210 results
Search Results
2. The Future of Vocational Education and Training in Europe. 50 Dimensions of Vocational Education and Training: Cedefop's Analytical Framework for Comparing VET. Cedefop Research Paper. No. 92
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Department for VET and Qualifications
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This report presents a holistic approach to understanding and comparing vocational education and training (VET) systems. The approach has been developed jointly by a group of interdisciplinary VET researchers over a 5-year period as part of Cedefop's research on the future of VET and has been reviewed several times. The framework introduces 50 dimensions for analysing VET systems, as well as parts of them, structured according to three overlapping main perspectives: epistemological and pedagogical, education system, and socioeconomic or labour market. The framework is particularly suited to 'clearing the ground' for policy work and provides a model for how research can support policy. This model can be flexibly adapted and applied in any comparative research or international policy learning activity related to VET. [The research was carried out by a consortium led by 3s Unternehmungsberatung (Austria). The consortium includes Ockham IPS (the Netherlands) and the Fondazione Giacomo Brodolino (Italy). The German Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) supports the project as sub-contractor. For "The Changing Nature and Role of Vocational Education and Training in Europe. Volume 1: Conceptions of Vocational Education and Training--An Analytical Framework. Cedefop Research Paper. No 63," see ED586251.]
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- 2023
3. Entrepreneurship Competence in Vocational Education and Training. Case Study: Austria. Cedefop Research Paper. No 95
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Department for VET and Qualifications
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This report describes how entrepreneurship competence is embedded in vocational education and training (VET) in Austria. It complements existing knowledge with examples of methods, tools and approaches that can help policy-makers, VET providers and other stakeholders build better entrepreneurial learning ecosystems. The report is based on the research of Cedefop's study "Entrepreneurship competence in VET." It is part of a series of eight national case studies (Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Austria, Sweden and Finland) and a final report. [Dmitrijs Kulšs was responsible for the publication and research conducted under the project. Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini Srl SB (FGB) was contracted for research and services.]
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- 2023
4. The Changing Nature and Role of Vocational Education and Training in Europe. Volume 7: VET from a Lifelong Learning Perspective: Continuing VET Concepts, Providers and Participants in Europe 1995-2015. Cedefop Research Paper No. 74
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Department for VET Systems and Institutions (DSI)
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This research paper is one in a series produced as part of the Cedefop project The changing nature and role of VET (2016-18). The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of how CVET is conceptualised in various international level policy documents and how it is referred to across countries. It discusses national conceptions of CVET, the providers, participation by IVET graduates in non-formal education and training (NFE), and participation of adults in VET education institutions in European Union Member States, Iceland and Norway. The paper describes how the provision of CVET by different types of provider has changed over the past two decades, discussing the main drivers of this change and speculating about possible future trends. One of the main findings is that there are many dominant conceptions of CVET across Europe and the use of this term is not consistent, sometimes not even within countries. [The research was carried out by a consortium led by 3s Unternehmensberatung GmbH, led by Dr Jorg Markowitch; the consortium includes the Danish Technological Institute, the Institute of Employment Research (University of Warwick), the Institute of International and Social Studies (Tallinn University) and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini. The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Germany is supporting the project as a subcontractor.]
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- 2019
5. Review and Renewal of Qualifications: Towards Methodologies for Analysing and Comparing Learning Outcomes. Cedefop Research Paper. No 82
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
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The feedback between vocational education and training (VET) and the labour market can provide important input for the review and renewal of qualifications. A feedback loop that is based on learning outcomes helps provide deeper insights into what is required on the labour market, what is offered in training provisions and assessed at the end of a learning programme. The aim of this study is to contribute to strengthening the quality and relevance of qualifications and completing the feedback loop between education and the labour market. It examines methods of collecting data on the match/mismatch between qualifications and labour market requirements, including analysis of how achieved learning outcomes are applied and perceived in the labour market (for example methods of collecting the experience of employers with holders of these qualifications). This report addresses the following two questions: (1) which data already exist in the countries, providing insight into the relevance of qualifications to employees, employers and other labour market stakeholders?; and (2) how can survey methodology be designed to systematically capture the experiences and appreciations of employers as regards the content and profile of qualifications? To what extent, based on limited testing, can scalability of the methodology be achieved?
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- 2021
6. Coordinating Guidance and Validation. Cedefop Research Paper. No 75
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
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Validation and guidance help individuals, organisations and Member States adapt to career challenges and create successful lifelong learning systems. However, little is known about how they are linked in practice and how this connection can be made more efficient. Building on Cedefop's expertise in the two areas, this study -- based on analysis of 13 practices from 12 countries -- explores how coordination between career guidance and validation of non-formal and informal learning can be improved. Results point to three factors: (a) comprehensiveness: provision of adequate information and guidance before a decision to undergo validation is taken, throughout the entire validation process, as well as after it; (b) coherence: use of common qualifications or competence standards, occupational standards or other reference frameworks in all the stages of the practice to identify, document and assess skills; and (c) quality of staff, resources, competences, and tools used. The study concludes with policy recommendations on how to improve the link between guidance and validation.
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- 2019
7. The Changing Nature and Role of Vocational Education and Training in Europe. Volume 5: Education and Labour Market Outcomes for Graduates from Different Types of VET System in Europe. Cedefop Research Paper. No 69
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Department for VET Systems and Institutions (DSI)
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This research paper is the fifth in a series produced as part of the Cedefop project The changing nature and role of VET (2016-18). Based on comparative analysis of labour force survey data from 2014, the report analyses the vocational effect on labour market and education outcomes, asking whether any advantages conferred by vocational qualifications in early career would be offset by disadvantages later in life. The report explores the functioning of the safety net and the diversion effects across countries, demonstrating how these vary considerably with the specific institutional structure of schooling and work-based training. The results indicate that VET graduates are potentially sacrificing the longer-term gains associated with further education in favour of short-term benefits. [This research was carried out by a consortium led by 3s Unternehmensberatung GmbH and including the Danish Technological Institute, the Institute of Employment Research (University of Warwick), the Institute of International and Social Studies (Tallinn University) and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini. The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Germany is supporting the project as a subcontractor.]
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- 2018
8. Globalisation Opportunities for VET: How European and International Initiatives Help in Renewing Vocational Education and Training in European Countries. Cedefop Research Paper. No 71
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Department for VET Systems and Institutions (DSI)
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In a highly competitive global landscape, occupations are transformed, new jobs are created and the skills needed for the labour market are constantly changing. European countries are looking at redefining VET [vocational education and training] to respond promptly to such challenges and take advantage of the opportunities ahead. They are reforming to modernise their VET systems and strengthen the relevance of their national qualifications in an international context. This publication explores national responses to globalisation in 15 countries and five economic sectors. It aims to understand how European and international initiatives help VET renewal across Europe. It shows how countries' reactions are embedded in their national traditions but also depend on their interactions with European, sectoral and multinational players that provide training and award qualifications. [The research was carried out by a consortium led by IBE Educational research institute and 3s Unternehmensberatung GmbH.]
