Teaching Now with the Living: A Dialogue with Teachers Investigating Contemporary Art Practices

The Education Departments of Tate Modern and Goldsmiths College collaborated with a group of teachers to find out what they understood by the term ‘contemporary art’ and to discover the conditions that enable contemporary art practices in the classroom. We explored questions with eleven teachers, from both primary and secondary schools, during the Autumn of 2004. Although the cultural/ethnic context of the schools the teachers worked within was diverse, they shared a commitment to working with contemporary art in the classroom and exploring new pedagogies in this field. Their engagement with contemporary art and their revealing and compelling experiences are documented, contextualized and summarized. Samples of the discussions form the substance of this article. This is preceded by an analysis of the success of socially‐orientated contemporary art in the wider global context and its contrast with the omission of these practices in many schools. Conclusions have been tentatively drawn about how the curriculum may be better served by the use of contemporary art, as well as the means by which new learning methods may be facilitated.     

Encouraging student engagement in a blended learning environment: the use of contemporary learning spaces

Research shows that some non‐traditional students find the university environment alienating, impersonal and unsupportive. The ‘Quickstart’ project combines traditional lectures and seminars with a sequence of carefully designed online tasks, aimed at lessening the impact of the start of year uncertainties for new students. One thousand students across two geographic locations participated in the programme. The project was evaluated by considering three sources of data: data generated by server statistics of 40,358 successful requests for pages in the first four weeks of teaching; student anonymous responses to an online end of course questionnaire as well as extracts from their reflective journals; and the student experience as viewed through the eyes of a researcher in the classroom. Findings offer insights into how the students blend classroom time with their own time; and student perceptions of their own learning experiences. A collaborative learning experience involving travel to a contemporary learning space (the Tate Modern Art Gallery) mitigated the possible isolating effect of the use of technology; instead the technology enhanced the discussion and participation in activities. The students visited the Tate Modern and then facilitated their discussions by sending each other SMS text messages; they bonded very quickly in the seminar groups, where weekly online tasks that had been prepared individually ‘outside’ the classroom were the focus of group discussion and debate ‘inside the classroom’; their end of semester reflective writing showed very clearly how valuable the early ‘friendship’ groups had been for them settling into university life.     

How Can Visual Arts Help Doctors Develop Medical Insight?

This research project examines how using the visual arts can develop medical insight, as part of a pilot programme for two groups of medical students. It was a UK study; a collaboration between Liverpool and Glynd? University's and Tate Liverpool's learning team. Tate Liverpool is the home of the National Collection of Modern Arts in the North of England and one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art outside London. The project adapted Tate Liverpool's Opening Doors course in devising and piloting a single day programme that engaged students in exploring perception, communication, emotion and narrative. Opening Doors introduces participants to modern and contemporary art and empowers them to work in new ways with groups and individuals. The exercises used as part of the programme allowed us to observe what connections and interpretations were made, and to discuss with the participants what influenced student choice and decision making in relation to specific works of art. This article will focus on the use of gallery education to highlight examples of contemporary culture to develop links between art and medicine, alongside the development of transferable skills. The study is of professional interest because it is using a cross‐disciplinary approach, broadening the disciplines involved in teaching medical skills; and could form a model for further cross‐curricular and cross‐discipline work.     

Young Children's Perspectives on Learning and Teacher Practices in Different Classroom Contexts: Implications for Motivation

Primary studentsa' perceptions of teacher practices and learning were investigated in two different classroom contexts: learner-centered (LC) and non-learner-centered (NLC). Sixty-six children in kindergarten, first, and second grades evaluated and explained teacher practices, reported self-perceptions, and expressed views on good teachers and learning in school. Results indicate that primary students value similar characteristics in teachers regardless of differences in classroom contexts or grade levels. In general, students reported that good teachers are caring, helpful (responsive), and stimulating. Furthermore, results showed that young children's interest in schoolwork and learning was lower in NLC classrooms than in LC classrooms, particularly for students who perceived their teachers as not being supportive and stimulating. Children's views of how learning occurs tended to be consistent with the practices in their classrooms (i.e. self-directed and process-oriented versus teacher-directed and basic skills-oriented). However, children who held contemporary views of learning that were inconsistent with practices in their NLC classrooms showed signs of becoming alienated from school. These results are interpreted in terms of self-determination theory, learner-centered psychological principles, and developmentally-appropriate practice. The importance of considering young children's perspectives for continuing motivation to learn is highlighted.     

