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Descriptors:
Self Efficacy; Measures (Individuals); Principals; Job Satisfaction; Foreign Countries; Work Attitudes; Personal Autonomy; Administrator Attitudes; Correlation; Questionnaires; Internet; Context Effect; School Districts; Program Evaluation

Abstract:
The purpose of the present study was to explore relations between principals' self-efficacy, perceived job autonomy, job satisfaction, and perceived contextual constraints to autonomy. Principal self-efficacy was measured by a multidimensional scale called the Norwegian Principal Self-Efficacy Scale. Job autonomy, job satisfaction, and contextual constraints to autonomy were measured by three scales developed for the purpose of this study. Perceived contextual constraints to autonomy were comprised of financial and administrative constraints, employee participation, municipal authority, and national evaluation programs. Participants in the study were 1,818 principals from the population of Norwegian principals. Data were collected by means of an electronic questionnaire. A theoretical model was tested by means of SEM analysis for latent variables using the AMOS 18 program. The model had acceptable fit to data. The results revealed a positive relation between principal self-efficacy and perceived job autonomy. Principal self-efficacy and perceived job autonomy were positively related to job satisfaction and negatively related to contextual constraints. Contextual constraints to autonomy were negatively related to job satisfaction. The present study highlights important relations between principals' self-efficacy, perceived job autonomy, job satisfaction, and contextual constraints to autonomy. The results of the study are discussed together with limitations and suggestions for further research. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Computer Mediated Communication; Discussion; Internet; Computer Uses in Education; Blended Learning; Instructional Effectiveness; Comparative Analysis; Content Analysis; Learning Activities; Learning Processes; Notetaking; Health Education

Abstract:
This article reports a theory-driven experimental study that evaluates the effects of an annotation functionality on online social interaction and individual learning outcomes. The central hypothesis of this study is that directly addressing a part of a text by annotating it and then connecting each annotation with its related discussion can decrease coordinative interaction costs and result in a higher-quality discussion that favors greater gains in individual learning outcomes. To reach our objective, we carried out a theory-driven experimental study that compares two versions of an anchored discussion system: one with annotation functionality and one without it, both displaying the learning material side by side with its associated discussion in one window. Participants were 106 students enrolled in two sections of a blended-format course in health education. We assigned each section to a software condition. The examination of students' online social interaction centered on a fine-grained content analysis of coordination and knowledge construction activities as well as sequential analysis of knowledge construction activities. The results indicate that annotation functionality decreased coordinative interaction costs and stimulated more elaborated discussions that favored greater gains in individual learning outcomes. Implications for research and practice are discussed. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Motivation; Behavior Theories; Ethnic Groups; Migrants; Psychological Characteristics; Young Adults; Group Membership; Citizen Participation; Internet; Correlation; Immigrants; Goodness of Fit; Peer Groups; Parent Child Relationship; Guidelines; Minority Groups; Computer Mediated Communication; Ethnicity; Foreign Countries

Abstract:
Levels of civic engagement are assumed to vary according to numerous social and psychological characteristics, but not much is known about online civic engagement. This study aimed to investigate differences and similarities in young people's offline and online civic engagement and to clarify, based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB), associations between motivation for civic engagement, peer and parental norms, collective efficacy, and civic engagement. The sample consisted of 755 youth (native German, ethnic German Diaspora, and Turkish migrants) from two age groups (16-18 and 19-26; mean age 20.5 years; 52% female). Results showed that ethnic group membership and age moderated the frequency of engagement behavior, with Turkish migrants taking part more than native Germans, who were followed by ethnic German Diaspora migrants. Analyses based on TPB showed good fit for a model relating intention for offline and online civic engagement to motivation for civic engagement, peer and parental norms, and collective efficacy. Ethnic group moderated the findings for offline civic engagement and questioned the universality of some model parameters (e.g., peer and parental norms). This study showed the utility of the TPB framework for studying civic engagement but also reveals that the predictive utility of peer and parental norms seems to vary depending on the group and the behavior under study. This study highlights the importance of including minority samples in the study of civic engagement in order to identify between-group similarities and differences. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Sexuality; Sexual Identity; Ethnography; Foreign Countries; Criticism; Research Methodology; Epistemology; Self Concept; Internet; Qualitative Research; Mass Media; Disadvantaged; Public Policy; Gender Differences

Abstract:
The paper thematises children's engendering and sexualisation in new media environments, and their ambivalent attitudes toward commercial (porno)sexuality constructions. The inquiry into adaptation to dominant gender identity and sexuality prescriptions in spite of children's ambivalences is contextualised by the critical analysis of grand quantitative survey research in the EU Kids Online II framework. It is argued that gender and sexuality norms introduced by the epistemological, methodological and interpretative input of the research do not transcend the dominant matrices. According to the Slovenian ethnographic research, school children exhibit criticism towards the intrusive and exploitative character of certain new media commercial contents, and this is not included in the analysed referential quantitative survey in any way. As a consequence, childhood remains conceptualised as a state of societal passivity in this context, which brings more disadvantages to girls in new media relations. Besides, the grand quantitative survey research critiqued here supports hypocritical EU sector policies , which have become tolerant of new media-related capital interests, while minors' protection responsibilities are exhibited mainly on a declarative level--as it is the case with the research epistemology under discussion. The same has been established regarding the application of a gender-sensitive approach in the research methodology and interpretation. (Contains 4 notes.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Intervention; Counseling; Values; Internet; Counselor Educators; Behavior Problems; Cultural Awareness; College Faculty; Counselor Training; Cultural Differences; College Students