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- 2018
9. Qualifications at Level 5: Progressing in a Career or to Higher Education. Working Paper No 23
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Grm, Slava Pevec, and Bjørnåvold, Jens
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This study addresses qualifications at level 5 of the European qualifications framework (EQF) in 15 countries (Belgium (Flanders), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, the United Kingdom (EWNI and Scotland) that had linked their national qualification levels to the EQF by June 2012. EQF level 5 qualifications play an important role in providing access to employment and career advancement as well as enabling further learning and progression to higher education. This double function makes them attractive to learners and employers. Although the extent to which countries use qualifications at EQF level 5 differs, their importance is growing in all countries investigated for several reasons. First, they are developed as response to increased needs for advanced technical and/or management skills. Second, they seem to be especially attractive to students with VET background and those already in employment. They also contribute to lifelong learning by being accessible and attractive for adults and non-traditional learners. The following are appended: (1) List of working definitions; (2) List of interviewees; (3) Available data on EQF level 5 qualifications; (4) Key purposes and functions of qualifications; (5) Further material on learning outcome descriptions of qualifications; and (6) Duration and mode of delivery. A bibliography is also included. [The research was carried out by Panteia in consortium with 3S under Cedefop service contract AO/ECVL/JBSPEV/Qualifications_EQF_level_5/001/12.]
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- 2014
10. The Value of Smarter Teachers: International Evidence on Teacher Cognitive Skills and Student Performance. Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series. PEPG 14-06
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Harvard University, Program on Education Policy and Governance, Hanushek, Eric A., Piopiunik, Marc, and Wiederhold, Simon
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Differences in teacher quality are commonly cited as a key determinant of the huge international student performance gaps. However, convincing evidence on this relationship is still lacking, in part because it is unclear how to measure teacher quality consistently across countries. We use unique international assessment data to investigate the role of teacher cognitive skills as one main dimension of teacher quality in explaining student outcomes. Our main identification strategy exploits exogenous variation in teacher cognitive skills attributable to international differences in relative wages of nonteacher public sector employees. Using student-level test score data, we find that teacher cognitive skills are an important determinant of international differences in student performance. Results are supported by fixed-effects estimation that uses within-country between-subject variation in teacher skills.
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- 2014
11. Renewing VET Provision: Understanding Feedback Mechanisms between Initial VET and the Labour Market. Research Paper No 37
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
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A strong VET system is increasingly seen as essential to overcoming the current economic crisis in Europe. VET is seen as a powerful tool to assist in balancing labour market inefficiencies, increasing youth employment possibilities, and reducing skills mismatch. Its inherent flexibility and closeness to the labour market place VET in a good position to contribute to a faster economic recovery and long-term sustainable development. However, crucial for this role is continuous and systematic VET renewal that assures its relevance for the labour market. This publication explores 15 European national approaches to feedback mechanisms between VET and the labour market. It illustrates the diversity of solutions currently applied across Europe and how they are embedded in national traditions and education philosophy. The study asks three fundamental questions: how inclusive are national mechanisms for feedback between the VET system and the labour market; how responsive are existing mechanisms; and how transparent? Three annexes provide: (1) Case Studies; (2) List of interviewees; and (3) List of experts responsible for the country overviews. Bibliography and references are included. [This paper is the result of a team effort reflecting the work of a research consortium led by Jörg Markowitsch from 3s Research Laboratory who together with Tanja Bacher, Carol Costley, David Etherington, Gerhard Geiger, Günter Hefler, Jelena Helemäe, Triin Roosalu, Ellu Saar, Auni Tamm, and Odd Bjørn Ure conducted the research and fieldwork and drafted the report. This work was carried out under Cedefop's service contract No 2011-0161/AO/ECVL/JB-IPS/Cooperation Labour market--VET/007/11.]
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- 2013
12. Loans for Vocational Education and Training in Europe. Research Paper. Number 20
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
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This report reviews the use of loans for learning in 33 European countries and analyses the schemes in eight selected Member States: France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Finland, Sweden and the UK. The analysis shows that loan schemes vary considerably across Europe in terms of types and levels of learning covered, conditions of access, repayment and governance. Some loans aim to increase participation in learning in general, while others are designed to promote equity. The report attempts to assess the selected loans and discusses their strengths and weaknesses and determinants of performance, while considering if a given scheme operates on a large scale or targets niche groups. The evaluation results provide a basis for identifying good practice principles for designing and implementing loans. Policy recommendations are formulated based on these findings. Annexed are: (1) Methodology; (2) Key terms and definitions; (3) Information on countries/schemes selected for in-depth analysis; (4) Proposed typologies of VET loan schemes; (5) Tables and figures; (6) Tosmana truth tables; (7) Questionnaires; (8) Basic characteristics of non-European loan schemes. (Contains 37 tables, 5 figures, 20 boxes and 33 footnotes.)
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- 2012
13. Reflections on Post-16 Strategies in European Countries. Interim Report of the Leonardo da Vinci/Multiplier Effect Project III.3.a. Priority 2: Forging Links between Educational Establishments and Enterprises (1997-2000) ID 27009. Working Papers, No. 9.
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Jyvaskyla Univ. (Finland). Inst. for Educational Research., Stenstrom, Marja-Leena, Stenstrom, Marja-Leena, and Jyvaskyla Univ. (Finland). Inst. for Educational Research.
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This four-part publication contains 19 papers on educational practices and promises for post-16 education in European countries. Part I, the introduction, contains these three papers: "Sharpening Post-16 Education Strategies: Building on the Results of the Previous Projects" (Johanna Lasonen); "'Parity of Esteem' and 'Integrated Learning'--Reflections on the Work of the Two Research Partnerships" (Pekka Kamarainen); and "European Dimension of Surveys and Analyses of Vocational Education and Training; Brief Remarks on Action Research and Evaluation Research from the Perspective of the European Dimension" (Gerald Heidegger). Part II, New Partners' Country Reports: National Reforms in Upper Secondary Education, contains these six country reports: "National Report on Belgium" (Donatienne Colson and Xavier Roegiers); "Reforms in Upper Secondary Education in Denmark" (Soren Nielsen and Steffen Svendsen); "Estonian Educational System: An Overview and the Estonian Approach to Upper Secondary Education" (Hanno Isok); "Reforms in Upper Secondary Education in Greece" (Nikitas Patiniotis and Catherine Spiliopoulou); "Interim Report of the SPES-NET [Sharpening Post-16 Education Strategies by Horizontal and Vertical Networking] Project from Hungary" (Csaba Fejos); and "Reforms in Post-16 Education in Spain and Parity of Esteem in Upper Secondary Education" (Fernando Marhuenda). The following nine papers make up Part III, Old Partners' Contribution to the Project: "'Eastern Reforms' and Their Impact on 'Western Approaches'" (Stefan Humpl and Jorg Markowitsch); "Comments on the Spanish Reforms and Lessons from Them for the Development of Upper Secondary Education in Europe" (Michael Young); "Comments on 'Reforms in Upper Secondary Education in Denmark--A Country Report'" (Kjell Andersen); "On-the-Job Training--A New Development Project in Finnish Vocational Education" (Ulla Numminen); "Links between Educational Establishments and Business Enterprises in Norway" (Kjell Andersen); "Overview of College-Enterprise Links" (Stuart Niven, Gordon Paterson); "SPES-NET Austria: Preliminary Plan" (Stefan Humpl and Jorg Markowitsch); "SPES-NET Finland: Dissemination Plan" (Ulla Numminen); and "Plan for a National Network in France" (Anne Lazar). Part IV, the conclusion, is the following paper: "Reflections on Disseminating Strategies for Reforming Post-16 Strategies" (Marja-Leena Stenstrom). Three appendixes include a list of contributors, contact information, and locations of partner institutions. (KC)
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- 1999
14. Approaches and Obstacles to the Evaluation of Investment in Continuing Vocational Training: Discussion and Case Studies from Six Member States of the European Union. CEDEFOP Panorama. Discussion Paper/Case Studies.
