Teacher behavior,student interest and affective learning: putting theory to practice

Students of Project Adapt (PA), an instructional program for at-risk middle school students in Brooklyn NY, have displayed startling improvement on cognitive outcome measures. Teacher given grades and standardized tests illuminate the progress students have made since entering the program. The current investigation attempts to analyze PA on students' affective responses in a pre/post-test experimental design. Upon entering PA, students completed measures of interest, affect, and their previous teachers' behavior (pre). These ratings were then compared to end of year ratings on the same instruments (post). Results indicate students' perceive PA teachers utilizing different behaviors than their previous teachers. Additionally, student affect and interest increased significantly. Results of this study have implications for both instructional researchers and educational practitioners.     

Assessing information literacy in first year writing

As the programmatic instructional offerings of academic libraries expand and grow more complex, so too does the effort to effectively assess these programs. In particular, programs informed by the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education are placing librarians in a position to affect institutional outcomes, related to student learning and critical thinking, on a foundational level. In order to assess one particular scaffolded instructional program, the authors of this study collected a variety of data from instructional attendees over a period of four semesters. Through subsequent analysis, these data provided researchers with a means to explore multiple facets of the local instructional environment, including both direct and peripheral intervening factors associated with a program of ongoing support for the development of information literacy (IL) competencies among students enrolled in a first-year writing course. Importantly, this study's findings help to highlight the importance of course-integrated IL content via pre/post-IL session support provided by writing instructors, as well as instructional effectiveness on the part of librarian instructors. Together these facets of the learning environment promote positive affective outcomes for student learners in the context of their development of IL competencies.     

Teacher Access and Mentoring Abilities: Predicting the Outcome Value of Extra Class Communication

Reasoning from Sunnafrank's theory of predicted outcome value (POV), this investigation examined how students' assessments of their teachers' accessibility and mentoring abilities influenced their perceptions of the predicted value of engaging in extra class communication (ECC). Student perceptions of teacher physical and social accessibility, along with teacher mentoring abilities (including career, course, and psychosocial), were all substantially and positively related to students' ratings of the POV of ECC. However, only social accessibility, course mentoring, and career mentoring emerged as significant predictors of POV in the regression model. These findings validate POV theory by confirming that students readily assess what they have to gain (or lose) from potential ECC encounters based on what their teachers can offer them. These findings are discussed with regard to understanding how students may be motivated to realize the benefits of ECC.     

Teacher e-mail message strategies and students' willingness to communicate online

In light of the prevalent use of e-mail between teachers and students, researchers have highlighted the need to assess its uses and effects. Relying on the research and thinking of teacher immediacy and extra-class communication, we developed a scale that measures those e-mail message strategies that influence students' willingness to communicate online with their teachers. Next, we isolated those reasons that students use e-mail to interact with their teachers: (1) to clarify course material and procedures, (2) as a means of efficient communication, and (3) for personal/social reasons. Finally, we examined student characteristics such as gender and ethnicity, and history of e-mail use that may (or may not) influence their attitudes toward e-mail exchanges with teachers.     

运用引导性探究设计实施的大学生信息素养课程教学——以上海财经大学图书馆为例

[目的/意义]以学分课形式开展信息素养教学的挑战在于如何在一个相对较长的时间里,激发并保持学生的学习兴趣,传授课程内容和技能,使课程学习效果转移到学科学习的过程中。本文主要讨论引导性探究应对这种挑战所发挥的作用和局限性。[方法/过程]引导性探究、教学支架、小组学习是设计引导探究式信息素养教学的关键。以案例分析的方式,介绍引入引导性探究设计实施本科生信息素养学分课的过程。[结果/结论]运用引导性探究设计信息素养学分课,提供更多近距离观察学生的机会,培养学生合作学习的能力;引导性探究需要教师设计教学支架、观察和诊断学习表现、迭代改进教学设计,但也存在教师学科视角缺位、知识转移效率评估困难等局限。     

An assessment of the convergent validity of the checklist of behavior alteration techniques: The association between teachers’ likelihood‐of‐use ratings and informants’ frequency‐of‐use ratings

An important area of applied communication research is teachers’ use of classroom discipline and management strategies which have become known as Behavior Alteration Techniques (BATs). The instrument commonly used to measure teachers’ use of BATs is the checklist of Behavior Alteration Techniques. The purpose of the present research was to assess the convergent validity of the checklist of Behavior Alteration Techniques. Thus, this research attempted to assess the extent to which teachers’ likelihood‐of‐use ratings converge with other measures of teacher BAT use. It was hypothesized that the correlation between students’ and student teachers’ ratings of the frequency of teacher BAT use would be significantly higher than the correlation of either index with teachers’ likelihood‐of‐use ratings. This hypothesis was not supported: The BATs checklist did not fail this test of convergent validity. However, the results do not support the claim that the BATs checklist passed this test of convergent validity. Explanations for these results are offered and their implications are discussed. In brief, the present results suggest important considerations in the study of this important area of applied communication.     

