Language-related longitudinal predictors of arithmetic word problem solving: A structural equation modeling approach

We investigated the longitudinal relations between cognitive skills, specifically language-related skills, and word-problem solving in 340 children (6.10–9.02 years). We used structural equation modeling to examine whether word-problem solving, computation skill, working memory, nonverbal reasoning, oral language, and word reading fluency measured at second grade were associated with performance on measures of word-problem solving in fourth grade. Results indicated that prior word-problem solving, computation skill, nonverbal reasoning, and oral language were significantly associated with children’s later word-problem solving. Multi-group modeling suggested that these relations were not significantly different for boys versus girls. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

A working memory model applied to mathematical word problem solving

The main objective of this study is (a) to explore the relationship among cognitive style (field dependence/independence), working memory, and mathematics anxiety and (b) to examine their effects on students’ mathematics problem solving. A sample of 161 school girls (13–14 years old) were tested on (1) the Witkin’s cognitive style (Group Embedded Figure Test) and (2) Digit Span Backwards Test, with two mathematics exams. Results obtained indicate that the effect of field dependency, working memory, and mathematics anxiety on students' mathematical word problem solving was significant. Moreover, the correlation among working memory capacity, cognitive style, and students’ mathematics anxiety was significant. Overall, these findings could help to provide some practical implications for adapting problem solving skills and effective teaching/learning.     

The consistency effect in word problem solving is effectively reduced through verbal instruction

In mathematical word problem solving, a relatively well-established finding is that more errors are made on word problems in which the relational keyword is inconsistent instead of consistent with the required arithmetic operation. This study aimed at reducing this consistency effect. Children solved a set of compare word problems before and after receiving a verbal instruction focusing on the consistency effect (or a control verbal instruction). Additionally, we explored potential transfer of the verbal instruction to word problems containing other relational keywords (e.g., larger/smaller than) than those in the verbal instruction (e.g., more/less than). Results showed a significant pretest-to posttest reduction of the consistency effect (but also an unexpected decrement on marked consistent problems) after the experimental verbal instruction but not after the control verbal instruction. No significant effects were found regarding transfer. It is concluded that our verbal instruction was useful for reducing the consistency effect, but future research should address how this benefit can be maintained without hampering performance on marked consistent problems.     

Pathways to word problem solving: The mediating roles of schema construction and mathematical vocabulary

When solving word problems, many children encounter difficulties in making sense of the information and integrate it into a meaningful schema. This is the fundamental phase on which subsequent problem solution depends. To better understand the processing underlying this fundamental phase, this study examined the roles of schema construction and knowledge of mathematical vocabularies in word problem solving. The participants were 139 Chinese third graders studying in Hong Kong. Path analysis showed that there were two kinds of pathways to word problem solving: language-related and number-related. In particular, reading fluency was related to word problem solving in two mediated language-related pathways: one via schema construction, the other via knowledge of mathematical vocabularies. In the number-related pathway, arithmetic concept was related to word problem solving via knowledge of mathematical vocabularies. These findings highlight the specific roles of schema construction and mathematical vocabulary in word problem solving, thereby providing useful implications of how best to support children in understanding and integrating the information from the problem.     

The role of strategy-based motivation in mathematical problem solving: The case of learner-generated drawings

This study investigated the role of strategy-based motivation (SBM) in solving real-world geometry problems. Students from 19 classes (N = 437) were assigned to the strategy training or control condition. Before the treatment, students were asked about their SBM (i.e., self-efficacy, cost, and value). After the treatment, they were instructed to generate drawings and solve problems. The results revealed that self-efficacy expectations and cost (but not value) regarding the drawing strategy predicted drawing quality and performance. The relation between SBM and performance was mediated by drawing quality. SBM did not moderate the effects of strategy training on drawing quality or performance. The results emphasize the importance of SBM in the context of strategy training for predicting the quality of strategy use and problem-solving performance. The results are consistent with assumptions of expectancy-value and learner-generated drawing theories. One practical implication is that attention should be given to SBM in mathematics lessons.     

