中澳两所大学促进大学新生角色转换的对比研究

2004年7月在教育部留学基金委的双语教学项目的资助下,笔者之一(董艳)有幸到澳大利亚悉尼大学学习进修。该校作为澳洲历史最古老的大学之一,建立于1850年,有着较为深厚的文化底蕴和研究传统。学习期间,笔者对该校理学院的“学生角色转换研讨会”项目产生了浓厚的兴趣。从中发现悉尼大学在促进新生从高中到大学的角色转换方面,作了许多富有成效的工作。如从量化的角度(问卷调查)收集大学生对大学生活诸方面的体验数据,以促进学校和院系的改革等。目前,世界许多国家的高校把大学新生的角色转换作为一个重要的课题,且已产生许多研究成果。基本…     

The Effects of Morning Naps, Car Trips, and Maternal Separation on Adrenocortical Activity in Human Infants

3 studies of adrenocortical activity in healthy 9-month-old infants were conducted to examine unanticipated results obtained in previous research. In the first study, morning naps were examined and found to be associated with significant decreases in salivary cortisol. These decreases were followed by a significant return to prenap cortisol concentrations. In the second study, riding for 40 min in the car was also shown to significantly lower salivary cortisol concentrations. This effect was obtained both for infants who did and who did not sleep during the car trip. In the third study, the effect of 30 min of maternal separation in the laboratory on salivary cortisol was compared to the effect of 30 min of play with mother present. Separation resulted in significantly higher salivary cortisol concentrations as compared to play with mother present. In general, correlations between cortisol and behavior were found to be nonsignificant under conditions that did not produce stress elevations in cortisol, while less positive, more distressed behaviour was significantly correlated with cortisol under separation or stress conditions.     

Transforming administration to support science in the schoolhouse for students with disabilities

I examine the role that administrators play in facilitating the development, adoption, use, and evaluation of scientifically based interventions within the school culture to support the educational outcomes of students with learning disabilities (LD). Two ways of transforming the administrative role to support science in the schoolhouse are presented; one considers the importance of including language in future legislation that acknowledges the role of administrators in school reform, and the other focuses on establishing a national research agenda addressing issues of leadership and special education. I argue that these 2 venues should serve to identify and to stimulate the use of evidence-based administrative practices that ultimately increase educational outcomes for students with LD, improve teacher instruction, and transform the leadership mission.     

The Effects of Classwide Self-Assessment on Preschool Children's Engagement in Transition, Free Play and Small Group Instruction

The effectiveness of using a group self-management procedure to increase the on-task behavior of four disruptive preschool boys was studied using a reversal design combined with a multiple baseline across settings design. Measures of child and teacher behavior were obtained through direct observation during free play, transition, and small group instruction activities. The classwide procedure, which included self-assessment by the students, matching the assessments with the teacher, and reinforcement based on a match between teacher and child ratings, was conducted by teachers in two classrooms located at a Head Start center in a large urban area. Results suggest that use of the procedure improved on-task behavior of the target students and decreased off-task and competing behavior. For the teachers, use of a group approach to self-management served the dual purpose of addressing individual student needs while promoting independent and responsible behavior for all members of the class.     

Teaching beliefs of non‐formal environmental educators: a perspective from state and local parks in the United States

The purpose of this study was to investigate the teaching beliefs of non‐formal environmental educators who work in state and local parks. Findings reveal that teaching beliefs are much more complex than purported in the literature. Three broad insights are offered: including roles and responsibilities of the non‐formal environmental educator, various approaches, and conceptions and characteristics of non‐formal environmental education. The implications are important for training future non‐formal environmental educators in local and state parks.     

The indignant page: Techniques of neutralization in the publications of pedophile organizations

There is considerable consensus in this and other societies that adult sexual behavior with children is exploitative and victimizing in nature. The publications of three United States pedophile organizations that advocate adult sexual behavior with children and that are politically and socially active in attempts to decriminalize that behavior--the Rene Guyon Society, the Childhood Sensuality Circle, and the North American Man/Boy Love Association--are analyzed as to how they justify, normalize, or rationalize their practices and philosophy in light of that consensus. The framework for that analysis is the sociological concept of techniques of neutralization.     

