When inclusion excludes: a counter narrative of open online education

Open education aspires to democratize education, promote inclusion and effect change through social justice. These aspirations are difficult to realize in open, online environments, which enable multiple, and often conflicting, perspectives. This paper proposes a counter-narrative that surfaces certain operational norms of the internet and foregrounds their exclusionary nature. We offer an illustrative inventory of some social media interactional patterns to examine communication used in open online education communities. This examination leads us to conclude that language online is subject to a dialectical tension that both includes and excludes. We conclude that a different language is needed in open online educational environments; one that embraces exclusionary structures and strategic ambiguity, as well as the aspirations to further democratize education via digital means.     

Families Learn Together: Reconceptualizing Linguistic Diversity as a Resource

While a growing number of diverse children are entering U.S. schools, misconceptions remain regarding language acquisition. Analysis of weekly interactions in an urban children’s playgroup in the South reveals how the concept of language diversity as a deficit is still widespread. Mothers of young children still believed that efforts to learn multiple languages diminish a child’s ability to learn other things. Conversely, research points to multilingualism as a resource rather than a deficit. Findings indicate that interactions among mothers and children, mediated by the researcher, combined with observations of one child’s bilingual development allowed mothers and young children to rethink their beliefs regarding linguistic diversity. They began recognizing that bilingualism/multilingualism adds to the lives of all children.     

The Principle of Mutual Exclusivity in Word Learning: To Honor or Not to Honor?

According to Markman and Wachtel, children assume that nouns pick out mutually exclusive object categories, and so each object should have only one category label. While this assumption can be useful in word learning, it is not entirely reliable. Therefore, children need to learn when to and when not to make this assumption. 6 studies examined whether knowledge about hierarchical organization of categories and about cross-language equivalents for object labels can help children limit their use of this assumption appropriately. These studies revealed that adults as well as children resisted assigning 2 novel names to the same object in some situations. By age 4, children also seemed to know enough about categorization to accept 2 names for an object if the names picked out categories from different levels of a hierarchy (e.g., animal and lemur) but not if they picked out categories from the same level (e.g., lemur and seal). Moreover, monolingual as well as bilingual children seemed to know enough about languages to accept 2 names for the same object if the names clearly came from different languages. Together, these findings suggest that even preschool children can make use of knowledge about language and categorization to fine tune the mutual exclusivity assumption in order to use it effectively in word learning.     

Microwave Treatment for Pest Control: Coleoptera Insects in Wooden Objects

By far the most common species of woodworms perceived to be the main cause of damage to wood, and in particular to wooden art objects, are Anobium punctatum de Geer and Hylotrupes bajulas of Coleoptera family. In search of non-chemical methods for eradicating these wood pests, microwave (MW) heating can be an effective tool to help control the insects in their different life stages (eggs, larvae, and adult). The effect of 2.45?GHz frequency MW exposure on wooden art objects is described and discussed. MW heating time is reported in connection with lethal temperature of the pest and moisture content of the treated wooden object. The treatment was carried out using Microwood 12, especially conceived for portability, easy operation, and control. Microwood 12 consists of a switch mode high-voltage power supply and an industrial continuous wave magnetron connected to a rectangular-shaped horn antenna. The measure of temperature and control of operation is done via a built-in infrared thermometer.     

How students use their libraries: A case study of four academic libraries

The purpose of this study was to explore the similarities and differences in student behavior in or uses of four academic libraries in the greater New York City area. Using on-site observations and semistructured interviews, the authors collected data about resources and tools used by students as well as their academic and nonacademic activities and contributing factors. Across all four libraries, the study identified that students were actively engaged in academic pursuits utilizing multiple library resources while working with print and digital tools. Students were also observed resting, eating, and engaging in other nonacademic activities. The variations in student behaviors across the four libraries can be explained by contextual variables that influence students' behavior in a library, including student demographics, academic requirements, work habits, and disciplinary affiliations.     

