ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Towards Competence-Based Practices in Vocational Education -- What Will the Process Require from Teacher Education and Teacher Identities?
Author: Nissilä, Säde-Pirkko
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Competency Based Education,Vocational Education,Professional Identity,Vocational Education Teachers,Beginning Teachers,Experienced Teachers,Interviews,Questionnaires,Qualitative Research,Teacher Collaboration,Barriers,Competency Based Teacher Education,Workplace Learning,Secondary School Teachers,College Faculty,Teacher Attitudes,Teaching Experience

Competence-based education refers to the integration of knowledge, skills, attitudes and interactivity as the intended outcomes of learning. It makes use of lifelong learning and lifelike tasks in realistic settings and requires the cooperation of teachers. This research was prompted by the desire to explain why collegial cooperation often seems to be problematic in schools and universities. Are there certain social structures or behavioural patterns that influence the cooperative culture in teacher communities? The research material was collected in 2013 and 2014 in Oulu, Finland. The target groups were both newly qualified and experienced vocational teachers at all educational levels (N = 30). The data collection methods were open questions in interviews and questionnaires. The research approach and analysis methods were qualitative. The theoretical background is in humanistic-cognitive and experiential learning as well as in dynamic epistemic conceptions. The findings show that the prevailing model in teacher communities is individualistic, discipline-divided and course-based, especially among older teachers. The obstacles refer to teachers' self-image and a deeply rooted fear of criticism or revelation of incompetence. The promoters of cooperation were connected to the changing practices and desire of sharing with colleagues.
Theory, Practice and Competences in the Study of Pedagogy--Views of Ljubljana and Belgrade University Teachers
Author: Ermenc, Klara Skubic
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,College Faculty,Teacher Attitudes,Theory Practice Relationship,Teacher Competencies,Comparative Education,Educational Change,Schools of Education,Andragogy,Semi Structured Interviews,Opinions,Competency Based Education,Educational Attitudes,Mastery Learning,Skill Development,Qualitative Research,Teacher Characteristics

Over the previous decade, higher education in Slovenia and Serbia has undergone considerable reforms, influenced by the Bologna process and its agenda of competence and learning outcomes. In the context of these reforms, the aim of this research is to consider the question of the relationship between the theoretical and the practical education of pedagogues at the university level. Eleven university professors from departments of pedagogy and andragogy at the universities of Ljubljana and Belgrade were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews focused on two main research questions: 1) how they understand the relationship between pedagogical theory and practice, and the identity of pedagogy as a science in that context, and 2) their opinion about the competence-based approach in the context of the study of pedagogy. The findings show that the majority of the interviewed university teachers hold an opinion that pedagogy is primarily a theoretical (reflective) science and, accordingly, that the mastery of theory is crucial for the development of pedagogues' competences. Furthermore, most of them are rather reserved and critical of the competence approach as well as of the practical skills development. Although there are some differences in opinions between the professors from Ljubljana and Belgrade, this study shows that similar discourses prevail. The gap between pedagogical theory and practice is one of the major issues that have been current in pedagogical science in the recent decades. The findings of our research indicate that there is dissatisfaction with the relationship between modern pedagogical theory and practice, accompanied by the need for its reconceptualization.
Social Capital and Educational Achievements: Coleman vs. Bourdieu
Author: Rogošic, Silvia
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Social Capital,Academic Achievement,Educational Attainment,Social Mobility,Social Theories,Social Structure,Comparative Analysis,Social Networks

The influence of social capital on an individual's educational achievements is the subject of numerous scientific papers. Research on social capital is most frequently based on Coleman's (1988) or Bourdieu's (1986) theories of capital, which are related to different paradigms of social theory: whereas Coleman's approach has its roots in structural functionalism, Bourdieu's approach contains elements of conflict theory. A number of authors, starting with Bourdieu, attempt to explain and prove that, when connected with the education of individuals, the activity of social capital facilitates social reproduction. Other authors support the notion that social capital is, in fact, a powerful weapon that encourages social mobility. A third group of researchers emphasise that neither of these approaches in isolation can entirety explain the influences of social capital on an individual's education (Ho, 2003). The present paper offers a review of research focusing on the influences of social capital on educational achievements, while outlining the fundamental differences between the two theoretical approaches that are most frequently used for research of this topic. The aim of the paper is to explain the influence of social capital on an individual's educational achievements under Bourdieu's and Coleman's theoretical concepts, and to establish whether combining the approaches is possible. The conclusion and arguments show that it is legitimate to use all three theoretical approaches.
Didactic Strategies and Competencies of Gifted Students in the Digital Era
Author: Gojkov, Grozdanka
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Gifted,Masters Programs,Teaching Methods,Educational Strategies,Learning Strategies,Observation,Student Surveys,Minimum Competencies,Best Practices,Academic Achievement,Cognitive Style,Foreign Countries

