Persistence and Motivation

Summary

This case study examines a new teacher's beliefs and perceptions about how and why technology can and should be used to support student learning. A middle school science teacher reflected upon her preparation for and applications of technology in her classroom. Data were generated through e-mail exchanges over the course of several months. Qualitative analysis identified themes including a nontechnology focus, expectations, rationale, impact, and beliefs and learned lessons. Findings suggest that for this teacher persistence was critical to learning in absence of pre-service or in-service learning opportunities in the effective application of technology to support learning. It is recommended that technology-oriented staff development incorporate theory, guidelines, models, and illustrations for effective and meaningful applications.     

An Investigation into the Relationship Between Teacher Motivation and Pupil Motivation

This article reports the findings of a small scale investigation in the form of a blind study carried out in four schools in the north east of England. It concerns the relationship between teacher motivation ( n = 4) and pupil motivation ( n = 66) during pupils' participation in design and technology project work at Key Stage 4. It was recognised that the sample of teachers was too small to be considered representative of motivated and demotivated design and technology teachers in general terms. However, the information gathered provided a more informed picture of the possible link between pupil motivation and teacher motivation. It also supplied an indication of some of the differences that exist between the approaches to teaching adopted by motivated and demotivated teachers of design and technology project work.     

一项关于外语学习动机的实证研究

外语学习研究主要有两条研究途径:一是针对外语学习本身特点的研究,二是关于英语学习者个体差异的研究。该文是一篇关于二语学习动机变化的实证研究。在该次研究当中,包括一份来自大一大二85个学生所作的调查问卷。它倾向于确定出一些外语学习动机的组成部分,探讨了在整个两年的大学教育对影响英语学习动机变化的原因。结果显示工具型动机在外语学习情景方面起着至关重要的作用。     

Possible Link Between Medical Students' Motivation for Academic Work and Time Engaged in Physical Exercise

Physical exercise results in an active well‐being. It is likely that students' engagement in physical exercise keeps them motivated to perform academic endeavors. This study aimed to assess the relation of time engaged in physical exercise with medical students' motivation for academic work. Prospectively, 296 second‐year medical students self‐administered Vallerand's Academic Motivation Scale. The frequency of exercise per week and the duration per time were multiplied to compute a weekly physical exercise engagement time. Multivariable regression model treated the intrinsic motivation construct as the dependent variable, adjusting relevant covariates such as sleeping time, sitting time, screen time, and vegetable intake. The level of intrinsic motivation was positively related to the student's physical exercise time per week (β 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.42–1.26, p‐value < 0.001). Thus, generating conditions in which students can engage in physical exercise may contribute to fostering their intrinsic motivation for academic work.     

坚守与放弃之间--论《沧浪之水》中知识分子的人格理想

阎真的长篇小说《沧浪之水》。真实而又残酷地揭示了知识分子的当下生存境遇，展现了20世纪90年代知识分子转型过程的艰难与阵痛，细腻刻画了市场经济大潮下知识分子所经受的痛苦和挣扎。在金钱和权力面前，知识分子是坚守还是放弃自己的人格、操守和信仰，是一个值得深入探讨的问题。     

学习者英语学习动机干预的实证研究

动机,尤其是内部动机对外语学习的全过程和学习结果起着至关重要的影响。经调查发现,高中英语学习方面的差生大多数属于内部动机低下者,而实验又证明了通过对学习者进行学习动机干预的方式可明显提高他们的英语学习成绩。     

教育学硕士生学习动机的实证研究

采用质的研究方法,以华中地区某重点高校教育学硕士生为调查对象,通过非参与式观察和深度访谈对教育学硕士生学习动机进行实证研究。研究发现,硕士生学习动机呈现出明显的外在实用主义倾向和内在自我满足倾向。前者以职业追求、经济驱动、文凭获取为主,反映当前大部分硕士生的学习动机状况;后者侧重于自尊和修身养性的需要,虽然也有典型的个案代表,但已处于非主流地位。同时,硕士生学习动机还受到就业压力、学科性质、导师指导、教师授课和学习兴趣等主要因素的影响。     

Persistence at an Urban Community College: The Implications of Self-Efficacy and Motivation

This study examined how self-efficacy and motivation affected student persistence at an urban community college. Self-efficacy was studied at two dimensions: self-regulated learning efficacy and self-efficacy for academic achievement. Motivation was also investigated at two levels: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Results show that self-regulated learning efficacy and extrinsic motivation predicted persistence. Intrinsic motivation and academic achievement self-efficacy failed to predict persistence directly. Two path models were constructed to assess the direct and indirect relationships among self-efficacy, motivation, and persistence. The reduced model explained 8% of the variance in persistence. In the reduced model, extrinsic motivation emerged as a mediator in the relationship between the two dimensions of self-efficacy and persistence. It was also found that self-efficacy measures correlated well with motivation measures. Implications and limitations of the research findings are discussed.     