Should I Stay or Go?: Student Identity Gaps,Feelings, and Intent to Leave

This study examined gaps between students’ personal, enacted, relational, and communal identities. The particular interest was students’ intentions to leave the university as a function of their identity gaps, self-esteem, communication satisfaction, motivation, and general affect. Participants (N = 209 undergraduate students) completed self-report measures while reflecting on their communication with others at the university (e.g., faculty, staff, and peers). Results of path analysis models indicated that personal-communal identity gaps are predictive of students’ communication satisfaction, motivation, general affect, and their intentions to leave the university. This predictive ability is enhanced by the presence of personal-relational gaps.     

Information literacy needs of nontraditional graduate students in social work

The increased use of technology in academia combined with the challenges posed by growing enrollments of nontraditional graduate students have forced institutions to adapt educational programs to insure student retention and academic success. This case study examines student perceptions and responses to a required information literacy workshop, developed for a Masters in Social Work, herein referred to as an MSW program. A review of the literature on information literacy needs of graduate students (specifically nontraditional students entering MSW programs) is presented below. Also included are the results of a pre/post-questionnaire that was developed and administered in the fall of 2003/2004 along with classroom observations to determine if additional information literacy instruction was necessary. The findings suggested that there was significant need for additional instruction and that graduate students recognize the need for information literacy instruction throughout their MSW track.     

Teaching the teachers to teach information literacy: A literature review

As part of the ongoing debates over the best methods for teaching information literacy, some librarians have argued for a “teach the teachers” strategy. In this approach, librarians concentrate some of their instructional energies on teaching disciplinary faculty to teach information literacy. In this paper, multiple examples of “teach the teachers” efforts are reviewed, in order to provide insight into the impact that taking this approach might have on librarians, faculty, and students. Results indicate that the “teach the teachers” approach shows promise as one method by which librarians can support the integration of information literacy into the curriculum, but that more assessment is needed to determine the long-term impact of such initiatives on faculty teaching practices and students' information literacy development.     

Self- and Cohort-directed Design in Research Training Tutorials for Undergraduate Researchers: Increasing Ownership and Relevance to Improve Learning Outcomes

This paper describes and analyses a method of self- and cohort-directed design of research training tutorials for final-year research-oriented undergraduate students at the University of Queensland, Australia. The design methodology centered on a research skills self-assessment document used at the university, and utilized Personal Response System (PRS) technology to gather the cohort's design decisions. This paper examines the pedagogical framework for this instructional approach, analyses feedback on the students' experiences and performances, and outlines future further developments for this program.     

基于读者自主调查的大学生阅读状况分析——以中原工学院为例

[目的/意义]为了更真实、全面地了解中原工学院大学生的阅读现状和需求,以提升阅读推广活动的有效性和针对性。[方法/过程]在教师的指导下,在中原工学院图书馆的图书借阅排行等记录的基础上,学生组成兴趣小组进行观察,自主设计问卷、组织访谈。[结果/结论]分析中原工学院大学生阅读状况,并提出相应的建议。本次调查采取的方法,对于高校阅读推广具有参考作用,但其中的结果和数据仅对中原工学院有效,不具有普遍意义。     

The relationship of interest to internal and external motivation

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between student interest and motivation. Previous studies have shown that measures of interest have attained positive relationships with global measures of motivation (Frymier, Shulman & Houser, 1996; Weber & Patterson, 2000). Additionally, even though a number of instructional researchers have speculated that interest is related to motivation through intrinsic means (Brophy, 1983; Mitchell, 1993; Schiefele, 1991; Schraw, Brunning & Svoboda, 1995; Stipiek, 1996; Tobias, 1994), there has been no systematic effort to provide any empirical evidence to these claims. Results indicate that interest is significantly related to intrinsic, but not extrinsic, motivation.     

