Infant educators’ beliefs about infant language development in long day care settings

This study examined infant educators’ beliefs about infant language development in the context of early childhood classrooms. Participants were 59 educators who were employed to work directly with under-two-year-old children. Educators were interviewed to determine their understandings of infant language development and Grounded Theory qualitative techniques were used to develop a conceptual model which illustrates their perceptions of the relationships between contextual, personal and teaching and learning components of their classroom contexts. The model provides a means of conceptualising ‘insider’ practitioner voices on how, as a dynamic system, contextual, individual and pedagogical components mutually interact to bring about the kinds of experiences and interactions that can shape language development. Findings have implications for understanding educators’ perspectives on infant room quality, suggesting that issues related to educator-infant ratios, staff consistency, qualifications and professional knowledge about language development processes may impact efforts to provide intentional language development support.     

Para‐teacher scheme and quality education for all in India: policy perspectives and challenges for school effectiveness

This paper argues that the concepts, beliefs and understandings of local and non‐local teacher educators in a Hong Kong university are grounded in their own cultural cognition and antecedents. It presents the viewpoint that contemporary notions of good practice were compromised when applied to a context that is strongly influenced by the tenets of Confucianism. Thus the conclusion is that the contingencies of teaching and learning contexts are sufficiently different to compromise the goal of having pre‐constructed notions of good teaching. The alternative is that university tutors and future researchers re‐conceptualise good teaching practices within a context that gives it meaning and purpose.     

高校德育主体的创新观念

高等教育培养学生的创新精神和创新能力是时代发展的需要。具备创新精神与创新观念是高校德育主体正确履行其职能和职责的先决条件。创新是德育主体实施创新教育应具备的一种基本能力，高校德育主体必须更新教育观念，不断提高创新素质，才能更好地实施创新教育。     

Changes in the World Created by the Journal of Science Education and Technology:Future Directions and New Initiatives

This paper deals with the mission of the Journal of Science Education and Technology; the people who are helping to further this mission; our review philosophy, policies, and electronic review process; and important information for authors, readers, practitioners, students, and administrators to know. It also includes announcements about new features in the Journal, and two book series: Innovations in Science Education and Technology and Classics in Science Education and calls for papers and book ideas to be submitted to cohenka@aol.com.     

Greek parents’ perceptions of male early childhood educators

The study reported here examined Greek parents’ perceptions of barriers to men entering the early childhood education and care profession and their recommendations for recruiting more males into the field. Parents were asked to respond on a Likert scale to statements regarding males’ decision to enter the profession, possible benefits for male early childhood educators, and perceived societal attitudes towards male early childhood educators. The findings indicate that the participating parents were in favour of recruiting more males into the early childhood education and care profession but at the same time they recognize the difficulties men encounter when choosing to become early childhood educators. Recommendations for future research designs are formulated.     

让校长以教育家的身份出现在公共视野

对于很多教而优则仕出身的校长,他们不仅书教得好,而且有着先进的教育理念。这些社会精英大多是怀揣远大的教育理想上任的,他们理应成为引领一方教育的教育家。然而校长作为一名有行政级别的政府官员,不得不花费很多精力在官场上运作,参加各种活动,焦虑社会的认同和政府的评价。校长成为专职的官员,离教育家越来越远,校长与教育家就像一副跷跷板,你高我低,你弱我强。     

网络教育的问题与建议

通过对近年来教育技术学科核心期刊的检索,发现与“网络”相关的一些关键词的分布特点,从而引发对现阶段网络教育的几点思考,指出目前“网络教育”仍不成熟,倡导在努力完善自身素质的基础上,不断努力提高我国网络教育的质量。     

美国中小学国际教师招募现象解析

近年来,去美国从事中小学教学工作的外国教师越来越多,这也成为美国教育领域乃至全社会关注的焦点。有人把这一现象称为进口教育者。从其他国家招募教师,反映出美国基础教育教师不足的现状,一定程度上削弱了美国内改善师资状况的努力,并将教师短缺的危机转嫁到他国,尤其是发展中国家。美国教师联合会对美国进口教育者现象作了调研,分析了其中的原因及产生的影响。     

Critical issues in supporting self-study

In this article, we focus on an analysis of critical issues in supporting teacher educators conducting a self-study. As data, we have used the digital logbooks written by the participating teacher educators, the outcomes of the interviews we held at the end of the support process, and of a follow-up questionnaire answered by the participating teacher educators six months later. We have found seven issues critical to enhancing the chances of self-studies being beneficial to the practice of teacher education as well as to the further development of a knowledge base for teacher education. In addition, our study points to four themes for further attention and research.     

A ‘break with tradition’ in interwar teacher education

British teacher education in the interwar years was a contested field, dominated numerically by women but regulated by the Board of Education. The traditional perception of women’s residential training colleges was that they were autocratic and socially isolated. By focusing on Gipsy Hill Training College (GHTC), the first specialist training college for nursery school teachers, and its foundation principal, Lillian de Lissa, I challenge this perception. I explore the relationships between young women students’ social worlds, teacher educators’ understandings, teacher education curriculum and GHTC’s institutional culture. The main argument is that under de Lissa’s leadership GHTC was a socially and educationally progressive and democratic institution that focused on shaping students’ identities as women, teachers and citizens.