STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF ALGEBRAIC NOTATION: 11–15

Research studies have found that the majority of students up to age 15 seem unable to interpret algebraic letters as generalised numbers or even as specific unknowns. Instead, they ignore the letters, replace them with numerical values, or regard them as shorthand names. The principal explanation given in the literature has been a general link to levels of cognitive development. In this paper we present evidence for specific origins of misinterpretation that have been overlooked in the literature, and which may or may not be associated with cognitive level. These origins are: intuitive assumptions and pragmatic reasoning about a new notation, analogies with familiar symbol systems, interference from new learning in mathematics, and the effects of misleading teaching materials. Recognition of these origins of misunderstanding is necessary for improving the teaching of algebra.     

中国民族音乐的发展之路探析

在当今开放的社会下,国内外各种文化相互融合、碰撞,音乐亦是.中国乐坛在海纳百川的同时,民族音乐却有些萎靡不振,出现了青黄不接的尴尬局面.本文力图从造成这种局面的原因、中国民族音乐深邃的历史渊源和如何发展民族音乐三个角度来探讨如何改变中国民族音乐的发展之路.     

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRIOR ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION STUDENTS

In a previous paper (AEHE vol. 17(2) pp. 69‐88) Alistair Ross explored student teachers’ backgrounds and economic experiences, relating this to their economic and industrial understanding.

In this complementary paper he draws on the work of his research group and its EATE‐sponsored project to examine student teachers’ attitudes to economic issues and to their perceptions of teaching as work. In particular, the paper discusses students’ attitudes to the English and Welsh national curriculum cross‐curricular theme: economic and Industrial understanding (EITJ).     

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRIOR ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION STUDENTS

This paper summarises the findings of an analysis of primary education students’ backgrounds and economic experiences, relating this to their economic and industrial understanding. The research was conducted in the 1990‐91 period by the Primary Schools and Industry Centre of the Polytechnic of North London, under the sponsorship and aegis of E ATE. The project team consisted of the present writer with Merryn Hutchings (PNL) and John Ahier (Homerton College). The full research report is published by EATE as The Economic and Industrial background, understanding and attitudes of Student Primary Teachers: EATE Research Report No. 1.     

应用型本科院校“大学语文”教学现状的调查与分析

问卷抽样调查与访谈显示,在地方应用型本科院校,"大学语文"虽普遍受到重视,但仍然存在很多问题,亟待推进、深化改革;广大师生的很多认识和愿望,值得重视与研究。推进、深化"大学语文"课程体系的改革,首先必须解决四大主要问题。     

TEACHING AGING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: RESULTS OF AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

A survey of 500 public school teachers in Texas was conducted to determine the extent to which aging content is incorporated into curricula. Results show that very few teachers (3.6%) make specific provision for teaching about aging. Almost one‐half of the teachers who indicated they did not teach about aging stated they would include this area in their curricula if instructional materials were available. Most of the teachers (68%) indicated their willingness to participate in short‐term inservice training to better prepare themselves to teach about aging. From the results of this study it appears that educational gerontology has far to go in the direction of “gerontologizing” public schools at all levels. Yet the willingness of teachers to learn more about this important curriculum area is encouraging.     

ANALYSIS OF STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE CONCEPTS INCLUDING MATHEMATICAL REPRESENTATIONS: pH VALUES AND THE RELATIVE DIFFERENCES OF pH VALUES

In general, mathematical representations such as formulae, numbers, and graphs are the inseparable components in science used to better describe or explain scientific phenomena or knowledge. Regardless of their necessity and benefit, science seems to be difficult for some students, as a result of the mathematical representations and problem solving used in scientific inquiry. In this regard, several studies have attributed students’ decreasing interest in science to the presence of these mathematical representations. In order to better understand student learning difficulties caused by mathematical components, the current study investigates student understanding of a familiar science concept and its mathematical component (pH value and logarithms). Student responses to a questionnaire and a follow-up interview were examined in detail. “Measure” and “concentration” were key criteria for students’ understanding of pH values. In addition, only a few students understood logarithms on a meaningful level. According to students’ understanding of scientific phenomena and mathematical structures, five different student models and the critical features of each type were identified. Further analysis revealed the existence of three domains that characterize these five types: object, operation, and function. By suggesting the importance of understanding scientific phenomena as a “function,” the current study reveals what needs to be taught and emphasized in order to help students obtain a level of scientific meaning that is appropriate for their grade.     

CITIZENSHIP-AS-PRACTICE: THE EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF AN INCLUSIVE AND RELATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF CITIZENSHIP

ABSTRACT:  Over the last few years there has been a renewed interest in questions of citizenship and in particular its relation to young people. This has been allied to an educational discourse where the emphasis has been upon questions concerned with 'outcome' rather than with 'process'– with the curriculum and methods of teaching rather than questions of understanding and learning. This paper seeks to describe and illuminate the linkages within and between these related discourses. It advocates an inclusive and relational view of citizenship-as-practice within a distinctive socio-economic and political, and cultural milieu. Drawing upon some empirical insights from our research we conclude that an appropriate educational programme would respect the claim to citizenship status of everyone in society, including children and young people. It would work together with young people rather than on young people, and recognise that the actual practices of citizenship, and the ways in which these practices transform over time are educationally significant.     

