LEARNING STYLE AWARENESS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

This study examined the relationship between learning style awareness and academic achievement of community college students. The study was undertaken to determine if learning style awareness alone, without a change in the manner of teaching or in the matching of student and instructor styles, would benefit community college students as evidenced by an increase in academic achievement. The sample consisted of 78 second term anatomy students at Florida Community College in Jacksonville who were taught by two instructors who used comparable content and methods. By random assignment, half the group served as a control; the treatment half was given a learning style inventory, the Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (PEPS) by Dunn, Dunn, and Price (1979). The PEPS profiles were returned at mid‐term and were interpreted for each student. Individualized study tips for using learning style preferences advantageously were provided. All students were exposed to the same classroom experiences. Summed unadjusted scores of 105 objective items of common first and second classroom tests served as pretest scores. Scores of the 105‐item comprehensive final examination were used as posttest scores. An ANCOVA was performed using the pretest scores as covariates. There was a significant difference in academic achievement in favor of the learning style awareness group (p<.05).     

大学生学习风格与英语能力的相关性研究

学习风格作为个体差异的最重要变量之一在二语习得领域备受重视,但国内实证研究较少,且偏重个别层面。本研究采用Oxford的学习风格调查表(SAS)对4个班168名大学生的学习风格进行了调查;使用社会科学统计软件SPSS19对数据进行分析,了解学生英语各项能力和学习风格变量之间的相关性;并在实验班针对性地实施了为期16周的教学改革。本研究旨在提高教师和学生对英语学习过程中学习风格重要性的认识,分别采取多样化的学习策略和教学策略,激发学生的学习动机,实现最佳教学效果。     

An analysis of factors related to the attitudes of regular classroom teachers toward mainstreaming mildly handicapped children

A model of factors was developed in order to examine variables that might be associated with the attitudes of regular classroom teachers toward mainstreaming mildly handicapped children. Using multiple linear regression analyses, the following variables were found to be significant predictors of a positive attitude toward mainstreaming: team-teaching, years of teaching experience (negative correlation), course in diagnosing learning and behavior problems, availability of resource teacher, previous special education teaching experience, number of courses taken in special education, number of students in classroom (25–27), and inservice program experience related to exceptional children. An examination of these predictors suggests that they may be used to select those regular educators who are likely candidates for implementing mainstreaming programs and that school systems can inhance their mainstreaming efforts by arranging the integration settings to conform with these predictors of positive attitude.     

A preliminary investigation and analysis of student learning style preferences in further and higher education

In the current further education (FE) and higher education (HE) environment, students are under increasing pressure to perform well and achieve good results. As educators we must strive to enable students to make the most of their higher education by providing an education of the highest quality and enhance the learning experience. This study was undertaken as a preliminary investigation of how students learn and how we, as educators, can improve their learning. In this study, a range of students on different (FE and HE) courses completed the VARK (visual, audio, read/write, kinaesthetic) questionnaire on learning style preferences at the beginning of the semester. Responses were analysed and the author adapted various teaching techniques into course materials for the semester to accommodate the results obtained in the initial VARK survey. Students' responses were encouraging, with many being keen to participate with a view to improving their course performance. The author found that using a range of teaching techniques encouraged student participation in the course and, for some, enhanced their performance in assessment. This investigation provides an insight into the awareness of learning style preferences and how such awareness can be positively exploited in teaching and learning processes.     

在大专教学中运用系统工程教学法的探讨

目前在实际教学中应用的学习方法很多,如何根据专业教学的特点和需求,不断地创新大专的教学方法,使学生较好掌握教学内容,是每一位大专教师值得研究的课题.系统工程教学法就是从机械制造这一专业着手,探讨研究如何提高大专教学质量的教学方法.大专专业设置是一个大的教学系统,各教学课为大系统服务.各教学课自身也是一个小系统.采用系统工程教学方法可以追求最优化的教学效果.大专教学的系统工程教学法是多年来从事教学实践中对教学法的探索和总结.     

ARE STUDENTS' LEARNING STYLES DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC?

