In pursuit of quality: early childhood qualifications and training policy     

Alex Elwick  Jayne Osgood  Leena Robertson  Mona Sakr  Dilys Wilson 《教育政策杂志》2018,33(4):510-525

This paper aims to critique policy discourses around the pursuit of quality in early years education. Taking England as a focal point, it problematizes the use of the term ‘quality’ and attempts to standardise its meaning; highlighting the disconnect that exists between policy and practice. The paper combines discourse analysis of a small number of key government documents with a series of interviews with early years stakeholders in order to identify issues that will have resonance and can inform a much needed continuation of debates about what quality might mean. Over the course of the research it became apparent that there was considerable disquiet amongst early years practitioners with regards the current qualifications and training landscape, particularly with regards to what many viewed as ideologically-driven policy-making, not informed by proper dialogue with the sector.  相似文献   

Some current issues in the administration of Australian universities     

Clarke  Alex M.  Edwards  Lynn M. 《Higher Education》1979,8(5):491-512

The Australian universities have entered a steady-state period in which enrolments and funding are being held with limits predetermined by government instead of being allowed to expand to levels compatible with institutional goals. A model of a university system is emerging from the recommendations of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), and the guidelines set by the Federal Government and the proposals of the State Governments. This model aims to be equitable, accountable, efficient and well co-ordinated but it allows for Federal and State government intrusion into areas of decision-making that the universities have traditionally regarded as their preserves for autonomous action.The Tertiary Education Commission, as the Federal system-authority, has concentrated on the evidence and the need for change in four major areas: the nature of the student population; funding and, consequently, staffing, and procedures for co-ordination and rationalization. The states have shown particular interest in the fourth area and have aligned themselves with the TEC as it has devised a series of proposals, for all four areas, which have ultimately been placed upon the universities in the amended, and sometimes more restrictive form of Federal government guidelines.An examination of the new model of university education that is taking shape and the universities' reaction to it suggests that the universities are faced with three alternatives. They can capitulate and subscribe fully to this model being formulated beyond their campuses or they can unilaterally resist its imposition. Their third option, however, involves both compromise and initiative and it is emerging as the most effective choice for survival in the steady state environment.In taking the third option, the universities will have to adopt a two-pronged approach. Firstly, they will need to anticipate and to adjust to external initiatives by shortterm tactics conducted by an efficient centralized administration. Secondly, and most importantly both the administrative and academic communities will have to accommodate these adjustments to a long-term plan that will determine the role and function of their university and, ultimately, of the entire university system of education amongst the economic, political and social realities of the late 20th century.  相似文献   

Book reviews     

Sir Alex Smith  Norman Evans  Gareth Williams  F. R. Charmer  David R. McNamara  Edward T. Silva  John Heywood  A. M. Ross  P.G.A.  A.M.R. 《Higher Education》1982,11(4):485-496

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Direct Instruction Research in Australia: a ten‐year analysis     

Megan Lockery  Alex Maggs 《教育心理学》1982,2(3-4):263-288

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Gender matters in higher education     

Alex Harrop  Andy Tattersall  Adam Goody 《Educational studies》2007,33(4):385-396

Much of the research in higher education has treated student bodies as homogeneous groups with a consequent neglect of any consideration of gender differences. To test the validity of such research a questionnaire was administered to 255 psychology students. The results showed some important differences in responses between the genders. In particular, the female students reported attaching more importance than males to pre‐course aims, rated various learning activities as more valuable and interesting than males and reported more improvement in nine of the 12 skills surveyed than the males. The males rated experiencing less difficulty for various aspects of the course than anticipated than did the females for 11 of 12 potential difficulties listed. As a consequence, it is suggested that researchers ought to be wary of conducting research into various aspects of higher education without considering potential gender differences.  相似文献   

Re-thinking America's Teacher Education Programs     

Les Stein  Alex Stein 《Clearing house (Menasha, Wis.)》2016,89(6):191-196

More than ever before, our nation needs teachers who are not only motivated to teach but who are also properly educated, trained, and prepared for the many challenges that are facing our nation's K-12 public schools. The education departments and schools at our colleges and universities cannot continue to do business as usual—they need to adjust their teacher preparation programs to effectively support the changing times, and to provide our future teachers with a realistic and rigorous education. There is little or no disagreement among educators, social scientists, or anyone else for that matter, that great schools are the product of great teachers. It makes sense, therefore, to create a world-class teacher education and training program.  相似文献   

Does recreational computer use affect high school achievement?     

Alex J. Bowers  Matthew Berland 《Educational technology research and development : ETR & D》2013,61(1):51-69

Historically, the relationship between student academic achievement and use of computers for fun and video gaming has been described from a multitude of perspectives, from positive, to negative, to neutral. However, recent research has indicated that computer use and video gaming may be positively associated with achievement, yet these studies have focused on small intact and qualitative samples. The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between academic achievement in high school and student use of computers for fun and video gaming using the large nationally representative ELS:2002 sample of students in grade 10 in 2002 and an independent effects two-level hierarchical linear model. Our results indicate that both student use of computers for fun and moderate levels of video gaming were positive and significant on cross-sectional reading and mathematics achievement assessments in high school, controlling for multiple covariates of achievement, but were not related to growth in mathematics from grade 10 to grade 12.  相似文献   

Programming Substrates to Create Interactive Learning Environments     

Alex Repenning 《Interactive Learning Environments》2013,21(1):045-074

Abstract

The design of an effective interactive learning environment requires understanding the intricate relationships among people, tools, and problems. Many end‐users do not have the necessary skills, nor the time or patience, to compose programs from computer science‐sanctioned programming primitives. End‐users require environments that elevate the task of programming to the manipulation of components that are directly pertinent to the problems to be solved. This article introduces the Agentsheets programming substrate employed by designers to create interactive learning environments that are geared toward end‐users solving specific problems. A number of educational and industrial applications are used to illustrate the design and use of Agentsheets environments in domains such as art, artificial life, environmental design, games, kitchen design, and visual programming.  相似文献   

Problems Freshmen Face     

Alex S. Freedman 《College Teaching》2013,61(3):189-190

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The Financing of Extension Services: A Survey Among Rural Youth in Greece     

George Alexopoulos  Alex Koutsouris  Irene Tzouramani 《The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension》2013,19(2):177-190

Abstract

Since its establishment in the early 1950s, the Greek Extension Service has undergone considerable changes. Especially after 1981, a bureaucratic–administrative role related to the implementation of the CAP has been undertaken. In parallel, in the international scene, governments have started experimenting with various cost-recovery mechanisms for extension. In front of such challenges, at both national and international levels, the current work intends to explore the willingness of young rural inhabitants to pay for advisory services. Drawing data from a large-scale survey and utilising probit analysis, the decomposition of the marginal effects of a series demographic, socioeconomic and spatial characteristics and information needs upon willingness to pay for extension is presented. The results show that under preconditions cost-recovery mechanisms may be employed in Greece; furthermore, it is argued that the Extension Service has to be restructured–reoriented.  相似文献