The degree to which UAE primary science workbooks promote scientific inquiry

This research investigated Grades 5 and 6 science workbooks for the degree to which they promote scientific inquiry abilities, opportunities that students had to acquire these abilities and the obstacles hindering students from implementing them. A document review technique and a constant comparative method were applied sequentially. A total of 58 instigative logs were scrutinized. Findings revealed that while the activities allowed students to use appropriate techniques and tools to collect and interpret data, and use their inquiry abilities related to implement investigation plans, they did not allow students real opportunities to formulate questions, plan for simple investigations, write conclusions, or communicate investigations. A total of 15 Grade 5 and 6 science teachers were asked to report their perceptions of the students’ role in implementing identified abilities. A one‐way analysis of variance revealed that there was a significant difference between students who individually implemented the inquiry abilities and students who were supported by the teacher or by other students. Obstacles that hindered students from implementing identified inquiry abilities included teachers’ intensive supports, students’ limited background or skills, and materials and instrument shortages. The study concluded with recommendations for policy, practice, and future research.     

Curriculum reform in a global context: a study of teachers in Jordan

The gap between the educational achievements of the comparatively wealthy and those living in poverty is widening world‐wide, with the associated threat to social cohesion. Twenty‐five years of curriculum reform has largely failed in its objective of providing quality, basic education for all. Arguing that successful innovation requires the participation of willing teachers, and associating this idea with the claim that schools are important for social cohesion, this study surveyed 500 Jordanian elementary teachers about their involvement in a programme of curriculum change and their desire to participate. Twelve key informants were interviewed. The reform has raised the qualifications of teachers and increased male teacher numbers but has neither raised overall standards nor improved truancy rates. Tight central control has failed to engage teachers’ allegiance to the changes. Officials blamed failures on schools; head teachers blamed parents, and teachers criticized a policy that left them mediating a curriculum that lacked relevance and failed to engage pupils.     

Vertical jumping height and horizontal overhead throwing velocity in young male athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of calendar and skeletal age, anthropometric dimensions, training history and their interactions on vertical jumping height and horizontal overhead throwing velocity in a cross‐section of 318 young male athletes (age range 9–16 years) participating in cross‐country skiing (n = 70), basketball (n = 40), apparatus gymnastics (n = 19), ice hockey (n = 50), track and field (n = 89) and wrestling (n = 50). Vertical jumping height was measured with four different loads held on the shoulders and then interpolated for loads representing 0 and 40% body mass. Horizontal overhead throwing velocity using both hands was determined for seven balls of different weights and then interpolated for weights representing 1 and 5% body mass.

Both vertical jumping height and overhead throwing velocity were found to increase (P< 0.01) from the skeletally youngest to the oldest cohort when the effects of body height and mass were controlled. The inter‐event comparisons did not reveal statistically significant differences in respect of vertical jumping height. Also in the overhead throwing tests, the inter‐event differences were small, although the analysis of variance revealed statistically significant (P< 0.001) differences for the skeletal age cohorts of 13 and 14 years. While the quantity of training had no effect on vertical jumping height, it explained the results in the overhead throwing test.

The effects of training on vertical jumping and horizontal overhead throwing among adolescent athletes were considered to be small, while maturational processes and anthropometric development followed by increase in calendar age were deemed to be of greater importance.     

Jordanian student teachers' perceptions of teaching writing in kindergartens during their field training experience

The purpose of the study was to examine student teachers' perceptions of teaching writing in kindergartens and to identify to what extent the cooperating teachers influence the student teachers' perceptions. To achieve the research aims, a 31‐item questionnaire was developed by the researchers and administered to 50 student teachers and their cooperating teachers. The questionnaire was administrated to both groups as a pre‐test and to student teachers as a post‐test. The results of the study revealed that student teachers were more likely to be emergent literacy‐oriented in their perceptions of teaching writing than they were to the reading readiness philosophy. Furthermore, the influence of the cooperating teachers was insignificant as the student teachers' perceptions of teaching writing developed earlier were more stable and difficult to alter later. In light of these findings the researchers addressed a number of suggestions and recommendations.     

The perception of women engineers in the construction industry in Palestine

The industrial and occupational distribution of women is such that women are concentrated predominately in a few occupations, mostly in the service sector, such as banking, finance, insurance, public administration, hotel, and catering. Men and women are equal in their capabilities in almost every respect, provided that women are given the same opportunities as men for training, employment, and promotion. There is a lack of research studies on women in the construction industry; therefore this field needs special consideration. The purpose of the current study is to find out working conditions of the Palestinian women civil and architect engineers in the construction industry in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. In addition, it attempts to examine their career prospects and to understand problems experienced by these women throughout their academic years as well as in their careers. Discrimination against women is still present in today's construction industry as well as in other traditional engineering cultures. In order to minimise or cope with this problem, attitudinal change by both men and women is strongly suggested.     

戈尔呼吁美国“为人类迈进一大步”

有人把全球变暖与反恐战争相提并论,认为人类前景的好坏取决于是否赢得这场反全球变暖战争。而美国是温室气体排放的第一大国。统计资料显示,2004年全球排放的265亿吨二氧化碳中,美国占22.1%。但布什政府2001年以经济、就业为由,退出《京都议定书》,此后一直拒绝出台政策限制温室气体排放。把将要承担的任务与登月作比较,诺贝尔奖得主、美国前副总统戈尔敦促国家承担起应对气候变化的义务:在十年内生产100%的可再生清洁能源。