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European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Thessaloniki (Greece)., Grunewald, Uwe, Moraal, Dick, Sorensen, John Houman, Luttringer, Jean-Marie, Pasco, Nicolas, Kohler, Alexander, Barrett, Alan, O'Connell, Philip, Garibaldo, Francesco, Lorenzoni, Stefan, and Mandl, Dieter
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This report summarizes six case studies on different aspects of the issue of evaluating investing in continuing vocational training (CVT). Part 1 (chapters 1-2) contains "Conceptual Introduction" (Jean-Marie Luttringer), which explores practical problems in considering training expenses as an investment, and "Methodological Introduction" (Alan Barrett), which discusses the merits of using qualitative and quantitative research methods in evaluating CVT investments. Part 2 (chapters 3-8) describes and analyzes continuing training schemes in six European Member States: "The Evaluation of CVT in Enterprises in Styria in Austria" (Stefan Lorenzoni, Dieter Mandl) investigates whether certain goals of CVT were achieved; "The Importance of CVT to Enterprises: A Discussion of the Agricultural Foodstuffs Sector in Denmark" (John Houman Sorenson) seeks to understand why CVT is not being used; "Accounting for Enterprise Investment in CVT in France" (J-M Luttringer, N. Pasco) discusses difficulties associated with evaluating CVT investments; "Innovative Models for Financing CVT in Germany" (Uwe Grunewald, Dick Moraal) studies four innovative models of CVT provision; "Measuring the Impact of CVT in Irish Companies" (Alan Barrett, Philip O'Connell) explores whether training and productivity growth are positively related across a sample of firms. "CVT Activity within the Packaging Sector in Italy" (Francesco Garibaldo) provides insights into how CVT can be used to cope with challenges faced by a sector. Part 3 contains two chapters: "Methodological Discussion, Conclusions, and Further Work" (Alan Barrett), which reviews each report individually before drawing general conclusions regarding methodology and "Policy Discussion, Conclusions, and Further Work" (Jean-Marie Luttringer), which examines seven problems in the assessment of training investment. Appendixes provide background to CVT in the six countries. (YLB)
- Published
- 1998
15. Exploring Transdisciplinary, Technology-Assisted, and Architectural Modelling STEAM Practices through a Cultural Lens
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Shereen El Bedewy, Zsolt Lavicza, Barbara Sabitzer, Tony Houghton, and Farida Nurhasanah
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In this paper, we propose novel transdisciplinary STEAM practices to enable students and teachers to model architecture using technology. Architectural modelling can foster students' mathematical knowledge and computational thinking while connecting them to other disciplines such as culture and history. Our study focuses on enabling architectural, cultural, and historical diversity in educational practices. Moreover, the study tries to foster participants' modelling skills and innovative technology use as augmented reality and 3D printing. Thus, this paper will describe three case studies from Austria, Libya, and Indonesia and how these STEAM practices were used in different ways to allow participants to express their diversities through modelling diverse architectural constructions cross-culturally. We followed a qualitative data analysis approach for the participants' interviews, questionnaires and artefacts including architectural modelling, disciplines connections and lesson plans. The data analysis resulted in emerging themes emphasizing STEAM practices' possibilities to connect architecture to culture and history and highlighting the participants' cultural diversities in each of the three case studies.
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- 2024
16. The Fifteenth International Congress on Hygiene and Demography Held in Washington, D. C. from September 16 to October 5. 1912. I. Some Lessons and Suggestions from the Exhibition; II. Digests of Some of the Papers Presented at the Congress. Bulletin, 1913, No. 18. Whole Number 528
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Department of the Interior, United States Bureau of Education (ED) and Dresslar, Fletcher B.
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The Fifteenth International Congress on Hygiene and Demography, held in Washington City in the autumn of 1912, was a notable event in the history of sanitation and in the discussion of the conditions of the physical and mental health of the people. The exhibition held in connection with the congress was instructive in many ways, and contained much of interest to those who are responsible, directly or indirectly, for the health of children. The first section of the accompanying manuscript contains brief and accurate descriptions of some of the most important of the exhibits, and comprehensive summaries of their meaning. Topics addressed in this section include: (1) School buildings and school sanitation; (2) Hygiene and tuberculosis; (3) Industrial hygiene; (4) Nourishment of children; (5) Mental hygiene; (6) Sex hygiene; and (7) Experimental psychology. An appendix to Part I of this bulletin presents instructions relating to tuberculosis, distributed by the Department of Health, New York City. The second section consists of excerpts and summaries containing the gist of some of the most important papers read at the congress. These abstracts are as follows: (1) Ringworm in the Schools of Mexico (Manuel Uribe Y Troncoso); (2) School Disinfection (J. T. Ainslee Walker); (3) Campaign against Contagious Diseases of Children (Walther Ewald); (4) Management of Tuberculosis among School Children (Arthur T. Cabot); (5) Studies in the Relation of Physical Inability and Mental Deficiency to the Body Social (Isabelle T. Smart); (6) Education of Immigrants in School (William E. Chancellor); (7) Service of Medical Inspection of Schools to the Teacher (Helen MacMurchy); (8) Follow-Up System in Medical Inspection (Thomas A. Storey); (9) Hygiene of Children's Teeth (William H. Potter); (10) Dental Hygiene for Pupils of Public Schools (S. Adolphus Knopf); (11) Universal System of Measurements (Leotardo Matus Z.); (12) Development of Hygiene in Educational Institutions (Dudley A. Sargent); (13) Training in Personal Hygiene in Private and Public Schools (John W. Ritchie); (14) The Public School as a Factor to Lessen Infant Mortality (Henry L. Corr); (15) Physiological Age in Education (C. Ward Crampton; and (16) School Children of the Stock-Yards District of Chicago (Caroline Hedger). It is believed that the information contained in this bulletin will be permanently helpful to teachers, school officers, and others interested in the health of children and the sanitation of homes, schools, and other places in which they work. (Contains 1 footnote.) [Best copy available has been provided.]
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- 1913
17. Report of the Commissioner of Education Made to the Secretary of the Interior for the Year 1870, with Accompanying Papers
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Department of the Interior, Bureau of Education (ED)
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The bulk of this report from the Commissioner of Education is made up of appendices. The appendices begin with abstracts of reports submitted by state, territorial, and city school officers. Data is then presented on the general condition of colored schools operated by the Freedmen's Bureau; Indian education; kindergarten culture; Hebrew education; Argentine education; deaf and dumb education; education in England; education in Bengal, India; education of the working classes in Austria; education in Victoria, Australia; Ecuadorian education; U.S. medical education; normal schools; educational conventions; an American university; society, crime, and criminals; the Chinese migration; school supervision; German schools and teaching German; the relationship between education and labor; inquiries and replies relating to education and labor; illiteracy in the U.S.; and general U.S. school statistics. The latter includes statistics on pupils and teachers; school finances; colleges; theological seminaries; law schools; medical, dental, and pharmaceutical institutions; normal schools; agricultural and scientific schools; commercial colleges; institutions serving the deaf and dumb, the insane, the blind, the idiotic, inebriates, and miscellaneous special schools; the Young Men's Christian Associations; major U.S. libraries; reformatories and state prisons; and appointments, examinations, and rejections at West Point.
