WHAT IS COMPUTER MATHEMATICS? WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT AND WHO SHOULD TEACH IT?

The curriculum in postsecondary mathematics at the department, like the curricula in similar private institutions in Japan that teach information technology, must be reconsidered for many reasons. Students entering colleges and universities can no longer be expected to have the mathematics preparation for college-level courses. Computer science and other scientific fields are becoming more dependent on a mathematical base. Mathematics education in colleges must be reformed. In 2000, a new curriculum was initiated at the department. This article discusses the curriculum and provides, as an example, the outline of the reform project undertaken by the Department of Information and Network. When considering reform, it is important that any new courses that students take in the first two years of their program will be acceptable for credit at four-year colleges and universities. Such considerations were given when courses were developed at the department. Course outlines for Mathematical Literacy and Computer Mathematics I and II are provided.     

WHAT DO SCIENTISTS KNOW ABOUT THE NATURE OF SCIENCE? A CASE STUDY OF NOVICE SCIENTISTS’ VIEWS OF NOS

The purpose of this study was to explore 15 graduate research assistants’ understanding of the nature of science. Data were collected through administration of a modified version of the Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire (VNOS-C). The findings suggest that graduate research assistants held underdeveloped views related to several nature of science (NOS) aspects including the argumentative nature of science, the process of modeling in science, scientists’ treatment of unexpected results, collaborative nature of science, and the process of theory formation. The discussion focuses on the missing link in preparation of future scientists and offers suggestions to address the learning needs of graduate research assistants regarding their understanding of NOS.     

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LEARNING SCIENCE? AN ANALYSIS OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

ABSTRACT:  The paper explores the current rationale for primary science in England with a focus on how competing perspectives arising from perceptions of educational ideology and policy discourse have helped to shape current practice. The aim will be to provide a conceptual understanding of this by focusing specifically on how policy has influenced practice. In particular it will consider the way in which discourse and policy text have contributed to the emergent rationale for primary science which in many ways reflects conflicting influences, views and policies. Data were collected over a year from a regional survey and from four case-study primary schools. The findings suggest that teachers in primary schools face tensions between promoting both an educational and a political rationale for learning primary science. The paper will conclude by suggesting that the justification for primary science should be based on what we already know about how children learn science as well as helping them to develop an understanding of science and how it influences and is intrinsically linked to the needs of society.     

FULL‐TIME FACULTY ON FACULTY DEVELOPMENT: THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD BE

This article focuses on faculty views toward programs for their own professional development. Significant contributions to existing research on the topic are (1) an attempt to have faculty respond to the broad range of ideas, both old and new, that have been suggested over the past several years of greatly increased dialogue, and (2) an attempt to map some of the systematic variation in faculty development interests among faculty members, based on selected individual characteristics. The article is based on a study conducted during spring and summer 1978. The study disclosed a preference for goals relating to the ongoing teaching performance of faculty and markedly less enthusiasm for goals relating to overall institutional concerns. Activities that could be pursued individually or independently were preferred over those conducted in groups and those involving evaluation of performance, attempts to serve personal needs, or attempts to facilitate interaction among individuals and departments. A comparison between faculty perceptions of “what should be” and “what is” revealed a number of marked discrepancies on goal and activity items.     

HOW SHOULD THE COMMUNITY SERVE THE NON-DAY SCHOOL POPULATION?

What if a law were passed that Jews could not marry other Jews, that synagogues could not exist, that all Jews had to work on Saturday, that Jews could not participate in group worship, and that Jewish children could not receive a Jewish education? How would we, Federation planners and chief executives of central agencies for Jewish education react? How would we suggest the community organize a system in which Judaism would continue?     

OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN THE TWO‐YEAR COLLEGE: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE

This longitudinal study examined a cohort group of 3,159 students’ community college attendance patterns over a five‐year period. The cohort was a group of students enrolled in credit courses for the first time in a public two‐year community college. The analysis revealed that approximately 30% of the students attended one semester, 50% attended intermittently and 13% obtained credentials. Analysis of demographic variables between the groups did not reveal significant differences. Limitations in the research and implications for practice are discussed.     

OPENING DOORS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? WHAT DO WE STILL NEED TO KNOW?

This article reviews the Community College Journal of Research and Practice research articles related to students with disabilities and establishes a focused research agenda addressing the issues either found in, or absent from, the articles. Using a modified qualitative methodology, three common themes were found: (a) campus factors supporting student success, (b) participant label ambiguities, and (c) research methodology selection. It is concluded that there is a continued need for research addressing staff development, accommodations, needs of specific disability groups, self-advocacy and self-determination approaches, and participant-oriented research methodologies used to serve students well.     

DIELECTRIC STUDIES OF UREASE AS A FUNCTION OF HYDRATION

The steady-state electrical conductivity,as well as the dielectric propertiesbetween 2×10~(-4)Hz and 100 kHz,and at 1 GHz,are reported for urease compressed powdersamples of low hydration.The results show that the large,low frequency dielectricdispersion,known as α-dispersion,is due to the build-up of a space charge of protons atthe sample-electrode interfaces.A smaller dispersion,appearing at higher frequencies,isconcluded to be associated with hindered motions of the peptide residues in the molecularstructure of urease.The extent of these polypeptide backbone motions is shown to bestrongly depended on the extent of enzyme hydration.This work is contributed to the de-velopment of conductimetric biosensors.     

THE TAYLOR EXPANSION OF A FUNCTION OF FUNCTIONS

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STUDENT VOICES IN THE TRANSFER PROCESS: DO WE HEAR THEM? DO WE LISTEN?

The “baby boomer echo” is increasing the number of traditional age students attending higher education, yet funding from both state and federal is remaining constant. In order to provide a higher education future for all who desire it, fiscal resources must be even more carefully allocated. Improving the transfer process from community colleges to four‐year colleges and universities will conserve our fiscal and our human resources and provide a higher education for more of our citizens. Statistics alone will not improve the transfer process; the voices of students experiencing this process must also be heard. A Fall 1994 cohort group of students transferring from Colorado's 15 community colleges to Colorado State University (CSU) was identified. Within this Fall 1994 cohort, two groups of students were formed based on their earned grade point average (GPA) at CSV at the end of Fall 1995 semester: students who achieved a 3.25 GPA or better and students who were placed on academic probation. The focus group discussions were transcribed and qualitatively coded. The thematic units that evolved centered on the students’ perceptions of their pre‐transfer experience, post‐transfer experience, and recommendations for improving the transfer process. The implications for practice include the processing and disseminating of transfer information, the advising function in the transfer process, and the need for on‐going evaluation of the process.