Automated Scoring of Constructed‐Response Science Items: Prospects and Obstacles

Content‐based automated scoring has been applied in a variety of science domains. However, many prior applications involved simplified scoring rubrics without considering rubrics representing multiple levels of understanding. This study tested a concept‐based scoring tool for content‐based scoring, c‐rater?, for four science items with rubrics aiming to differentiate among multiple levels of understanding. The items showed moderate to good agreement with human scores. The findings suggest that automated scoring has the potential to score constructed‐response items with complex scoring rubrics, but in its current design cannot replace human raters. This article discusses sources of disagreement and factors that could potentially improve the accuracy of concept‐based automated scoring.     

A Vocabulary Learning Tool for L2 Undergraduates Reading Science and Technology Textbooks

Students of English as a second language who major in science and technology use English-language textbooks to ensure that they can read English materials upon graduation. Research indicates that teachers spend little time helping these students on the linguistic complexity of such textbooks. Vocabulary, grammar, and article structure are elements of this complexity, but to many students, these elements can be akin to locked doors. This study presents MyVLS-Reader, which focuses on unlocking the first of these doors—vocabulary—while assisting in reading. With explicit vocabulary learning, students learn and memorize individual vocabulary, but the context is lost if the depth of learning discards context. In implicit vocabulary learning, students acquire vocabulary through repeated exposure to contexts, but repeated encounters with new words are required. Few e-learning systems combine both vocabulary-learning approaches. MyVLS-Reader achieves such synergy by (1) using a keyword setting to provide context-matched vocabulary explanation while reading and (2) embedding multiple learning choices, such as keyword setting, the review and memorization of explicit vocabulary, and the option to ask instructors. This study includes two rounds of evaluations: (1) an evaluation of the learning achievements of control and treatment groups and (2) a quantitative and qualitative investigation of perceptions regarding the use of MyVLS-Reader. The evaluation results indicate that the treatment group developed a better vocabulary than the control group in significantly less time. The use of MyVLS-Reader also slightly improved higher-order thinking skills. This result suggests that MyVLS-Reader can effective assist students in building their vocabulary while reading.     

Depressed skull fractures: a pattern of abusive head injury in three older children

OBJECTIVE: To describe a pattern of abusive head injury in a series of children older than 4 years of age. METHODS: A hospital chart review of abused children with skull fractures from 1999 to 2001 was carried out. The clinical features, social background, and subsequent outcome and management are described. RESULTS: An 11-year-old girl and a pair of brothers of ages 7 and 9 were identified. The girl was attacked with a hammer during sleep by her stepmother, who committed suicide shortly afterwards. After craniotomy and intensive care, the child survived her multiple depressed fractures, intracranial bleeding, and brain contusion. Two brothers from a second family were attacked from behind with a hammer by their biological father, who was subsequently found to have undiagnosed schizophrenia. A depressed occipital fracture, without intracranial injury, was found in each child. The elder brother also had metacarpal fractures. Both children recovered without surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: A pattern of abusive head injury was described in older children with depressed skull fractures from blunt injury. The abusing parents were seriously mentally disturbed, and the abusive acts closely resembled child homicide.     

四种英国产香烟烟气中自由基的ESR分析研究

研究了用电子自旋顺磁共振(ESR)法对香烟烟气中的自由基进行分析的样品处理方法及ESR检测方法.对四种英国产香烟样品中的粒相及气相自由基进行了分析检测并对检测结果进行了讨论.结论:大多数英国产的检测样品香烟中,含有1.5～3倍于国产对照香烟样品的气相自由基;而国产对照样品香烟的粒相自由基的含量水平则处于较高水平.实验结果还显示:同品牌的Sobranie香烟中,不同型号样品中粒相自由基含量与焦油含量具有负相关性,但不同品牌则不同;对于检测样品而言,气相自由基的含量与焦油含量有正相关性.     

浅谈大学生上网成瘾问题

随着网络科技的快速发展,网络信息化已经遍布整个社会的各行各业。"大学生上网成瘾问题"也越演越烈,已经严重地影响到了他们的健康成长,导致他们学业荒废、精神萎靡、丧失自信、人际关系紧张。本文就如何纠正大学生上网痴迷,引导大学生正确对待网络,使网络能真正有效的为大学生的生活、学习、工作而服务进行分析和阐述。     

高等教育发展波动现象及作用机理分析

高等教育发展存在着波动现象。教育发展的波动受到包括国家宏观政策的调整与规划、人口状况的变动、经济社会发展状况等外部因素的影响,也受到教育投资产生的乘数、加速以及社会文化环境等内部因素的制约。高等教育发展波动在一定时期内是不可避免的,因此,深入研究高等教育发展的波动问题及其波动机理,有助于促进高等教育平稳和均衡发展,有助于提高教育发展规划预见性和前瞻性,有助于提高教育资源和结构调整的科学性。     

“在危机中”就是“在振兴中”——“美国在危机中”新探

尽管由于1983年危机报告的渲染,美国被喻为在"危机中",并由国家的危机归因到教育的危机,但这与其说呈现的是危机的事实,不如说它更是一种可贵的危机意识,是一个危机策略。危机意识是美国文化的重要组成部分,是美国振兴教育的重要策略,要用它来引发对教育的关注并推进教育改革,旨在激发美国人的斗志和爱国热情,这是一种非常高端的危机意识。真正的危机不在教育问题的严峻,而在压根就没有意识到问题的严峻。     

云计算研究和发展综述

云计算是在分布式处理、并行处理和网格计算的基础上发展的一种新型计算模型,它使计算分布在大量的分布式计算机上,而非本地计算机或远程服务器中,提供了可靠安全的数据存储、方便快捷的互联网服务和强大高效的计算能力。对世界各地区高校在云计算领域上的研究及发展动向进行了论述。     

数据移动技术的选择与实现

数据移动技术是分布式数据库中非常重要的技术之一。本归纳总结了分布式数据库中的数据移动技术，从本质上将现有的数据移动技术分为在线、同步、复制三类技术。在线技术系统可以达到绝对的一致性，但该技术对网络要求很高，且在节点较少时才比较有效。同步技术可以支持大量节点，异构和级联环境，要求有效的网络连接，存在一定的一致性延时。复制技术比较灵活，支持大量节点，异构和级联环境；可以在较好的网络环境，也可以在无直接或网络环境恶劣的情况下使用；存在一定的一致性延时，也可达到准实时的一致性。这三类数据移动技术的应用和选择，主要取决于业务需求和可用的技术架构以及系统对一致性和延时的要求。     

贝多芬与《英雄》

对贝多芬第三交响曲《英雄》的解读,感受和领悟到复活的英雄式胜利。《英雄》表现了贝多芬深层的情感和丰富的戏剧化对比。这曲展示了从黑暗走向光明和走向胜利之路的整个历程,自第一乐章剧烈的战斗开始,便强有力的把听众引至凯旋的最后乐章。这是一部和声复杂、气势恢闳的交响曲,像是向不可抗拒的命运宣战。