Margaret Thatcher’s Legacy, Academisation and the Demise of State Education

Blogpost for The BERA Blog: Research Matters. https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/thatcher-the-state-school-snatcher

The professional developmental needs of higher education-based teacher educators: an international comparative needs analysis

A universal lack of attention to the professional learning needs of teacher educators is the driver for this study, which considers the most effective ways to support the professional learning of higher education-based teacher educators. At a time when many industrialised countries are engaged in systemic educational reform, this study provides an international and comparative needs analysis through a survey of 1,158 higher education-based teacher educators in the countries participating in the International Forum for Teacher Educator Development (InFo-TED): Belgium, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Our results suggest that while teacher educators are only moderately satisfied with their professional development experiences, a strong desire exists for further professional learning. This desire, influenced by their professional context, relates to their current beliefs concerning ‘best practice’ in teacher education, the academic skills required to further their professional careers and knowledge of the curriculum associated with their fields of expertise.

Taking the 'physical' out of physical education

Giving Peru a productivity boost : towards a system of continuous education and training

In spite of impressive rates of economic growth, the quality of the labor force’s human capital is considered a major challenge for sustaining medium term economic growth in Peru. This note reviews the skills of the Peruvian labor force, and the status of the continuous education and training system. Based on such an assessment and on learnings from international best practices, it proposes a system of continuous education and training that draws from international best practices, but that addresses local capacity and institutional issues.

Fundamental improvements needed for timely promulgation of health program regulations, Department of Health, Education and Welfare : report of the Comptroller General of the United States.

Date stamped on cover.

Os visitantes do parque Biológico de Gaia

Nascido em 1983, o Parque Biológico de Gaia (PBG) é das primeiras instituições de Educação Ambiental (EA) criadas em Portugal que se tem dedicado a desenvolver atividades de EA de forma articulada com as escolas ou alargadas a públicos diversificados que visitam o parque de forma autónoma. O PBG tem restaurado espaços naturais e humanizados – como as antigas quintas – promovendo a conservação da paisagem e contribuindo para assegurar o equilíbrio ecológico ao mesmo tempo que desenvolve um plano educativo constante para sensibilizar a população para os problemas ambientais e estimular comportamentos mais sustentáveis. Foi nesta instituição que realizamos o nosso estágio curricular do mestrado em Educação Ambiental da Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, entre 5 de fevereiro e 18 de maio de 2016. O presente Relatório apresenta o trabalho desenvolvido, com particular destaque para os resultados da investigação sobre as práticas de Educação Ambiental concretizadas pela instituição. As técnicas utilizadas na recolha de dados foram a observação, a análise documental e o inquérito por questionário. Consideraram-se os Relatórios de Contas desde 2010 e analisou-se um questionário de satisfação aplicado pelo PBG, referente aos anos de 2012 a 2015; além disso, criou-se um questionário para conhecer as perceções dos visitantes sobre as práticas de Educação Ambiental, que foi aplicado durante visitas livres ao PBG efetuado no período de estágio. Os dados foram tratados numa perspetiva estatística descritiva, tendo os dados qualitativos sido previamente sujeitos a análise de conteúdo. Recorreu-se à utilização do software Microsoft Excel. Os resultados mostram uma opinião francamente positiva sobre o PBG por parte dos visitantes, que os quais valorizam a qualidade ambiental do Parque, as atividades para crianças e reconhecem que ganharam interesse pelo Ambiente após o contacto com o PBG. Um bom indicador dessa apreciação é que uma larga maioria de visitantes pensa voltar e aconselha a visita. Outro dado interessante obtido foi que várias respostas referem o contacto com o PBG enquanto crianças e jovens. Do ponto de vista pessoal, o estágio foi um desafio importante, permitiu-nos confrontar os conhecimentos teóricos com a realidade e adquirir uma experiência profissional relevante.

