PRACTITIONERS IN THE CLASSROOM: THE VIEW FROM ONE SIDE

Putting practitioners into the classroom to teach graduate public administration courses is a practice about which surprisingly little has been written. The issues raised in this article are the practitioners role in teaching MPA courses. The author examines three important considerations when practitioners become teachers. First, the method of teaching is explored with special attention being given to case-study type approaches. Next, the authority worlds of academics and practitioners are compared with several differences being highlighted. Finally, the image world of practitioners is examined with a keen eye being placed on critical analysis.     

当代大学语文教育五派主要观点述评

新时期以来,广大语文教育工作者及一些人文学者对大学语文教育进行了多方面卓有成效的探索,出版了数百种大学语文教材,展现了多姿多态、异彩纷呈的大学语文教育理念。当代大学语文教育的先进理念主要体现在选文教育派、人文教育派、文学教育派、语文专题派、人文语文派等五个重要派别里,它们站在时代的制高点上共同引领了中国高校语文教育改革的大潮。当代大学语文教育也存在明显局限,这就是常脱离大学语文本身去谈语文教育,且无视大学语文学科群既高度综合,又深度分化、广度辐射的发展趋势。     

Cabinet structure and fiscal policy outcomes

A central explanation of fiscal performance focuses on the structure of the cabinet. However, the partisan context of cabinet decisions remains under‐explored, the findings are based on small samples and the variables of interest are often poorly operationalised. Using a new dataset of spending ministers and partisan fragmentation in the cabinets of 58 countries between 1975 and 1998, this study finds a strong positive association between the number of spending ministers and budget deficits and expenditures, as well as weaker evidence that these effects increase with partisan fragmentation.     

Net campaign contributions, agricultural interests, and?votes on liberalizing trade with China

We consider the potential influence of contributions from interest groups to political rivals in the voting behavior of US legislators on international trade policy issues. Our application addresses the determinants of the Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China decision, and focuses particular attention on the agriculture/agribusiness lobby. A simultaneous voting-net contributions model suggests that these contributions were very effective relative to organized labor and other corporate groups, despite their relatively small dollar value. Possible explanations arising from differences in targeting strategies are explored.     

The strongly stable core in weighted voting games

The problems associated with the concept of the core in spatial voting games such as non-existence and instability are well documented. The structurally stable core, presented by Schofield, attempts to resolve these problems by looking at the subset of the core which is still nonempty after a small change in voter preferences. Although this concept, combined with the adoption of supramajoritarian voting rules and weighted voting games, may very well explain the observed stability in reality, it may not be suitable for certain coalition situations. This article proposes a new solution concept, the strongly stable core. The conditions for the existence and the potential location of the strongly stable core are then explored and compared with those of the structurally stable core.     

A multimodal discourse analysis of international postgraduate business students’ finance texts: an investigation of theme and information value

Thematic progression patterning and the composition of information value facilitate the development of well-structured messages. The text-based research of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) into textual features has been confined to language learning and workplace contexts. Empirical research studies involving finance have investigated students’ performance in finance courses and the effects of class attendance on their performance. However, no published studies have yet explored or analysed the textual features of tertiary finance texts. This study investigated the Theme and information value in 6 group assignments in finance, written by 19 Master's students in accounting. Underpinned by Halliday's SFL and Kress and van Leeuwen's system of the composition of information value, this study employed a systemic functional multimodal discourse analysis (SF-MDA) of the texts. The SF-MDA revealed a high frequency of Theme reiteration patterns, the rare occurrence of a linear Theme pattern, and the minimal use of a multiple-Theme pattern. These findings have both theoretical and pedagogical implications for the teaching and learning of writing, particularly in the context of teaching English for business purposes.     

Neo-conservative regimes and convergence in telecommunications policy

Abstract. Starting from the proposition that neo-conservative governments would wish to increase competition in the telecommunications market and that socialist governments would wish to retain a network monopoly which protects small consumers, this paper explores telecommunications policy in a number of industrialised countries. It argues that there is little convergence between policies adopted by neo-conservative regimes and that socialist governments are as likely to liberalise or privatise the telecommunications monopoly. A number of explanatory variables are explored, including federalism, trade union strength and industrial policy goals. The article concludes that the conjuncture of political and economic interests in any one country is likely to be different from that in any other. These conjunctures determine outcomes in policy terms and no country is likely to follow closely American experience in liberalisation.     

"两个转换"是高校思想政治课教学的基本矛盾

“教材体系”与“教学体系”、“教学体系”与“学生能力——素质体系”之间的矛盾是高校思想政治理论课教学的基本矛盾。要解决这一基本矛盾,提高高校思想政治课教师的教学能力与教学效果,就需要创新教学体系,实现从“教材体系”向“教学体系”的转换以及从“教学体系”向“学生能力——素质体系”的转换,即实现“两个转换”。     

“以学生为中心”高职院校物流专业英语教学探讨

专业英语教学是高职院校英语教学的重要组成部分。专业英语的二维特点决定了该课程的讲授方法具有独特性,但目前专业英语教学往往停滞在过时的专业阅读文献资料及术语上,存在诸多弊端。改革的对策有：树立＂以学生为中心＂的教学新理念;开展＂互动式教学＂;传授英语学习技巧。     

Going,going, . . . gone? The decline of party membership in contemporary Europe

This article offers an overview of levels of party membership in European democracies at the end of the first decade of the twenty‐first century and looks also at changes in these levels over time, comparing party membership today with figures from both 1980 and the late 1990s. While relying primarily on the direct and individual membership figures as reported by the parties themselves, the fit of the data with survey data is explored and it is concluded that the two perform well in terms of convergent validity. The differences between large and small democracies are examined, as well as old and new democracies, and it is found that levels of party membership are related to both the size and age of the democratic polity in question. Finally, the implications of the patterns observed in the membership data are discussed, and it is suggested that membership has now reached such a low ebb that it may no longer constitute a relevant indicator of party organisational capacity.     

