Improving Mathematics Teaching in Kindergarten with Realistic Mathematical Education

The present study investigates and compares the influence of teaching Realistic Mathematics on the development of mathematical competence in kindergarten. The sample consisted of 231 Greek kindergarten students. For the implementation of the survey, we conducted an intervention, which included one experimental and one control group. Children in the experimental group were taught Realistic Mathematics according to the principles of Realistic Mathematics Education. The control group was taught mathematics following the basic pedagogical principles of curriculum for kindergarten students. In order to evaluate the mathematical performance of children we used the Test of Early Mathematics Ability (TEMA-3). The results showed that the teaching technique with the use of Realistic Mathematic Education contributed significantly to the development of mathematical competence of young children. Moreover, factors such as gender, age and nonverbal cognitive ability, did not seem to differentiate the development of mathematical competence of children.     

Enhancing Elementary Pre-service Teachers’ Plant Processes Conceptions

Researchers examined how an inquiry-based instructional treatment emphasizing interrelated plant processes influenced 210 elementary pre-service teachers’ (PTs) conceptions of three plant processes, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and transpiration, and the interrelated nature of these processes. The instructional treatment required PTs to predict the fate of a healthy plant in a sealed terrarium (Plant-in-a-Jar), justify their predictions, observe the plant over a 5-week period, and complete guided inquiry activities centered on one of the targeted plant processes each week. Data sources included PTs’ pre- and post-predictions with accompanying justifications, course artifacts such as weekly terrarium observations and science journal entries, and group models of the interrelated plant processes occurring within the sealed terraria. A subset of 33 volunteer PTs also completed interviews the week the Plant-in-a-Jar scenario was introduced and approximately 4 months after the instructional intervention ended. Pre- and post-predictions from all PTs as well as interview responses from the subgroup of PTs, were coded into categories based on key plant processes emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards. Study findings revealed that PTs developed more accurate conceptions of plant processes and their interrelated nature as a result of the instructional intervention. Primary patterns of change in PTs’ plant process conceptions included development of more accurate conceptions of how water is used by plants, more accurate conceptions of photosynthesis features, and more accurate conceptions of photosynthesis and cellular respiration as transformative processes.     

DS/CDMA系统中盲干扰抑制的抖动符号误差恒模算法

This paper presents an improved error function of dithered signed-error constant modulus algorithm （IDSE-CMA） for blind multiuser interference suppression in DS/CDMA systems. It uses a different error function to replace the former one in sign operation of the DSE-CMA and compares their performance in multiple access interference （MAI） suppression ability. Simulations indicate that the new algorithm has better performance than the similar CMA in terms of convergence speed and steady-state performance：     

On optimal receiver buffer size in adaptive Internet video streaming

The effect of receiver buffer size on perceived video quality of an Internet video streamer application was examined in this work. Several network conditions and several versions of the application are used to gain understanding of the response to varying buffer sizes. Among these conditions local area versus wide area, bandwidth estimation based versus non-bandwidth estimation based cases are examined in detail. A total of 1000 min of video is streamed over Internet and statistics are collected. It was observed that when bandwidth estimation is possible, choosing larger buffer size for higher available bandwidth yields quality increase in perceived video.     

xxx…何时存在?

This paper further explores some interesting properties of the infinite exponential series, or called tower of powers, with a rigorous proof of its convergence in a positive interval.     

Finite element modeling for analysis of cracked cylindrical pipes

The characteristic properties of shell element with similar shapes are used to generate a so-called super element for the analysis of the crack problems for cylindrical pressure vessels. The formulation is processed by matrix condensation without the involvement of special treatment. This method can deal with various singularity problems and it also presents excellent results to crack problems for cylindrical shell. Especially,the knowledge of the kind of singular order is not necessary in super element generation; it is very economical in terms of computer memory and programming. This method also exhibits versatility to solve the problem of kinked crack at cylindrical shell.     

Handwriting automaticity and writing instruction in Australian kindergarten: an exploratory study

Accumulating evidence indicates handwriting automaticity is related to the development of effective writing skills. The present study examined the levels of handwriting automaticity of Australian children at the end of kindergarten and the amount and type of writing instruction they experienced before entering first grade. The current study involved 177 kindergarten children enrolled in 23 classrooms from seven government-funded primary schools in Western Australia. Individual child level data (e.g., handwriting automaticity and word-reading skills) were collected and teachers were asked to complete a survey assessing the amount of time and types of writing activities developed in their classrooms (e.g., teaching basic skills and teaching writing processes). Hierarchical linear models were conducted to examine total variance attributable to child and classroom levels. Results showed a total variance of approximately 20% in children’s handwriting automaticity attributable to differences among classrooms when gender and word-reading skills were controlled for. Large variability was noted in the amount and type of writing instruction reported by a subset of participating teachers. Handwriting automaticity was associated with the teaching of revising strategies but not with the teaching of handwriting. Implications for writing development and writing instruction are discussed.     

A “cluster” based search scheme in peer-to-peer network

This paper presents a “cluster” based search scheme in peer-to-peer network. The idea is based on the fact that data distribution in an information society has structured feature. We designed an algorithm to cluster peers that have similar interests. When receiving a query request, a peer will preferentially forward it to another peer which belongs to the same cluster and shares more similar interests. By this way search efficiency will be remarkably improved and at the same time good resilience against peer failure (the ability to withstand peer failure) is reserved.     

Afro-Caribbean Immigrant Faculty Experiences in the American Academy: Voices of an Invisible Black Population

Afro-Caribbean immigrants have been an integral part of the history and shaping of the United States since the early 1900s. This current study explores the experiences of five Afro-Caribbean faculty members at traditionally White institutions of higher education. Despite the historical presence and influence of Afro-Caribbean communities and the efforts within education systems to address the needs of Afro-Caribbean constituents, Afro-Caribbean faculty members continue to be rendered indiscernible in higher education and to be frequently and erroneously perceived as African–Americans. The study examines the lived experiences of these individuals in the hegemonic White spaces they occupy at their institutions with both White and Black populations. Through their narratives, issues of stereotyping, microaggression, and isolation are addressed. The participants also offer solutions to address these issues by university administrators, department heads, faculty development professionals, diversity officers, policy makers, and other stakeholders. The voices in this study shed light on an overlooked, misunderstood, and under-researched population within our faculty ranks in the American Academy.