Teachers' ratings vs standardized tests: An empirical investigation of agreement between two indices of achievement

The degree of correlation between teachers' ratings of vocabulary, comprehension, mathematics, and verbal intelligence with scores from the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) plus the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) was assessed with 120 boys and 110 girls aged 8.6 to 10.5 years in three southeastern suburban state schools in Melbourne. Teachers' ratings of students' general attitude also were collected. While results indicated that significant correlations did exist between data from the two sets of measures, these accounted for only small amounts of the total variance, suggesting that two almost discrete domains of information were being tapped. The need for reconciliation between these two domains is discussed and the presence of sex bias in teachers' ratings is raised for further study.     

Graded hypoxia and blood oxidative stress during exercise recovery

Altitude exposure and exercise elicit oxidative stress in blood; however, exercise recovery at 5000 m attenuates oxidative stress. The purpose was to determine the altitude threshold at which blood oxidative stress is blunted during exercise recovery. Twelve males 18–28 years performed four-cycle ergometry bouts (60 min, 70% VO_2max, at 975 m). In a randomised counterbalanced crossover design, participants recovered 6 h at 0, 1667, 3333 and 5000 m in a normobaric hypoxia chamber (recovery altitudes were simulated by using a computerised system in an environmental chamber by lowering the partial pressure of oxygen to match that of the respective altitude). Oxygen saturation was monitored throughout exercise recovery. Blood samples obtained pre-, post-, 1 h post- and 5 h post-exercise were assayed for ferric-reducing antioxidant plasma, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, uric acid, lipid hydroperoxides and protein carbonyls. Muscle biopsies obtained pre and 6 h were analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction to quantify expression of hemeoxgenase 1, superoxide dismutase 2 and nuclear factor (euthyroid-derived 2)-like factor. Pulse oximetry data were similar during exercise, but decreased for the three highest recovery elevations (0 m = 0%, 1667 m = ?3%; 3333 m = ?7%; 5000 m = ?17%). A time-dependent oxidative stress occurred following exercise for all variables, but the two highest recovery altitudes partially attenuated the lipid hydroperoxide response (0 m = +135%, 1667 m = +251%, 3333 m = +99%; 5000 m = +108%). Data may indicate an altitude threshold between 1667 and 3333 m, above which the oxidative stress response is blunted during exercise recovery.     

Improving secondary students' perception of the “dreaded mathematics word problem assignment” by giving them more word problems

The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend research on academic assignment preference by presenting high school students with control assignments containing eight 2‐digit × 2‐digit + 2‐digit × 2‐digit mathematics reading problems, experimental assignments that contained eight equivalent 2‐digit × 2‐digit + 2‐digit × 2‐digit problems, and three additional interspersed 4‐digit + 4‐digit mathematics reading problems. After spending 10 minutes and 40 seconds working on each assignment, significantly more high school students ranked the experimental assignments as being less difficult. When given a choice between the two assignments for homework, significantly more students chose a new experimental assignment. No differences were found on accuracy levels across assignments. Although the experimental assignments contained more problems, the students preferred the experimental over the control assignments. Discussion focuses on future research designed to investigate the applied implications of the interspersal technique within educational settings. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Getting remedial mathematics students to prefer homework with 20% and 40% more problems: An investigation of the strength of the interspersing procedure

High school students in remedial mathematics classes were exposed to three pairs of mathematics computation assignments. Three of the assignments served as control assignments and contained 15 target problems (i.e., three‐digit by two‐digit multiplication problems). Students were also exposed to three paired experimental assignments that contained either 15 (0% more), 18 (20% more), or 21 (40% more) equivalent target problems. Each experimental assignment was also lengthened by interspersing additional one‐digit by one‐digit problems following every third target problem. After exposure to each pair of assignments, students reported which of the two assignments (control or experimental) would require the most time and effort to finish, which was most difficult, and which assignment they would prefer to do for homework. Across all three assignment pairs, significantly more students rated the experimental assignment more favorably for time, effort, and difficulty and chose the experimental assignment for homework. These results extend previous research on interspersing additional brief tasks by showing that this procedure has sufficient strength to get students to prefer homework assignments with 20% and 40% more target problems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Methodological considerations for the 3D measurement of the X-factor and lower trunk movement in golf

It is believed that increasing the X-factor (movement of the shoulders relative to the hips) during the golf swing can increase ball velocity at impact. Increasing the X-factor may also increase the risk of low back pain. The aim of this study was to provide recommendations for the three-dimensional (3D) measurement of the X-factor and lower trunk movement during the golf swing. This three-part validation study involved; (1) developing and validating models and related algorithms (2) comparing 3D data obtained during static positions representative of the golf swing to visual estimates and (3) comparing 3D data obtained during dynamic golf swings to images gained from high-speed video. Of particular interest were issues related to sequence dependency. After models and algorithms were validated, results from parts two and three of the study supported the conclusion that a lateral bending/flexion-extension/axial rotation (ZYX) order of rotation was deemed to be the most suitable Cardanic sequence to use in the assessment of the X-factor and lower trunk movement in the golf swing. The findings of this study have relevance for further research examining the X-factor its relationship to club head speed and lower trunk movement and low back pain in golf.     

Medical Fellows Tell Stories of Application: A Grounded Theory on the Dynamics of Transfer

In this exploratory study, researchers collected and analyzed physician's stories of how they had applied what they had learned from a medical fellowship. We describe and explain the patterns shown in five cases of application. Based on these cases we form a theory of transfer for autonomous professionals learning an open skill. The findings support the claim that transfer is a dynamic process. We view transfer as part of a continuous learning and motivational process extending to a learner's past and projecting into a learner's future. The theory, in brief, is that professionally oriented learners follow an iterative constructive pattern of application when applying knowledge: learners perceive the usefulness of an idea, become ready to use the notion, make the application, and learn from its implementation. We also briefly describe practical and theoretical implications of the theory.     

Environmental Education in Primary Education: status and trends in southern and eastern Africa

This study presents the results of an international comparative study (based on secondary analysis techniques) into the status of environmental education (EE) in primary education in 10 southern and eastern African countries. The study concludes that the current provisions for EE in primary education in the countries sampled are insufficient for the comprehensive development of national programmes. The major barriers to the further development ofEE include inadequate provisions for EE in education policy, deficiencies in teacher training in EE and a lack of instructional materials. The study recommends that the most important step towards improving the status of EE in primary education in the region is the inclusion of EE in education policy, combined with the development of a mechanism that would facilitate policy implementation.     

Enhancing classroom management through proactive rules and procedures

This article presents an overview of classroom rule establishment and implementation within a proactive management strategy. Characteristics of classroom rules such as wording and means of presentation are included, and the intended nature and function of rules is discussed. It was concluded that rules do not work in isolation and therefore should be used in conjunction with an overall classroom management plan. Suggesitions for future research and practice are provided.     

The emergent genre of campaign e-mail in the 2008 presidential nomination campaign

This study describes e-mail use in the 2008 U.S. presidential nomination campaigns. A content analysis and rhetorical analysis of over 1,400 e-mails from the primary season of that campaign reveal evidence of typification. Consistent practices and shared purposes are evident in the campaign e-mails, along with shared and individual variations indicating an emergent communicative form. In-group identification pairs with interactive, supporter behaviors to make up the dominant constellations-of-practice within this corpus.