Improving pre-laboratory preparation of first year university chemistry students

This study uses an action research approach to investigate how different modes of pre-laboratory preparation contribute towards a fruitful laboratory experience for first year students on an access programme. We considered the experience to be fruitful if the students successfully acquired procedural understanding, communicative competence and were able to apply the conceptual understanding to make the purpose of the labs meaningful. A group of students was observed by participant observers during 1996. Data was gathered during laboratory sessions and from written pre-laboratory work. These data were analysed and changes were instituted in the running and conceptualization of the laboratory in the subsequent year. A group of students was again observed and data collected. Two important factors emerged from the analysis of the data. One finding was the importance of adequate student preparation for the laboratories, regardless of the mode of preparation employed. Another was that the ability to prepare depended on the conceptual and procedural understanding of the laboratory as a whole. Preparedness is also important if conceptual benefit is to be obtained from the practical experience.     

The development of visual expectations in the first year

The development of expectations was investigated by using the Visual Expectations Procedure. In Experiment 1, 128 infants aged 6-, 9-, and 12-months-old saw two 40-trial sequences of a videotaped mechanical toy appearing in various locations. The sequences represented an alternation pattern (i.e., ABAB) or a complex pivot pattern (i.e., ABCBABCB). In Experiment 2, 76 infants aged 4-, 8-, and 12-months-old saw either a left-right alternation or a top-bottom alternation. Reaction time improved and the percentage of anticipations increased between 6 and 9 months in Experiment 1 and between 4 and 8 months in Experiment 2 but not thereafter. Anticipations for the pivot sequence and for younger infants on both sequences were often incorrect (i.e., gaze shifts occurred before stimulus onset but were not directed toward the upcoming stimulus). We conclude that young infants have expectations that reflect some degree of general or procedural knowledge, but it is not clear that this behavior implies specific, articulated expectations about upcoming events.     

The work values of first year Spanish university students

This study analyzes the work values of 2,951 first-year university students in Spain enrolled in degree programs within the five major areas of university studies. For our research, participants were asked to respond to a Scale of Work Values in which intrinsic, social, and pragmatic extrinsic values as well as extrinsic values related to geographic mobility are differentiated. Our findings show these students to have high levels of intrinsic and pragmatic extrinsic values as well as differences that vary according to their gender, major area of study and their chosen study program. By means of cluster analysis, we have also identified seven distinct types of students aligned with the work values under study. This paper explores the implications of this study for the development of work values and the education of students at the university level as well as the study’s possible utility as a means of providing orientation to students that will prepare them better for their entry into the labor market.     

化学新课程教学中如何转变学生的学习方式

化学新课程的改革提倡以张扬人的主体性、能动性、独立性为宗旨的自主学习,因而必须转变学生传统的学习方式.只有在学生学习的主动性和养成学生学习的独立性及培养学生学习的体验性这些方面下功夫,才会提高学生的自学能力、创新能力及实践能力.     

化学新课程教学中如何转变学生的学习方式

化学新课程的改革提倡以张扬人的主体性、能动性、独立性为宗旨的自主学习,因而必须转变学生传统的学习方式。只有在学生学习的主动性和养成学生学习的独立性及培养学生学习的体验性这些方面下功夫,才会提高学生的自学能力、创新能力及实践能力。     

中国共产党党建总目标嬗变的历程及其启示

党的建设是一项伟大的工程，在不同的历史时期，我党根据不同的时代特点提出了不尽相同的党的建设总目标。党的建设总目标的成功实践具有重要意义，它成功地把一个善于革命的党建设成为一个善于执政的党，实现了党建理论的重大飞跃。从党建总目标的发展历程中，我们又得到许多深刻的启示，党建理论的创新是实现党建目标的动力，以“三个代表”重要思想建党是实现党建目标的保证。     

University students' expectations of geography,chemistry and biology courses with special reference to students' perception of geography

Conclusion First year students in geography, biology and chemistry indicate many similarities in their expectation of university courses. There are some interesting differences when categories of expectations are considered in isolation and when students are allowed to choose in the ‘final four’ expectations test. Expectations of geography are quite definitely science oriented if one assumes that a ‘practical’, ‘problem solving’ approach is inherently scientific. If these orientations are a consequence mainly of experience, and this would seem to be very likely, then one needs to consider carefully the appropriateness of these orientations. There are aspects of these results which should be of interest to curriculum developers and educators interested in a broad evaluation of student goals. Student's expectations emphasize knowledge, thinking skills, experimental work and related skills, as well as long term goals and attitudes. There is certainly an element of general balance which must be heartening to those who might have had doubts about the motivation of new university students. Students have expectations which indicate that they are aware of and presumably value all four categories of goals.     

