Developing Adaptive Teaching Competency through coaching

The research project Adaptive Teaching Competency seeks to conceptualise the processes of tuning teaching to individual students' learning needs and to empirically test, within the field of science teaching, to what extent Adaptive Teaching Competency can be fostered through teacher education. 32 primary and secondary teachers took part in an intervention to foster their Adaptive Teaching Competency based on content-focused coaching whilst 18 teachers formed the control group. Teachers receiving the coaching increased their Adaptive Teaching Competency with regard to planning and their students showed a higher learning outcome compared to the control group.     

Pragmatic language in deaf and hard of hearing students: correlation with success in general education

Deaf and hard of hearing children have shown delays and difficulties in pragmatic behaviors due to insufficient exposure to common daily discourse and underlying impoverishment in all components of language development. In a study in a school district in a southeastern U.S. state, the researchers investigated the relationship between sociolinguistic pragmatic competence in 81 deaf and hard of hearing students and these students' degree of hearing loss, communication mode, and degree of success in general education. Two measures, one devised by the state's department of education and one developed within the local school system, were used: the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (Georgia Department of Education, 2000) and the Socio-Pragmatic Skills Checklist for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (Cobb County School District, 1997). The researchers found that whether the students used spoken language or signed language, socio-pragmatic language had a high, positive correlation with academic outcomes.     

从函数图像绘制角度统一看四种内力图绘制

材料力学中内力图的绘制贯穿材料力学强度学习的整个过程,也是工程中结构分析重要的一环,因此,掌握好内力图的绘制,对于培养学生的工程分析能力至关重要。本文从数学函数图像绘制的角度,揭示了内力图绘制的本质,提出了四种内力图绘制的统一思想并小结了若干绘图技巧,以使学生能快速准确绘制内力图。     

Overcoming visual obstacles with the aid of the Supposer

This paper presents research about the effect of intensive work with diagrams on high school students' use of diagrams in geometry. It identifies three obstacles, culled from previous research, which students must overcome when examining and interpreting diagrams: Diagrams are particular; common usage confuses certain standard diagrams with the classes of objects to which they belong; and a single diagram can be viewed and described in different ways. The paper outlines the resources of the Geometric Supposer, a set of microcomputer software tools which were designed to aid students in overcoming these obstacles. The bulk of the paper presents evidence from students' papers and classroom comments indicating that over the course of a year's work students using the Supposer became more facile in their use of diagrams and were able to overcome each of the three obstacles.The preparation of this paper was supported in part by the National Academy of Education's Spencer Fellowship program.     

Advancing Student Success with Competency Points: Elevating Engagement and Motivation in Community College English Composition Students

This research tested and evaluated how one method—Competency Points (CPs)—increased student success by enhancing engagement and motivation in community college English composition students. In 2005 I introduced Competency Points in my English Composition 1 classes, and began tracking how engaged and motivated students were to succeed as revealed by the following five indices: number of completed essays and reading assignments, frequency of class attendance and participation, and rate of course completion. Students showed marked improvement in four, and negligible improvement in one, of these variables.     

运动的观点在高等数学教学中的运用

高等数学是关于变量的数学,它研究的对象是变量和图形的变化,并且由于引进了极限运算,它的研究方法是动态的、联系的,因而是辨证的.因此,在教学中要引导学生改变以往的思维模式,一是启发他们用运动变化的观点思考问题,理解概念、定理.二是想象让图形“活动”起来,使抽象理论变得具体生动,增强直观形象性.在动态意义下培养数学审美意识,激发创造精神.     

Turkish Students' Conceptions about the Simple Electric Circuits

In this study, the Turkish students' understanding level of electric circuits consisting of two bulbs and one battery was investigated by using open-ended questions. Two-hundred fifty students, whose ages range from 11 to 22, were chosen from five different groups at primary, secondary and university levels in Trabzon in Turkey. In analyzing students' drawings and explanations, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were exploited. The unipolar model (Model A), the clashing currents model (Model B), the current consumed model (Model C) and the scientist model with current conserved (Model D) determined from the related literature were used to categorize the students' answers. The results showed that the Turkish students have many misconceptions about electric circuits. Also, it is found out that especially Model A was widespread accepted among the students in group 1 (5th grade) and half of the students in group 3 (9th grade) has an understanding of electric circuits as it is in Model C.     