This paper presents the findings of explorative research undertaken on an intentional sample consisting of 112 master's students of pedagogy in Serbia, assumed to be potentially gifted and to have demonstrated academic giftedness, since their average mark during their studies was above 9.00 on a scale of 1.0 to 10.0. The intention was to examine the influence of didactic strategies and methods on the competencies of gifted students and thus verify the hypothesis on the significance of certain didactic strategies and methods for the contribution of higher education teaching in order to encourage intellectual autonomy in learning in the case of gifted university students. The method of systematic non-experimental observation was used, accompanied by an assessment scale used by students to estimate the level of the presence of the listed strategies, methods or procedures during studies and to what an extent learning and teaching strategies used in lectures, exercises, seminars, and consultations addressed their needs and contributed to the development of competencies. When making a choice between didactic strategies, methods and procedures, particular attention was paid to the 52 offered methods in order to include 30 of those that refer to problem learning, creative approaches to learning, critical autonomy etc., and for the list of 35 competencies of which 30 refer to independent thinking and are elements of critical thinking and indicators of, above all, approaches to the learning of gifted students. The essential finding was that the achieved competencies with higher average values were, mostly, those that are important for intellectual functioning, but that were not directly connected to what explains critical thinking, intellectual autonomy, as well as to the knowledge of basic concepts, the understanding of facts, and the giving explanations of events.
Fostering the Quality of Teaching and Learning by Developing the &quot;Neglected Half &quot; of University Teachers' Competencies
Author: Marentic Požarnik, Barica
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Teacher Competencies,Case Studies,Instructional Improvement,Instructional Effectiveness,Instructional Innovation,Higher Education,Educational Practices,Faculty Development,Course Descriptions,Questionnaires,Rating Scales,Participant Satisfaction,Teacher Improvement,Foreign Countries

For too long, the quality of teaching and learning in universities has been undervalued in comparison to research. Current social, economic, ecological and other challenges require that more attention be given to measures to improve the situation. Academic staff should receive incentives, policy support and high-quality pedagogical training to develop key competencies for excellence in teaching. Examples of key competencies in this area in different countries are presented as well as some schemes of policy support and pedagogical training. The case study from the University of Ljubljana is based on experiences gathered from four groups of participants during a course on Improving University Teaching in 2013 and 2014. They gave their opinion on the relative importance of different competencies in teaching, to what extent have they developed them during the course and, finally, which activities and methods used have most contributed to their development. At the end, some measures to foster excellence in teaching at the level of policy are proposed, as well as areas for further research.
Raising Expectations for U.S. Youth with Disabilities: Federal Disability Policy Advances Integrated Employment
Author: Novak, Jeanne
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Youth Employment,Youth Problems,Youth Programs,Disabilities,Federal Legislation,Integrated Activities,Inclusion,Community Based Instruction (Disabilities),Related Services (Special Education),Public Policy,Employment Potential,Secondary School Students,Transitional Programs,Administrative Principles,Equal Opportunities (Jobs),Civil Rights Legislation,Competition,Financial Support,Alignment (Education),Delivery Systems

While conversations around the inclusion of individuals with disabilities often focus on the educational rights and needs of children with disabilities during their school years, there is a growing recognition that the period of transition from secondary school to adult roles is a critical time in the lives of individuals with disabilities. For young people, gaining meaningful employment in a typical community job is an important step towards realising full community membership. The present article examines how contemporary U.S. federal disability policy has heightened expectations that youth with disabilities--including those with significant disabilities--can and should be prepared to work in integrated workplaces. The article begins with a consideration of how evolving assumptions about the nature of disability and the employment potential of individuals with significant disabilities have influenced the development of federal disability policy in the U.S. This is followed by an overview of key legislative and policy developments in the areas of civil rights and workforce development that have the potential to dramatically impact the employment outlook for young people with disabilities. The article concludes with a discussion of challenges in translating the legislative intent of federal disability policy into noticeable improvements in employment outcomes, along with recommendations for aligning legislation, funding priorities and service delivery systems to achieve policy goals.
The Effects of the Comprehensive Inductive Educational Approach on the Social Behaviour of Preschool Children in Kindergarten
Author: Kroflic, Robi
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Preschool Children,Kindergarten,Social Behavior,Program Effectiveness,Program Implementation,Experimental Groups,Control Groups,Questionnaires,Teacher Surveys,Minimum Competencies,Behavior Rating Scales,Positive Behavior Supports,Intervention,Comparative Analysis,Correlation,Foreign Countries,Quasiexperimental Design

