In search of the reliability of a Flemish version of the Knowledge Monitoring Assessment Test

Metacognitive skills are widely recognized as an important moderating variable for learning. Many studies have shown that these skills affect students’ learning results. Tobias and Everson (2000) argue that metacognitive skills cannot be effectively applied in absence of accurate knowledge monitoring. Consequently, they constructed a knowledge monitoring assessment test, which is claimed to be a valid test to measure students' knowledge monitoring capacity. In this contribution the reliability of a Flemish version of the KMA test is studied. Two studies are reported on, one with secondary education students and one with freshmen university students. In both studies split half method and Kuder Richardson 20 were used to calculate the internal consistency as a measurement of reliability. Because none of the results showed a good reliability it is suggested that additional efforts are needed to elaborate a reliable instrument.     

An invasion in the classroom: influence of an ill-structured innovation on instructional and epistemological beliefs

In this article, the actual impact on students' instructional and epistemological beliefs of systematic attempts to implement a problembased, collaborative and technologicallyrich learning environment in regular, internationallyspread, secondary school classrooms is described. Although the literature suggests that learning environments do affect both categories of beliefs, empirical evidence is currently limited. To study the effects of learning environments, classroombased learning environments were redesigned in various respects. The change entailed the implementation of a problembased, collaborative and technologicallyrich environment to replace the more regular contentdriven, teachercentred and textbookbased environment. The implementation of the innovation was hypothesised to result in a change of both the instructional and epistemological beliefs of students. Moreover, these beliefs were expected to evolve in the direction of the assumptions underlying the innovative environment. A classical pretest and posttest study resulted in the confirmation of the first hypothesis. However, for the second hypothesis, the opposite was found: students' beliefs strengthened in a direction that contradicts the basic principles underlying the designed environment. The study highlights that a poor implementation of potentially powerful learning environments can result in unexpected and even undesirable side effects.     

Neural correlates of face and object recognition in young children with autism spectrum disorder,developmental delay,and typical development

This study utilized electroencephalographic recordings to examine whether young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have impaired face recognition ability. High-density brain event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to photos of the child's mother's face versus an unfamiliar female face and photos of a favorite versus an unfamiliar toy from children with ASD, children with typical development, and children with developmental delay, all 3 to 4 years of age (N = 118). Typically developing children showed ERP amplitude differences in two components, P400 and Nc, to a familiar versus an unfamiliar face, and to a familiar versus an unfamiliar object. In contrast, children with ASD failed to show differences in ERPs to a familiar versus an unfamiliar face, but they did show P400 and Nc amplitude differences to a familiar versus an unfamiliar object. Developmentally delayed children showed significant ERP amplitude differences for the positive slow wave for both faces and objects. These data suggest that autism is associated with face recognition impairment that is manifest early in life.     

Fetal lead exposure: Encephalopathy in a child

It is well known that lead exposure in the early period of pre pregnancy and antenatal life leads to serious health complications. In this case report, a five month old child who was suffering from encephalopathy was finally confirmed a victim of lead exposure, the source being the environment and the family. We report this case with complete clinical investigation including blood lead analysis. This case report highlights the various ways in which lead may accumulate in the body. It is also aimed at increasing awareness regarding the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of lead toxicity. The literature survey done reveals that this is the youngest age at which lead toxicity has been documented in India.     

Methodological considerations regarding the evaluation of maintenance of gains due to token programs

The issue of maintenance of changes in behavior produced by token programs is unquestionably important. The present paper raises methodological considerations relating to the evaluation of such maintenance and offers suggestions for appropriate methodology.     

Haemoglobin electrophoresis in diagnosing a case of sickle cell anaemia associated with β-thalassemia

Alkaline haemoglobin electrophoresis is a useful tool in diagnosing β-thalassemia and sickle-cell anaemia. In this report, using this simple technique, β-thalassemia associated with sickle-cell anaemia is diagnosed. This is the first case we have diagnosed in our laboratory using agarose gel electrophoresis.     

On the Character and Mentality of the French

I cannot leave this great and good country, without expressing my sense of its pre-eminence of character among the nations of the earth. A more benevolent people I have never known, nor greater warmth and devotedness in their select friendships. Their kindness and accommodation to strangers is unparalleled, and the hospitality of Paris is beyond anything I had conceived to be practicable in a large city. Their eminence, too, in science, the communicative dispositions of their scientific men, the politeness of the general manners, the ease and vivacity of their conversation, give a charm to their society, to be found nowhere else. In a comparison of this, with other countries, we have the proof of primacy, which was given to Themistocles, after the battle of Salamis. Every general voted to himself the first reward of valor, and the second to Themistocles. So, ask the traveled inhabitant of any nation, in what country on earth would you rather live?—Certainly, in my own, where are all my friends, my relatives and the earliest and sweetest affections and recollections of my life.—Which would be your second choice? — France.     

Volume 63 Index

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