The learning approaches of A level history and geography students analysed: a report from a sixth form college

This paper sought to explore how students in History and Geography approach learning. The research involved GCE A Level students in the Sixth Form College sector, in which they responded to a structured questionnaire that was drawn from the literature on self-regulated learning. The key areas for investigation revolved around motivation, self-efficacy, fear of failure and reflection. The data was analysed according to ability range with analysis undertaken between the A*-B range and those students below in the DE range. The conclusion suggests students adopt a range of approaches, some determined by their innate ability but others by more practical concerns such as the chances of success or the value of the activity. Importantly, the research also identified some common approaches adopted by students of History and Geography that challenge Kolb's views of subject disciplines divides

Employability: a contested concept in higher education

Employability is a concept that has attracted greater interest in the past two decades as Higher Education (HE) looks to ensure that its output is valued by a range of stakeholders, not least Central Government. The graduate labour market has changed remarkably during the past two decades with global employment becoming an option for some and a threat for others. In addition, the nature of work has changed with a range of technological and employment practices altering the way we work. It is this dynamic and uncertain context that has led many within the Higher Education sector to reevaluate its purpose and value. A number of universities have drawn‐up typologies of behaviours and attributes that characterise their graduates. This paper aims to look beyond the apparent ascendancy of employability and ask why is employability a contested concept within HE? This paper draws from post‐structuralism, Positional Conflict Theory as well as liberal‐humanist thought. The paper is structured at three levels of decision‐making: the macro‐ that of public policy, the meso‐ that of the Higher Education sector, and the micro‐ that of the student

The phytosociology of calcareous grasslands in the British Isles.

The thesis attempts a broad overall survey and classification according to the Zurich-Montpellier system ofplant sociology, of limestone grassland vegetation in the British Isles The classification is based on some 535 grassland Aufnahmen and 75 Aufnahmen of contact communities. In all, some 13 grassland Associations are recognised, whilst the zonal and successional communities are classified in 16 Associations. The Associations are classified in the system of classification advocated by Lohmeyer et al. (1962), and the phytogeographical relationships of the related Association-groups or Alliances are considered in detail. The limestone grassland communities of the British Isles have been found to be representative of four Classes: - (a) Festuco-Brometea - thermophilous dry grassland communities of the sub-mediterranean and sub - atlantic regions of Europe; (b) Elyno-Seslerietea - dry sub-montane, sub-alpine grass heaths of the low alpine region of central Europe and Scandinavia; ( c ) Molinio-Arrhenatheretea - mesophilous, grazed or mown hay meadows and pastures of the lowland zone of western Europe; (d) Violetea calaminariae - open grassland communities IV of heavy metal - rich strata and spoil banks. The thesis is divided into 5 parts : - Part 1 reviews the methods available for a vegetation survey and phytosociological technique in general; outlines the history and status of limestone grasslands; and summarises the methods used for previous description of British vegetation; Part 2 presents the results of the grassland survey and relates the change in overall floristic composition and grassland type to climatic factors using the climate diagrams of Walter & Lieth (1967); Part 3 considers the successional and zonal relationships of these grassland communities, whilst Part 4 discusses the validity of the methods used for the survey and suggests some of the logical extensions of t h is work with reference to the conservation and management of an area limestone grassland on the Magnesian Limestone of Co. Durham. Part 5 comprises 36 Association Tables and an Aufnahmen locality Appendix, and is to be found in the folio volume. References LOHMEYER, W. et a l . (1962). Contribution a 1 ' unification du systeme phytosociologique pour 1'Europe moyenne et nord-occidentale. Melhoramento, 15, 137-151. Walter, H. & Leith, H. (1967). Klimadiagramm Weltatlas. Jena

Characteristics or Incentives: Why Do Employment Outcomes for the SSA Beneficiary Clients of VR Agencies Differ, on Average, from Those of Other Clients?

This report uses data from the Longitudinal Study of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Programs to compare employment outcomes of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency clients who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) -- “beneficiary clients” -- to those of non-beneficiary clients, before and after controlling for detailed information on disability and other characteristics that are likely to affect outcomes. Differences are substantial. Characteristics do explain a substantial share of the differences, but substantial differences remain. For instance, we estimate that only 23 percent of beneficiaries who received services achieved earnings above $500 per month for at least 9 months out of a 15-month period, compared to 54 percent of non-beneficiaries – a 30 percentage point difference. After controlling for other characteristics, the difference is 17 percentage points. One likely explanation for a substantial portion of the remaining difference is work disincentives faced by beneficiary clients. During this period, SSI recipients lost 50 cents in benefits for every dollar earned above certain disregards, and SSDI beneficiaries lost all benefits if they earned more than$500 per month, again net of certain disregards, for more than nine months

