How students use their libraries: A case study of four academic libraries

The purpose of this study was to explore the similarities and differences in student behavior in or uses of four academic libraries in the greater New York City area. Using on-site observations and semistructured interviews, the authors collected data about resources and tools used by students as well as their academic and nonacademic activities and contributing factors. Across all four libraries, the study identified that students were actively engaged in academic pursuits utilizing multiple library resources while working with print and digital tools. Students were also observed resting, eating, and engaging in other nonacademic activities. The variations in student behaviors across the four libraries can be explained by contextual variables that influence students' behavior in a library, including student demographics, academic requirements, work habits, and disciplinary affiliations.     

Metacognitive regulation contributes to digital text comprehension in E-learning

Metacognition and Learning - This study examined the contribution of self-reported metacognitive regulation of reading to expository digital text comprehension in an e-learning environment,...     

Learning about the types of plastic wastes: effectiveness of inquiry learning strategies

This study aims to examine the impacts of the inquiry learning strategies employed in a ‘Plastic Education Project’ on primary students' knowledge, beliefs and intended behaviour in Hong Kong. Student questionnaires and a test on plastic types were adopted for data collection. Results reveal that the inquiry learning strategies significantly improved students' knowledge of the types of plastic wastes and their corresponding beliefs. However, the strategies seemed not to change students' intended behaviour regarding plastic waste classification and management. The implications of the study for further learning and teaching in environmental education are discussed.     

Metacognitively competent reading comprehension is constructively responsive reading: how can such reading be developed in students?

This article describes the metacognitive processes in which good readers engage before, during, and after reading and the strategies instruction that fosters these processes. Benchmark School, a school in Media, PA for struggling readers, is provided as an example of how a grades 1–8, across-the-curriculum strategies program was developed based on the research of the late 1980s and early 1990s and continues to evolve in the 21st century as an evidence-based program. Examples of present-day, across-the-curriculum strategies instruction are provided.     

Computational Thinking Integration Patterns Along the Framework Defining Computational Thinking from a Disciplinary Perspective

Journal of Science Education and Technology - This paper describes analyses of the K–12 computational thinking (CT) integration activities collected at two NSF-funded workshops,...     

Editorial boards: realizing their potential

Most journals have editorial boards. Their composition, what the individual members do, and how they operate will vary, but they are generally recognized as having certain central roles. What makes a good editor? How can potential editors be identified and then persuaded to join an editorial board? Once on the board, what can be done to keep them happy, committed, and working productively for the journal? What sorts of problems can arise, and how can they be avoided? These are some of the questions dealt with in this article.     

Students’ Forms of Dialogue When Engaged with Contemporary Biological Research: Insights from University and High School Students’ Group Discussions

Research in Science Education - Classroom dialogues have special educational value because they allow students to engage critically but constructively with each other’s ideas, solve...     

Selective spatial working memory impairment in a group of children with mathematics learning disabilities and poor problem-solving skills

This study examines visual and spatial working memory skills in 35 third to fifth graders with both mathematics learning disabilities (MLD) and poor problem-solving skills and 35 of their peers with typical development (TD) on tasks involving both low and high attentional control. Results revealed that children with MLD, relative to TD children, failed spatial working memory tasks that had either low or high attentional demands but did not fail the visual tasks. In addition, children with MLD made more intrusion errors in the spatial working memory tasks requiring high attentional control than did their TD peers. Finally, as a post hoc analysis the sample of MLD was divided in two: children with severe MLD and children with low mathematical achievement. Results showed that only children with severe MLD failed in spatial working memory (WM) tasks if compared with children with low mathematical achievement and TD. The findings are discussed on the basis of their theoretical and clinical implications, in particular considering that children with MLD can benefit from spatial WM processes to solve arithmetic word problems, which involves the ability to both maintain and manipulate relevant information.