Les Types Psychologiques et L'etudiant en Ingénierie

SUMMARY

Jung a élabori une théorie des types psychologiques basée sur la maniere dont une personne cueille l'information nécessaire et prend des décisions. Le test Myers-Briggs Type Indicator a été bâti à partir de ce modèle. Son application révèle que l'ingénierie attire des individus de types psychologiques bien determineés. Ceci peut avoir des consequences sur l'enseignement. Un étudiant, a l'aide des résultats du test, peut modifier sa methode de travail, defagon à ameliorer son rendement scolaire.

Jung has elaborated a theory of psychological types based on the way an individual collects information and takes decisions. The Myers-Briggs type indicator test has been built from that model. Its administration reveals that engineering attracts people of well-defined psychological types. This may have consequences on education. From the results of the test, a student may change his learning style so as to improve his academic efficiency.     

La Formation des Ingénieurs au Japon

SOMMAIRE

Following a paper an the Japanese educational system, this study of the Education of engineers in Japan is the result of a joint reflection by the two authors. Both are engineers in a large french company with an international vocation, and they undertook this analysis with full knowledge of the facts. The selective nature of training in Japan is underlined, in relation with numerous industrialized countries, the authors included significant elements of comparison; in particular, a comparative analysis of the output flow shows a coherence, if one takes into consideration the range of competing and complementary programmes.

Cette étude sur la formation des ingénieurs au Japon résulte de la reflexion commune des deux auteurs. Tous deux, ingénieurs dans une grande société francaise à vocation internationale, ont pu élaborer ce travail d'analyse en toute connaissance de cause tant pour le Japon que pour la France. Elle est complétée par une rapide comparaison des formations el des flux pour six pays industrialisés.     

大学外语教学中的师生关系构建——读纪实小说《相约星期二》有感

在纪实小说《相约星期二》中,作者米奇·阿尔博姆用平实的语言记录了毕业多年,他再遇恩师,并继而在恩师莫里那里修到的最后一门课程。小说通过“课程学习”期间的师生对话交流,由此阐释了深厚的师生关系与人生教育的真谛。有感于此,结合当下大学外语教育的教学实际,主要关注课程中教师身份的构建、知识的储备、课程教学的内容、学生学习的目标等几个方面,探讨了大学外语教学中如何构建和谐的师生关系的问题,希望对未来的外语教育发展有所裨益。     

Interaction between Professionals and Researchers: Creating Research Synergies

RÉSUMÉ

This paper treats as an innovation the creation of a postgraduate programme of research which acts as a focus for industrial collaboration. The idea, the networks created and the launch of the programme are described. Lessons from experience are related and further diffusion of the idea and resulting activities are briefly mentioned.

Cet article considère comme une innovation la cr éation d 'un programme de recherches de mattrise qui sen de foyer pour la collaboration industrielle. L'idée, le réseau ainsi cree et le lancement du programme sont descris. Les leçons tirées de l 'experience sont recontees et la diffusion supplemental de l'idée et des activités derivées sont mentionnées en bref.     

Using educational theory and research to refine agricultural extension: affordances and barriers for farmers’ learning and practice change

Purpose: To examine the factors that support and hinder farmers’ learning and to investigate the impact of an innovative learning program on farmers’ practice change.

Design/methodology/approach: Individual interviews and focus group discussions were held with 24 farmers over 20 months. Observations were made of these farmers as they participated with eight agricultural and social scientists in a range of innovative experiences to learn about chicory and plantain establishment and management. These learning experiences were designed around evidence-informed educational pedagogies. Data sets were analyzed using NVivo to determine common themes of affordances and barriers to learning and actual practice changes.

Findings: The affordances for learning and practice change include belonging to a learning community, enhancing self-efficacy, engaging with scientists, seeing relative advantage, reinforcing and validating learning, supporting system’s integration and developing an identity as learners. Barriers to learning and practice change include issues of: trialability, complexity, compatibility and risk.

Practical implications: The importance of basing new models of extension around evidence-informed pedagogies known through educational research to promote learning and practice change.

Theoretical implications: Sociocultural theory and self-efficacy theories of learning are critical to the success of effective agricultural extension programs.

Originality: To date, little empirical research about the affordances and barriers for pastoral farmers’ learning has been based on contemporary educational research.     

