Abstract This paper analyzes Randall Johnson's article, "Peer Assessments in Physical Education." The paper discusses the issue of peer assessment and explains how this could be beneficial in the physical education class. It also describes some potentially negative outcomes of conducting peer assessments and the benefits of other forms of assessment to compliment the peer assessments.
From the Paper "Student involvement and reflection are vital parts of learning development, to optimize the student experience, especially during the secondary and tertiary phases of education. It is therefore the educator's responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that students enjoy their educational experiences as much as possible. Indeed, enjoyment is one of the elements that enhances the success of the learning process. In physical education, peer assessment is one of the ways to increase student performance and involvement in a class set-up that otherwise might result in students "vanishing" behind the better performers. With peer assessment, each student is provided with an equal chance for performing their best and improving themselves."
Abstract This research proposal aims to find out the prevalence of children's exposure to domestic violence in the Latin community, and to discover whether there are behavioral, emotional, and cognitive-functioning problems associated with exposure. The author proposes to oppose societal values that reinforce the stereotypes that stimulate men to use violence in the home. The target group and the methods proposed for the study are described. This paper includes a table.
Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Problem Statement
Research Objective
Questions
Hypothesis
Study Rationale
Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
Research Methodology
From the Paper "Domestic violence is manufactured by different underlying principles including threats, intimidation, isolation, and emotional and sexual abuse. It is a continuous abuse of power that is inflicted upon their victims for chronic torment. Men usually become abusive because they want to have power and control in the relationship, or witnessed these actions between their parents growing up. The effects of domestic violence can devastate people's lives, as well as impair a parent's ability to nurture the development of their children, since they become too preoccupied and depressed with the violence. It's a fact that in homes where domestic violence occurs fear, instability and confusion replace the love, comfort and nurturing children need."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed discussion about the benefits of sports psychology for athletes and their lives and performance. The author takes us on a tour of what an athlete endures as he perfects his craft and moves toward the top. We are given examples as well as ideas regarding the needs of an athlete and his psyche.
Tags: SPORTS / HEALTH (MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY), psyche for athletes
Abstract This paper studies America's educational system, which it says is rife with problems that stem from inadequate and inequitable funding, opportunity and quality. The paper examines and assesses ways to improve U.S. schools, examining the role that a wide variety of players can take: from the teacher in the classroom to the parent at home, from local school boards to state and federal governments. The paper concludes that while improvement of America's schools requires a community-wide cooperative effort, the bottom line is that funding must be increased.
Outline:
Teachers' Role in Improvement
Parents' Role in Improvement
Local School Boards' Role in Improvement
State Governments' Role in Improvement
Federal Government's Role in Improvement
Final Recommendations
From the Paper "As employees in the public sector, teachers are in the not-for-profit business. Naturally, within an organization that does not function for a profit, salaries are less than that of organizations which function for monetary gain. One of the most often heard complaints from educators is the low salary. The amount of work that is required to teach using methods known as best practices monstrously overshadows the amount of time actually spent with the students. This lack of pay for preparation leads to teachers putting less effort and time into preparing their lessons which lead to a decline in the quality of education that is given to the students. The question is how to increase the pay of public school teachers to their contentment with the support of the taxpayers who supply the funding. This tends to be a great issue especially in areas with aging populations who do not directly benefit from the school system in the area."
Abstract In this article, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of educational theory. Specifically, the paper analyzes the meaning of the terms "authentic assessments," "excellence in education," "No Child Left Behind," "educating the whole child" and "education that makes a difference." The writer points out that each of these terms is highly relative to today's educator. The writer explains that they are terms used in theory related to theories practiced in the classroom environment. Thus, the writer maintains that understanding the terms is vital to a student of education or educational leadership.
