Social relations as predictors of achievement in math in Kenyan primary schools

In sub-Saharan Africa, where there is limited financial and human capital, it is important to examine how social relationships may serve to promote or undermine human capital formation. However, little is known about the contributions of social relations to human capital development, especially in terms of academic achievement in Africa. This study examined how variations in key aspects of social relations among teachers; between teachers and students; between principals, teachers, parents and students affect achievement in mathematics among sixth graders in 70 schools in six districts in Kenya. We modeled mathematics achievement as a function of measures of social perception and support while adjusting for school-, classroom- and student level background characteristics. We found that net of teacher subject knowledge and background characteristics, teachers who display commitment to teaching by always correcting homework and keeping students engaged during math lessons had their students performing better. Teacher absenteeism and lack of interest in teaching were negatively associated with performance in math. Lack of parental involvement in the classroom also had negative effects on grades. At the school level, the level of engagement of the principal, measured by supervision of teachers and good interpersonal interactions with parents had positive effects on math achievement. Schools where parents provided material and financial support had better grades, while student delinquency and absenteeism negatively affected grades.     

Teachers' perspectives of changes in their practice during a technology in mathematics education research project

Teachers' perception of changes to their teaching practice, with respect to digital technology use in secondary school mathematics, during their participation in a research project are reported. Two case studies are presented of teacher perspectives illustrative of the range of perceived changes teachers made to their practice and positions along the ‘path of change’ during their participation in the project. Participating in a project supportive of teacher change and resulting in perception of substantial change was necessary, but not sufficient, to meet the goal of transformative use of digital technologies to increase the level of cognitive demand experienced by students.     

“为人师表”的合理范畴论析

为人师表是教师职业道德的基本要求。教师为人师表,应该有具体的时空范畴和行为范畴,而不应当把它泛化到教师的所有行为和一切时空环境。这既是对作为教师的人的尊重,也是教师专业化建设中不可忽视的“技术”问题。     

任务型教学背景下的外语师资教育

我国新的英语课程标准倡导任务型语言教学途径,给广大外语教师提出了更高的要求。因此,任务型教学中外语师资教育也变得越来越重要。文章着重探讨了任务型教学对外语教师的要求及在此背景下外语师资的培养策略,包括任务型教学理论知识的学习,开展任务型教学反思,组织或参加任务型教学专题研讨会等。     

高校大合并的历史观照

高校大合并已基本结束,有关的理论探讨也已冷却。但这并不意味着有关的理论思考已失去价值。相反,当“尘埃落定”之后,也许更能发现隐藏在改革背后的更深层的东西。笔者认为,此次高校大合并是中国高等教育激进改革的产物,同时认为在中国高等教育从外烁到内生的过程中,采用激进改革的方式往往是弊大于利的。     

Teachers in school sports: between the fields of education and sport?

According to the cultural sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, gaining access to a social space or a position within a social space requires a specific capital. For teachers, this is normally indicated by a valid teaching certificate with relevant subject knowledge. However, when no qualified teachers are available, which is the case for the subject of school sports in Sweden, other assets gain recognition. Drawing on Bourdieu's conceptual framework, this paper examined the conditions for school sports in Sweden, and based on questionnaires answered by 109 teachers, explored the competencies, education and backgrounds teachers in upper secondary school sports possess. The paper address the question: what valuable resources are required to become a teacher of school sports and gain recognition as symbolic capital? The results show that while school sports in Sweden are carried out through a school subject and thus regulated by the government, it is influenced by both the fields of education and sport. Furthermore, the questionnaire results show that a majority of the teachers are employed as coaches instead of teachers and that less than half of them (45%) have a teacher education background, while 95% have a coaching education background. However, the results also show that teachers assessed their competencies for teaching school sports as high, especially with regard to competencies in specific sport skills. In conclusion, this paper shows how coaching education and experience in competitive sports are an important resource required to become a teacher in school sports and is thus recognized as symbolic capital. Therefore, school sports cannot be viewed as a legitimate part of the field of education but can be viewed as a part of the field of sport.     

心理学视域下校园欺凌的形成机理及对策

校园欺凌是国内外中小学中普遍存在的现象,从心理学角度考察其成因、探索相应干预措施有着重要意义。有关欺凌事件直接参与者的研究表明:部分欺凌者存在一定程度的反社会行为或认知特征,欺凌行为也是青春期个体获取、维护社会支配地位的一种手段;某些"另类"特征、情绪和社会交往问题会让儿童青少年成为易受欺凌的对象;欺凌和受欺凌都可能导致个体情绪、行为等方面的适应障碍,其不良影响甚至会延续相当长的时间;欺凌-受欺凌者是最不稳定的一类角色,兼具欺凌者与受欺凌者两者的缺点,适应状况通常最差。班级内的同伴生态、旁观者的行为和朋友关系都会影响欺凌事件的发生几率及所导致的后果。某些家庭和父母特征也是与欺凌行为联系密切的危险性或保护性因素。积极的师生关系有助于减少欺凌事件的发生,也能对其后果起到缓冲作用。但缺乏培训的父母和教师,通常无法及时准确地识别欺凌事件并做出有效应对。当前教育实践中,可以有效防控校园欺凌的措施大致可以划分为两类;一是面向特定相关群体的单水平干预,二是要求学生、家长、教职员工等都要参与其中的多水平干预。