Learning from a Simulated Reality

RESUMÉ

The dissemination and implementation of the findings from research into the strategic management of building firms is constrained by the lack of familiarity of most executives with key concepts of management, organization, economics and strategy. AROUSAL is a unique business simulation system which provides a supportive learning environment for executives to develop an operational understanding of strategic management and generate the confidence to apply that understanding. Thus, AROUSAL provides a powerful approach w the dissemination of complex research findings and to influencing decision-making in organizations. The approach draws on a wide range of training and organizational development methodologies. The key ingredient is a highly flexible computer modelling system which recreates the world of the manager and allows him to manage his business into the medium-term future. The paper discusses the issues faced in developing the approach.

La diffusion et la réalisation des conclusions des recherches sur I'administration stratégique des firmes du bâtiment subissent le manque de connaissance des concepts clefs de la gestion, de I'organisation, de l' économique et de la strategie pour la plupart des cadres. AROUSAL est un systeme unique de simulation des cas, quifoumit aux cadres une possibilité de développer une compréhension opérationelle de l'administration stratégique, et de mettre en pratique cette compréhension. Ainsi, AROUSAL permet d'unefaçon très puissante la diffusion des conclusions complexes des recherches à fin d'inflechir le processus de la decision dans les organisations. La façon utilise un grande étendue des méthodologies de la formation et du developpement organisational L' élément clef est un système très flexible du modelage par ordinateur qui recrée la monde du cadre et permet à lui d'administrer sa firme dans I'avenir à terme moyen. L'article discute les problemes qui se présentaient au développement de la façon.     

Networked learning for agricultural extension: a framework for analysis and two cases

Purpose: This paper presents economic and pedagogical motivations for adopting information and communications technology (ICT)-mediated learning networks in agricultural education and extension. It proposes a framework for networked learning in agricultural extension and contributes a theoretical and case-based rationale for adopting the networked learning paradigm.

Design/methodology/approach: A review of the literature highlights the economic and pedagogical need for adopting a networked learning approach. Two examples are described to instantiate the language for learning networks: a small community of farmers in India and large Twitter community of Australian farmers.

Findings: This paper reviews evidence that successful networked learning interventions are already occurring within agricultural extension. It provides a framework for describing these interventions and for helping future designers of learning networks in agricultural extension.

Practical implication: Facilitation of learning networks can serve to achieve efficient agricultural extension that connects farmers across distances for constructivist learning. To realize these benefits, designers of learning networks need to consider set design, social design and epistemic design.

Theoretical implication: This paper contributes a theoretical framework for designing, implementing and analysing learning networks in agriculture. It does this by integrating existing ideas from networked learning and applying them to the agricultural context through examples.

Originality/value: This paper contributes an understanding of the value of networked learning for extension in terms of economic and pedagogical benefits. It provides a language for talking about learning networks that is useful for future researchers and for practitioners.     

A Merged Approach to Stochastics in Engineering Curricula

RESUME

Many engineers lack the necessary expertise to correctly analyse and interpret data resulting from an experiment. The conceptual framework of stochastics lies in the possibility of measuring the expectation of future' events on the basis of ‘past’ statistical data. Their observation leads in general to a decrease of uncertainty with respect to the initial situation: the measurement of this uncertainty can be quantitatively carried out through the concept of probability. We maintain that the precise and rigorous formulation of this process of ‘learning from experience’ can be realized by a merging of the Bayesian inferential procedure with the subjective and intuitive ‘real-life’ concept of probability as degree of belief.

Beaucoup d'ingenieurs manquent de I'expertise necessaire pour analyser et interpreter les données fournies par une expérience. Le cadre conceptuel de la statistique réside dans la possibilité de mesurer la plausibilité de certains événements ‘futures’; on se basant sur les résultats des observations statistiques ‘passees’. La connaissance de cettes données conduit en général à une diminution de I'incertitude en comparaison de la situation initiate: cette incertitude peut etre mesuree grâce au concept de probabilité. Nous soutenons que la formulation precise et rigoureuse de ce procédé (‘apprendre par I'experience’) peut être réalisée au moyen d'un amalgame entre le procédé inférentiel Bayésien et le concept subjectifM intuitif de probabilité comme ‘degré de croyance’.     

