Qualitative variation in approaches to university teaching and learning in large first-year classes

Research on teaching from a student learning perspective has identified two qualitatively different approaches to university teaching. They are an information transmission and teacher-focused approach, and a conceptual change and student-focused approach. The fundamental difference being in the former the intention is to transfer information to students, while in the latter the intention is to change and develop student understanding. Much of our research has been conducted in first-year classes of 100 or more students. The paper begins by outlining a model of teaching and learning based upon this research. It then reviews the quantitative research showing the relationship between teachers’ approaches to teaching in large classes and their students’ approaches to learning. Further analyses of previously collected data are used to identify the size of the relationship between teachers’ approaches and their students’ approaches. The paper concludes by discussing how a more conceptual change and student-focused approach can be manifested in large classes.     

Evoked prior experiences in first-year university student learning

In this article, we focus on three aspects of students' prior experiences of learning: evoked conceptions of learning, evoked motivation and evoked self-efficacy. We show how, for a first-year undergraduate population, these three aspects of evoked prior experience relate to students' approaches to learning and their perceptions of the learning environment as well as to their previous schooling, their gender and the broad discipline area in which they are studying. In doing so, we confirm that evoked prior experiences are distinct and measurable and can be used to better understand the ways in which students experience learning in higher education.     

大学物理模块化教学探析

本文以大学物理这门课程的教学为例,介绍了大学物理模块化教学的基本内容,从四个方面介绍了模块化教学计划的制定以及教学内容的安排;进一步提出了大学物理教学中运用模块化教学应当注意的事项。     

工科物理教学改革的研究

随着科学技术的迅速发展,知识逐渐成为经济和社会发展最重要的资源,素质教育与创新教育成为关键,因此高等教育面临着挑战和发展机遇。为了使大学物理顺应科技和社会发展的需要,有必要根据各专业要求和特点,通过合理的安排教学侧重点;适当增加前沿物理知识的运用,加强人文物理教育,利用现代教学手段加强教学和进行综合考核方式等方法来提高物理教学效果和提高学生的创新素质。     

Students' models of university teaching

The validation of models of good teaching is discussed in terms of students' learning, and opinions of teaching are considered in this context. First-year university students were asked their opinions about good teaching and 40 items were derived from the interview data. The appropriate student population (2300) was then asked to rate the items for (a) Importance, and (b) Typicality. Discrepancies between ideal and typical teaching were derived for the whole sample and six different degree groups. Generally, the groups have similar opinions but there are significant differences depending upon the discipline studied and specific teaching experiences. Ratings were factor-analysed to reveal the underlying dimensions. The model of good teaching is characterised by two general factors — the first is learning-centred, the second associated with teaching — together with some minor specific factors. No general factors are associated with the typical models which tend to be more complex. Some methodological and practical implications of the results are discussed.     

基于问题学习的物理教学

基于问题学习(Problem-based Learning,也译成问题式学习)是一种与建构主义理论及其教学原则非常吻合的教学模式,它以问题为中心,让学生围绕问题展开知识的建构,籍此过程促进学生灵活掌握基础知识和发展高层次的思维技能、解决问题能力以及自主学习能力.其教学过程一般包括以下几个环节:形成一个小组,提出一个新问题,解决问题,展示与交流成果,在解决问题后进行反思.这种教学模式与我国当前的教学改革所提倡的诸多模式如研究性学习、发现式学习以及启发式教学在基本理念上具有极大的相似性,与当前的教育改革趋势具有一致性,因此对物理教学改革思路很具有启迪意义.本文在简略论述其理论基础上,以其教学过程为主线举学生建构浮力、密度概念的例子来阐述基于问题教学模式在物理教学中的具体应用,以起到抛砖引玉的作用.     

