Highlights of 41st IATEFL Conference (I)

For this year's 41st International Annual IATEFL Conference in Aberdeen , IATEFL and the British Council worked together to enable teacher audiences worldwide to participate in this year's IATEFL Conference via the internet and get a taste of exactly what happens over four exciting days each year around Easter. The following are from the roving reporters who report on conference sessions using web logs on 2007 IATEFL Conference.     

Highlights of 41st IATEFL Conference （Ⅱ）

For this year's 41st International Annual IATEFL Conference in Aberdeen,IATEFL and the British Council worked together to enable teacher audiences worldwide to participate in this year's IATEFL Conference via the internet and get a taste of exactly what happens over four exciting days each year around Easter.The following are from the roving reporters who report on confer- ence sessions using web logs on 2007 IATEFL Conference.     

Innovation in scheming Maslow＇s hierarchy of basic needs

Almost all schemes that have been issued by scholars or researchers to present Maslow＇s hierarchy of basic needs include a pyramid （triangle） in which the physiological needs are in the base and the self-actualization needs are in the top of the triangle. Although this scheming is inspiring to some results, basic needs have more characteristics that are significant however, this scheming is not able to inspire. Based on elaborating Maslow＇s theory and research＇s findings, this study aims to disclose weaknesses and strengths of traditional scheme （triangle）, and develop two innovated schemes of basic needs, which are more close to Maslow＇s ideas and more inspiring to realize the actuality of this hierarchy.     

Environment map building and localization for robot navigation based on image sequences

SLAM is one of the most important components in robot navigation. A SLAM algorithm based on image sequences captured by a single digital camera is proposed in this paper. By this algorithm, SIFT feature points are selected and matched between image pairs sequentially. After three images have been captured, the environment＇s 3D map and the camera＇s positions are initialized based on matched feature points and intrinsic parameters of the camera. A robust method is applied to estimate the position and orientation of the camera in the forthcoming images. Finally, a robust adaptive bundle adjustment algorithm is adopted to optimize the environment＇s 3D map and the camera＇s positions simultaneously. Results of quantitative and qualitative experiments show that our algorithm can reconstruct the environment and localize the camera accurately and efficiently.     

An Interview with Dr. Joseph Hung

Prof.Bao Tianren(Bao):Dr.Hung,thank you for join- ing us in the 2nd National English as a Foreign Language Teaching Conference for Primary and Secondary Teachers of English in Guangzhou.We organize this conference every year and the theme of this year is Approaches on Raising China's     

2-D nano-positioning system for AFM based on H∞ control

Nano-manipulation technology is an emerging field in the development of modern science and technology. Atomic force microscope （AFM）, a sharp weapon for nano imaging and nanomanipulation, which is honored as ＂eye＂ and ＂hand＂ of nano-technology. However, due to the hysteresis, creep and other nonlinearity of piezoelectric ceramics tube （PZT） as well as the probe＇s tip deviations caused by cantilever deformation, AFM has larger error of relative displacement between probe and sample, which creates enormous inconvenience to the nano-manipulation and repositioning. As to improve positioning accuracy, this dissertation presents a novel AFM＇s X-Y dimensional nano-positioning control system with large-scale based on H∞ control. Through careful research on variety of influence factors on AFM＇s precise nano-manipulation, a composite control strategy based on feedforward compensation control of cantilever probe tip＇s offset and H∞ control of piezoelectric scanner is presented in this paper. In the end, simulation results can also testify the tracking ability and better nano-positioning performance of the system.     

GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration Registration is open to anyone with an interest in language teaching and learning who wishes to attend the conference. We strongly recommend that delegatas register early and take advantage of the early-registration rate. There is also a member rate. If you wish to join IATEFL in the order to take advantage of this rate, please visit www.iatefl.org or contact the office and ask for a membership form. To register for the conference and the pre-conference events, please use the Conference Registration Form. You will see that IATEFL also offers a single day attendance fee and a student member fee. Pre-registered delegates On arrival at tbe City Hall, please collect your badge, conference programme and     

Summer Bummer

At some point every teen＇s parents ask what we plan to do during the summer. We respond ＂nothing.＂ For us it＇s simple. Sleeping in till noon, watching TV, swimming,hanging out with friends, throwing parties, and staying up late is what we plan to do. We work hard all year, and this is our break. Shouldn＇t we spend it the way we want＇？     

Principles of Interest in Education and Their Implementation——On Dewey＇s ＂View of Interest＂

Interest has always been an important topic in education. Based on the interpretation of Dewey＇s view of interest, this study makes an analysis of the characteristics of interest and gives an answer to the question of how to make proper use of interest in the process of education. Dewey＇s view of interest has important implications to contemporary Chinese education.     