Students’ knowledge acquisition and ability to apply knowledge into different science contexts in two different independent learning settings

Background: Recently, there is a growing interest in independent learning approaches globally. This is, at least in part, due to an increased demand for so-called ‘21st century skills’ and the potential of independent learning to improve student skills to better prepare them for the future.

Purpose: This paper reports a study that explored the effectiveness of two different independent learning approaches: (i) guided independent learning and (ii) unguided independent learning with independent research, in enabling students in an undergraduate Macromolecules course to acquire knowledge in one chemistry context and apply it successfully in another.

Sample: The study involved 144 chemistry students commencing their first term of undergraduate study at a northern university in England. Students completed pre- and post-intervention tests containing 10 diagnostic questions, of which 4 measured students’ knowledge acquisition in one context and 6 measured their ability to apply it in another.

Design and methods: Diagnostic questions had been identified using a Delphi approach. Paired t-tests and chi-square tests were used to analyse the significance of any change in students’ responses to the diagnostic questions and the number of responses evidencing misconceptions, respectively.

Results: Whilst guided independent learning settings were found to improve students’ knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge in novel situations, unguided independent learning had no statistically significant effect. Unguided independent learning was also linked to a statistically significant increase in the number of student misconceptions in one of the diagnostic questions.

Conclusions: The results of this study show that guidance in independent learning activities is a key necessity for effective learning in higher education. This paper has strong relevance and high significance to tertiary STEM education, especially in the light of increased importance of teaching, such as the Teaching Excellence Framework in the UK, and shifts to more independent learning activities.     

Queueing Theory

RESUME

The aim of this paper is to stress the need for a better training in stochastic methodology for European engineers. The emphasis is on applied probability. In Section 2, a brief introduction to the main features of queueing theory is given, as well as some examples of applications of queues to manufacturing and service industries. Sections 3 and 4 present some recommendations for further action and some final comments concerning stochastic education for engineers.

L'objectif de cet article est mettre en relief la grande necessityé d'une meilheure formation stocastique dans les cours pour les ingénieurs europeens. L'accent est mis sur le domaine des probability's appliquees. Dans la Section 2 une brieve introduction aux caracteristiques plus importantes de la teorie des queues d'attente estfaite; aussi quelques examples des applications de cette téorie-là aux industries des manufactures et des services. Dans les Sections 3 et 4 on présente quelques recommendations et commentaires finals relatives a I'éducation dans la mathématique stocastique pour les ingénieurs.     

Inquiry-Based Learning and the Art of Mathematical Discourse

Abstract

Our particular flavor of inquiry-based learning (IBL) uses mathematical discourse, conversations, and discussions to empower students to deepen their mathematical thinking, building on strengths of students in the humanities. We present an organized catalog of powerful questions, discussion prompts, and talk moves that can help faculty facilitate a classroom focused on mathematical discourse. The paper brings this discourse alive through classroom vignettes and explores various teacher moves and their impacts. The mathematical theme of the classroom investigations, Maypole dance patterns, stems from the learning guide “Discovering the Art of Mathematics: Dance.” Both authors are part of the NSF-funded project “Discovering the Art of Mathematics,” which provides IBL materials for mathematics for liberal arts courses, see www.artofmathematics.org.     

Through Language the Child Moves from Looking to Seeing: Action research into language as a tool to teach drawing

This article is prompted by Fielding's research (1994) into Vygotsky's theories (1986), and his request ‘to seek to establish a relationship between language and drawing’, in particular his citing that Harris ‘... calls for further research to be undertaken with a view to determining whether or not there is a direct and necessary relationship between the two human abilities’ (1963, p. 191).

The article reports on classroom action research, carried out at the University of Liverpool, England, by primary, Post Graduate Certificate of Education students, into three different strategies to teach primary children drawing, one of which employed language. This approach has been developed over a number of years. The data arising from the students research has provided powerful insights into the characteristics of language strategies which most successfully promote learning in children.     

