University supervisor perspectives of the remote observation of graduate interns

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte\u27s College of Education offers a 100 % online teacher licensure program. One component of the licensure program is the Graduate Internship, which involves the observation of graduate interns\u27 teaching. With many current and potential students located in more remote areas of the state, the remote observation of graduate interns (ROGI) was developed. Although a technology-based solution to observation barriers, evaluation of the remote observation process was necessary for larger programmatic expansion. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe from the experiences of university supervisors who had conducted remote observations for 1 year. Researchers sought to understand, from an administrative perspective, what was gained or lost in substituting ROGI for traditional face to face observations. Drawing from interview data, researchers explore four university supervisors\u27 feelings about their experiences with ROGI, perceptions of the utility and limitations of ROGI, as well as their comfort in facilitating technology-mediated observations. Additionally, researchers describe university supervisor preferences in comparing face to face observations with ROGI, and examine from university supervisor experiences whether or not they believe the teaching internship semester can be effectively facilitated with technology. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Teachers' use of Facebook motivating Vietnamese students to improve their English language learning

At the Ho Chi Minh University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology (HUFLIT) in Vietnam, students must enrol in eight intensive compulsory English courses (2 credits, equal to 30 hours per course) as required by their program. The National Language Project (2012-2020) uses the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) as a framework of reference; and also requires all English second language teachers in Vietnam to reach an English level proficiency of B2 as indicated by the CEFR for primary and lower secondary school teachers; and CEFR C1 for upper secondary, high school teachers. As part of the National Language Project, blended learning was introduced to modernising language teaching, but unfortunately, the learning outcomes were not as positive as expected. The researchers introduced a social networking site, Facebook for language learning in an effort to improve learning motivation through mobile learning. This study is underpinned by Malcolm Knowles’ (1984) principles of andragogy as the science of adult learning. During the course, the researcher observed and examined participants’ learning participation and attitude using data collected by both qualitative and quantitative methods. This case study demonstrated that learning connections made through mobile learning, and virtual learning environments could have a positive effect on learning outcomes, and also increase students’ motivation as well as a sense of community

Review and “Vote Count” Analysis of OTL-Effect Studies

In the fourth chapter an overview is given of 51 primary studies, conducted during the last twenty years. Schematic summary descriptions are put together in a large summary table. Although quantitative meta-analysis of these studies was beyond the scope of this review study, some basic summary tables were produced to provide an overall orientation on how OTL had been researched and what can be concluded about its effectiveness. It is concluded that the vote count measure of OTL, (i.e. the percentage of effect sizes that were statistically significant and positive) established in this study, and which was 44 %, is of comparable size to other effectiveness enhancing conditions like achievement orientation, learning time and parental involvement, but dramatically higher than vote count measures for variables like cooperation and educational leadership. What should be considered is that vote counting is a rather crude procedure and that comparison of quantitative effect sizes is more informative