Exploiting Distance Technology to Foster Experimental Design as a Neglected Learning Objective in Labwork in Chemistry

This paper deals with the design process of a remote laboratory for labwork in chemistry. In particular, it focuses on the mutual dependency of theoretical conjectures about learning in the experimental sciences and technological opportunities in creating learning environments. The design process involves a detailed analysis of the expert task and knowledge, e.g., spectrophotometry as a method for the determination of the concentration of a compound in a solution. In so doing, modifications in transposing tasks and knowledge to the learning situation can be monitored. The remote laboratory is described, as well as the specific features that alter the degree of fidelity of the learning situation in comparison with the expert one. It is conjectured that these alterations might represent actual benefits for learning.     

Student Success in University Education: A Multi-measurement Study of the Impact of Student and Faculty Factors on Study Progress

This study focuses on the factors that determine study progress and numerical success rate in higher education. Study progress is influenced at three levels, namely the student level, course/institute level and government level. It is expected that various groups of economic, social, psychological and organisational factors will together influence the study progress. This study uses a multi-level and multi-disciplinary framework, in so far as it considers all of these factors at the different levels. The database contains about 9,000 students and 60 courses at the institutional level. The results show the relative importance of student level and institutional factors on study progress.     

Student Preference Rates for Predominately Online,Compressed, or Traditionally Taught University Courses

Universities and colleges in the United States are actively searching for new ways to increase student enrollment as one means to offset recent government budget cuts in educational funding. One proposal at a particular institution involves transitioning a commuter university from a traditional semester length calendar to one that offers predominately online and compressed courses. University students responded to a survey, based on a number of variables, regarding their impressions of taking considerably more online and compressed courses in lieu of traditionally taught courses. While the students wanted to keep the traditional semester calendar, findings showed that some of the benefits of online and compressed teaching schedules were appealing.     

White on White: Researcher Reflexivity and the Logics of Privilege in White Schools Undertaking Reform

I use this paper to reexamine my role as a White researcher on a multi-racial research team. I reanalyze data I collected during an evaluation project to reveal how I avoided seeing race in the schools I visited and how I dodged discussions of race with members of those school communities. By analyzing my own discursive practice, I introduce a series of logics enacted through a variety of strategies that I used to manage race talk. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: (1) an analysis of the strategies I used to sustain White privilege and (2) an examination of the logics of those strategies in order to understand the power they have in reproducing inequity. Only by understanding the self-perpetuating nature of White privilege will we be able to begin to dismantle it. Jenny Gordon is an assistant professor in the Division of Education, School of Education and Human Development at Binghamton University. She teaches foundations courses for elementary education and courses on qualitative research methods. Her scholarly work includes articles on methodological issues pertaining to qualitative research methods and narratives on the impact of race on research and teaching.     

王国维、蔡元培美育思想之比较——兼论王国维、蔡元培的人文教育精神

在中国近代美育史上,王国维和蔡元培是两位最具影响力的人物。王国维在近代中国首倡美育,是近代中国美育理论的创始人。蔡元培率先实行美育,毕生提倡、亲身实践美育,普及美育理论,最终确立起美育的重要地位。王国维和蔡元培的美学观都以康德哲学为基础,同时他们的美育思想都闪耀着人文主义的光芒。但二者对美育的阐释又有很大的区别,对美育建立的具体作用也不尽相同。本文从比较研究的角度出发,从几个方面,尤其从文化人格和人文教育精神方面揭示二者在美育的建构中表现出的共同性和差异性。     

The influence of a residential outdoor education programme to pupil’s environmental perception

This empirical study finds support for the hypothesis that participation in a special residential education programme enhances facets of pupils’ environmental perception. A 4-day extra-curricular educational unit with a cognitive outdoors focus (established in a nature centre in France) was surveyed by using a two stage sampling design in a pre-post-treatment evaluation; the post-test was delayed for a one-month period after participation. All selected participating pupils (n=151) responded twice to the same perception questionnaire. The factorial structure of this questionnaire had been previously developed using a large European sample (n=4500) and separately validated in a smaller French pupil sample (n=900). The matched-pair pre-post-test survey showed significant differences in two of the five primary factors; both of them covered utilitarian preferences and scored in a way which indicated an increase in sensitivity to the environment. A pre-post-tested control group (n=78) revealed no significant difference. Possible reasons for the partial shift in primary factors are discussed, including a consideration of two related studies (in Germany and Switzerland) which were both monitored by the same measurement instrument.     

Optical computing

Researchers are using new conducting polymers to make transistor-like switches that are smaller and thousand times faster than the silicon transistors. Electricity-conducting organic molecules that are much thinner than semiconductor wires, are being teased into self-assembling. These advances promise super-tiny all-optical chips. In fact, progress in optical storage devices can now shrink an entire Library’s book collection down to sugar-cube size. Optical computers could be leaving silicon number crunchers choking in the dust by decade’s end.