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- 1870
18. National Policies and Strategies for the Support of the Gifted and Talented in Austria
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Resch, Claudia
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The approach to the support of gifted and talented children and youth has changed considerably in the past twenty years. While, until the 2000s, provision programmes predominantly focused on extracurricular activities for pupils, gifted education now follows a systemic and inclusive approach, including all (educational) institutions--kindergarten, school, college and university--as well as the family, the economy, the working world and the community. Furthermore, there have been considerable efforts to provide for gifted children within the regular classroom by way of differentiation and individualised learning. This new approach to talent support was first outlined in 2011 in the "White Paper Promoting Talent and Excellence," which the Austrian Research and Support Centre for the Gifted and Talented published in cooperation with the interministerial Giftedness Research and Gifted Education Task Force. The present article outlines the reasons that led to this new strategy, explains its main features and attempts an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.
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- 2014
19. School Counseling: A Comparative Study in 12 Countries
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Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES), Popov, Nikolay, and Spasenovic, Vera
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This paper presents results of a comparative international study on some aspects of school counseling in the following 12 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Malta, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, UK, and USA. The authors explain the multifunctional character of school counseling, give an idea of establishing a research field that could be called 'comparative school counseling studies', show the original terms in individual countries, and compare six aspects of school counseling: 1) legislative framework; 2) position requirements; 3) role of school counselors; 4) functions of school counselors; 5) interaction; and 6) ratio. The paper concludes with a long list of qualities school counselors are expected to possess. This is a document study chiefly based on examining, systematizing and comparing national documents (laws, reports, instructions, advices, position requirements, ministerial orders, recommendations, strategies, and statistics) on school counseling.
- Published
- 2020
20. Analysis of Vocational Education and the Role of the Teacher
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Dagmar Rusková and Lubica Vaskova
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Technical, economical, and social changes place great demands on the qualification of professional forces in all areas of the national economy. The decisive foundations for these qualifications are built in vocational education. Vocational education is an investment in the future and one of the decisive pillars of the prosperity of every state in the future horizon of competitiveness. From that follows that the topic of professional dual education is becoming more and more relevant in all countries of the world. Economic experts at the moment state, that overall unemployment among young people is higher compared to other years, and at the same time, there is a lack of qualified personnel for professional positions in various work areas. Many states see the solution to this problem in the implementation of dual education, so individual countries have begun to take the necessary measures. The advantages of adapting curricula to the demands of the economy and business are obvious and transparent, so the public and private sectors, as well as non-profit and non-governmental organizations support this agenda. The article analyzes the elements of dual education in individual European countries with a special focus on dual education in Slovakia. A meaningful motivating factor for its qualitative rise can be the comparison of the vocational education system in individual European countries. [For the full proceedings, see ED654100.]
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- 2023
21. Evaluating Physical Activities of Disabled Young People: Expectations & Challenges
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Muhammet Demirbilek
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After rehabilitation or treatment in hospitals, young people with disabilities often could not engage in a variety of sports due to their physical limitations related to their illness or disability. This gives rise to certain psychological problems, reduced self-esteem and self-confident. The aim of the ReSport project is to enable young people with disabilities to participate equally in sports activities, considering their health condition. Professionals from 8 project partners' countries aim to recognize the problems that are preventing young people with disabilities from participating in sports after rehabilitation. Partners collected local, regional, national and Europe wide best practices and concepts in the field of innovative approaches for motivation of youth with disabilities for sports, and developed a set of exercises to raise their inclusion in sport activities. The project "Re-Sport" encourages social inclusion and equal opportunities in sport, while the parallel topics are to promote voluntary activity in sport and education in and through sports with special focus on skills development. Two main target groups will benefit from the project results: a) youth with disabilities and b) volunteers from sports organisations. The purpose of this study is to learn and evaluate which physical activities youth with disabilities prefer, their expectations, challenges and good practices. This research was conducted with young people with disabilities in Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Sweden, Greece, and Turkey. Total number of participants were 230. Analysis and graphics were prepared with a special software based on the survey's answers. According to the answers received, investigations, inferences were made and reported. [For the full proceedings, see ED654100.]
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- 2023
22. Integrating Decolonization and Anti-Racism into the World Language Curriculum
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Isabel Aven and Gisela Hoecherl-Alden
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This paper explores ways to integrate social justice issues pertaining to decolonization and anti-racism into the world language classroom at all levels of instruction. It describes tasks designed to introduce language learners briefly to German colonialism, raise awareness of colonial legacies in contemporary German-speaking societies, and familiarize students with current decolonization initiatives. By engaging students with the complex diversity of German-speaking societies, the tasks provide examples for diversifying and decolonizing the language curriculum while fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and transcultural sensitivity. The examples highlight approaches to anti-racist pedagogies and ways of incorporating social justice practices across all levels of instruction and applicable to all languages.
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- 2024
23. On the Year Abroad Experience and Positive Wellbeing
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Potter, Hilary
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This chapter examines the impact of the Year Abroad (YA) on mental health and wellbeing, arguing that whilst we tend to be systemically and culturally inclined to focus on and mitigate negative impact, we overlook the benefits. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data from students surveyed on placement in Germany and Austria, and on mental health research, this chapter highlights the positive impact of the YA, even where students are faced with challenging situations. It suggests a correlation between a range of factors including linguistic competence and otherness, facilitating a sense of wellbeing not attainable in a first language setting. These findings are indicative, suggesting that further, in-depth longitudinal research is warranted. [For the complete volume, "Perspectives on the Year Abroad: A Selection of Papers from YAC2018," see ED603732.]
- Published
- 2020
24. Because It Is Fun: Investigating Motives of Fake News Sharing with Exploratory Game Quests
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International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) and Jost, Patrick
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Exploratory learning has become a widely applied, pedagogical concept. One approach to encourage exploratory knowledge creation are situated game experiences. Putting learners in quest-based environments can thereby support engagement through exploration and at the same time, allow for a variety of supportive learning strategies. However, examination of progress and investigation of success or motivational factors remain challenging in exploratory pedagogy. Evaluation in learning quests can interrupt the flow experience that supports engaging and successful learning in exploratory environments. This paper presents an approach for unobtrusive dialogic investigation in quest-based learning environments. Building on the results of an existing exploratory game quest to raise privacy awareness, the study conducts a dual between-subjects investigation to identify the motives of sharing fake news. The study, therefore, extends a mini-quest with a character to build a dialogic investigation for evaluating the intentions behind sharing of fake headlines. Concurrently, the impact on perception of flow and the robustness of the suggested dialogic inquiry is assessed by comparison to the prior non-dialogic evaluation. The results of the experiment with participating educators and students (N = 92) from two European universities confirm students more likely share fake news than educators and suggests hedonic rather than pragmatic motives as drivers of the sharing decision. The dialogic investigation with the mini-quest shows that students perceive fake news headlines as significantly funnier than educators while also spending less time reflecting if they are real or fake. Flow experience did not improve significantly by changing to dialogic questioning. However, positive tendencies in all flow sub-measures indicate that adding a character and inquiring with dialogue rather supports than breaks the sense fluency in exploratory learning quests. Implications for the design of analytical mini-quests as well as further research directions are outlined conclusively.