浅议教学模式的革新

正确的教学模式有助于教学效果的提升,而目前我国大学的教学模式仍存在一些不足,需要加以改进和革新。围绕着教学模式改革这一主题,从教学理念和教师的重要性出发,对如何进行教学模式的革新进行了探讨,并分析了新教学模式对教师和学生的新要求,其中重点强调了要增强教师的责任意识。     

Educating a New Generation: The Model of the “Genocide and Human Rights University Program”

This paper examines the design and teaching of "Genocide and Human Rights," an innovative, higher education course introduced in 2002 to provide training for a new generation of scholars and teachers. The course was developed and funded by a small non-profit organization, the Zoryan Institute, in Toronto, Canada. One purpose of the course is to teach about the Armenian genocide within a comparative genocide and human rights framework. Another goal is to fill a gap in the curriculum in response to increased student interest and research in genocide and human rights. The course serves as a valuable pedagogical model including its comparative framework, teaching by invited specialists, adjusting the curriculum to reflect student interest and new scholarship, and setting up and maintaining formal and informal scholarly networks. Features of critical pedagogy include classroom dialogue and critique and respect for differences in background and opinion. For example, interactions between students of Turkish and Armenian background provide an opportunity to explore issues of stereotypes, memory, denial and reconciliation. The course provides training for a new generation in research, publications, teaching and advocacy in fields related to genocide and human rights.     

Self-directed work teams: Process with measurement

This article provides a group process for teaching an organizational theory class. The teaching strategy incorporates case teaching with a group simulation. After a discussion of the process, the article provides measurement criteria to evaluate the teaching exercise. Students generally viewed the project as a positive learning experience. However, there are risks inherent in teaching exercises involving groups and these are discussed.     

Enhancing Delivery and Assessment: A Case Study in Module Redesign for Improved Transition Into Higher Education

Understanding student transition into higher education is an important aspect of module design, linking content, delivery, and assessment with a student’s prior educational experience and knowledge bases. However, reflections on how modules designed choices are, generally, not widely disseminated. Here, we document the reflections of a junior lecturer responsible for redesigning a Level-4 Political Systems module and analyze the intentions of change via a transition pedagogy perspective, presenting a program renewal that establishes connected curriculum as an enabling infrastructure for students to actively engage with learning. First-year experience is considered as a major impacting factor of a student’s subsequent success on a program of higher education and the diversification of student cohorts requires teaching staff to consider a wider number of intersectional factors that may impact on a student’s opportunity to succeed in their studies. With a focus on simulations and active-learning, by providing examples of the thinking behind the resultant activities and assessment realignment we hope to provide an example of how a transition approach to a first-year module can be explored.     

高等教育国际化背景下创新教学模式的探讨

高等教育国际化推动着我国教学模式的改革与创新。为培养具有国际视野和创新精神的高素质人才,教师需要创新教学模式,调整教学内容、教学方法、教学手段和评价方式。     

发现式教学和接受式教学浅析

发现式学习和接受式学习是较有影响的现代学习理论,其相应的教学方法即发现式教学法和接受式教学法既各有特点又有内在联系。在实际教学过程中,合理地将两种教学方法相结合、交叉重叠使用,能取得较为满意的教学效果。     

浅谈公安高职高专院校英语教学的改革方向

当前英语教学改革在各高校正如火如荼地进行,而公安高职高专院校的英语教学改革却易于被人们所忽视。本文对公安高职高专院校英语课程的设置、英语教学目标的确定和英语教学模式的采用作了尝试性探索,特别是对“学习者自主性”教学方法在公安高职高专院校的应用进行阐述,提出了一些建设性意见。     

对公安专科学校治安专业教学改革的思考

公安专科院校治安专业教学改革的目标是通过治安专业的教学改革，强化学生应用能力和实践技能的培养。治安专业专科教育具有不同于一般职业教育的显著特色，就是其综合性和实践性。治安专业教学在课程设主、教材、教法、教师队伍等方面存在一些问题，因此要从优化课程设置、重构治安教材、更新教学方法、提高教师队伍素质等方面进行教学改革。     

Citizenship education in divided societies: teachers' perspectives in Northern Ireland

This article aimed to investigate in what ways teachers' developing understandings of citizenship education in a divided society reflect discourses around national citizenship and controversial issues. Based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 13 post-primary teachers in Northern Ireland undertaking an in-service programme in citizenship, findings indicate that the controversial nature of past conflict maintains its sensitivity in the educational context though other categories of potential exclusion, such as race and sexuality, compete for space in educational discourse and teaching. Few teachers used controversial issues identified as challenging hegemonic beliefs as an opportunity for role modelling citizenship. However, teachers rarely explored the complex interlinkages between traditional and alternative categories of exclusion. It is argued that this may render teachers' understandings of citizenship and societal conflict disconnected, which in turn may hinder the potential for citizenship education to address societal divisions and to promote active peace in the long term.     

浅谈高职高专英语教学改革

社会的发展对各类人才英语应用能力的要求不断提高,然而高职高专生目前的英语学习状况却不容乐观,高职高专英语教学改革势在必行。本文提出了用听说领先读写跟进的模式来代替以往听说读写同时进行、齐头并进的做法,并在课程设置、教学方法及手段等方面提出了具体的实施方案。以期提高高职高专英语教师的教学水平,提高高职高专生的英语水平尤其是英语应用能力的水平。