In the study reported in this article, we examine the extent to which community college students' learning style preferences vary as a function of discipline. We were interested in knowing whether gender and academic performance play a role in student learning style preferences. The learning style preferences of 105 community college students (47 males and 58 females) were measured in four disciplines (i.e., English, mathematics, science, and social studies) using a modified version of the Kolb Learning Style Inventory IIa (Kolb, 1995), which was aimed at determining learning mode orientations: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. The results revealed significant differences in students' learning styles preferences across disciplines, but not for gender. In addition, student learning style preferences varied by academic performance as measured by GPA. These findings have important implications for community college teaching and research.     

中英高等教育人才培养模式的比较与思考——英国中央兰开夏大学调研报告

本文从模块化课程体系、教学文件的组织、对学生学习的评价方式、自主学习氛围的营造等方面介绍了英国中央兰开夏大学的人才培养模式,并结合我国的实际情况,对中英人才培养模式的差异进行了分析和比较,并提出了借鉴国外有益的人才培养模式的几点建议。     

团队研究性学习在高校——曲阜师范大学信息技术与传播学院团队研究性学习纪实

2005-2006学年第一学期我们尝试在专业课《学习科学与技术》中开展团队研究性学习。参与此次学习的有2003级教育技术本科班、2005级教育技术专升本班和2004级教育技术学分互认的学生。实践证明,学习者对新的学习方式是高度认同的,课程开设一个学期以来取得了可喜的学习效果,也积累了丰富的经验。     

体验式学习在初中数学教学中的应用探析

我国新课改明确指出,当前面向初中生的教育应以提高他们的综合素质为主,在教学中教师除了应重视知识教学内容,还要不断创新教学方法,提高学生的自主学习能力,培养学生对学科内容的兴趣,做到学以致用。所以,全面提高初中学生的素养已经成为我国教学的未来发展方向,我国的初中教育工作者应利用科学的手段完善教学方式。在初中阶段数学教学中应用体验式教学法,能有效培养学生学习能力,符合初中阶段学生的心理特点以及我国新课改的相关要求。     

大学英语中的互动式教学

大学英语的互动式教学对于激发大学生的英语学习兴趣,提升大学生英语的学习成绩以及实际生活中的沟通交流能力有着非常重要的意义和作用。因而研究大学英语中的互动式教学就成为了我国众多教育工作者的研究课题之一。笔者在参考了国内外众多学者的研究文献之后,通过结合实际工作中的教学经验,对大学英语中的互动式教学进行了较为深入的研究和分析。     

PERSONALITY FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL HIGH‐RISK STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to identify those factors related to academic success in high‐risk students so that college educators could more precisely develop remedial programs to heighten the probability of academic success for high‐risk populations.

Demographic, academic, and personality variables were analyzed for groups of successful and unsuccessful high‐risk students in order to determine which were significant predictors of academic success.

An analysis of the data revealed that a greater proportion of the students in the successful group were married and female. The successful group's reading score at the time of admission was significantly higher than the unsuccessful group's. The majority of the successful group had enrolled in college to acquire job related skills; the unsuccessful group had enrolled to receive transfer credits toward a baccalaureate degree.

The personality analysis indicated that the successful group scored significantly higher on self‐esteem, assertiveness, and internal locus of control. Their learning style was characterized by their desire for detailed instruction, their preference for working with inanimate objects, and reading was their preferred modality for learning. The unsuccessful group scored lower on self‐esteem and higher on control by chance. The learning style inventory revealed that they did not like detailed instruction, they preferred working with people, and listening was their preferred mode of learning. Their grade expectancy was extremely unrealistic; they predicted higher grades for themselves than did the successful group.

The authors suggest strategies for utilizing these findings in the development of remedial programs for high‐risk students.     

COGNITIVE STYLE AND THE OLDER LEARNER

Cognitive style is an attempt to understand behavior based on the characteristic modes of perceptual and intellectual functioning. Of the several conceptualizations of cognitive style, field‐dependence‐independence is used to develop categories of teachers and learners. Because older persons tend to have a dependent cognitive style, both theory and research indicate that group‐oriented approaches incorporating discussion, informality, supportiveness, and emphasizing humanistic‐social science content are likely to produce the most effective learning. Although most instruction of older persons is already oriented in this direction, research on cognitive style indicates a theoretical approach to designing more effective teaching and learning for this group.     