From the Paper "Educating the whole child is an idea that took root in the early 20th century and is making a comeback in education. The educational model is conducted throughout the child's education - from kindergarten through high school, and recognizes the child is a complete being, with spirit, mind, and body, and each item must be addressed in the educational model. The model attempts to educate the "whole" child - heart, head, and hands, by offering education in a variety of areas, from academics to art and practical, hands-on activities. The children are encouraged to play as well as study, to help develop fully rounded personalities and ideas. Teachers also use storytelling, fairy tales, and other folk art as models for teaching and involving the children in the exercises. Educating the whole child is often used in private schools, and has not caught on in many areas in the public center. It is based on principles developed by Montessori and Waldorf, who both created their models in Europe in the early 20th century."
Abstract This paper explains that social science constructions depict Blacks as inferior to Whites. The author points out that this assumption is said to be based on genetics and race. The paper argues continue to plague the psyche and behavior of African-Americans in contemporary society.
From the Paper "Psychology evolves in a historical context. As such, African-American or Black psychology is a historical concept. The history of African-American people in the United States is a journey that includes physical and psychological oppression and travels through specific intergenerational efforts to improve the condition of a race that has face slavery poverty racism discrimination and basically powerlessness across all sectors of American society. In contrast to these often horrific realities of the Black experience in the U. S. stand many inspiring examples of Black lives that ..."
Tags: The Bell Curve, Brown v. Board of Education, inferiority, race, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, mentality, behavior, African Americans, psychology, education, learning, socioeconomic status, stereotypes, race relations
An analysis of the book "Experience and Education" by John Dewey. The paper argues that that education should be based on the child's psychological and physical development, as well as the world outside the schoolroom.
Abstract The book "Experience and Education" developed and nourished ideas that shaped the basis for many of present day's common education practices, such as the performance-based assessment, cooperative and inquiry-based learning, play-oriented preschools, and hands-on science. This paper gives a brief biography of the author, summarizes the ideas presented in the book and discusses the strengths, weaknesses and drawbacks of these ideas.
From the Paper "Published in 1938, the novel "Experience and Education" is perhaps his most brief, clear response to the problems as being perceived by him in both traditional forms of pedagogy as well as in the fundamental reactions to those conservative forms. According to him in the book, these traditional practices have mostly served to reproduce an existing unjust social order."
Abstract This paper discusses the psychological techniques that Hitler and the Nazis used during the 1930s to assume control in Germany and maintain order until their defeat in 1945. The paper breaks down several sociological and psychological concepts such as obedience, conformity, the power of iconic symbols, national pride, and the authority of a centralized ideal over the individual. The paper demonstrates that the Nazis were adept at creating an environment in which the wounded German psyche, crippled from harsh treatment from the Versailles Treaty and foreign oppression, was able to restore its strength under the symbol of the swastika. While many Germans understood that the Nazis were perhaps corrupt and performing cruel actions against their fellow man, particular psychological elements that the Nazis installed upon their rise to power in the 1930s prohibited any individual from opposing their rule. The last part of the paper discusses how many Germans felt that following the Nazis was a way for them to restore the pride they had lost, and Hitler capitalized on this feeling with great effectiveness. There is also a brief description of the tactics that Goebbels used in using his Propaganda Ministry to keep the German masses completely under the heel of Nazi brutality.
From the Paper "The inclination of human beings within any society to design and accommodate a government that protects their rights as citizens normally is considered top priority for any culture or ethnic group. Throughout history, societies have been influenced by many sociological factors that dictate what system of government they install, or in some cases, governments that are installed for the public by an authoritarian ruler. Nowhere in the annals of human existence can this forced subjugation of the masses be seen more clearly then in Nazi Germany, beginning in 1933 and ending after the Allied victory at Berlin in 1945. This particular case is peculiar however, for not only were the majority of citizens in Germany at the time willing to comply with Hitler's tyrannical government, but many individuals actively participated in the horror that was the Nazi regime. The question behind the German populace's compliance has been explained from the political and economic perspectives countless times, but the most interesting aspect of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich is from a sociological point of view."
Tags: adolf, authority, germany, goebbels, hitler, ii, impact, obedience, propaganda, psychological, war, world
This in-depth paper evaluates the effectiveness of the current educational process by focusing on the issue of assessment and the vital role it plays in instruction and learning.