Students' perceptions of Blackboard and Moodle in a Portuguese university

The use of learning management systems (LMS) has grown considerably in universities around the world. The University of Minho (UM) has pioneered in this area in Portugal, adopting Blackboard as its official LMS. Moodle is also used in UM in scattered initiatives, allowing for interesting comparisons. Previous studies comparing Blackboard and Moodle have been confined to limited samples and focused on students' perceptions only. In this paper, we also try to relate those perceptions to the impact of the LMSs on student level of engagement. We assess the extent and depth of use of the two LMSs, presenting the results of a study of students' perceptions and experience with both Blackboard and Moodle. Unlike previous studies, more students (46.5%) stated a preference for Blackboard over Moodle, while 34.7% preferred Moodle, and nearly 20% had no preference. Factors that might explain these results are explored in some detail. By and large, a basic utilisation is made of both platforms, as little more than electronic document repositories, in what Francis and Raftery, in 2005, designate as a Mode 1 level of engagement. We could, however, detect some instances of a more sophisticated Mode 2 utilisation, particularly with Moodle, underlining the role of faculty in integrating a sophisticated use of LMSs when designing their courses.     

Students' perception of university teaching behaviours

The purpose of the paper is to explore Students' perception of university teaching behaviours in Pakistan. Three hundred and fifty students from the six public sector Pakistani universities returned questionnaires. Assessment framework, learning activities and instructional strategies emerged from factor analysis as common factors. Students' views on five conceptual variables were also analysed: instructional design, active teaching, learning activities, questioning styles; and assessment framework. University teaching in Pakistan was found to be driven by assessment. This is a matter of concern for all stake holders, including the administration of the universities, teachers, students and the Higher Education Commission. A teaching behaviour paradigm shift is required, switching from knowledge-oriented teaching behaviour focused on successful passage through assessment, to teaching behaviour focused upon the development of transferable skills demanded by external markets.     

Gender-group differences in the learning behaviour of entering first-year university students

This study explores the existence of structural gender differences in the learning behaviour of first-year students on entry to university, based on responses to an extended form of the Approaches to Studying Inventory. The focus is on underlying dimensions of variation, that distinguish between the manner in which male and female students recalled and reported on their most recent experience of studying Science in their final secondary school year. Such differences as emerge are only partially interperatble in terms of classic deep or strategic structures. It is argued that gender-sensitive sources of variation, as manifested, are worth of further investigation and are of potential strategic value to university departments insofar as they are able to locate difficulties that students bring with them early in their undergraduate studies.     

Students' perceptions of an innovative university laboratory program

This paper presents some of the findings of a naturalistic study of a first year university biology laboratory. We report on the affective outcomes for a field trip and a practical exercise that incorporated innovations aimed at increasing the scientific realism and students' responsibility in the learning process. Concern with assessment procedures and a perceived lack of teaching support dominated outcomes for students. Feelings of confusion, lack of satisfaction and hostility were evoked. Recognition of the need to foster greater student input into the learning process is commended, but this paper raises issues about the strategies utilised. Specializations: conceputual understanding in biology students, laboratory work. Specializations: curriculum and assessment in science, teacher Education, metacognition.     

Effective teaching methods-- Project-based learning in physics

The paper presents results of the research of new effective teaching methods in physics and science. It is found out that it is necessary to educate pre-service teachers in approaches stressing the importance of the own activity of students, in competences how to create an interdisciplinary project. Project-based physics teaching and learning seems to be one of the most effective methods for teaching science for understanding. It is necessary to provide in-service teachers instruction （seminars） and prepare sample projects with proposals how to develop, run and evaluate interdisciplinary projects. Projects are important ＂real-world＂ physics modules, modern physics and everyday life problems can be integrated into the high school curriculum. Examples of projects that were worked out are presented.     

