The complexity of tool use in computer-based learning environments

Starting from Perkins’ (1985) framework, this study addresses tool use in a computerbased learning environment. In line with Perkins, first the effects of tool use on performance were investigated to gain insight into the functionality of the tools. Next, the influence of advice was studied to identify whether this advice could make students more knowledgeable with respect to the tools, and hence encourage them to make more (adequate) use of the tools. A third research question addressed learner related variables. The influence of metacognitive skills, goal orientation, and instructional conceptions on students’ tool use was investigated. An experimental design was used to address these research questions with one control group and two experimental groups, one with advice and one without advice. Results reveal that the tools were functional, the two experimental groups outperformed the control group. With respect to advice, the group of students receiving advice used tools more frequently and spent more time on their use. Finally, the study reveals mastery orientation to be an important variable. The more students are mastery oriented, the less they use tools.     

执着——一位美国宇航员的成功之路

我在美国宾夕法尼亚州的邓莫尔长大,我曾经是第66童子军小队的成员:我们开展过很多有趣的活动。其中一项就是松木结构的赛车设计比赛,即模型汽车比赛。     

Motivation and attrition in engineering students

In the engineering profession we need to reflect continually on the students we are training, their suitability and ability to become the next generation of engineers, facing an ever-changing future. We need to face our responsibility in helping to develop the skills required for graduates of tomorrow and ensuring that we are not losing our best students to other professions. A survey has been conducted at Imperial College highlighting problem areas of students at risk from demotivation within engineering courses. Forty students who had not completed their course at the college were surveyed and 10 students were interviewed. The issues they raised have been analysed and intervention strategies have been identified which are presently being developed at the college as part of the ongoing quality improvement of courses. It is hoped that the approaches discussed can be disseminated further within Imperial College and to other universities.     

Infants of Depressed Mothers Exhibit Atypical Frontal Electrical Brain Activity during Interactions with Mother and with a Familiar, Nondepressed Adult

Previous studies have shown that infants of depressed mothers exhibit atypical frontal brain electrical activity when they are interacting with their mothers. Whereas typically developing infants exhibit greater left versus right frontal brain activity, infants of depressed mothers have been found to exhibit reduced relative left frontal activity. The left frontal brain region has been associated with the expression of positive emotions. In the present study, the question of whether the atypical pattern of brain activity found in infants of depressed mothers generalizes to situations not involving mother was addressed. Brain electrical activity was recorded from 13- to 15-month-old infants of depressed (N = 59) versus nondepressed (N = 40) mothers during a baseline condition, and during several social conditions that included a playful social interaction with a familiar experiments. Infants of depressed mothers exhibited reduced left relative to right frontal activity during the baseline condition, and during interactions with their mothers and with the familiar experimenter. The present results suggest that the atypical pattern of electrical brain activity found in infants of depressed mothers generalizes to a variety of situations, including positive interactions with nondepressed adults.     

The landmark citation method: analysis of a citation pattern as a collection assessment method.

The landmark citation method is a new collection assessment method based on the citation record of a single landmark article. This citation record is developed by identifying sources which cite the landmark article. A bibliography, extracted from the citation record, is then used to complete an assessment of the collection. This method was developed and used to assess the biotechnology collection of the National Library of Medicine. The information gained from this study, in addition to demonstrating the technique, also provided insight into the evolution of the biotechnology literature.     

Influence of pelvis rotation styles on baseball pitching mechanics

Efficient, sequential timing is essential for upper level pitching. Interestingly, pitchers vary considerably in timing related elements of pitching style including pelvis rotation, arm cocking, stride leg behaviour, and pitch delivery time. The purpose of this study was to determine whether relationships exist among these elements by examining the overall style of pitchers exhibiting different pelvis rotation patterns. Pitching styles were defined by pelvis orientation at the instant of stride foot contact. Pitchers demonstrating a pelvis orientation greater than 30 degrees were designated as 'early rotators', while pitchers demonstrating a pelvis orientation less than 30 degrees were designated as 'late rotators'. Kinematic and temporal differences were associated with the two styles. During the arm cocking phase, early rotators showed significantly greater shoulder external rotation at the instant of stride foot contact, earlier occurrence of maximum pelvis rotation angular velocity, and shorter time taken to complete the phase. However, by the instant of maximum shoulder external rotation, early and late rotators appeared remarkably similar as no significant difference occurred in pelvis and arm orientations. Therefore, it appears that early and late rotators used different methods to achieve similar results, including throwing velocity. Significant differences in throwing arm kinetics were also found for 10 of the 11 measures in the study. As the pelvis assumed a more open position at stride foot contact, maximum kinetic values were found to both decrease in magnitude and occur at an earlier time within the pitch.