ROBERT LAMONT BELKNAP

ROBERT LAMONT BELKNA

Ingratitude and the Underground

Ingratitude and the Undergroun

Ivan Karamazov’s Devil and Epistemic Doubt

Ivan Karamazov’s Devil and Epistemic Doub

General Assembly of the International Dostoevsky Society Budapest, 3-8 July 2007 President’s Report

General Assembly of the International Dostoevsky SocietyBudapest, 3-8 July 2007President’s Repor

Boris Tikhomirov: “Lazar’! Griadi von”: Roman F.M. Dostoevskogo ‘Prestuplenie i nakazanie’ v sovremennom prochtenii. Sankt-Peterburg: Serebrianyi vek 2005.

Boris Tikhomirov: “Lazar’! Griadi von”: Roman F.M. Dostoevskogo‘Prestuplenie i nakazanie’ v sovremennom prochtenii. Sankt-Peterburg:Serebrianyi vek 2005

XIVth International Dostoevsky Symposium Istituto italiano per gli studii filosofici, Napoli tentative dates: 15-20 June 2010

XIVth International Dostoevsky SymposiumIstituto italiano per gli studii filosofici, Napolitentative dates: 15-20 June 201

Collaboration through Wiki and Paper Compositions in Foreign Language Classes

This study investigates the nature of collaboration on wikis as opposed tothe nature of collaboration resulting in a paper composition. In order tounderstand this phenomenon students were placed in groups of four andasked to write two essays during the semester. On one essay students wereasked to produce a composition in the target language on a wiki. Onanother they were asked to produce a composition that would be given tothe teacher in hard copy. Specific research questions includeddetermining to what extent students prefer collaborating to produce a wikior paper composition. Additionally, we attempted to determine, accordingto students, what the advantages and disadvantages of collaborating on awiki composition versus a paper composition are and what effect theseadvantages and disadvantages might have on collaboration. Data wascollected from over one hundred university students through likert-scaletype questions, open-ended written questions as well as face to faceinterviews. Findings indicate that the collaborative process on the wikireflected true collaboration where students had a hand in each part of thecomposition. On the other hand, while completing the paper composition,students generally handed their assigned portion to a single student in thegroup who was designated the compiler and would rarely see or commenton the other group members’ work. The authors also provide a discussionof specific advantages and disadvantages of wiki and paper-basedcompositions and important implications for practitioners

An Integrated Perspective on Insight

The present study on insight is based on an integration of Kaplan and Simon’s (1990) information processing theory of insight, a cognitive style theory, and achievement motivation theory. The style theory is the Assimilator (rule oriented, familiarity seeking)–Explorer (novelty seeking, explorative) styles (Kaufmann, 1979). Our hypothesis is that the effectiveness of 2 types of search constraints (prior experience and solution hints) for solving insight problems is moderated by both cognitive style and achievement needs, and depending on optimal levels of achievement motivation for different task conditions. We tested the hypothesis in a randomized experiment in which 3 levels of achievement needs and 1 type of search constraint (solution hints were available or not available) were experimentally manipulated. In addition, participants completed a cognitive style test, a measure of prior problem-solving experience (the second type of search constraint), and controls for intelligence. There were 476 participants (the mean age was 18.4 years). Results revealed 2 similar and significant 3-way interactions between styles, achievement needs, and the 2 types of search constraints. The pattern of interaction supported the idea that stylistic competence for the task characteristics (with and without search constraints available), when combined with manipulated achievement needs, predicted performance in counterintuitive ways but in line with the classic achievement motivation theory. With appropriate stylistic competence for the task characteristics elevated achievement needs led to poorer performance. With less appropriate stylistic competence, performance improved with increasing motivation. Implications for information processing theory are discussed

Facebook as a Virtual Learning Space to Connect Multiple Language Classrooms

This study examined the potential of the Facebook group utility inassisting 54 university Spanish students and pre-service Spanishteachers as they explored their roles as teachers and learners.Participants represented two Spanish language classes and twoSpanish teaching methods classes at the university level. These classeswere combined into a Facebook group and student interactions wererecorded. A qualitative case study was used to frame the 12 weekresearch project. Data were collected from the Facebook group wall,weekly student reports, and a final optional survey (n = 42). Resultswere organized with respect to how participants used the Facebookgroup, how the virtual and physical learning spaces were connected,benefits of participation as perceived by the students, and genuinenessof student contributions. Recommendations are offered for thoseconsidering the implementation of similar virtual learning spaces asextensions of face-to-face foreign language or teacher trainingclassrooms