论张翎小说中的生命意识

在当今海外华文女作家中,张翎以其开放的文化眼光和独特的精神气质而独树一帜。她的作品蕴含了丰富的生命意识,有对人类择水而居的生命隐喻,有对人类共性的积极探讨,有对美好生活的孜孜以求,有对苦难命运的坚忍超越,也有对人生无常的清醒认识,更有对人性光辉、人情温暖的揭示和悲天悯人的宗教情怀。所有这些无不体现了张翎对人类命运的哲学思考和对生命的终极关怀。     

Algorithm for solving the bi-level decision making problem with continuous variables in the upper level based on genetic algorithm

1 Introduction a The bi-level decision-making is a complex majorized problem. Its effective solution is not easy to obtain by traditional majorized methods. Reported methods to solve the bi-level decision making problem with continuous variables include neural network [1], Monte Carlo simulated annealing algorithm [2], etc. However, the efficiency and accuracy of such neural network methods are ideal and accompanied with a long iterative time and a slow convergence speed. In this paper, the …     

Placement mentors making sense of research-based knowledge

Abstract

Placement mentors’ role increasingly implies demonstrating to student teachers how research-based knowledge in combination with experience-based knowledge may be relevant in teachers’ professional work. This is a challenge. Placement mentors are often unsure how to make sense of research-based knowledge. Frequently there is a mismatch between what they say they can do and what they actually show they are able to do. This paper explores how placement mentors’ reasoning is formed by their lack of power to define what research-based knowledge consists of. The analysis in this paper is based on an investigation of the epistemological premises that placement mentors rely on when they validate research-based knowledge. The theoretical–analytical point of departure is Michel Foucault’s conception of power-knowledge.     

A developmental investigation of word length effects in reading using a new on-line word identification paradigm

Third and fifth grade children (average age 8.6and 10.6 years) and adult participants weretested with printed words of varying length ina new on-line identification task (theluminance increment paradigm, LIP) and aspeeded naming task. Effects of general length(length in letters, phonemes and syllables)were shown to decrease systematically with agein both tasks. Third grade children showedsubstantial effects of word length while theeffect practically disappeared in adults. Ingeneral, this developmental pattern was alsofound when separately examining effects ofphonological length (with length in lettersheld constant) and small unit length (withnumber of syllables held constant), althoughsome differences were observed in performancein the identification and the naming task. Thetwo tasks also showed different developmentalpatterns, with the greatest gain in performancearising between 3rd and 5th grade inthe naming task, and the largest improvementoccurring between 5th grade and adults inthe identification task. The results suggestthat the new luminance increment paradigm canbe usefully applied as an on-line measure ofprinted word perception in beginning readers.     

Manipulatives and number sentences in computer aided arithmetic word problem solving

In this study we investigated the relative contribution of two main components often used in the instruction of arithmetic word problem solving to first-grade children and children with learning problems, external representation with manipulatives and formal mathematical representation with number sentences. Four computer aided treatments were developed along these dimensions. Furthermore, an assessment control group was formed.It was shown that performance improved significantly after treatment in comparison to the performance of the assessment control group. Comparison of the different training conditions showed that a number sentence treatment was the most effective training component. However, this effect was only present with the relatively high competent children and not with the relatively low performing children.     

The role of the working memory and language skills in the prediction of word problem solving in 4- to 7-year-old children

The aim of this study was to analyse the role of verbal and visuo-spatial working memory (WM) and language skills (vocabulary, listening comprehension) in predicting preschool and kindergarten-aged children’s ability to solve mathematical word problems presented orally. The participants were 116 Finnish-speaking children aged 4–7?years. The results showed that verbal WM (VWM) did not have a direct effect on word problems in young children but was indirectly related to word problems through vocabulary and listening comprehension. These results suggest that in young children, VWM resources support language skills which, furthermore, contribute to variation in solving orally presented word problems. The results also showed that visuo-spatial WM had a direct effect on performance in word problems, suggesting that it plays an important role in word problem solving among this age group.     

PLC梯形图转换Word文档问题的研究

文章介绍了利用PLC软件绘制的梯形图转入Word文档的几种方法,并重点对利用AdobeAcrobatProfessiona软件做为工具进行转换进行了较为详细的介绍,为打印利用PLC软件绘制的梯形图质量的提高提出了一种行之有效的方法。     

Common sense clarified: The role of intuitive knowledge in physics problem solving

Over the last two decades, a significant body of research has documented the nature of intuitive physics knowledge—the knowledge of the world that students bring to the learning of formal physics. However, this research has yet to document the roles played by intuitive physics knowledge in expert physics practice. In this article, I discuss three related questions: (1) What role, if any, does intuitive knowledge play in physics problem solving? (2) How does intuitive physics knowledge change in order to play that role, if at all? (3) When and how do these changes typically occur? In answer to these questions, I attempt to show that intuitive physics knowledge can play a variety of roles in expert problem solving, including some roles that are central and directly connected to equations. This research draws on observations of college students working in pairs to solve physics problems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 535–555, 2006     

