A comparison of scientific epistemological views between mainland China and Taiwan high school students

This study investigates the similarities and differences between high school students from Taiwan and China in terms of their scientific epistemological views. In addition, the effects of age and gender on scientific epistemological views were also examined. The results indicate that the students from these two localities, which signify two similar yet different cultures, are substantially different in five out of the six dimensions. Age and gender were also found to have significant effects in some dimensions. Implications for future research were discussed at the end of the paper.     

A constrained linear quadratic optimization algorithm toward jerk-decoupling cartridge design

Linear direct feed drives are widely used in machine tools, but an abrupt counter force from the secondary part will induce the jerk to the metro frame contacted with the linear motor and cause the vibration of auxiliary devices on it. The jerk-decoupling cartridge (JDC) provides a buffer to reduce such an impact. Design target for such a system includes both the tracking error and the jerk induced to the metro frame. To achieve both targets systematically, this work presents an integrated approach to efficiently determine parameters in the JDC and the position controller of the feed drive. The problem is firstly formulated as a nonlinear constrained optimization problem, which is then converted to a series of projection gradient optimization problems and step searching problems, which are either convex or linear. Thus, fast convergence of parameters are achieved within first several iterations. Through a series of simulation, the effectiveness of proposed methodology is verified.     

在W2K中强化802.11无线网络安全性

无线网络是术，才能确保安全性。本笔简要分析了802目前最热门的网络技术之一，但其安全性功能相对较少，须借助其它的网络安全技．11 WLAN安全性缺陷，分析了Windiws网络中WLAN不同接入内部网络的方式及其安全技术特点．具体说明了在W2K中强化802．11无线网络安全性网络结构设计、服务器端的PPTP、L2TP IPSec设置和无线客户端的设置。     

Rethinking classroom-oriented instructional development models to mediate instructional planning in technology-enhanced learning environments

Although classroom-oriented instructional development (ID) models have the potential to help teachers think and plan for effective instruction with technology, research studies have shown that they are not widely employed. Many of these models have not factored in the complexities that teachers faced when planning for instruction in technology-enhanced learning environments (TELE). They also fail to facilitate teachers’ critical re-examination of their existing practices and exploration of other practices to take up the affordances of technologies for effective instruction. Adopting an activity theoretical perspective towards instructional planning in the TELE, this paper examines two existing ID models: Reiser and Dick [1996. Instructional planning: A guide for teachers. Boston: Allen and Bacon] and Morrison, Ross, and Kemp [2004. Designing effective instruction (4th ed.) New York: Wiley]. It then constructs a classroom-oriented expansive and reflective ID model that: (1) facilitates the teacher's re-examination of their existing practices to identify contradictions in his/her instructional planning process in the TELE; (2) treats the ID elements in a nonlinear and non-sequential way; (3) accounts for the decisions made by other participants in the TELE, especially students and other teachers; (4) supports teachers’ formulation of solutions to the contradictions and transforms practices to take up the affordances of technology in the TELE; and (5) recognizes the need for teachers to move beyond the current activity by reflecting upon it so as to enable the emergence of new norms of practice.     

Adoption of flipped learning in social humanities education: the FIBER experience in secondary schools

ABSTRACT

FIBER (Flipped Issue-Based Enquiry Ride) is a teacher-facilitated interactive pedagogic framework that the authors propose to integrate flipped learning into social humanities education. This paper reports a quasi-experimental study (with mixed methods) which examined the pedagogic effectiveness of FIBER in the authentic setting of formal curriculum learning and teaching. The study involved totally 611 Secondary-4 students from academically top, middle and bottom schools in Hong Kong. In comparison with the conventional issue-based enquiry learning approach, FIBER had different intensity of positive effects on the high, moderate, and low academic-achieving student participants. This paper provides researchers and educational practitioners with empirical evidence for supporting wider adoption of FIBER in social humanities education, as well as harnessing flipped learning in formal schooling. Apart from discussing the benefits, the authors also underline the challenges of FIBER and suggest future work.     

The change in epistemological beliefs and beliefs about teaching and learning: a study among pre-service teachers

This study investigated the change in Singaporean pre-service teachers' epistemological beliefs and beliefs about learning and teaching over the course of a teacher preparation program. An online survey was administered during the first week of a nine-month program and the same survey was administered after the 413 participants had completed all their course work and teaching practice. Participants exhibited significant changes in epistemological beliefs and beliefs about learning and teaching – participants indicated more relativistic epistemological outlooks and less constructivism in beliefs about teaching. At the end of the teacher preparation program, they seemed to less value effort in learning and believed more in innate ability.     

金钱榕提取物抑制3T3-L1脂肪细胞抗脂肪沉积研究(英文)

研究目的:对两个品种金钱榕(var.deltoidea和var.angustifolia)叶片提取物抑制3T3-L1脂肪细胞脂肪沉积进行研究,为基于金钱榕的抗肥胖功能产品开发提供理论基础。研究方法:用甲醇和水分别对两个品种金钱榕的叶片进行提取,并分别分析了提取物中的总黄酮含量(TFC)和总酚含量(TPC)。通过MTT法确定提取物对3T3-L1脂肪细胞的最大无毒剂量(MNTD)。然后,通过油红O染色和吸光度测定来定性和定量研究提取物对抗脂肪细胞脂肪沉积的作用。重要结论:金钱榕两个品种deltoidea和angustifolia的甲醇提取物中的TFC含量分别为1.36和1.97 g QE/100 g DW,水提取物中的TPC含量分别为5.61和2.73 g GAE/100 g DW。金钱榕deltoidea品种的甲醇和水提取物对3T3-L1细胞的MNTD分别为(300.0±28.3)和(225.0±21.2)μg/ml,而angustifolia品种的MNTDs则较低(其甲醇和水提取物的MNTDs分别为(60.0±2.0)和(8.0±1.0)μg/ml)。金钱榕两个品种的甲醇提取物和angustifolia品种的水提取物在MNTD或1/2MNTD的浓度下,均具有显著抑制前脂肪细胞的成熟的作用。因此,根据其抑制成熟脂肪细胞形成的结果可以得出金钱榕叶片提取物具有潜在的抗肥胖效果。     

Teaching large classes in an increasingly internationalising higher education environment: pedagogical,quality and equity issues

Marketisation, increased student mobility, the massification of Higher Education (HE) and stagnating staff numbers in universities have combined to cause a ripple effect of change both in the demography and size of university classes across the world. This has implications for the quality and equity of learning and the need to examine and to transform pedagogical practices. Despite the growing attention of literature on teaching large classes, there is a scarcity of research addressing the twin issues of large classes in an increasingly internationalised context. This paper seeks to contribute towards filling this gap. The paper provides a theoretical exploration of the causes of such classes in HE, reviews the empirical evidence against large class teaching and examines the difficulties associated with teaching demographically diverse classes in HE. The paper identifies eight pedagogical strategies to address the issues of class size and diversity, which relate to increasing student participation and engagement; increasing curricula access and the language of instruction; increasing staff intercultural understanding; increasing opportunities for deep learning for all; on-going monitoring of student satisfaction; increasing opportunities to achieve; diversification of assessment; and the merit of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS). It calls for new research on global learning cultures; reviews of global assessment and promising pedagogical practices and processes.