Three Walks Through Fictional Fens: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gaffer Samson’s Luck</Emphasis>

The paper discusses the children’s novel Gaffer Samson’s Luck (1984), by Jill Paton Walsh, from three different perspectives; those of a cultural geographer, a literary scholar and an English teacher. It is part of a larger research project on children’s perception of their place-related identities through reading and writing. The novel is used as a case study to develop a multidisciplinary approach, drawing upon theories of literature and reading, and a conceptualisation of space in cultural geography. Employing ideas from different disciplines, the paper offers an original interpretation of the text as well as innovative analytical tools for future research and for classroom application.     

Looking at the Social Aspects of Nature of Science in Science Education Through a New Lens

Particular social aspects of the nature of science (NOS), such as economics of, and entrepreneurship in science, are understudied in science education research. It is not surprising then that the practical applications, such as lesson resources and teaching materials, are scarce. The key aims of this article are to (a) synthesize perspectives from the literature on economics of science (EOS), entrepreneurship, NOS, and science education in order to have a better understanding of how science works in society and (b) illustrate how such a synthesis can be incorporated in the practice of science education. The main objectives of this article are to (1) argue for the role and inclusion of EOS and entrepreneurship in NOS and re-define entrepreneurship in the NOS context; (2) explore the issues emerging in the “financial systems” of the Family Resemblance Approach (FRA) to NOS and propose the inclusion of contemporary aspects of science, such as EOS and entrepreneurship, into NOS; (3) conceptualize NOS, EOS, and entrepreneurship in a conceptual framework to explain how science works in the society; and (4) transform the theoretical knowledge of how science operates in society into practical applications for science teaching and learning. The conceptual framework that we propose illustrates the links between State, Academia, Market and Industry (the SAMI cycle framework). We suggest practical lesson activities to clarify how the theoretical discussions on the SAMI cycle framework can be useful and relevant for classroom practice. In this article, science refers to physics, chemistry, and biology. However, we also recommend an application of this framework to other sciences to reveal their social-institutional side.     

Change-of direction deficit in elite young soccer players

Change-of-direction (COD) ability is an essential physical component for soccer. This study examined the relationships between conventional speed–power assessments and COD performance in elite young soccer players. Twenty-five under-20 male players from the same club (age: 17.6?±?0.8 years, height: 178.1?±?6.7?cm, body mass [BM]: 72.2?±?7.9?kg) performed sprint speed tests, vertical jumps, loaded jump squats, half squats, and Zigzag COD assessments. Moreover, the COD deficit was calculated as the difference between 20-m sprint velocity and Zigzag COD test velocity. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations between Zigzag COD performance and COD deficit with speed and power outputs. Although no significant relationships between speed–power variables and COD ability were present, there were still strong positive correlations between traditional neuromechanical measures and COD deficit. Briefly, it seems that higher performances in speed and power tests are not necessarily related to better performances in specific COD maneuvers. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches and technical staff include specific COD drills in soccer player routines to optimize the transference from speed and power capacities to specific COD performance.     

Bridging the macro- and micro-divide: using an activity theory model to capture sociocultural complexity in mathematics teaching and its development

This paper is methodologically based, addressing the study of mathematics teaching by linking micro- and macro-perspectives. Considering teaching as activity, it uses Activity Theory and, in particular, the Expanded Mediational Triangle (EMT) to consider the role of the broader social frame in which classroom teaching is situated. Theoretical and methodological approaches are illustrated through episodes from a study of the mathematics teaching and learning in a Year-10 class in a UK secondary school where students were considered as “lower achievers” in their year group. We show how a number of questions about mathematics teaching and learning emerging from microanalysis were investigated by the use of the EMT. This framework provided a way to address complexity in the activity of teaching and its development based on recognition of central social factors in mathematics teaching–learning.     

Epistemology,metacognition, and self-regulation: musings on an emerging field

The contributors to this special issue explore the connections between metacognition and personal epistemology. This commentary on the five articles addresses definitional concerns regarding both epistemology and metacognition, discusses the conceptual relation between the constructs, critiques methodological approaches, and suggests developmental considerations in this type of research.