title: An investigation into classroom teachers' perceptions of the value of assessment for formative purposes in secondary schools in Solomon Islands

authors: Walani, Nathan Douglas

subjects: Formative

abstract: A key purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of classroom
teachers' perceptions of the value and impact of formative assessment in
secondary schools in Solomon Islands. The process of data collection included
initial interviews with five classroom teachers selected from four secondary
schools in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The interviews were conducted using semistructured
interviews with each of the teachers and ended with a focus group
conversation. The findings of this study indicated that formative assessment, as a
classroom strategy, does have a place in secondary schools in Solomon Islands.
Assessment for learning (AfL) is currently employed by these teachers, but the
form of formative assessment as reported being used in Solomon Islands
secondary school classrooms is limited by policies, systems and methods
employed by schools.
This study suggests that if classroom teachers are to become effective 'mediators
of learning' they must have a better theoretical understanding of social
constructivism and metacognition. Otherwise, assessment will always sit outside
the process of learning, and classroom teachers and learners will always play
traditional rather than contemporary roles in the learning and teaching (and
assessment) process. For improvements to be made in areas highlighted in this
study, focus must be on teacher knowledge and ability and the policies and
practices of schools. Unless teachers, students, parents and policymakers see and
value the potential of formative assessment, it will continue to be underemphasized,
under-valued and under-used.

text: An investigation into classroom teachers' perceptions of the value of assessment for formative purposes in secondary schools in Solomon Islands A key purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of classroom
teachers' perceptions of the value and impact of formative assessment in
secondary schools in Solomon Islands. The process of data collection included
initial interviews with five classroom teachers selected from four secondary
schools in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The interviews were conducted using semistructured
interviews with each of the teachers and ended with a focus group
conversation. The findings of this study indicated that formative assessment, as a
classroom strategy, does have a place in secondary schools in Solomon Islands.
Assessment for learning (AfL) is currently employed by these teachers, but the
form of formative assessment as reported being used in Solomon Islands
secondary school classrooms is limited by policies, systems and methods
employed by schools.
This study suggests that if classroom teachers are to become effective 'mediators
of learning' they must have a better theoretical understanding of social
constructivism and metacognition. Otherwise, assessment will always sit outside
the process of learning, and classroom teachers and learners will always play
traditional rather than contemporary roles in the learning and teaching (and
assessment) process. For improvements to be made in areas highlighted in this
study, focus must be on teacher knowledge and ability and the policies and
practices of schools. Unless teachers, students, parents and policymakers see and
value the potential of formative assessment, it will continue to be underemphasized,
under-valued and under-used.

year: 2009

title: Contemporary form and dynamic of the international division of labour

authors: O'Neil, Paul James

subjects: international division of labour

abstract: With increasing global capitalist structures there is a need to advance understanding of the structure and dynamic of the contemporary international division of labour. This can be approached through a critical enquiry: first to define and identify key aspects of the nature and dynamic of the international division of labour out of existing discourses and second to develop and modify the conceptualisation by the Regulation Approach theorist, Lipietz of a 'third' international division of labour in the light of contemporary developments since the early 1990s. 
Lipietz' third international division of labour supposes a co-existence of diverse national models of development in an international trading space where diversity arises from the different pathways states take to re-regulate the crisis form of the Fordist capital-labour relation. In contrast, the critique of the third international division of labour developed here argues for converging counter-tendencies, particularly among advanced capitalist states towards a Toyotist technological paradigm - a term used to encompass both the form of the new international best practice production system and the corresponding segmented form of national labour markets. These counter-tendencies are driven by a neo-liberalised international mode of regulation constraining states towards neo-liberal competition states. The mode of neo-liberal labour market regulation in turn flexibilises labour markets. Neo-liberal labour market regulations permissive of labour market flexibility re-segment existing labour market segments established in the Fordist capital-labour relation. This re-segmentation broadens and deepens existing labour market segments and incorporates both involvement and flexibility in the labour relation and flexibility in the wage relation by treating different labour market segments in different ways. This ability to re-segment labour market segments enables multinationals to reproduce the technological paradigm of economies of scale and scope in international production systems. This capitallabour relation is termed the 'inconsistent hybrid' because it succeeds in reproducing production relations of worker involvement in the labour process with externalised wage relations within the same social formation. 
The central argument of the thesis is that at the national level, among developed nation states at least, there is a converging tendency towards national models of production in which the inconsistent hybrid capital-labour relation is dominant. More exactly, each national trajectory increasingly reflects different sides of the same tendency which could be termed Toyotism. Lipietz' third international division of labour is thus identified as less profound and closing towards functionally equivalent versions of the inconsistent hybrid.

