Using context variety and students' discussions in recognizing statistical situations

We present a proposal for helping students to cope with statistical word problems related to the classification of different cases of confidence intervals. The proposal promotes an environment where students can explicitly discuss the reasons underlying their classification of cases.     

Humor in Crisis: Guadalupe Loaeza's Caricature of the Mexican Bourgeoisie

Desde 1982 las sátiras de Guadalupe Loaeza han servido como radiografía de la sociedad mexicana durante los años de crisis económica de 1982-al presente. Mientras otras escritoras como Christina Pacheco y Elena Poniatowska se afanan por pintar la cruda realidad de las masas, Loaeza se concentra en los excesos de la burguesía—en su pretensión, materialismo y corrupción—como materia prima para poner de relieve el gran abismo que existe entre las clases sociales en México. Debido a la inmensa popularidad de sus artículos, Loaeza se ha convertido en cronista de la burguesía capitalina moderna, cuyo poder social y político se ve cada vez más amenazado por la crisis económica y la inestablilidad del gobierno.     

Family violence exposure and associated risk factors for child PTSD in a Mexican sample

This study was undertaken in an effort to help illuminate the deleterious effects of traumatic stress on children and families in Mexico. Rates of exposure to traumatic events, family and community violence, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were investigated in 87 school-age children and their mothers. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine potential family and ecological risk factors for the presence of child PTSD. A total of 51 children (58.6%) reported an event that met the DSM-IV A criteria, and 36 children (41.4%; 20 boys and 16 girls) met criteria for full PTSD. Traumatic exposure in this sample was considerable, particularly intense, and chronic as a result of interpersonal violence in the home and community. Results support the need for preventive systemic interventions targeting the individual level, parent–child dyadic level, and the larger cultural and community context.     

Development of a virtual tool for learning basic organisation and planning in rural engineering projects

This paper presents a virtual lab for the contents of an Engineering project, for designing an agro-industrial building, which is also useful for a range of different transversal courses in Engineering sciences. The aims of this tool are to analyse the most important contents of a project-document (calculation, regulations, drawings and budgets), as well as their relationship with the activities which make up the work and the schedule. The design criteria we considered were: its online applications and their compatibility with Moodle; the inclusion of different learning approaches, such as exploratory learning and inquiry-based learning; its interactivity, and the use of multimedia elements for visualisation and direct analysis on material common to Engineering subjects. The students’ perceptions of the improvements brought by the virtual lab were analysed statistically through a series of questions over two academic years. The results of the questionnaires suggested that most of those who had used the e-learning tool valued positively its overall suitability for reaching the objectives in their subject as well as the way it improved the working methodology. The practical knowledge acquired by the students was also highly valued. In addition, the lack of constraints commonly related to field trips (expenses, time and complexity) illustrates the utility of self-access learning tools in key transversal disciplines such as Engineering projects.     

Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Using Video Games to Enhance Science Instruction

Science education video game research points toward promising, but inconclusive results in both student learning outcomes and attitudes. However, student-level variables other than gender have been largely absent from this research. This study examined how students’ reading ability level and disability status are related to their video game-playing behaviors outside of school and their perceptions about the use of science video games during school. Thirty-four teachers and 876 sixth- through ninth-grade students from 14 states participated in the study. All student groups reported that they would prefer to learn science from a video game rather than from traditional text, laboratory-based, or Internet environments. Chi-square analyses indicated a significant association between reading ability level, disability status, and key areas of interest including students’ use of video games outside of school, their perceptions of their scientific abilities, and whether they would pursue a career in the sciences. Implications of these findings and areas for future research are identified.     

Weekday Religious Education in Connection with the Public School

In sympathizing with a program of “release time” for religious education, I am perhaps opening myself to a torrent of attack. I shall take it, because what 1 state here is my own personal opinion

May I indulge the hope, however, that the discussions which this article may arouse, concern themselves with a realistic and logical treatment of what I have to say, rather than rhetorical invectives. The world has changed profoundly in the spiritual realm during the past quarter century. The cry goes up from our pulpits and pews for a new appreciation of religion. Yet in so many places, there is no recognition of the new demands in terms of an adjustment of positions which, formerly sound and tenable, now are quite the opposite

This statement is submitted in an open‐minded manner in the hope of stimulating frank discussion on one of today's most important problems     

Upper and lower body responses to repeated cyclical sprints

Purpose: To compare the physiological and perceptual responses of the upper and lower body to all-out cyclical sprints with short or long rest periods between sprints.

Methods: Ten recreationally trained males completed four 10?×?10?s sprint protocols in a randomized order: upper body with 30?s and 180?s of rest between sprints, and lower body with 30?s and 180?s of rest between sprints. Additionally, maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) were measured at pre-sprint and post-sprints 5 and 10. Normalized (% of first sprint) peak power, MVC, heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were compared between upper and lower body within the same recovery period, and absolute values (Watts, bpm, RPE scores) were compared within the same body part and between recovery periods.

Results: Trivial differences were identified in normalized peak power, HR and RPE values between the upper and lower body in both recovery conditions (<2%, d?≤?0.1), but MVC forces were better maintained with the upper body (～9.5%, d?=?1.0) in both recovery conditions. Absolute peak power was lower (～147?Watts, d?=?1.3), and HR was higher (～10?bpm, d?=?0.73) in the 30?s compared to 180?s condition in both the upper and lower body whereas RPE scores were similar (<0.6?RPE units, d?≤?0.1). Despite the reductions in peak power, MVC forces were better maintained in the 30?s condition in both upper (2.5?kg, d?=?0.4) and lower (7.5?kg, d?=?0.7) body.

Conclusions: Completing a commonly used repeated sprint protocol with the upper and lower body results in comparable normalized physiological and perceptual responses.     

Toward a theoretical framework for community EE

Given the growing attention to community environmental education (CEE), this study develops a theoretical heuristic for this approach through a retroductive process by (1) examining theories appropriate for a CEE conceptual framework; (2) testing this framework in diverse contexts to determine its viability, and (3) reconceptualizing the framework. The framework hypothesizes that a community of practice focused on improving the conditions of local natural resources will exemplify transformative learning and empowerment if the community of practice is successful. Initial testing involved case studies of two groups from diverse contexts. Results indicated both groups organized as communities of practice. However, evidence showing improved local natural resources, transformative learning, and empowerment was lacking. Instead, there was evidence of enhanced agency and self-efficacy, requiring a reconceptualized framework.