论《一日重生》的叙事手法

小说《一日重生》是作家米奇·阿尔伯姆创作的一部具有疗伤风格的作品。作者以独特的叙事方式展现了平凡人生活的一个个断面和切片,使读者从平淡中感受爱的光芒。论文讨论了小说中空间化叙事结构,多角度人物塑造和作家时空体等叙事手法。     

Entrepreneurialism and critical pedagogy: reinventing the higher education curriculum

This paper presents an analysis of the ways in which UK higher education (HE) has become increasingly commercialised and commodified in the post-1980s. It critiques the strategies adopted by successive UK governments to reinvigorate the relationship between educational and economic life, and to facilitate a more corporate and entrepreneurial spirit within the academy in line with the pressures of a ‘knowledge-based economy’. Arguing for a more critical exploration of teaching and learning within HE, the paper presents evidence from work carried out by the Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research, a Centre for Excellence in Teaching in Learning (CETL) which adopts a research-based learning approach to teaching and learning at undergraduate level.1 1. The Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research is a collaborative Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) based between the Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick and the School for the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University. In 2005 the Centre was awarded £500,000 recurrent over five years, and £800,000 capital funding. The recurrent funding covers staff and running costs. Capital expenditure has covered the design and development of new social teaching and learning spaces at both Warwick and Oxford Brookes. Further information on the Reinvention Centre is available at www.warwick.ac.uk/go/reinvention/. The Reinvention centre covers a range of progressive pedagogies. This article represents the specific views of the authors. Within the context of ongoing debates surrounding the relationship between teaching, learning and research in UK HE, the paper advocates a reinvention of curriculum design through an engagement with the broader principles of critical pedagogy, and in so doing, presents a critical engagement with the commercialisation of HE.     

The conceptions of learning science by laboratory among university science-major students: qualitative and quantitative analyses

Background: The sophistication of students’ conceptions of science learning has been found to be positively related to their approaches to and outcomes for science learning. Little research has been conducted to particularly investigate students’ conceptions of science learning by laboratory.

Purpose: The purpose of this research, consisting of two studies, was to explore Taiwanese university science-major students’ conceptions of learning science by laboratory (CLSL).

Sample: In Study I, interview data were gathered from 47 university science-major students. In Study II, 287 university science-major students’ responses to a CLSL survey were collected.

Design and methods: In Study I, the interview data were analyzed using the phenomenographic method. Based on the findings derived from Study I, Study II developed an instrument for assessing students’ CLSL by exploratory factor analysis.

Results: Study I revealed six categories of CLSL, including memorizing, verifying, acquiring manipulative skills, obtaining authentic experience, reviewing prior learning profiles, and achieving in-depth understanding. The factor analysis in Study II revealed that the ‘verifying’ category was eliminated, but found another new category of ‘examining prior knowledge.’

Conclusions: This study finally proposes a framework to describe the variations of CLSL, consisting of three features: cognitive orientation, metacognitive orientation, and epistemic orientation. Possible factors influencing students’ CLSL are also discussed.     

Teaching strategies to promote concept learning by design challenges

Background: This study is the second study of a design-based research, organised around four studies, that aims to improve student learning, teaching skills and teacher training concerning the design-based learning approach called Learning by Design (LBD).

Purpose: LBD uses the context of design challenges to learn, among other things, science. Previous research shows that this approach to subject integration is quite successful but provides little profit on (scientific) concept learning. For this, a lack of (knowledge of) proper teaching strategies is suggested as an important reason. This study explores these strategies and more specific the interaction with concept learning.

Sample: Six Dutch first-year bachelor’s degree science student teachers, between the ages of 16 and 18, and two science teacher trainers (principal investigators included) were involved.

Design and methods: A mixed methods study was used to study LBD’s teaching practice in depth. Based on a theoretical framework of (concept) learning-related teaching strategies video recordings of a guided LBD challenge were analysed to unravel teacher handling in detail. Complemented by questionnaire and interview data and students’ learning outcomes (pre- and post-exam) the effectiveness of teaching strategies was established and shortcomings were distracted.

Results: Students reached medium overall learning gains where the highest gains were strongly task-related. Teacher handling was dominated by providing feedback and stimulating collaboration and only 13% of all teacher interventions concerned direct explication of underlying science. And especially these explicit teaching strategies were highly appreciated by students to learn about science.

Conclusions: In accordance with insights about knowledge transfer, LBD needs to be enriched with explicit teaching strategies, interludes according to poor-related science content important for cohesive understanding and de- and recontextualisation of concepts for deeper understanding.