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the effects of the five-month implementation of the comprehensive inductive educational approach on the social behaviour of kindergarten children. The sample consisted of 52 children in the experimental group and 48 children in the control group, aged from 2.6 to 6.0 years. The kindergarten teachers responsible for the two groups completed the Slovenian version of the &quot;Social Competence and Behaviour Evaluation&quot; questionnaire before and after the implementation of the approach. The children in the experimental group achieved higher scores than those in the control group on five of the eight basic scales of social behaviour, and on two of the three composite scales, as well as on the general result of social adaptation. It can be concluded that the implementation of the comprehensive educational approach influenced various aspects of the children's social behaviour.
Use of Online Learning Resources in the Development of Learning Environments at the Intersection of Formal and Informal Learning: The Student as Autonomous Designer
Author: Lebenicnik, Maja
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Electronic Learning,Informal Education,College Instruction,Computer Uses in Education,Educational Environment,Access to Education,College Students,Preservice Teachers,Comparative Analysis,Student Needs,Learning Activities,Student Surveys,Incidence,Correlation,Foreign Countries,Statistical Analysis

Learning resources that are used in the education of university students are often available online. The nature of new technologies causes an interweaving of formal and informal learning, with the result that a more active role is expected from students with regard to the use of ICT for their learning. The variety of online learning resources (learning content and learning tools) facilitates informed use and enables students to create the learning environment that is most appropriate for their personal learning needs and preferences. In contemporary society, the creation of an inclusive learning environment supported by ICT is pervasive. The model of Universal Design for Learning is becoming increasingly significant in responding to the need for inclusive learning environments. In this article, we categorize different online learning activities into the principles of Universal Design for Learning. This study examines ICT use among university students (N = 138), comparing student teachers with students in other study programs. The findings indicate that among all students, activities with lower demands for engagement are most common. Some differences were observed between student teachers and students from other programs. Student teachers were more likely than their peers to perform certain activities aimed at meeting diverse learner needs, but the percentage of students performing more advanced activities was higher for students in other study programs than for student teachers. The categorization of activities revealed that student teachers are less likely to undertake activities that involve interaction with others. Among the sample of student teachers, we found that personal innovativeness is correlated with diversity of activities in only one category. The results show that student teachers should be encouraged to perform more advanced activities, especially activities involving interaction with others, collaborative learning and use of ICT to plan and organize their own learning processes.
Relations between Students' Motivation, and Perceptions of the Learning Environment
Author: Radovan, Marko
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Student Motivation,Educational Environment,Student Satisfaction,Student Attitudes,Questionnaires,Correlation,Goal Orientation,Motivation Techniques,Student Characteristics,Performance Factors,Predictor Variables,Individual Development,Rating Scales,Regression (Statistics),Graduate Students,Aptitude Treatment Interaction,Foreign Countries,Learning Strategies

In this research, we have examined the characteristics of university students' motivation and its connection with perceptions of the learning environment. Higher education teachers often find it challenging to decide how to organize their lectures and what instructional strategy they should use to be most effective. Therefore, we endeavoured to determine which characteristics of the learning environment best predict the motivational orientation of students and their satisfaction with the course. The survey included 120 postgraduate students of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana. In order to measure their motivation, we employed several scales of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (Pintrich et al., 1991). For the purpose of this research, we created a new questionnaire for their evaluation of the learning environment. The results revealed a high correlation between the intrinsic goal orientation, self-efficacy, and control beliefs. The most important factors of the learning environment that are connected with the formation of intrinsic goal-orientation and the enjoyment of education are the perception of the usefulness of the studied topics, a feeling of autonomy, and teacher support. To an extent, these findings are supported by the findings of those authors who recommend using those methods of teaching that are in compliance with the student-centred understanding of teaching and learning.
Inclusive Education for Children with Specific Learning Difficulties: Analysis of Opportunities and Barriers in Inclusive Education in Slovenia
Author: Kavkler, Marija
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Inclusion,Learning Disabilities,Barriers,Access to Education,Educational Policy,Teaching Methods,Context Effect,Policy Formation

