Determinants of middle school students' intention to enroll in a high school science course: An application of the theory of reasoned action

The determinants of intentions to enroll in a high school science course were investigated, using the theory of reasoned action, among earth science students enrolled in a middle school located in a middle-income, suburban community in central Texas. The sample consisted of 5 of 14 eighth-grade earth science classes, randomly selected for this study. Classes contained Caucasian and minority students, male and female, of differing science abilities who were grouped according to general academic abilities—basic, average, and gifted and talented. The prediction of behavioral intention of sample participants was tested using four external variables, attitude, and subjective norm (Direct-Full Effects Model), attitude and subjective norm alone (Direct-Reduced Effects Model), and disaggregated data on attitude and subjective norm (Indirect Effects Model). Results of the study revealed attitude and subjective norm to be the sole predictors of behavioral intention for the aggregated data, but to be differentially effective for groups formed on the basis of sex, ethnicity, general ability, and science ability. Evidence is presented to show that the relative contributions of attitude and subjective norm to the prediction of behavioral intention varies among students depending upon their sex, ethnicity, general ability, and science ability. Results of the study are discussed in terms of increasing the enrollment of all students in elective science courses.     

Persuading girls to take elective physical science courses in high school: Who are the credible communicators?

Eighth-grade girls (N=257) randomly selected from nine different public junior high schools in central Texas were questioned in order to identify the communicators whom they perceive as highly credible regarding reasons for taking elective physical science courses in high school and the attributes associated with these communicators. Four persons were each identified by better than 10 percent of the sample as the best person to try to convince junior high school girls to take elective physical science courses in high school. In order of perceived credibility, these persons are “father,” “woman science teacher,” “mother,” and “boy high school student.” Slight variations in the order of perceived credibility were found when the responses from girls of the different ethnic groups represented in the sample (Caucasian, Hispanic, Black, and Asian) were examined separately. Attributes listed by the respondents for “father,” “woman science teacher,” “mother,” and “boy high school student” were examined and classified into the categories of prestige, trustworthiness, similarity, attractiveness, and power. Prestige and trustworthiness are the attributes associates most frequently with communicators identified as highly credible. Implications of the present study and suggestions for further research are discussed.     

初中生科学史学习状况的调查与分析

对重庆市初中生的科学史学习现状开展了调查。调查表明,初中生对科学史学习持认同态度,但对科学史学习缺少主动意识;科学家的生平轶事是学生最感兴趣的内容;学生认为学习科学史最主要的作用是提高其学习兴趣;升学的压力和教师对科学史教学的重视程度是影响学生学习科学史的主要因素。提出了教师应充分挖掘科学史的＂渗透＂因素、不断提高自身科学史素养,以及采取多种途径促进学生学习科学史等建议。     

The determinants of grades three to eight students' intentions to engage in laboratory and nonlaboratory science learning behavior

Data were collected from students in grades three to eight (N = 377) in order to identify the determinants of their intentions to perform laboratory and nonlaboratory science activities. Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action was used as the basis for the study. The theory posits that the immediate determinant of behavior is intention. Intention is determined by the weighted attitude toward the behavior and the weighted subjective norm. Attitude toward behavior and subjective norm are determined by combinations of beliefs, evaluations, and motivations to comply. Cores of salient beliefs related to attitude toward laboratory and nonlaboratory behaviors and cores of salient beliefs related to subjective norm for laboratory and nonlaboratory behaviors were identified. Hypotheses generated from the theory were confirmed. Attitude toward behavior and subjective norm explained significant amounts of variance in behavioral intention for both laboratory and nonlaboratory behaviors. Attitude toward behavior had a greater relative weight than subjective norm for both laboratory and nonlaboratory. The correlations between adjacent constructs in the theoretical model were significant in all cases.     

初中物理情境教学法探究

在初中物理教学中实施情境教学法,通过创设导入情境、新奇情境、问题情境、开放情境、活动情境、递进情境,可以改变知识的传输方式,培养学生的科学精神和实践能力,把静态的教学变为全体学生主动参与的开放式动态教学,有利于提高学生学习的积极性,使学习活动成为学生主动进行的、快乐的事,有利于培养其学习能力,锻炼学生的创造思维。     

提高初中物理计算题解题能力策略

针对学生解析计算题的能力不足的现象,通过对计算题中的审题、解题、思维、归纳提高等各个环节的系统分析,提高学生解析计算题的能力.     