Abstract This well-researched paper details the recent focus of the educational standards movement on the issue of assessment. The primary goal of the movement is to raise standardized test scores, but this is done without careful consideration of what the scores actually mean. The writer of this paper evaluates the effectiveness of the current educational process by focusing on the aspect of assessment and the vital role it plays in instruction and learning. Two defining criteria for solid assessment are validity and reliability. Validity is determined by how well an assessment measures what it is supposed to measure, including showing differences between test takers. Reliability is concerned with both the student performance and the scoring of the assessment. This paper discusses the matter of teacher shortages which augments the assessment problem. This paper also delves into the fact that many teachers are beginning their careers without certification and the only guidance they are given in assessment comes through the regular staff meetings that invariably include the latest information about how to raise standardized test scores. This paper examines the various strategies educators have at their disposal for combining assessment and learning. The writer contends that the end result should be more student-centered assessment which encourages the growth of each individual student. This also paper contains two illustrated graphs that relate to relevant assessment strategies.
Table of Contents:
Considerations When Designing and Using Tests
Connecting Assessment and Learning
Teaching to the Test: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Pretests
Personalized System of Instruction (PSI)
Differentiating Instruction for Select Students
Rubrics
Portfolios
Project-Based Assessment Learning Should Not End With the Test
Split the Difference
Test Retake Opportunities
Project Revisions
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Two defining criteria for solid assessment are validity and reliability. Validity is determined by how well an assessment measures what it is supposed to measure, including showing differences between test takers. In other words, do the test scores actually reflect each student's mastery of the material being assessed? Reliability of an assessment is determined by how consistent its results are. Reliability is concerned with both the student performance and the scoring of the assessment. If students take the same test on two different days, a reliable test will yield the same results. Also, two or more scorers will come to the same conclusion in scoring the assessment."
Abstract Psychologicalassessment is a broad term referring to a variety of procedures and instruments that psychologists use to diagnose clients and ascertain their progress in therapy. This paper provides an overview of issues related to psychologicalassessments, including definition and different types such as testing.
From the Paper "Assessments enable psychologists to label their clients using aids like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). However, when using labels, counselors have to be careful to not pigeonhole or otherwise be biased. Labels are helpful in offering some clear-cut solutions for specific problems, but labels can and should change over time as the client progresses with therapy. Assessments should be always be used with the ultimate aim of improving a client's life."
Tags: Myers-Briggs, intelligence, quotient, American, Psychological, Association
Abstract The paper explains how important it is to understand the difference between the terms "disability" and "handicap" when assessing individuals with disabilities. The paper further emphasizes the importance of diagnosing disabilities accurately. The paper then goes on to look at how the assessor evaluates the individuals' unique psychological and vocational abilities and determines how their various disabilities impact their vocational capabilities. The paper also discusses how the quantity and quality of client input is important to the assessment process.
Outline:
Issues in Psychological and Vocational Assessment Types of Disabilities that Impede
Modification to Address Issues
From the Paper "The person assessing the client must have a clear idea of the meaning of the term "disability." Although frequently used interchangeably, "disability," "impairment," and "handicap" all have different meanings. An assessor's perception of the client based on what some people might consider semantics can have a serious affect on that person's ability to accurately evaluate the individual being assessed. In strictest terms, a "disability" is a "physical or mental impairment that a) substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual" (Power, 2000, p. 37)."
Abstract This paper studies the practice of "looping" in elementary education, which was introduced in America almost a century ago. It is still not very common but in the last five years the popularity of this system has grown significant in the United States. The paper also takes into account the advantages and disadvantages of multi-year teaching.
From the Paper "Looping is an effective practice in which a teacher advances to the next grade level with his or her class. This is done for two or three consecutive years after which the teacher joins some other group and thus the cycle of looping begins again. Looping is a process, which runs in a cycle form, and this applies to looping in elementary education too. This is done because it is seen that young kids become very close to one teacher in lower grade levels and it is important for them to stay with the same teacher for some time until they reach an age in which they can cope with new teachers and thus the teacher is free to join other group of young kids.