- Published
- 2020
25. The Use of Digital Media in the Russian Language Classroom: An Empirical Study Conducted in Austria, South Tyrol, and Germany
- Author
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Bacher, Sonja
- Abstract
This work-in-progress study focuses on the implementation of digital media into the Russian language classroom at secondary schools in the German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany, and the trilingual region South Tyrol. The data were collected in a mixed-methods procedure: quantitative data from online questionnaires and qualitative data from face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with teachers and learners of Russian. The data from the online-surveys were analysed with descriptive statistics and that of the interviews with qualitative content analysis. The results from the online-surveys illustrate the kinds of digital devices that are employed, the frequency of their use, and the purposes digital media are intended to fulfil in the Russian language classroom. Another finding concerns the teachers' digital literacy, suggesting that only half of the Russian teachers can create online language learning tasks. The paper closes with implications for pre- and inservice teacher education and future research. [For the complete proceedings, see ED600837.]
- Published
- 2019
26. A STEAM Practice Approach to Integrate Architecture, Culture and History to Facilitate Mathematical Problem-Solving
- Author
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El Bedewy, Shereen, Lavicza, Zsolt, Haas, Ben, and Lieban, Diego
- Abstract
In this paper we propose STEAM practices that would foster mathematics learning through modelling architecture while connecting to culture and history. The architectural modelling process is applied by the teachers as participants of these practices from different countries allowing a broad cultural and historical connection to mathematics education. The modelling is implemented in GeoGebra platform as it is an open-source platform to allow teachers to model on a mathematics basis. The architectural modelling process does not provide participants with steps to follow but rather allows them to explore the architectural models' components and construct them with various approaches which may foster problem solving techniques. We aim to investigate how different phases of this approach (such as motivation, modeling, and printing process) reflect on opportunities of learning in STEAM education, with a particular lens in mathematical development from open tasks. This paper will show two use cases that took place in Upper Austria and the MENA region.
- Published
- 2022
27. Teaching Internationally, Learning Collaboratively: Intercultural Perspectives on Information Literacy and Metaliteracy (IPILM)
- Author
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Griesbaum, Joachim, Dreisiebner, Stefan, Mackey, Thomas P., Jacobson, Trudi E., Thadathil, Tessy, Bhattacharya, Subarna, and Adilovic, Emina
- Abstract
Intercultural Perspectives on Information Literacy and Metaliteracy (IPILM) is a discourseoriented learning environment that engages students from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate in collaborative knowledge construction. The objective is to evolve a thematic approach to course design that includes elements of open pedagogy, information literacy, and metaliteracy. IPILM invites participation from educators and learners from around the world and has witnessed an increase in participating countries. This paper describes the concept of IPILM and demonstrates the implementation of this approach in practice. The initiative was well received by students and is both feasible and sustainable as an intercultural learning endeavor. IPILM is an ongoing project and a work in progress that is an adaptable model which may be transferred to disparate fields of teaching and learning or adopted by international communities of instructors.
- Published
- 2023
28. The Digital Change of Vocational Training and Business Education: What It Takes to Prepare Students for the Future Challenges of the Job Market
- Author
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Kamsker, Susanne and Slepcevic-Zach, Peter
- Abstract
There is no doubt that the increasing use of technology and digitalization leads to a more differentiated discussion of the digital transformation in work and daily life. The digital transformation can now be regarded as central technological and social phenomenon (Fürst, 2019). It has triggered a hype. To "be digital" is now the basic requirement for work and the participation in society (Hartmann et al., 2019; Mertala, 2019). To get digital, it is important to keep pace with the social, cultural, and economic changes which are driven by the digital transformation. Educational institutions over all levels of education are concerned with the question of how educational offerings must be designed to prepare learners for encountering and participating in the digital change. This question will also be addressed in this paper. The paper tries to answer the research question, what are central problems and issues of business education due to new and changing qualification and skill requirements of future workers in the age of digital transformation. The aim of the paper is to show what is needed to design modern digital educational offers to prepare learners for the encounter of the digital transformation and to encourage them to participate in shaping it. To achieve this research goal a literature-based analyses was carried out. In addition to central aspects for further development of business education, like the development of educational staff (e.g. teachers) and the vocational theory, it is important to think about issues of digital transformation for the general business education and development, school education and in-company education and training. The bundling of relevant issues on the digital transformation of business Education and their answers will help to shape the digital transformation and prepare the next generation for the future challenges at work and in daily life.
- Published
- 2021
29. Design, Development and Evaluation of a Field Learning Video Blog
- Author
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Petrovic, Otto
- Abstract
The research question in this paper is how a Field Learning Video Blog (FLvlog) has to be designed in order to optimize learning processes taking into account changed everyday communication habits of students. The system is designed to meet pedagogical as well as functional requirements for learning in fieldwork settings. The main difference to state-of-the-art learning management systems (LMS) is the ability of the FLvlog to upload fieldwork videos via smartphones and annotate them in graphical and textual form directly on the spot. A further difference is the ability to use dedicated smartphone applications for ethnographic research for data capturing with full integration into the FLvlog via software interfaces. During the fieldwork the students analyzed the experience of customers of parcel delivery companies using innovative delivery technologies as alternatives to traditional home delivery. Videos of the customer behavior were recorded and annotated by the students. The main learning aim was the application of technology acceptance models to analyze customer experience. After the fieldwork of several months, students evaluated the FLvlog in comparison to traditional paper-based case study learning. They examined the FLvlog with regard to activation, emotion, and satisfaction with the learning process, perceived learning success, and satisfaction with the FLvlog software superior to paper-based cases. From these results, implications for further improvement of the FLvlog were derived. [For the full proceedings, see ED571335.]
- Published
- 2016
30. Higher Education Institutions and Development: Missions, Models, and Challenges
- Author
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Olo, Daniela, Correia, Leonida, and Rego, Conceição
- Abstract
Interest in higher education institutions (HEIs) as instruments for development has increased in recent years. The main objective of this paper is to address the contribution of HEIs to development through their missions, models, and challenges. With this purpose, we perform a historical analysis and characterise higher-education systems through the perspective of university models and missions, noticing relevant aspects regarding the evolution of this institution over time, as well as the transformations undergone. We also consider the main challenges that current higher education systems face in the 21st century. As methodological approaches, we carry out a literature review complemented by a comparative analysis based on data from the higher education systems of ten European countries. The findings show that HEIs can contribute to development through their missions, which are related to the models of higher education. Their first mission (teaching) contributes to improving human capital and attracting highly qualified people to their regions; the second mission (research) improves scientific knowledge which can foster innovative activities; and the third mission (community service) acts as a link between research and business, including patents, business incubators, and collaboration agreements. We also conclude that the challenges of higher education in the 21st century can be categorised essentially in three main areas: (1) globalisation and massification of higher education, as well as the internationalisation of HEIs' missions and diversification of the educational supply to attract new students; (2) new technologies related to the digitalisation of teaching and distance learning; and (3) higher education entrepreneurship, showing the importance of university-company relationships. This paper provides a global setting for a reflection on the role of HEIs in the 21st century, given their connection with society and the need for a more effective contribution to socio-economic development.
