Dielectrophoretic manipulation of particles in a modified microfluidic H filter with multi-insulating blocks

The conventional microfluidic H filter is modified with multi-insulating blocks to achieve a flow-through manipulation and separation of microparticles. The device transports particles by exploiting electro-osmosis and electrophoresis, and manipulates particles by utilizing dielectrophoresis (DEP). Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks fabricated in the main channel of the PDMS H filter induce a nonuniform electric field, which exerts a negative DEP force on the particles. The use of multi-insulating blocks not only enhances the DEP force generated, but it also increases the controllability of the motion of the particles, facilitating their manipulation and separation. Experiments were conducted to demonstrate the controlled flow direction of particles by adjusting the applied voltages and the separation of particles by size under two different input conditions, namely (i) a dc electric field mode and (ii) a combined ac and dc field mode. Numerical simulations elucidate the electrokinetic and hydrodynamic forces acting on a particle, with theoretically predicted particle trajectories in good agreement with those observed experimentally. In addition, the flow field was obtained experimentally with fluorescent tracer particles using the microparticle image velocimetry (μ-PIV) technique.     

From Alternative Education to The Mainstream: approaches in Canada and Germany to Preparing Learners to Live in a Changing World

There has been a shift in the core idea of schooling in both Germany and Canada: While schools have traditionally focused on cognitive development, they now increasingly focus on ‘engaged learners’ and use integrated settings to support their cognitive, metacognitive and social-emotional development. In line with the theme ‘Learning to Be’, we argue that beliefs about the purpose of schooling are shifting from a narrow, knowledge-based approach to understanding that students need knowledge, skills and attitudes to succeed in their private, public and professional lives as adults. To this end, pedagogical concepts developed in alternative education are increasingly being implemented by mainstream schools. This article examines this significant development in Germany and Canada. We analyse current examples from mainstream schools, highlighting how they use alternative pedagogical concepts to transform the ways in which students come to know themselves as learners. In both countries, this process has been simultaneously bottom-up, driven by early-adopter schools, and top-down, driven by public awards or broad public initiatives.     

Project‐Based Learning Involving Sensory Panelists Improves Student Learning Outcomes

Project‐based, collaborative learning is an effective teaching method when compared to traditional cognitive learning. The purpose of this study was to assess student learning after the completion of a final meal project that involved a group of sensory panelists. A paper survey was conducted among 73 senior nutrition and dietetics students enrolling in Experimental Food Science, Spring 2013 and 2014. The survey comprised of qualitative and quantitative questions about students’ perceived learning outcomes. The project required students to prepare a 4‐course meal in 90 min, in groups of 4. Eighteen sensory panelists consisting of faculty and graduate students from the Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management Department and administrative staff from the college evaluated the foods, asked students several food science‐related questions, and completed a survey about their involvement in the project. Students reported that this project reinforced class material (4.7 ± 0.6), and was enjoyable (4.6 ± 0.6) yet challenging (4.4 ± 0.7); numerous skills were developed, including team‐building (4.7 ± 0.5), food preparation (4.6 ± 0.5), and time management (4.4 ± 0.5). Students perceived that the involvement of sensory panelists was beneficial in terms of providing constructive feedback for improvement and motivating them to prepare high‐quality foods. It also prepared them for serving foods to individuals from different cultural backgrounds. However, some students found the experience stressful. For the sensory panelists, the project helped them to venture out of their areas of expertise. In conclusion, a meal project involving sensory panelists can result in positive learning outcomes.     

The constructivist classroom learning environment and its associations with critical thinking ability of secondary school students in Liberal Studies

In this study, we investigated-secondary school students’ perceptions of their constructivist learning environment in Liberal Studies, and whether their perceptions were related to their critical thinking ability. A convenience sample of Secondary Three students (N = 967) studying Liberal Studies in Hong Kong participated in this research by completing a self-administered questionnaire which included the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES), Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level X, and demographic information on age and gender. Students perceived their learning environment to be moderately constructivist in nature. Both age and school banding differences were identified in that younger students and students in band 1 schools tended to perceive a higher degree of constructivist characteristics in their learning environment. Multiple regression analyses indicated that three of the five scales of CLES were predictors of critical thinking ability. Shared Control was the strongest predictor and negatively associated with critical thinking ability, while Personal Relevance and Critical Voice were positively related to critical thinking ability. Findings of the study are discussed with reference to developing students’ critical thinking ability in Liberal Studies classrooms.     

论网络时代高校图书馆的信息服务与对策

论述了网络时代高校图书馆针对不同层次读者的信息需求，提供优质信息服务的问题，提出了网络时代高校图书馆的发展方向与对策。     

Hegemony and the politics of education in Hong Kong: from the post-war era to the post-handover era

ABSTRACT

The process of Chinese nation-building in education reveals the hegemonic strategies of the colonial power and the adaptation of indigenous forces when Hong Kong was undergoing decolonisation and the transfer of sovereignty. The return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty has been a crucial indicator for the potential re-unification of China, as it presents a model for the possible future reintegration of Taiwan. The idea of hegemony applies to different dominant groups in the two periods under review. In the first period, London attempted to influence the development of groups in Hong Kong and incorporate them into the colonial programme. In the second period, Beijing attempts to influence groups in Hong Kong facilitate the reintegration of Hong Kong into a larger Chinese identity. Yet, it is far too simple to picture a unilateral exercise of power by an identifiable centre and consider the periphery as mere objects of successful manipulation by the centre. Continued study of the evolution of nation-building in education, under the influence of a series of complex and shifting factors of the Hong Kong society, will be enlightening for the comprehension of the ever-changing and increasingly complicated political culture.     

The circumplex model of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction among Hong Kong students: a multidimensional scaling solution

The Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) is a teacher–student relationship measure whose underlying two-dimensional structure is represented in a circumplex model with eight sectors. Using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), this study examined the circumplex structure of the Chinese version of the QTI among a convenience sample of 731 primary-school students in Hong Kong. The study revealed that the SSA solution fits the circumplex structure of the Model for Interpersonal Teacher Behavior and uncovered a two-dimensional solution yielding five sectors in a clockwise direction: Strict, Leadership-Helpful/Friendly-Understanding, Student Responsibility/Freedom, Uncertain, and Admonishing-Dissatisfied. While the Leadership-Helpful/Friendly-Understanding sector was the largest, the Student Responsibility/Freedom sector was the smallest, with few items constituting it. For the two dimensions, the vertical dimension was named Structure Clarity, with adherence to external structure (Strict sector) at one extreme and lack of structure (Uncertain sector and Student Responsibility/Freedom sector) at the other extreme. The horizontal axis was labelled Attitude Valence, with benevolent valence (Leadership sector, Helpful/Friendly sector and Understanding sector) at one end and malevolent valence (Admonishing sector and Dissatisfied sector) at the other end of the axis. The positioning of the five sectors in the present study is in line with the factor structure that was often found in previous research on the circumplex model. By presenting a somewhat different interpretation of the two dimensions and some additional items, we hope that future research will verify our suggestions across different sociocultural settings.     

德育的理想与德育的有效性

如何提高德育的有效性 ,是学校教育长期关注的重大现实课题。在新的社会历史条件下 ,要提高德育的有效性 ,必须防止德育概念的泛化 ,凸现德育目标的超越性 ,彰显道德教育的实践特征 ,关注学生的主体需要 ,体现以人为本的精神 ,并充分发挥“乐”在学校德育中的作用。