Proportions in elementary school

Proportion problems were given to pupils in grades 3, 4, and 5. The number structure of the problems was kept at an elementary level and the contexts were varied. The success rates were high, which shows that young children have some understanding of the concept of proportion. Elementary strategies based on addition were often used. Familiarity with the use of ratios in the context, the presence of a mixture, and the use of manipulatives were context variables that influenced performance. The abilities required to solve proportion problems in various contexts were essentially independent from each other. The cognitive characteristics that predict success were found to be different from those that predict use of multiplicative strategies.     

Signification et fonctionnement du concept de variable informatique chez des eleves debutants

Resume Dans le cadre d'une problématique d'ensemble sur les difficultés cognitive posées par l'acquisition des concepts informatiques, nous avons étudié chez des élèves débutants, la résolution de problèmes relatifs à la représentation et au traitement des variables informatiques, dans une tache de complétion de lignes manquantes dans un programme. Les résultats permettent de discuter les relations entre d'une part la nature des solutions apportées par les élèves, d'autre part les propriétés du champs conceptuel en jeu et la maniére dont les concepts ont été introduits.

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The concept of variable in programming-its meaning and use in problem-solving

Our general purpose is to study the cognitive problems encountered by subjects in their acquisition of programming concepts. In this paper we focus our attention on the concept of variable and its use in problem-solving by naive students (15–16 years old) who had previously followed a didactical experience. We offered to the students a set of computer program texts in which one or more instructions were missing: they were asked to complete these instructions. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the solution given by the student, the properties of the conceptual field and the way in which these concepts were introduced.

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Cette recherche a été réalisée en collaboration avec A. Rouchier, J. Rogalski, J. C. Despland, J. M. Laubin, Y. Ferrand, C. Landré, J. F. Pigeonnat, G. Sarfati, et G. Vergnaud.     

Giving new life to out‐of‐print books: when publishers' and libraries' interests meet

The Library of the Université Libre de Bruxelles and Editions de l'Université de Bruxelles (EUB), the University's publishing imprint, have recently agreed to collaborate to provide free online access to recent out‐of‐print books published by EUB. The e‐books are available on the Digithèque website, a collection of digital copies of printed books created by the Library. This initiative is valuable for the scientific community and the general public who can freely access the books online, for the authors whose books have been digitized and widely disseminated, and for the publisher whose collections become more visible on the Internet, thereby generating more traffic on its website and potentially increasing sales of its other books. Around 20 books have been made available online so far. This article describes the context of the agreement, how the collaboration operates, the options of file conversion vs. book scanning, issues relating to copyright and users' rights, how access is provided to the digital copies, and future collaborative projects of the Library and EUB.     

Professional learning as a predictor for instructional quality: a secondary analysis of TALIS

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of teachers’ professional learning opportunities on instructional quality, which represents a combined approach of behaviorist, cognitivist, and constructivist principles in teaching. We incorporated professional learning communities (PLCs), professional development (PD) days, as well as 3 PD types (traditional, reform-based, and informal) to provide a comprehensive account of teachers’ professional learning opportunities. Using the extant large-scale data, the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), from 3,213 middle-school teachers in Turkey, we found that PLCs and reform-based PD activities produced statistically significant effects on instructional quality, ranging from high to moderate effects, all other PD variables held constant. Discussion on the results was centered on the schools for being a venue for professional learning and the potential of collaborative structures to promote teachers’ development.     

Non-linear resistance training reduces inflammatory biomarkers in persons living with HIV: A randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of 12 weeks of non-linear resistance training (NLRT) on anthropometry, muscle strength and inflammatory biomarkers in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (PIHIV). Thirty previously sedentary PIHIVs were randomized into the NLRT (n?=?15) and control (CON, n?=?15) groups. NLRT group were submitted to 12 weeks of training, whereas the CON group maintained their daily habits. At baseline and after 12 weeks, both groups underwent anthropometric evaluations and blood sampling for the analysis of inflammatory biomarkers. Analysis of covariance using preintervention values as covariate was performed to determine the effects of exercise on anthropometry, muscle strength, cytokines levels and T cells. Significance was set at p?p?p p?=?.009), blood levels of interleukin (IL)-1β (p?=?.029), IL-6 (p?=?.005), IL-8 (p?=?.010), and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p?=?.001) and an increase in muscle strength (p?p?=?.030) and CD4⁺ (p?=?.004) and CD8⁺ (p?相似文献   

Implicit measures of beliefs about sport ability in swimming and basketball

Sport ability may be seen as relatively stable, genetically determined and not easily modified by practice, or as increasable with training, work and effort. Using the Implicit Association Test (IAT), the purpose of the present study is to examine whether the practice of a particular sport (swimming or basketball) can influence automatic beliefs about sport ability in these two sports. The IAT scores evidence that swimmers and basketball players automatically and implicitly associate their own sport with training rather than genetics, whereas non-sportspersons have no significant automatic association. This result is strengthened when perceived competence and intrinsic motivation in swimming or basketball are high.     

“一带一路”背景下自然科学博物馆对《2030年可持续发展议程》的潜在贡献

“一带一路”倡议和联合国《2030年可持续发展议程》的性质和范围各不相同,但均以可持续发展为总体目标。因此,“一带一路”倡议对《2030年可持续发展议程》的实施具有巨大的推动作用,具有巨大潜力。自然科学博物馆如何为实现《2030年可持续发展议程》,特别是在“一带一路”的政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通、民心相通五大优先领域中做出贡献？为此讨论四个问题:自然科学博物馆在推动“一带一路”国家之间科技创新合作方面的潜在作用; “一带一路”国家的自然科学博物馆之间实现互联互通;“一带一路”背景下自然科学博物馆的海外发展援助潜力;自然科学博物馆在强文化理解的作用。     

L'harmonisation des actions de formation initiale et continue entre pays de la Communauté: principes théoriques et réalisation pratique

Schemes aiming to promote free movement for teachers and other schemes stressing the European dimension of school teaching should be distinguished. The latter affect most teachers. Difficulties arise from the need of harmonising the different educational systems, vis‐à‐vis the shortage of time allotted to the training of teachers. Increasing familiarity with foreign languages should not hide other pedagogical, administrative or financial difficulties. Harmonisation can be promoted, for instance, by: (1) a pattern of training encouraging trainees to produce their own instruments; (2) positive relationship between initial training and INSET, at the same geographical scale, on a module‐based pattern; (3) training based on mutually shared educational projects. Two cases are analysed, showing the relationship between European dimension and teachers’ exchange.     

Explicitness of criteria in peer assessment processes for first-year engineering students

This article will outline the motives for the implementation of peer assessment as put into action at the first year of the Civil Engineering course of the University of Minho. The implementation of new assessment methods was a consequence of the successful implementation of peer assessment at other engineering courses. During the semester, three assessment moments took place, in which students assessed the work of their peers. Assessment criteria were defined in a negotiation process between students and teacher. The students subsequently graded the work of their colleagues and had to provide a clear justification for each given grade. The aim of this method is to involve students in the subject, enhance their motivation and deepen their learning. Advantages and disadvantages of peer assessment are discussed. The results that have been obtained so far draw attention to the nature of assessment criteria and the corresponding explicitness.