Innovative learning spaces: class management and universal design for learning

Learning Environments Research - Recent and important changes in pedagogy design include flexible learning methods that address student diversity (universal design for learning–UDL) and...     

The negative impact of goal-oriented instructions

The phrasing of task instructions can facilitate or hinder the learning process. In this study, three groups of participants (N = 526) performed a foreign vocabulary memorization task, with modified instructions for each group. The instructions were either learning oriented, encouraging participants to improve their abilities; outcome oriented, prompting participants to achieve a positive evaluation of their performance; or neutral, with no goal orientation, for the control group. Participants’ performance in the task was measured along with several factors pertinent to the learning process. Results showed that learning-oriented instructions led to lower performance levels, while outcome-oriented instructions reduced participants’ language risk-taking, both of which negatively impact learning. The control group had the best overall results, indicating that it is better to refrain from using goal-oriented instructions in learning tasks.     

The curse of knowledge when teaching statistics

When teaching statistics, educators sometimes overestimate their students' knowledge and abilities. This is due to the curse of knowledge, a cognitive bias that causes people—especially experts—to overestimate how likely others are to know and understand the same things as them. This can lead to various issues, including struggling to communicate with students, and making students feel less comfortable in the classroom. To address this, educators should first identify situations where this bias can affect their teaching. In doing so, they should consider relevant risk factors, and potentially also solicit feedback from relevant individuals. Then, educators can reduce this bias and its impact on their teaching by using techniques such as keeping the curse of knowledge and their audience in mind, assessing students' knowledge, assuming lack of knowledge unless there is strong evidence to the contrary, and avoiding saying that things are obvious.     

Indigenous ways—fruits of our ancestors

In this paper the human-nature relationship is recognized as a major field of interest and a platform of ideas linked with it is explored. A ‘new’ source to inform an alternative paradigm for outdoor education is proposed; it is millennia old, has roots all over the globe and is a living, breathing, and evolving tradition—indigenous ways. While recognizing the diversity of indigenous people, the paper explores common characteristics of thought and practice within indigenous traditions. Indigenous ways are defined and their connection with outdoor education is explored. The author concludes that indigenous ways have the potential to inspire a fundamental change in outdoor education, while providing working models for theory and practice.     

The Mandela Soccer Academy: Historical and Contemporary Intersections between Ghana,Lebanon, and the West

Abstract

Since their arrival in the late nineteenth century, Lebanese immigrants have come to play an important role in Ghanaian society, especially in commerce. In community development, however, their influence is considered to be less salient, and therefore it is less researched. The present paper tries to fill this lacuna by focusing on the Mandela Soccer Academy, which was established in 2012 in Ghana by Mohammed Issa, a Lebanese-Ghanaian entrepreneur. The paper argues that Issa’s hybrid identity is reflected in his vision for the Mandela Soccer Academy, and is central to understanding children’s experiences there. The functioning and vision of the academy reflect an attempt by Issa to expose the academy’s children to cosmopolitan messages that he believes will broaden their horizons and improve their prospects. At the same time, the academy provides him with an opportunity to bolster the social collateral of the Lebanese in Ghana. The paper explores the ways in which the academy has become a juncture of translocal cultural production that transcends national boundaries, and assesses the extent to which the children have embraced Issa’s worldview.     

The contribution of differential feature-cost analysis to the evaluation of computer-assisted career guidance systems

This paper benefitted from discussions with Pazit Mei-Raz and Micha Wartski.     

Egyptian Coarse Ware in Early Islamic Palestine: Between Commerce and Migration

This study offers a critical re-evaluation of chronological aspects and distribution patterns concerning two main types of Egyptian coarse ware (Red-Brown Ovoid Amphorae and Coarse Ware Basins) identified in Early Islamic assemblages (eighth to tenth centuries AD) in Palestine. While the distribution of Egyptian amphorae is explained in socio-economic terms as reflecting normal trade relations, the appearance of Egyptian coarse ware basins in a limited number of local assemblages may imply the actual presence of Egyptian migrants (merchants or soldiers).     

Advancing in the career decision-making process: the role of coping strategies and career decision-making profiles

We tested the associations among the career decision-making difficulties, the career decision status, and either (a) the career decision-making profiles of 575 young adults, or (b) the coping strategies of 379 young adults. As hypothesized, a more advanced decision status was negatively associated with both career decision-making difficulties (η² = .24) and the use of non-productive coping strategies (η² = .10), and positively associated with an adaptive career decision-making profile (η² = .05) and the use of support-seeking coping strategies (η² = .06). Productive coping strategies were not found to be associated with decision status (η² = .01). The results and their implications are discussed.     

Teachers’ Learning Communities for Developing High Order Thinking Skills—A Case Study of a School Pedagogical Change

Interchange - This study deals with an elementary school that is undergoing a process of pedagogical change. The teachers understood that their weak point was excessive use of teaching based on...