Taxonomy of Phanaeus revisited: revised keys to and comments on species of the New World dung beetle genus PhanaeusMacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Phanaeini)

The purpose of this paper is to reassess the taxonomy of Phanaeus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to accommodate new taxa and changes in taxonomic opinion since the publication of Edmonds’ 1994 revision of the genus. The two subgenera and 13 species groups established by Edmonds (1994) remain unchanged. A revised set of keys with accompanying comments and illustrations separates 54 recognized valid species. Seven recently described valid species are incorporated into the revised classification: Phanaeus blackalleri Delgado-Castillo, 1991; P. bordoni Arnaud, 1996; P. changdiazi Kohlmann and Solís, 2001; P. lecourti Arnaud, 2000; P. martinezorum Arnaud, 2000; P. yecoraensis Edmonds, 2004; and P. zapotecus Edmonds, 2006. The new name Phanaeus sororibispinus Edmonds and Zidek replaces Phanaeus alvarengai Arnaud, 1984, a primary junior homonym of P. alvarengai Pereira and d’Andretta, 1955. Three subspecies recognized in 1994 are elevated to species rank, new status: Phanaeus texensis Edmonds, 1994; P. pilatei Harold, 1863; and P. guatemalensis Harold, 1871. Phanaeus obliquans Bates, 1887 is removed from synonymy and given new status as a valid species. Twelve new junior subjective synonyms (bold) are recognized: P. tridens balthasari Arnaud, 2002 (of P. tridens Castelnau, 1840); P. dzidoi Arnaud, 2000 (of P. palaeno Blanchard, 1843); P. genieri Arnaud, 2002 (of P. amethystinus Harold, 1863); P. prasinus jolyi Arnaud, 2001 (of P. prasinus Harold, 1868); P. kirbyi ledezmai Arnaud, 2002 (of P. kirbyi Vigors, 1825); P. achilles lydiae Arnaud, 2000 (of P. achilles Boheman, 1858); P. chalcomelas grossii Arnaud, 2001 (of P. chalcomelas [Perty, 1830]); P pyrois malyi Arnaud, 2002 (of P. pyrois Bates, 1887); P. tridens moroni Arnaud, 2001 (of P. tridens Castenau, 1840); P. lecourti peruanus Arnaud, 2000 (of P. lecourti Arnaud, 2000); P. endymion porioni Arnaud, 2001 (of P. endymion Harold, 1863); P. pseudofurcosus Balthasar, 1939 (of P. tridens Castelnau, 1840); and P. prasinus trinidadensis Arnaud, 2001 (of P. prasinus Harold, 1868). “Phanaeus viridicollis” Olsoufieff, 1924 (sensu Arnaud 2002) is an unavailable name here considered a color variant of P. pyrois Bates, 1887

A taxonomic review of the neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

The Neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff (1924), as classified here, comprises 38 species distributed among three subgenera (Megaphanaeus Olsoufieff, Metallophanaeus Olsoufieff, and Coprophanaeus s. str.) and eight species groups. Keys presented help to identify supraspecific and species taxa, all of which are illustrated and diagnosed. Lectotypes are designated for Phanaeus ignecinctus Felsche and Phanaeus ohausi Felsche. Coprophanaeus corythus (Harold), formerly regarded as a subspecies of C. telamon (Erichson), assumes species status. Coprophanaeus magnoi Arnaud, described as a subspecies of C. milon (Blanchard), is raised to species status. New taxonomic interpretations result in 10 new subjective synonymies (junior synonym listed first): Phanaeus machadoi Pereira and d’Andretta = Coprophanaeus saphirinus (Perty); Phanaeus costatus Olsoufieff = Coprophanaeus cyanescens (Olsoufieff); Phanaeus worontzowi Pessôa and Lane = Coprophanaeus cyanescens (Olsoufieff); Coprophanaeus kohlmanni Arnaud = Coprophanaeus morenoi Arnaud; Coprophanaeus pluto nogueirai Arnaud = Coprophanaeus pluto (Harold); Coprophanaeus edmondsi Arnaud = Coprophanaeus conocephalus (Olsoufieff); Coprophanaeus uhleri Malý and Pokorný = Coprophanaeus chiriquensis (Olsoufieff); Coprophanaeus henryi Malý and Pokorný = Coprophanaeus gilli Arnaud; Phanaeus perseus Harold = Coprophanaeus corythus (Harold); Coprophanaeus telamon nevinsoni Arnaud and Gámez = Coprophanaeus corythus; and Coprophanaeus florenti Arnaud = Coprophanaeus ohausi (Felsche). The status of the following names remains unresolved: Phanaeus strandi Balthasar; Coprophanaeus rigoutorum Arnaud; C. terrali Arnaud; C. lichyi Arnaud; C. lecromi Arnaud; C. larseni Arnaud; and C. vazdemeloi Arnaud