漫谈小学语文教学中体验式学习的应用

在新课程背景下,体验式学习模式成了小学语文教学的重要途径。小学语文教师要善于引导学生进行体验式学习,营造开放、轻松的语文学习氛围,开展形式丰富的课堂体验活动,激发小学生的学习兴趣,陶冶小学生的道德情操,提高学生的语文运用能力。本文结合实际小学语文教学经验,先分析了体验式学习的特点,进而论述了体验式学习在小学语文教学中的应用策略。     

新媒体新技术在小学英语课堂教学中的应用分析

随着新课改的到来,新媒体技术逐渐广泛应用于课堂中.小学时期,是学生学习英语的重要阶段,新媒体技术因形象、快捷、资源广泛的优势在小学英语课堂上广泛应用,也为小学英语的学习提供了很大的便利,成为小学英语教学中不可或缺的一种教学模式.本文就从三个方面对新媒体技术在小学英语课堂教学中的应用进行分析.     

浅谈小学数学课堂教学中问题意识的培养

数学既是小学阶段就开始接触的学科,也是对小学生数学思维运用和解题能力要求较高的学科,没有问题可“问”的小学数学课堂无疑是枯燥和无趣的,难以真正实现对小学生思维能力的培养,因此,本文结合目前小学数学课堂出现的问题,探究怎样在小学数学教学中将学生问题意识培养起来。     

Men who become Primary School Teachers: an early portrait

This paper reports the findings of a study which sought to provide improved understanding of what motivates young men to choose primary teaching as a career and their experiences of their university course. It is hoped that the understanding so derived can be used to encourage males to enter the teaching profession at primary level. Sixteen new male graduates were interviewed, just over half had begun the education degree immediately after leaving high school. Working with children was a positive motivation, but teaching was also seen as a desirable career with good working conditions. Parents, both mothers and fathers, were supportive of teaching as a career for their sons. The university course became more interesting for these male students once they were involved directly in schools. They described themselves as less conscientious than female students, but as having interests other than study which gave them an edge in the classroom.     

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour during outdoor learning and traditional indoor school days among Finnish primary school students

In this study, we aimed at comparing Finnish primary school students’ physical activity and sedentary time during outdoor-learning and traditional school days. Outdoor learning is defined as purposeful and planned learning experiences in the outdoors . The study population consisted 20 students in grades 1–6 at one primary school. Physical activity was measured objectively by hip-worn accelerometers. The amounts of physical activity and sedentary time were compared for the same students between five school days with outdoor learning and four traditional school days. The study’s main findings show that, moving from traditional classroom teaching to an outdoor-learning environment decreases students’ sedentary time and increases light- and moderate-intensity physical activity during the school day. No differences were observed in leisure-time physical activity on school days with or without outdoor learning. Thus, outdoor learning is an effective complement to traditional classroom teaching in promoting physically active children.     

导学式教学法在小学数学教学中的应用初探

导学式教学法强调以学生为中心,打破传统教师"填鸭式"的教学模式,符合新课程改革的要求,对于提高小学生的学习积极性和教学质量具有重要作用。小学数学教师要逐步应用导学式教学法,激发小学生的学习动力,丰富数学资源和课堂互动环节,在潜移默化中培养小学生良好的学习能力和终身学习习惯。     

关于学校师生幸福指数调查的分析和思考

常州市西新桥小学在开展“让学校成为儿童幸福栖息乐园的行动研究”中。利用问卷的形式对师生幸福指数及其影响因素进行调查,调查结果显示学生的幸福指数较高,教师的幸福指数一般。学校意识到一方面有责任提升学生对“幸福”的认识水平．一方面要通过良好的校园环境、和谐的人际交往、丰富的校园活动以及开放互动、富有安全感、能促进自我实现的课堂教学提高学生的幸福指数。     

'Learning to Cooperate': A study of how primary teachers and children construct classroom cultures

This paper reports on the findings of a study, the 'Constructing Classroom Cultures' project, funded by a small Australian Research Council grant at the University of Melbourne. Located in three primary school classrooms in Melbourne, Victoria, this study investigated how teachers and grade 3-4 students develop shared values and understandings concerning formal and informal codes of behaviour. Drawing on classroom observations, individual interviews with teachers and focus group interviews with children, this paper discusses the ways that teachers and children together build classroom cultures. Practices that work to produce supportive classroom environments as well as problem areas are identified. Examining classroom cultures at the micro-political level offers scope for considering how power relations can contribute positively to educational processes. Additionally, the ways in which informal interactions between teacher and students and among students call into play collaboration, compliance and resistance are opened up for examination. These case studies aim to contribute to understanding how productive classroom cultures are constructed in day-to-day interactions, a significant area of concern for teachers and teacher education students.     