The New State Policy for Teacher Education and Training in Bulgaria: An overview of provision for vocational education

The dynamics of change in Bulgaria are supported by changes in state policy in the development of the education system. Since 1995, the training of teachers for vocational education has taken a leading place in this policy: two decrees of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria have been published which regulate the activity of higher education institutions in that sphere. The new strategy broadens the scope of educational structures and regulates the most significant aspects in the training of teachers for vocational education-the curriculum, the ways of organising teacher education and its staffing. The present commentary interprets the didactic and pedagogical essence of the different rules and the professional and psychological consequences of their adoption in real life. On the basis of the results of the current state policy, it can be concluded that its impact on the quality of the education for the attainment of qualified teacher status is positive with respect to human resource development and the motivation of university lecturers for the successful fulfilment of their mission in this direction. Les changements dynamiques en Bulgarie se voient favorisés par les changements de la politique d'Etat au niveau de l'enseignement ainsi que par le développement du système éducatif dans ses différents degrés. Depuis 1995 la formation de professeurs pour les écoles professionnelles repose sur une nouvelle base normative. Cette dernière fixe le règlement des activités des écoles supérieures en ce qui concerne la formation des professeurs. La stratégie moderne élargit l'éventail des structures d'enseignement et règle les aspects les plus importants du développement institutionnel de l'enseignement dont le but est l'obtention de la qualification professionnelle de "professeur"-le contenu éducatif (standards), les procédés d'organisation de l'enseignement et les exigences concernant les effectifs académiques. L'analyse présentée ici, donne une interprétation de l'entité didactique des différents règlements ainsi que de certaines conséquences pédagogiques et psychologiques dues à leur transposition dans les conditions réelles de la pratique d'études. Du caractère même des changements en cours dans la politique d'Etat résultent les conclusions illustrant l'influence de celle-ci sur la qualité de la formation des professeurs, sur les aspects positifs du développement des ressources humaines et sur la stimulation des enseignants dans la réalisation de leur mission éducative. Los cambios dinámicos en Bulgaria se ven favorecidos por los cambios de la política educacional del Estado así como por el desarrollo del sistema educativo en sus diferentes niveles. Desde 1995 existe una nueva base normativa que reglamenta la actividad de las escuelas superiores en lo concerniente a la capacitación de maestros para las escuelas profesionales. La nueva estrategia amplía las estructuras educacionales y regula los aspectos más significativos del desarrollo institucional de la enseñanza para la obtención de la calificación profesional de "maestro"-el contenido educativo (estándar), las formas de organización de la enseñanza y las exigencias hacia el cuerpo docente. El análisis expuesto aquí presenta una interpretación esenciadle carácter didáctico de los diferentes reglamentos y de algunas consecuencias pedagógicas y psicológicas de la aplicación de dichos reglamentos bajo condiciones reales de la práctica docente. A partir del carácter de los cambios actuales en la política estatal se ha llegado a conclusiones sobre la influencia de esta política en la calidad de la capacitación de los maestros, sobre su papel positivo en el desarrollo de los recursos humanos y en el incentivo a los profesores universitarios para el cumplimiento de su tarea. Die dynamische Veränderungen in Bulgarien wurden durch Änderung der Staafsausbildungspolititk und Entwicklung der Bildung in verschiedenen Schichten unterstützt. Seit 1995 ist die Vorbereitung der Lehrer für die Berufsschulen auf eine neue Normativbasis gestellt. Sie reglamentiert die Tätigkeiten der Hochschulen in Richtung Lehrerausbildung. Die neue Strategie erweitert das Gebiet der Ausbildungstrukturen und reguliert die bedeutende Gesichtspunkte in Institutionalentwicklung der Berufsqualifikation Lehrer-Unterrichtsinhalt, die Organisationsmethoden und die Anforderung am Akademiebestand. Die vorlegende Analyse gibt sowohl eine Interpretation des didaktischen Wesens verschiedener Reglament, als auch einige Pädagogische und psychologische Folgen der Einsaz in realen Ausbildungspraxis. Aus der Änderung der Staatspolitik sind einige Schlussfolgerungen gezogen-ihr Einfuss auf die Bildungsqualität der Lehrer, auf die positive Aspekte menschlichen Ressourceentwicklung und Stimulierung der Universitätslehrer in dieser Richtung.     