建构主义学习理论与物理教学改革

建构主义学习理论强调教师在教学中应以学生为中心，利用情境，协作，会话，意义构建等要素充分发挥学一的主动性，积极性和创新精神，使学生能有效地实现对所学知识的意义建构。本根据建构主义学习理论，对物理教学方式进行探讨，以期物理教学能更好适应时代和社会的要求。     

大学物理实验教学团队建设问题探讨

结合三峡大学实验教学团队建设的实践,阐述了地方综合性大学物理实验教学团队建设的措施及效果,强调了实验教学团队建设应发挥团队聚合效应,优化团队的学缘结构、年龄结构和职称结构,突出地方综合性大学的特色.     

翻转课堂在大学物理实验教学中的应用

伴随新的教育理念和新技术的不断涌现,信息技术与课程的整合日渐深入,目前翻转课堂已成为国内外教育改革的新浪潮,为教与学的进一步发展提供了新的思路。该文以大学物理实验课程教学为载体,以翻转课堂教学模式改革为切入点,以构建高效课堂为目标,探索一套新的教学体系。     

Learning styles and approaches to learning in excellent and average first-year university students

We assessed the learning approaches and learning styles of a sample of 148 excellent students selected from 11 degrees from nine centers of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain), and we compared the results with those of a sample of 133 average students from the same centers. We found that excellent students took deeper approach than average students and that they preferred reflective and theoretical learning styles. Average students adopted a more surface approach, and they preferred active and pragmatic learning styles. Greater academic achievement was related to the deep approach and to the reflective and theoretical learning styles. Poorer academic achievement was related to the surface approach and an active style. University professors may reinforce the deep approach by placing high aims for students which go well beyond reproducing knowledge but use other complementary methods other than expository teaching: problem solving, case studies, designing projects, raising questions, discussion and negotiation in the classroom, etc. To accomplish this, teachers must encourage students to be committed, and these methods help do that. It also helps to introduce more demanding evaluation procedures which do not merely involve repeating what has been learnt, but include training guidance that offers students feedback.     

大学物理实验教学中多媒体课件的应用探讨

当今社会以多媒体为代表的信息技术迅速发展,促进了学校教学内容、教学方法和教学模式等的一系列改革。大学物理实验借助多媒体教学和计算机辅助设计的综合实验教学的方法,有效地改善了物理实验教学模式,将多媒体技术中的多维立体优势同传统的物理实验教学模式充分结合起来,发挥计算机仿真的数据结果不受实验环境影响的优势,对于物理理论课中的知识有了更加形象的感性认识,加深了对知识的理解。这不仅可满足教学中对于实验观察和分析的要求,还可以培养激发学生学习的主观能动性,对提高课堂教学质量有着重要的意义。     

大学物理教学的改革与实践

从提高大学物理教学质量入手,分析了大学物理教学现状,对大学物理教学的改革与实践进行了探讨．研究内容包括三个方面：教师综合素质的提高、立体化教学资源的建设、教学模式的实践和教学评价体系的改进．     

Personal,career, and learning skills needs of first-year university students

This study investigates the personal, career and learning skills needs of first-year university students. Consenting first-year South African students completed structured questionnaires assessing these needs in 1993 (n=1,817) and 1994 (n=2,209). The need for assistance with personal, career and learning skills concerns was found to be much higher in the South African student samples than for North American students.     

大学物理实验教学改革的探索——从评估考核看大学物理实验教学

从教学评估中对考核物理实验的试题出发,透视了物理实验教学的改革--保证基础实验教学内容,扩大创新实验教学内容.实验教学中突出实验与工程实践的有机结合,培养适应社会需要的应用型人才.     

转型背景下大学物理实验教学改革与实践

高校转型发展是国家高等教育改革的重大战略举措,而转型的关键是教师,转型的难点是课程转型.在介绍了高校转型发展特征的基础上,针对转型背景下大学物理实验课教学的改革问题,系统地分析了传统大学物理实验课在教学模式、实验内容与方法、考核方式等方面存在的不足,并给出了在大学物理实验教学理念、实验教学内容、实验成绩评定等方面相应的改革举措.