The extent to which teacher attitudes and expectations predict academic achievement of final year students

Competition in the market is a perennial and ever‐increasing problem for independent schools. How schools can meet this pressure and find ways to attract (the best) students is a continuing question and one that will get more onerous as the government funding for education is, in relative terms, decreasing. One of the ways in which schools can show their worth is the attraction of the best teachers and being able to show potential clients how their staff contribute to the academic success of their graduating students. This study considers the relationship between teachers’ attitudes toward their work and the expectations and the extent to which their attitudes and expectations predict the academic achievements of their final year students. Results found that academic achievement is enhanced when school leadership provides an academically oriented context where values and expectations of high academic achievement are part of the school culture. Other teacher variables found to improve academic achievement are the teachers’ need for greater input into decision‐making at their schools; less formalisation of rules, procedures and process; and support through personnel, facilities, finances, equipment and resources.     

Effects of problem-based discussion on studying a subsequent text: A randomized trial among first year medical students

The Purpose of this study was to examine effectsof group discussion of a medical problem on the comprehension of a subsequentproblem-relevant text by first year medical students.Forty-eight first-year medical students were randomly assigned toone of two conditions: The experimental group discussed a problem of blood pressureregulation, where the control group discussed a problem of vision. Subsequently, allstudents studied a text on the physiology of blood pressure regulation. Finally, a freerecall test was administered. Numbers of propositions accurately recalled were analyzed usinganalysis of variance (ANOVA). Students who discussed the blood pressure regulationproblem recalled 25% more from the text than those who discussed the control problem.This difference was statistically significant. The present study represented thefirst truly randomized trial in the ecologically valid context of a medical curriculum. Itdemonstrated the positive effects of problem-based tutorial group discussion on thecomprehension of text. It confirmed earlier findings from laboratory studies thatproblem-based learning, in addition to positive emotional and motivational long-term effectswell-documented in the literature, also has positive effects on learning.     

The readiness of high school students to pursue first year physics

Abstract

A high failure rate at first year physics is often attributed to the lack of readiness of high school students to pursue such studies. This research explores this issue and reports on the perceptions of five physics lecturers at a South African university on the preparedness of high school students for first year physics. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth, non-directive, semi-structured interviews and analyzed for emerging themes using the Atlis.ti software. Readiness factors that were identified included the ability to engage with physics problems qualitatively rather than merely assuming an algorithmic approach, having a sound understanding of basic physics concepts, and competence in reading and speaking the scientific language. Other factors related to personal attributes and behavior and these were work ethic, perseverance, working independently and time management. These findings and their implications are discussed.     

新课程背景下的信息技术与课程整合

随着新课程改革试点的不断推进和教育信息化的推进,要求中小学普及信息技术教育。而信息技术与课程的整合,是普及信息技术教育的关键,是信息技术课程和其他学科双赢的一种教学模式,也是信息技术教育富有长久生命的必要保障。本文试从以下几个方面谈谈对新课程背景下信息技术与课程整合的初步认识。一、课改背景下信息技术教育的发展与变化。信息化是当今世界经济和社会发展的大趋势,以网络技术和多媒体技术为核心的信息技术已成为拓展人类能力的创造性工具。为了适应这个发展趋势,我国已经确定在中小学中普及信息技术教育。早在课改启动以前…     

Designing,implementing and maintaining a first year project course in electrical engineering

Being a modern electrical engineer does not only require state of the art skills in areas such as transfer and processing of information, electronics, systems engineering, and biomedical electrical engineering; it also requires generic engineering skills such as oral and written communication, team building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to take the responsibility of solving assigned tasks. In the development of a new electrical engineering curriculum, it was considered a challenge to introduce these generic engineering skills in a more applicable way. The approach described in this paper has been very successful in implementing and maintaining a challenging first year project based engineering course with a high level of training of generic engineering skills.     

新课改背景下的初中化学作业设计

以“激发兴趣，尊重和促进个性发展，培养合作精神，激发创新潜能，提高实践能力”为宗旨，初中化学作业设计应体现人文性、实用性、探究性、合作性，从而提高学生各方面的素质，达到新课程标准的要求．     

利用微课优化师范专业英语阅读课堂教学

师范专业英语阅读课堂的教学模式随着师范教育的纵深发展不断在发展变化着,这是一门实践性较强的专业学科,在提升学生英语阅读水平的同时,也强调了英语的运用能力。微课作为一个新生事物,是基于传统教学模式上的创新,对英语阅读教学的课堂教学发展有着重要意义,本文就此进行探讨。     

少数民族预科班化学教学法初探

根据高校民族预科生的学习基础和心理素质特点．把部分大学基础教程内容与中学化学教材有机地揉和在一起,采用科学的教学形式和教学方法进行课程改革,激发学生的学习积极性．提高教学质量。     

高一化学教学策略初探

高一化学教学在高中化学教学中起着承上启下作用,是整个高中化学教学的关键。为使学生在高一打下坚实的基础,在教学中,培养学生学习化学的兴趣,认真贯彻“教师主导、学生主体”,及时解决学生学习中的盲点,并重视科学方法的训练。