Absence of postzygotic isolating mechanisms: evidence from experimental hybridization between two species of tropical sea urchins

Two reef margin species of tropical sea urchins, Echinometra sp. C (Ec) and Echinometra oblonga (Eo), occur sympatrically on Okinawa intertidal reefs in southern Japan. Hybridization between these species was examined through a series of cross-fertilization experiments. At limited sperm concentrations, where conspecific crosses reached near 100% fertilization, both heterospecific crosses showed high fertilization rates (81%–85%). The compatibility of the gametes demonstrated that if gamete recognition molecules are involved in fertilization of these species, they are not strongly species-specific. We found that conspecific crosses reached peak fertilization levels much faster than did heterospecific crosses, indicating the presence of a prezygotic barrier to hybridization in the gametes. Larval survival, metamorphosis, and juvenile and adult survival of hybrid groups were nearly identical to those of their parent species. Hybrids from crosses in both directions developed normally through larval stages to sexually mature adults, indicating that neither gametic incompatibility nor hybrid inviability appeared to maintain reproductive isolation between these species. In adults, Ec×Ec crosses gave the highest live weight, followed by Eo (ova)×Ec (sperm), Ec (ova)×Eo (sperm), and Eo×Eo. Other growth performance measures (viz., test size, Aristotle’s lantern length, and gonad index) of hybrid groups and their parental siblings showed the same trends. The phenotypic color patterns of the hybrids were closer to the maternal coloration, whereas spine length, tube-foot and gonad spicule characteristics, pedicellaria valve length, and gamete sizes showed intermediate features. Adult F₁ hybrids were completely fertile and displayed high fertilization success in F₁ backcrosses, eliminating the likelihood that hybrid sterility is a postzygotic mechanism of reproductive isolation. Conversely, intensive surveys failed to find hybrid individuals in the field, suggesting the lack or rarity of natural hybridization. This strongly suggests that reproductive isolation is achieved by prezygotic isolating mechanism(s). Of these mechanisms, habitat segregation, gamete competition, differences in spawning times, gametic incompatibility or other genetic and non-genetic factors appear to be important in maintaining the integrity of these species.     

Conceptual Incoherence as a Result of the use of Multiple Historical Models in School Textbooks

This paper explores the occurrence of conceptual incoherence in upper secondary school textbooks resulting from the use of multiple historical models. Swedish biology and chemistry textbooks, as well as a selection of books from English speaking countries, were examined. The purpose of the study was to identify which models are used to represent the phenomenon of gene function in textbooks and to investigate how these models relate to historical scientific models and subject matter contexts. Models constructed for specific use in textbooks were identified using concept mapping. The data were further analyzed by content analysis. The study shows that several different historical models are used in parallel in textbooks to describe gene function. Certain historical models were used more often then others and the most recent scientific views were rarely referred to in the textbooks. Hybrid models were used frequently, i.e. most of the models in the textbooks consisted of a number of components of several historical models. Since the various historical models were developed as part of different scientific frameworks, hybrid models exhibit conceptual incoherence, which may be a source of confusion for students. Furthermore, the use of different historical models was linked to particular subject contexts in the textbooks studied. The results from Swedish and international textbooks were similar, indicating the general applicability of our conclusions.     

Quantification of Helicobacter pylori levels in soil samples from public playgrounds in Spain

Helicobacter pylori are ubiquitous Gram-negative bacteria with a high estimated level of infection in the world populations, but a majority of the infected persons are asymptomatic. This pathogen has been classified by the World Health Organization as a class I carcinogen and recognized as the causal agent of most peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis that might lead to stomach cancer. Although not all the transmission pathways of these bacteria into humans have been properly identified, enough data have suggested that the oral-oral or fecal-oral ones are the main infection routes. Helicobacter pylori have been detected in non-treated water and in drinking water, which suggested that water might be an important infection source. As childhood is the critical period of infection, the aim of the present work was to examine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in soil samples from public playing areas of Spanish parks.