This system of education was developed by an Austrian educator way back in 1900s. He introduced this system in Waldrof Schools, which he had founded for the purpose of providing education to the children of factory workers. (Barnes, 1980) He was f the view that if children developed a good strong relationship with the teacher, they have less anxiety when moving to next grade, as they know there would be one familiar figure around and it significant reduces their anxiety."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that intelligence tests have long been a part of the educational landscape. The writer further points out that many tests have been used to determine intelligence and scholastic aptitude in elementary schools, middle grade schools, and in high schools. The writer discusses that some question does exist over the value of these tests in terms of validity and reliability, particularly in certain populations. This paper is used to briefly examine some of the issues that exist with the use of intelligence testing in the educational field.
Outline:
Literature Review
Conclusion
From the Paper "Although still uncommon in an educational setting, one trend that must be reviewed is the use of online psychological testing. With computers increasingly present in schools and the availability of online courses later in life, online testing and assessment is a real possibility in the future.
Computerized testing, online or not, is a consideration as the potential inefficiencies of RTI are addressed. More students can be assessed and processed more efficiently, as well as more objectively, when computers are used. However, in the case of students with SLD, this potential trend may not be entirely beneficial. Internet testing has made updating and translating testing materials much easier. It is also easier to record and to compile data from Internet-based testing. Three kinds of testing typically appear on the Internet: tests for layperson use; diagnostic measures, such as the MMPI; and cognitive ability or certification tests."
Abstract This research developed a program module for teaching a particular collective of instructors how to plan, implement and evaluate peer assessment methods. Instructors were teachers working at the United Nations Works and Relief Agency's Education Science Facility. The ESF provides college level instruction to Palestinian refugees now living in host countries.
Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Definitions
Review of Literature
Overview
Theoretical and Conceptual Thinking of Experts
Review of Research
Planning Instruction in Peer Assessment Teaching Peer Assessment Formats To Use For Peer Assessment Evaluation
Present Status of Topic
Summary
Methodology and Problem Solving
Procedures
Limitations
Results
Program Module for Instruction on Peer Assessment Purposes of the This Program
Peer Assessment: Definition and Effects
Definition
Effects of Peer Assessment Linkage of Peer Assessment To Other Instructional Activities
Planning Instruction
Training Techniques
Formats
Evaluation of Peer Assessment
From the Paper "The developed program contained several components including: introductory remarks, a discussion of the nature of peer assessment and its effects, a delineation of the linkage between peer assessment and instructors' other instructional activities, a discussion of how to plan peer assessment and various instructional strategies and components involved in implementing the process. The program also included possible formats that can be used, and a discussion of how to evaluate the effectiveness of peer assessment programs."
Abstract This paper explains that the new direction in teacher education programs (TEP) set aside rote recall in favor of understanding and application, giving consideration to the different backgrounds of student teachers, their varied learning capacities and their individual experiences and needs. The author points out that TEPs are using the innovative method of authentic assessment, which essentially assesses the teaching readiness of student teachers based on actual classroom settings by simulating the acts of real-life teaching in the teacher education classroom thus replacing the more traditional multiple-choice, paper-and-pen tests. The paper relates that teaching as a moral activity is now being incorporated into TEPs; however, the increasing complexity of conflicting political, social and scientific concepts relating to the moral aspects of teaching is hampering efforts to prepare student teachers for moral education.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Authentic Assessments Experiential Learning
Classroom-Based Research
Intuition and Reflection
Teaching for Diversity
Conclusion
From the Paper "In Canada, a successful TEP used the practicum as jumping board for applying university education to actual classroom practice. The practicum period is of course the post-graduate teacher preparation that is usually carried out at the opening of the school year, with the novice teachers dumped in their assigned class completely at their own devises. In this case, the practicum was moved four weeks into the school year to enable the novice teachers to learn from first-hand experience. A mentor teacher is on hand to lend support. The teacher education thus continued through the four-week part of the practicum as the student teachers observe and learn how an actual class is managed."