text: Contemporary form and dynamic of the international division of labour With increasing global capitalist structures there is a need to advance understanding of the structure and dynamic of the contemporary international division of labour. This can be approached through a critical enquiry: first to define and identify key aspects of the nature and dynamic of the international division of labour out of existing discourses and second to develop and modify the conceptualisation by the Regulation Approach theorist, Lipietz of a 'third' international division of labour in the light of contemporary developments since the early 1990s. 
Lipietz' third international division of labour supposes a co-existence of diverse national models of development in an international trading space where diversity arises from the different pathways states take to re-regulate the crisis form of the Fordist capital-labour relation. In contrast, the critique of the third international division of labour developed here argues for converging counter-tendencies, particularly among advanced capitalist states towards a Toyotist technological paradigm - a term used to encompass both the form of the new international best practice production system and the corresponding segmented form of national labour markets. These counter-tendencies are driven by a neo-liberalised international mode of regulation constraining states towards neo-liberal competition states. The mode of neo-liberal labour market regulation in turn flexibilises labour markets. Neo-liberal labour market regulations permissive of labour market flexibility re-segment existing labour market segments established in the Fordist capital-labour relation. This re-segmentation broadens and deepens existing labour market segments and incorporates both involvement and flexibility in the labour relation and flexibility in the wage relation by treating different labour market segments in different ways. This ability to re-segment labour market segments enables multinationals to reproduce the technological paradigm of economies of scale and scope in international production systems. This capitallabour relation is termed the 'inconsistent hybrid' because it succeeds in reproducing production relations of worker involvement in the labour process with externalised wage relations within the same social formation. 
The central argument of the thesis is that at the national level, among developed nation states at least, there is a converging tendency towards national models of production in which the inconsistent hybrid capital-labour relation is dominant. More exactly, each national trajectory increasingly reflects different sides of the same tendency which could be termed Toyotism. Lipietz' third international division of labour is thus identified as less profound and closing towards functionally equivalent versions of the inconsistent hybrid.

year: 2006

title: Composition Portfolio

authors: Ulenberg, Phillippa

subjects: composition portfolio

abstract: The music written for this portfolio offers creative answers to some of the challenges facing contemporary New Zealand composition, including multiculturalism.This has involved in-depth research using a variety of methods. Engagement was undertaken with linguists and musicians from Malaysia and Korea, who not only assisted with texts, but also spoke knowledgeably about their cultural traditions and past and present musical genres. The inclusion of Chinese gu-zheng in several of the works was made possible with the assistance given by Chen Xi Yao, an excellent performer who comes from a long lineage of musicians. Attending concerts given by performers of the instruments that have been used in the portfolio was essential to understanding the sounds and uses of the instruments. In addition, on-line sources include many examples of the sounds. Attendance at workshops on Māori taonga pūoro also brought the additional honour, benefits and experience of making and playing the instruments, and the opportunities to meet and work with leading makers and performers of these musical treasures. Sources of Western classical music that have been particularly influential during the writing of the portfolio are orchestral works by Igor Stravinsky, Samuel Barber and Param Vir, and the song cycles of Alban Berg and Benjamin Britten. Luciano Berio’s virtuosic piece for solo bassoon was also instructive. Experiences of composition, reflection and scholarly research underpin the portfolio and have have informed the composition of each work.

text: Composition Portfolio The music written for this portfolio offers creative answers to some of the challenges facing contemporary New Zealand composition, including multiculturalism.This has involved in-depth research using a variety of methods. Engagement was undertaken with linguists and musicians from Malaysia and Korea, who not only assisted with texts, but also spoke knowledgeably about their cultural traditions and past and present musical genres. The inclusion of Chinese gu-zheng in several of the works was made possible with the assistance given by Chen Xi Yao, an excellent performer who comes from a long lineage of musicians. Attending concerts given by performers of the instruments that have been used in the portfolio was essential to understanding the sounds and uses of the instruments. In addition, on-line sources include many examples of the sounds. Attendance at workshops on Māori taonga pūoro also brought the additional honour, benefits and experience of making and playing the instruments, and the opportunities to meet and work with leading makers and performers of these musical treasures. Sources of Western classical music that have been particularly influential during the writing of the portfolio are orchestral works by Igor Stravinsky, Samuel Barber and Param Vir, and the song cycles of Alban Berg and Benjamin Britten. Luciano Berio’s virtuosic piece for solo bassoon was also instructive. Experiences of composition, reflection and scholarly research underpin the portfolio and have have informed the composition of each work.

year: 2011