Inclusive education allows for universal inclusion, participation and achievement of all children, including children with specific learning difficulties (SpLD). Children with SpLD form a heterogeneous group with diverse cognitive deficits, special educational needs (SEN) and strengths, and have a legislated right to the continuum of both assistance and support programmes. Although their intellectual capacity is average or above average, their learning achievements in some learning domains are modest, and they are poorly integrated into their social environment, which often results in their discrimination. Barriers and opportunities in the area of SpLD were analysed with the aid of Ball's model (1994), with factors and conditions being analysed within the contexts of policy influence, text production and practice. The contexts of policy influence and text production provide the basic conditions for the inclusive education of children with SpLD. The context of influence on inclusive policy for children with SpLD represents a systematic approach to policy initiation and to the prerequisites for its implementation in practice. The context of policy text production focuses on professionals and their impact on the enactment of the rights of children with severe SpLD. The context of practice concerns barriers and opportunities for implementing inclusion in practice. Early identification and diagnosis of pupils' strengths, deficits and SEN, together with intensified treatment corresponding to the SEN of children with SpLD, could significantly influence the efficiency of the educational process. Barriers, primarily of an immaterial nature, are mainly encountered in those schools that do not implement the five-tier Response to Intervention (RTI) approach. This approach enables children with SpLD a continuum of team-based diagnostic evaluation, effective adaptations and assistance. The main reasons for the unfavourable situation concern education professionals and their attitude towards children with SpLD, poor knowledge of SpLD, a lack of teamwork in problem solving, and a lack of partnership commitment between education professionals, parents and children. It is expected that changes could be brought about through innovations in the education of future teachers, and through positive cases of children with SpLD being treated effectively in practice. The conditions for the development of the inclusive treatment of children with SpLD could be created through legislative and systematic work.
The Sources of Inequity in the Education System of Serbia and How to Combat Them
Author: Pesikan, Ana
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Equal Education,Educational Practices,Preschool Education,Admission Criteria,Competition,Awards,College Entrance Examinations,Preschool Tests,Dropout Prevention,Enrollment,Inclusion,Scholarships,Public Education

The concept of equal opportunity for all students is deeply embedded in the Serbian constitution and in education laws. On that level, there is no doubt that everyone is ensured an opportunity to receive quality education. Many measures in education policy have been created specifically to achieve this objective and make the system fair and inclusive. The Coleman Report was linked to a wave of optimism that certain educational measures would help in achieving these noble goals. This aim is a high priority in education in a democratic country, and due to its importance needs to be re-examined. Thus, the present research examines the equity of students in the Serbian education system, detecting areas on all educational levels that could be (or already are) systemic sources of inequity (e.g., criteria for preschool institution enrolment, the system of student awards, rationalisation of the school network, the concept of entrance exams to secondary school or university, etc.). A number of measures have already been taken in the system specifically to deal with inequity (e.g., the Preschool Preparatory Programme, dropout measures, inclusion, scholarships, etc.). The effects of these measures in particular are analysed in the present work. In addition to an analysis of the systemic sources of inequity in the Serbian education system, the article also makes recommendations for their overcoming.
Opportunity Makes the Cheater: High School Students and Academic Dishonesty
Author: Šorgo, Andrej
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Cheating,Ethics,Student Behavior,High School Students,Foreign Countries,Questionnaires,College Freshmen,Cultural Influences,Individual Characteristics,Institutional Characteristics,Statistical Analysis,Student Attitudes

The purpose of this study was to reveal data about cheating behaviours in Slovenian upper secondary schools, to raise awareness and to lower tolerance for such behaviour. To acquire information about demographics, cheating behaviour, and opinions on such behaviour, we compiled a questionnaire that targeted a university population of first-year students (N = 323). From the results, it was revealed that cheating is a way of life in Slovenian schools, and almost all students at least occasionally indulge in some academic misbehaviour. It seems that a culture tolerant or even supportive of such behaviour has been established among students, parents and teachers, all working together to &quot;help&quot; students climb the ladder of success. The open question is whether all kinds of cheating are even recognized as such. Cheating is most common in homework, but at the other end, even systems such as external exams are not immune to fraud. At the moment, classic methods of cheating dominate. Differences between characters (e.g. gender) and educational institutions in most cases are non-existent or small, a finding that could aid in establishing measures to prevent cheating inside schools as institutions.