Exploring a constructivist redesign of youth work training: transformative-oriented learning and trainer development

Abstract

Two small-scale studies were conducted to investigate the viability of a constructivist learning design for a 25-hour child and youth care training program. The first study investigated transformative learning conditions, belief change processes, and practice change. The second study explored a trainer’s development of transformative learning instructional practices. Results of study 1 indicated the training program fostered transformative learning conditions, practitioner reflection on practices, and changes in practice. The process of belief change differed by participants, with evidence of both transformative-oriented and nontransformative learning. Study 2 found the trainer’s change from a transmission to a transformative approach to teaching required shifting beliefs about types of effective teaching, greater attunement to practitioner points of view and the process of learning, and appreciation of practitioner initial resistance to training. The findings provide preliminary evidence for the viability and effectiveness of a constructivist approach to training and the process of trainer development for fostering transformative-oriented learning.     

The promotion of peace education through guides in peace museums. A case study of the Kyoto Museum for World Peace,Ritsumeikan University

This paper focuses on how peace education at a peace museum is promoted by a volunteer guide service for visitors. Peace museums are places where many materials related to war and peace history are on display. To support the learning experience of museum visitors, many peace museums in Japan provide a volunteer guide service. The Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University, started such a service more than 20 years ago. A citizens’ group, called Friends for Peace, is in charge of the museum guide activities in cooperation with the museum. This article explains the purposes and nature of the service, and also reports on a survey of similar services offered by other peace museums in Japan.     

Co-Production and Health System Reform – From Re-Imagining To Re-Making

There is growing interest in the application of citizen participation within all areas of public sector service development, where it is increasingly promoted as a significant strand of post-neoliberal policy concerned with re-imagining citizenship and more participatory forms of citizen/consumer engagement. The application of such a perspective within health services, via co-production, has both beneficial, but also problematic implications for the organisation of such services, for professional practice and education. Given the disappointing results in increasing consumer involvement in health services via 'choice' and 'voice' participation strategies, the question of how the more challenging approach of co-production will fare needs to be addressed. The article discusses the possibilities and challenges of system-wide co-production for health. It identifies the discourse and practice contours of co-production, differentiating co-production from other health consumer-led approaches. Finally, it identifies issues critically related to the successful implementation of co-production where additional theorisation and research are required.     

Preferred learning style： Gender influence on preferred learning style among business students

Past studies indicate that there was a correlation between gender and students＇ preferred styles of learning. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the influence of gender on the learning style preferences of business students based on the VARK （Fleming, 2002b） learning style survey, consisting of the V（isual）, A（ural）, R（ead-Write） and K（inesthefic） learning styles. The sampling design used for this study was non-probability sampling and the sampling technique conducted was convenient sampling on 207 male students and 199 female students from the business school. The study found that gender only influences the V（isual） and A（ural） learning styles of business students. In addition to that, even though both male and female students exhibited a similar response towards both these learning styles, female students were found to demonstrate slightly higher preference for the V（isual） and A（ural） learning styles as compared to the male students. The findings draw attention to facets of learning that may exist in pre-university and tertiary classrooms with a combination of female and male students, which could have an impact on teaching and managing these students.     

建构主义理论对高校教学改革的意义和启示

最早提出建构主义的是瑞士心理学家皮亚杰。建构主义认为,学习是学习者主动建构内部心理表征的过程;学习需要通过合作使认知和理解更加丰富和全面;教师是学生学习的主导,学生是学习的主体;建构主义的教学方法有:支架式、抛锚式、情境性教学、随机进入教学。建构主义理论对高校教学改革具有积极的意义:依照建构主义理论,系统实施教学改革;抓住内涵,建设精品课;制定措施,培养学生自主学习意识;开发校园环境建设新模式,促进学生心理健康发展。     

“三型”马克思主义执政党:开拓党的建设新境界

党的十八大报告中首次提出"建设学习型、服务型、创新型的马克思主义执政党",而且将这个党的建设总目标写入了新修改的党章。从党的建设总目标的历史探索轨迹和党的建设总布局的形成发展轨迹看,从对执政党建设的理论意义和现实意义看,要把中国共产党建设成为学习型、服务型、创新型的马克思主义执政党确实是一项全新的重大课题。"学习型、服务型、创新型"既是一个系统的价值整体,同时,在这个系统中,又必须凸显全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨,紧紧围绕改进服务方式、提高服务质量来加强学习、开拓创新,惟其如此,才能真正体现马克思主义执政党作为实现、维护和发展人民群众利益的工具的本质。     

大学生英语学习中的心理障碍及其化解

良好的心理状态是大学生学好英语的关键所在。一些大学生在学习英语的过程中往往存在着各种心理障碍,如忽视心理、厌烦心理、依赖心理等,使其不能达到最佳的学习效果。实践中,大学生要想很好地掌握英语这门语言,就必须通过其自身的不懈努力和教师的正确引导来化解他们在英语学习过程中的心理障碍,以达到最佳的英语学习的效果。     

公安院校体能训练课学习评价模式改革研究

采用教学实验、数理统计和文献综述等方法,对设计的公安院校体能训练课＂过程评价＋终结评价＂的模式进行教学实践检验。旨在通过考、教结合的过程评价和考、教分离的终结性评价,对体能训练课教与学过程中学生学与练的积极性和练习时间投入实行有效控制,达到督促学生拓展学习,加大课外延伸部分的实效性,从而提高教学质量。研究表明：通过两年教学实验,实验班优秀率明显强于对照班,而对照班及格成绩占比较大,实验班体能结业成绩整体水平要明显好于对照班。     

干部学习系统理论视角

干部学习作为一个系统,它既可以是被组织系统,又可以是自组织系统。根据协同学理论,干部学习应该把教学过程的被组织与教学过程的自组织相结合,以教学过程的被组织为基础,以教学过程的自组织为升华。教师作为序参量,充分反映了干部学习过程的特征,真正从学习本质的角度对干部学习过程作出描述、解释和预测,提供了理论和方法上的指导,为干部学习理论的进一步研究提供新的视角。     

毛泽东对建设学习型政党的历史贡献

中国共产党历来是一个重视学习、善于学习的政党。作为党的第一代领导人的毛泽东大力推动全党的学习,对建设学习型政党做出了重要的历史贡献。学习型政党在毛泽东时期已经基本形成雏形。全面总结和深入研究毛泽东对建设学习型政党的历史贡献,对于新时期建设学习型政党具有重要的现实意义和启示。