Assessing students' ability to trace matter in dynamic systems in cell biology

College-level biology courses contain many complex processes that are often taught and learned as detailed narratives. These processes can be better understood by perceiving them as dynamic systems that are governed by common fundamental principles. Conservation of matter is such a principle, and thus tracing matter is an essential step in learning to reason about biological processes. We present here multiple-choice questions that measure students' ability and inclination to trace matter through photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Data associated with each question come from students in a large undergraduate biology course that was undergoing a shift in instructional strategy toward making fundamental principles (such as tracing matter) a central theme. We also present findings from interviews with students in the course. Our data indicate that 1) many students are not using tracing matter as a tool to reason about biological processes, 2) students have particular difficulties tracing matter between systems and have a persistent tendency to interconvert matter and energy, and 3) instructional changes seem to be effective in promoting application of the tracing matter principle. Using these items as diagnostic tools allows instructors to be proactive in addressing students' misconceptions and ineffective reasoning.     

Effect of Lecturers' Attitude on Use of Educational Support Systems for Teaching in University-based Library Schools in Nigeria

Welcome to the Global Postcards column! We are so excited to bring you news and projects from around the world. We have one main contribution for this column: a librarian, Taiwo Akinde, and a lecturer, Airen Adetimirin, both of the University of Ibadan in Nigeria show us an investigation of the effect of attitude to use on the use of Educational Support Systems (ESS) by lecturers for teaching in the university-based library schools in their country. Thanks to the contributors for this issue, and please keep the submissions coming! If you would like to send a submission, please contact either of the column.s co-editors: Jacqueline Solis, jsolis@email.unc.edu, and Robin Kear, rlk25@pitt.edu     

Information within a system of the basic categories of a planetary analysis

At the turn of the 21st century a methodological analysis of the planetary development of civilization became a topical issue in world science. Such an analysis is based on a framework of categorical concepts adopted for active use in globalistics, namely, the biosphere, sociosphere, technosphere, noosphere, and infosphere. The given context provides a new perspective on the phenomenon of information and informatics, with the latter having experienced increasing demands as a popular scientific discipline in the field of information. In the contemporary setting, these phenomena can be adequately evaluated only in connection with the above concepts.     

The law of one price,noise and “irrational exuberance”: the auction market for Picasso prints

We use prices realized for Picasso prints at auctions worldwide, as well as the 100 prints that comprise his Vollard Suite, to test the law of one price: the proposition that identical art objects sold contemporaneously should command the same price regardless of the auction house or geographic region where the sale takes place. Picasso is the most prolific printmaker of the twentieth century and, from 1977 to 2004, his prints appreciated in price significantly faster than the prints of modern masters as a whole. We find that Picasso prints sold in the United States command higher prices than in Europe. However, prices realized at Sotheby’s in New York are no longer higher than at Christie’s in New York, nor at Kornfeld than at other auction houses. We find evidence of “irrational exuberance” in the transitory nature of the extraordinary prices realized for the Picasso prints included in the 1997 sale of the collection of Victor and Sally Ganz at Christie’s in New York. More generally, we find substantial noise in auction outcomes, a result well known to savvy auction goers.

拓展中华民族传统体育的休闲空间

中华民族传统体育存在于现代的夹缝之中,时代的进步亦即宣告古老民族传统体育的生存土壤随之消亡,按照西方体育的模式对民族传统体育进行改造无异于削足适履。休闲是人类社会发展的产物,是社会进步的标志,民族传统体育的存在状态与休闲文化不谋而合,其常使人置身于人类童年的嬉戏。休闲问题的中国化需要用我们自己的方式来解决,中华民族各具特色、风采各异的传统体育应借助其“天然绿色”、原生态、乡土游乐、自然和谐的价值重获新生。在实际工作中,应借助休闲文化与民族传统体育的自身特点,改造民族传统体育项目,拓展节庆旅游市场,开展农村休闲体育活动,普及休闲知识,实现中华民族传统体育的伟大复兴。     

Reducing adolescents' involvement with relational aggression: Evaluating the effectiveness of the Creating A Safe School (CASS) intervention

This study examined the effectiveness of a comprehensive, school‐based intervention program, Creating A Safe School (CASS; The Ophelia Project) designed to reduce relational aggression (RA) and relational victimization (RV). Sixth‐grade students (N = 406) were surveyed before and after the intervention. Program effects were tested using a repeated‐measures design. Results revealed significant reductions in RA and RV among students who reported initially high levels of involvement. Findings also showed that decreasing approval of RA accounted for a significant amount of variance in changes in RA between pre‐ and posttest. These results provide initial evidence of the effectiveness of the CASS intervention model in reducing RA among early adolescents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.