Common Mechanisms in Infant and Adult Category Learning

Computational models of infant categorization often fail to elaborate the transitional mechanisms that allow infants to achieve adult performance. In this article, we apply a successful connectionist model of adult category learning to developmental data. The Supervised and Unsupervised Stratified Adaptive Incremental Network (SUSTAIN) model is able to account for the emergence of infants' sensitivity to correlated attributes (e.g., has wings and can fly). SUSTAIN offers 2 complimentary explanations of the developmental trend. One explanation centers on memory storage limitations, whereas the other focuses on limitations in perceptual systems. Both explanations parallel published findings concerning the cognitive and sensory limitations of infants. SUSTAIN's simulations suggest that conceptual development follows a continuous and smooth trajectory despite qualitative changes in behavior and that the mechanisms that underlie infant and adult categorization might not differ significantly.     

Involving Service Users in a Problem Based Model of Teaching and Learning

Since the introduction of the new degree in social work in the UK, programmes have been developing ways to involve service users, using differing models. This paper will explore how service users can enhance the inquiry based model of teaching and learning while at the same time emphasising the belief that process and content in teaching and learning cannot be separated. It will also show how this approach, by involving service users as consultants, creates expertise and can provide a ‘legitimate constituency’ and thus allow for meaningful participation of service users at all levels of social work education.     

合作学习教学模式在网球教学中的实验研究

通过对网球合作学习教学模式的实验研究,发现合作学习教学模式比常规网球教学模式更有利于提高学生的理论水平,增强学生发现问题、分析问题、解决问题的能力;对改善同学关系、建立师生融洽关系及提高网球学习兴趣有明显促进作用;更有利于提高学生的合作意识、创新意识,促进学生积极主动学习与交流,从而促进网球教学质量的提高。     

政治理论学习效果分析及其改进

本文认为当前大学生思想政治理论课教学实践中影响大学生学习热情、减弱课程教学效果的原因是多元的,文章在分析了当前影响大学生思想政治理论课效果的各种因素基础上,提出了多途并进、综合努力、加强教学实效相关举措的思考。     

Seven Ways of Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The vast majority of Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) grantees are institutions with both undergraduate and graduate programs. Consequently, baccalaureate institutions are underrepresented in university-community partnerships. Although the current emphasis on partnership and engagement arose out of an examination of the scholarly direction of higher education, this history should not preclude institutions with primary teaching-learning activities. Results from one baccalaureate institution show a range of activities appropriate for the involvement of undergraduate institutions in university-community partnerships. This article reviews recent thought and vision to demonstrate the potential advantages of partnership. Seven methods of engagement that can be used by baccalaureate institutions are described. Two important ways include service-learning courses and academically-based service-learning. This article provides examples of these approaches for helping baccalaureate educational institutions become engaged with their communities through their teaching missions.     

On Learning and Teaching Family Therapy

This paper explores some ideas about the process of learning to be a family therapist. It considers the questions: how does one learn to think like a family therapist? How is family therapy best taught? How is it learned? The author's experiences in learning and teaching are described. It is argued that family therapy differs from other approaches to therapy in some fundamental respects, and that learning to ‘be’ a family therapist is a different kind of task than learning to be a practitioner of other therapeutic approaches. The paper examines some key theoretical constructs, especially the idea of ‘levels’ of thinking, which are seen as central to both the learning and practice of family therapy.     

Promoting Deep Learning: A Teaching,Learning and Assessment Endeavour

The need for social workers to develop expertise in critical reflection is now a dominant theme in the literature. How this expertise is achieved, however, remains under‐explored in an environment increasingly focused on outcomes, evidence of performance and teachers' preoccupations with curriculum content and assessment. Students' understanding of critical reflection and how, if at all, their social work education assists in developing this capacity, continue to be under‐represented.

Applying a ‘deep‐learning’ framework, this article outlines an attempt to engage final year social work students in a teaching, learning and assessment exchange that promotes critical reflexivity. It presents the thinking behind the evolution of a unit focused on social work in public welfare and health settings. Using their final assessment exercise in which they are asked to review their learning, it then offers students' responses to that unit. In particular, the paper highlights the personalised practice visions offered by students as they seek to locate themselves, personally and professionally, before making the identity‐challenging transition from student to qualified practitioner.     

