The Impact of a Geospatial Technology-Supported Energy Curriculum on Middle School Students’ Science Achievement

Geospatial technologies are increasingly being integrated in science classrooms to foster learning. This study examined whether a Web-enhanced science inquiry curriculum supported by geospatial technologies promoted urban middle school students’ understanding of energy concepts. The participants included one science teacher and 108 eighth-grade students classified in three ability level tracks. Data were gathered through pre/posttest content knowledge assessments, daily classroom observations, and daily reflective meetings with the teacher. Findings indicated a significant increase in the energy content knowledge for all the students. Effect sizes were large for all three ability level tracks, with the middle and low track classes having larger effect sizes than the upper track class. Learners in all three tracks were highly engaged with the curriculum. Curriculum effectiveness and practical issues involved with using geospatial technologies to support science learning are discussed.     

Metabolic power and energy expenditure in an international men’s hockey tournament

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the typical metabolic power characteristics of elite men’s hockey, and whether changes occur within matches and throughout an international tournament. National team players (n = 16), divided into 3 positional groups (strikers, midfielders, defenders), wore Global Positioning System devices in 6 matches. Energetic (metabolic power, energy expenditure) and displacement (distance, speed, acceleration) variables were determined, and intensity was classified utilising speed, acceleration and metabolic power thresholds. Midfielder’s average metabolic power (11.8 ± 1.0 W · kg^?1) was similar to strikers (11.1 ± 1.3 W · kg^?1) and higher than defenders (10.8 ± 1.2 W · kg^?1, P = 0.001). Strikers (29.71 ± 3.39 kJ · kg^?1) expended less energy than midfielders (32.18 ± 2.67 kJ · kg^?1, P = 0.014) and defenders (33.23 ± 3.96 kJ · kg^?1, P < 0.001). Energetic variables did not change between halves or across matches. Across all positions, over 45% of energy expenditure was at high intensity (>20 W · kg^?1). International hockey matches are intense and highly intermittent; however, intensity is maintained throughout matches and over a tournament. In isolation, displacement measures underestimate the amount of high-intensity activity, whereas the integration of instantaneous speed and acceleration provides a more comprehensive assessment of the demands for variable-speed activity typically occurring in hockey matches.