To What Degree Do the Currently Used Physics Textbooks Meet the Expectations?

Textbooks play an important part in the instructional process. The purposes of this study were to develop an instrument to identify the characteristics of high school physics textbooks, and examine how appropriate the currently used textbooks were for teaching and learning physics. The criteria were identified and the instrument was developed with the pre-service physics teachers to evaluate the physics textbooks approved by the Turkish Ministry of Education. This study described some problems in the content and design of the physics textbooks that might be caused by the narrow criteria used by the Ministry to approve science textbooks. The criteria in this evaluation instrument would provide an empirical base in analysis of high school physics textbooks and be used by not only the Turkish Ministry but also by physics teachers and textbook evaluators from other countries. Moreover, these criteria can be modified and used in selection of appropriate textbooks of other science disciplines.     

金属光电效应逸出功简要分析

大学物理教材中对光电效应下的定义不准确,对光电子是否有最大初动能存在两派观点,通过对金属逸出功的分析,表明光电子存在最大初动能。     

Pick a Number … Any Number?

A recent classroom revelation caused us to reconsider the adequacy of the instructions offered in our textbooks for one of our most elementary quantitative methods. Specifically, we found that many students were mystified concerning how to pick an initial objective function value when plotting an isoprofit line in order to graphically solve a linear programming problem. We observed that this seemingly insignificant issue was causing a surprising amount of wasted time, confusion, and even anxiety. Our experience indicated that students do not necessarily possess any consistent intuition for choosing an appropriate initial value. We confirmed this perception through informal experimentation. We reviewed several textbooks and found that most simply do not bother to address this issue. Therefore, we devised a simple, comprehensible method which we have taught our students to resolve or avoid this problem. Although we quickly found the method to be helpful for many students, we conducted an experiment to formally measure its effect.     

Using Concept Maps to Aid Analysis of Concept Presentation in High School Computer Textbooks

In this study we use concept maps as the tool for examining concepts presented in three high school computer textbooks. All three textbooks were endorsed by Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE). The concepts relating to CPU was selected as a sample for analysis. Two high school computer teachers first worked independently and then together to draw concept maps for each of the textbooks. Our analysis revealed that the textbooks did not cover the important concepts appropriately and failed to address the connections between the concepts. While all three textbooks elaborated on some concepts using examples, only a few analogies were used. The study also showed that concept maps can be an effective tool for analyzing the conceptual framework of important concepts within a textbook.     

The Oil Drop Experiment: Do Physical Chemistry Textbooks Refer to its Controversial Nature?

Most general chemistry textbooks consider the oil drop experiment as a classic experiment, characterized by its simplicity and precise results. A review of the history and philosophy of science literature shows that the experiment is difficult to perform (even today!) and generated a considerable amount of controversy. Acceptance of the quantization of the elementary electrical charge was preceded by a bitter dispute between R.A. Millikan and F. Ehrenhaft, that lasted for many years (1910–1925). The objective of this study was to investigate whether physical chemistry textbooks refer to the controversial nature of the experiment. Based on six criteria developed previously, 28 physical chemistry textbooks were evaluated. Analysis of the texts using six identified criteria demonstrated that the textbooks neither referred to the controversial nature of the experiment nor recognized the difficulty of the experimental procedure. Only a few texts even attempted to include any discussion of the history or philosophy of the experiment. The instructor of a physical chemistry course could include aspects of the Millikan–Ehrenhaft controversy to motivate classroom discussion and help facilitate an understanding of the role that controversy has in scientific progress.     

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect by Embodiment – Analysing and Using Students' and Scientists' Conceptual Resources

Over the last 20 years, science education studies have reported that there are very different understandings among students of science regarding the key aspects of climate change. We used the cognitive linguistic framework of experientialism to shed new light on this valuable pool of studies to identify the conceptual resources of understanding climate change. In our study, we interviewed 35 secondary school students on their understanding of the greenhouse effect and analysed the conceptions of climate scientists as drawn from textbooks and research reports. We analysed all data by metaphor analysis and qualitative content analysis to gain insight into students' and scientists' resources for understanding. In our analysis, we found that students and scientists refer to the same schemata to understand the greenhouse effect. We categorised their conceptions into three different principles the conceptions are based on: warming by more input, warming by less output, and warming by a new equilibrium. By interrelating students' and scientists' conceptions, we identified the students' learning demand: First, our students were afforded with experiences regarding the interactions of electromagnetic radiation and CO₂. Second, our students reflected about the experience-based schemata they use as source domains for metaphorical understanding of the greenhouse effect. By uncovering the—mostly unconscious—deployed schemata, we gave students access to their source domains. We implemented these teaching guidelines in interventions and evaluated them in teaching experiments to develop evidence-based and theory-guided learning activities on the greenhouse effect.     

