Conceptually blindfolded in the optics laboratory. Dilemmas of inductive learning

In modern schooling, student activity and group work are emphasized as important vehicles for learning. Following the perspectives formulated by Piaget and other constructivist thinkers, self-discovery by students of scientific principles is seen as a means for avoiding the pitfalls ascribed to teacher centered lecturing. Teacher explanation in this pedagogical philosophy is often seen as counterproductive to real learning. In the study reported, it is illustrated by means of an example from student group work in a physics laboratory how the understanding of basic principles of optics do not follow from mere observation and physical manipulation of a particular type of educational instrument; the optical bench. It is argued that the optical bench itself is a product of a specific theory of optics and that it embodies principles of understanding the word which are discursive in nature and which are not accessible to learners unless they are provided guidance. In the instance analyzed, students already in some sense had an understanding of the principles illustrated (e.g., that light can only go straight forward, that it cannot go through solid objects, etc.), but they failed to realize the significance of these observations, since they fere not familiar with a theoretical position in which these observations called for an explanation. ‘Seeing’, also in the case of the optics laboratory, relies on the use of cultural tools that provide the observer with relevant contextualizations.     

The Impact of Explicit Teaching of Methodological Aspects of Physics on Scientistic Beliefs and Interest

We assessed the impact of teaching methodological aspects of physics on students’ scientistic beliefs and subject interest in physics in a repeated-measurement design with a total of 142 students of upper secondary physics classes. Students gained knowledge of methodological aspects from the pre-test to the post-test and reported reduced scientistic beliefs, both from their own views and from their presumed prototypical physicists’ views. We found no direct impact of teaching on students’ subject interest in physics. As path analysis indicates, this result can be traced back to opposing paths: Lower scientistic beliefs of students attenuate subject interest while lower presumed scientistic beliefs that they hold of physicists foster subject interest. This finding is in accordance with the self-to-prototype matching theory that predicts an impact of the overlap between students’ self-image and their prototypical image on subject interest in physics.     

Support for School-to-school Networks: How Networking Teachers Perceive Support Activities of a Local Coordinating Agency

External support by a local coordinating agency facilitates the work of school-to-school networks. This study provides an innovative theoretical framework to analyse how support provided by local education offices for school-to-school networks is perceived by the participating teachers. Based on a quantitative survey and qualitative interview data from a networking project in eight German districts, we argue that in order to enable networks to work independently on innovative reforms, local coordinating agencies should focus on autonomy support, such as training on network management, and on support aimed at establishing significance, i.e. through vision and goal setting.     

Engineering students’ conceptions of entrepreneurial learning as part of their education

The purpose of this study was to examine what kinds of conceptions of entrepreneurial learning engineering students expressed in an entrepreneurship course integrated in their study programme. The data were collected during an entrepreneurship course in Estonia that was organised for fourth-year engineering students, using video-recorded group interviews (N?=?48) and individual in-depth interviews (N?=?16). As a result of the phenomenographic analysis, four qualitatively distinctive conceptions of entrepreneurial learning were discerned. Entrepreneurial learning was seen to involve (1) applying entrepreneurial ideas to engineering, (2) understanding entrepreneurial issues in a new way, (3) action-oriented personal development, and (4) self-realising through collective effort. These qualitatively distinct categories differed from each other in four dimensions of variation: nature of learning, response to pedagogy, relation to teamwork, and learning outcomes.     

Augmented inertial measurements for analysis of javelin throwing mechanics

This paper examines the exploitation of inertial measurements to analyze javelin throwing mechanics. The main objective was to demonstrate that consumer-grade inertial navigation systems, augmented with some position and attitude data obtained from a video sequence, yield detailed information of the mechanics of javelin throwing. Especially, such a system makes it possible to analyze the momentary force and power exerted on the javelin during the acceleration phase. Although the presented system is a pilot, leaving space for further improvements, it already reveals the potential of inertial navigation systems to sports. In practise, an inertial measurement unit was embedded inside the tip of the javelin to determine the javelin’s momentary attitude, position, and velocity. Graphs on the speed and angular velocity about the longitudinal axis of the javelin during the whole performance are presented. The maximum estimated release speed and release angular speed were 28.02 m/s and 215.9 rad/s, respectively. The acceleration phase trajectory of the javelin and its deviation from a straight line path are demonstrated. Additionally, the momentary forces and powers are shown and the effect of aerodynamic forces on the projectile is specified. The magnitude of the maximum tangential forces and accelerating powers were 364 N and 9.76 kW. The duration and length of the acceleration phase trajectory varied between 223 and 231 ms, and 2.48 and 2.75 m. To estimate the accuracy of the inertial measurements, the acceleration phase results were compared to measurements made with high-speed cameras.     

Teachers’ Implicit Meaning Systems and Their Implications for Pedagogical Thinking and Practice: A Case Study from Finland

This qualitative case study examines teachers’ implicit meaning systems built around their core beliefs on the malleability of human qualities. Previous research has demonstrated the influence of students’ implicit theories on motivation and achievement and has presented successful interventions for students. However, research on teachers’ implicit theories and, in particular, their actualization in natural environments is lacking. The data for this study include observations and stimulated recall interviews with two Finnish teachers whose opposing implicit theories were first indicated in 2000 by Carol Dweck . The results depict how these teachers’ implicit meaning systems influence their ways of interpreting students’ behavior, learning, and achievements, which in turn guide teachers’ pedagogical thinking as well as their practices for motivating the students. However, these Finnish teachers’ implicit theories also appear to be intertwined with culture-bound assumptions, and the classroom implementation of these theories was observed to vary situationally.