The Stories of Nico and Brooke Revisited: Toward a Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue About Teaching and Learning

ABSTRACT— In "A tale of two cases: Lessons for education from the study of two boys living with half their brains" ( M. H. Immordino-Yang, 2007 ), I showed that Nico (missing his right cerebral hemisphere) and Brooke (missing his left) had compensated for basic neuropsychological skills to previously unexpected degrees and argued that the ways they had compensated revealed general principles about the active role of the learner and the organizing role of emotion and social interaction in development. Here, I briefly review my findings and interpretations of that work as background for readers to engage in the cross-disciplinary conversation that follows in this journal issue.     

What do individuals in different science groups within a life sciences organization think about genetic modification?

An assessment was undertaken of the attitudes of individuals within the science community towards a program to produce genetically modified cattle for altered milk composition, expectantly allowing for research into the treatment of multiple sclerosis in humans. The majority of respondents to an electronic survey expressed favorable attitudes to the program, thought it beneficial, respected individual freedom and was fair and just and disagreed that it was harmful. A passion for science and having a suitable lifestyle were the most important motivating factors for individuals. Finally, there were a wide range of responses to a number of cultural beliefs or myths. Science grouping significantly affected the responses. Compared with Systems and Land groups, Plant and Reproduction groups more strongly agreed with the project, thought it less harmful to interest groups, felt that genetic modification of animals was more morally acceptable, and more strongly agreed with the myth statements. These results indicate a diversity of beliefs and attitudes towards genetic modification amongst those within the science community, and highlight the importance of understanding ethics and myths in dealing with them. It is suggested that the diversity of beliefs could be better used to help shape public policy and understanding of biotechnology.     

Homocysteine status and acute myocardial infarction among Tamilians

Myocardial infarction is a major consequence of coronary artery disease. Apart from the traditional risk factors of myocardial infarction, recently many reports have suggested that hyperhomocysteinemia plays important role in myocardial infarction. Plasma homocysteine level was determined in 60 myocardial infarction patients and in 35 age matched healthy individuals. Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) were observed in the mean of plasma homocysteine concentrations between the acute myocardial infarction patients (24.59±6.14 mM/L) and in normal healthy individuals (13.73 ±3.54 mM/L). The level of homocysteine in myocardial infarction patients is significantly high (p <0.01) among myocardial infarction patients when compared to that of the controls. The the present study indicates a strong association between plasma homocysteine and acute myocardial infarction among Tamilians, thus implying plasma homocysteine as a possible risk factor for myocardial infarction.     

Protective role of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus niruri</Emphasis> against nimesulide induced hepatic damage

Present study aimed to evaluate the protective role of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) against nimesulide-induced hepatic disoder in mice by determining levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum and also by measuring the hepatic content of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismitase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); the free radical scavenger, reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS). Aqueous extract of P. niruri was administered either orally or intraperitoneally in different doses and times as needed for the experiments. Intraperitoneal of the extract (100 mg/kg body weight for seven days) reduced nimesulide (750 mg/kg body weight for 3 days) induced increased levels of GOT (37.0±1.8 units/ml in control group vs. 91.8±2.0 units/ml in nimesulide treated group vs. 35.0±1.0 units/ml in extract treated group), GPT (30.0±2.1 units/ml in control group vs. 88.4±2.9 units/ml in nimesulide treated group vs. 34.1±1.8 units/ml in extract treated group), and ALP (7.86±0.47 KA units/ml in control group vs. 23.80±0.60 KA units/ml in nimesulide treated group vs. 7.30±0.40 KA units/ml, in extract treated group) to almost nomal. In addition, P. niruri restored the nimesulide induced alterations of hepatic SOD (550±20 units/mg total protein in control group vs. 310±13 units/mg total protein in nimesulide treated group vs. 515±10 units/mg total protein in extract treated group), CAT (99.5±2 units/mg total protein in control group vs. 25.0±1.5 units/mg total protein in nimesulide treated group vs. 81.0±0.8 units/mg total protein in extract treated group), GSH (90±3 nmoles/mg total protein in control group vs. 17±4.2 nmoles/mg total protein in nimesulide treated group vs. 81±1 nmoles/mg total protein in extract treated group) and TBARS (measured as MDA, 36.6±3.0 nmoles/g liver tissue in control group vs. 96.3±5.2 nmoles/g liver tissue in nimesulide treated group vs. 41.2±1.7 nmoles/g liver tissue in extract treated group) contents. Dose-dependent studies showed that the herb could protect liver even if the nimesulide-induced injury is severe. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract showed better protective effect than oral administration. Combining all, the data suggest that P. niruri possesses hepatoprotective activity against nimesulide-induced liver toxicity and probably acts via an antioxidant defense mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the hepatoprotective action of P. niruri against nimesulide induced liver damage.