Vocational Schools in Turkey: An Administrative and Organizational Analysis

The data used in this paper were derived from a larger project which had the aim of critically evaluating the Turkish vocational education system on a number of different levels. This article examines the administrative and organisational practices in a selected group of secondary vocational schools in Turkey from the point of view of school administrators, teachers and industrial managers. The results indicate that the Turkish vocational education system is characterised by a centralised, top-down bureaucracy, which inhibits innovative capacity. The authors argue that a degree of decentralisation is necessary at various levels of the system.     

Preparation of carbon encapsulated iron nanoparticles with very thin shells by DC arc discharge

Carbon encapsulated iron nanoparticles(CEINPs) with very thin shells and good core-shell structures were prepared by DC arc discharge at argon intake temperature(AIT) of 800 ℃. The results of high resolution transmission electron microscope(HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray(EDX) spectroscope, X-ray diffraction(XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope(XPS) characterizations on the product B show that the thickness of the carbon shells of CEINPs in the product B is in the range of ca. 0.5—5.3 nm, i. e., which can be as thin as only two layers of graphite. The average diameter of the CEINPs is about 24. 7 nm. The total content of Fe element in the product B is 77.0 wt%. The saturation magnetization(Ms) and coercivity(Hc) of the product B are 107.4 emu/g and 143 Oe, respectively. The formation of the CEINPs in the product B is discussed briefly.     

Organizational culture,values, and routines in Iranian medical schools

In Iran, restructuring of medical education and the health care delivery system in 1985 resulted in a rapid shift from elite to mass education, ultimately leading to an increase in the number of medical schools, faculties, and programs and as well as some complications. This study aimed to investigate views on academic culture, values, and routines held by faculty members. A nation-wide survey conducted in six public medical schools in Iran. The research findings show weak organizational culture and values, together with routine behaviors sensed as a negative and low satisfaction with academic leadership. The research evidence suggests bureaucracy, politicization, conservativeness, and centralization as common features of medical schools in Iran and also suggests suitable supervisory skills to tackle the tension between governmental management and academic leadership with cultural changes, the creation of new values, and adoption more efficient routines.     

Optimization of cultural conditions for thermostable β-1, 3-1, 4-glucanase production byBacillus subtilis ZJF-1A5

The optimization of cultural conditions for β-glucanase production byBacillus subtilis ZJF-1A5 was investigated in flask trials. Temperature had great effect on β-glucanase production which maximized at optimal temperature of 37°C and decreased significantly when temperature was over 37°C. Charge quantity affected β-glucanase production significantly. Adding oxygen vector N-dodecane or acetic ether benefited β-glucanase production, but it depended on the concentration and charge quantity. The results of fractional factorial design showed that age and size of inoculum and shaking speed were the key factors affecting β-glucanase production and the cultivation time span to reach the highest β-glucanase activity. The optimal cultural conditions for β-glucanase production obtained with CCD were as follows: inoculum age and size (16 h, 3.82% (v/v)), shaking speed 210 r/min, charge quantity of 30 mL in 250 mL flask and initial pH 7.0, cultured at 37°C for 50 h. Repeated experimental results accorded with those predicted by a second-order polynomial model. The amount of β-glucanase, α-amylase and neutral protease produced byB subtilis ZJF-1A5 was associated partially with cell growth. Those three enzymes' activities increased following the cell growth and increased significantly when cells entered the stationary phase. Project (No. B0608) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and a grant (2001121B25) from Hangzhou Science and Technology Development Project of Zhejiang Province, China     

浅谈力学教学中提升学生的创新能力与素质

力学教学对当代大学生的创新能力和素质的培养有着重要的作用.该文结合教学实践和体会,通过力学史的渗透、多种教学手段相结合、“一题多解”的训练、使用力学知识解决生活实际问题和鼓励学生参加课程实践活动等方式,不断激发学生学习兴趣,提高思维积极性,培养创新精神,加强创新能力和科学素质.     

A qualitative analysis of context-aware ubiquitous learning environments using Bluetooth beacons

The use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons is becoming widespread for context-aware learning environments. This technology can be used in indoor and outdoor settings such as museums, shops, home and schools in order to identify the location of learners and their contexts. Specifically, in the constructivist view of learning, learners can use such sensing technology for constructing knowledge and experiencing learning at any time, anywhere. However, exploration of such technology has been limited in the constructivist context-aware ubiquitous learning (U-learning) literature. For this purpose, the authors evaluated two android-based U-learning applications: one was an outdoor learning environment in a garden, the other was about locating books in a library. The applications were implemented and tested with school and university students. The qualitative results are presented in this article, and show how such sensing technology is promising for both pedagogical environments.