The place of content and pedagogy in shaping sustainability learning outcomes in higher education

This research investigates the ways in which undergraduate courses dealing with the environment address sustainable development (SD), and contribute to the development of sustainability learning outcomes (SLO). The participants in the study were 13 instructors, and 360 students who were enrolled in 13 courses that addressed the environment in a technical university. Mixed methods were used for data collection and analysis. We found that courses that address the environment are varied in the way that they address sustainable development, and in the pedagogy they use. We also found links between teaching methods and the pattern of reported SLOs: skills development was promoted mainly in courses with a high degree of participatory learning; changes in awareness and attitudes were reported mainly in courses that addressed sustainable development, and motivation to promote sustainable development was reported mainly in courses that addressed sustainable development and also provided opportunities for active and participatory learning. The implications of our research are discussed.     

Teaching for developmental growth: learning partnerships and student development in graduate education in China

Teaching and learning in higher education can integrate and accomplish student developmental goals in addition to promoting student learning of subject matter knowledge and transferrable skills. Drawn from the theoretical concept of self-authorship, the Learning Partnerships Model was implemented in teaching a graduate-level course on social research methodology. This paper describes the conceptualization and implementation of the developmentally attuned course, and reports a qualitative study that examined student development as its result. Qualitative data were collected from five cohorts of course participants, in the forms of reflective essays, student interviews, and the instructor’s teaching journal. Seven themes were identified that reflected student development throughout the course. The seven themes fall into three dimensions of epistemological, intrapersonal, and interpersonal development that are interconnected, and the epistemological dimension stands out as a strong partner among the three. These findings may help university faculty understand and integrate student development into their teaching practices.     

Validation of the elementary social behaviour assessment: teacher ratings of students’ social skills adapted to Norwegian,grades 1–6

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Elementary Social Behaviour Assessment (ESBA), a teacher-report measure of students’ social skills and academic engagement adapted for use in Norwegian schools. At two times, 8 weeks apart, 151 teachers rated 793 students in Grades 1–6 on the ESBA and the Social Skills Rating System Teacher’s form (SSRS-T). Exploratory factor analysis with the first assessment suggested one or possibly two factors. Confirmatory factor analysis with the second assessment confirmed the one- or two-factor models but did not offer strong evidence for one over the other. The ESBA demonstrated good to excellent reliability. Strong concurrent and predictive correlations with the SSRS-T established criterion validity. The school and teacher levels explained only a limited amount of the total variance in ESBA scores, suggesting that teachers rate students quite similarly. The Norwegian-adapted ESBA paralleled the reliability and validity evidence from US samples.     

The effect of inquiry‐based learning on the achievement goal‐orientation of grade 10 physical sciences learners at township schools in South Africa

Due to apartheid policies, Black African learners in South Africa have been severely disadvantaged in school science. Despite policy changes to redress these historical imbalances, Black African learners continue to underperform in science. Previous research has identified motivation as a key factor that impacts performance. Achievement goal orientation is a construct of motivation that explains learning behaviour. In an attempt to address the problem of learner motivation, this study investigated the effect of inquiry‐based learning on the achievement goal‐orientation of grade 10 physical sciences learners at historically disadvantaged township schools in South Africa. In South Africa, the term “township” usually refers to under‐developed urban areas that were historically created for “non‐whites” during the apartheid era. The findings showed that the experiment group of learners who experienced inquiry‐based learning significantly gained in mastery goal orientation, while the control that were taught through a traditional direct didactic approach had an insignificant change in their mastery goal orientation. From these results, it can be concluded that inquiry‐based learning does support a mastery goal orientation in learners. This orientation is regarded as desirable because mastery approach goals could support positive outcomes in conceptual learning, leading to an improvement in science achievement of learners.     

成人院校师资资源整合、共享模式研究

成人院校的教师资源作为学校各项资源中最重要的部分,也是满足学生教育要求的主体存在。因此,教师资源的整合势在必行,以现代信息技术作为载体,将教学资源共享,以满足学生的多样化学习需求。文章阐述了整合教育资源的意义,分析了成人院校师资资源现状及问题和成人院校师资资源共享模式及其优缺点,最后提出了成人院校师资的整合和共享对策及建议。     

“互联网+”在历史课堂教学中的应用摭探

"互联网+"课堂教学手段越来越多地应用于历史教学,为历史教学提供了丰富的教学资源,增强了学生历史学习能力,提升了学生历史素养。文章结合教学实践,对"互联网+"在历史课堂教学中的应用进行探究,以促进历史教学发展。     

合作学习在竞技体育运动训练专业学生英语口语教学中的应用

竞技体育运动训练专业学生的英语水平总体偏低,英语口语交际能力尤其薄弱,英语口语教与学成为一直困扰教师和学生的难题。通过教学实验和问卷调查,研究了如何有效地在大学英语口语教学中运用合作学习策略,提高竞技体育运动训练专业学生的英语口语水平和口语教学效果,揭示了小组合作学习活动对他们英语口语学习时间与频率、学习态度、学习动机以及交际意愿的影响,总结了课堂教学效果良好的小组合作学习活动案例,合作学习对非智力因素发展的影响和阻碍学生进行课堂和课下小组合作学习的不利因素,对教学实验中的分组策略进行了反思,为竞技体育运动训练专业学生的大学英语口语教学提供借鉴和指导。     

图式理论在综合英语教学中的应用

综合英语是学生获得英语知识和技能的主干课程,图式理论为综合英语教学提供了全新的视角。基于图式理论的综合英语教学能够促使学生自主运用原有知识对所学材料进行加工、联想、预测,以获取有效信息。     

促进我国高龄学习策略研究

高龄学习是指55岁以上学习者的学习活动,伴随着提升智能、改变知识经验和态度,以实现自我发展和完善。开展和促进高龄学习是完善国民教育体系的重要环节,也是一个社会文明进步的客观反映。为促进我国高龄学习,应从政府、学校、家庭三方面着手采取相应策略。