This study reflects my own search to clarify the process of cultural change in an educational setting. In particular it clarifies for me the process through which State-wide science curriculum reform was enacted in the late 1950s and into the 1970s. This period is interesting because of a continuing perception amongst science teachers that the system-wide changes of the time were widely supported by teachers and influenced classroom practice. My aim in this study was to explore how the characteristics of this cultural change process may be applied in the current climate of school reform.The members of the local science teacher community of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s engaged in similar activities and conversations as they attended the same University then continued to enter into similar school-based activities. As a group of people with shared experiences and values, who made decisions based on similar understandings and priorities, this group may be regarded as an identifiable culture.The day to day activities of this community of science teachers were underpinned by each teacher's beliefs about scientific knowledge and processes and school science, as well as understandings about the teaching and learning process. Many of these beliefs were so fundamental as to be unquestioned, and may be referred to as referents, or myths. For the members of a culture to change their practice then, new referents must be introduced, or existing referents modified.In searching for the process by which this culture was able to access new understandings, this study examined the comparative influence of two highly visible science educators who promoted science curriculum change in the State. As a result of data collection involving interviews with twenty-five key informants and the examination of private and public archival records; the crucial role of these unique personalities emerged ++ / consistently: Each of these men have been characterised as a Hero because each brought new understandings to their existing culture (Campbell, 1949).In reviewing the extended career of each Hero it was possible to draw strong parallels with mythical Greek heroes, Perseus and Theseus. This metaphorical representation not only effectively mirrored the life history of the modern-day heroes but also served to reconnect the logic of science along with that of the emotion of art - a balance well understood by the Greeks.The study found that the successful Heroes promoted significant long term change by instituting new rituals, ceremonies and artefacts throughout the science education community. Over time, these activities effectively modified older referents and created new ones, leading to new practice in the curriculum enacted by science teachers.In drawing together the stories of Perseus and Theseus, it was possible to recognise common elements in the processes by which these influential individuals were able to effect new practice in their community. Thus the study provides a template for the cultural change process in the future.In the final discussion, focus shifts to the relevance of this research to the everyday enterprise of schools and school systems. As a school practitioner z always read scholarly papers with the underpinning question; "See What?" The final chapter then, is largely hypothetical as it poses possibilities, makes predications and offers advice for readers seeking to improve the change process in their own context.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Scientific discovery is at the heart of solving many of the problems facing contemporary society. Scientists are retiring at rates that exceed the numbers of new scientists. Unfortunately, scientific careers still appear to be outside the reach of most individuals with learning disabilities. The purpose of this research was to better understand the methods by which successful learning disabled scientists have overcome the barriers and challenges associated with their learning disabilities in their preparation and performance as scientists. This narrative inquiry involved the researcher writing the life stories of four scientists. These life stories were generated from extensive interviews in which each of the scientists recounted their life histories. The researcher used narrative analysis to “make sense” of these learning disabled scientists’ life stories. The narrative analysis required the researcher to identify and describe emergent themes characterizing each scientist’s life. A cross-case analysis was then performed to uncover commonalities and differences in the lives of these four individuals. Results of the cross-case analysis revealed that all four scientists had a passion for science that emerged at an early age, which, with strong drive and determination, drove these individuals to succeed in spite of the many obstacles arising from their learning disabilities. The analysis also revealed that these scientists chose careers based on their strengths; they actively sought mentors to guide them in their preparation as scientists; and they developed coping techniques to overcome difficulties and succeed. The cross-case analysis also revealed differences in the degree to which each scientist accepted his or her learning disability. While some demonstrated inferior feelings about their successes as scientists, still other individuals revealed feelings of having superior abilities in areas such as visualization and working with people. These individuals revealed beliefs that they developed these special abilities as a result of their learning differences, which made them better than their non-learning disabled peers in certain areas. Finally, the researcher discusses implications of these findings in the light of special accommodations that can be made by teachers, school counselors, and parents to encourage learning disabled children who demonstrate interest in becoming scientists.

Scientific discovery is at the heart of solving many of the problems facing contemporary society. Scientists are retiring at rates that exceed the numbers of new scientists. Unfortunately, scientific careers still appear to be outside the reach of most individuals with learning disabilities. The purpose of this research was to better understand the methods by which successful learning disabled scientists have overcome the barriers and challenges associated with their learning disabilities in their preparation and performance as scientists. This narrative inquiry involved the researcher writing the life stories of four scientists. These life stories were generated from extensive interviews in which each of the scientists recounted their life histories. The researcher used narrative analysis to “make sense” of these learning disabled scientists’ life stories. The narrative analysis required the researcher to identify and describe emergent themes characterizing each scientist’s life. A cross-case analysis was then performed to uncover commonalities and differences in the lives of these four individuals. Results of the cross-case analysis revealed that all four scientists had a passion for science that emerged at an early age, which, with strong drive and determination, drove these individuals to succeed in spite of the many obstacles arising from their learning disabilities. The analysis also revealed that these scientists chose careers based on their strengths; they actively sought mentors to guide them in their preparation as scientists; and they developed coping techniques to overcome difficulties and succeed. The cross-case analysis also revealed differences in the degree to which each scientist accepted his or her learning disability. While some demonstrated inferior feelings about their successes as scientists, still other individuals revealed feelings of having superior abilities in areas such as visualization and working with people. These individuals revealed beliefs that they developed these special abilities as a result of their learning differences, which made them better than their non-learning disabled peers in certain areas. Finally, the researcher discusses implications of these findings in the light of special accommodations that can be made by teachers, school counselors, and parents to encourage learning disabled children who demonstrate interest in becoming scientists.

