Using peer and teacher-student exemplar dialogues to unpack assessment standards: challenges and possibilities

Dialogic use of exemplars is effective in developing student understanding of assessment standards. However, limited studies have investigated how exemplar dialogues are conducted in the post-secondary context. To fill the gap, this teacher-research explores the characteristics of peer and teacher–student exemplar talk in three post-secondary classrooms and the challenges in the dialogic process. The participants involved 69 first-year post-secondary students, a critical friend and a teacher-researcher. Data analysis on selected dialogue excerpts, an open-ended survey, focus group interviews with the students, critical friend’s commentary and a teacher-researcher reflective journal indicated two major issues: (i) students’ lack of capacities to resolve socio-cognitive conflict in the peer dialogue; (ii) the dilemma of addressing students’ immediate assessment needs and developing their long-term evaluative judgements in the teacher–student dialogue. Recommendations are made to tackle the challenges and to orchestrate productive exemplar dialogues.     

中国的经济全球化与政治文明民主化的关系

经济全球化挑战的是政治,在经济要求发展的条件下,政治文明的建设更具现实意义.政治文明的首要表现是政治民主化,明确民主的本质含义,分析西方的经济--民主理论,来探索中国现实的经济与民主政治的关系.经济是影响民主建设的重要因素之一,但在中国建国以后的历史中,经济的作用表现得十分微弱.经济全球化的趋势改变了经济的作用力,使得经济发展对民主建设的要求更加积极.但这种作用也是双刃剑,一方面,可能会造成一部分人的政治冷漠,要注重政治民主意识的培养;另一方面,中国在制度上已经实现了民主,但受多种因素影响,现在还处于向现实民主过渡的阶段,经济的发展正为这种过渡提供条件.中国有不同于西方的特殊国情,因此,必须从实际出发,根据中国的现实来进行切实的民主建设,将政府推进和社会自主两种方式结合起来.     

Fostering research engagement in partnership schools: networking and value creation

The call for teachers and schools to become more research-engaged is resonating stronger than ever with government efforts to improve research impact and educational quality in the United Kingdom (UK) and many other countries. In these endeavors strengthening the social network structure and collegial relationships that enable collaborative research and learning in schools are often overlooked. This longitudinal, multi-method case study focused on understanding this pivotal social dimension. It examined in what way and to what extent research-engaged relationships are developed and value for practice is created among school colleagues. The context was a secondary school that is part of a longstanding school–university research partnership in the UK. Social network and survey data, school documents, individual narratives, and interview data were collected and analysed during one academic year. Results reveal that school leadership adopted an approach in which they combined the development of formal structures and informal networking to foster a significant increase in research-engaged interactions among school staff. Two key elements of the school–university research partnership were distinguished as powerful drivers of fostering research engagement. Outcomes show that the increased research engagement led to diverse types of value creation in both the core and periphery of the research network of school staff.     

剖析母语暗示的误读性诱导

导致中国学生英汉误译的原因有许多,对于那些趋同性误译的源头往往可以追溯到汉语母语的暗示性诱导。剖析了母语暗示性诱导对英语学习者理解与翻译带来潜在的不利影响,认为习惯于汉字语境的中国性,在母语的暗示下忽略了中西两种语言文学本质差异,误入了陷阱。     

盂兰盆节的宗教源流

盂兰盆节是中国古代三大传统祭祀节日之一,是有着儒释道三家文化背景的重要的宗教节日。本文试图从宗教文化的角度来分析盂兰盆节的渊源和流变。“源”的部分追溯了盂兰盆节形成的多重文化源头,探讨作为佛教节日的盂兰盆节是如何与中国固有的文化传统融合无间的;“流”的部分描述分析了盂兰盆节世俗化为民众狂欢节的过程。盂兰盆节承载着多元文化内涵,对它的研讨有助于我们更深入地了解中国宗教的独特性。     

The Influence of Loneliness and Interpersonal Relations on Latina/o Middle School Students’ Wellbeing

This study examined associations of loneliness and relationships (e.g., teacher/student relationships, peer support, and family support) with wellbeing among Latina/o middle school students. A hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that age and loneliness predicted wellbeing; older students and students with high levels of loneliness reported higher wellbeing. The interaction effect between loneliness and peer support suggested that peer support was related with wellbeing only among students high in loneliness. Similarly, the interaction effect between loneliness and family support suggested that family support was associated with wellbeing only among students high in loneliness. Implications for addressing cultural determinants of wellbeing are provided.     

Organic residue analysis of Egyptian votive mummies and their research potential

Vast numbers of votive mummies were produced in Egypt during the Late Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods. Although millions remain in situ, many were removed and have ultimately entered museum collections around the world. There they have often languished as uncomfortable reminders of antiquarian practices with little information available to enhance their value as artefacts worthy of conservation or display. A multi-disciplinary research project, based at the University of Manchester, is currently redressing these issues. One recent aspect of this work has been the characterization of natural products employed in the mummification of votive bundles. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and the well-established biomarker approach, analysis of 24 samples from 17 mummy bundles has demonstrated the presence of oils/fats, natural waxes, petroleum products, resinous exudates, and essential oils. These results confirm the range of organic materials employed in embalming and augment our understanding of the treatment of votives. In this first systematic initiative of its kind, initial findings point to possible trends in body treatment practices in relation to chronology, geography, and changes in ideology which will be investigated as the study progresses. Detailed knowledge of the substances used on individual bundles has also served to enhance their value as display items and aid in their conservation.     

Negotiation Games

This study analyzes the interpretive repertoires used by public relations (PR) advisors of Dutch politicians to describe their relations with talk show journalists. A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed that the dominant repertoires come from the realm of play. PR advisors downplay the power struggle to position politicians on talk shows as a competitive game while at the same time they legitimize their close relationships with journalists with another play metaphor, the rehearsed stage play. Moreover, comparing politicians’ appearances on talk shows with stage performances gives them the opportunity to brush aside the contradiction between their extensive pre-broadcast preparations and the authentic appearance they attempt to emulate. Studying the interpretive repertoires of advisors working in PR and how they fruitfully combine the elements of struggle and cooperation sheds light on the structures and strategies that define journalist–source relationships. It provides insights into how PR advisors perceive and enact their own role, which often goes unnoticed both in research and by the general public.     

论人本理念和自主创新战略下的高校设备管理

在以人为本理念和自主创新战略下,高校设备及其管理呈现出5大特征,即劳动工具性、技术状态发展性、品种多样多变性、配置效益性、占用激励性等5大特征.以此为基础,高校应构建设备管理新体系,在实际运行中应正确处理人与物、数量与品质和结构、重点与一般、效益与规范4对关系.