初中生物学课后作业有效设计的思考

布置并指导完成适当的课后作业是初中生物课教学过程的重要环节.课后作业过程是学生学习成长的历程,是理论联系实际,关注生活,关注生产和社会实际的重要途径;也是培养学生学习兴趣,发展创造性思维,学习科学探究方法,形成实践技能的重要形式.对贯彻新课程理念,树立新的作业观,努力提高初中生物课后作业设计的有效性,进行了有益的探索与实践,取得了良好的效果.     

20世纪前期中学语文选修课程的发展及启示

中学语文实行选科制的思想源于清末的分科制,五四前后正式兴起,南京政府成立后逐步取消.通过对其发展过程的梳理及对其兴亡原因的分析可以发现,为了使21世纪初的高中语文选修课程得以顺推进,需要对必修与选修课程的地位、价值作必要的区分以使二者相互配合;需要对中学语文与大学中文的课程内容作必要的区分以编写语文选修教材.     

浅析初中科学教学方法的创新

在新一轮课程改革的今天,为了切实提高科学课堂效率,为了学生今后的发展,我们科学教师要认真反思合作学习中存在的问题,及时总结经验教训,使之真正成为一种有效的教学方式.     

The effectiveness of the use of games as a revision technique in junior high school science

Conclusions It should be pointed out that the results of this study showed the students did just as well, and sometimes better, in a gaming situation when compared with traditional revision situations. Therefore games were as good as, and sometimes a better revision aid than, other more traditional means such as video tapes and slides. Hence games could be useful as a means of providing variety and active student involvement in the classroom. Further, the acceptance of games did not appear to be dependent, to any large extent, on personality factors such as need for achievement, need for affiliation, and cognitive level. This seemed to be an indication that games were suitable for use with a broad spectrum of students.     

初中《化学》与《科学》课程标准的初步比较与分析

1多方位培养学生的科学素养是两课标的共同特点 全面提高每一个学生的科学素养是两课程标准的核心理念.本着此理念两标准确定相应的学习主题,精选终身学习必备的基础知识与技能,重视科学、技术与社会的相互联系,倡导以科学探究为主的多样化学习方式(见表1),并力求照顾学生的个体差异,使每一个学生的学习潜能都得到充分发展.     

初中物理教学中科学规律与生活认识错位的利用

物理教学中总出现科学规律与经验认识相抵触的现象,这种错位认识我们在教学中可作为一种教学资源加以利用.     

自然分材教学指导下的初中英语教学实践

自然分材教学提出了一系列有效的教学策略。在实验的过程中,逐渐领会到其内涵,获得了创造的快乐。其中,感情调节、英语单词情智记忆法、互批作业、补读帮困的策略给我很大收益。自然分材教学减轻了师生的负担,提高了教学质量,增加了师生的幸福感。     

Examination of attitudes towards teaching online courses based on theory of reasoned action of university faculty in Taiwan

This study examined attitudes of university faculty specialising in the field of human resource (HR) in Taiwan towards participation in the teaching of online courses using the theory of reasoned action (TRA). The population targeted for investigation consisted of the full‐time university faculty in the HR field in Taiwan regardless of their experience in the teaching online courses of any kind. Survey development included a detailed literature review to identify beliefs that guided measurement construction and followed the guidelines recommended by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980 ) to ensure construct validity. Data were collected on TRA constructs and demographic variables using the questionnaire mailed to 278 faculty members targeted for the study. A 42% (n = 116) response rate was achieved after one round of the follow‐up through emailing. The significant predictor variables, attitude and subjective social norm were confirmed. In other words, results of analyses evidenced the contribution of TRA to explaining the underlying beliefs that enhance or thwart participation. Additionally, faculty in this study possessed positive attitudes towards the participation in online teaching, and further analyses supported the use of TRA in this research context.     

Factors related to achievement in junior high school science in disadvantaged areas of New York city

More knowledge about socially disadvantaged students must precede curricular changes designed to help them. This report points up differences between high and low achievers in science who come from similar disadvantaged homes.