Teacher-as-Researcher Reform: Student Achievement and Perceptions of Learning Environment

This study reports the results of a research project conducted as part of high school teachers' efforts to bring about reform of science education in their school. Two classes of Grade 8 students (N = 43) taught by the same teacher were monitored in terms of students' perceptions of their learning environment, achievement levels, and conceptual understanding of research. Quantitative methods (questionnaire, tests and examinations, GPA) and qualitative methods (interviews, videotaped lessons, artifacts) were combined while the learning environment was changed to a student-centered open inquiry format. Not unexpectedly, relationships between the Autonomy and Student-Centeredness scales of the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) and immediate (unit test) and delays post-tests (examination subsection) were detected. On the other hand, although student-student interactions in small-groups and whole-class sessions were a significant part of the learning environment, the Negotiation scale was not related to achievement. Three case studies of representative students (in terms of achievement and perceptions of the learning environment) are featured, further underscoring the importance of monitoring reform of teaching at the classroom level.     

Influence of Redesigning a Learning Environment on Student Perceptions and Learning Strategies

In society, there is a growing need for graduates who possess competencies consistent with deep learning. This means that, amongst other competencies, graduates should be capable of dealing with the complexity of the tasks in which they will engage in professional situations. We tried to increase the depth of students learning by changing the format of a so-called assignment-based learning to a problem-based learning course. The goals of this research were to determine if students, firstly, perceived the redesigned course as being more challenging and, secondly, adjusted their learning strategies towards deeper learning. Participants were two groups of second-year International Business Studies students attending the International Business Strategy course in consecutive years. Students perceptions of the learning environment and their learning strategies were measured in both the original (n = 406 students) and the redesigned course (n = 312 students) using the Ramsden Course Experiences Questionnaire and the Biggs Study Processes Questionnaire. In contrast to our expectations, the results indicated that the students from the redesigned course showed a higher degree of surface learning and a lower level of deep learning than the students from the assignment-based learning course. Additionally, the students perceived the new learning environment to be less positive in terms of the clarity of its goals, the usefulness of the textbook and the workload. Improvement in terms of students perceptions of the learning environment and their learning strategies could be expected to be fostered by the implementation of a more advanced staff development program, focusing the curricular assessment system on problem-solving skills, supporting the students in the development of the skills necessary to cope with the demands of the redesigned course, and giving them more opportunities to experience this instructional approach.     

Inclusionary and Exclusionary Secondary Schools: The Effect of School Culture on Student Outcomes

This study examines the impact of secondary school culture on the dual student outcomes of academic achievement and engagement with the institution attended. Elements of school culture were identified, specifically the roles played by administrators, the professional teaching staff, and the adolescent peer group. A mixed-method research design was employed with the primary research instrument taking the form of a survey questionnaire that was distributed to 268 Grade 11 students attending two composite secondary schools in a mid-sized Canadian city. The results demonstrated that institutional culture had a limited impact on student academic achievement but a significant influence on students' perceptions of engagement with their schools.     

研究性学习与中学政治课教学

研究性学习既是一种学习方式 ,又是一种课程形态 ,政治学科与研究性学习既有本质的区别又有内在的关系。政治学科实施研究性学习应从两个方面开展 ,一是政治学科课堂内研究性学习 ;二是政治学科课堂外的研究性学习。研究性学习呼唤政治课教学新理念 ,教师要改变教育理念和教学方式 ,学生要改变学习理念和学习方式     

浅议合作学习在中职数学教学中的应用

合作学习的应用对职业教育改革具有推动作用,对于教师水平优化、学生人格发展、学习方法的转变均有积极意义,因此被广泛推广。但实际应用中存在诸多问题,最为突出的是学生的合作与探究缺乏实质性,尽管看起来讨论热烈,却只是流于表面,效率并不高。本文目的在于探讨提升合作学习效率的具体方法,分析中职数学教学中合作学习的有效应用。     

Assessment Practices: Empowering Mathematics and Science Teachers in Rural Secondary Schools to Enhance Student Learning

Aligned with recent changes to syllabuses in Australia is an assessment regime requiring teachers to identify what their students ‘know’ and ‘can do’ in terms of the quality of understanding demonstrated. This paper describes the experiences of 25 secondary science and mathematics teachers in rural schools in New South Wales as they explore the changing nature of assessment and its implications on their classroom practice. To help reconceptualise these changes, teachers were introduced to a cognitive structural model as a theoretical framework. Throughout the 2-year study, teachers attended a series of professional development sessions and received ongoing consultative support. Each session was taped and transcribed while interviews were conducted with each teacher at the end of both years. Analysis of these data using a grounded theory approach identified seven major components of teacher practice impacted by the study. The core component was questioning while the six contributing components were teachers’ pedagogical practices, attention to cognition, teaching strategies, assessment linked to pedagogy, classroom advantages for students, and classroom advantages for teachers. These findings represent a major shift in teachers’ perceptions of assessment from a focus on the accumulation of students’ marks to one of diagnosis as a means of directing teaching to enhance students’ scientific and mathematical understandings.     

