ATHENS,gateways, and portals: components of the Distributed National Electronic Resource

The Distributed National Electronic Resource is a central plank of the UK's Joint Information Systems Committee's strategy. We outline the background and definitions of the DNER and discuss some of the issues to be investigated and the collaboration required between stakeholders and their partners.     

Tracking of physical activity in adolescence

The present analysis aimed to describe the degree of tracking of physical activity over an 8-year follow-up period among a cohort of 557 adolescents in western Norway (13 years of age at baseline). Frequency and time spent in leisure-time physical activity were assessed at ages 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 21 years through self-report questionnaires. The cross-sectional results indicated that proportions of adolescents who were physically active declined from 13 to 19 years of age and increased slightly from 19 to 21 years of age. Longitudinally, various measures indicated a weak degree of tracking of physical activity (Pearson's r was .22 for boys and. 18 for girls across the 8-year period). The least active persons during early adolescence were those least likely to change during their teenage years. In sum, the findings indicated a weak tendency of tracking of physical activity through adolescence.     

Students' and teachers' conceptions of the nature of science: A review of the research

The development of adequate student conceptions of the nature of science has been a perennial objective of science instruction regardless of the currently advocated pedagogical or curricular emphases. Consequently, it has been an area of prolific research characterized by several parallel, but distinct, lines of investigation. Although research related to students' and teachers' conceptions of the nature of science has been conducted for approximately 40 years, a comprehensive review of the empirical literature (both quantitative and qualitative) has yet to be presented. The overall purpose of this review is to help clarify what has been learned and to elucidate the basic assumptions and logic which have guided earlier research efforts. Ultimately, recommendations related to both methodology and the focus of future research are offered.