This book investigates professional practice at the interface of sociology and epistemology for progressive educational change. It suggests that orthodox sociology and sociology of education have not sufficiently analysed contemporary educational situations due primarily to the strength of the economic and educational influence of neoliberalism. In drawing upon key aspects of the work of Dewey, Freire, Bernstein and Bourdieu, a new reflexive sociology of knowledge is proposed that could potentially revolutionise public schooling and emancipate learning. This critical reconceptualisation of curriculum and teaching, as well as the democratic inclusion of all children into structures of privileged and community knowledge, opens up a new epistemological stage in the sociology of education worldwide. In confronting the contradiction between social marginalisation and educational expectations, Learning at the Practice Interface explores new approaches to education systems and knowledge production. Part A raises questions regarding knowledge, pedagogy and social justice that are central to schooling and which support values weakened by neoliberalism. These values include democracy, equity, community collaboration and deference towards knowledge and culture not dependent on wealth and status. Part B explores practical issues related to how knowledge is engaged in the school curriculum. This discussion goes to the heart of learning at the practice interface and suggests that the lack of epistemological strategies based on sociological description has created serious estrangement from school knowledge for large numbers of students. Part C discusses a critical view of knowledge in relation to research, teaching and learning and the education profession generally. The need for a new reflexive sociology of knowledge is proposed to guide educational dialogue and action such that connections can be made between progressive sociology and epistemology in the interests of all children. This book will be of interest to academics and researchers in the Sociology of Education, Teacher Education, and Education Reform.

This book reflects the state-of-the-art in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) research, drawing on both top-down and bottom-up practices and methodological itineraries. In order to fill some of the gaps in the current literature, it provides well-grounded and thorough investigations into discursive practices in academic, workplace and intercultural settings, throwing light on the specific varieties of language used to achieve professional targets. Teachers have to act as an interface between theory and praxis, bridging the gap between the classroom and the workplace to create a dynamic virtuous circle. The multi-perspective and multi-method frameworks presented in this volume range from quantitative corpus-based techniques integrated with discourse analysis to analyses of what occurs in the classroom informed by English language teaching (ELT) educational theories and notions regarding language acquisition, motivation, learning styles and instructional contexts. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches to the theory-practice dyad provide the opportunity to obtain a closer view of the subject from both ends of the spectrum and can prompt fresh initiatives by all those working within the domain of ESP. This book, therefore, offers a cutting-edge account of some of the latest avenues in research and practice which will be of interest to scholars and university teachers of ESP, as well as scholars in the field of applied linguistics.

Here’s what three pioneers in computer graphics and human-computer interaction have to say about this book: “What a tour de force—everything one would want—comprehensive, encyclopedic, and authoritative.” — Jim Foley “At last, a book on this important, emerging area. It will be an indispensable reference for the practitioner, researcher, and student interested in 3D user interfaces.” — Andy van Dam “Finally, the book we need to bridge the dream of 3D graphics with the user-centered reality of interface design. A thoughtful and practical guide for researchers and product developers. Thorough review, great examples.” — Ben Shneiderman As 3D technology becomes available for a wide range of applications, its successful deployment will require well-designed user interfaces (UIs). Specifically, software and hardware developers will need to understand the interaction principles and techniques peculiar to a 3D environment. This understanding, of course, builds on usability experience with 2D UIs. But it also involves new and unique challenges and opportunities. Discussing all relevant aspects of interaction, enhanced by instructive examples and guidelines, 3D User Interfaces comprises a single source for the latest theory and practice of 3D UIs. Many people already have seen 3D UIs in computer-aided design, radiation therapy, surgical simulation, data visualization, and virtual-reality entertainment. The next generation of computer games, mobile devices, and desktop applications also will feature 3D interaction. The authors of this book, each at the forefront of research and development in the young and dynamic field of 3D UIs, show how to produce usable 3D applications that deliver on their enormous promise. Coverage includes: The psychology and human factors of various 3D interaction tasks Different approaches for evaluating 3D UIs Results from empirical studies of 3D interaction techniques Principles for choosing appropriate input and output devices for 3D systems Details and tips on implementing common 3D interaction techniques Guidelines for selecting the most effective interaction techniques for common 3D tasks Case studies of 3D UIs in real-world applications To help you keep pace with this fast-evolving field, the book’s Web site, www.3dui.org, will offer information and links to the latest 3D UI research and applications.

