Increasing employability by implementing a Work-Integrated Learning partnership model in South Africa – A student perspective

In South Africa, 70 per cent of the population is under 35 years old. South Africa has a vision to increase youth employment by focusing on education, training and skills development that will promote employment opportunities. A work-integrated learning (WIL) partnership model was developed to provide students with work experience and to increase their employability. this article presents the research on the perspectives of students subsequent to their WIL experience. the research method consisted of a structured questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. The study findings indicated that students were capable of seeking their own WIL placement and that over 90 per cent of students experienced WIL as rewarding, with multiple opportunities for employment. the article adds theoretical value by increasing the WIL body of knowledge from a student perspective, as well as strategic and practical value by presenting the WIL partnership model that may easily be implemented by lecturers in various disciplines across the continent of Africa and beyond to enable students to enter the workplace with confidence.     

Online reflective writing mechanisms and its effects on self-regulated learning: a case of web-based portfolio assessment system

The purpose of the present study was to design reflective writing mechanisms in a web-based portfolio assessment system and evaluate its effects on self-regulated learning. Participants were two classes of juniors majoring in data processing and taking a course called “Website design” at a vocational high school in Taiwan. One class was randomly selected and assigned as an experimental group (41 students) reflecting on learning processes through a web-based portfolio assessment system, whereas the other class was assigned as a control group (41 students) reflecting on learning processes through a paper-based portfolio. The result revealed that students who were highly satisfied with online reflective writing mechanisms significantly outperformed students who were less satisfied with online reflective writing mechanisms in self-regulated students reflecting on learning processes through a web-based portfolio assessment system significantly outperformed students reflecting on learning processes through a paper-based portfolio in self-regulated learning.     

Treatment of depressed mothers in home visiting: Impact on psychological distress and social functioning

Objectives

Depression is prevalent in mothers receiving home visiting. Little is known about the impact of treatment on associated features of maternal depression in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a novel, adapted treatment for depressed mothers in home visiting on psychological distress and social functioning.

Methods

In-Home Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (IH-CBT) was developed to treat depressed mothers in home visiting. A randomized clinical trial design was used in which subjects were 93 new mothers in a home visiting program. Mothers with major depressive disorder identified at 3 months postpartum were randomized into IH-CBT and ongoing home visiting (n = 47) or standard home visiting (SHV; n = 46) in which they received home visitation alone and could obtain treatment in the community. Measures of psychological distress, social support, and social network were measured at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up. Clinical features of depression and home visiting parameters were examined as potential moderators.

Results

Subjects receiving IH-CBT reported decreased psychological distress at post-treatment (ES = 0.77) and follow-up (ES = 0.73). Examination of types of psychological distress indicated broad improvements at both time points. Those receiving IH-CBT reported increased social support over time relative to those in the SHV condition. Effect sizes were modest at post-treatment (ES = 0.38) but increased at follow-up (ES = 0.65). Improvements were seen in affiliative and belonginess aspects of social support, in contrast to tangible support which was statistically non-significant. Findings were not moderated by clinical features of depression or home visiting parameters. No group differences were found in size of and involvement with social networks.

Conclusions

IH-CBT is effective in reducing psychological distress and improving perceived social support in depressed mothers receiving home visiting. To the extent that mothers are better adjusted and feel socially supported, they are more available to their children and more amenable to home visiting services. IH-CBT is a feasible, readily adopted treatment that is compatible with multiple home visiting models. As a result it is a promising approach to help depressed mothers in home visiting. Additional interventions may be needed to support depressed mothers in building sizable and stable social networks.     

