Service user and carer involvement in students’ classroom learning in higher education

The following article presents a small-scale qualitative study in which the student learning experiences from service user and carer (SUAC) involvement in social work, mental health nursing and social welfare courses at an English university were evaluated for any effects on student perceptions, knowledge, skills and practice. Using focus group methodology, student participants reported positive outcomes from exposure to SUAC classroom inputs such as a greater valuing of SUAC knowledge as expert knowledge, help with the development of empathy and an appreciation of constructive challenges to mainstream curricular delivery. Notes of caution were identified, particularly in respect of the sometimes unexpected levels of emotion displayed by SUAC presenters. Recommendations for meaningful SUAC involvement in higher education are made regarding the need to involve SUACs across the whole duration of a course; the need for the preparation of both students and presenters regarding boundaries; the fit of presentations with intended learning outcomes; more partnership delivery in classrooms between academics and SUACs (possibly with a differentiation between theoretical and practice inputs); the opportunities for SUACs to present their own situations as real rather than hypothetical case studies for students and the possibilities that may result from introducing a ‘buddying’ system between students and SUACs throughout their studies. It is suggested that the insights from this small-scale study merit further exploration on a larger scale if policy and practice in the field of service and user involvement in higher education are to move forward in an inclusive manner.     

和谐社会的伦理精神支撑

所谓和谐社会,不是一种社会形态,而是一种社会状态与价值追求,具有深厚的伦理底蕴和历史的积淀。因此,构建和谐社会,离不开坚实有力的伦理精神支撑。与时俱进、被赋予崭新内容和意义的新时代伦理精神必将展现出独特的文化魅力,引导和推进和谐社会构建进程。     

从自我中心主义到他者的伦理认同

《杯酒留痕》是当代英国小说家格雷厄姆.斯威夫特颇受评论界关注的一部作品。对该部小说有关宗教、历史、伦理等人文元素的研究是读者关注的重点。本文尝试切入作品中的另一凸显主题———对他者的伦理认同,分析和阐释小说中人物从自我中心主义到他者的伦理认同的转变。     

大学生道德意识行为的反差与高校思想政治教育

分析了大学生在成长过程中道德意识与道德行为之间出现差异的原因,提出了高校加强大学生的思想道德素质教育的对策和建议。     

谈政治教学中素质教育的实施

在政治教学中实施素质教育，培养学生的能力。要求政治课教师必须具备良好的思想道德品质和较高的业务能力素质，这是实施素质教育的关键；教师要钻研教材、认真备课、了解学生，这是实施素质教育的前提；教师要优化课堂教学过程，灵活运用教学方法，这是政治实施素质教育的手段。     

Teachers’ perceptions and concerns about the implementation of the 2005 preschool curriculum in Tanzania

The aim of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions and concerns about the implementation of the preschool curriculum developed over 10 years (2005–2015). This paper reports findings from an interpretive case study design in four preschool settings in Tanzania with 12 teachers and 8 parent participants. Data were generated using interviews and documentation. The research focus was on how teachers have implemented the 2005 preschool curriculum. The findings indicate that the implementation of the curriculum was problematic due to teachers’ lack of knowledge of a child-centred pedagogy. In addition there were no teachers qualified to work with young children, overcrowded classrooms, poor teaching and learning environments, and insufficient teaching and learning materials and facilities. This study recommends that to improve the current situation and attain quality provision of early education, teachers need to develop their professional knowledge through in-service training. The government policy planners need to provide initial teacher education, professional development, and conducive teaching and learning environments with available resources for effective teaching and learning practices.     

Assessing ethics education through national tests—an advantage or not?

The purpose of this study is to describe, critically analyse and discuss the Swedish system of assessing ethics education in compulsory school through national tests. The publicly available tests from 2013 for grades six and nine have been studied as have the assessment instructions for teachers. Staff responsible for the test construction have been interviewed. The aims, core content and knowledge requirements of the curriculum were also studied. The concept ‘ethical competence’ was used as an analytical tool in the qualitative content analyses. Through the design of this study, the actual test, its process of construction and the curriculum were examined. The results suggest that ethics education, given (a) the curricular construction of what ability to assess, (b) complexities of test construction in ethics and (c) possible teach-to-the-test effects, runs the risk of being limited to an argumentative, conceptual competence, with ethics education being emptied of crucial content. However, being included in national testing can strengthen the position of a school subject. Is it then an advantage for ethics education to be tested in this way? The critical problems the study raises make the author conclude it to be a disadvantage for ethics education to be tested through national tests.     

伦理道德是一种社会资源

社会越发达 ,对信用的要求越高。信用度高 ,社会运作成本就会低。所以 ,伦理道德不仅是一种社会规范 ,更是一种社会资源 ,是一种“资本”。伦理道德这一社会“资本”是转型时期中国最需要又最稀缺的资源。将人类社会道德生活中部分人伦关系和道德活动方式明文化、规范化 ,形成某种制度性社会道德规范体系 ,是挖掘和培植伦理道德这一社会资源 ,最大限度发挥其作用的有效途径之一。     

由潜抑到彰显——论老舍的民族归属意识

满族作家老舍的民族归属意识并非像沈从文和张承志等少数民族作家一样,始终自觉彰显,而是以解放前后为界,经历了由潜抑到彰显的转变历程。老舍一生都有着始终如一的满族归属意识,但在解放前一直处于一种压抑状态。直到解放后才开始彰显自己的民族归属意识。     

Assessing postgraduate student perceptions and measures of learning in a peer review feedback process

Peer review feedback, developed to assist students with increasing the quality of group reports and developing peer review skills, was added to a master’s level Climate Change Policy and Planning unit. A pre- and post-survey was conducted to determine whether students found the process a valuable learning opportunity: 87% of students responding to the post-review survey indicated they saw benefit in both developing and receiving peer review feedback. Peer review design minimising the potential for plagiarism resulted in low levels of student concern surrounding plagiarism. Marks allocated by students were valid (consistent with the lecturer) and were generally reliable; however, distribution of marks had a higher variance where group report quality was low. Training on completing the peer review template could result in more reliable feedback. Consistent with the literature, the feedback developed during the peer review process focused on style and presentation preferentially to content. Seven out of eight group reports improved between report submissions, with all groups responding to peer review feedback. Peer review feedback and changes made to group reports indicated students had limited capacity to judge the quality of referencing and critical analysis.