Comparing active delay and procrastination from a self-regulated learning perspective

Researchers have proposed that the act of postponing academic work may be divided into a traditional definition of procrastination, viewed as maladaptive, and adaptive forms of delay. Adaptive forms of delay may be more consistent with certain facets of self-regulated learning. The current study investigated this issue by examining whether the relations between aspects of self-regulated learning and active delay may be distinct from the relations these aspects of self-regulated learning have with procrastination. Among 206 undergraduates, procrastination was positively predicted by mastery-avoidance goals and negatively by metacognitive strategy usage, whereas active delay was negatively predicted by avoidance goals and positively by self-efficacy. Furthermore, students who reported higher levels of active delay also received better grades. These findings provide support that active delay is a distinct form of delay from procrastination that may be more positive due to its associations with some adaptive self-regulatory processes and academic achievement.     

Teaching about the importance of trees: a study with young children

This paper reports on a study undertaken with the primary aim of investigating the effect of the storytelling teaching approach on kindergarten children's retention of ideas about the importance of trees. The study also assessed the effect of storytelling on children's intention to participate in a tree planting activity that they had to select from a list of activities. The story that was created included such elements as binary opposites, mental images, mystery, and wonder, according to Kieran Egan's theory. The study utilized a two‐group design, was conducted in three phases (pre‐test, intervention, and post‐test), lasted 11 weeks, and its results provide evidence of the effectiveness of the storytelling approach when compared with the traditional method of expository teaching complemented with visual images (pictures) of trees and their importance to human beings. The pedagogical appropriateness of the story, which was based upon the binary pair of opposites ‘security–insecurity’, is also discussed in the paper.     

Video diaries: a tool to investigate sustainability-related learning in threshold spaces

This paper takes as a case study an undergraduate field class from a UK university to rural Uganda. It describes and evaluates the use of video diaries as a tool for investigating the process of transformative learning in the context of education for sustainability. The applicability of threshold concept theory to this learning is investigated. Results show the video diary technique to be much more successful in capturing the development of student learning than written diaries. Despite some practical difficulties, rich data were generated. Analysis demonstrated that learning met three of the five criteria for threshold concepts: the learning was transformative, integrative and troublesome. Further research could test whether the learning in this case study met the threshold concept criterion of irreversibility. Further elaboration of the theoretical relationship between threshold concepts, transformative learning and education for sustainability is also needed. It is concluded that the video diary method is potentially transferable to other educational research contexts and may be particularly suitable for researching learning in threshold spaces.     

An investigation of Taiwan University students' perceptions of online academic help seeking, and their web-based learning self-efficacy

This study was conducted to investigate Taiwan University students' perceptions (including experience, confidence and preference) of online academic help seeking (OAHS) and students' level of web-based learning self-efficacy (WLSE). Two instruments, OAHS questionnaire, consisting of information searching, formal and informal query scales, and WLSE questionnaire, including general and functional scales, were then validated through collecting the responses from 300 university students. Results indicate reciprocal relations between experience, confidence and preference in students' online academic help seeking behaviors. Students' academic help seeking behaviors were related to their general self-efficacy in a web-based course setting. Students' functional WLSE was related to their perceptions of information searching for OAHS. Findings of this study also imply that students' experience of seeking help from informal online channels is prominent when they participate in a web-based course.     

Concentric collaboration: a model of leadership development for healthcare organizations

Drawing on their experience in a Midwest healthcare system, the authors propose a model of leadership development through action learning that embraces ‘concentric collaboration’ at its core. The present study suggests that the process of concentric collaboration can serve to strengthen the skills of the individual leader as well as foster collective leadership. Central to the model is the growth and development of the individual leader which extends outward to create connections with others, ultimately increasing the social capital necessary to effect organizational change. This work contributes to the leadership development literature by offering a comprehensive model that includes the process of individual growth as well as collective capacity, organizational factors that support or inhibit this process as well as implications for practice.     

关于高职院校电子商务专业工学结合课程教学评价的探索

基于高职院校电子商务专业培养目标,结合目前工学结合教学存在的主要问题,探索工学结合课程教学评价模式选择的一般原则、教学评价体系的主要构成要点及教学评价指标的主要内容。     

高职院校航海英语师资素质现状的调查分析和相关对策

随着世界航运业的蓬勃发展,优秀航运人才的培养备受关注。航海英语教师作为一线工作者,肩负着培养具有较高英语综合能力人才的重任,其自身的教学水平和业务能力至关重要。作者从调查分析高职院校航海英语师资的素质现状出发,结合需求分析理论和Freeman的语言教师学习理论,提出加强航海英语教师专业发展的相关对策,希望对高职院校加强航海英语师资建设具有一定的参考价值。     

论自由学习和学习自由

自由学习和学习自由属于学习者两种不同性质的学习权利。自由学习是学习者的自由意志在学习场域中的积极投射,是学习者主体性在学习情境中的积极表达,属于积极自由;学习自由是保障学习者自由学习权利不受剥夺或被限制的学习制度设计或外界条件,是一种不涉及具体内容的个人自由,其保障基础是《学校法》,属于消极自由。本文在对比分析自由学习和学习自由之内涵的基础上,阐述了自由学习和学习自由二者之间的辩证关系,提出实现个体自由学习的可能途径,以及如何通过《学校法》的制度设计保障学习者自由学习的权利,得出自由学习和学习自由在促进学习者自身转变历程中的教育价值和课程意义。     

国际数学学习测评:聚焦数学素养的发展

学生学习质量的评价已经成为当前国际教育研究和实践中的重要领域。目前,在中小学阶段,国际上不仅有PISA和TIMSS两大全球性的测评体系,还出现了美国的NAEP测验,英国的Kassel测验,日本的学力测验和法国的诊断性测验等区域性的重要测评体系。其中的数学学习测评设计都体现了一个基本特点:聚焦于学生基本素养发展。本文在研究上述六个数学测试项目的基础上,从多个角度分析了国外中小学的数学测评的基本趋势,从中探索当前国际数学教学质量监控的基本特点。了解国际数学学习测评的基本趋势,对于我国当前正在进行的教育质量监控体系的构建具有一定的参考价值。