A Piagetian-Based Programme for Learning “Elements and Symbols”

Piaget's learning theory on cognitive development has had considerable impact on science education (Piaget, 1964; Inhelder and Piaget, 1958; Craig, 1972). The theory classifies cognitive learning into four successive stages: (a) sensory-motor, (b) pre-operational, (c) operational, and (d) formal. Various programmes and instructional strategies have been developed based on the theory (Batt, 1980; Karplus, 1977; Renner and Stafford, 1979; Ryan, et al., 1980; Herron, 1978; Good et al; 1978). An application of this theory for teaching and learning scientific concepts is the Piagetian learning cycle (Karplus, 1977) which is of growing interest among science educators. This article intends to introduce briefly the learning cycle in general and suggest a learning cycle for teaching a topic in chemistry: “Elements and Symbols”.     

Movement Pattern and Parameter Learning in Children

Reduced feedback during practice has been shown to be detrimental to movement accuracy in children but not in young adults. We hypothesized that the reduced accuracy is attributable to reduced movement parameter learning, but not pattern learning, in children. A rapid arm movement task that required the acquisition of a motor pattern scaled to specific spatial and temporal parameters was used to investigate the effects of feedback (FB) frequency (100% vs. 62% faded) on motor learning differences between 19 school-age children and 19 young adults. Adults and children practiced the task for 200 trials under the 100% or faded FB condition on Day 1 and returned on Day 2 for a no-FB retention test. On the retention test, children who practiced with reduced feedback performed with greater temporal parameter errors, but not pattern error, than children who received frequent feedback. Motor skill learning in children is influenced by feedback frequency during practice that affects parameter learning but not pattern learning.     

Status of Environmental Education in Geography Programmes at the Tertiary Level in some ASEAN Countries

Geography programmes in the universities in the ASEAN countries have been involved in environmental education through the study of the earth as the home of man in general and of the physical environment in particular. However, there is a perceptible trend that the discipline at this level is on the decline, partly due to external factors and partly to its own making. The traditional strength of geography as an environmental science does no longer guarantee its future role unless there is a change to its approach in environmental education. This paper examines the present status of the discipline at the tertiary level in this region in the light of the above and calls for a new approach to the study of the environment.     

Secondary School Students' Difficulties in Learning the ‘Mole Concept’ — A Preliminary Study in Singapore

This study uses the relevant test results from the Second International Science Study and the Local G.C.E. ‘O’ level Chemistry papers to show some difficulties faced by Singapore students in understanding the mole concept. It also advocates that in teaching and learning the mole concept, teachers should make use of every opportunity to train students to “think in mole or number of particles” rather than to follow rigidly certain patterns to solve problems. “Think in mole” is the key to many problems, and hence the fundamental skill in solving all the problems in the mole concept.     

Adaptation of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction for Elementary Grades

The secondary school version of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) was adapted for the elementary school level and administered to 1 512 Singaporean students in 39 mathematics classes. The QTI is based on a two-dimensional model of influence (dominance-submission) and proximity (cooperation-opposition). Data supported each scale's internal consistency reliability, ability to predict student achievement, and ability to differentiate between the perceptions of students in different classrooms.     

手机音频的“高保真”实现

由于手机集成了更多的多媒体功能，其音频能力也必须提高或改进。虽然语音呼叫可依然使用单声道且保真度相对较低，但音乐和视频功能却需要使用更高的采样速率来实现高质量的立体声再现。这两个音频流是相互独立的，但由于两者共享同一个头戴耳机、喇叭或麦克风，所以它们必须能够无缝地协同工作。     

Teacher leadership enactment in professional learning community contexts: towards a better understanding of the phenomenon

Professional learning communities (PLCs) have gained considerable attention in education. However, PLCs are dependent on how group members collectively work and learn towards shared goals on improving teaching and learning. This would require leadership to support meaningful and productive interactions within PLC contexts, and hence, the importance of teacher leaders. In this article, we report on an ethnographic case study involving three PLCs investigating how teacher leadership supports PLC conversations using an intervention framework provided by the research team. The findings showed that teacher leadership has potential in supporting PLC conversations along three dimensions of its construct.