Teaching skills of student teachers: Calibration of an evaluation instrument and its value in predicting student academic engagement

Student teachers are expected to develop their teaching skills sooner and more rapidly. However, a sound evaluation instrument that can be used to diagnose and monitor the skilfulness level to aid formative assessment of student teachers is still limited. This article is aimed to calibrate and validate a teaching skill evaluation instrument for use in secondary education. A total of 264 student teachers in the Netherlands participated in the study. Rasch and multilevel analyses were used. Results suggest that the evaluation instrument meets the restrictive assumptions of the Rasch model and has predictive value for academic engagement. This adds validation evidence and justifies the calibration of the evaluation instrument to be used for monitoring the development of teacher's teaching skills.     

Correlates of staff motivation,satisfaction, and job performance of library staff in selected Nigerian University libraries

Abstract

This study examined staff motivation, satisfaction, and job performance among the librarians and library staff in six selected university libraries in Nigeria. The target population for the study includes the professionals and nonprofessional library staff. A total enumeration sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents, which represent the sample for the study. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire titled “Staff Motivation, Satisfaction and Job Performance Questionnaire” (SMSJPQ). Six research questions were developed and answered by the study. The results indicate that librarian and library staff are highly motivated with regular pay while the least motivational factor is frequent interaction with their friends. Library staff are primarily satisfied with their jobs when they are in constant link with their friends. Professional library staff significantly experience better work motivation than their nonprofessional counterparts. Significant correlation exists between staff motivation and job performance and between job satisfaction and job performance. In addition, the two factors (motivation and satisfaction) exert significant contribution to the determinant of librarians and library staff job performance. Based on the findings, the study recommended improvement in the level of motivation of nonprofessionals so that the significant difference with the professional counterpart would not be so much pronounced.     

对我校体育大专生教学基本功的调查与分析

本文对我校体育大专生教学基本功调查中存在的组织教学、体育实践能力较差等问题进行了分析,并提出加强教学基本功训练的具体措施。     

社会体育指导员岗位素质应然与实然的调查研究

社会体育指导员作为社会体育发展的主要力量,提升自身的岗位素质成为社会体育指导员健身指导水平的保障。论文主要采用文献资料法、访谈法与问卷调查法,对社会体育指导员应有和实有的品质能力、技能能力、行为能力进行调查,研究认为,社会体育指导员的“应然”岗位素质均得到认可,而“实然”的岗位素质掌握程度不够理想,智能化设备使用能力成为短板,研究能为社会体育指导员在岗位上所应具备的岗位素质提供借鉴。     

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese Version of the Life Skills Scale for Sport

ABSTRACT

This research adapted the Life Skills Scale for Sport (LSSS) into Portuguese and provided evidence for its construct validity. Study 1 included four translators and five academics who developed a Portuguese version of the LSSS (P-LSSS). During this study, evidence for the content and substantive aspects of construct validity was provided using an expert panel and 25 sports participants. Study 2 included 413 participants that completed the P-LSSS. Within this study, evidence for the structural aspect of construct validity was provided via factor analyses. Study 3 included 134 participants who completed the P-LSSS and a measure of motivation. This study provided evidence for the external aspect of construct validity, with results showing more self-determined motivation had positive relationships with participant’s life skills development. Overall, our findings provided evidence for the construct validity of P-LSSS scores. Researchers and practitioners can use the P-LSSS to assess life skills development within sports participants.     

大学生校外兼职劳动权益的法律保障--基于贵州民族大学问卷调查的分析

本文以贵州民族大学校外兼职大学生为主要调查对象展开问卷调查，基于对该群体的基本信息、兼职意向、兼职维权三项内容的数据分析，指出应正确看待大学生校外兼职，给予其积极引导，明确其法律身份，通过多样化方式保障校外兼职大学生应有的劳动权益，从而促进该群体的良性发展。     

Implementing Student‐Centered Learning Practices in a Large Enrollment,Introductory Food Science and Human Nutrition Course

Informed by the latest research on how people learn, effective teachers address both aspects of the teaching–learning equation—they engage students in the course material by implementing best teaching practices and they prepare students for learning by sharing best learning practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of student‐centered learning practices on students’ perceptions of their ability to learn, specifically in a large enrollment, introductory food science and human nutrition course. Featured student‐centered learning practices included required assignments, optional study tools, and supplemental learning resources. A mixed method survey instrument with 5‐point Likert scales and qualitative, open‐ended questions was used to determine students’ (1) use of optional study tools and supplemental learning resources; (2) perceptions as to the quality and impact of required assignments, optional study tools, and supplemental learning resources to enhance their ability to learn; (3) perceptions as to the usefulness of required assignments, optional study tools, and supplemental learning resources to help them perform better in this course; and (4) overall satisfaction, as a learner, in this course. Overall, students identified study guides (developed using Bloom's taxonomy action verbs) (Mean = 4.34), microthemes (Mean = 4.27), and quizzes (Mean = 4.11) as the most beneficial resources to enhance their learning of the course material. Overall, 85% of students said they were extremely or very satisfied as learners in the course and nearly 75% of the students said the student‐centered learning practices should be offered to future FSHN 101 students.     

大学生独立生活能力与法律素质培养探讨

分析独立生活能力和大学生法律素养的涵义及其意义,就目前我国大学生法律素质的现状,初步提出有利于提高大学生法律素质的方法和途径,为更好地实现大学生独立生活能力提出了一些浅见。     

沈从文湘西世界中对亲情的诠释——由《菜园》到《王嫂》

沈从文以其塑造的明净空灵、田园牧歌式的湘西世界而闻名,亲情是构筑这一理想国的主要情感支柱,同是表现母爱的两部作品《菜园》与《王嫂》,其同质性体现在:人物设置简单、在情感上体现尊重生命,探究生活原生态。异质性体现在:全知视角与受限视角;诗性与非诗性;死亡悲剧模式与等待悲剧模式。试比较这两部作品,透过沈从文在小说创作上艺术技巧的探索,来体会沈从文对母亲深深的爱及愧疚。