Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Application for Learning Neuroanatomy in Psychology

Neuroanatomy is difficult for psychology students because of spatial visualization and the relationship among brain structures. Some technologies have been implemented to facilitate the learning of anatomy using three-dimensional (3D) visualization of anatomy contents. Augmented reality (AR) is a promising technology in this field. A mobile AR application to provide the visualization of morphological and functional information of the brain was developed. A sample of 67 students of neuropsychology completed tests for visuospatial ability, anatomical knowledge, learning goals, and experience with technologies. Subsequently, they performed a learning activity using one of the visualization methods considered: a 3D method using the AR application and a two-dimensional (2D) method using a textbook to color, followed by questions concerning their satisfaction and knowledge. After using the alternative method, the students expressed their preference. The two methods improved knowledge equally, but the 3D method obtained higher satisfaction scores and was more preferred by students. The 3D method was also more preferred by the students who used this method during the activity. After controlling for the method used in the activity, associations were found between the preference of the 3D method because of its usability and experience with technologies. These results found that the AR application was highly valued by students to learn and was as effective as the textbook for this purpose.     

Evaluation of the double-deficit hypothesis subtype classification of readers in Spanish

The double-deficit hypothesis acknowledges both phonological processing deficits and serial naming speed deficits as two dimensions associated with reading disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine these two dimensions of reading as they were related to the reading skills of 29 Spanish average readers and poor readers (mean age 9 years 7 months) who met the criteria for either single phonological deficit (PD), double deficit (DD), or no deficit. DD children were the slowest readers and had the weakest orthography processing skills. No significant differences were found between PD and DD groups on word and pseudoword reading. Word reading and reading comprehension skills were average or above average in the three studied groups. As in previous studies in transparent orthographies, word reading was not a salient problem for Spanish poor readers, whereas for the DD group, reading speed and orthographic recognition skills were significantly affected.     

Measuring college students' reading comprehension ability using cloze tests

Recent investigations challenge the construct validity of sustained silent reading tests. Performance of two groups of post‐secondary students (e.g. struggling and non‐struggling) on a sustained silent reading test and two types of cloze test (i.e. maze and open‐ended) was compared in order to identify the test format that contributes greater variance in reading comprehension. One hundred participants were recruited from students enrolled in a preparatory course for a high‐stakes statewide reading examination. Our results suggest that all three measures have good concurrent validity. There was no evidence that open‐ended cloze performance was more related to verbal ability than any other reading measure. Maze performance did the best job at discriminating between our struggling and non‐struggling readers. Implications for reading comprehension assessment in post secondary‐aged adults are discussed.     

ekstasis@cyberia

Elvis presided over the birth of a great new means of expression, one of three such flowerings in America since World War II. The second was television from broadcast to cable to music videos. The third is the net.

(Katz, Wired, pp. 10–14)

The lived meaning of space, time, and subjectivity has been radically altered by electronic technologies in an experience that may be described, and cannot be denied/

(Dery, Flame Wars, 1994, p. 19)

     

Teaching statistics through the Real Estate Data Analyzer software

This paper presents the operation of the educational software, Real Estate Data Analyzer, to teachers and future teachers. It is a specific software that allows students carry out complete statistical analysis projects on the characteristics of the buildings that surround them.     

Learning Fractions by Splitting: Using Learning Analytics to Illuminate the Development of Mathematical Understanding

The struggle with fraction learning in kindergarten through Grade 12 in the United States is a persistent problem and one of the major stumbling blocks to succeeding in higher mathematics. Research into this problem has identified several areas where students commonly struggle with fractions. While there are many theories of fraction learning, none of the research on these theories employs samples large enough to test theories at scale or nuanced enough to demonstrate how learning unfolds over time during instructional activities based on these theories. The work reported here uses learning analytics methods with fine-grained log data from an online fraction game to unpack how splitting (i.e. partitioning a whole into equal-sized parts) impacts learning. Study 1 demonstrated that playing the game significantly improved students’ fraction understanding. In addition, a cluster analysis suggested that exploring splitting was beneficial. Study 2 replicated the learning results, and a cluster analysis showed that compared to early game play, later game play showed more optimal splitting strategies. In addition, in looking at the types of transitions that were possible between a student’s early cluster categorization and later cluster categorization, we found that some types of transitions were more beneficial for learning than others.     

Exploring socio-ecological factors influencing active and inactive Spanish students in years 12 and 13

This paper explores socio-ecological factors and their interplay that emerge from a qualitative study and influence adolescents' physical activity and sport participation. A total of 13 boys and 7 girls active and inactive adolescents, from years 12 and 13 and different types of school (state and private), participated in semi-structured interviews. It followed a purposeful sampling selection from participants who participated in a previous larger study on physical activity levels. Findings highlight the influence of personal and social interplay, such as perceived competence, obesity and teasing from peers, and new social demands and personal preferences in adolescents' (dis)engagement in physical activity and sport. They also stand out how social and environmental factors affect their participation, such as family, boy/girlfriends, physical education and rural/urban places of residence. These factors appear to have an important impact on the construction of (in)active identities during late adolescence. Policy makers, exercise professionals and educators should be aware of these factors in order to improve health promotion strategies and social policies. Some recommendations are also indicated in the paper.     

Parental discipline in Spain and in the United States: differences by country,parent-child gender and education level / Disciplina parental en España y en Estados Unidos: diferencias en función del país,del sexo de padres e hijos y del nivel educativo

This study aimed to analyse and compare the frequency of a wide range of parental discipline methods between Spain and the United States of America, according to country, parent-child gender and education level. To this end, 2,755 undergraduates, 1,416 from Spain and 1,339 from the United States, retrospectively reported the discipline that their parents had administered. Spanish parents, compared with Americans, showed a higher frequency in all types of discipline. Mothers in both countries more often applied most of the discipline methods, while the gender of the children was generally not related to the discipline received. Finally, a higher parental education level was associated with a higher rate of verbal explanation, a higher frequency of penalty tasks and with a lower use of physical punishment by the mothers. The implications of these findings are discussed based on the results of previous studies and cultural differences between the two countries.