Personal Learning Environments, social media, and self-regulated learning: A natural formula for connecting formal and informal learning

A Personal Learning Environment or PLE is a potentially promising pedagogical approach for both integrating formal and informal learning using social media and supporting student self-regulated learning in higher education contexts. The purpose of this paper is to (a) review research that support this claim, (b) conceptualize the connection between PLE, social media, and self-regulated learning, and (c) provide a three-level pedagogical framework for using social media to create PLEs that support student self-regulated learning. Implications for future research in this area are provided.     

Assessing student workload in Problem Based Learning: Relationships among teaching method, student workload and achievement. A case study in Natural Sciences

This study examines student workload after a change in teaching style from lecture to Problem Based Learning and Cooperative Learning, and its relationship with student outcomes. Results show that the change clearly overloads students if it is not adequately planned and monitored. Marks, drop-outs and attendance were markedly better with the new instruction method, but also with a higher workload. The main conclusion is that calculating student workload in terms of hours is very important, but especially when implementing a change in teaching style.     

I explain,therefore I learn: Improving students’ assessment literacy and deep learning by teaching

Partnership in higher education emphasises an active role for students in both teaching and learning. This pedagogical culture is likely to make students assessment literate and engage them in deep learning. In this study, Iranian students experiencing learning-by-teaching (LbT) in private language institutes were interviewed to compare their perceptions toward assessment and learning with their counterparts without this experience. Findings show that LbT fosters students’ assessment literacy and deep learning. Results also reveal that by teaching other students, quasi-teachers promote a broader understanding of assessment and grade practices in comparison to other students. Unlike their counterparts, quasi-teachers de-emphasised grades and showed a greater focus on learning. Moreover, explaining the materials to other students provided them with a deeper cognitive process resulting in deeper learning. These results underscore the perceived importance of partnership in higher education.     

The occurrence of analogies in elementary school science books

An analogy is a model drawn from one contextand used to support understanding in anothercontext. This study investigates the extent towhich analogies in instructional science booksare provided by authors. The books surveyed areavailable from commercial suppliers andintended for use in the elementary schoolclassroom with 7 to 11 year old children.Eighty texts were analysed for the presence orabsence of analogies. Forty-five of the booksoffered no analogies at all. In the remainingthirty-five books, 92 analogies were found.These were classified in line with earlier workon analogies for older students by Curtis andReigeluth (1984) and the findings arediscussed. The extent to which teachers candraw upon the analogies in such texts tosupport children's understanding isconsidered.     

Pupils’ attitudes towards school science as they transfer from an ICT-rich primary school to a secondary school with fewer ICT resources: Does ICT matter?

The first part of this study was carried out in a primary school in a rural part of Wales in the United Kingdom. All classrooms were equipped with interactive whiteboards (IWBs) linked to a teacher’s computer and six PCs for pupil use. Teaching through ICT was the prevalent culture in the school. Thirty year six pupils [aged 10–11 years] were selected at random from the final year cohort and were interviewed to determine their views about school science and their views about the teaching methods employed. The pupils moved to a medium sized secondary school where the teachers were beginning to develop their ICT skills and the availability of the computers was limited. The group was re-interviewed after 3 months, once they had settled in to their new school, and were again asked their views about school science and the way it was taught. While in the primary school, pupils expected to use ICT in every lesson, they enjoyed the way information was presented and they were interested in finding things out for themselves when given the opportunity. The lack of ICT in the secondary school caused some frustration, but this was mostly with the teaching of ICT, and the group remained predominantly enthusiastic about science. Those who were less keen on science indicated that it was a teacher factor rather than anything to do with the resources being used. In general the pupils particularly enjoyed the practical aspects of science lessons, something that they had not experienced in the primary school, which compensated for the relative lack of ICT in science teaching.     

网络教学效果影响因素实证研究——基于社会认知理论及整合性技术接受模型

在分析网络教学特点、学生、学习风格的基础上,从认知角度出发,采用整合性技术接受模型、社会认知理论等,对国内网络教学效果的影响因素进行研究。通过问卷调研的方法,将学生按照学习风格进行分组,识别出不同学习风格类型的学生对于网络教学效果的显著影响因素,并进一步探讨了适合不同学习风格学生的网络教学策略,对网络教学服务提供者改善网络教学适应性和教学效果具有借鉴作用。     

The exclusive language of science? Comparing knowledge gains and motivation in English-bilingual biology lessons between non-selected and preselected classes

The dominant role of English as the global language of science entails a requirement for science teachers to equip their non-native English-speaking students with receptive and productive language skills for communication in scientific contexts. Although science courses with English elements are part of some schools’ bilingual programmes, they are usually not available to a wider student audience, but are restricted to high achieving or highly motivated students. The present study was to test whether a newly developed biology content and language integrated learning (CLIL) unit could also benefit standard ninth grade classes. The learning gains and motivation of bilingually inexperienced students were compared to those of a preselected group and a comparison group that had been taught solely in their native language. All participating classes achieved similar gains in content knowledge, and the standard students rated their motivation for bilingual science lessons as positive, albeit not as high as the preselected group. We thus provide evidence against concerns that teaching non-selected students bilingually might lead to deficits in content knowledge acquisition. Following this, we conclude that scientific English should be a part of standard science lessons regardless of specific school programmes.     

《中文》（初中版）的编写理念和特色

本文阐述了<中文>(初中版)引导式主动学习的编写理念,总结了该套教材在总体框架、主教材(内容框架、体例、语言项目、文化内涵)、练习册、教师用书等方面的主要特色.     

高校图书馆信息共享空间与学科化服务

在网络化时代,高校图书馆必须对传统图书馆进行改造,以用户为中心,以学科馆员为龙头,全面整合图书馆资源,建立学科信息共享空间服务模式,为读者提供多层次、全方位、网络化、一站式、主题式服务,这样才不会走向边缘化。     

阮元教育思想探析

清代著名学者阮元,创办了新式书院诂经精舍和学海堂,旨在培养有\"经世致用\"、对社会有用的人才.书院提倡德才兼备;主张因材施教,自由探讨;强调实事求是,学以致用;学术研究和教学相结合;确立破旧立新、推举学长的教学体制.倡导了实践,培养了学生的实际能力.阮元的教育思想和实践对清末的教育界产生了深远的影响,为中国的教育事业做出了突出的贡献.