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SCIENCE EDUCATION: INSIGHTS FROM A CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY ON CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE

The purpose of this research was to explore the long-term outcomes of either participating or not participating in early childhood science education on grade 6 students?? conceptual understanding of science. The research is situated in a conceptual framework that evokes Piagetian developmental levels as both potential curriculum constraints and potential models of efficacy. The research design was a multiple case study of grade 6 children from 3 schools in China (n?=?140) who started formal science education in the third grade and grade 6 children from 3 matched schools in Australia (n?=?105) who started learning science in kindergarten. The students?? understanding was assessed by a science quiz and an in-depth interview. The data showed that participating children from the high socioeconomic schools in China and Australia had similar understandings of science. Divergence between the medium and low socioeconomic schools, however, indicated that the grounding in early childhood science education in Australia may have placed these children at an advantage. Alternative explanations for the divergence, including the nature of classroom instruction in the two countries, are discussed.     

OPTIMAL NUMBER OF OPTIONS: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSUMPTION OF PROPORTIONALITY

One assumption common to all models for determining the optimal number of options per item (e. g., Lord, 1977) is that total testing time is proportional to the number of items and the number of options per item. Therefore, under this assumption given a fixed testing time, the test can be shortened or lengthened by deleting or adding a proportional number of options. The present study examines the validity of this assumption in three tests which were administered with 2, 3, 4, and 5 options per item. The number of items attempted in the first 10 and 15 minutes of the testing session and the time needed to complete the tests were recorded. Thus, the rate of performance for both fixed time and fixed test length was analyzed. A strong and consistently negative relationship between rate of performance and the number of options was detected in all tests. Thus, the empirical results did not support the assumption of proportionality. Furthermore, the data indicated that the method by which options are deleted can play a role in this context. A more realistic assumption of generalized proportionality, proposed by Grier (1976), was supported by the results from a Mathematical Reasoning test, but was only partially supported for a Vocabulary and a Reading Comprehension test.     

大学生的人际关系:基于心理健康的分析

从个体心理健康的独特视野看，大学生人际关系具有不同的概念和类型，影响大学生人际关系的因素有主观因素和客观因素，大学生人际关系障碍的主要原因是认知因素、情感因素和经济因素，解决人际关系障碍问题，应加强人际关系的理论学习，转变观念；注重人际交往的技能培养，重塑个性。     

TRAINING POLICY GERONTOLOGISTS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF NEEDED SKILLS,KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTRIBUTES

Findings from a survey of policy professionals in aging (n = 114) and experience with a demonstration program to train policy gerontologists indicates that (1) the demand for policy gerontologists is moderately high; (2) training requirements include specific skills training in political processes, communication, analysis, and administration; (3) policy gerontologists require such personal attributes as follow through, initiative, and innovation; and (4) knowledge of the content of specific policy areas as well as an understanding of the policy‐making process is important. Findings have been used to develop a model curriculum for training policy gerontologists which is presented and discussed.     

ACTION AS AN EDUCATIONAL VIRTUE: TOWARD A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION

In this essay I attempt to show that compassionate and imaginative action have the potential to extend some of the fundamental dimensions of democratic citizenship education: deliberative argumentation and the recognition of what is other and different. I argue that cultivating democratic citizenship in schools and universities cannot focus solely on teaching students deliberative argumentation and the recognition of difference and otherness. Students must also be taught what it means to act with compassion and imagination because the latter (imaginative action) seems to be desirable in promoting civic reconciliation — a practice necessary to building relations of care, justice, and trust in university and school dialogical actions. In this way, a different democratic citizenship education agenda can be engendered — one that not only connects with the lived stories of people but that also opens up possibilities for the realization of civic reconciliation.     

PROMOTING AN INCLUSIVE IMAGE OF SCIENTISTS AMONG STUDENTS: TOWARDS RESEARCH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE

This study aims at investigating the effects of a teaching intervention, the design of which is informed by evidence from educational theories and research data, on students’ images of scientists. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent pre-test–post-test control group (CG) was used to compare the outcomes of the intervention. The subjects of the study were 63 grade 6 (aged 12 and 13) students who were in two different classes and taught by two different teachers. The study was undertaken in ten class hours over a 4-week period, during which the topics related to matter and heat concepts were covered as a part of the regular Turkish Science and Technology Curriculum. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two classes in terms of their achievements in the Science and Technology course (t(63) = −0.943, p > 0.05). Accordingly, one of the classes was randomly selected as the experimental group (EG). A modified version of the Draw-a-Scientist Test, in conjunction with individual interviews, was used to assess students’ images of scientists at the beginning and end of the study. The results showed that students who had followed evidence-informed instruction had significant gains from the pre-test to the post-test regarding their images of scientists compared to students with traditional instruction. Many students in the EG started to view scientists as realistic people rather than as extraordinary people or mythical creatures. Nevertheless, several students in the CG held images of scientists and their work which fit a stereotype of scientists as male, bald, bespectacled, wearing a laboratory coat, working alone in a laboratory environment and having a limited social life. Some possible implications for teaching and further research are discussed.