The digital literacy debate: an investigation of digital propensity and information and communication technology

Research suggests students’ use of information and communication technology (ICT) may be more a matter of digital literacy and access rather than a generational trait. We sought to identify ICT preferences of post-secondary students (N = 580) through a Digital Propensity Index (DPI), investigating communication methods, Internet practices and the creation of online content. Age, gender and socioeconomic status were examined as factors which might explain why students use ICT. Results suggest age is a factor in ICT use but that it is not the most important consideration; the gender gap and gaps between socioeconomic groups in terms of ICT use may be closing. The findings raise a variety of implications for institutions training pre-service teachers, curriculum developers designing instructional materials and educational leaders developing ICT policy for schools.     

Student contribution in asynchronous online discussion: a review of the research and empirical exploration

The increasingly prevalent use of Internet in schools and homes has resulted in asynchronous online discussion becoming an increasingly common means to facilitate dialogue between instructors and students, as well as students and students beyond the boundaries of their physical classrooms. This article is organized into two main sections. In the first section, we review 50 empirical studies in order to identify the factors leading to limited student contribution. Limited student contribution is defined as students making few or no postings, or students exhibiting surface-level thinking or low-level knowledge construction in online discussions. We then identify the various empirically based guidelines to address the factors. In the second section, we discuss three potential guideline dilemmas that educators may encounter: (a) use of grades, (b) use of number of posting guideline, and (c) instructor-facilitation. These are guidelines where previous empirical research shows mixed results when they are implemented. Acknowledging the dilemmas is essential for educators and researchers to make informed decisions about the discussion guidelines they are considering implementing. Finally, we report two exploratory case studies on student-facilitation that we conducted. Using students as facilitators may be an alternative solution to educators who wish to avoid the instructor-facilitation guideline dilemma.     

Features of Modeling-Based Abductive Reasoning as a Disciplinary Practice of Inquiry in Earth Science

Science & Education - The purpose of this study was to investigate the features of modeling-based abductive reasoning as a disciplinary practice of inquiry in the domain of earth science. The...     

香港科技大学土工离心机先进模拟技术在岩土工程中的应用(英文)

研究目的:采用香港科技大学的先进土工离心模拟技术来研究和解决复杂的岩土工程问题。创新要点:1.验证竖向钻孔开挖技术(应力释放)对建筑纠偏的有效性;2.研究隧道坍塌对其邻近既有隧道的影响;3.研究基坑开挖对坑中既有桩基承载力的影响;4.揭示不同颗粒级配形成的土坡在水位上升和动力荷载作用下的破坏模式。研究方法:1.用香港科技大学全球首台离心机中的双向震动台(见图5)模拟地震荷载对土坡的影响;2.用香港科技大学全球第二台四轴机械手(见图6)模拟不停机情况下的钻孔开挖。重要结论:1.竖向钻孔开挖技术能有效地对建筑物进行纠偏;2.隧道坍塌会对其邻近既有隧道产生很大的附加弯矩,尤其是拱脚处的弯矩可增加多达228%;3.基坑开挖后坑中桩基的承载力取决于桩土接触面的粗糙程度,粗糙的桩-土接触面在剪切过程中倾向于发生剪胀,这会增大桩周围土的水平土压力,从而使桩基承载力增加;4.当水位上升时,颗粒均匀,级配差的松散砂土坡容易发生静态液化;相反地,颗粒级配好的松散砂土坡(风化土)不太可能发生静态液化,而只是发生整体滑动破坏;5.离心机双向震动台实验显示松散的风化岩土坡在0.3g的地震加速度作用下不会发生液化,可以抵御香港地区的地震荷载(0.08g到0.11g)。     

Providing Readable Readers for Children in the Lower Primary School

Even a proficient mature reader occasionally has problems with reading. Try reading this sentence.

“that that is is not that that is not is that it is” Even when appropriate punctuation is provided to facilitate the apprehension of the linguistic structure of this sentence, its meaning is not easily evident.     

A microfluidic platform for studying the effects of small temperature gradients in an incubator environment

Studies on the effects of variations in temperature and mild temperature gradients on cells, gels, and scaffolds are important from the viewpoint of biological function. Small differences in temperature are known to elicit significant variations in cell behavior and individual protein reactivity. For the study of thermal effects and gradients in vitro, it is important to develop microfluidic platforms which are capable of controlling temperature gradients in an environment which mimics the range of physiological conditions. In the present paper, such a microfluidic thermal gradient system (μTGS) system is proposed which can create and maintain a thermal gradient throughout a cell-seeded gel matrix using the hot and cold water supply integrated in the system in the form of a countercurrent heat exchanger. It is found that a uniform temperature gradient can be created and maintained in the device even inside a high temperature and high humidity environment of an incubator. With the help of a hot and cold circuit controlled from outside the incubator the temperature gradient can be regulated. A numerical simulation of the device demonstrates the thermal feature of the chip. Cell viability and activity under a thermal gradient are examined by placing human breast cancer cells in the device.     

Effects of motion control footwear on running: a systematic review

Excessive foot pronation is a risk factor of running injuries and motion control footwear is designed to control foot pronation. With the movement transfer between foot pronation and tibial rotation, motion control footwear may not only be confined to controlling foot pronation. In view of the controversies in the literature on effectiveness of motion control footwear, this paper reviewed the efficacy of motion control footwear functions as reported in the literature. Eligible studies were identified from seven electronic databases. Two independent authors extracted the data and assessed the methodological qualities using the Jadad Scale. A total of 14 quasi randomised controlled trials were included. Even though the included studies were rated as "low quality" according to the Jadad Scale, the data were pooled and analysed. Results revealed that motion control footwear was effective in reducing the amount of foot pronation and the peak vertical impact during landing. There is no evidence that suggests motion control footwear for controlling kinematics of the proximal segments.     

Towards a segmentation of science parks: A typology study on science parks in Europe

Although science parks are established globally for decades as an innovation policy instrument to foster growth and networking, there is limited attention given towards research into possible types within these real estate objects. Prior attempts in categorising science parks are characterised by the limited number of cases and/or variables. Science parks are believed to enhance innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic value for firms and regions. Past academic research showed mixed results on these performances and it is reasoned that distinct types within science parks exist that might explain these unclear results. We argue that before we can grasp what science parks can do, we should know what they are. Therefore, a survey on science park characteristics was completed by 82 science park managers in Europe. A cluster analysis was conducted which grouped the 82 participating science parks in three types; ‘research’, ‘cooperative’, and ‘incubator’ locations. Next, differences and similarities of these three types within science parks in Europe were analysed as a basis for advancing the academic debate. The types provide further understanding of science parks and offer researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers a means to compare, market, and benchmark science parks more adequately.