Who drops out from primary schools in China? Evidence from minority-concentrated rural areas

One of the Millennium Development Goals is to ensure universal access to primary education by 2015. However, primary school dropout remains a challenge in many developing countries. While official statistics in China report aggregated primary school dropout of only 0.2 %, almost no independent, survey-based studies have sought to verify these dropout rates in rural areas. The primary objective of our study is to document the dropout rate in primary schools in rural China and compare the dropout rate of ethnic minorities and Han students. Using a first-hand dataset of 14,761 primary students in northwest China, we demonstrate that the annual dropout rate in poor rural areas is 2.5 %, suggesting a cumulative dropout of 8.2 %. Importantly, Hui and Salar minority students drop out at rates that are significantly higher than the official rates. Most noteworthy, 23 % of Hui girls and 22 % of Salar girls are dropping out by the end of grade 6. Our findings call for more attention to China’s primary school dropout issue—especially in minority areas. Policymakers should begin to examine new ways to increase the chances for minority students to succeed in the educational system.     

A Cross‐Cultural Study of Art Teacher Education in Taiwan and England

This aim of this research was to investigate art teacher education in Taiwan and England to gain insights into two art education systems with a view to improving art teacher education in Taiwan. To achieve this aim, a cross‐cultural study using a multi‐method approach was adopted and data was collected over three years of full‐time study in England and four academic years of reflection on teaching in art teacher education in Taiwan. This research revealed how complex and hazardous it is to state categorically what the similarities and differences really are between two art teacher education systems, especially in a subject as ill‐defined as art. Nonetheless, this study did produce some important differences in the two art teacher education systems in aspects of (1) government regulations and institutional provision, (2) theoretical underpinning, (3) art curriculum policy and delivery, and (4) cultural differences affecting art teachers' attitudes and values.     

水稻新质源两用核雄性不育系CIS_(28-10)的研究——关于穗部性状及开花习性的研究

试验以水稻新质源两用核雄性不育系CIS_(28-10)的糯性和粘性株系及R_5为材料,通过在自然条件下的观察鉴定,对其穗部性状及开花习性进行了研究。研究结果表明,CIS_(28-10)的穗部性状的组合比较合理,开花习性良好,花时比较集中,单个颖花的开颖持续时间比较长,柱头外露率比较高。这些性状有利于CIS_(28-10)在生产上得到广泛应用。     

An Analysis of an Interactive Videodisc System for Teaching Language Skills to Deaf Students

An interactive videodisc system designed to teach language concepts to deaf students was evaluated in a classroom trial. An experimental group of 18 students spent 60 twenty‐minute sessions over a five‐month period learning language concepts by interacting with the system while a control group of 16 students learned the same concepts in their regular classroom setting. Both groups made significant progress from pre‐ to post‐test on two criterion‐referenced testsdeveloped by project staff. Experimental students were enthusiastic about the videodisc, felt that their language skills had improved, and were anxious to continue working with the system.     

《文心雕龙》中的作品有机论

作品有机构成论是中外文论中的重要内容,中国古代文论中的作品有机构成理论更是独具特色。刘勰在其《文心雕龙》中把文学作品比作人体构成,认为文学作品自身形成一个如人体一般的有机体,即它在内容上是统一完善的,在形式上是完整和谐的。这一比喻不仅能深刻地揭示出文学作品所具有的特点,而且显示了中国古代文论中的人学资源,对于发展和建设中国特色的文艺学具有重要的借鉴意义。     

珠江三角洲农田黄毛鼠种群动态分析

根据1987～1990年和1992～1993年虎门镇农田调查的数据为依据．全面系统地研究和分析了黄毛鼠种群动态的基本特征，包括性比、年龄组成、繁殖强度等．同时，研究了种群季节迁移和季节变化．研究表明．黄毛鼠种群每年有两个繁殖高峰期和一个数量高峰期．     

The interrupted learner: How distractions during live and video lectures influence learning outcomes

New instructional technologies have been increasingly incorporated into the medical school learning environment, including lecture video recordings as a substitute for live lecture attendance. The literature presents varying conclusions regarding how this alternative experience impacts students' academic success. Previously, a multi‐year study of the first‐year medical histology component at the University of Michigan found that live lecture attendance was positively correlated with learning success, while lecture video use was negatively correlated. Here, three cohorts of first‐year medical students (N = 439 respondents, 86.6% response rate) were surveyed in greater detail regarding lecture attendance and video usage, focusing on study behaviors that may influence histology learning outcomes. Students who reported always attending lectures or viewing lecture videos had higher average histology scores than students who employed an inconsistent strategy (i.e., mixing live attendance and video lectures). Several behaviors were negatively associated with histology performance. Students who engaged in “non‐lecture activities” (e.g., social media use), students who reported being interrupted while watching the lecture video, or feeling sleepy/losing focus had lower scores than their counterparts not engaging in these behaviors. This study suggests that interruptions and distractions during medical learning activities—whether live or recorded—can have an important impact on learning outcomes. Anat Sci Educ 11: 366–376. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

A Comprehensive Approach to Technology Training for Early Childhood Teachers

This study describes the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to computer technology training for early childhood teachers. Departing from the singular goal of conveying skills and knowledge, a comprehensive program targets the development of teachers' attitudes and practices as well as knowledge and skills. All 3 areas are regarded as equally important for the development of teacher technology proficiency. Evaluation of the program documented its effectiveness. Compared to nonparticipants, teachers in the training program had significantly higher scores in all 3 goal areas: attitudes, knowledge and skills, and practices. Results of the study indicate that a comprehensive approach is an effective means of training teachers in computer technology. Implications of the study are discussed with regard to the strategy of developing the “whole teacher” and emergence of the domain of educational technology.     

浅谈数学教学中思维独创性的培养

数学教学的重要目的在于培养学生的数学思维能力,而思维能力反映在思维品质上.思维独创性是数学思维的重要品质,是在主体思维发展的过程中逐步形成和稳定化的,因而在其形成和发展时期具有可培养性.     

A General Framework for the Validation of Embedded Formative Assessment

In educational practice, test results are used for several purposes. However, validity research is especially focused on the validity of summative assessment. This article aimed to provide a general framework for validating formative assessment. The authors applied the argument‐based approach to validation to the context of formative assessment. This resulted in a proposed interpretation and use argument consisting of a score interpretation and a score use. The former involves inferences linking specific task performance to an interpretation of a student's general performance. The latter involves inferences regarding decisions about actions and educational consequences. The validity argument should focus on critical claims regarding score interpretation and score use, since both are critical to the effectiveness of formative assessment. The proposed framework is illustrated by an operational example including a presentation of evidence that can be collected on the basis of the framework.