Interest of Intermediate‐Level Secondary Students in Physics and Technology

Summaries

English

This article describes the results of an extensive study, which examined the interests of intermediate‐level secondary students, from the State of Hesse in the Federal Republic of Germany, in aspects of physics and technology.

Both boys and girls show greater interest in technological issues than in issues of pure physics. This distribution of interest is in contrast to the importance accorded to these subjects in school curricula. Children from rural areas seem to have a slightly better background of experiences involving knowledge of physics and technology than children from urban areas. A correlation was found to exist between out‐of‐school activities concerned with technology and the natural sciences, and academic achievement as measured by students’ physics grades. Girls display a general interest in natural phenomena which are not sufficiently covered by physics curricula.     

Using Technology to Improve Students’ Literacy

Rapid evolution of communication technologies has changed language pedagogy and language use,and they enable new forms of discourse and new ways to create and participate in communities.Using the modern technology can reinforce and expand the ESL stu dents’ s language and literacy instruction.It mainly discusses the effects of television on literacy development,and using video to enhance reading outcomes.A great number of studies provide evidence that learners can develop their language and literacy skills from technology.     

A Meta-analysis of the Effects of Computer Technology on School Students’ Mathematics Learning

This study examines the impact of computer technology (CT) on mathematics education in K-12 classrooms through a systematic review of existing literature. A meta-analysis of 85 independent effect sizes extracted from 46 primary studies involving a total of 36,793 learners indicated statistically significant positive effects of CT on mathematics achievement. In addition, several characteristics of primary studies were identified as having effects. For example, CT showed advantage in promoting mathematics achievement of elementary over secondary school students. As well, CT showed larger effects on the mathematics achievement of special need students than that of general education students, the positive effect of CT was greater when combined with a constructivist approach to teaching than with a traditional approach to teaching, and studies that used non-standardized tests as measures of mathematics achievement reported larger effects of CT than studies that used standardized tests. The weighted least squares univariate and multiple regression analyses indicated that mathematics achievement could be accounted for by a few technology, implementation and learner characteristics in the studies.     

Using Drawing Technology to Assess Students’ Visualizations of Chemical Reaction Processes

In this study, we investigated how students used a drawing tool to visualize their ideas of chemical reaction processes. We interviewed 30 students using thinking-aloud and retrospective methods and provided them with a drawing tool. We identified four types of connections the students made as they used the tool: drawing on existing knowledge, incorporating dynamic aspects of chemical processes, linking a visualization to the associated chemical phenomenon, and connecting between the visualization and chemistry concepts. We also compared students who were able to create dynamic visualizations with those who only created static visualizations. The results indicated a relationship between students constructing a dynamic view of chemical reaction processes and their understanding of chemical reactions. This study provides insights into the use of visualizations to support instruction and assessment to facilitate students’ integrated understanding of chemical reactions.     

Investigating Students’ Learning Through Co-designing with Technology

Involving students in the co-design of educational curricula and practices can benefit both students and teachers. Students who participate in co-design may show better learning or increased agency or engagement. In the present study, we investigated what kind of science knowledge or practices can be learned by student co-designers while engaging in co-design practices and how that learning happens with six high school students. We created a model to guide the analysis of students’ learning with technology in co-designing processes. The results revealed that students learned engineering design process even if no explicit instruction on engineering learning was given. Also, our analysis suggested that co-designing with technology enabled learning of the engineering design process and potentially furthered learning of science because it promoted knowledge integration. The results have implications for understanding and enhancing engineering design and science learning through co-designing with technology.

     

Using Interactive Technology to Support Students’ Understanding of the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

In this work, we examine middle school students?? understanding of the greenhouse effect and global warming. We designed and refined a technology-enhanced curriculum module called Global Warming: Virtual Earth. In the module activities, students conduct virtual experiments with a visualization of the greenhouse effect. They analyze data and draw conclusions about how individual variables effect changes in the Earth??s temperature. They also carry out inquiry activities to make connections between scientific processes, the socio-scientific issues, and ideas presented in the media. Results show that participating in the unit increases students?? understanding of the science. We discuss how students integrate their ideas about global climate change as a result of using virtual experiments that allow them to explore meaningful complexities of the climate system.     