浅析各版本对新造词的不同讲解

进入新时期以后,汉语新造词大量涌现,出现了现代汉语词汇发展的第三次高峰。于是,新造词也开始走进我们的现代汉语教材中。通过比较分析后,发现各版本的现代汉语教材中,就新造词的讲解略有不同。文章通过对比三本现代汉语教材中有关新造词的讲解,从中得出自己的一些思考。要想对新造词进行深入的研究,首先要对其进行明确的界定,只有对新造词的范围加以界定好,后面有关新造词的类型、来源等问题才能更好的进行研究。然后,分析一下判断新造词的原则,这是对新造词的界定以及范围的进一步深化。     

对数学新课改的认识与反思

新课改实施已经有两年多了，在理念、体系、形式和内容等方面新教材都有了巨大的改变，体现了时代发展的要求和素质教育的宗旨．新教材的内容不仅保证了学生掌握基础知识，基本技能的要求，而且为有较强能力的学生提供了发展的空间．在课程改革中，我们体会到很多新教材积极的一面，同时也发现了一些问题，遇到了一些困难。如教材的内容多，内容散。班级学生人数多，教师工作量大等．在这两年多的教学中，带着一种学习、探索的方式，在教学工作中进行了很多方面的探索．本文就以上问题介绍自己在教学工作中的几点探索与思考．     

A review of the research on student evaluation and a report on the effect of different sets of instructions on student course and instructor evaluation

An extensive review of the research concerning the effect of different variables on student ratings is presented. A study is then reported comparing the effects of different sets of instructions on student evaluations of the course and instructor. The results indicated that the students who were informed that the results of their ratings would be used for administrative decisions rated the course and instructor more favorably on all aspects than students who were informed that the results of their ratings would only be used by the instructor.The authors are indebted to Professor Robert A. Waller for cooperating in obtaining the data on his two history courses.     

A rational reconstruction of the kinetic molecular theory of gases based on history and philosophy of science and its implications for chemistry textbooks

Research in science education has recognized the importance of history and philosophy of science. Given this perspective, the study was designed to develop a framework for examining the way in which chemistry textbooks describe the kinetic theory and related issues. The framework was developed by a rational reconstruction of the kinetic molecular theory of gases based primarily on the interpretations of Maxwell and Boltzmann, by historians and philosophers of science. Another aspect of the framework was based on an analysis of freshman chemistry students' performance on gas problems that required the use of algorithms or conceptual understanding. Subsequently, 22 textbooks were evaluated using a framework consisting of six criteria. Results obtained showed that most textbooks lacked a history and philosophy of science framework and did not deal adequately with the following aspects: (1) Postulates of the kinetic theory were speculative and played the role of simplifying assumptions, considered to be the rule in science rather than being the exceptions; (2) Based on these simplifying assumptions, the theorists built a series of tentative models that progressively incorporated the behavior of real gases; (3) Similar to other research programs in the history of science, Maxwell's was based on inconsistent foundations; (4) Development of the kinetic theory had to compete with chemical thermodynamics, a rival research program; (5) Maxwell and Boltzmann facilitated our understanding of gas behavior beyond the observable hydrodynamical laws, by explaining the internal properties (e.g., molecular collisions).     

The Oil Drop Experiment: An Illustration of Scientific Research Methodology and its Implications for Physics Textbooks

The objectives of this study are:(1) evaluation of the methodology used in recent search for particles with fractional electrical charge (quarks) and its implications for understanding the scientific research methodology of Millikan; (2) evaluation of 43 general physics textbooks and 11 laboratory manuals, with respect to the oil drop experiment, based on seven history and philosophy of science criteria. Results obtained show that all the textbooks and manuals ignored the Millikan–Ehrenhaft controversy and in general lacked a history and philosophy of science perspective. In spite of the anomalous data, Millikan adhered to the guiding assumptions of his research program. Ehrenhaft's work strictly followed the logic of experimental observations. Although, Ehrenhaft's work approximated the traditional scientific method, the scientific community supported Millikan. General physics textbooks and laboratory manuals present the oil drop experiment as an example of the scientific method in which experimental data implicitly serves as an arbiter in the defense of Millikan. It is suggested that textbooks and manuals by including the Millikan–Ehrenhaft controversy and the methodology used in the search for quarks could enrich students' understanding of scientific research methodology, viz., experimental data do not always dictate the choice of a theory.     

