Learning Introductory Quantum Physics: Sensori‐motor experiences and mental models

This paper reports a cross‐sectional study of Taiwanese physics students’ understanding of subatomic phenomena that are explained by quantum mechanics. The study uses students’ explanations of their answers to items in a questionnaire as a proxy for students’ thinking. The variation in students’ explanations is discussed as is the development in the way in which students link different concepts. A discussion of the source of students’ ideas turns to the way schema contain mental models that derive from sensori‐experiences. The principal recommendation for teaching is the need to include practical activities on a range of precursor phenomena so as to extend the students repertoires of mental models. This advice is different from that given in previous studies.     

The Relationship between Understanding of the Nature of Science and Practice: The influence of teachers’ beliefs about education,teaching and learning

This paper reports the relationship between four English primary teachers’ understanding of the nature of science and their practice. Action research was included as a major part of the research design in order to explore the dialectical interplay between various factors at work in the teachers’ practice. The influences of both tacit and espoused understandings of the nature of science were considered alongside the teachers’ beliefs about education, teaching, and learning. These beliefs were found to be the determining factor in the teachers’ decisions about classroom strategies. In arguing for a dialectical perspective on teachers’ practice, the research suggests that teachers’ espoused understanding of the nature of science may also be at least partially formed by the influence of these beliefs, raising the possibility that influence may run from teaching to theoretical understanding and not the other way round.     

Girls' Groups and Boys' Groups at a Municipal Technology Centre

This article describes the Swedish initiative of municipal technology centres from a gender point of view. These centres provide after‐school technology education for children aged 6–16. By means of an ethnographic study, the effects of the use of single‐sex groups in increasing the interest of girls and boys in technical activities have been studied at one of the centres. The importance of the gender of the teacher relative to the gender of the pupils is also considered. The results show that single‐sex groups meant different things to boys and girls, and that the teachers’ way of “doing” femininity and masculinity, respectively, in the different groups was of some importance. The results indicate that single‐sex groups alone do not break down gender barriers. However, there are lessons to be learnt from a leisure‐time activity that provides a different setting from that of single‐sex science education in ordinary schooling     

Exhibiting Lives

This paper examines some of the dilemmas that accompany the emergence of the personal voice in scholarly work, by taking a close, grounded look at the way in which these unfolded in a specific academic course. As part of the course, entitled “A cultural approach to the life cycle”, students were asked to participate in a group exhibition in which they were to display their life stories using a variety of texts, objects and photographs. The paper reflects upon a number of questions evoked by the exhibition: What made this event so powerful, moving and pleasurable for those involved? How, if at all, did the women choose to engage in dialogue with broader social, cultural and political contexts in the display of their life stories? What common identities, if any, emerged in the group exhibition and, in this process, what particular identities were put aside? What was made possible by the use of a wide variety of media in the presentation of life stories? Finally, what were some of the broader pedagogical implications that emerge out of this experiment in teaching?     

Effective special teacher characteristics: perceptions of preschool special educators in Greece

The aim of the present study was to evaluate six characteristics of effective special pre‐school teachers, similar to those used in the relevant literature. The study participants were all special teachers (n = 226), serving in Greek state and community pre‐primary educational institutions (i.e. kindergartens and day nurseries) for children with learning disabilities. Data were collected through a two‐part questionnaire sent to the targeted special teachers (response rate 100%) and through focused group discussion with teachers. Three characteristics emerged as salient features of an effective teacher: love for the children; competent pre‐service training and ongoing professional development; and professionalism and commitment. The remaining three characteristics assessed (i.e. effective communication skills, a well‐rounded personality, and instructional ability) were also judged to be essential. Based on each characteristic’s analysis, the paper discusses the implications of pre‐service and in‐service training for special teachers.     

社会主义核心价值观教育与大学生责任意识的提升

社会主义核心价值观教育作为新形势下大学生思想政治教育的重要内容,本文概括了大学生责任意识的基本内涵,探讨了责任意识对大学生实现自我价值的作用,在分析当前大学生责任意识淡薄的表现和成因的基础上,从知、情、行三个方面,提出了基于责任意识教育的大学生核心价值体系教育途径。     

论《魔鬼与上帝》中格茨的意志冲突

在《魔鬼与上帝》中,萨特通过格茨完全作恶和完全向善的行动的失败,表明了人是一个斯芬克斯因子的存在,由人性因子和兽性因子组成,这两种因子有机地组合在一起,任何试图把二者完全分离开来的努力终将只是徒劳。只有人性因子所体现的理性意志能够约束和引导兽性因子所体现的自由意志,人才能成为有理性意识的人。与此同时,萨特也通过海因里希在教会和穷人之间做出选择时遭遇的伦理两难,揭示了人生总会面临种种无法避免的困境。     

基于招生考试制度改革的中高职教育有机衔接研究

中高职衔接招生考试制度当前存在诸多问题,突出表现在:对口升学招生指标少,中职学生求学深造的道路依然艰难;中高职衔接重形式轻内涵,片面强调升学率;考试内容存在不完善之处;职业教育缺乏吸引力,高等职业教育面临生源危机。促进中高职教育有效衔接,应当建立灵活开放的招生考试制度,主要措施是成立职业教育招考机构,加大统筹协调管理职能;普遍实施高职院校自主招生考试制度改革;放宽招生计划比例,实行免试制度和推荐入学制度;改革考试内容与形式;拓宽生源渠道,实现"面向人人、面向全社会"的职业教育。     

数学教育应增强应用意识

随着科学技术的发展,社会对人的数学素质提出了较高的要求。为了更好地适应社会的需要,数学教育应注重数学的应用价值,增强学生的数学应用意识和应用能力。