大学生公共外语学习认识的实证研究

本研究用自编的大学生外语学习认识问卷对832名大学生进行测试，考察了大学生的外语学习认识的特点．研究结果表明：1)大学生外语学习认识在性别上有显著差异，女生的外语学习认识普遍强于男生．2)大学生外语学习认识在外语水平上有显著差异，已过级者强于未过级者．3)大学生外语学习认识存在年级差异，一年级高于二、四年级，三年级高于四年级，其他年级之间不存在差异．     

Students' ability to visualize set expressions: An initial investigation

Visualization is a powerful tool for understanding and solving mathematical problems. The use of Venn diagrams to visualize set expressions, however, is problematic for many students and may actually hinder their problem-solving efforts. In this study, 92 university students construct visual representations of eight set expressions. Through the use of a production system model and detailed analyses of students' work and verbal protocols, it is discovered that (1) competent and error-prone students construct and use procedures to complete set translation tasks, and (2) two-thirds of the observed errors arise from the consistent implementation of ill-formed procedures. The procedural origins of students' errors are identified and conjectures are offered regarding the perceptions and experiences that lead to the development of erroneous translation procedures.NotesThis article is based on the author's doctoral dissertation completed in 1992 at Indiana University under the direction of Frank K. Lester.     

构建学生主体:新的课堂教学价值观

成功地构建学生主体是新的课堂教学价值观的重要体现,而面向全体学生,尊重学生主体人格、保障学生学习的基本权利和转换教师的角色行为是构建学生主体地位“四维空间”教学模型的四个要素。     

培养研究型教师——芬兰以研究为基础的教师教育探析

自2000年以来,芬兰学生连续四次在国际学生评估项目(PISA)中名列前茅,令世界瞩目。虽然芬兰学生出类拔萃的表现是诸多因素共同作用的结果,但以高品质的教师教育培养高素质的教师是促使其教育成功的关键。本文从芬兰以研究为基础教师教育实施的动因、涵义、理论模型及实施过程等层面,探讨了成就芬兰学生杰出表现背后的教师教育,对我国未来的教师教育的变革具有一定的启示与借鉴意义。     

大学生就业形势与对策研究

近年来,大学毕业生就业难已成为全社会关注的一个热点.造成这一问题的主要原因,是现实与社会的对接不够紧密、人力资源流动出现结构性失衡、人才培养模式不尽合理、大学生择业观念存在偏差与就业市场体系不够完善等多种因素引起的结果.文章从大力发展经济,增加就业岗位;以社会需求为导向,深化高等教育体制改革;强化对大学生的就业指导,树立新的就业观念;完善促进大学生就业的社会政策和工作机制等四个方面出发,对缓解大学生就业压力,提出了设想以及一些具体的解决方法.     

High-School Chemistry Students' Performance and Gender Differences in a Computerized Molecular Modeling Learning Environment

Computerized molecular modeling (CMM) contributes to the development of visualization skills via vivid animation of three dimensional representations. Its power to illustrate and explore phenomena in chemistry teaching stems from the convenience and simplicity of building molecules of any size and color in a number of presentation styles. A new CMM-based learning environment for teaching and learning chemistry in Israeli high schools has been designed and implemented. Three tenth grade experimental classes used this discovery CMM approach, while two other classes, who studied the same topic in the customary approach, served as a control group. We investigated the effects of using molecular modeling on students' spatial ability, understanding of new concepts related to geometric and symbolic representations and students' perception of the model concept. Each variable was examined for gender differences. Students of the experimental group performed better than control group students in all three performance aspects. Experimental group students scored higher than the control group students in the achievement test on structure and bonding. Students' spatial ability improved in both groups, but students from the experimental group scored higher. For the average students in the two groups the improvement in all three spatial ability sub-tests —paper folding, card rotation, and cube comparison—was significantly higher for the experimental group. Experimental group students gained better insight into the model concept than the control group and could explain more phenomena with the aid of a variety of models. Hence, CMM helps in particular to improve the examined cognitive aspects of the average student population. In most of the achievement and spatial ability tests no significant differences between the genders were found, but in some aspects of model perception and verbal argumentation differences still exist. Experimental group females improved their model perception more than the control group females in understanding ways to create models and in the role of models as mental structures and prediction tools. Teachers' and students' feedback on the CMM learning environment was found to be positive, as it helped them understand concepts in molecular geometry and bonding. The results of this study suggest that teaching/learning of topics in chemistry that are related to three dimensional structures can be improved by using a discovery approach in a computerized learning environment.     