- Published
- 2021
31. Learning with and about Digital Technology in Later Life: A Socio-Material Perspective
- Author
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Rohner, Rebekka, Hengl, Lisa, Gallistl, Vera, and Kolland, Franz
- Abstract
Literature has widely explored the learning processes with information and communication technology (ICT) in later life, mostly focusing on the individual learner rather than materialities--such as smartphones, notepads, and handouts. The aim of this paper is to introduce a socio-material perspective by focusing on the question: What role do materialities play in digital learning processes in later life? This paper draws upon a situation analysis of data from a qualitative multi-perspective study. Researchers conducted participatory observations of five ICT courses for older adults in Austria and semi-structured interviews with seven trainers and nine older participants (61-81 years). By identifying three social worlds (digital devices, education, and participants' everyday lives), the findings show how ICT-learning processes are embedded in the everyday lives of older adults and include not only digital, but also everyday materialities, such as pens, paper and books. These material convoys of digital learning in later life are vital in facilitating successful technology appropriation in later life.
- Published
- 2021
32. Beginning Student Teachers' Professional Identity
- Author
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Steinbeiss, Gregor
- Abstract
This article investigates teachers' professional identity of beginning first-year students through their beliefs about being a teacher. The presented study focuses on Austrian teacher students' (N=18) conceptions of becoming a professional; what convictions student teachers reflect on, which professional identity emerges and what synthesis of a professional teacher identity position can be portrayed at the beginning of teacher education. Through inductively driven content analysis all statements (N=401) have been combined, and a unified synthesis of a beginning student teachers' professional identity was formed. Three main categories were found: the "ideal" teacher, "good" teaching, and the "optimal" working environment. The results showed a highly idealistic view of being a teacher. The majority of statements referred to teaching from a pupil-centered perspective by strongly emphasising personality traits, student-teacher relationships, and teachers' professional knowledge. Based on the results, the role of professional identity in Austrian's teacher education is discussed, and further implementations in research are recommended. [This paper was presented at the TDID Doctoral Students' Conference, 14-16 May 2020.]
- Published
- 2021
33. Digitally Assessing Text Comprehension in Grades 3-4: Test Development and Validation
- Author
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Seifert, Susanne and Paleczek, Lisa
- Abstract
A prerequisite for child reading support at school is adequate assessment. Embedding (repeated) assessment into daily teaching routine is often challenging for teachers in terms of time and organization. The use of digital tools can help teachersin the assessment process (in preparation, evaluation, documentation, etc.). A digital assessment tool (Graz Reading Comprehension test: GraLeV), focusing on assessing reading comprehension skills in Grades 3 and 4 is currently being developed in Austria. This reading assessment covers reading comprehension at the word, sentence, and text level. Text level is assessed via two subtests (Subtest I: presentation of nonsense-stories and corresponding questions, and Subtest II: maze selection). The other levels consist of one subtest each. This paper focusses on the subtests at text level. More specifically, the paper reports the results of two studies. Study 1 describes the development phases and the first piloting of these two subtests (data collection: 10/2019-12/2019). Testing 273 students with preliminary versions of the subtests (Subtest I: 30 items, Subtest II: 60 items) produced information on (a) item difficulty, (b) item discriminatory power, and (c) time limits for future speed testing. Items not meeting the required quality criteria were excluded. The final version of Subtest I consists of 16 questions referring to eight different, short, nonsense-texts. Its testing time (without instructions) is three minutes. The final version of the Subtest II consists of 2 texts each with 15 maze selections (30 items) and testing time is 100 seconds. The internal consistency is found to be good for Subtest I ([alpha]=0.87) and Subtest II ([alpha]=0.78 to 0.80). Study 2 reports on testing for validity and retest-reliability (data collection: 09/2020-11/2020). Student scores in another reading comprehension test, together with teacher assessments of reading comprehension, were used to assess congruent validity. Divergent validity was assessed using teacher assessments of mathematical and socio-emotional skills. As expected, the correlations with the congruent measures were higher than those with the divergent measures. A subsample was tested twice with the GraLeV. Retest-reliability was acceptable for Subtest II. However, the scores obtained at time 2 were higher compared to those at time 1 in both subtests. This is probably the result of increased student familiarity with the digital device and the digital test environment at time 2. The results are discussed in the light of teachers' needs for standardized digital assessments in order to facilitate the tailoring of student reading support.
- Published
- 2021
34. The Micro:Bit and Computational Thinking. Evaluation Results of a Computational Project
- Author
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Brandhofer, Gerhard
- Abstract
The overall project "Denken lernen - Probleme lösen" has been expanded in recent years after an initial sub-project in elementary school to include one for the lower secondary level. Schools throughout Austria were provided with the micro:bit and related materials. A training initiative for teachers was rolled out. In this article I would like to present a part of the evaluation results of this project. The investigation covers two aspects: the students' ability to solve problems and the students' opinions and views on working with the micro:bit.
- Published
- 2021
35. The Next Steps for Apprenticeship. Cedefop Reference Series. No 118
- Author
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France), Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France)
- Abstract
In a context of considerable interest in apprenticeship in recent years, Cedefop and the OECD decided to explore its future from the perspective of a number of megatrends, including sociodemographic changes, the accelerated adoption of emerging technologies and new forms of work organisation. They also considered how these trends have affected, and will continue to affect, the design and delivery of apprenticeship in European and OECD countries. The combination of the emerging economic crisis as an aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with long-term structural trends affecting global economies, will entail a profound transformation of the world of work and require effective policy responses in the years to come. This publication provides insights from 16 papers by researchers from Europe, Australia and the United States; nine were presented and discussed among policy-makers, practitioners and researchers during the joint Cedefop-OECD symposium on the future of apprenticeship held in October 2019 in Paris. Evidence and analysis in these papers will help inform political decisions shaping the future of apprenticeship.
- Published
- 2021
36. AUTODIDACT: Introducing the Concept of Mutual Learning into a Smart Factory Industry 4.0
- Author
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Ansari, Fazel, Hold, Philipp, Mayrhofer, Walter, Schlund, Sebastian, and Sihn, Wilfri
- Abstract
This paper explores the concept of mutual (reciprocal) learning as an enabler of the emergence of a collective human-machine intelligence across a smart factory. The interlinking of digital profiles of humans and machines permits the identification and measurement of learning outcomes through participating in and performing of (shared) tasks. To achieve this goal and ultimately to transform today's smart factory into a self-learning factory, the concept model of AUTODIDACT, underlying objectives and research questions related to mutual (reciprocal) learning are outlined. [For the complete proceedings, see ED600498.]