The International Handbook of Research in Professional and Practice-based Learning discusses what constitutes professionalism, examines the concepts and practices of professional and practice-based learning, including associated research traditions and educational provisions. It also explores professional learning in institutions of higher and vocational education as well the practice settings where professionals work and learn, focusing on both initial and ongoing development and how that learning is assessed. The Handbook features research from expert contributors in education, studies of the professions, and accounts of research methodologies from a range of informing disciplines. It is organized in two parts. The first part sets out conceptions of professionalism at work, how professions, work and learning can be understood, and examines the kinds of institutional practices organized for developing occupational capacities. The second part focuses on procedural issues associated with learning for and through professional practice, and how assessment of professional capacities might progress. The key premise of this Handbook is that during both initial and ongoing professional development, individual learning processes are influenced and shaped through their professional environment and practices. Moreover, in turn, the practice and processes of learning through practice are shaped by their development, all of which are required to be understood through a range of research orientations, methods and findings. This Handbook will appeal to academics working in fields of professional practice, including those who are concerned about developing these capacities in their students. In addition, students and research students will also find this Handbook a key reference resource to the field.

In offices, colleges, and living rooms across the globe, learners of all ages are logging into virtual laboratories, online classrooms, and 3D worlds. Kids from kindergarten to high school are honing math and literacy skills on their phones and iPads. If that weren't enough, people worldwide are aggregating internet services (from social networks to media content) to learn from each other in "Personal Learning Environments." Strange as it sounds, the future of education is now as much in the hands of digital designers and programmers as it is in the hands of teachers. And yet, as interface designers, how much do we really know about how people learn? How does interface design actually impact learning? And how do we design environments that support both the cognitive and emotional sides of learning experiences? The answers have been hidden away in the research on education, psychology, and human computer interaction, until now. Packed with over 100 evidence-based strategies, in this book you'll learn how to: Design educational games, apps, and multimedia interfaces in ways that enhance learning Support creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration through interface design Design effective visual layouts, navigation, and multimedia for online and mobile learning Improve educational outcomes through interface design.

This book investigates professional practice at the interface of sociology and epistemology for progressive educational change. It suggests that orthodox sociology and sociology of education have not sufficiently analysed contemporary educational situations due primarily to the strength of the economic and educational influence of neoliberalism. In drawing upon key aspects of the work of Dewey, Freire, Bernstein and Bourdieu, a new reflexive sociology of knowledge is proposed that could potentially revolutionise public schooling and emancipate learning. This critical reconceptualisation of curriculum and teaching, as well as the democratic inclusion of all children into structures of privileged and community knowledge, opens up a new epistemological stage in the sociology of education worldwide. In confronting the contradiction between social marginalisation and educational expectations, Learning at the Practice Interface explores new approaches to education systems and knowledge production. Part A raises questions regarding knowledge, pedagogy and social justice that are central to schooling and which support values weakened by neoliberalism. These values include democracy, equity, community collaboration and deference towards knowledge and culture not dependent on wealth and status. Part B explores practical issues related to how knowledge is engaged in the school curriculum. This discussion goes to the heart of learning at the practice interface and suggests that the lack of epistemological strategies based on sociological description has created serious estrangement from school knowledge for large numbers of students. Part C discusses a critical view of knowledge in relation to research, teaching and learning and the education profession generally. The need for a new reflexive sociology of knowledge is proposed to guide educational dialogue and action such that connections can be made between progressive sociology and epistemology in the interests of all children. This book will be of interest to academics and researchers in the Sociology of Education, Teacher Education, and Education Reform.

Research on education has come into the political spotlight as the demand grows for reliable and credible information for the guidance of policy and practice in the education reform environment. Many debates among the education research community feature questions concerning the nature of evidence and these questions have also appeared in broader policy and practice arenas. Inquiry has generally, over the past years, created bodies of scientific knowledge that have profound implications for education. Dramatic advances in understanding how people learn, how young children acquire early reading skills, and how to design and evaluate educational and psychological measurements is a good example of this. However, the highly contextualized nature of education and the wide range of disciplinary perspectives that rely on it have made the identification of reducible, generalizable principles difficult and slow to achieve. Due to this, the U.S. Department of Education's National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board (NERPPB) has asked the NRC to establish a study committee to consider the scientific underpinnings of research in education. The committee consists of members with expertise in statistics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy of science, history of education, economics, chemistry, biology, and education practice. The committee worked with the three questions in mind: What are the principles of scientific quality in education research?, How can research-based knowledge in education cumulate?, and How can a federal research agency promote and protect scientific quality in the education research it supports?. A workshop was held on March 7-8, 2001 that was organized into three main sessions: Supporting Scientific Quality at the Federal level, The Interface of Research and Practice in Education, and Evidence and Inference. Science, Evidence, and Inference in Education: Report of a Workshop summarizes this workshop through these three ideas. The report also includes what the committee plans to do next, the workshop agenda, and information on the workshop's participants and speakers.