词语义理据性与大学英语词汇教学的一项实证研究

词的理据性思想会促进外语学习者的词汇学习效果,然而缺少实证性研究的支持。本研究通过两组被试（未借助语义分析和借助语义分析教学）进行词汇学习实验。结果显示,两组被试的词汇学习成绩存在显著差异。根据实验结果,本文讨论了教师在词汇教学中启发学生积极联想以及介绍词语典故知识的重要性。实验结果支持了词的语义理据性教学促进词汇学习效果的假设。     

大学英语基础阶段学生的动机、观念和策略变化研究

动机、观念和策略是影响英语学习的重要因素,对大学英语基础阶段学生的动机、观念、策略的变化以及和学习的相关关系进行了跟踪调查和研究,揭示了他们变化的规律,并且和英语专业学生进行了比较。研究结论将对大学英语教学有一定的启示。     

基于虚拟全景的学习方式促进学习动机与写作成绩的实证研究

虚拟现实(Virtual Reality)技术在学习领域的融合将成为未来教育发展的新趋势。以写作学习为研究主题,在分析小学阶段写作学习存在的诸多现实问题基础上,认为利用虚拟现实技术构筑全景式学习场景并应用到写作学习过程中,能够促进学生学习动机与写作成绩的提升。由此,进一步开展了实证性分析,通过创设以《长城》为写作主题的虚拟全景式学习方式,研究某小学三年级学生的学习动机与写作成绩是否会因学习方式改变而得到一定提升。研究利用独立样本t检验法与单因素方差分析法对实验组与对照组开展写作学习活动的实验数据进行了处理与分析。结果表明:基于虚拟全景的学习方式能够促进写作整体成绩的提高,但是学习动机并不因虚拟环境的介入有所提升;写作成绩在四个维度(主题契合度、结构完整性、语言表达力、思维创新性)的表现上,思维创新性维度上的成绩提升力度相对较低,这需要在分析其原因的基础上,进一步采取措施提升学生创意性写作能力。     

FROM DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION TO GRADUATION: A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Using an ex post facto analysis of outcomes data, this paper tracks the academic performances of developmental and non-developmental students and examines the effects that developmental courses have on subsequent academic progress leading up to graduation. Three-year data on developmental students and graduates were analyzed to discern the characteristics of students graduating from the College, and to compare and contrast the characteristics of developmental and non-developmental students who graduated. The College graduates were categorized into four groups with respect to their academic preparation as suggested by their placement scores. During the three-year period considered, over 61% of the College's graduates took one or more developmental courses. This study shows that there is a positive link between the number of developmental courses taken and time to graduation. Consistent with prior studies, it is remarkable that developmental students perform equally well in college level courses as non-developmental students, depending on the number of pre-college level courses taken. As higher education institutions are facing increasing demands for accountability and performance requirements, accurate assessment and placement of students needing interventions become more imperative. However, accountability measures linked to retention, graduation rates, and federal student financial aid may disadvantage community colleges, especially because roughly two-thirds of community college students attend part-time and require remediation.     

学习动机、班级气氛与社会网络关系的实证研究

将社会网络分析与阶层回归分析相结合,以某高校5个班的181位学生为研究对象,以班级为单位收集了整体网数据,探讨了学习动机、班级气氛与社会网络的关系。在用Ucinet6对整体网数据进行分析,用SPSS15．0进行描述性统计、信度与效度检验及相关分析,用阶层回归分析方法对各变量间的关系进行检验后,得出的最终结论是,学习动机中的学习能力自信对咨询网络有直接的影响,班级气氛在学习动机和咨询网络的关系中起到了调节作用。     

Radio Astronomy: A Strong Link Between Undergraduate Education and Research

The program at the MIT Haystack Observatory has added a new opportunity for students as part of our overall national effort to encourage research by undergraduates. Radio astronomy complements other branches of astronomy, augments science education broadly, and serves to promote interdisciplinary research and education. In the past 2 years, we have conducted a successful pilot program to develop and test a program that facilitates the linking of undergraduate research and education through radio astronomy. As a result of this effort, a small radio telescope has been developed and can be used as a hands-on introduction to radio astronomical techniques and instrument calibration. The telescope is presently being commercialized so that it can be purchased as a low-cost kit for assembly. Remote access to the Haystack 37-m antenna has made it possible for students nationwide to access a research grade facility and we invite faculty everywhere who are interested in this possibility to use our facility. Undergraduate students can participate in the exciting world of research by performing experiments with the telescope. Radio astronomy materials for faculty, students, and interested amateurs have been developed are posted on our web site (http://www.haystack.mit.edu). The materials will continue to be upgraded and enhanced, and the contributions from participating teachers and students nationwide will be added to the project files. We hope to make this not only a resource for someone using our facility but also for the community in general.We are now bringing the Haystack telescopes and radio astronomy to the broad undergraduate community. Based on our pilot experiences, we envision students everywhere being able to exploit the opportunity to strengthen their education through practical research using radio astronomy.     

SUCCESSFUL INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: THE KEY TO DYNAMIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION

Community college administrators can achieve successful interpersonal relationships with their colleagues by exhibiting positive thoughts about their colleagues, developing openness in their relationships, using a team approach and a wide decision‐making base, and being concerned about the perceptions of others.     

心理语言距离与外语水平的相关性实证研究

心理语言距离是引起跨语言影响的重要因素之一,为了解其对语音感知的影响,选取维吾尔族大学生为研究对象,以单元音/e/与双元音/ei/为例进行实证研究,探究不同英语水平的维吾尔族大学生维语到英语与汉语到英语之间语音的心理语言距离差异,及差异对语音感知和语音接受度的影响;研究结果表明英语水平较低和中等的受试在语音感知中易受心理语言距离影响,较高水平受试的心理语言距离接近语言距离;低水平受试受心理语言距离影响较难接受迁移源为二语的语音。