Strengthening the central position of undergraduate course teaching in local higher education institutions

Based on the achievements from the educational and teaching reforms conducted in Yanshan University in recent years, and considering the problems arisen from the University＇s development, this paper attempts to explore and illustrate the significance of conducting the teaching-oriented study and discussions, most importantly it provides some reflections on the basic issues in subject construction. Finally, this paper firmly holds the view that strengthening the central position of teaching is of strategic importance to local universities and colleges, therefore, only through placing teaching on the center stage of leaders of various levels and center of all the university＇s activities, at the same time carrying out the guideline for intensifying the principal status of undergraduate education, can Yanshan University rank in well-known high level university in China.     

The 39TH IATEFL ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

The 39th International Annual IATEFL Conference was held at the City Hall and Gallery of Cardiff in Wales from 5th to 9th of April. The local committee of this conference managed to invite Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales, came to give a talk to welcome the delegates all over the world to Cardiff.     

Sorry, But You＇ve Got To Have A Grammar Syllabus

The fourth annual ELT Joumal/IATEFL debate was held on Sunday 9^th April at the IATEFL conference in Harrogate. The topic for debate was ＂Sorry, but you＇ve got to have a grammar syllabus＂. Keith Morrow, the editor Of ELT Jounrnal, chaired the debate and the two speakers were Michael Swan （for） and Scott Thombury （against）.     

试析运动发展在电影美学中的作用

Jean Epstein and Germaine Dulac emphasized the importance of movement to film aesthetics. Jean Epstein sought to apply this of rapid and rhythmic editing as well as the innovative use of close - ups and superimpositions of images. However, Germaine Dulac＇ s goal was pure cinema without any influence from literature, stage, or other visual arts. In order to get better visual effects, she believed that films should be made according to the rules of visual music. In this article, both the significance of movement in Epstein＇ s photogenic and Dnlae＇ s cinegraphie will be deeply compared and analyzed. In addition, skills on how to express such concept in film making process will also be discussed.     

ABSTRACT

Utilizing Overseas Chinese - related Journals to Integrate Resources and Promote Work on Overseas Chinese Affairs （by YAO Ting）
Abstract： Overseas Chinese -related journals are an important tool in today＇ s external publicity, play an important role in the field of overseas Chinese affairs, and perform a series of intended functions. All this depends on the existing organizational structure and the resources within the operating mode. Faced with the impact of changes on the forms of overseas Chinese affairs and information technology, one way to maintain the value of the journals is to re - understand, integrate and optimize existing resources so as to promote people＇s overseas Chinese affairs at multiple levels and through multiple channels. Key words： Overseas Chinese - related journals; resources; People＇ s overseas Chinese affairs     

The exploration of student-centred approaches for the improvement of learning programming in higher education

The author has undergone a major shift in the way of teaching his undergraduate computer programming courses. In the classroom, the teacher＇s computer is connected to a splitter and a video projector that display the computer＇s screen to the entire class. Using this technology, the programming language itself is used live in class to help the students learn how to program. The students are learning in a context by far livelier than those of previous methods. Teaching computer programming is not achieved by lecturing and writing the program instructions on board or by displaying program instructions to the class on transparencies or slides of electronic presentations. With the implementation of student-centered approaches, the students migrated from the state of passive receivers to constructors of computer programming concepts. Students are coached to develop a sense of exploration, individuality and autonomous thinking. The enthusiasm for technology has been facilitating and supporting the learner-centered approach. Everyone in this approach is a learner, including the teacher.     

Usability design strategies for children： Developing children＇s learning and knowledge in decreasing their dental anxiety

This paper presents an example of how usability design strategies for children can be designed into educational material using CD-ROM based multimedia application for assisting parents and teachers to develop children＇s learning and knowledge in decreasing as well as motivate children aged 7-9 years old to reduce their anxious feelings towards dental treatment. In this paper, the authors provide usability design strategies for children in designing the information interfaces and presentation of a PMLE （persuasive multimedia learning environment）. PMLE is designed based on the six design categories of guidelines for children which have been applied to this study： general interaction, text, multimedia, navigation and search, graphical user interface and content. The results authors were able to on presenting this PMLE to 240 primary school children selected at random show how the decrease children＇s dental anxiety and motivate the children to get ready for dental visit.