Toward Bridging the Mechanistic Gap Between Genes and Traits by Emphasizing the Role of Proteins in a Computational Environment

Previous studies have shown that students often ignore molecular mechanisms when describing genetic phenomena. Specifically, students tend to directly link genes to their encoded traits, ignoring the role of proteins as mediators in this process. We tested the ability of 10th grade students to connect genes to traits through proteins, using concept maps and reasoning questions. The context of this study was a computational learning environment developed specifically to foster this ability. This environment presents proteins as the mechanism-mediating genetic phenomena. We found that students’ ability to connect genes, proteins, and traits, or to reason using this connection, was initially poor. However, significant improvement was obtained when using the learning environment. Our results suggest that visual representations of proteins’ functions in the context of a specific trait contributed to this improvement. One significant aspect of these results is the indication that 10th graders are capable of accurately describing genetic phenomena and their underlying mechanisms, a task that has been shown to raise difficulties, even in higher grades of high school.     

HERIe: A Web-Based Decision-Supporting Tool for Assessing Risk of Physical Damage Using Various Failure Criteria

ABSTRACT

HERIe is a web-based decision-supporting software tool to facilitate the management of collection environments by precise assessment of climate-induced risk of physical damage to vulnerable objects. The software translates the relative humidity and temperature data recorded in the environment of the analysed object into a strain history experienced by it, and estimates the risk of physical damage using selected failure criteria. As all information is pre-calculated for the user, no engagement in complex and time-consuming numerical simulations is required. HERIe is available for testing at herie.mnk.pl. Detailed information on the methodologies used by the software is available at the above website which also contains tutorial climates. The current work aims at refining HERIe by selecting the damage criteria not only from laboratory studies but also from direct monitoring damage accumulation in objects, especially using the acoustic emission method. The software has been expanded to include moisture-induced response of parchment to support managing environments in libraries and archives.     

Crack Saturation as a Mechanism of Acclimatization of Panel Paintings to Unstable Environments

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the process of crack saturation, which is fundamental to understanding why panel paintings have survived remarkably well in the uncontrolled environments of historic houses or places of worship for several centuries. The process of crack saturation was analyzed using finite element modeling. A double layer elastic model with fractured overlying paint layer was subjected to uniaxial tension. The critical separation between cracks was determined and compared with patterns observed in real paintings. In addition, the generation and propagation of delamination were studied to elucidate the effect of their propagation on the saturation distance of cracks, as well as the load carrying ability of the paint layer. Contributing modes of crack propagation and their significance are also discussed. The results demonstrate that shearing fracture mode dominates the process of delamination. The impact of crack saturation on the degree of relative humidity variation that is allowable is also discussed.     

Research mathematicians as teacher educators: focusing on mathematics for secondary mathematics teachers

We believe that professional mathematicians who teach undergraduate mathematics courses to prospective teachers play an important role in the education of secondary school mathematics teachers. Thus, we explored the views of research mathematicians on the mathematics that should be taught to prospective mathematics teachers, on how the courses they teach can serve teachers in their work with school students, and on the changes they would implement if their courses were designed specifically for prospective teachers. We constructed profiles of the four mathematicians based on their responses to a clinical interview. We employed the construct of mathematics teacher-educators’ triad in the reflective analysis of our findings and extended the construct based on the results of this study. In conclusion, we commented on potential ways to draw stronger connections between university mathematics and the mathematics taught in schools.     

Transitions to school-college partnership: a phenomenological inquiry

This study took place during the first 2 years of a partnership between three cooperating elementary schools and a college of education. The purpose of the interpretive phenomenological study was to learn from cooperating teachers, student-teachers and college instructors about the transitions that accompanied the change in the culture of schooling they experienced through the newly established partnership, and to attempt to understand their experiences through their explanations of the transitions they identified. On the basis of the data analysis, we identified seven transitions experienced by the participants: From discrete processes to parallel, open processes. From individual work to collaboration. From seeing the other as an object to seeing the other as a critical friend. From leading to responding. From the conception of knowledge as an object to the conception of knowledge as a process. From viewing learning as a linear process to viewing it as a spiral process. From viewing their work environment as a closed system to viewing it as an open system. In this paper, we describe and provide examples of each of these transitions and show how they are interrelated and how each one is both a cause and an effect of the others. These findings increased our knowledge about how the school and college altered each others consciousness.     

FACTORS SHAPING STUDENTS’ OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN ARGUMENTATIVE ACTIVITY

This study examines how students’ opportunities to engage in argumentative activity are shaped by the teacher, the class, and the mathematical topic. It compares the argumentative activity between two classes taught by the same teacher using the same textbook and across two beginning algebra topics—investigating algebraic expressions and equivalence of algebraic expressions. The study comprises two case studies in which each teacher taught two 7th grade classes. Analysis of classroom videotapes revealed that the opportunities to engage in argumentative activity with the topic investigating algebraic expressions were similar in each teacher's two classes. By contrast, substantial differences were found between one teacher's classes with regard to the opportunities to engage in argumentative activity with the topic equivalence of algebraic expressions. The discussion highlights how the interplay between the characteristics of the mathematical topic, the characteristics of the class, and the characteristics of the teacher contributed to the shaping of students’ opportunities to engage in argumentative activity.     

Multimedia and interactivity in distance learning of resuscitation guidelines: a randomised controlled trial

The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of three forms of knowledge transfer online, taking into account the long-term knowledge growth rate and the satisfaction of students surveyed in respect to distance learning. The cohort of participants for this survey were students of the first degree, studying in the Emergency Medical Services. The authors created three e-learning courses in basic and advanced resuscitation procedures. The level of course participants’ satisfaction was analysed, as well as the knowledge growth rate measured three times: 7, 30 and 90 days, respectively, after finishing the course. The level of satisfaction in all the groups surveyed was comparable. The growth rate for knowledge was the highest in group C in the second and third survey, respectively (30 and 90 days after the end of the course), and a significant difference in favour of course C was demonstrated one month after finishing classes.     

Varying paths for learning to revise

The paper draws on the Vygotskyan view of instruction, advocating the support of learners within their individual Zones of Proximal Development. It describes an instructional design developed iteratively—gradually building in scaffolding techniques to support the use of the procedural facilitation of text evaluation during revision—and the open-ended management of its provision to students, so that they could fade it out themselves.The study took place in a writing class for students at basic writing levels. The present, post hoc analysis is concerned with individual differences among three members of the class identified as weak, intermediate and more advanced novices while learning to revise within that program.     

Academic motivation in children with dyslexia

The authors' purpose was to determine which form of therapeutic aid may influence academic approach and avoidance motivation in children with dyslexia. There were 165 children with dyslexia assessed with the use of ”I and my school” questionnaire. The authors considered the children's previous therapeutic experience and on its basis they were divided into three groups. Children receiving systematic therapeutic treatment display a significantly higher level of academic approach motivation as compared to those from the two other groups. Those children also manifest a lower level of academic avoidance motivation compared to those receiving no form of specialist treatment. Girls, regardless of their therapeutic experience, demonstrate a higher level of approach motivation; boys, on the other hand, display a higher level of avoidance motivation. The study shows that the quality of provided therapeutic aid affects emotional-motivational sphere of children with dyslexia. Systematic therapeutic aid increases academic approach motivation and reduces avoidance motivation.