Gender Stereotyping and Affective Attitudes Towards Science in Chinese Secondary School Students

This study explores explicit and implicit gender‐science stereotypes and affective attitudes towards science in a sample of Chinese secondary school students. The results showed that (1) gender‐science stereotyping was more and more apparent as the specialization of science subjects progresses through secondary school, becoming stronger from the 10th grade; girls were more inclined to stereotype than boys while this gender difference decreased with increasing grade; (2) girls tend to have an implicit science‐unpleasant/humanities‐pleasant association from the 8th grade, while boys showed a negative implicit attitude towards science up to the 11th grade. In self‐report, girls preferred humanities to science, while boys preferred science to humanities; (3) implicit affective attitude was closely related to implicit stereotype. In particular, implicit affective attitude has a stronger predictive power on stereotype than the other way around, the result of which may have more significance for girls.     

An Exploration of Attitudes towards Modern Biotechnology: A study among Dutch secondary school students

Modern biotechnology will have a large impact on society and requires informed decision‐making and critical attitudes toward biotechnology among the public. This study aims to explore these attitudes in secondary education. For this purpose, a questionnaire was constructed according to the general tripartite theory of attitudes. A total of 574 Dutch secondary school students completed the questionnaire. Based on principal component analyses, several distinct and independent cognitive, affective, and behavioural factors were found, demonstrating that attitudes towards biotechnology are a multi‐component concept. In a cluster analysis on these factors, we found four interpretable clusters representing different groups of students. The four groups are labelled “confident supporter” (22%), “not sure” (42%), “concerned sceptic” (18%), and “not for me” (17%). These results indicate that there is a diverse appraisal of modern biotechnology among secondary school students. Suggestions for educational interventions are made.     

Multiple Aims in the Development of a Major Reform of the National Curriculum for Science in England

In the context of a major reform of the school science curriculum for 14–16‐year‐olds in England, we examine the aims ascribed to the reform, the stakeholders involved, and the roles of differing values and authority in its development. This reform includes an emphasis on socioscientific issues and the nature of science; curriculum trends of international relevance. Our analysis identifies largely ‘instrumental’ aims, with little emphasis on ‘intrinsic’ aims and associated values. We identify five broad categories of stakeholders focusing on different aims with, for example, a social, individual, political, or economic emphasis. We suggest that curriculum development projects reflecting largely social and individual aims were appropriated by other stakeholders to serve political and economic aims. We argue that a curriculum reform body representing all stakeholder interests is needed to ensure that multiple aims are considered throughout the curriculum reform process. Within such a body, the differentiated character of the science teaching community would need to be represented.     

要重视中师生的科学素质教育

通过对世界名科学家成长过程的研究,提出了提高中等师范学校师生的科学素质的重要意义,并针对我国普通教育的现状和所存在的问题,提出了几条相应的改进措施。     

The Benefits of Cooperative Learning to Socio-scientific Discussion in Secondary School Science

The aim of this research was to determine the benefits of cooperative learning to opening up socio-scientific discussion in secondary science. Seventy-four classes of 20 13–14-year-old pupils in one secondary school were observed engaging in discussion concerning climate change over three rounds of action research involving 12 teachers associated with the implementation of a Topical Science strand of a new national science curriculum. Pupil views on the cooperative learning approach used to facilitate the lessons and the associated discussion were determined using a pupil questionnaire (n?=?171). By the end of the action research, the overall average typical exchange in the observed lessons was between pupil-to-pupil (mean?±?SD, 41%?±?5%) and pupil-to-teacher (32%?±?4%) with teacher-to-pupil interactions accounting for only 27%?±?5% of exchanges. However, the pace of the typical exchanges was predominantly fast with most of the questions being a mixture of low order on task questions from teacher-to-pupil; technical exchanges, inquiring what to do from pupil-to-teacher; and quiz questions from teacher-to-pupil or from pupil-to-pupil. Questionnaire data indicated that overall 50.3% of pupils enjoyed the discussion (on global warming) and 59.7% did not find it boring. Nevertheless, only 45% felt that they were given the chance to express their own opinions during these discussions. Prior to these lessons, 59.6% were not interested in the issue of climate change and global warming. Cooperative learning facilitated a shift in the pattern of typical exchanges away from a teacher-dominated discourse towards a more pupil-centred, open discourse.     

