Neuromyths Among Teachers and Student Teachers

Many so‐called brain‐based educational approaches have been strongly criticized for their lack of empirical support and occasionally for their use of pseudoscientific concepts. As a result, several use the term neuromyths to refer to false beliefs or misinterpretations regarding neuroscientific facts. We surveyed both teachers and student teachers concerning their agreement toward hemispheric dominance, modality dominance, and the Brain Gym© method. Results suggest that teachers as well as student teachers believe in the reality of hemispheric and modality dominance but only a few were aware of the Brain Gym© method. Correlation analyses show moderate relationships across different beliefs and/or their perceived benefits in education. Teachers believed more than student teachers in hemispheric dominance and its pedagogical relevance. Together with other studies, the results suggest that teachers and student teachers could benefit from appropriate training in this new field of research.     

How can students’ academic performance in statistics be improved? Testing the influence of social and temporal-self comparison feedback in a web-based training environment

The aim of this study was to examine how social or temporal-self comparison feedback, delivered in real-time in a web-based training environment, could influence the academic performance of students in a statistics examination. First-year psychology students were given the opportunity to train for a statistics examination during a semester by doing online exercises in a web-based training environment. Once connected, students received in real-time either social comparison feedback (their score was compared to the mean score of all first-year students) or temporal-self comparison feedback (their score was compared, week by week, with their own previous score). The fact that students were free to connect to the web-based training environment heightened self-regulation differences such as academic procrastination, which was considered as a moderating variable in this study. Because academic performance was measured, the students’ background in mathematics and statistics was also controlled. Irrespective of the students’ background, the results reveal a positive influence of social comparison feedback on statistics exam performance, but only among students who did not delay doing exercises in the web-based training environment. By contrast, temporal-self comparison feedback did not have any effect on performance. Some recommendations for optimizing the efficacy of web-based training environments can be proposed, taking into account both social comparison feedback and academic procrastination.     

DEVELOPMENT, VALIDATION, AND USE OF A GREEK-LANGUAGE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ASSESSING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN GRADE 10 CHEMISTRY CLASSES

This study describes the development and validation of a Greek-language instrument that can be used to assess grade 10 students' perceptions of their chemistry classroom environment as a means of showing differences between chemistry learning environments in Greece (Attica) and Cyprus. The development of the instrument was based on available learning environment questionnaires. The questionnaire was administered to 1,394 students from 49 chemistry classes in Attica, and the resulting data were analyzed to explore the reliability and the validity of the new instrument. The validated questionnaire was administered to 225 students from 15 classes in urban areas of Cyprus. The data analyses supported the questionnaire's internal consistency, discriminant validity, and ability to differentiate between classrooms. Effect sizes and independent samples t test analyses revealed differences between the two samples. Cypriot students viewed their chemistry classroom environment more favorably than did the Attica students. A possible cause for this difference could be the knowledge-centered aspect of the grade 10 chemistry curriculum in Greece compared to the corresponding tool-instrumental knowledge curriculum in Cyprus.     

Randomization‐based statistical inference: A resampling and simulation infrastructure

Statistical inference involves drawing scientifically‐based conclusions describing natural processes or observable phenomena from datasets with intrinsic random variation. We designed, implemented, and validated a new portable randomization‐based statistical inference infrastructure ( http://socr.umich.edu/HTML5/Resampling_Webapp ) that blends research‐driven data analytics and interactive learning, and provides a backend computational library for managing large amounts of simulated or user‐provided data. We designed, implemented and validated a new portable randomization‐based statistical inference infrastructure ( http://socr.umich.edu/HTML5/Resampling_Webapp ) that blends research‐driven data analytics and interactive learning, and provides a backend computational library for managing large amounts of simulated or user‐provided data. The core of this framework is a modern randomization webapp, which may be invoked on any device supporting a JavaScript‐enabled web browser. We demonstrate the use of these resources to analyse proportion, mean and other statistics using simulated (virtual experiments) and observed (e.g. Acute Myocardial Infarction, Job Rankings) data. Finally, we draw parallels between parametric inference methods and their distribution‐free alternatives. The Randomization and Resampling webapp can be used for data analytics, as well as for formal, in‐class and informal, out‐of‐the‐classroom learning and teaching of different scientific concepts. Such concepts include sampling, random variation, computational statistical inference and data‐driven analytics. The entire scientific community may utilize, test, expand, modify or embed these resources (data, source‐code, learning activity, webapp) without any restrictions.     

Non-circular chainring improves aerobic cycling performance in non-cyclists

Non-circular chainrings alter the crank velocity profile over a pedalling cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this altered crank velocity profile on the aerobic performance compared to a circular chainring (CC). Ten male non-cyclists performed two incremental maximal tests at 80?rpm on a cycle ergometer: one with a circular (Shimano) and the other with a non-circular chainring Osymetric^® (Somovedi), at least 50?h apart. Each test started with a workload of 100?W lasting 3?min. During the first 12?min, the workload was increased by 30?W every 3?min. Thereafter, the workload was increased by 30?W every 2?min until exhaustion. The power output, the intra-cycle crank angular velocity and the physiological parameters were monitored continuously, averaged over the last 30?s of each increment and at exhaustion, and compared for the two chainrings. Results showed a higher maximal aerobic power attained with the non-circular chainring (362.6?±?37.9 vs. 338.8?±?32.6?W, p?相似文献   

Comparing ActiGraph equations for estimating energy expenditure in older adults

Accurate estimation of energy expenditure (EE) from accelerometer outputs remains a challenge in older adults. The aim of this study was to validate different ActiGraph (AG) equations for predicting EE in older adults. Forty older adults (age = 77.4 ± 8.1 yrs) completed a set of household/gardening activities in their residence, while wearing an AG at the hip (GT3X+) and a portable calorimeter (MetaMax 3B – criterion). Predicted EEs from AG were calculated using five equations (Freedson, refined Crouter, Sasaki and Santos-Lozano (vertical-axis, vectormagnitude)). Accuracy of equations was assessed using root-mean-square error (RMSE) and mean bias. The Sasaki equation showed the lowest RMSE for all activities (0.47 METs) and across physical activity intensities (PAIs) (range 0.18–0.48 METs). The Freedson and Santos-Lozano equations tended to overestimate EE for sedentary activities (range: 0.48 to 0.97 METs), while EEs for moderate-to-vigorous activities (MVPA) were underestimated (range: ?1.02 to ?0.64 METs). The refined Crouter and Sasaki equations showed no systematic bias, but they respectively overestimated and underestimated EE across PAIs. In conclusion, none of the equations was completely accurate for predicting EE across the range of PAIs. However, the refined Crouter and Sasaki equations showed better overall accuracy and precision when compared with the other methods.     

Skydiving as emotion regulation: the rise and fall of anxiety is moderated by alexithymia

We investigated alexithymia and the fluctuation of anxiety in skydiving women. Alexithymia significantly moderated the pre- to postjump fluctuation of state anxiety such that only alexithymic skydivers' anxiety diminished as a consequence of performing a skydive. This suggests that skydiving is an effective means of emotion regulation for alexithymic women. However, the significant rise in anxiety shortly after landing suggests that any emotional benefits are short-lived. No anxiety fluctuations emerged for nonalexithymic skydivers. The Alexithymia x Time interaction remained significant when controlling for age, experience, and trait anxiety. Results are discussed in terms of the potential dependence on risk-taking activities for alexithymic women.