Against all odds: problem-solving strategies and behavioural characteristics of novice students

The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the humanitarian aspect of Lifelong Learning or, more precisely, to its potential emphasised in the idea of 'love of learning'. It is argued that in spite of the promising intentions of the government 'to foster love of learning', the system continues to operate only in the pragmatic mode. The impact of the pragmatic concept alone on Lifelong Learning is discussed and evaluated in terms of its own pragmatic values. Tentative ideas are proposed about the conditions for fostering love of learning.     

The odds of resilience

This article presents sample research designs for the investigation of questions concerning resilience. Sample hypothesis from specific research designs are described in the form of odds ratios.     

Against all odds: Peace education in times of crisis

Contexts of violent, intractable conflict such as those present in Israel, Nigeria, or Iraq represent times of severe crisis. Reducing the high indices of violence is very urgent, but the attempts of establishing peaceful arrangements in the short- or medium-term usually fail. Peace education, by contrast, is a long-term endeavor to resolve violent, intractable conflicts that aims at affecting moral stances that the conflicting parties take vis-à-vis each other. Unfortunately, however, peace education in times of severe crisis also faces many impediments. These impediments concern the agential, cultural, financial, and legal aspects of educative institutions within context of violent and intractable conflicts. Although these impediments strongly put into question the practice of peace education, this article shows that four reasons nevertheless strongly support this practice. These reasons refer to (1) humanity’s natural goodness, (2) the symbolic importance of peace education, (3) the peace-promoting experiences facilitated through peace education, and (4) peace education’s contribution to overcoming prejudices.     

How transition students relearn school mathematics to construct multiply quantified statements

Educational Studies in Mathematics - Understanding the intricate quantifier relations in the formal definitions of both convergence and continuity is highly relevant for students to use these...     

让学生在体验中学习数学

教学环境充分民主自由，数学内容走进学生生活，数学学习融于自主活动。     

让学生与数学思考同行

新课标将"数学思考"作为义务教育数学课程的总目标之一,可见"数学思考"在现阶段教育数学教学中的作用。"数学思考"的实现程度已成为衡量课堂有效性的一项重要指标,小学数学教学中更应关注学生的数学思考,让数学思考贯穿于整个教学过程中,从而提升学生学习活动的思维含量、构建高效的数学课堂。本文对目前的"数学思考"现状进行了简单的介绍,根据现状分析,重点阐述了培养"数学思考"的策略,主要通过创设问题情境、创见性提问、把握时机和注重细节等几个方面,对提升学生"数学思考"的方法进行了详细的分析。     

Language and mathematics: A comparison of bilingual and monolingual students of mathematics

It is argued that bilingual students should not be categorized as a unidimensional group. Their level of competence in each language is important if academic activity is considered. As an example of this, results from the present study indicate that Papua New Guinea bilingual students competent in both their languages scored significantly higher on two different types of mathematical tests compared to collegues who had low competence in their languages. Further, there was some indication that bilingual students competent in both languages performed better than monolingual students, even though the monolingual students attended schools that had many more teaching resources. Such results were seen as support for the new Papua New Guinea govemment policy of using students' original languages in school. The use of the students' original languages may also open the way for easier access to traditional mathematical concepts in classrooms.     

Formative assessment in mathematics for engineering students

In this paper, we present a range of formative assessment types for engineering mathematics, including in-class exercises, homework, mock examination questions, table quizzes, presentations, critical analyses of statistical papers, peer-to-peer teaching, online assessments and electronic voting systems. We provide practical tips for the implementation of such assessments, with a particular focus on time or resource constraints and large class sizes, as well as effective methods of feedback. In addition, we consider the benefits of such formative assessments for students and staff.     

Together against all odds: towards understanding the identities of teachers of at risk students

This paper describes how a collaborative project engaged teachers and university researchers in an ongoing conversation about teaching students whose learning is considered to be at risk due to a complex of social and economic barriers. Action research was employed to develop understanding of unique teacher identities shaped in classroom settings with large numbers of these students. Teacher stories generated by this research revealed that, as key members of interagency teams, teachers play a strong advocacy role for students at risk.     