谈关系代词that,which,as在定语从句中用法的异同

文章对that，which，as在定语从句中的语法功能及特殊用法进行了分析，详尽地论述了它们在中学英语教材中应该注意的有关问题。     

Quantitative Analysis of Representations of Nature of Science in Nordic Upper Secondary School Textbooks Using Framework of Analysis Based on Philosophy of Chemistry

The aim of this study was to assess how the different aspects of nature of science (NOS) were represented in Finnish and Swedish upper secondary school chemistry textbooks. The dimensions of NOS were analyzed from five popular chemistry textbook series. The study provides a quantitative method for analysis of representations of NOS in chemistry textbooks informed by domain-specific research on the philosophy of chemistry and chemical education. The selection of sections analyzed was based on the four themes of scientific literacy: knowledge of science, investigate nature of science, science as a way of thinking, and interaction of science, technology and society. For the second round of analysis the theme of science as a way of thinking was chosen for a closer inspection. The units of analysis in this theme were analyzed using seven domain specific dimensions of NOS: tentative, empirical, model-based, inferential, technological products, instrumentation, and social and societal dimensions. Based on the inter-rater agreement, the procedure and frameworks of analysis presented in this study was a reliable way of assessing the emphasis given to the domain specific aspects of NOS. All textbooks have little emphasis on the theme science as a way of thinking on a whole. In line with the differences of curricula, Swedish textbooks emphasize the tentative dimension of NOS more than Finnish textbooks. To provide teachers with a sufficiently wide variety of examples to discuss the different dimensions of NOS changes to the national core curricula are needed. Although changing the emphasis of the curricula would be the most obvious way to affect the emphasis of the textbooks, other efforts such as pre- and in-service courses for developing teachers understanding of NOS and pedagogic approaches for NOS instruction to their classroom practice might also be needed.     

Conceptual Incoherence as a Result of the use of Multiple Historical Models in School Textbooks

This paper explores the occurrence of conceptual incoherence in upper secondary school textbooks resulting from the use of multiple historical models. Swedish biology and chemistry textbooks, as well as a selection of books from English speaking countries, were examined. The purpose of the study was to identify which models are used to represent the phenomenon of gene function in textbooks and to investigate how these models relate to historical scientific models and subject matter contexts. Models constructed for specific use in textbooks were identified using concept mapping. The data were further analyzed by content analysis. The study shows that several different historical models are used in parallel in textbooks to describe gene function. Certain historical models were used more often then others and the most recent scientific views were rarely referred to in the textbooks. Hybrid models were used frequently, i.e. most of the models in the textbooks consisted of a number of components of several historical models. Since the various historical models were developed as part of different scientific frameworks, hybrid models exhibit conceptual incoherence, which may be a source of confusion for students. Furthermore, the use of different historical models was linked to particular subject contexts in the textbooks studied. The results from Swedish and international textbooks were similar, indicating the general applicability of our conclusions.     

The Portrayal of Industrial Melanism in American College General Biology Textbooks

The phenomenon of industrial melanism (IM) became widely acknowledged as a well-documented example of natural selection largely as a result of H.B.D. Kettlewell’s pioneering research on the subject in the early 1950s. It was quickly picked up by American biology textbooks starting in the early 1960s and became ubiquitous throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. While recent research on the phenomenon broadly supports Kettlewell’s explanation of IM in the peppered moth, which in turn has strengthened this example of natural selection, textbook IM entries have actually declined in recent years in favor of other examples. In a previous paper, we drew attention to the pivotal role visual aspects played in the introduction of IM into (and its subsequent removal from) textbook accounts. The present article continues this investigation by analyzing textual passages on industrial melanism within a stratified random sample of textbooks from the 1960s to the 2000s. The fact that this example of natural selection was included by multiple publishers independently, in a short period of time, makes it uniquely qualified for a textbook study of this kind. The purpose of the present project was to determine whether these textbooks contain what has come to be known as the standard peppered moth story. Three complete series were also inspected for change across time. Our analysis focused on (1) the amount of text devoted to industrial melanism; (2) what specific science content elements were present; and (3) what, if any, nature of science (NOS) aspects were included. The study documents an increase in the amount of text devoted to industrial melanism over the decades. In spite of this increase, only modest changes in science content and NOS aspects were found.     