浅谈师范类院校教学法课程中游戏教学的适用性

高校培养学生以就业为导向,以岗位需求为目标,使学生在校期间所学的知识,所掌握的技能为今后就业奠定基础。在《小学英语教学法》课程中,我们探索游戏教学法。小学英语教学模式活泼、内容新颖,运用游戏教学来激发儿童学习英语的兴趣,适合儿童发展的要求。本文从教学实践出发,探讨了小学英语课堂中进行游戏教学的适用性,并分析了如何在小学英语课堂中利用游戏来组织教学。     

中小学生人文品质养成教育的设计

培养中小学生人文品质,进一步弘扬民族精神,成为当代学校整体发展的当务之急。根据中小学生的特点,需要培育六种品质：智慧品质,自主品质,责任品质,关爱品质,交往品质和合作品质。为了实现目标,三种培育途径值得推广和研究：开展各类主题活动,课堂人文渗透,以及家校互动。这是一种操作性较强的“养成教育的设计”。     

Inclusive Education for Students with Hearing Impairment in the Regular Secondary Schools in the North-West Region of Cameroon: Initiatives and Challenges

Although some initiatives are implemented in the education of students with hearing impairments in the regular school, challenges are still encountered in their education. This article which is part of the results from an ongoing qualitative study in the North-West region of Cameroon addresses the different initiatives and challenges involved with including students with hearing impairment in regular schools. Interviews, participant observations as well as field notes were the main instruments used in collecting data from the six teachers and six students with hearing impairments who participated in the research. Academic support, classroom placement and the way of working of the sign language interpreters were considered the major initiatives and challenges in the education of the students with hearing impairment in regular schools. It is apparent that adequate adjustments have not been made within the schools to meet the needs of the students with hearing impairments. This hence questions their actual inclusion in the regular school.     

再论融合教育:普小教师眼中的"随班就读"

在中国 ,融合教育的主要安置形式是随班就读。本文使用开放式问卷 ,录音采访了大连市 1 1所普通小学的 2 3位班主任教师。研究的结果表明 :(一 )大连市的普小教师对特殊儿童随班就读基本上持接受态度 ,集中有近一半多的教师认为要视学生的残疾种类合程度来确定特殊儿童是否随班就读。(二 )在多数普小教师看来 ,特殊儿童与正常儿童之间的交往势必交顺利的 ,特殊儿童的社会融合经常出现在课外活动、集体活动、游戏的场合 ,而在课堂学习的情况下较难产生。 (三 )从社会融合的可利用资源中 ,社区、学校、家庭之间的相互支持、协作的桥梁并未建立起来。 (四 )普小教师对随班就读工作的建议是希望得到特殊教育知识的培训。     

走向儿童主体性学习的数学情境课堂——从一项教学赛事的“八连冠”说开去

在数学情境教育中,存在着＂被浅薄化的情境学习＂、＂被异化的主体性学习＂等＂情境＂误读现象。走向儿童主体性学习的数学情境课堂,应精简地走向儿童,关注教材的全方位视角,以灵动地基于儿童为价值情境创生的策略,以丰厚地滋养儿童呼应儿童内在生长的理性需求。     

核心素养下微课资源在小学数学课堂的运用策略

小学阶段的学生在数学教学活动中经常会因为专注度不足、理解力不强而直接影响教学效率。对此,教师应该引起重视、加强研究,并以新课改理念及新技术手段为辅助,让形象生动、简短实效的微课资源进入小学数学课堂。并以培育学生核心素养为驱动,引导学生在微课资源的带动下,萌生浓厚的学习兴趣、激活迫切认知欲望、切实增强教学效率,为确保小学数学课堂教学更好推进与落实,促使学生数学核心素养更好培育与践行奠基铺路,本文给予了运用策略。     

Impact of an inquiry unit on grade 4 students’ science learning

This paper concerns the identification of teaching strategies that enhance the development of 4th grade students’ experimental design skills at a public primary school in Argentina. Students’ performance in the design of relevant experiments was evaluated before and after an eight-week intervention compared to a control group, as well as the persistence of this learning after eight months. The study involved a quasi-experimental longitudinal study with pre-test/post-test/delayed post-test measures, complemented with semi-structured interviews with randomly selected students. Our findings showed improvement in the experimental design skills as well as its sustainability among students working with the inquiry-based sequence. After the intervention, students were able to establish valid comparisons, propose pertinent designs and identify variables that should remain constant. Contrarily, students in the control group showed no improvement and continued to solve the posed problems based on prior beliefs. In summary, this paper shows evidence that implementing inquiry-based units involving problems set in cross-domain everyday situations that combine independent student work with teacher guidance significantly improves the development of scientific skills in real classroom contexts.