澳大利亚“学生学业成效调查”及对我国的启示

澳大利亚《学生学业成效调查》始于1995年,至今已进行了15次。调查所采用的问卷包括评测培训前、中、后三段状态的57个问题。其中核心指标有22条,可类化为5个方面的内容。被调查者根据对题项的认同程度进行评价,有五个等级可供选择,分别为:强烈反对、反对、中立、赞同、强烈赞同。根据调查结果,澳大利亚教育、就业与劳资关系部对职业教育与培训进行管理和规划。给我国高等职业教育的启示有:对职业教育的全面评价要包括职业教育过程的前、中、后;政府、科研机构和第三方调查中介合作有利于优化调查队伍;灵活的教育结构能够促进职教的发展。     

基于学习结果理论对基础教育数字化学习资源分类方法的探究

现有的数字化学习资源分类大都是从资源的角度进行划分,学习结果分类从学习者的角度出发提供了一种全新的视角,更贴近学习过程,对数字化学习资源的研究者、开发者和使用者都有启发意义。     

活动理论视域下远程学习目标结构之建构冰

当前远程学习的课程设计普遍存在目标设计缺失的现象,这可能源于人们对远程学习目标“是何”及“如何”运作的认识不够,从而导致学习者面临学习失败的风险。探讨远程学习目标“是何”是研究“如何”的先决条件。远程学习目标结构研究,旨在探讨远程学习目标的类别及其关系。活动理论是一种重在把活动系统作为分析单位的分析模式,迄今为止经历了“中介说”、“层次说”、“要素说”三代发展历程,为人们重新认识远程学习的目标结构提供了新的视角。它提示人们可以从活动层中的“过程”与“结果”维度去认识远程学习的目标结构,并从行动层中提取描述远程学习过程目标的5个要素：主体、客体、工具、行为、时间,建构出远程学习“过程一结果”目标结构的分析框架。远程学习目标结构可以帮助学习者在学习之初对远程学习结果及实现结果的过程做出规划,为之后的目标实施及评价提供保障,规避学习失败的风险。     

Classroom Questioning with Immediate Electronic Response: Do Clickers Improve Learning?

A number of studies have focused on how students and instructors feel about digital learning technologies. This research is focused on the substantive difference in learning outcomes between traditional classrooms and classrooms using clickers. A randomized block experimental design involving four sections of undergraduate Operations Management classes was used to determine if clicker systems increase student learning of both quantitative and conceptual material in Operations Management. Learning was measured using the difference between the scores on an entrance examination and the final examination. The findings of this research provide evidence that the use of immediate feedback using a technology like clickers can have a positive impact on student learning as measured by test scores.     

Does inequality in opportunity perpetuate inequality in outcomes? International evidence from four TIMSS cycles

Entrenched socioeconomic inequalities in achievement have been observed in international assessments for decades, with previous research suggesting that these inequalities may be exacerbated by differentiation in the opportunities provided to various social groups. Much previous research in this field has been US-based or subject to measurement issues. This study investigated socioeconomic inequalities in outcomes and opportunities using four cycles of international assessment data across 78 countries. Further, the paper questions whether inequalities in opportunities are related to inequalities in outcomes. The findings indicate global social inequalities in mathematics and science outcomes, while inequality of opportunity was particularly concentrated in economically advanced countries. Little evidence of the perpetuation of socioeconomic inequality in achievement through differentiated educational provision was found.     

The Determinants of Students' Perceived Learning Outcomes and Satisfaction in University Online Education: An Empirical Investigation*

In this study, structural equation modeling is applied to examine the determinants of students' satisfaction and their perceived learning outcomes in the context of university online courses. Independent variables included in the study are course structure, instructor feedback, self‐motivation, learning style, interaction, and instructor facilitation as potential determinants of online learning. A total of 397 valid unduplicated responses from students who have completed at least one online course at a university in the Midwest were used to examine the structural model. The results indicated that all of the antecedent variables significantly affect students' satisfaction. Of the six antecedent variables hypothesized to affect the perceived learning outcomes, only instructor feedback and learning style are significant. The structural model results also reveal that user satisfaction is a significant predictor of learning outcomes. The findings suggest online education can be a superior mode of instruction if it is targeted to learners with specific learning styles (visual and read/write learning styles) and with timely, meaningful instructor feedback of various types.     