Abstract:
Counseling faculty serve as gatekeepers to protect the public from trainees who demonstrate significant deficiencies in professional functioning. Two issues that have not been thoroughly examined are how different cultural values may intersect with the assessment of appropriate professional competencies and whether the multicultural environment of programs is considered when assessing potentially problematic students. The authors suggest a group systems intervention and provide implications and recommendations for counselor educators. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Online Courses; Electronic Learning; Internet; Educational Technology; Academic Libraries

Abstract:
Perhaps due to a commitment to lifelong learning, librarians are often willing participants in trying new technologies or service models that may benefit their patrons. Such an opportunity presents itself with massively open online courses, or MOOCs. This educational model, which has been gaining popularity in higher education since the first MOOC in 2008, is characterized by the premise of offering virtual educational opportunities to anyone who wants to participate. The result is a massive grouping of learners collaborating and producing content on a variety of platforms, including social media, learning management systems, and websites. While research on academic libraries' participation in MOOCs is still sparse, librarians have ample opportunities to participate in MOOCs both to become more familiar with the educational model and learn about the potential impact on public services. The reviews in this article feature sites for librarians to learn more about massively open online courses, as well as popular MOOCs and their individual courses that might be applicable to librarians. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Community Colleges; Internet; Video Technology; Protocol Analysis; Usability; Higher Education; Two Year Colleges; Web Sites; Vocational Education; Careers; Enrollment; College Students; Testing; Evaluation; Interviews; Disadvantaged Youth; Minority Group Students; Educational Attainment; Graduation; Student Personnel Services

Abstract:
This study explored whether community college websites are a useful medium for providing knowledge relevant to degree completion. Ten community students used one of three community college websites to answer 10 questions about occupational degree programs. A facilitator asked participants to think aloud while using the website to answer these questions; their responses were video-recorded and coded in terms of correctness of answers and types of usability problems encountered. The findings suggest that participants frequently encountered problems with finding and understanding information needed to understand degree selection and completion. The content analysis of these problems yields several suggestions for improving the usability of community college websites for answering common questions about degree completion. (Contains 3 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Validity; Comparative Analysis; Internet; Student Placement; Program Evaluation; Writing Evaluation; Scoring; Essays; Research Universities; College Freshmen; Models; Measurement; Essay Tests; Computer Assisted Testing; Computer Software Evaluation

Abstract:
In this paper, I describe the design and evaluation of automated essay scoring (AES) models for an institution's writing placement program. Information was gathered on admitted student writing performance at a science and technology research university in the northeastern United States. Under timed conditions, first-year students (N = 879) were assigned to write essays on two persuasive prompts within the "Criterion"[R] Online Writing Evaluation Service at the beginning of the semester. AES models were built and evaluated for a total of four prompts. AES models meeting recommended performance criteria were then compared to standardized admissions measures and locally developed writing measures. Results suggest that there is evidence to support the use of "Criterion" as part of the placement process at the institution. (Contains 12 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Measurement; Psychometrics; Evaluation Methods; Educational Testing; Writing Tests; Measures (Individuals); Writing Evaluation; Scoring; Writing (Composition); Essays; Negative Attitudes; Vendors; Essay Tests; Computer Assisted Testing; Internet; Validity; Comparative Analysis

Abstract:
Automated Essay Scoring (AES) has garnered a great deal of attention from the rhetoric and composition/writing studies community since the Educational Testing Service began using e-rater[R] and the "Criterion"[R] Online Writing Evaluation Service as products in scoring writing tests, and most of the responses have been negative. While the criticisms leveled at AES are reasonable, the more important, underlying issues relate to the aspects of the writing construct of the tests AES can rate. Because these tests underrepresent the construct as it is understood by the writing community, such tests should not be used in writing assessment, whether for admissions, placement, formative, or achievement testing. Instead of continuing the traditional, large-scale, commercial testing enterprise associated with AES, we should look to well-established, institutionally contextualized forms of assessment as models that yield fuller, richer information about the student's control of the writing construct. Such tests would be more valid, as reliable, and far fairer to the test-takers, whose stakes are often quite high. (Contains 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Information Sources; Stakeholders; Statistical Analysis; Foreign Countries; Internet; Printed Materials; Marketing; Information Systems; Researchers; Role Models; Agricultural Production; Identification; Questionnaires; Incentives; Economics; Workshops; Agricultural Occupations

Abstract:
Purpose: To identify and review production and marketing information sources and flows for smallholder cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) growers in Tanzania and recommend systems improvements for better technology uptake. Design/methodology/approach: Two-stage purposive samples were drawn. First, two districts in the main cashew producing areas, one with significant research investment and good marketing infrastructure and the other a counterfactual. Second, two villages were purposively selected from each district to provide the maximum contrast of variables pertinent to the study. Field data were collected using a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire complimented by field verification and a wrap-up stakeholders' workshop. The data were analysed using chi-square test and the orderly probit model. Findings: Sources of information and flows varied between districts and villages. For production, the most reliable sources were role model farmers (RMFs), extensionists, radio, on-farm demonstrations, researchers, cashew development centres (CDCs), print media and mobile phones in order of popularity. RMFs, radio programmes, extensionists, interactions with researchers, CDCs and print were the main pathways. For marketing, primary society notice boards, radio announcements, RMFs, extensionists, mobile phones and print were listed in order of popularity. Print media was the least popular due to a low level of literacy among growers. RMFs were popular actors in the information systems irrespective of social-economic background. Practical implications: Policy change and additional resources are required for improvement of existing information systems. Additionally, incentive structures that will enhance and sustain continued investment in cashew production should be emphasized. Originality and value: This is the first attempt in the Tanzanian cashew sector to analyse and link social economics of growers with information sources, communication channels and technology uptake. (Contains 7 figures, 4 tables and 1 note.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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