A microfluidic device for on-chip agarose microbead generation with ultralow reagent consumption

Water-in-oil microdroplets offer microreactors for compartmentalized biochemical reactions with high throughput. Recently, the combination with a sol-gel switch ability, using agarose-in-oil microdroplets, has increased the range of possible applications, allowing for example the capture of amplicons in the gel phase for the preservation of monoclonality during a PCR reaction. Here, we report a new method for generating such agarose-in-oil microdroplets on a microfluidic device, with minimized inlet dead volume, on-chip cooling, and in situ monitoring of biochemical reactions within the gelified microbeads. We used a flow-focusing microchannel network and successfully generated agarose microdroplets at room temperature using the “push-pull” method. This method consists in pushing the oil continuous phase only, while suction is applied to the device outlet. The agarose phase present at the inlet is thus aspirated in the device, and segmented in microdroplets. The cooling system consists of two copper wires embedded in the microfluidic device. The transition from agarose microdroplets to microbeads provides additional stability and facilitated manipulation. We demonstrate the potential of this method by performing on-chip a temperature-triggered DNA isothermal amplification in agarose microbeads. Our device thus provides a new way to generate microbeads with high throughput and no dead volume for biochemical applications.     

Social information processing and coping strategies of shy/withdrawn and aggressive children: does friendship matter?

The primary objectives of this investigation were to examine the attributions, emotional reactions, and coping strategies of shy/withdrawn and aggressive girls and boys and to examine whether such social cognitions differ within the relationship context of friendship. Drawn from a sample of fifth and sixth graders (M age = 10.79 years; SD = .77), 78 shy/withdrawn, 76 aggressive, and 85 control children were presented with hypothetical social situations that first involved unfamiliar peers, and then a mutual good friend. Results revealed group and gender differences and similarities, depending on the relationship context. From our findings emerges a central message: friends' involvement during interpersonal challenges or stressors mitigates children's attributions, emotions, and coping responses.     

Teachers' goals regarding social competence

This article focuses on the enhancement of social competence of students in secondary education. In the literature two perspectives on social competence can be distinguished: an ‘educating for adulthood’ perspective and an ‘educating for citizenship’ perspective. From each perspective goals are formulated for what education should be aimed at and what teachers could strive for. By means of a survey, teachers' educational goals regarding the social domain were explored. The results show that teachers unanimously emphasize educational goals from the ‘educating for adulthood’ perspective. The citizenship goals receive less attention. Irrespective of the perspective, pre‐vocational teachers appear less confident than general secondary teachers regarding the attainability of the goals for their students. They intend to contribute to the development of social competence of their students in their own lessons more often. In conclusion, we argue that teaching strategies should be developed that support teachers' contribution to their students' development of social competence, particularly the citizenship elements.

Cet article traite l'apprentissage d'une compétence sociale des élèves dans l'éducation secondaire. La littérature professionnelle distingue deux visions sur la compétence sociale: une vision orientée vers l'âge adulte et l'autre orientée vers la citoyennet. Chacune des ces visions connaît des objectifs spécifiques qui amènent leur propre façon d'enseignement et le rôle de l'enseignant là‐dedans. Les objectifs éducatifs des professeurs concernant le domaine social ont été explorés au moyen d'un aperçu. Les résultats prouvent que les professeurs soulignent unanimement les objectifs éducatifs s'orientant vers âge adulte, tandis que les objectifs s'orientant vers la citoyenneté suscitent moins d'attention. Indépendamment de ces deux visions, les professeurs du primaire semblent moins confiants que les professeurs du secondaire quand il s'agit de la faisabilité des objectifs par leurs élèves. Ceux‐là sont plus souvent prêts à contribuer au développement de la compétence sociale de leurs élèves pendant leurs propres leçons. En conclusion nous plaidons en faveur du développement de stratégies d'enseignement stimulant les professeurs à contribuer à la compétence sociale de leurs élèves, en particulier en ce qui concerne les aspects de citoyenneté.

Dieser Aufsatz beschäftigt sich mit der Verbesserung der Sozialkompetenz von Schülern im Sekundarbereich. In der Fachliteratur zum Thema Sozialkompetenz lassen sich zwei Perspektiven unterscheiden: Erstens die der “Erziehung zum Erwachsenen” und zweitens die der “Erziehung zum Staatsbürger”. Aus beiden Perspektiven werden für den Ausbildungssektor und für die Leherarbeit Ziele formuliert. Mittels einer Umfrage wurde in dieser Studie ermittelt, welche pädagogischen Ziele Lehrer sich im Bereich der sozialen Kompetenz setzen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Lehrer einstimmig pädagogische Ziele aus der Perspektive der “Erziehung zum Erwachsenen” betonen. Im Vergleich dazu erhalten Staatsbürgerschaftsziele weniger Aufmerksamkeit. In Bezug auf die erreichbarkeit der Ziele für ihre Schüler zeigen sich Lehrer im berufsvorbereitenden Unterricht, ungeachtet der Perspektive, weniger zuversichtlich als Lehrer im allgemeinbildenden Bereich. Sie haben häufiger die Absicht in ihrem eigenen Unterricht zur Entwicklung der Sozialkompetenz ihrer Schüler beizutragen. Wir schlussfolgern, dass Unterrichtsstrategien zu entwickeln sind, die Lehrern dabei helfen können, zur Entwicklung der Sozialkompetenz ihrer Schüler beizutragen, besonders dort wo es um die Staatsbürgerschaftelemente geht.

