协作学习需要教师指导吗

协作学习对学习者综合能力的提升作用与人才素质的要求相契合，是学术研究领域和教学实践领域中的一个热点话题。然而目前协作学习在实践过程中出现了一些问题，不清楚协作学习是否需要教师指导，需要何种指导。这种认识上的不清楚导致实施过程中的盲目性与随意性，加剧了协作学习的混乱。关于这一问题，相关研究者持两种观点：一部分认为应该让学生独立探索，一部分认为学生的认知结构决定他们需要教师指导。实证研究结果都支持“协作学习中需要教师指导”这一理论观点，但基于此进行的影响协作学习效果的教师特征和具体指导方式研究还未形成统一的结论和方法。而且，从因素的角度进行实证研究，忽略影响学习效果因素的复杂性，不具有可验证性，科学性低。基于复杂系统论的研究范式可以避开简单归因的缺点，以系统本身的属性揭示系统运行效果，在一定程度上可以提高研究的科学性。     

In the eyes of the beholder: The relevance of skin tone and facial features of African American female models to advertising effectiveness

The increasing use of light‐complexioned black models with Caucasian features in ads has been roundly criticized. This study was designed to test if black female models with Caucasian features are more effective in ads than black models with “classical” features. A 2×2 factorial design was used with two models (mixed‐race and “classical” black) and two products (beauty‐related and beauty‐unrelated). MANOVA tests showed that regardless of the type of product, the type of model did not make a significant difference on the measures of advertising effectiveness. Neither were the interaction effects significant.     

Evaluating teacher and student spatial transition from a traditional classroom to an innovative learning environment

Proponents highlight the potential of flexible and technology-rich spaces, referred to as innovative learning environments (ILEs), to shape activities and behaviours able to affect a desired pedagogical change. With much of the attention on the design of the physical learning environment, there has been a limited interrogation of what happens in the transition from traditional spaces to ILEs. As a result, this study applied the Linking Pedagogy, Technology, and Space (LPTS) observational metric through a single subject research design (SSRD) to understand how teachers, and their students, transitioned from traditional spaces to occupy an ILE. The application of statistical and visual analysis ascertained the degree of short- and longer-term pedagogical changes made by individual teachers and correlated these to effects on learning experiences. Corroboration with the thematic analysis of teacher focus group presents an account of the spatial transition between and the pedagogical return of different learning spaces.     

Enhancing learning by retrieval: Enriching free recall with elaborative prompting

It is well-established in memory research that retrieval fosters learning. When applying this effect in education, it is an important question which type of retrieval task works best. Several studies have shown that learning is enhanced by linking new information with prior knowledge. A potential approach to making retrieval more effective, therefore, is to enrich retrieval instructions with the requirement to elaborate on the learning contents and link them to what is already known. In this study, we compared a free recall condition, as used in many studies on learning by retrieval, with a prompted recall condition in which learners were required to recall the information and apply it to their lives. Fifty-six undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of these two conditions. They learned from a video-recorded lecture. One week later, learning outcomes were assessed by a posttest measuring fact recall and comprehension of the contents from the video lecture. Learners in the prompted recall group, compared to the free recall group, used more elaborative strategies in response to the recall task and achieved better comprehension scores. The effect on comprehension was mediated by the use of elaborative strategies. This pattern of results supports the constructive retrieval hypothesis, stating that retrieval is most effective when it involves constructive elaboration of the contents being learned. Our findings also encourage the use of pedagogical tasks in classroom teaching that combine elaboration and retrieval.     

“五四”改革春天里的昙花一现——论讲学社对中外文化交流所做的贡献

作为一个社团机构,讲学社存在的时间并不久,但就在它短暂的生命里,它开拓了一个更为广阔的视野,体现了一种敢于改变的精神。四大名哲的演讲给中国的知识分子带来了新的思想,给民族注入了新的血液,它借着五四的浪潮将中国带入了一个更为广阔的发展前景。文化的影响是双向的,中国的文化同时通过演讲者得到了传播和发扬。讲学社给中国知识分子提供了学习的契机,在学习中我们的民族发生了巨大的改变。     

Learning objects and the e-learning cost dilemma

The creation of quality e-learning material creates a cost dilemma for many institutions, since it has both high variable and high fixed costs. This cost dilemma means that economies of scale are difficult to achieve, which may result in a consequent reduction in the quality of the learning material. Based on the experience of creating a masters level course at the UK Open University, the article suggests that the adoption of learning objects represents one possible resolution to this dilemma. They achieve this through the reduction of the fixed costs by four means: reuse, rapid production, ease of updating and cost-effective pedagogy.     

Four fictional views of the future of learning

We are at a critical moment in the history of human learning, and in the history of humans. Learning is very important in our future. With 6 billion people on Earth, going to 9 billion by the middle of the century, current educational systems everywhere at all levels have major problems, probably not solvable with present approaches. In many areas, little education is available. We need new learning modes and structures, and we need them quickly and globally. Creating new learning materials and systems will require great imagination. We need approaches that go beyond current situations. Learning should be greatly improved, less expensive, and available lifelong for all in all subjects. We need a society that focuses on learning, where everyone loves to learn. Solving many of the world's problems, including population, water, violence, health, and environmental destruction, will depend on improving learning. One neglected source of future ideas is fictional accounts of the future of learning. I have long found them helpful in my own thinking and have written about them before. I keep finding new sources of this kind. Some, not mentioned here, are negative views.     

Effectiveness and relevance of feedback in Higher Education: A study of undergraduate students

This paper draws upon a wider study on assessment in higher education. It focuses on students’ perceptions of the effectiveness and relevance of feedback in regard to assessment methods and self-regulation of learning. In total, 605 undergraduates participated in the study from five Portuguese public universities. Data were collected through questionnaires with open and closed-ended questions. Results revealed that feedback is perceived as more relevant, effective and in a more positive way by students who are assessed by learner-centred methods than by those assessed by traditional methods. Also, participants who are assessed by learner-centred methods or mixed methods perceived feedback as more effective in all phases of self-regulation learning than students who are assessed by traditional methods. Implications of the findings for feedback and assessment in Higher Education are discussed.     

The professional development needs of learning support coordinators in Singapore primary schools May Ling Quah and Kevin Jones

ABSTRACT

‘Support for learning’ can be conceptualized in many different ways. This paper examines the role of the learning support coordinator in relation to the breadth of factors which cause pupils to experience learning difficulties in primary classrooms. It is against this background that the professional development needs of learning support coordinators is considered. The paper focuses, in particular, upon the needs of learning support teachers who work in primary schools in Singapore. The shortcomings of traditional inservice courses which focus upon curriculum development and pedagogy are discussed in relation to the wide ranging roles which learning support coordinators are expected to fulfil. The assumption that pupil achievement can be enhanced when teachers are ‘trained’ to employ certain teaching methods is questioned and the relevance of an ecological or interpretive model of staff development is discussed. Finally, the particular professional development needs of learning support coordinators in Singapore are considered.     

A Case Study on Learning Strategies of a Chinese EFL

This study is designed to examine how learning strategies and other different variables have affected the English language proficiency of a Chinese EFL Learner.Two interviews were conducted to collect data.It was found that the effective use of different learning strategies,the affective,socio-cultural,and educational variables have all contributed to her language proficiency.