Social Work Students' Research-Related Anxiety and Self-Efficacy: Research Instructors' Perceptions and Teaching Innovations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine social work research instructors' perceptions of research-related anxiety and research confidence among social work students, and teaching strategies to identify and manage anxiety. A national web-based survey of 186 BSW and MSW social work research instructors was conducted. Many BSW (70%) and MSW (61%) research instructors reported that they used specific activities or approaches to assess or impact upon student anxiety. Qualitative analysis results suggested a teaching model for social work research instructors designed to reduce students' research-related anxiety, including by enhancing their research confidence. Strategies that instructors can use include creating a supportive class climate, providing activities that are emotion-, cognitive-, and action-focused as well as the use of strategic timing. These findings can be used to guide social work research instructors' facilitation of students' attainment of research competencies and help further students' research–practice integration.     

Teaching,as Learning,in Practice

In this article, I investigate an alternative place for the computer with respect to human cognition. Instead of the computer as a model of the human being, I explore the computer in its role as mediator of human activity based on activity theory. In particular, I discuss various metaphors for this role, including that of a tool, and I look at possible roles for the computer in development of human work activity. I emphasize further the importance of the design of this alternative place. I use an example from a computer application in use in a real work setting to illustrate my points.     

学生参与高职院校内部教学质量保障体系建设探讨

学生参与高校内部教学质量保障体系具有重要的理论和实践意义,然而学生却往往成为教学质量保障体系的被动接受者.为了保证学生基本权利的实现,学生参与高校内部教学质量保障体系就成了不可忽视的问题.基于对学生参与高校内部教学质量保障体系现状与原因的分析,探讨了学生参与高职院校内部教学质量保障体系的三种方式,即给学生赋权、采用多样参与形式、利用学生参与评价结果.     

Community-Based Design Research: Learning Across Generations and Strategic Transformations of Institutional Relations Toward Axiological Innovations

The socio-ecological challenges facing communities in the 21st century are building towards a critical conjuncture of history, culture, power, and profound inequity. Scholars working in the service of social transformation and improving the wellbeing of communities are calling for creative, deliberate, and consequential interventions. Tharp & O’Donnell (this issue) call for increased engagement between Cultural-Community Psychology and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory to lead this kind of call. Drawing from our experiences in community based design research, we argue for cultivating axiological innovations in research and interventions. We explore three examples including: critical historicity, inter-generational learning, and strategic transformations of institutional relations.     

Backing Australia's Future: Teaching and Learning in Social Work

Abstract

It is universally expected that universities will strive for quality in teaching and learning. Over the past 25 years, massive changes to higher education have impacted on these institutions. We now have a mass higher education system, a knowledge-based economy, increased technology, and the internationalization of education accompanied by increased student enrolments and political expectations of enhanced graduate outcome measures. These changes pose challenges to developing, updating, and improving the quality of teaching and learning. This new policy environment confronts social work educators as they determine how best to deliver quality professional education. The present paper discusses the concepts underpinning the Australian government's paper Our Universities: Backing Australia's Future as a background to exploring the tensions arising in current professional expectations and criteria for social work programs as they make the transition from old to new paradigms in classroom teaching and field education.     

Discourse Analysis Teaching and Learning for College Students

This paper intends to illustrate how to teach college English especially on discourse analysis. Teachers can use discourse analysis as a research method for investigating their own teaching practices. And learners can benefit from using discourse analysis to explore what language is and how it is used to achieve communicative goals in different contexts.     

Learning Style Characteristics of Adult Dependent Decision Makers: Counseling and Instructional Implications

Dependent decision makers form a significant population of students and adults who seek help from career counselors. This study investigated the learning style characteristics of dependent decision makers in an urban community college setting. The results suggest that the dependent decision makers as a group may have reduced motivation for learning, show limited persistence, and take less responsibility for their learning. Because of these learning style characteristics, we recommend that these characteristics be considered when making counseling interventions and instructional modifications when working with dependent decision makers.