Identification of superior reference genes for data normalisation of expression studies via quantitative PCR in hybrid roses (Rosa hybrida)

Background: Gene expression studies are a prerequisite for understanding the biological function of genes. Because of its high sensitivity and easy use, quantitative PCR (qPCR) has become the gold standard for gene expression quantification. To normalise qPCR measurements between samples, the most prominent technique is the use of stably expressed endogenous control genes, the so called reference genes. However, recent studies show there is no universal reference gene for all biological questions. Roses are important ornamental plants for which there has been no evaluation of useful reference genes for gene expression studies. Results: We used three different algorithms (BestKeeper, geNorm and NormFinder) to validate the expression stability of nine candidate reference genes in different rose tissues from three different genotypes of Rosa hybrida and in leaves treated with various stress factors. The candidate genes comprised the classical "housekeeping genes" (Actin, EF-1α, GAPDH, Tubulin and Ubiquitin), and genes showing stable expression in studies in Arabidopsis (PP2A, SAND, TIP and UBC). The programs identified no single gene that showed stable expression under all of the conditions tested, and the individual rankings of the genes differed between the algorithms. Nevertheless the new candidate genes, specifically, PP2A and UBC, were ranked higher as compared to the other traditional reference genes. In general, Tubulin showed the most variable expression and should be avoided as a reference gene. Conclusions: Reference genes evaluated as suitable in experiments with Arabidopsis thaliana were stably expressed in roses under various experimental conditions. In most cases, these genes outperformed conventional reference genes, such as EF1-α and Tubulin. We identified PP2A, SAND and UBC as suitable reference genes, which in different combinations may be used for normalisation in expression analyses via qPCR for different rose tissues and stress treatments. However, the vast genetic variation found within the genus Rosa, including differences in ploidy levels, might also influence expression stability of reference genes, so that future research should also consider different genotypes and ploidy levels.

Specific Features of the Education of Muslim Children in the Czech Republic

The paper tackles the requirements of the Muslim children’s parents on a change of the form of their teaching in various types of schools in the Czech Republic and the way in which the schools cope with these requirements.

O processo de criação do programa Universidade para Todos - PROUNI

From the end of the 80s, the Brazilian higher education experience strong growth, coming from the private sector, which would intensify further in the late 90th Higher education has become a lucrative business. With a drop in the number of students entering and strong competition, the number of idle places in private institutions of higher education reached 49.5% in 2004. That same year, by Measure, was the University for All Program (PROUNI) program, to include high school students from public higher education, offering scholarships to those students in private HEIs. In exchange, the IES gain tax exemption. The objective of this research is to investigate the game of interest occurred in the formulation of this program and identify the model and the political game and has led to the creation of PROUNI, analyzing the process occurred since the wording of a bill, the issue of Measure Law and that the legitimacy PROUNI, with the most important changes made initial model. Since the first draft of the Law to the final Act, the PROUNI was disfigured in its main points, as the percentage of stock for paying students, the process of selection of stock and bond of the IES program. Throughout the process of creating the program, it is quite clear the performance of the institutions representing the private higher education. As reference for the analysis was based on Rational Choice Theory of Political Science. The basic argument of the methods based on rational choice is the maximization of the benefit will be the main motivation of individuals, but they can give that your goals can be achieved more effectively through institutional action and thereby discover that their conduct is shaped by institutions. Thus, individuals rationally choose to get to a certain extent constrained to join in certain institutions, whether voluntarily or not. The PROUNI was submitted by government and public policy covered by the mystical aura of the discourse of social justice and economic development, as in higher education includes a stratum of people who would not have access to the university, due to restrictions in the supply network public higher education. However, the greatest benefit from the program are the private HEIs, which through a difficult time in a scenario marked by high competition and idleness of nearly half of the vacancies offered. The PROUNI became a program that prioritizes access and not the residence of the student to higher education. More serious than a supporting program for students Fellows is a program supporting the institutions of private education

Propuesta de reestructuración del currículo de matemáticas en la Unidad Académica de Ingeniería Civil , Arquitectura y Diseño de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca

RESUMEN La presente propuesta, nace por las dificultades de las matemáticas en los estudiantes, dicho tema después deun análisis previo,matrices, encuestas, revisión de información, reglamentos, etc., dio como resultado que se tenía que reformar el currículo de las matemáticas, para lo cual utilizando las directrices de las instituciones de Educación Superior, se generó el presente trabajo. En este proceso se tuvo que revisar y analizar el macro currículoponiendo mucho énfasis en el enfoque pedagógico, la visión y misión de la universidad, la carreras estas deberán estar enlazadaentre ellas y deben ser coherentes entre sí como eje fundamental para establecer los perfiles. Usando los Perfil Consultado, resultados de aprendizaje (Perfil de egreso), que no es más que los procesos que el estudiante logra como resultado de su aprendizaje y Perfil profesional capacidades y competencias que identifican la formación, estos deben demostrar que han sido definidos en base a estudios de las necesidades de la sociedad, esto es conocido como el meso currículo. Una vez que existe la conexión entre el perfil profesional, el perfil de egreso y la misión de la carrera, se procedió cumplir con el proceso de desarrollar el respectivo análisis del diseño curricular de la carrera. Finalmente se analizó el micro currículo, los resultados de aprendizaje del área de matemáticas y se dio un modelo de silabo y plan de aula.