Learning to Teach Science: The Curriculum of Student Teaching in Hiroshima "Attached" Schools

Journal of Science Teacher Education -     

Focusing Teaching on Students: Examining Student Perceptions of Learning Strategies

This study examined undergraduate and graduate students’ perceptions of the impact of in-class learning activities, out-of-class learning activities, and instructional materials on their learning. Using survey methodology, students anonymously assessed their perceptions of in-class activities, out-of-class activities, and instructional materials as most impactful, helpful, and enjoyable to their learning. Undergraduate college students found Jeopardy games, PowerPoint slides, and checking for understanding/review questions to be most helpful, while 50% often perceived Jeopardy games, Poll Everywhere, videos, and PowerPoint slides as enjoyable active learning strategies. Graduate students perceived small groups, out-of-class writing assignments, and Lino as most helpful to their learning. Additionally, an analysis of student comments about why these strategies were impactful, helpful, and enjoyable revealed 4 themes: fun, learning collaboratively, challenging but helpful, and variety in how students learn. Creating a learner-centered environment that is engaging as well as enjoyable for students positively impacts perceptions of students’ learning, which should encourage teachers to adopt this approach in their own college classrooms.     

学会阅读：中小学语文教学的一项重要任务

培养学生学会阅读是语教学的一项重要任务,认读能力、理解能和、吸收能力和鉴赏能力是构成学生阅读能力的重要因素,在阅读教学中要帮助学生提高品词评句、整体把握章、比较阅读和想象阅读等方面的能力,养成课外阅读时“手到”的习惯,使学生成为“会阅读”的人。     

繁荣背后的危机:中小学课堂教学模式同质化

审视当今中小学课堂教学模式异常繁荣的态势,不难发现,明显存在着弃旧崇新的教学观念、精细规约的教学程序、迅捷量化的教学评价、模仿—改造的建构路径等同质化现象。这些现象的存在使得教学改革在推进过程中蛰伏着"破坏性创新"观念误导的急功近利、名校追逐对名师成长的抑制、高效课堂追求对生本的异化、品牌学校打造形成的路径依赖多重危机。转变推进教学改革的激进思维模式,理性认识教学模式功能的有限性,以研究和超越的态度践行教学模式,是走出教学模式同质化的可能路径。     

中小学经济型现代教育技术学习环境

“西部中小学现代远程教育工程”项目已经开展。本文针对这一项目设计实验成功一种基于无盘网络及终端技术的网络学习环境,可以用于边远地区实施现代远程教育项目。     

浅析英语文化教学的环境创设

语言是文化的载体,语言又是文化的一部分.文化教学是英语教学的重要组成部分.语言教学与环境有着密切的关系,英语教学缺少真实、地道的英语环境,在英语文化教学中要积极创设环境,提高文化教学的针对性和有效性,培养学生的文化意识和跨文化交际能力.     

An Improved Questionnaire for Gathering Student Perceptions of Teaching and Learning

An instrument used to gather university students' perceptions of their learning environments, the Perceptions of Learning Environments Questionnaire (PLEQ) has been used recently in higher education research. The current paper examines the strengths and limitations of the PLEQ, particularly in relation to uncovering student perceptions about responsibility for their own learning. A study trialling a modified questionnaire, which builds on the advances and addresses the limitations of the PLEQ, is reported.     

Academic Achievement and Perceptions of the Learning Environment in Virtual and Traditional Secondary Mathematics Classrooms

This study identified pre-entry variables related to course completion and noncompletion in university online distance education courses. Four hundred and sixty-four students who were enrolled in online distance education courses participated in the study. Discriminant analysis revealed six pre-entry variables were related to retention, including cumulative grade point average, class rank, number of previous courses completed online, searching the Internet training, operating systems and file management training, and Internet applications training. Results indicate prior educational experience and prior computer training may help distinguish between individuals who complete university online distance education courses and those who do not.     

中职学校专业课"五化"教学模式初探

随着社会经济的发展,中等职业学校必须对专业课程目标重新定位,创新教学模式,实现教学环境企业化、专业课程项目化、教学方式理实一体化、教学关系师徒化、教学评价多元化,以符合现代技术工人的培养要求。     

当今美国中小学研究性学习的模式研究

本文主要探究在当今美国中小学校园开展的研究性学习的模式及其内涵与特征，旨在为国内中小学的实践提供参考与借鉴。