A Preliminary View of Students’ Information Technology Experience across UK Initial Teacher Training Institutions

ABSTRACT

Students enter initial teacher education institutions with a wide variety of experiences of information technology. This report aims to create a national perspective of their abilities and needs based on data collected independently by a number of institutions from England and Wales. For this preliminary survey data were provided by eight institutions. The survey covers 1370 students, of whom 731 were primary and 639 secondary. The data were gathered over a three year period (ending 1990/91) using a variety of questionnaires designed to gather data on the students’ previous computer experience, their proficiency in using computers, and their attitude to information technology both personally and its use in education.

The data indicate that students entering initial teacher education have a wide variety of needs regarding information technology (IT). The proportion of students lacking any computer experience prior to their course varied from 8% to 60% depending on institution and course. The most common experience was word processing only. The location of this experience also varied, with school use more common for students who had just left school and use at work common for mature students. Differences were indicated with factors such as age, course and gender. A proportion of students (2% – 49%) felt anxious or very nervous when computers are mentioned. However, most students feel that it is important to use IT in their teaching, despite these anxieties. The provision of a differentiated IT experience for students is recommended. A more reliable annual survey using a common instrument is now underway. The questionnaire is available from the ITTE Association. ^{1 1}The questionnaire is available from the Association for Information Technology in Teacher Education, 219 Osward, Courtwood Lane, Croydon CRO 9HG, United Kingdom.

     

Students’ Attitudes Toward Gene Technology: Deconstructing a Construct

Journal of Science Education and Technology - Emergent technologies are commonly characterized as involving cutting-edge developments while lacking wide-scale public implementation. Although...     

The ABCs of Students

Ambit一on.(志向)— In the Old World,Peo一Ple are taught to hide it.Here it‘5 ProPer for you totell teaeher that you Want totake the first Plaee in theC laSS Or att6nd 8 famOUSU一niverslty. Brain.(头脑)— ThGre 15 no dOUbt thatStUdentS USe brain mor6than arms and legs·ComPet一tion and Challenge (竞争与挑战)— ComPetition and Chal-lenge alwsys exist duringschool time.And you haveto f8Ce th6m. Dreams(梦想)— Dreaming great coIOrfuldreams are what keeP stu一dents growing· EXerc…     

Using Technology to Help Teachers Meet the Needs of Language‐minority Students in the USA

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to meet the challenges of increasingly diverse school populations and increased limitations on methods of instruction for pre‐service teachers, the Bilingual Training, Development, and Improvement Project at the University of Houston has developed five interactive video modules for linguistic‐minority students. Commercial videodiscs were repurposed using HyperCard, and the modules were field‐tested on fourth and fifth graders in inner‐city schools. Results from content and language measures indicated that students showed significant gains after viewing the modules. Students also responded favorably to the technology on attitude surveys. An interactive video program designed to inform pre‐service teachers of the needs of linguistic‐minority students was also developed.     

Is Technology the Answer? Investigating Students’ Engagement in Math

Abstract

As technology has spread in schools, we know little about how technology mediates the performance of primary-aged students and their engagement in mathematics. Given the well-established link between achievement and engagement, understanding the impact of technology on engagement can inform practice. This study examines how technology might impact second graders’ engagement in mathematics using IXL, a math intervention administered on the iPad, as compared to a traditional paper–pencil approach. Although there was not a statistically significant difference in the pre–post student engagement surveys, the teacher focus group described increased student independence using technology and found it easier to differentiate and provide corrective feedback, while helping students build fluency.     

A New Two-Step Approach for Hands-On Teaching of Gene Technology: Effects on Students’ Activities During Experimentation in an Outreach Gene Technology Lab

Emphasis on improving higher level biology education continues. A new two-step approach to the experimental phases within an outreach gene technology lab, derived from cognitive load theory, is presented. We compared our approach using a quasi-experimental design with the conventional one-step mode. The difference consisted of additional focused discussions combined with students writing down their ideas (step one) prior to starting any experimental procedure (step two). We monitored students’ activities during the experimental phases by continuously videotaping 20 work groups within each approach (N = 131). Subsequent classification of students’ activities yielded 10 categories (with well-fitting intra- and inter-observer scores with respect to reliability). Based on the students’ individual time budgets, we evaluated students’ roles during experimentation from their prevalent activities (by independently using two cluster analysis methods). Independently of the approach, two common clusters emerged, which we labeled as ‘all-rounders’ and as ‘passive students’, and two clusters specific to each approach: ‘observers’ as well as ‘high-experimenters’ were identified only within the one-step approach whereas under the two-step conditions ‘managers’ and ‘scribes’ were identified. Potential changes in group-leadership style during experimentation are discussed, and conclusions for optimizing science teaching are drawn.     