大学英语网络自主学习平台的建设与实践

随着大学英语教学和课程改革的深化,各高校加大了大学英语教学改革的力度,在课程改革的基础上设计和开发了形式多样的大学英语自主学习平台。以上海对外贸易学院为例,介绍大学英语自主学习平台的设计及运用。同时,探讨电子学档在大学英语自主学习平台中的运用。并指出大学英语自主学习平台在使用过程中存在的问题及其对策,以期对各高校大学英语网络自主学习平台的建设起着抛砖引玉的作用。     

Investigating the effects of gamification-enhanced flipped learning on undergraduate students’ behavioral and cognitive engagement

ABSTRACT

In recent years, flipped learning has attracted much attention around the world. This instructional approach is appealing because it can free up class time for knowledge application activities with help from the instructor and peers. However, its implementation can be fraught with challenges. Student disengagement in out-of-class activities, for example, is one of the major challenges of flipped learning. The purpose of this study is to examine whether gamification can enhance student engagement in a flipped course. A comparison study was conducted, involving two classes of undergraduate students in an Information Management course. The results indicated that students in the gamification-enhanced flipped learning group (n?=?48) were more likely to complete the pre-class and post-class activities on time than those in the non-gamified flipped learning group (n?=?48). Students in the gamification-enhanced flipped learning group also produced higher quality artifacts than the non-gamified flipped learning group in the pre-class thinking activities. Moreover, students in the gamification-enhanced flipped learning group scored significantly higher in the post-course test than did their non-gamified counterparts.     

教师心理健康对学生发展的影响

教师的个体因素不仅影响着其个人工作的成败,更重要的是深刻而长远地影响着学生的发展。教师的情绪状态不仅会影响到教师自身的认知、动机和行为系统,也会对学生的认知、动机和行为系统产生直接或间接的影响。班级心理环境或氛围可能是教师人格影响学生发展的中介变量。教师的问题行为是其心理健康问题的外在表现,而教师的不良言行或问题行为又往往会给学生造成师源性心理伤害或心理行为问题。消极的师生关系模式比积极的师生关系模式更能够强烈地影响到儿童的适应能力。     

模拟退火算法的改进及其应用

针对贷款组合优化决策模型的求解问题，以模拟退火算法为基础，利用设置记忆器和在算法后链接一个局部搜索过程的方法，对原有算法进行了改进，该算法可兼顾解的质量和运行时间，快速找到最优解，克服了原有算法的随机性。数值计算的结果表明，该算法具有很强的适用性。     

战略导向转换与创新过程整合关系的研究进展

转型期的调整激发了大量战略导向转换与创新过程整合的相关研究,并将其归结为基于产品创新特征的战略导向对创新过程整合的单方向作用过程。但是创新过程所蕴含的动态能力作为影响战略导向转换的关键因素以及大量产品组合的开发实践要求将这种单向作用扩展成基于产品组合创新特征的双向均衡模型。本文通过创新产品组合特征的中介作用,建立了战略导向与企业创新过程整合之间的双向均衡分析框架,总结了战略导向转换和创新过程整合的相关内容及其关系的研究进展,指出了建立创新过程整合基础框架对于研究二者双向作用关系的必要性;同时发展出适用于产业阶段发展和政策环境不确定性下研究二者双向均衡变动的计算试验理论也是未来研究的重点。     

The effect of portfolios on students' learning: student teachers' views

This study reports on student teachers' views of portfolios as a learning tool when they are combined with a weekly test conducted at the end of each lesson to help student teachers self‐evaluate. Student teachers' written reflections during the process provided data for the study. Analysis of the data showed that a majority of student teachers initially felt that compiling a portfolio would be time‐consuming and an extra burden added to their already busy schedule. However, later on they all found that the process was a useful learning experience. Moreover, the portfolio process – especially combining self‐reflection with weekly tests – encouraged students to study regularly, increased retention and made learning more enjoyable. Suggestions for the successful portfolio implementation include the following: guiding students both at the beginning of and during the process, providing continuous and prompt feedback during the process and making self‐reflection – especially guided by reflection prompts – an essential part of the process.     

大学生社交网络行为画像研究

文章基于社交网络用户行为影响因素框架形成需求动机维度的22个标签,结合用户特征维度的8个标签形成大学生社交网络行为标签体系。采用社会调查方法获取标签数据,通过因子分析提取出需求动机维度的4个分类特征因子。基于所提取的特征因子进行快速聚类,得到娱乐型、社交型、信息型和全面型4个差异化群体用户分类,并结合用户特征维度的8个标签对各类用户画像的典型特征进行描述。