Este artículo se centra en la importancia de la competencia social de los alumnos en la educación secundaria. En la literatura se pueden distinguir dos perspectivas acerca de la competencia social: una perspectiva `que se dirige a una educación para la edad adulta' y una perspectiva `que se dirige a una educación para la ciudadanía'. Desde cada perspectiva se han formulado las metas que deben de alcanzar tanto la educación como los profesores. A través de una investigación se exploraron las metas de los profesores respecto al dominio social. Los resultados demuestran que los profesores de forma unánime dan más importancia a las metas educativas desde la perspectiva de ‘adulthood’. A las metas acerca de la ciudadanía se presta menos atención. Independientemente de la perspectiva, los profesores prevocacionales parecen tener menos confidencia que los profesores de secundaria que los alumnos alcancen las metas. Más a menudo tienden a contribuir al desarrollo de la competencia social de los alumnos en sus propias clases. Concluyendo, discutimos que se desarrollen las estrategias de aprendizaje que soportan la contribución del profesor al desarrollo de la competencia social del alumno, sobre todo los elementos de ciudadanía.     

When ‘becoming a 50% school’ is success enough: a principal–agent analysis of subject leaders’ target setting

Using the perspective of principal–agent theory, we suggest that the target setting process imposed by the government has shifted teachers’ focus away from their personal educational priorities. Our evidence suggests that schools with a higher proportion of students with high academic achievement differ in their practice of target setting from schools with a below average proportion of students achieving high examination grades. We examine possible explanations for variations in teachers’ practice and suggest some implications for policy and school leadership and management.     

Premature closure and guided reinvention: a case study in a web‐based learning environment

Just as linguistic errors have provided insights into the nature of linguistic competence(s), detailed analyses of blind spots or marked trajectories in the reflection cycles of novice teachers may provide a window on their underlying beliefs, and thus on relevant zones of proximal development. In this paper we analyse a case study in an experimental web‐based learning environment in which a novice teacher demonstrably just reproduces the assumptions she started out with rather than re‐inspecting them. Having located a problem of motivation uniquely inside the learners’ heads, she pointedly ignores hints in the feedback that her own verbal and nonverbal behaviour in the classroom might be a relevant domain of enquiry. Our findings show the need for structural interventions within a priori hypothesized, linearly ordered, stages in reflection models. We report on two small‐scale experiments that implement suggested changes in the architecture of the web site which yield more context‐sensitive ways of scaffolding reflection. In conclusion we argue that detailed discursive accounts of successful and less successful reflection trajectories are needed to refine and further develop models in teacher thinking.     

INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between department/division chairpersons' interpersonal behavior and their perceived leadership effectiveness. The Departmental Evaluation of Chairperson Activities for Development (DECAD) system was used to determine the department chairpersons' administrative effectiveness. Element B, developed by Will Schutz, was used to assess the chairpersons' interpersonal behavioral characteristics. The participants were department/division chairpersons and full-time faculty members from 15 of the 17 public and private community colleges in a southern state. Survey packets were mailed to faculty members and department/ division chairpersons in the humanities and social sciences divisions. Sixty-seven percent of the faculty responded and 93% of the chairpersons responded. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in the dependent variables of received inclusion, perceived inclusion, and wanted inclusion interpersonal behaviors between the ineffective and effective chairs. These findings suggest that effective department chairpersons possess a need to maintain and establish interaction with others. Also, effective chairpersons were perceived to be, and want to be, included by others.     

SST (Successful Strategic Teaching): Enhancing Adult Learners’ Motivation and Achievement

Enhancing motivation in adult learners is often a difficult task in today’s college classroom. Significant reforms in America’s educational system have directed the initiative to adopt Common Core Standards in Language Arts by all 50 states. With the focus on increased rigor and depth of understanding in learning, the hope is to prepare students throughout the K–12 sequence for college and careers. This new instructional model requires moving students from passive recipients to active learners. Although the arrival of an expanding population is encouraging for college communities, the issue of underprepared college students must be addressed. Instructional methods designed to cultivate active learning and critical thinking through more contextualized, hands-on teaching activities produced initial evidence of improved reading achievement.