Medical student, resident, and faculty use of a computerized literature searching system

The experiences of medical students, residents, and faculty with a computerized literature searching system were evaluated. Third-year medical students, internal medicine and family practice residents, and full-time and voluntary faculty at one medical school had the opportunity to use a full-text and bibliographic medical literature retrieval system free of charge for an eleven-month period. Subjects conducted nearly nine thousand literature searches over a period of 942 system hours. Questionnaire data showed that participants could learn to use and would use an electronic information system, felt capable of using the system, utilized the system for a variety of purposes and in a number of different ways, and viewed the system as a valuable tool in searching the medical literature. The results are discussed in the context of the educational needs of the four user-groups and medical education planning by institutions.     

Third-party social interaction and word learning from video

In previous studies, very young children have learned words while "overhearing" a conversation, yet they have had trouble learning words from a person on video. In Study 1, 64 toddlers (mean age=29.8 months) viewed an object-labeling demonstration in 1 of 4 conditions. In 2, the speaker (present or on video) directly addressed the child, and in 2, the speaker addressed another adult who was present or was with her on video. Study 2 involved 2 follow-up conditions with 32 toddlers (mean age=30.4 months). Across the 2 studies, the results indicated that toddlers learned words best when participating in or observing a reciprocal social interaction with a speaker who was present or on video.     

Shedding light on and with example spaces

Building on the papers in this special issue as well as on our own experience and research, we try to shed light on the construct of example spaces and on how it can inform research and practice in the teaching and learning of mathematical concepts. Consistent with our way of working, we delay definition until after appropriate reader experience has been brought to the surface and several ‘examples’ have been discussed. Of special interest is the notion of accessibility of examples: an individual’s access to example spaces depends on conditions and is a valuable window on a deep, personal, situated structure. Through the notions of dimensions of possible variation and range of permissible change, we consider ways in which examples exemplify and how attention needs to be directed so as to emphasise examplehood (generality) rather than particularity of mathematical objects. The paper ends with some remarks about example spaces in mathematics education itself.     

Settings for School Improvement

The last two decades have witnessed tens of thousands of attempts to improve schooling for primary and secondary school students. Some attempts are highly local; others range in scope from small (a cluster of schools) to very large (a nationwide school system). Many school reform efforts have simultaneously built upon and contributed to our knowledge base about school improvement, but we have much to learn if we are to make school improvement systematic and sustainable. The area of school reform provides a case in point for this conference's theme-- Celebrating the Past: Envisioning the Future . It also provides an excellent vehicle for celebrating the life and work of Professor John Elkins. Through his work and example, John has helped lead the way in exploring how we can improve literacy outcomes, particularly for students whom schools have failed to teach adequately--diverse students, students with disabilities, and students with few economic resources. In this paper I will briefly review some of the findings from research and practice in school reform, with a special focus on literacy outcomes and in schools with students at risk. We know quite a few very useful things. But what has been missing from the discussion about school reform is a seminal concept first articulated by Seymour Sarason 30 years ago in a little-known classic, The Creation of Settings and the Future Societies. I will describe the concept of "settings," show video examples of effective settings for school improvement, and argue that without these settings systematic and sustainable school improvement is unlikely.     

A four-year follow-up of means-end outcomes from outdoor adventure programs

Means-end theory was used to analyze differences in outcomes from original interviews and follow-up interviews occurring four years after Outward Bound (OB) and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) 2006 course participation. In 2006, a semi-structured, in-person interview was conducted after participants (N = 510) completed their course. In 2010, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from a convenience sample of the original participants (N = 200). Results of this study show how OB and NOLS programs continued to increase participant self-respect/esteem/confidence, impart transferable lessons and skills, and provide a sense of self-awareness four years after course participation. Understanding such participant outcomes allows program managers to effectively market programs, comprehend relationships between program attributes and participant outcomes, and design programs for specific outcomes.     

Some Conceptions are Difficult to Change: One Middle School Mathematics Teacher's Struggle

A framework for investigating approaches to mathematics teaching in light of recent reforms is described. This framework is used to explore the struggles of a veteran middle school mathematics teacher as he attempted to modify his practices. The report was developed during a two-year period during which the teacher was interviewed and observed regularly. The teacher was successful in broadening some aspects of his pedagogical thinking and practice. For example, he reformed his teaching to emphasize important mathematical concepts. However, at least in part because of his views of pedagogical authority, he was unable to let his students explore ideas, solve open-ended problems, and debate intended meanings of mathematical ideas and solutions on a regular basis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.