scholarly journals A case study of a Hungarian EFL teacher’s assessment practices with her young learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 695-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella Hild

The case study aims to provide insights into how a Hungarian EFL teacher used tests, assessed her young learners and gave feedback to them in the classroom. This qualitative, exploratory study was a follow-up to a large-scale project. In this single-case study, data were collected from an EFL teacher and five of her seventh graders on what tasks she used to assess them and how. The participants were interviewed. For the purpose of triangulation, the students were also audio- and video-recorded while doing four speaking tasks, and two classes were observed. The results revealed that for the teacher with decades of teaching experience there was room for improvement in her knowledge of age-appropriate teaching methodology and that some of her beliefs and practices reflected a lack of understanding how children develop. She had difficulty diagnosing her students’ strengths and weaknesses. The learners were rarely provided with feedback on their performance and language development; therefore, they did not see how much they had progressed. Low achievers had a hard time catching up with their peers; and they lagged further behind. The teacher seemed to be more interested in what her students did not know rather than focusing on what they could do.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takamitsu Watanabe ◽  
Geraint Rees

Background: Despite accumulated evidence for adult brain plasticity, the temporal relationships between large-scale functional and structural connectivity changes in human brain networks remain unclear. Methods: By analysing a unique richly detailed 19-week longitudinal neuroimaging dataset, we tested whether macroscopic functional connectivity changes lead to the corresponding structural alterations in the adult human brain, and examined whether such time lags between functional and structural connectivity changes are affected by functional differences between different large-scale brain networks. Results: In this single-case study, we report that, compared to attention-related networks, functional connectivity changes in default-mode, fronto-parietal, and sensory-related networks occurred in advance of modulations of the corresponding structural connectivity with significantly longer time lags. In particular, the longest time lags were observed in sensory-related networks. In contrast, such significant temporal differences in connectivity change were not seen in comparisons between anatomically categorised different brain areas, such as frontal and occipital lobes. These observations survived even after multiple validation analyses using different connectivity definitions or using parts of the datasets. Conclusions: Although the current findings should be examined in independent datasets with different demographic background and by experimental manipulation, this single-case study indicates the possibility that plasticity of macroscopic brain networks could be affected by cognitive and perceptual functions implemented in the networks, and implies a hierarchy in the plasticity of functionally different brain systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-144
Author(s):  
B. Tyr Fothergill ◽  
William Knight ◽  
Bernd Carsten Stahl ◽  
Inga Ulnicane

Purpose This paper aims to critically assess approaches to sex and gender in the Human Brain Project (HBP) as a large information and communication technology (ICT) project case study using intersectionality. Design/methodology/approach The strategy of the HBP is contextualised within the wider context of the representation of women in ICT, and critically reflected upon from an intersectional standpoint. Findings The policy underpinning the approach deployed by the HBP in response to these issues parallels Horizon 2020 wording and emphasises economic outcomes, productivity and value, which aligns with other “equality” initiatives influenced by neoliberalised versions of feminism. Research limitations/implications Limitations include focussing on a single case study, the authors being funded as part of the Ethics and Society Subproject of the HBP, and the limited temporal period under consideration. Social implications The frameworks underpinning the HBP approach to sex and gender issues present risks with regard to the further entrenchment of present disparities in the ICT sector, may fail to acknowledge systemic inequalities and biases and ignore the importance of intersectionality. Shortcomings of the approach employed by the HBP up to March, 2018 included aspects of each of these risks, and replicated problematic understandings of sex, gender and diversity. Originality/value This paper is the first to use an intersectional approach to issues of sex and gender in the context of large-scale ICT research. Its value lies in raising awareness, opening a discursive space and presenting opportunities to consider and reflect upon potential, contextualised intersectional solutions to such issues.


Author(s):  
Prince Amoah ◽  
Gabriel Eweje

PurposeThis article examines community expectations and perceptions of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of a multinational mining company following a unique incident of cyanide spillage from a tailings (processed ore effluents) storage facility. CSR remains a critical component of stakeholder management in developing countries due to the continuous environmental and social impacts of mining development. The article employs the stakeholder and institutional theories to assess the CSR manifestations of a large-scale mining company in the context of pressures at the plant level.Design/methodology/approachWe employ a mixed method design using survey and stakeholder interviews to collect, analyse, and present findings within legal, ethical, and discretionary CSR categories. The survey data were statistically analysed by calculating the standard deviations of the three CSR dimensions to compare and understand the data variations in respect of the perception ratings of respondents on a four-point Likert scale, while interview data was evaluated using an inductive approach based on thematic networks.FindingsThe findings suggest that unfulfilled expectations for employment generate wider consensus towards demands to share in mining benefits based on rising perceptions of inequity and social exclusion. Additionally, host communities within farming areas engage in speculative development in anticipation of CSR-related compensation resulting in a homogenised expectation. Further, this study reveals that reactive CSR practices are interpreted as both insincere and patronising, contributing to a negative perception of mining activities in affected communities.Research limitations/implicationsAs a single-case study, the findings may be inadequate for theoretical generalisations and therefore limited to the context of the study.ImplicationsRethinking stakeholder and institutional theories, and exploring new assumptions in the context of the mining industry in Ghana, may expand the current discourse within the academic, corporate, and statutory communities.ContributionThis study adds to and expands the assumptions of stakeholder and institutional theories in a mining context within local communities. It may also improve the knowledge of managers of large-scale mining companies on effective stakeholder management.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Öberg

