effectiveness of peer review has been examined, few have tested the joint benefits of providing and receiving feedback features and quality in L2 contexts. The present study investigated variation in key features and quality of feedback provided and received by high and low L2 proficiency students and its benefits on revision in the authentic setting of students experiencing both roles of providing and receiving peer feedback in English academic writing. Analyses on two drafts from 50 students, 1356 idea units of anonymous implementable peer feedback and back-evaluation ratings revealed that the combined effect of providing and receiving feedback on revision was prominent for all students. But the bilateral benefits of providing and receiving feedback features were more significant for high proficiency students, while providing feedback features and quality benefited low proficiency students more. The study implies that students need more bilateral training with both providing and receiving feedback.