- Published
- 2018
37. Digital Transformation and Higher Education: A Survey on the Digital Competencies of Learners to Develop Higher Education Teaching
- Author
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Kamsker, Susanne, Janschitz, Gerlinde, and Monitzer, Sonja
- Abstract
The aim of this paper is to clarify the effects of digital transformation on educational institutions and to outline the challenges that arise and need to be addressed in this context. Teaching and learning processes should be continuously developed due to changes in educational requirements as well as social and technological changes. Therefore, within this paper, these technological changes are described in the first step. In the next step, the challenges facing higher education institutions, as a result of digital transformation are discussed, and strategies for the further development of higher education, regarding digital transformation, are described. In this context, a research study that focuses on the self- assessment of the digital competencies of students is outlined and the results are presented. The first results emphasize the need for further development in technology-supported teaching and learning processes at higher education institutions. The implementation of technology-supported teaching and learning settings and the rethinking of present teaching content is seen as both a challenge and an opportunity for preparing students -- as well as lecturers -- for digital transformation. With regard to the current COVID-19 situation, this is a challenge that must be met sooner rather than later.
- Published
- 2020
38. A Critical Analysis of Learner Participation in Virtual Worlds: How Can Virtual Worlds Inform Our Pedagogy?
- Author
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Panichi, Luisa
- Abstract
This paper reports on an exploratory case study of learner participation within the context of online language learning in virtual world platforms. Data for this investigation was collected through a case study of a Business English course within a qualitative Case-Study Research framework. This study examines learner activity in virtual worlds in relation to three main features of the platform: avatars, artefacts and spaces. The study makes use of "Reflexivity" and "Exploratory Practice" as its core methodological approach to the building of the case. The virtual world data is analysed from a multimodal perspective and makes use of "visualization" as the primary analytical tool. In an attempt to broach the Eurocall 2015 conference topic of Critical Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), this paper will present and discuss three findings: a broadening of our understanding of learner participation in virtual worlds, the critical role played by course designers and teachers in the shaping of learner participation in virtual worlds, and the potential of virtual worlds as a tool for reflective practice and practitioner research. [For full proceedings, see ED564162.]
- Published
- 2015
39. 'Give and Take' -- Higher Education Teachers Using Open Educational Resources
- Author
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Schroeder, Nadine and Donat, Sophia
- Abstract
Open educational resource (OER) as free teaching and learning materials can contribute to the collaborative design and development of teaching. To support higher education teachers in their work with teaching in general and OER in particular and to encourage their use of OER, it is necessary to pay attention to their needs and requirements. This paper presents the results of a research project, identifying the usage behaviour of German-speaking higher education teachers. In an interview study, they were asked about their experience with OER to get detailed insights into their practices concerning their 'use' and 'revise' of materials. From this, four user types were derived according to different OER activities, such as creating, reusing, editing, and publishing OER, and their scope. Finally, these user types are transferred to considerations when designing OER infrastructures and establishing support options. These are aligned with the specifics of each user type, making the research findings a complementary contribution for application in higher education.
- Published
- 2023
40. Between Academia and School: Habitus Reflexivity as One Way of Dealing with the Theory-Practice Tension in Teacher Education
- Author
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Susanne Kink-Hampersberger, Lisa Scheer, and Iris Mendel
- Abstract
Teacher education's primary goal is to train prospective teachers, which differs from study programmes, such as philosophy or mathematics, that do not cater to defined professions. This traditional understanding of the teaching profession becomes apparent when students ask: 'How is this content, topic, method, task, or question relevant to school work?' It is also reflected in the inclusion of practical school training in teacher education curricula. In Austria's teacher training, these practical elements are accompanied by theoretical and methodological teaching foundations. However, students often question the applicability of theoretical knowledge to the teaching profession, which creates tension between the academic and pedagogical orientations. This paper discusses these very theory-practice tensions in teacher education based on findings from the project Habitus.Power.Education, which involved student teachers at an Austrian university. We argue that teacher training at universities is neither merely a place for producing a future workforce nor a self-growth space without purpose. Teacher training, rather, combines both (sometimes ambivalent) elements: education in its broadest sense and professional training. Using our empirical material, we show that the theory-praxis gap manifests in the tension between academic and pedagogical orientation. To address and mediate this tension, we propose the concept of habitus reflexivity. Promoting such a form of reflexivity among students makes it possible to bridge the gap between the different logics of university and school. Furthermore, it helps to comprehend inequality and power imbalances in the education system and develop agency, which is essential for navigating the ever-changing and complex world of modern schools.
- Published
- 2023
41. Research and Innovation Staff Exchange as a Frame for Collaboration of Higher Education with Industry: Lessons Learned from WrightBroS Horizon 2020 EU Project
- Author
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Krzysztof A. Cyran
- Abstract
The paper focusses on a collaboration between academia and industry. As an introduction, we present typical behavior of university researchers, who often define the area of application without consulting it with industrial partners, and we propose different approach which led to the definition of the scope of the WrightBroS project. The project, entitled "Collaborative Factory of the Flight Simulators Branch of RISE" is financed by the European Union in the frame of Horizon 2020 MSCA Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) programme. The international Consortium composed of Higher education (Silesian University of Technology from Poland) and industrial (LG Nexera from Austria and Virtual Reality Media from Slovakia) sectors, has designed a project as a collaborative platform whose know-how results from knowledge sharing among partners. Then, from the experience gained in the implementation of the WrightBroS and other similar projects, by using case-study methodology we demonstrate how representatives of education and industry in the new joint environment supplement each other in common research efforts. We also present methods for knowledge sharing, in particular achieved by intersectoral staff exchanging. Then we present the results achieved by collaboration of Higher Education with Industry in the WrightBroS project. Finally, the discussion in the context of tackling broader challenges of intersectoral collaboration leads to the conclusions that this kind of environment is very efficient way to overcome typical difficulties in academia and industry dialog, which is so common in the global world.
- Published
- 2023
42. Assessing the Second-Level Digital Divide in Austria: A Representative Study on Demographic Differences in Digital Competences
- Author
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Alexander Schmoelz, Corinna Geppert, Stephanie Schwarz, Erich Svecnik, Jana Koch, Till Bieg, and Lisa Freund
- Abstract
The second-level digital divide concerns individual levels of digital competences and demographic indicators of digital gaps. In this paper, we have analysed empirical data that allow a thorough and differentiated look into the second-level digital divide with a rigorous methodological quantitative approach. We investigated the relationship between results from a self-assessment of one's own digital competences, and a knowledge test about digital tools among Austrian citizens (N=1109). The study explores second-level digital divides in gender, education level, age, first language, and length of time living in the country regarding respective competence levels and areas, referring to the Digital Competence Model for Austria - DigComp 2.2 AT. Results show that the digital gender divide is paramount across all competence areas, while the age divide remains strong when comparing under 18-year-olds with over 60-year-olds. Moreover, positive effects are related to education level and first language.
- Published
- 2023
43. Evaluating Eco-Innovation of OECD Countries with Data Envelopment Analysis
- Author
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Mavi, Reza Kiani and Standing, Craig
- Abstract
Government regulations require businesses to improve their processes and products/services in a green and sustainable manner. For being environmentally friendly, businesses should invest more on eco-innovation practices. Firms eco-innovate to promote eco-efficiency and sustainability. This paper evaluates the eco-innovation performance of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with data envelopment analysis (DEA). Data were gathered from the world bank database and global innovation index report. Findings show that for most OECD countries, energy use and ecological sustainability are more important than other inputs and outputs for enhancing eco-innovation. [For full proceedings, see ED571459.]