初中数学教学生活化,让学生在数学中“享受”数学

初中处于基础教育教学的关键阶段,中学生学习数学课程旨在促进中学生全面、持续、和谐发展。如何发挥数学课程学习的作用,引导初中数学教学向生活化方向发展,让学生在数学中"享受"数学,这已经是众多数学教师教学所共同探讨的热点话题了。因此,本文指出要紧密联系数学教学本身的特点与教学规律,在充分遵循学生数学学习心理特点的基础上,要采取措施增强初中数学教学的生活化,让学生在数学中"享受"数学。应立足于学生的生活出与亲身经历,通过数学学习将具体的生活实际问题转换成抽象的数学模型应用,确保数学教学内容、教学过程、教学选择等方面的生活化,从而引导学生从生活问题出发强化对数学教学重难点内容的理解,切实培养和提升中学生的逻辑思维能力、科学的情感态度与正确的价值观。     

Association of group learning with mathematics achievement and mathematics attitude among eighth-grade students in the US

This study examined a large, nationally-representative sample of eighth-grade students in the US to assess how the frequency of group learning activity in mathematics classrooms was associated with mathematics achievement and three measures of attitudes toward mathematics. Results showed that moderate amounts of group work in class had positive effects on mathematics achievement scores. Moreover, a significant interactive effect was evident, with girls showing greater achievement benefits from group work than boys. Increased levels of group work were also associated with more positive attitudes toward mathematics.     

浅谈藏族大学生学习高等数学的困惑

在高科技发展的今天,高等数学不仅仅是一种知识、一种素养、更是一种工具、一种思维模式,对于求知者来说具有举足轻重的作用,而对于学习它的藏族大学生来说意义就非同一般了。然基于种种原因,藏族大学生学习它的状况却不容乐观,鉴于这种情况,探讨和研究其中的原因应该是摆在广大学习者和授教育者面前不可推脱的责任和义务。     

Developing latent mathematics abilities in economically disadvantaged students

This Javits grant evaluation study sought to develop latent abilities in economically disadvantaged students by providing opportunities for mathematics development and acceleration. This study examined the effects of Kumon instruction, a supplementary, highly sequential, individualized method of developing mathematics skills. Whole classes of Title I elementary school students from grades two through five were divided into two groups, those with Kumon instruction and those without. All students continued with traditional textbook mathematics. Pre‐and posttests were administered to all participants to assess progress, compare standardized test results, and examine levels of acceleration. Results showed that Kumon group students improved their mathematics skill levels more than non‐Kumon group students, and they scored significantly higher than non‐Kumon group students two years after their Kumon instruction ended.     

让数学回归学生的生活世界

在数学教学中回归学生的生活世界这句话说起来容易,做起来难。究其原因主要有二:一是大多数教师长期习惯于传统的课堂教学;二是把实际问题抽象成数学问题有一定的难度。为此,本文列举两位教师的成功案例,具有一定的示范作用和参考价值。     

Assisting teachers and students to reform the mathematics classroom

This study examines the usefulness of selected aspects of Tharp and Gallimore's (1988) theory of assistance as a theoretical framework for describing and analyzing change efforts in a middle school mathematics reform project. Drawing upon Tharp and Gallimore's redefinition of teaching as assisting performance and learning as the result of assisted performance, the social organization of a school-based mathematics reform effort in which teacher educators, mathematics teachers, and students both assist and are assisted is analyzed. In addition, one particular classroom assistance activity is presented and analyzed in terms of characteristics of assistance that, according to the theory, should lead to significant learning.     

关于高校新生第一次高等数学课的思考

文中阐述了第一次高等数学课对学生的影响,同时思考了如何建立良好的氛围、激发学生学习兴趣,并阐述了与中学数学学习方法的区别,目的旨在通过第一次课使学生有自主学习的愿望,为高等数学课的学习创造良好的开端。     

在高等数学教学中培养学生的创造性思维

本从合理猜想，利用归纳、类比、联想，鼓励学生进行发散思想，充分利用逆向思维等方面，探讨了如何在《高等数学》教学中培养学生的创造性思维，从而达到培养学生创造能力的目的。