Transfer from structured to open-ended problem solving in a computerized metacognitive environment

A new computerized environment introducing a variety of metacognitive support mechanisms (MSMs) in different phases of the problem-solving process was designed to influence students' transfer from solving structured problems (near transfer) to solving open-ended problems (far transfer). Two hundred and thirty one students (aged 13–14 years) were randomly drawn from 14 classes. Each class was randomly assigned to one of four groups, and three groups randomly received MSMs: Group A received MSMs during each problem-solving phase and at the conclusion of the problem-solving process; Group B received MSMs only during each problem-solving phase; Group C received MSMs after the conclusion of the problem-solving process. The fourth Group D did not receive any MSM (control group). Results indicated that the MSMs administered to the experimental groups were significantly effective for the development of near and far transfer on both the product and the process compared to the control group.     

Intensive scaffolding in an intelligent tutoring system for the learning of algebraic word problem solving

The term intensive scaffolding refers to any set of conceptual scaffolding strategies that always allow the user to find the solution to a problem. Despite the many benefits of scaffolding, some negative effects have also been reported. These are mainly related to the possibility that a student solves the problems without actually engaging in their content. In this paper, we have used an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) to analyze the effect that intensive scaffolding has on the learning of algebraic word problem solving (AWPS). Two different versions of the ITS, which differ in the amount of scaffolding that they provide, have been created. These two versions were used by two groups of students in Secondary Education, in a quasi‐experimental study. The comparison of pre‐ and posttest scores shows a significant increase of the competence in AWPS in the group that used the ITS with intensive scaffolding.     

Young primary students making sense of text and illustrations about how refuse can become soil

Explanatory pictures and models are frequently used in teaching and learning situations. However, it seems to be simply assumed that they are always beneficial. In this article results from an investigation with 16 Swedish pupils aged 7–9 year are presented based on an analysis that has examined how well this assumption holds up. Concepts from multi-modal theory have been used to investigate how young learners deal with illustrations and text from an early reader booklet about composting domestic refuse. The analysis suggests that expectations that illustrations facilitate the meaning-making of young pupils may be exaggerated. Although the booklet claimed to provide interactive support between image and text most of the examples show pupils ignoring pictures or misinterpreting vital information about composting in both the verbal and non-verbal material. The illustrations did not compensate for the most crucial deficiencies in the written text.     

Effects of memory load on word recognition: Are there dual-routers in Norway?

The release-from-competition (RFC) effect, inwhich a difficult concurrent memory task speedspronunciation of low-frequency irregular wordsbut slows pronunciation of other word types,has been interpreted as strong support for thedual-route approach to word recognition. However, attempts to replicate this effect havenot produced consistent results. Besides,attempts at replication have mostly beenlimited to skilled readers of English. Thepresent research attempted to replicate the RFCeffect with mature normal readers of Norwegianand thus tested the generalizability ofdual-route models to a considerably moreshallow orthography than English. There was noevidence that the RFC effect reliably occurredamong Norwegian readers in this study, not evenamong certain selected readers who were seen ascandidates for possessing a dual-routearchitecture and suffering within thatarchitecture the kind of competition in naminglow-frequency irregular words that RFC issupposed to eliminate. Thus, it was notpossible to extend the applicability of adual-route approach to word recognition to therelatively shallow Norwegian orthography, andthe question of the architectural organizationof Norwegian readers was essentially leftunanswered by our data.     

Making sense of genetics: Students' knowledge use during problem solving in a high school genetics class

Interest in including ideas about the nature of science in instruction and research has led to the realization that, in addition to developing courses which offer students experience with science practice, it is important to understand the ways in which students learn and use science knowledge within such courses. The study reported here is based on a particular view of the nature of scientific practice: Science is collaborative; scientists use knowledge in the construction of new knowledge; and scientists' understanding of problems and problem-solving strategies change during knowledge construction. Given this perspective, the study examines the ways in which students in an innovative high school genetics class collaborate to construct knowledge as they develop genetics models. In this classroom, students use three kinds of knowledge: knowledge of genetics, permitting them to recognize anomalous aspects of new data and providing a template from which to develop new models; knowledge of the process of model revision, helping them make decisions about how to develop new models; and knowledge of their own problem-solving strategies, allowing them to “keep track” of what they have done, as well as make connections between the development of new models and their knowledge of genetics. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.