Stabilität der physischen Fitness im Kindesalter

Monitoring of physical fitness (PF) in childhood is important from a societal as well as individual perspective to ensure and support healthy child development. Hence, the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs together with the German Olympic Federation recommend the usage of motor tests, for instance in schools, to implement targeted interventions. Results of motor assessments are interpreted using reference categories to prevent overinterpretation of small but meaningless intra- and inter individual differences. Furthermore, temporal trends can influence the validity of these reference categories. The aims of the study are (1) to examine short- and medium-term changes in PF in middle childhood (2) to evaluate implications for reference values and the validity of the construct PF, (3) to provide valid reference values for eight- to nine-year-old children. In the school years 2011–2016, over 20,000 third-graders completed the German Motor Test (GMT) in the project “Berlin has Talent”. Possible temporal trends are examined using regressions and cross-tables. Implications of these changes on the construct PF are analyzed using Rasch measurement. Four out of seven tasks showed temporal changes. However, the validity and unidimensionality of the GMT are confirmed (p?>?0.90), if balancing backwards is excluded from the model. On the one hand, task-related changes of children’s motor performance within five years support the requirement of a comprehensive continuous monitoring to enable early interventions. On the other hand, they call for continuous evaluation of reference values of the GMT, which should rely on representative and sufficiently large samples.     

A Comparison of Video and Text-Based Questionnaire Methods for Testing Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to initiate systematic research on dance as a creative and expressive art form. Although the process of expression through movement has concerned dancers and dance teachers for some time, there have been few attempts at a systematic analysis of either the process or the product of dance expression. Dance has generally been considered immeasurable because of its peculiarities as an art form.

While there is little apparent value in quantitative measurement of dance, qualitative measurement appears to have considerable value. It can sharpen the focus on principles of dance composition, contribute toward increased teaching effectiveness, enlarge dance's expressive range, and increase its ability to communicate.

Specifically, this study attempted to determine how effectively modern dance communicates by using a systematic analysis of individual dance compositions. Samples of dance studies with specific intentions were choreographed and filmed. The dances were then viewed and evaluated by a selected and trained jury on (a) their ability to communicate emotional and physical qualities, (b) the type and structure of their composition, and (c) their choreographic and artistic effectiveness.

Results of this study showed that least agreement was reached by the jurors in rating the dances according to structural strength and in identifying their composition type. Realistic vehicles of expression were more easily recognized than were abstract ones. There was substantial agreement on the emotion communicated by each composition. Presence of all the traditional dance elements appears unnecessary for effective communication.     

Offensichtlich unsichtbar Die P?dagogisierung des Umgangs mit Wissen im Kontext des lebenslangen Lernens

Der vorliegende Beitrag besch?ftigt sich unter Bezugnahme auf einen systemtheoretischen Kommunikationsbegriff mit der (p?dagogischen) Strukturierung des Lernens Erwachsener. Er geht von der These aus, dass die P?dagogisierung des lernbezogenen Umgangs mit Wissen im Erwachsenenalter unsichtbar (gemacht) wird. Auf der Grundlage eines abgeschlossenen DFG-Projekts werden unterschiedliche Formen p?dagogischer Kommunikation dargestellt und das in ihren Settings, ihrer kommunikativen Verfasstheit und den Mustern ihrer Strukturierung eingelagerte Invisibilisierungspotenzial herausgearbeitet. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird das Konzept des Lebenslangen Lernens als eine entwickelte Form des Umgangs mit dem Paradox der (Un-)Sichtbarkeit p?dagogischer Kommunikation interpretiert. Was diese Institutionalisierungsform des Lernens kennzeichnet, ist somit eine doppelt gegenl?ufige Gleichzeitigkeit von Visibilisierung und Invisibilisierung.     

The Independence of Research—A Review of Disciplinary Perspectives and Outline of Interdisciplinary Prospects

Minerva - The independence of research is a key strategic issue of modern societies. Dealing with it appropriately poses legal, economic, political, social and cultural problems for society, which...     

A Competency Model for Process Dynamics and Control and Its Use for Test Construction at University Level

This study examined students’ competencies in engineering education at the university level. First, we developed a competency model in one specific field of engineering: process dynamics and control. Then, the theoretical model was used as a frame to construct test items to measure students’ competencies comprehensively. In the empirical application, the reliability of the test was examined. The results confirmed the applicability of the theory-based test. Also, associations between students’ competencies and individual characteristics were explored. Students who showed higher competencies could be identified based on their individual characteristics, such as participation in self-assessments. Finally, we demonstrated how to apply the standards of theory-based testing to everyday routines at the university and also highlighted some challenging issues to be considered when implementing theory-based testing in practice. This approach could be valuable: Tests based on theoretically sound models allow for appropriate measurement of students’ competencies in higher education.     

Of Small Beauties and Large Beasts: The Quality of Distractors on Multiple-Choice Tests Is More Important Than Their Quantity

In multiple-choice tests, the quality of distractors may be more important than their number. We therefore examined the joint influence of distractor quality and quantity on test functioning by providing a sample of 5,793 participants with five parallel test sets consisting of items that differed in the number and quality of distractors. Surprisingly, we found that items in which only the one best distractor was presented together with the solution provided the strongest criterion-related evidence of the validity of test scores and thus allowed for the most valid conclusions on the general knowledge level of test takers. Items that included the best distractor produced more reliable test scores irrespective of option number. Increasing the number of options increased item difficulty, but did not increase internal consistency when testing time was controlled for.     

Electroencephalographic Coherence and Learning: Distinct Patterns of Change During Word Learning and Figure Learning Tasks

One likely mechanism in learning new skills is change in synchronous connections between distributed neural networks, which can be measured by coherence analysis of electroencephalographic patterns. This study examined coherence changes during the learning of two tasks, a word association task and a figure association task. Although learning curves were similar for both tasks, distinct patterns of coherence change were observed. Coherence tended to increase as learning progressed in the figure association task. In contrast, coherence tended to decrease in the word association task, especially within hemisphere. Word learning was coupled with negative intrahemispheric and positive interhemispheric performance–coherence relations in the gamma frequency. Unique to the figure learning task was an increase in the number of positive coherence–performance relations in both delta and theta frequencies across blocks. Results are discussed in light of ongoing efforts to identify the mechanisms that coordinate distributed brain activities during the process of learning. Further research is needed to define patterns of coherence change for different tasks, goals, and brain regions.     

Models in software engineering - an introduction

Modelling is a concept fundamental for software engineering. In this paper, the word is defined and discussed from various perspectives. The most important types of models are presented, and examples are given. Models are very useful, but sometimes also dangerous, in particular to those who use them unconsciously. Such problems are shown. Finally, the role of models in software engineering research is discussed.Received: 21 October 2002, Accepted: 10 January 2003,     

Models in software engineering - an introduction

Modelling is a concept fundamental for software engineering. In this paper, the word is defined and discussed from various perspectives. The most important types of models are presented, and examples are given. Models are very useful, but sometimes also dangerous, in particular to those who use them unconsciously. Such problems are shown. Finally, the role of models in software engineering research is discussed.