What Cognitive Benefits Does an Activity-Based Reading Strategy Afford Young Native American Readers?

The authors conducted 2 experiments with children from a reservation community. In Experiment 1, 45 third-grade children were randomly assigned to the following reading strategies: (a) “reread,” in which participants read each sentence of a story and then reread it; (b) “observe,” in which participants read sentences and then observed an experimenter move manipulatives as directed by the story; and (c) “activity,” in which participants read sentences and then moved manipulatives as directed by the story. In Experiment 2, 40 second-grade children were randomly assigned to either the reread or activity strategy. In both experiments, activity participants remembered more story content than did reread participants. In Experiment 1, the authors identified no memory differences between observe and activity strategies. When imagery instructions replaced the original strategies, Experiment 1 third-grade activity (and observe) participants recalled more story content than did reread participants, but Experiment 2 second-grade activity participants did not. The authors discuss the instructional benefits of activity-based reading strategies, along with developmental implications.     

Perceived distributed effort in team ball sports

Abstract

In this study, we explored the multifaceted concept of perceived mental and physical effort in team sport contexts where athletes must invest individual and shared efforts to reach a common goal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 15 Catalan professional coaches (3 women and 12 men, 3 each from the following sports: volleyball, basketball, handball, soccer, and water polo) to gain their views of three perceived effort-related dimensions: physical, psychological, and tactical. From a theoretical thematic analysis, it was found that the perception of effort is closely related to how effort is distributed within the team. Moreover, coaches viewed physical effort in relation to the frequency and intensity of the players’ involvement in the game. They identified psychological effort in situations where players pay attention to proper cues, and manage emotions under difficult circumstances. Tactical effort addressed the decision-making process of players and how they fulfilled their roles while taking into account the actions of their teammates and opponents. Based on these findings, a model of perceived distributed effort was developed, which delineates the elements that compose each of the aforementioned dimensions. Implications of perceived distributed effort in team coordination and shared mental models are discussed.     

Trunk axial rotation in baseball pitching and batting

The purpose of this study was to quantify trunk axial rotation and angular acceleration in pitching and batting of elite baseball players. Healthy professional baseball pitchers (n = 40) and batters (n = 40) were studied. Reflective markers attached to each athlete were tracked at 240 Hz with an eight-camera automated digitizing system. Trunk axial rotation was computed as the angle between the pelvis and the upper trunk in the transverse plane. Trunk angular acceleration was the second derivative of axial rotation. Maximum trunk axial rotation (55 ± 6°) and angular acceleration (11,600 ± 3,100 °/s²) in pitching occurred before ball release, approximately at the instant the front foot landed. Maximum trunk axial rotation (46 ± 9°) and angular acceleration (7,200 ± 2,800 °/s²) in batting occurred in the follow-through after ball contact. Thus, the most demanding instant for the trunk and spine was near front foot contact for pitching and after ball contact for batting.     

THE MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE MIDDLESEX POLYTECHNIC DIP H.E. PROGRAMME

Monitoring and evaluation of a complex course is based on data acquired formally from normal administrative records; from research, sometimes in the form of students' projects; from staff and student questionnaires. Informally, regular tutor‐group meetings and a receptive attiude on the part of staff to student opinion are crucial. Once appropriate questions have been asked, it is then possible to ensure a flow of Information which can affect not only the day‐to‐day operation of the course but also its strategic planning.     

The demand side of STM publishing: understanding value creation in new market units

Five factors are shaping the STM publishing industry: the shift from a supply‐driven to a user‐driven industry; conversion of paper‐based products to an all electronic environment; commoditization of online publishing technology; consolidation; and saturation of the traditional buyer market. Opportunities exist for publishers who can leverage their traditional content assets into new products that help specifically defined user‐groups accelerate and enhance the value creation process in vertical industry sectors. Research conducted with one group of researchers within one group of functions in one given industry describes the results of such an approach.     

Pictures and children’s story recall: Some questions of durability

It has been found that story-relevant pictures help children recall stories. But do those gains endure over time? Those of the second graders in this study did, over a 3-day period. Although they had more to forget, children aided by pictures did not forget more than those in a control group.     

非凡而又敏捷的家蝇

一只家蝇能把一件事做得出奇得好,那就是:飞行。最近,一组英国科学家宣布,普通的家蝇是地球上最天才的空气动力学家,它比任何的鸟、蝙蝠或蜜蜂都要高明许多。一只家蝇能在一秒钟之内做6个旋转动作;它能在空中旋停;向上直飞、向下直飞、向后直飞;它能翻筋斗;降落在天花板上;而且