Fatores críticos de sucesso como antecedentes da aceitação de um sistema de informação em uma universidade federal

In recent decades the public sector comes under pressure in order to improve its performance. The use of Information Technology (IT) has been a tool increasingly used in reaching that goal. Thus, it has become an important issue in public organizations, particularly in institutions of higher education, determine which factors influence the acceptance and use of technology, impacting on the success of its implementation and the desired organizational results. The Technology Acceptance Model - TAM was used as the basis for this study and is based on the constructs perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. However, when it comes to integrated management systems due to the complexity of its implementation,organizational factors were added to thus seek further explanation of the acceptance of such systems. Thus, added to the model five TAM constructs related to critical success factors in implementing ERP systems, they are: support of top management, communication, training, cooperation, and technological complexity (BUENO and SALMERON, 2008). Based on the foregoing, launches the following research problem: What factors influence the acceptance and use of SIE / module academic at the Federal University of Para, from the users' perception of teachers and technicians? The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of organizational factors, and behavioral antecedents of behavioral intention to use the SIE / module academic UFPA in the perspective of teachers and technical users. This is applied research, exploratory and descriptive, quantitative with the implementation of a survey, and data collection occurred through a structured questionnaire applied to a sample of 229 teachers and 30 technical and administrative staff. Data analysis was carried out through descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling with the technique of partial least squares (PLS). Effected primarily to assess the measurement model, which were verified reliability, convergent and discriminant validity for all indicators and constructs. Then the structural model was analyzed using the bootstrap resampling technique like. In assessing statistical significance, all hypotheses were supported. The coefficient of determination (R ²) was high or average in five of the six endogenous variables, so the model explains 47.3% of the variation in behavioral intention. It is noteworthy that among the antecedents of behavioral intention (BI) analyzed in this study, perceived usefulness is the variable that has a greater effect on behavioral intention, followed by ease of use (PEU) and attitude (AT). Among the organizational aspects (critical success factors) studied technological complexity (TC) and training (ERT) were those with greatest effect on behavioral intention to use, although these effects were lower than those produced by behavioral factors (originating from TAM). It is pointed out further that the support of senior management (TMS) showed, among all variables, the least effect on the intention to use (BI) and was followed by communications (COM) and cooperation (CO), which exert a low effect on behavioral intention (BI). Therefore, as other studies on the TAM constructs were adequate for the present research. Thus, the study contributed towards proving evidence that the Technology Acceptance Model can be applied to predict the acceptance of integrated management systems, even in public. Keywords: Technology

Scenarios of mentor education in Romania - towards improving teacher induction

The aim of this paper is to examine the induction programme for newly qualified teachers and mentor education in Estonia, providing a comparative analysis of existing Estonian and possible Romanian models of mentoring. While the Estonian induction programme has been in place for more than ten years, induction in Romania is a relatively new and has only been mandatory since 2011 (National Law of Education 1/2011). The specifics of mentor professional development within the Romanian induction framework have yet to be explicated. This paper proposes two possible scenarios suitable for the Romanian system :1) long-term regulated academic education (part of master or doctoral level studies), and 2) flexible short-term in-service education. The advantages and disadvantages of both models are examined and ways to overcome some of the disadvantages are identified. Ultimately, the paper proposes that a flexible, needsdriven system which encompasses a degree of choice will best fulfil the professional development needs of teachers who wish to become mentors. (DIPF/Orig.)

When theories become practice - a metaphorical analysis of adult-education school-leaders’ talk

Marketization has changed the education system. If we say that education is a market, this transforms the understanding of education and influences how people act. In this paper, adult-education school-leaders’ talk is analysed and seven metaphors for education are found: education as administration, market, matching, democracy, policy work, integration and learning. Exploring empirical metaphors provides a rich illustration of coinciding meanings. In line with studies on policy texts, economic metaphors are found to dominate. This should be understood not only as representing liberal ideology, as is often discussed in analyses of policy papers, but also as representing economic theory. In other words, contemporary adult education can be understood as driven by economic theories. The difference and relation between ideology and theory should be further examined since they have an impact on our society and on our everyday lives. (DIPF/Orig.)