国外中小学图书馆对学生学业表现的影响研究综述

国外自20世纪60年代以来出现了大量关于中小学图书馆影响的研究,对这些成果的综述显示,国外考察中小学图书馆对学生学业表现(包括考试成绩以及阅读兴趣、信息素养、合作能力等综合能力)的影响研究可划为两类:一类以学校为分析单元,侧重考察中小学图书馆与学生考试成绩的关系;另一类以学生或教师为分析单元,侧重考察图书馆对学生综合能力的帮助作用.两类研究在设计思路、数据收集、数据分析等方面各有特点,在研究结论上均显示,有效的中小学图书馆服务对学生学业表现有积极作用.相比之下,我国中小学图书馆研究缺乏基于数据支持的、能够为素质教育实践提供启迪的研究成果.本文呼吁国内相关领域研究者借鉴国际同行的研究思路,弥补我国中小学图书馆研究的不足.     

The association between immediacy and socio‐communicative style

The very strong association of immediacy with positive instructional outcomes has led some to question whether teacher immediacy amounts to anything more than being responsive with students. The present study demonstrates that a measure of teacher immediacy is strongly associated with the Socio‐Communicative Style of the teacher—both the assertiveness and the responsiveness components. It is concluded that it is theoretically justified to teach pre‐service or in‐service teachers to engage in immediate behaviors as means of increasing their communication competence and probably teaching effectiveness. The impact of immediacy observed in the classroom environment is seen as likely to be generalizable to other communication contexts.     

The Changed Role of the Elementary Library Media Teacher

The fundamental value of the library media program is its involvement with the shcool wide instructional program and the development of informatino literacy skills. While some improvements can be made by either administrator or library media teacher working alone, when there is learning the results are multiplied. Specific actions to help intitiate change are described. The need to balance sufficient structure with elements of choice and creativitiy, to insure young students are successful not frustrated by search assignemnts, is adressed. Current trends encourage classroom teachers to provide students with interdisciplinary, cooperative, and authentic learning experiences. When the library media teacher plans cooperatively with the classroom teacher these needs can be met. Examples of learning activities which illustrate this philosphy are provided for grades 1-6. By introducing elementary grade students to research through appropriate assignemnts matched to their abilities and interests, they remain eager to explore.     

A Librarian Research Consultation Requirement for University Honors Students Beginning Their Theses

Honors students represent a population for whom special library instructional services may be appropriate. The author describes a required librarian research consultation program for honors students starting work on their theses.     

The functional approach to presidential television spots: Acclaiming,attacking, defending 1952–2000

This study examined the impact that instructional technology use, course design, and instructor and student sex differences have on students’ initial perceptions of affect toward the course and the instructor. Participants included 864 students who were randomly assigned to read one of 16 scenarios that manipulated the amount of instructional technology use across two types of courses with either male or female instructors. A factorial analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for technology use on students’ initial affect, as well as a significant two‐way interaction effect of technology use by student sex. Planned cell comparisons revealed that technology use has primarily a curvilinear effect, whereby students in the minimal and moderate technology use conditions reported higher levels of initial affect than students in the no technology and complete technology conditions. For the two‐way interaction effect, planned cell comparisons revealed that female students reported higher levels of affect as the amount of technology use increased from minimal to moderate amounts of use, whereas male students reported lower levels of affect across the same two conditions. Overall, the results highlight the importance of using instructional technology within a framework of pedagogical methods designed to achieve specific instructional objectives.     

Integrating Assessment into Recurring Information Literacy Instruction

SUMMARY

Information literacy instruction is integrated into the distance education program in library and information science (LEEP) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). This article describes the LEEP program and the library services provided to its students. Published research on LEEP and related topics in librarianship is reviewed. Student evaluations of library instructional sessions have been gathered since 2002, shared with teaching faculty and administrators, and used to improve and promote information literacy instruction within LEEP. In the fall of 2005, the instructional model for LEEP was adapted to the on-campus environment. Preliminary analysis of the on-campus student evaluations suggests that modifications are needed to deliver an equivalent learning experience to all LIS students at UIUC, whether on-campus or off.     

Instructional Communication Competence: Lessons Learned from Award-Winning Teachers

Responding to calls for more holistic views on instructional communication, this study used interpretive methods to examine award-winning instructor's communicative practices to assess and to refine a definition of instructional communication competence. After observing and interviewing recipients of the Central States Communication Association Outstanding New Teacher Award, we describe how these award-winning teachers (a) understand the ebb and flow of the classroom, (b) use a wide repertoire of communication skills, (c) create relationships with students, and (d) effectively manage their classroom climates.