<p> Introductory physics laboratory activities were examined for clarity, purpose, and level of student engagement. Input from physics faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and enrolled students was used to identify areas in need of revision. Modifications were made to one laboratory experience with the goals of engaging students, alignment with 21st century skills, American Association of Physics Teachers best practices and goals for physics labs, and understanding graphs and their use in and out of the context of science. Additionally, a list of ideas with which to modify other laboratory activities in the manual was also created.</p>

<p> Due to the logistics of guided-inquiry lesson, students learn to problem solve and develop critical thinking skills. This mixed-methods study analyzed the students&rsquo; attitudes towards science during inquiry lessons. My quantitative results from a repeated measures survey showed no significant difference between student attitudes when taught with either structured-inquiry or guided-inquiry lessons. The qualitative results analyzed through a constant-comparative method did show that students generate positive interest, critical thinking and low level stress during guided-inquiry lessons. The qualitative research also gave insight into a teacher&rsquo;s transition to guided-inquiry. This study showed that with my students, their attitudes did not change during this transition according to the qualitative data however, the qualitative data did how high levels of excitement. The results imply that students like guided-inquiry laboratories, even though they require more work, just as much as they like traditional laboratories with less work and less opportunity for creativity.</p>

This is a presentation delivered at the Developing a Digital Libraries Education Program Workshop on June 7th held in conjunction with the Joint Conference on Digital Libraries 2005, June 7-11 at Denver, CO. It is based on Coleman's paper titled Beyond Interdisciplinarity, published in D-Lib Magazine, 2002. The D-Lib paper discussed how interdisciplinarity was used as the primary strategy to develop a Knowledge Organization track at the School of Information Resources & Library Science at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Besides highlighting some aspects of the paper, the presentation also draws on two other papers published in D-Lib Magazine "Interactivities" and "Interoperability" to show how the three concepts (interdisciplinarity, interactivity, and interoperability) are being used to teach SIRLS students, involve library practitioners in LIS education, and run a digital repository while providing SIRLS MLS students with an immersive digital library theoretical learning + research & development skills + practical experience. Other ideas presented include: book culture, digital culture, and the concept triangle (concept formation from psychology & linguistics). The DL Education workshop was funded by IMLS and organized by Indiana University & University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as part of their IMLS DL project. URL: http://www.jcdl2005.org/workshops.html#0

This study ascertains the attitudes of library school alumni regarding the value of including various competencies in an M.L.S. program in order to facilitate curriculum planning. A total of 736 alumni rated a list of fifty-five competencies. Twenty-five percent of alumni had been out of library school less than three years; 60 percent had been out less than ten years. The largest category of respondents is represented by public librarians (39 percent), followed by academic librarians (20 percent), school librarians (19 percent), special librarians (10 percent), and those in nonlibrary settings (12 percent). There was a significant relationship between the type of library course taken during library school and the type of library in which the respondent found employment. Childrenâ s and young adult literature was the most poplar â type of literatureâ course taken. The five competencies ranked most frequently as essential include: knowledge of sources, collection management skills, conducting a reference interview, communicating effectively in writing, and the ability to apply critical thinking skills to library problems. Rating of competencies was also analyzed by beginning librarians. Competencies valued also differed as a function of setting. Findings were compared to those of an earlier study conducted by the authors in 1987.

This article provides an overview of academic blogs in general and introduces, ASC Online, an advising and mentoring blog for graduate students in LIS at the University of Arizona. Other types of academic blogs are highlighted along with brief information about blog directories, search engines, and rankings.

Professional developments and initiatives both at international and national level have necessitated library and information professionals in general and library and information educators in particular to prepare themselves and meet the challenges of changing information scenario. Emergence, growth and popularity of knowledge society, digital libraries, library networks and consortia, content development in electronic environment, web based learning, knowledge commission and knowledge centers of which some of the new initiatives have been undertaken by Government of India have compelled to revamp and reorient library and information science education offered by schools of library and information studies in India. The paper discusses the present scenario of library and information science education in India, recent trends and developments in the library and information profession and more specifically the role of library and information science educators to address these issues and meet the challenges in the new millennium.