Students ''''scared'''' of foreign languages

BRITAIN’S BRIGHTEST linguists areshunning university language degrees be-cause they believe that the subject is boringand difficult and are terrified of speaking toforeigners in their languages.     

Students’ images of mathematics

Students’ judgments about “what counts” as mathematics in and out of school have important consequences for problem solving and transfer, yet our understanding of the source and nature of these judgments remains incomplete. Thirty-five sixth grade students participated in a study focused on what activities students judge as mathematical, and how they make their judgments. Students completed a photo sorting activity; took, viewed, and captioned their own photos of mathematics; viewed and commented on classmates’ photos; and participated in a small group discussion. Across multiple sources of data, findings showed that students attended to two major features of photos and activities when making judgments: surface cues present in the photos, such as numbers and money, and the possibility for mathematical action. Some students looked for the possibility of mathematics, while others asked if mathematics was necessary. Students also gave higher ratings to activities with which they had personal experience. The article concludes with possible implications for practice.     

Students’ Views of Nature of Science

Science & Education - Nature of science (NOS) is considered an important aspect of scientific literacy. Despite efforts in guiding school students to develop more adequate NOS views, little is...     

The Impact of Instructional Technology Use,Course Design,and Sex Differences on Students’ Initial Perceptions of Instructor Credibility

This study explores the impact that instructional technology use, course design, and sex differences have on students’ initial perceptions of instructors’ credibility (i.e., competence, trustworthiness, and perceived caring). Participants included 864 students from two Midwestern universities who were randomly assigned to one of 16 experimental conditions (i.e., scenarios) manipulating the use of technology across two types of courses and across two types of instructors (i.e., male and female instructors). Multivariate analyses revealed a two-way interaction effect of technology use by student sex on perceptions of instructor credibility. Follow-up procedures revealed both a curvilinear and a linear effect for technology use on students’ perceptions of instructor competence. In terms of instructor trustworthiness, however, only a curvilinear effect emerged. Finally, the results suggested that technology use has both a curvilinear and a linear effect on perceptions of perceived caring, though the linear effect size was marginal at best. Among the most important implications of this research is the fact that technology use produced the strongest effect size for the perceived caring dimension of instructor credibility.     

Technology Today: Inclusive or Exclusionary for Students with Vision Impairment?

The inclusion and equity of mainstream education for Australian students with vision impairment was considered in this phenomenological study of seven students’ experiences. Using Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis, the theme of technology was viewed as significant. Participants revealed a combination of ineffective technology for accessing board-work and worksheets, lack of training in the use of the technology, incompatibility issues, time factors and the lack of teacher expertise limited their use of technology. The provision of appropriate assistive technology for students with vision impairment in this digital age is paramount if equality is to be achieved. Students require training, by experts in technology and vision impairment, in the most current assistive technologies to access instructive technology increasingly used in classrooms and in the wider community. Teachers need an understanding of how imperative assistive technology is for students with vision impairment, and must become skilled practitioners in its use.     

Factors Influencing Postsecondary STEM Students’ Views of the Public Communication of an Emergent Technology: a Cross-National Study from Five Universities

Recent efforts in the science education community have highlighted the need to integrate research and theory from science communication research into more general science education scholarship. These synthesized research perspectives are relatively novel but serve an important need to better understand the impacts that the advent of rapidly emerging technologies will have on a new generation of scientists and engineers including their formal communication with engaged citizenry. This cross-national study examined postsecondary science and engineering students’ (n?=?254 from five countries: Austria, Finland, France, Israel, and USA) perspectives on the role of science communication in their own formal science and engineering education. More broadly, we examined participants’ understanding of their perceived responsibilities of communicating science and engineering to the general public when an issue contains complex social and ethical implications (SEI). The study is contextualized in the emergent technology of nanotechnology for which SEI are of particular concern and for which the general public often perceives conflicting risks and benefits. Findings indicate that student participants’ hold similar views on the need for their own training in communication as future scientists and engineers. When asked about the role that ethics and risk perception plays in research, development, and public communication of nanotechnology, participants demonstrate similar trajectories of perspectives that are, however, often anchored in very different levels of beginning concern. Results are discussed in the context of considerations for science communication training within formal science education curricula globally.     

A Way of Life for Students

The Internet is a way of life for college students in the USA，with research showing them to be one of the most connected groups．A recent study by Harris Interactive and ３６０ Youth found that ９３ per cent of American college students visit the Internet，and this market is expected to grow from １５．２ million in２００３to１６．４million in２００７．That is slow but could be the result of the already high number of college Internet users．