Assurance of Learning in the MIS Program

This article describes the development of a systematic and practical methodology for assessing program effectiveness and monitoring student development in undergraduate decision sciences programs. The model we present is based on a student's progression through learning stages associated with four key competencies: technical, analytical, communicative, and managerial. Key learning activities are embedded in major courses, resulting in clear and documented demonstrated abilities from the student. The work is based upon what is formally known about student outcomes assessment and input from our own Management Information Systems (MIS) program stakeholders and accrediting bodies. The results of the assurance of learning model can be, in turn, used to refine curriculum and to meet accreditation standards.     

The relationship between protective factors and outcomes for children investigated for maltreatment

ObjectivesThis research explores the relationship between hypothesized protective factors and outcomes for children investigated for maltreatment.MethodsUsing data from the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), we ran logistic regression models to examine the relationship between hypothesized protective factors (social competence, adaptive functioning skills, and peer relationships) and outcomes (externalizing behavior, internalizing behavior, reading competence).ResultsFor each hypothesized protective factor, we found variation in individual scores and sample mean scores at the lower end of the scales, indicating that these children fare worse than most children. However, many children experienced large changes in their individual scores over time suggesting that children can and do improve on these hypothesized protective factors. In examining the relationship between hypothesized protective factors and outcomes, children with higher levels of social competence were significantly more likely to be in the normal range for both externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Children with higher mean adaptive functioning skills were more likely to be in the normal range for both externalizing behavior and reading competence. The positive nature of the child's peer relationships was also related to externalizing behavior and reading competence.ConclusionsOverall, our analyses support the idea that social competence, adaptive functioning skills, and peer relationships are related to outcomes for children investigated for maltreatment. While further research is needed to establish a causal link, this work identifies three individual-level hypothesized protective factors as potential sources of variation in outcomes.Practice implicationsTo prevent or alleviate the harmful consequences maltreatment, it is necessary to understand factors that help children move beyond poor outcomes. Our analyses suggest that a strong relationship exists between a child's social competence, adaptive functioning skills and positive peer relationships and select outcomes three years after being investigated for maltreatment. With these individual-level protective factors related to more positive outcomes, it suggests that intervening to increase protective factors could improve outcomes for maltreated and at-risk children.     

The importance of doing well in whatever you do: A commentary on the special section, “Implementation research in early childhood education”

This commentary on the special section, “Implementation research in early childhood education,” discusses 10 major conclusions drawn from implementation research and 7 additional issues needing clarification. Some major conclusions are that: (1) the level of implementation achieved can have a strong influence on program outcomes, (2) implementation is a multi-dimensional construct, (3) adaptation occurs frequently and may improve outcomes, and (4) many factors present across multiple ecological levels can affect the implementation process. Some of the major issues needing attention in future research involve determining what are the best ways to (1) measure the multiple aspects of implementation, (2) evaluate the relative importance of factors affecting implementation, and (3) clarify which participant characteristics may influence the relationship between implementation and different outcomes.     

An Explorative Study of the Outcome of Language Contact

Contact linguistics,as a sub-field of applied linguistics and sociolinguistics,deals with the process and outcomes of two or more languages’contact.This paper first focuses on the situation in which and when language contact occurs,and then attempts to investigate the outcomes resulting from language contact,and finally makes an examination on the language conflict that inevitably resulted from language contact.It can be implied that language conflict can be effectively resolved or at least mitigated through appropriate language planning measures.