Seeking effectiveness and equity in a large college chemistry course: an HLM investigation of Peer‐Led Guided Inquiry

This study employed hierarchical linear models (HLM) to investigate Peer‐Led Guided Inquiry (PLGI), a teaching practice combining cooperative learning and inquiry and tailored for a large class. Ultimately, the study provided an example of the effective introduction of a reform pedagogical approach in a large class setting. In the narrative, the strengths of HLM as a statistical technique are discussed in the context of pedagogical reforms, and the case is made for the use of HLM in rigorous determinations of both effectiveness and equity associated with reform practices. The implementation of PLGI in a college‐level general chemistry course is also described. For the study, two general HLM models suited to investigating reform were developed and utilized to examine the effectiveness and equity of PLGI as implemented in this setting. The models showed that the reform was associated with statistically significant improvement over traditional pedagogy in terms of academic performance on multiple measures, but achieving equity remained elusive: the consequences of pre‐existing achievement gaps did not lessen as a result of reform implementation. The analysis led to several implications for educational research, particularly in terms of evaluating pedagogical reforms, as well as for teaching. Choosing effective and equitable pedagogies for classroom implementation remains a critical goal for classes of any size. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 794–811, 2008     

Justice as therapy: The victim rights clarification act

The Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997 was passed on behalf of the victims and family members of the Oklahoma City bombing. This essay uses narrative analysis to examine the debate for the law, arguing that legislation enacted in response to tragedy contributes to harmful misperceptions about crime victims and alleviation of their suffering.     

Fast and reliable droplet transport on single-plate electrowetting on dielectrics using nonfloating switching method

In a droplet transport based on electrowetting on dielectrics, the parallel-plate configuration is more popular than the single-plate one because the droplet transport becomes increasingly difficult without cover plate. In spite of the improved transport performance, the parallel-plate configuration often limits the access to the peripheral components, requesting the removal of the cover plate, the single-plate configuration. We investigated the fundamental features of droplet transport for the single-plate configuration. We compared the performance of several switching methods with respect to maximum speed of successive transport without failure and suggested nonfloating switching method which is inherently free from the charge-residue problem and exerts greater force on a droplet than conventional switching methods. A simple theory is provided to understand the different results for the switching methods.     

Social learning in new Caledonian crows

New Caledonian (NC) crows are the most sophisticated tool manufacturers other than humans. The diversification and geographical distribution of their three Pandanus tool designs that differ in complexity, as well as the lack of ecological correlates, suggest that cumulative technological change has taken place. To investigate the possibility that high-fidelity social transmission mediated this putative ratchet-like process, we studied the ontogeny of Pandanus tool manufacture and social organization in free-living NC crows. We found that juvenile crows took more than 1 year to reach adult proficiency in their Pandanus tool skills. Although trial-and-error learning is clearly important, juveniles have ample opportunity to learn about Pandanus tool manufacture by both observing their parents and interacting with artifactual material. The crows’ social system seems likely to promote the faithful social transmission of local tool designs by both favoring the vertical transmission of tool information and minimizing horizontal transmission. We suggest that NC crows develop their Pandanus tool skills in a highly scaffolded learning environment that facilitates the cumulative technological evolution of tool designs.     

情报检索语言不是"明日黄花"

随着网络信息技术的发展和搜索引擎的兴起，传统情报检索语言在网络环境下存在的必要性受到质疑。用网络信息检索的大量实践回答检索语言能否适应网络信息组织这个问题。首先列举分类语言和主题语言在国内外网络应用的大量实例，然后以其自身的优势来说明检索语言存在的必要性，并分析他们在网络环境下表现出的强大生命力。     

文学在艺术教育中的功能实现

把文学纳入艺术教育范畴,开展以文学为媒介的艺术教育。在这一模式的教学过程中,充分开发文学的艺术教育功能,以有效地培养受教者的感知、理性、情感、想象等能力,提升境界,塑造灵魂,为新世纪造就高素质人才。