Showing papers in "International Journal of Research in 2006"

An appropriate curriculum for 4–5‐year‐old children in Northern Ireland: comparing play‐based and formal approaches

Abstract: This paper reports on an investigation into the quality of the learning experiences for 4–5‐year‐old children in Northern Ireland schools in the context of the debate about play‐based and formal approaches to learning and teaching. Detailed observations were carried out in 70 Year 1 classes: 38 in traditional Year 1 classes where the Northern Ireland National Curriculum is being delivered, and 32 in Enriched Curriculum classes, where a more developmentally appropriate, play‐based and child‐centred curriculum is being piloted. The quality of the learning experience in each class was assessed using a structured observation schedule, i.e. Walsh and Gardner's Quality learning instrument. Overall the Enriched Curriculum appears to be providing 4–5‐year‐old children in Northern Ireland with a higher‐quality learning experience. The children are given more opportunities to act independently, are engaged in more challenging activities and are more learning disposed, and they show higher levels of emotional, socia...

Information and communication technologies: transforming views of literacies in early childhood settings

Abstract: This paper reports on an early childhood technology project that has been conducted in Australia since 2000. The background to the project is that IBM extended their international KidSmart Early Learning program to the Asia‐Pacific region. A partnership with the Australian National Schools Network was formed to implement the program in Australia. This organisation took responsibility for identification of early childhood centres (preschool and day care) serving low socio‐economic status communities across Australia (approximately 100 centres per year), the design and facilitation of professional development for teachers and research and evaluation in conjunction with the program. Whilst this was a national project, this paper deals only with the research conducted in Western Australia with the first round of centres involved in the project. The paper highlights themes emerging from teacher action research based in early childhood centres. The pedagogical considerations, challenges and dilemmas emerging fr...

Globalization and Policy Convergence

Abstract: This article examines the use of the system of mutual recognition, harmonization and qualified majority voting in the European Union (EU) and Australia as a means to the greater understanding of the impact of globalization in relation to policy convergence. It is argued that the Australian adoption of mutual recogntion, based on the EU model, was an example of policy convergence, although the extent of convergence was variable. It is further argued that the convergence was, in part, influenced by globalization. The article is divided into three major sections. The first indicates the author's position in relation to the key concepts of globalization and policy, convergence. The second provides a brief examination of the factors leading to the intensified use of mutual recognition in the EU and its adoption in Australia. The third attempts to assess whether this use of mutual recognition is an example of policy convergence, concluding that, with some reservations, it was. The fourth attempts to assess the ...

Regional Development Programmes

Abstract: Broad-focusing development programmes at a regional level have been a major thrust by governments of developing countries over the last three decades. Most of the programmes addressed here have been entirely or partly financed by donor agencies. They have tended to concentrate on augmenting activities of government line agencies, and have mainly emphasized physical and social infrastructure, standardized support facilities to enterprises and individuals, and, sometimes, land use zoning and other measures to regulate the spatial distribution of facilities and activities. This article suggests that regional development programmes may become more effective if they are designed as more flexible instruments for peoplecentred development, exploiting potential comparative advantages of innovation, networking and institution building in a broad sense. Basic organizational and management requirements for this would be a decentralized set-up, substantial freedom from government administration. flexible organization...

New Labour and Inter-Governmental Management

Abstract: The promise of a reinvigorated local government that many believed was imminent following the UK election of New Labour in 1997 was not immediately realized. Central government has made clear that local authorities have opportunities to enhance their role only if they meet its expectations. The messages emanating from central government have been complicated and at times contradictory. Local authorities must develop innovative ways of working in a multi-agency context, while also meeting central government's prescriptive results-based agenda. The opportunities and threats arising from the tensions evident in central government's policies towards local authorities have profound implications for UK intergovernmental management. Taking account of parallel developments in some other European countries, and applying associated developing theory, this article examines how far English local authorities are adapting to a networking environment and the extent to which they nonetheless operate within an ‘action spa...

Exploring the Role of Father Development Workers in Supporting Early Years Learning.

Abstract: This qualitative study presents findings from initial exploratory work that examined how father development workers (FDWs) supported fathers to become involved in their children's learning, within the context of father groups. The study found that there were two main purposes behind the father groups and the subsequent role of FDWs in supporting father involvement. First, its purpose was to raise confidence and responsibility amongst fathers; and second, it was to improve and influence children's learning. As part of raising confidence and responsibility, FDWs supported fathers to ‘be themselves’, to interact with the group, to develop a father–child relationship and to make decisions. FDWs used both indirect and direct learning approaches with fathers in order to improve and influence children's learning. The study calls for further research into the area of father groups and supporting father involvement in children's learning, as this is an important area that is currently under‐researched in the UK.

The New Institutional Economics

Abstract: Current English policy towards general practice is ambivalent between developing new forms of contractual governance and constructing more hierarchically organized bodies. NHS policy documents say that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will contract some primary care services and directly manage others. Depending on the balance, PCTs could either organize general practice through practice-based contracts or start developing into hierarchies (albeit with some subcontractors for the time being). New Institutional Economics, in particular Williamson's version, defines conditions where hierarchies are likely to be more efficient than markets (in terms of what welfare economics recognizes as allocative efficiency) and conditions where the reverse holds. This article considers the implications of the New Institutional Economics (NIE) for redesigning the governance of publicly financed services such as general practice which allow direct public access, in which it is difficult to define and manage service quality, and ...