- Published
- 2016
44. Teaching Practices and Organisational Aspects Associated with the Use of ICT
- Author
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Javier Gil-Flores, Javier Rodríguez-Santero, and Carla Ortiz-de-Villate
- Abstract
The study of variables related to the use of ICT in the classroom is a topic of interest that has been frequently researched. In this paper, after examining the importance of teacher training in explaining the use of ICT in the classroom, we focused on analysing the weight of variables related to teaching practices and the organisational context of schools, which are variables that are less frequently addressed in the literature. To do so, a secondary analysis was carried out using data provided by the Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS 2018). Specifically, we worked with a sample of 3,918 principals and 64,899 teachers from a total of 3921 schools in 21 countries. A multilevel binary regression model with random intercept, fixed coefficients and a two-level structure with teachers at level 1 and schools at level 2 was used. The results indicate that the presence of ICT in the classroom is associated with self-efficacy in teaching and the cognitive activation of students and with the organisational aspects of the school, which are scarcely addressed by the existing literature on this topic of interest, such as school climate, educational innovation and cooperation among teachers. Based on these results, we reflect on possible ways to promote the use of ICT in the classroom.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
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45. An Infrastructure for Workplace Learning Analytics: Tracing Knowledge Creation with the Social Semantic Server
- Author
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Ruiz-Calleja, Adolfo, Dennerlein, Sebastian, Kowald, Dominik, Theiler, Dieter, Lex, Elisabeth, and Ley, Tobias
- Abstract
In this paper, we propose the Social Semantic Server (SSS) as a service-based infrastructure for workplace and professional learning analytics (LA). The design and development of the SSS have evolved over eight years, starting with an analysis of workplace learning inspired by knowledge creation theories and their application in different contexts. The SSS collects data from workplace learning tools, integrates it into a common data model based on a semantically enriched artifact-actor network, and offers it back for LA applications to exploit the data. Further, the SSS design's flexibility enables it to be adapted to different workplace learning situations. This paper contributes by systematically deriving requirements for the SSS according to knowledge creation theories, and by offering support across a number of different learning tools and LA applications integrated into the SSS. We also show evidence for the usefulness of the SSS extracted from 4 authentic workplace learning situations involving 57 participants. The evaluation results indicate that the SSS satisfactorily supports decision making in diverse workplace learning situations and allow us to reflect on the importance of knowledge creation theories for this analysis.
- Published
- 2019
46. Going beyond Technological Affordances -- Assessing Organizational and Socio-Interactional Affordances
- Author
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Lainema, Kirsi, Lainema, Timo, Hämäläinen, Raija, and Heinonen, Kirsi
- Abstract
Analysis of the applicability of a learning technology requires evaluating how the affordances of the technology respond to the users' needs. We examine affordances of a digital learning environment. We concentrate on organizational and socio-interactional affordances, which are based on technological affordances. The analysis shows how organizational and socio-interactional affordances emerge from the use of technological affordances. We offer an analytical understanding of the dynamics of various kinds of affordances and how they can be assessed to help educators to better understand how the learning process and the use of affordances can be facilitated and supported. [For the complete proceedings, see ED608557.]
- Published
- 2019
47. Light Pollution -- An Interesting Context for Teaching and Learning Optics
- Author
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Haagen-Schützenhöfer, Claudia and Kopper, Manuela
- Abstract
Physics as a school subject is in general very unpopular. This fact is especially true for the situation in Austria. PISA results show that motivation, interest and self-efficacy of Austrian highschool students are significantly lower than the OECD average. In addition, a significant gender-gap in disadvantage for girls was shown. In general, one reason for low interest which was identified by previous research is that physics instruction is frequently decontextualized and students can hardly see any relevance of understanding physics for their lives. On the contrary, science and technology play a crucial and increasingly important role in our lives and in our globalized society. At the same time, edutainment focusing on science topics is booming. Interest studies like the ROSE-study may give reasons for this discrepancy: the choice of contexts does often not meet students' interests. This contribution reports the development of a context-oriented learning environment on light pollution to stimulate learning processes and at the same time interest in introductory optics. [Paper presented at GIREP-MPTL (2018).]
- Published
- 2019
48. Staying in the Loop: Formal Feedback Mechanisms Connecting Vocational Training to the World of Work in Europe
- Author
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Markowitsch, Jorg and Hefler, Gunter
- Abstract
Context: Vocational education and training (VET) is expected to be designed for creating learning outcomes which meet the needs for skills and competences in the labour market. Hence, identifying current and upcoming skill requirements and ensuring that these requirements are incorporated into education has long been the subject of academic and policy discussion. Governance processes keeping VET systems up-to-date have been more recently addressed as 'feedback mechanisms'. The term broadly summarizes the interplay of institutions, actors and processes which allows the continuous renewal of VET provision (i.e. by creating new qualifications or updating curricula). The aim of the paper is to enhance the understanding of cross-national variations in formally institutionalised 'feedback mechanisms' between VET and the labour market. Method: The research builds on a comparative analysis of case studies in 15 European countries. The paper presents examples for four different 'formal feedback mechanisms' in Germany, France, England, and Austria. Results: Four main types of formal mechanism have been identified: 1) The liberal model explained by VET in England and Higher VET in Austria; 2) The statist model explained by school-based VET in Austria; 3) the participatory model explained by VET in France and 4) the coordinated model explained by apprenticeship training in Germany and Austria. Conclusions: Existing approaches in the economic sociology of labour markets, the varieties of capitalism approach as well as comparative research on welfare states are useful
- Published
- 2018
49. Investigating the Affective Learning in a 3D Virtual Learning Environment: The Case Study of the Chatterdale Mystery
- Author
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Molka-Danielsen, Judith, Hadjistassou, Stella, and Messl-Egghart, Gerhilde
- Abstract
This research is motivated by the emergence of virtual technologies and their potential as engaging pedagogical tools for facilitating comprehension, interactions and collaborations for learning; and in particular as applied to learning second languages (L2). This paper provides a descriptive analysis of a case study that examines affective learning outcomes. We present an extension of an Affective Learning Model (ALM) in light of gaming in a 3D Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) in support of an L2 course. We identify affordances while applying an example of a serious game within the selected VLE. The findings of this case investigation give evidence that the gaming activities supported affective learning outcomes. This finding aligns with prior research of the ALM. Our research is based on a set of data collected during a case study as part of Euroversity, a three-year European Commission Project (2011-2014). [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED572005.]
- Published
- 2016
50. The Impact of the ENSI Project on School-Community Relations: Issues and Possibilities.
- Author
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Posch, Peter
- Abstract
Developments in schools that redefine the relationship between school and community are described in this paper. The Environment and School Initiatives (ENSI) project seeks to combine two apparently contradictory aims of education: to develop "environmental sensitivity" and to promote students'"dynamic qualities" by involving them in coping with problems in their immediate internal and external environments. The first part of this paper presents examples of ENSI activities in which students and teachers are involved and describes the features common to these activities. Programs implemented in Austria, Bavaria, Italy, and Norway are briefly described. Two new tasks of education that have emerged from the process of opening the schools to the community are the production of local knowledge, and action to improve environmental conditions. In addition, opening the schools has facilitated the growth of dynamic exchange networks. The second section of the paper outlines the social forces that stimulate development and the challenges they pose for schools. Increasing social complexity and insecurity and the reduced decision-making capacity of socioeconomic systems contribute to the need for decentralized responsibility. (13 references) (LMI)
- Published
- 1992
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