How to Help Teachers Develop Inquiry Teaching: Perspectives from Experienced Science Teachers

This study has two purposes: the first is to explore experienced science teachers’ perspectives on inquiry teaching, and the second is to categorize these perspectives into patterns. Fifteen junior high school science teachers experienced at inquiry teaching were selected, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to collect the teachers’ perspectives on inquiry and inquiry teaching. The findings indicate that these experienced science teachers hold multiple perspectives on inquiry and inquiry teaching. The two patterns generated from these teachers’ perspectives of inquiry and inquiry teaching were systematic-based inquiry instruction and learning-based inquiry instructions. Suggestions for science teacher educators are discussed in this paper.     

台湾高等教育“追求卓越”论述分析

以论述分析方法探讨当前台湾高等教育追求卓越的论述背景与内容,并对于台湾高等教育系统追求卓越的论述实践途径加以分析,由相关论述内容勾勒出台湾高等教育发展趋势,提供高等教育经营者决策参考。     

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。     

Fostering a collaborative and creative climate in a college class through idea-centered knowledge-building

This study explored the effects of student engagement in a knowledge-building (KB) environment on their collaborative learning process and the perceived creative climate of that environment. The participants were 30 college students who undertook a living technology course in which KB were employed. The main data sources include students’ online discourse and a creative climate questionnaire. The findings indicate that the students became progressively more collaborative and productive over time, and they also tended to perceive the climate of the learning environment as highly supportive of knowledge creation. Implications for designing creative learning environments are discussed.     

Book reviews

The purpose of this study was to find out: (a) pupils' attitudes towards open-ended science investigations, and (b) the problems that pupils encounter when carrying out such investigations in groups. The study was conducted in a class of 39 primary 6 pupils of mixed ability who carried out four investigations. Data were based on pupils' responses on an attitude survey questionnaire, interviews, video tapes of pupils performing the investigations and field notes. The majority of the pupils liked conducting such investigations. Reasons for positive responses were that the pupils had the freedom to explore and devise their own procedures to find out things that they wanted to know about, they could work together and discuss with friends, the investigations were interesting and it was a valuable learning experience. Reasons for negative responses included the difficulty of coming up with good ideas to design the investigations, and group conflicts. The findings also indicate that group dynamics played an important role in influencing pupils' attitudes towards the investigations.     

Congruence of student teachers' pedagogical images and actual classroom practices

An understanding of student teachers' pedagogical images plays an important role in helping teacher educators plan learning experiences. The purposes of this study were to obtain a profile of pedagogical images of a group of student teachers, and to assess whether there is congruence between their pedagogical images and classroom practices. Applying the conception of teaching model proposed by Pratt, Chan developed a questionnaire to evaluate teachers' views about teaching, which was modified here and administered to 59 first-year student teachers before and after their teaching practicum in physical education for secondary schools. Results indicated that the student teachers possess a Nurturing image, whereas in actual classroom practices, their approach was a mix between the Apprenticeship and the Transmission approaches. In other words, whereas student teachers conceive themselves as having a more child-centred approach to teaching, in reality, their practices constituted more a teacher-centred approach. The investigators considered that this type of information would be helpful for teacher educators when planning learning experiences.     

论社会资本——以周寿臣与晚清留美幼童为例

作为一种深具影响力的分析框架,社会资本理论近年来被研究者广泛运用.与肉眼能见、易于计算的经济资本不同,像人际关系、商业网络或社会联系之类的社会资本,则既抽象又不易被人察觉.虽然如此,社会资本有助于强化彼此合作,或是可以减低交易成本的作用却十分明显.周寿臣和晚清留美幼童之间的紧密联系,正好说明社会资本的建立、积累、深化和传递,让人看到资本在某些关键时刻或特殊事件上所发挥的巨大作用.其中三个层面或例子可以作为说明:(一)1881年,当周寿臣因未事先知会上司而擅自离开天津后被上海道台扣押时,如无留美幼童的及时援救,他应不可能摆脱牢狱之灾,更不可能获得转赴当时仍属清朝藩属的朝鲜任事的较好工作机会.(二)1881-1894年在朝鲜任职期间,周寿臣与其他留美幼童合作无间,协助袁世凯有效管治朝鲜大小事务,令袁氏印象深刻.到袁世凯大权在握时,周寿臣和幼童们自然深受器重与信任,获委以要职.(三)退休返乡后,周寿臣仍与留美幼童们保持紧密联系,无论大小事务,每当有需要时总会给予大力协助.