论科学教育与教师科学素质的培养

在高等学校开展加强文化素质教育活动,全面推进素质教育,是上世纪末我国高等教育领域的一项重大改革。高等师范教育阶段是学生与科学技术联系较为密切的阶段,在此过程中若多方面加强对学生的科学精神、科学方法、科学思维、科学知识等方面的教育与培养,对形成教师理想人格特征及教师素质全面发展具有重要意义,是提高教师科学素质的根本保证。     

Promoting and Scaffolding Elementary School Students' Attitudes Toward Science and Argumentation Through a Science and Society Intervention

This study investigated the effects of a science and society intervention on elementary school students’ argumentation skills and their attitudes toward science. One hundred and eleven fifth grade students volunteered as an experimental group to join a 12-week intervention; another 107 sixth grade students volunteered to be the comparison group. All participants completed the Student Questionnaire at the beginning and end of this study. Observation and interview results were used to triangulate and consolidate the quantitative findings. The data showed that after the intervention, the quality of the experimental group students’ arguments and their attitudes toward science were significantly higher than their comparison group counterparts. In addition, the experimental group boys made significantly greater progress in the quality of their argumentation from the pretest to posttest than the girls; and low achievers made the most significant progress in their attitudes toward science and quality of argumentation. Interviews and observations indicated that their understandings of explanation and argumentation changed over the intervention. This indicated that a science and society intervention can enhance both the ability of students to develop strong arguments and their attitudes toward science.     

Attitudes towards science and views of nature of science among elementary school students in terms of gender,cultural background and grade level variables

Background: There is a growing interest in investigating attitudes towards science and views of Nature of Science among elementary grade students in terms of gender, cultural backgrounds, and grade level variables.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes toward science and views of Nature of Science among Spanish students, Spanish students of gypsy ethnicity and second-generation Spanish students with east-European heritage, and to determine if their attitudes are related to their views of Nature of Science.

Sample: Data for this study was gathered from seven elementary schools in Spain, forming a convenience sample of 149 students enrolled from 2nd to 5th grade.

Design and Methods: The Nature of Science Instrument (NOSI) and an adaptation of the Test of Science Related Attitudes scale (TOSRA) were used. Follow-up structured interviews were performed with 15 participants.

Results: Regarding gender, boys had better attitudes toward Science than girls but more naïve views of the empirical Nature of Science. In relation to cultural background, second generation Spanish students with east-European heritage reported significantly better attitudes toward Science than Spanish students and Spanish students of gypsy ethnicity. No differences in Nature of Science views were found. Concerning grade level, third graders had more positive attitudes toward Science than fifth and sixth graders and more informed views of the tentative Nature of Science. Finally, no relation between Nature of Science views and attitudes towards Science were identified.

Conclusion: This study stress the need to address the steady decline in positive attitude toward Science and to improve students’ views of Nature of Science from early elementary grades, and to use gender and culturally inclusive science teaching strategies.     

中学生学业成就归因的研究

采用测验法对中学生学业成就的归因方式进行了探讨．研究结果表明：中学生学业成就的内部归因高于外部归因．没有年龄差异，也没有性别差异；学业成就较好和较差的学生，都很重视能力的归因：学业成就较好的学生，重视能力和主观努力的因素；而学业成就较差的学生，更重视能力和问题难度的归因．     

The Attitudes of Different Partners Involved in Higher Education towards Students with Disabilities

In this article we analyse the inclusion of students with disabilities in the field of university attendance, emphasising the importance of attitudes of teachers as well as the rest of the university community as a whole for inclusion to be successful. The effect of variables of gender, education and training and contact with students with disabilities on these attitudes is also detailed. A scale was applied to assess attitudes towards disabilities to 2671 participants, including students with and without disabilities, teachers and administrative and services staff from the Faculty of Education in a University in Southern Spain. The results show that in general, the university community has positive attitudes towards students with disabilities, with differences according to the group, with university teachers having the most favourable attitudes. The results are discussed and suggestions for future research are offered.     

中职学校学生思想政治教育创新

随着职业教育的快速发展,职业学校学生的思想政治教育工作要把握学生的新特点、新变化,掌握思想政治教育的主动权,思想政治教育工作必须在内容、形式、方法、手段方面进行创新。     

An Exploration of High School (12–17 Year Old) Students' Understandings of,and Attitudes Towards Biotechnology Processes

The products of modern biotechnology processes such as genetic engineering, DNA testing and cloning will increasingly impact on society. It is essential that young people have a well-developed scientific understanding of biotechnology and associated processes so that they are able to contribute to public debate and make informed personal decisions. The aim of this study was to examine the development of understandings and attitudes about biotechnology processes as students progress through high school. In a cross-sectional case study, data was obtained from student interviews and written surveys of students aged 12 to 17 years. The results indicate that students' ability to provide a generally accepted definition and examples of biotechnology, cloning and genetically modified foods was relatively poor amongst 12–13 year old students but improved in older students. Most students approved of the use of biotechnology processes involving micro-organisms, plants and humans and disapproved of the use of animals. Overall, 12–13 year old students' attitudes were less favourable than older students regardless of the context. An awareness of the development and range of students' understandings and attitudes may lead to a more appropriate use of biotechnology curriculum materials and thus improved biotechnology education in schools.     