Case studies of teaching problem solving

Summary Some important results that relate to classroom learning and teaching of problem solving emerge from these case studies. These are now summarized as follows. In terms of the students' potential learning experiences of problem solving, it was found that the students were mainly witnessing their teachers' demonstrations of using rules or algorithms for solution to problems. Repeated practice of solving the sorts of problems that occur in examinations was also emphatically included as part of the learning experience. The students were not exposed to a range of strategies that could possibly be used to solve the same problems. There was no explicit teaching of important problem solving skills such as translation skills (comprehending, analyzing, interpreting, and defining a given problem) and linkage skills (concept relatedness between two concepts or using cues from the problem statements to associate ideas, concepts, diagrams, etc. from memory). When teachers solve problems they use, in general, several strategies to solve the same class of problems and they are very careful and explicit about translating problem statements, making relevant linkages and checking. These absences in the teachers' teaching of problem solving (and hence in the students' range of learning experiences) are particularly interesting because they are part of the teachers' own repertoire of skills. Accordingly, it may not be too difficult to get teachers to include them in their teaching. This would mean that the students' range of learning experiences for problem solving would be very much strengthened.     

When Students Grade Their Teachers: A Validity Analysis of the Tripod Student Survey

This article develops a validity argument for the use of the Tripod student survey of instructional practices to assess teacher effectiveness in summative teacher evaluations and professional development decisions. This paper expands upon previous research in three ways: (a) it draws from current validity thinking to examine the evidence for separate summative and formative purposes of the Tripod survey, (b) it takes advantage of a large, multiple measure data set collected by the Measures of Effective Teaching Project, and (c) it accounts for both the multilevel nature of school data and contextual classroom features. Preliminary evidence was found for a two-dimensional structure, representing classroom management (Control) and academic support (Support). The Control and Support Tripod scores are fairly reliable and correlated with classroom observation ratings and teacher value-added scores. However, caution is suggested in interpreting these results as an endorsement for use in high-stakes teacher evaluations.     

Surveying digital competencies of university students and professors in Ukraine for fully online collaborative learning

Collaborative-constructivist online learning appears well aligned with Ukraine’s post-revolutionary aspirations for globalised and transformed higher education. This study explores digital competencies of students and professors at Kyiv National Economic University, Ukraine, to probe readiness for fully online collaborative learning. The General Technology Competency and Use profile tool was completed by 244 participants to measure digital experience and confidence across four categories of human–computer activity. To assess readiness, reported levels of competencies were related to the three dimensions of successful collaborative learning described by the Community of Inquiry model. Despite some key differences between students and teachers, general findings include moderate-to-low levels of self-reported technical, social and informational competency, accompanied by consistently low levels of epistemological competency. These findings suggest that neither students nor teachers are adequately prepared for achieving high levels of social, cognitive and teaching presence in a fully online learning environment. It is recommended that digital-competency development become an educational priority.     

我国博士生培养现状——基于四所高等学校的调查

通过对4所研究型大学1436位在读博士生的抽样问卷调查,从博士生的个体特征、博士生的学习与生活状况、导师指导、现行培养制度四个方面探讨了我国博士培养的现状,发现当前我国博士培养过程中存在的不足有:培养经费投入不足、博士生生活待遇偏低、导师指导的方式较为单一、入学方式和学制不够灵活。因此,博士生培养应作相应改革。     

Predicting achievement of first semester university science students

This paper reports on 11 measures used as predictors of students' achievement in their first semester subjects. The students were enrolled in the same four core subjects of a university general science course. Although a number of statistically significant correlations were found, only one predictor variable, HSC aggregate mark, correlated significantly with each of the achievement variables. One predictor variable entered four of the achievement regression equations, while two variables entered the fifth, accounting for 34 to 54% of the variance. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A05A9011 00020