NEW THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION
Year:2011 | Volume:7 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

To determine the relationship between perfectionism and irrational beliefs, and any differences in these areas among Yazdi housewives and working women, relevant measures were administered to two such groups. The data analysis showed a significant relationship between the two constructs and no difference between the two groups. There was, however a difference in irrational beliefs between women of different levels of education as there was in perfectionism between those of different birth order. It can be concluded that the more irrational one is in beliefs, the more perfectionist he/she would be, and no matter how educated one is a measure of irrationality can be expected.

To compare the value systems of prep schools teachers and students, a sample of 80 teachers and another one of 260 students was randomly selected and their values were assessed using Alport, Vernon, and Lindsey's Values Questionnaire. Data analyses showed that the hierarchies of the two groups' value systems are different: Teachers' include theoretical, social, economic, political, artistic, and religious values, while in students' the last two are switched. Gender differences were observed in all values exceptin artistic and religious ones among teachers, and in all except economic and artistic values among students, with males in both groups having the upper hand except in social values among students where the females scored higher. There was no difference between the two groups except in artistic values.

To evaluate the impact of directed social play therapy on elementary school students' behavioral disorders, a group of 160 fourth and fifth graders, selected by the school districts in the city of Saaree, were given the CSI-4 questionnaire and then from among those with behavioral disorder, 24 were randomly selected and placed into two groups, one of which participated in a 12 sixty minute sessions of directed social play therapy over a six week period. Pre- and post-test scores indicated a significant reduction in students' behavioral disorders. The therapist's and her assistants' observations, parental and teacher reports, and the psychologist's diagnosis supported the findings. Thus it is concluded that this type of therapy is effective.

To explore the relationship between the selected constructs, a sample of 323 high school sophomores (178 females and 145 males) were randomly selected to complete three questionnaires on goal orientation, cognitive engagement, and self-efficacy. The respondents' GPA was also extracted from their records as the index of their academic achievement. The data analyses indicate positive and significant relationships between goal orientation, learning strategies, and achievement; goal orientation, learning strategies, and self-efficacy; and between gender and cognitive engagement.

To design a computer program to help elementary school children learn to spell, initially a number of tests for measuring their auditory, visual, and kinesthetic skills were constructed. Then in order to help with the prevention of user drop out a natural and colorful approach was taken while utilizing animation techniques as well as cartoon characters known to the students so as to help them being further motivated. The goals and content of the program were designed in accordance with the national curriculum emphasizing sentence structure. As for the learning method, different games and exercises including pictorial and multiple choice items were included. The evaluation method was also inclusive of multiple choice tests as well as peer evaluation. An opinion survey of a number of experts indicates that the program is rather well designed.

To measure the two constructs of organizational climate and teachers' spirit, a sample of 202 public school teachers and another one of 100 private school teachers were randomly and proportionally selected and then two questionnaires given to each individual at the school site. Analysis of the data revealed that private school teachers enjoy a better spirit than the other group, as was the case with those schools having a committed organizational climate compared to the ones with non-committed organizational climate. Wherever the principals were more supportive and teachers were more trustworthy, the spirit was also higher, as was the case with those teachers with higher educational degrees. There was no difference between the two types of schools in terms of organizational climate.

Nowadays, quality is the main concern of many organizations, as they are forced to compete for survival and elevation of their status. Universities are no exception as they play a vital role in socio-cultural and economic development. The field of education is among the key players in these developments and the quality of the education that the universities provide in this field is of utmost importance. To sample this quality and ways of improving it, the expectations and perceptions of students at the University of Kordestaan regarding the quality of the content, structure, teachers, and facilities in the field of education were assessed. Data analysis shows a significant gap between the respondents' expectations and perceptions in all four areas of concern. Based on these findings, ten basic needs and fifteen ways of meeting them were identified.