The Effect of Guided-Inquiry Instruction on 6th Grade Turkish Students' Achievement,Science Process Skills,and Attitudes Toward Science

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of guided-inquiry approach in science classes over existing science and technology curriculum in developing content-based science achievement, science process skills, and attitude toward science of grade level 6 students in Turkey. Non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used to investigate the treatment effect. There were 162 students in the experimental group and 142 students in the control group. Both the experimental and control group students took the Achievement Test in Reproduction, Development, and Growth in Living Things (RDGLT), Science Process Skills Test, and Attitudes Toward Science Questionnaire, as pre-test and post-test. Repeated analysis of variance design was used in analyzing the data. Both the experimental and control group students were taught in RDGLT units for 22 class hours. The results indicated the positive effect of guided-inquiry approach on the Turkish students' cognitive as well as affective characteristics. The guided inquiry enhanced the experimental group students' understandings of the science concepts as well as the inquiry skills more than the control group students. Similarly, the experimental group students improved their attitudes toward science more than the control group students as a result of treatment. The guided inquiry seems a transition between traditional teaching method and student-centred activities in the Turkish schools.     

The Use of Newspaper Articles as a Tool to Develop Critical Thinking in Science Classes

The aim of this research is to identify the difficulties experienced by secondary school students (aged 15–16) with the critical reading of newspaper articles with scientific content. Two newspaper critical reading activities in relation to the study of various scientific contents were designed and carried out in two schools (61 students in total), one with a student population from a medium to high social and economic bracket and the other with students from a medium to low social and economic bracket. These activities were designed taking into account the phases of the reading process: before, during and after reading. In order to analyse the difficulties ‘Elements of science critical reading’ were identified on the basis of the ‘Elements of reasoning’ of Paul and Elder and the categories proposed by Bartz C.R.I.T.I.C. questionnaire and a scale was drawn up. The results show that the activities designed were useful in helping students to read critically. We also rated very positively the instrument created to assess the students' answers: the scale based on the performance indicators of Paul and Elder. This instrument enabled us to detect the aspects of critical thinking where students have the most difficulties: identifying the writer's purpose and looking for evidence in a text. It was also shown that the stance taken in the articles also had an influence on the results.     

浅论当前中等师范生的师德教育

当代中师生在师德方面存在一系列问题:思想道德素质不高、职业理想模糊和职业技能弱化.原因是多方面的,有学校教育方面的,有社会原因以及其自身因素.本文从德育的实效性、校园师德环境、师德榜样的示范性以及社会环境作用等方面,提出了几点解决问题的构想.     

殡仪专业学生死亡态度现状及其影响因素研究

为了探讨殡仪专业大学生死亡态度现状及其影响因素,采用死亡态度量表对殡仪专业273名学生进行问卷调查。调查显示,被试在自然接受因子上的得分最高,在趋近接受上得分最低;专业、年级、独生子女和家庭类型对其死亡态度的自然接受因子有影响;从事实习工作状况、家庭讨论死亡情况、是否认识自杀身亡者和自身有无自杀想法或行为对其死亡态度因子产生不同程度的影响。提出应加强殡仪专业大学生生死观教育的建议。     

小学生情绪教育活动课程的实验研究

情绪影响着学生学习、生活的方方面面。情绪是否需要教育？能否教育？本文进行了多角度理性分析，构建了小学生情绪教育活动课程。并进行实验研究。最后就实验结果进行了深刻反思、讨论，得出比较科学的结论。     

关于中职学生综合素质评价制度的几点浅议

职业教育是深化教育改革的阵地与突破口。中等职业教育作为职业教育体系的重要构成,坚持立德树人,全面改革,释放活力,是中等职业院校提升办学能力的必经之举。在党中央及国务院的倡导下,学生综合素质评价制度的改革成为中等职业院校面临的一项紧迫现实课题。立足实际,积极对标,中职院校学生综合素质评价制度在运行中应在明确未来导向、用好定性评价、强化评价激励功能、提高公众评价参与度这几个方面加以改进,才能更好引导学生成长成才,有效服务区域经济发展,提高中职教育社会认可度,推动新时代职业教育发展实现新跨越。     

性格塑造对当前中职生素质教育有效性的探索

良好的性格如正确的态度、坚强的意志、积极的情绪、健全的理智是一个人迈向成功的必要条件;而性格缺陷会成为一个人成长和成功的阻碍。本文概述了性格塑造对一个人成才和成功所起的决定作用,总结当前职业中专生消极、冲动、狭隘等性格特点,指出他们性格中所隐含的缺陷问题,从家庭因素、学校因素和社会因素几方面分析其性格缺陷形成的原因,并立足班级管理角度,通过榜样作用、氛围熏陶、课外活动带动及自我塑造等方法对职校生性格塑造进行初步探索。     

公办中小学学生对借读同学的态度差异分析

本研究通过对13所学校的抽样调查,得出这样几点推断：在对借读同学的整体印象上,不同性别、不同学段、不同学区本地生的态度存在显著性差异;在借读同学选择学校类型问题上,不同学区、乡镇学校不同学段本地生的态度存在显著性差异;在本地学校与教师如何对待借读生问题上,不同性别本地生的态度存在显著性差异;在对自己与借读同学交往问题上。不同性别本地生的态度存在显著性差异。