PurposeThis paper describes and discusses company spin-ins and spin-outs as a means to understand company growth in a dynamic context. The following question is asked: How can growth be understood in spin-ins and spin-outs of innovative firms? The paper suggests return on capabilities as a measure to understand growth in an open innovation context.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical part of the paper consists of a single case study. Data was captured through interviews and secondary data sources.FindingsThe paper points to that resources alone do not explain strategic decisions by a company and how spin-ins and spin-outs result from the need for capabilities, changes in business foci and temporary solutions to deal with overcapacities or lack of alternatives.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to research by discussing contemporary issues in strategy and innovation and relating them to the resource-based view and the growth of the firm. Spin-outs, and acquisitions and divestitures as interlinked events have rarely been focused on in the literature, while they remain frequent phenomena in practice.


Author(s):  
Daniel Remta ◽  
Michal Doležel ◽  
Alena Buchalcevová

Abstract [Context] Agile development methods are highly popular across software organizations. To leverage benefits in larger enterprises, Agile development methods have to be scaled. Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is the most commonly used scaling framework. Performing of the Product Owner role has been identified as crucial in project success in large-scale environments. Staffing the right Product Owner is one of the challenges of adopting SAFe. [Motivation] Research papers focused on Product Owner in SAFe are scarce. Our study outcomes help enterprises to understand the Product Owner role in SAFe and therefore contribute to the removal of challenges with finding the right Product Owners. Additionally, we aim to improve the research community’s understanding of the Product Owner role within the context of SAFe. [Method] Qualitative data were collected through three semi-structured interviews and analyzed using deductive content analysis. [Results] This paper presents the initial results of a single case study. We found out that many activities identified for Product Owners in previous research are not carried out by Product Owners in this particular SAFe implementation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Yusuf Hamdan ◽  
Anne Ratnasari ◽  
Aziz Taufik Hirzi

Entrepreneurs as a business negotiator, in order to successfully improve the deal with his business partner needs to be supported by a variety of aspects. One of them through negotiation capability. This study aims to determine the ability of employers’ views on aspects of the negotiations digging courage, patience persists, ask for more courage, integrity, and their activities as a listener when negotiating. This research method qualitative single case study. Data collected by observation, interview, and literature. The informants were women entrepreneurs officers and members of Ikatan Wanita pengusaha Indonesia (IWAPI) West Java. The findings of this study, women entrepreneurs were able to dig up information, is able to give a sense of comfort to the other party during negotiations, have the patience to last longer than the other negotiator to provide timely and positive thinking, dare to ask for more focus on the purpose and process sequence achievement, integrity presses win-win solutions through commitment and attention to the common interest, capable of being a good listener through providing discussion time and as empathetic listener


Author(s):  
Jyotirmaya Mahapatra ◽  
Dinesh Kumar

Initiation of economic reforms in India overwhelmed the large banks starting in 1991. Liberlaisation, privatisation, and globalisation, along with foreign direct investment exposed Indian banks to operational and credit risks. To overcome these risks, the banks have upgraded their financial, technological, and Human Resource Development (HRD) processes. The case study organization was one of the nationalized banks in India that lost its supremacy, slipping in rank from first to eighth. During the last decade, this bank adopted several HRD practices to create a strong OCTAPACE culture. As a result, the bank won several HRD awards over 10 years. This study critically reviews that bank as a single case study. Data were collected from 153 employees of the case study bank (all had completed at least 10 years of service). The focus was to examine if the OCTAPACE culture had impacted performance. The findings were that the OCTAPACE culture improved and the bank increased its financial performance without experiencing credit risk.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-40
Author(s):  
Joseph Milinga ◽  
Mwajabu Possi

This study analysed sighted students’ prosocial behaviour towards assisting their peers with visual impairment (VI) in inclusive secondary schools in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania. An embedded single case study design was used. Seventy six respondents, consisting of teachers and students with and without VI participated in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured and face to face interviews, focus group discussions, and closed-ended questionnaires. Data was analysed through thematic analysis and presented in tables and quotations of participants’ actual words. Results have indicated differences in prosocial behaviours between sighted day-students and sighted boarding students with the latter being more prosocial as a result of altruistic and egoistic factors; having a positive attitude and due to the influence of religion and school administration . Similarities between sighted students and those with VI were linked to sighted students’ prosocial behaviour. The latter students’ attributions, and misunderstandings among students. determined their prosocial behaviour towards assisting their peers with VI. Awareness raising and sensitisation of members of the community, as well as replicating the study in inclusive and co-education schools for students with VI are recommended in the paper.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 757-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Thompson

This mixed-methods study couples large-scale analyses of student course-taking with case study data to explore what blocks the gate to enrollment in and successful completion of secondary math courses for students ever classified as English learners (ever ELs). Initial quantitative findings indicate that half of all students across six California districts, including ever ELs, repeated a math course between 8th and 10th grades, with limited evidence of additional learning during students’ second time in the course. Ever EL case study findings indicate that interactions between institutional (course placement policies), classroom (ways of knowing), and individual (student motivation) factors shaped students’ math course-taking trajectories, suggesting that opportunity to learn is necessary but not sufficient for educational success.


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