THE ENTANGLING WEB OF COMMITTEE USE IN GOVERNANCE

Learning a second language is often very difficult for many adults. This literature review points to a number of factors which may affect second language learning in adults. Teaching and program implications are suggested for community and junior college educators.     

Museum Experience — a Resource for Science Teacher Education

In this study, the researcher included an extensive science museum experience for the pre-service secondary science teachers within a teaching methods course to enhance their learning to teach science. The extensive museum experience covered four aspects: the visit, discussion with museum educators, the development of lesson plans, and practising teaching in the science museum. Twenty-one pre-service science teachers attended this course. Qualitative methods were used for data collection and analysis. The data sources included field notes, reports, diaries, and interviews. The findings show that this course connecting museum resources and context had created a novel situation for pre-service science teachers to learn how to teach science. The discourses with the museum educators also provided them with innovations in education beyond the gains from traditional teacher education. Through developing and practising teaching activities, they improved their understanding of the meanings and effective ways to use museum resources in science teaching. Pre-service science teachers reported that getting feedback from peers and observing modeling teaching was helpful. This course provided an alternative way to view how scientific activities were developed for junior high students. In general, the use of museum settings provides a new profile of learning and teaching course for pre-service science teachers in Taiwan. Based on the findings, this study makes suggestions for those science teacher educators who would like to use science museum resources and contexts to nurture prospective science teachers.     

测绘类专科专业的测量平差课程教学探讨

《测量平差》是测绘类专科专业的一门核心基础课程.目前,该课程的教学存在着诸如照搬本科教育教学模式,教学方法重“教”轻“学”,没有充分考虑专科学生的特点等一系列问题.针对这些问题,从教材选用、教学内容、教学方法和教学手段、实践环节等方面对测绘类专科专业的《测量平差》课程教学提出一些见解和建议.     

合作学习在高职高专英语教学中的应用实验

合作学习是目前备受教育家们推崇的一种实效的新型教学法.探索合作学习教学模式在高职高专英语教学中的应用效果,尝试以小组活动为主的合作学习这一教学模式,有效提高高职高专英语教学质量.     

Perceptions of coordinators of college freshman chemistry regarding selected goals and outcomes of high school chemistry

Several studies have shown that high school science teachers base their teaching on what professors of college freshman science expect, and that, in some instances, advanced high school courses are needlessly similar to college freshman courses. In order to gain insight of college science professors' expectations and perceptions on selected goals and outcomes of science education, a survey instrument was developed and mailed to 123 heads/coordinators of freshman chemistry in U.S. state and land grant colleges and universities that offer a graduate degree program in chemistry. The results demonstrated that although the coordinators were positive about many science education goals and outcomes they did not value aspects related to societal issues, and no differences among them existed when the results were analyzed according to demographic subgroups such as age and teaching experience. They perceived high school graduates as possessing inadequate skills and perceived measures to improve precollege science education requiring collaboration of precollege and college faculty positively. The implications for science education were that college chemistry professors place values different from those of science educators on some pertinent goals and outcomes of science teaching, a situation that is not helpful to reforming precollege science education.     

加强高校学风建设管见

学风建设是学校的灵魂。优良的学风是保证和提高教育教学质量的重要条件，是确保人才培养的关键，是学校创品牌、树信誉、谋发展的基础。笔者结合多年学生管理工作的实践及目前高校学风现状，并就新形势下如何求真务实。努力加强和开创学风建设新局面提出了自己的粗浅认识。对一些应对措施进行了初步的探讨。     

初中英语学习者学习风格与学习效果的相关性调查研究

通过对92名初中英语学习者进行问卷调查,就所得数据进行定量与定性分析,对初中英语学习者的学习风格倾向以及学习风格与学习效果之间的相关性进行了探讨。结果表明:初中英语学习者倾向于审视型、视觉型和独立型的学习风格,而最不喜欢的是分析型的学习风格;听觉型、独立型、分析型和冲动型的学习风格与学习效果呈显著正相关,而依赖型的学习风格与学习效果呈显著负相关。     

“以赛促学”高职数学教学改革的探究

“以赛促学”是一种新的技能教学模式,对高职数学教学改革提出了新要求：引领高职数学教学新理念;引领高职数学教学内容结构新体系;引领高职数学教学新模式：数学模型是基础、数学建模是主题、发展数学能力是灵魂、应用创新是精髓。