Expert systems: An introduction

Expert systems encode human expertise in limited domains by representing it usingif-then rules. This article explains the development and applications of expert systems.     

Impact of censorship cases on basal reader selection and reading curriculum

Censorship cases in Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee received international media attention. The events surrounding these cases at times became very violent and involved many methods of personal and professional intimidation. Informal survey techniques were used to assess the extent to which these cases would affect the local selection of basal reading textbooks. The results are reported here, along with recommendations for teachers publishers, and others interested in intellectual freedom. Patricia P. Fritchie is associate professor of education and director of the Reading Center at Troy State University-Dothan. She serves as state coordinator, Alabama Reading Association, for the International Reading Association. Dr. Fritchie is very active in textbook reviews and has served on the State of Alabama's Textbook adoption Committee.     

School entry age and reading achievement in the 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Evidence regarding the effect of early reading instruction on later reading achievement is unusually sparse, given the emphasis often placed on early and intensive reading instruction. Capitalising on international differences in school entry age (SEA), international reading studies may provide such evidence; however, only one quantitative analysis has been conducted that looked at nine-year olds over 17 years ago. Therefore, data from the reading portion of the 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study were re-analysed. The relative reading achievement—as a function of SEA—of 15-year-old students across 55 countries was investigated, controlling for social and economic differences. Results suggested no significant association between reading achievement and SEA. Theoretical explanations for these findings are discussed.     

Media Education‐‐a call for a change in teaching

The ever growing importance of mass media in social life makes media education one of the most challenging tasks for modern schools. While educators generally agree on the topics for this new area of study, the implications of media studies for teaching have long been overlooked. We should not teach about media as we teach about any other subject; media education calls for a change in the classroom. This article describes some of the consequences of media studies for classroom communication and points out the new opportunities for meaningful teaching.     

适应社会需求 办出体院特色——对体育学院办学模式的探索

本文在大量的调查研究基础上,全面总结了30多年高等体育教育办学的历史经验;充分论证了在有计划的商品经济条件下,高等体育教育改革的主客观依据;系统地提出了从系科改革入手,改革教学计划、教学大纲和课程设置的可行性方案;最后得出深化体育学院教育改革的几点结论。     

A preliminary investigation into the nature of shock absorbency in synthetic sports materials

Tests were conducted on three athletic shoe midsole materials and on three synthetic sports surfaces. All specimens were found to absorb energy when loaded. For a specific maximum load the amount of energy absorbed by each material was found to decrease as the load application rate increased. The materials exhibited different capacities to dissipate energy under the application of the same impulse. This may be a consideration for the injury protection afforded. The development of rheological models from the results of the tests aided an explanation of how force is resisted and energy absorbed by synthetic sports materials. Their shock absorbing properties were associated with the rheological elements of elasticity and viscosity.