Understanding Quantum Numbers in General Chemistry Textbooks

Quantum numbers and electron configurations form an important part of the general chemistry curriculum and textbooks. The objectives of this study are: (1) Elaboration of a framework based on the following aspects: (a) Origin of the quantum hypothesis, (b) Alternative interpretations of quantum mechanics, (c) Differentiation between an orbital and electron density, (d) Differentiation and comparison between classical and quantum mechanics, and (e) Introduction of quantum numbers based on electron density; (2) Formulation of five criteria based on the different aspects (a, b, c, d, and e), and (3) Evaluation of 55 freshman college‐level general chemistry textbooks. Results obtained show: Criterion 1, none of the textbooks described satisfactorily that Planck’s role in the origin of the quantum hypothesis was more at the level of an empirical adjustment, whereas Einstein provided the physical significance of the quantum hypothesis; Criterion 2, few textbooks (two satisfactory and four mentioned) included alternative interpretations of quantum mechanics (e.g., Bohm) and thus ignored that most theories are underdetermined by experimental evidence; Criterion 3, none of the textbooks described satisfactorily that orbitals are mathematical constructs and the shapes of the orbitals (s, p, d, f) are not derived from quantum mechanics but instead from electron density measurements; Criterion 4, although, quantum mechanics approaches classical mechanics as a limiting case, none of the textbooks presented a framework to facilitate transition in student understanding from classical to quantum mechanics (28 textbooks made a simple mention); and Criterion 5, few textbooks (one satisfactory, five mentioned) facilitated the introduction of quantum numbers based on experimental determination of electron density (photoelectron spectrum). It is concluded that the inclusion of these criteria in textbooks can facilitate students’ conceptual understanding of quantum numbers and electron configurations.     

An analysis of South African Grade 9 natural sciences textbooks for their representation of nature of science

This article reports on an analysis and comparison of three South African Grade 9 (13–14 years) Natural Sciences textbooks for the representation of nature of science (NOS). The analysis was framed by an analytical tool developed and validated by Abd-El-Khalick and a team of researchers in a large-scale study on the high school textbooks in the USA. The three textbooks were scored on targeted NOS aspects on a scale of ?3 to +3 that reflected the explicitness with which these aspects were addressed. The analysis revealed that the textbooks poorly depict NOS, and in particular, there was scant attention given to the social dimension of science, science versus pseudoscience and the ‘myth of the scientific method’. The findings of this study are incommensurate with the strong emphasis in a reformed school science curriculum that underlies the need for learners to understand the scientific enterprise, and how scientific knowledge develops. In view of this, the findings of this research reinforce the need for a review on the mandate given to textbook publishers and writers so that a stronger focus be placed on the development of materials that better represent the tenets of NOS.     

Upper Secondary Students’ Understanding of the Use of Multiple Models in Biology Textbooks—The Importance of Conceptual Variation and Incommensurability

In this study we investigate students’ ability to discern conceptual variation and the use of multiple models in genetics when reading content-specific excerpts from biology textbooks. Using the history and philosophy of science as our reference, we were able to develop a research instrument allowing students themselves to investigate the occurrence of multiple models and conceptual variation in Swedish upper secondary textbooks. Two excerpts using different models of gene function were selected from authentic textbooks. Students were given the same questionnaire-instrument after reading the two texts, and the results were compared. In this way the students themselves made a classification of the texts which could then be compared with the researchers’ classification of the texts. Forty-one upper secondary students aged 18–19 participated in the study. Nine of the students also participated in semi-structured interviews. Students recognized the existence of multiple models in a general way, but had difficulty discerning the different models and the conceptual variation that occurs between them in the texts. Further they did not recognize the occurrence of incommensurability between multiple models. Students had difficulty in transforming their general knowledge of multiple models into an understanding of content specific models of gene function in the textbooks. These findings may have implications for students’ understanding of conceptual knowledge because research has established textbooks as one of the most influential aspects in the planning and execution of biology lessons, and teachers commonly assign reading passages to their students without further explanation.     

高职英语教材主课文易读性对比研究

易读性是教材编写中阅读材料选择的重要标准之一,易读性公式虽有诸多缺陷,仍是目前最客观、最有效的易读性测量方式。为了检验目前高职英语教材的易读性现状,为高职英语教材的编写提供信息和为高职英语教材的使用者提供选择的标准,本文就文本总体统计特征和易读性指数两方面调查了三种有代表性的高职英语教材,发现所调查的高职英语教材在易读性的总体控制方面把握得不错,但在细节方面尚有诸多需要完善的地方,同时发现了几个问题急待进一步的研究。     

方宗熙:新中国生物教科书的开拓者

方宗熙是我国著名的海洋生物学家、遗传学家、科普作家,也是新中国生物教科书的奠基者和开拓者之一。他在人民教育出版社成立初期先后担任生物组组长、生物编辑室主任,工作异常勤奋,成绩十分显著,主编了中学生物教科书《植物学》《动物学》《人体解剖生理学》《达尔文主义基础》和小学《自然》课本,还发表了许多论著。这些课本均入选国家中小学教科用书表,既是人教社最早自编的一套中学生物和小学自然教科书,也是新中国“第一套全国通用生物教材”和“第二套全国通用自然教材”。