Learning about students’ knowledge and thinking in science through large-scale quantitative studies

The main issue addressed in this article is that there is much to learn about students’ knowledge and thinking in science from largescale international quantitative studies beyond overall score measures. Response patterns on individual or groups of items can give valuable diagnostic insight into students’ conceptual understanding, but there is also a danger of drawing conclusions that may be too simple and nonvalid. We discuss how responses to multiple-choice items could be interpreted, and we also show how responses on constructed-response items can be systematised and analysed. Finally, we study, empirically, interactions between item characteristics and student responses. It is demonstrated that even small changes in the item wording and/or the item format may have a substantial influence on the response pattern. Therefore, we argue that interpretations of results from these kinds of studies should be based on a thorough analysis of the actual items used. We further argue that diagnostic information should be an integrated part of the international research aims of such large-scale studies. Examples of items and student responses presented are taken from The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).     

Implementing Engineering in Diverse Upper Elementary and Middle School Science Classrooms: Student Learning and Attitudes

Journal of Science Education and Technology - Recent reforms in education call for science teachers to incorporate STEM concepts into their curricula. This study explores the association among...     

Shifting boundaries in Europe and North America: Reflections and synthesis

This article provides a synthesis of the three articles on boundary shifting brought about by the European Economic Community and the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement. It is pointed out that, due to the rapid and dramatic societal changes around the world, much of the discussion in the issue is and must be speculative. The changes being effected through the Common Market and Free Trade Agreements were anticipated and planned, while more recent changes such as the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and political shifts in Eastern and Central Europe were more abrupt and unplanned.The article discusses perceived commonalities and differences in the changes which are occurring in these Western countries, advantages and disadvantages of the shifting boundaries for individuals and societies, and problems and progress in implementing the proposed changes. The author provides a summary of the implications for counseling and guidance and particularly for educational-vocational guidance and the role of the counselor in the new configurations. Among issues highlighted are effects on educational-occupational mobility, coordinated policies for worker recruitment, need for new data-gathering and delivery systems for educational-occupational information, recognition of professional standards, language problems, and improved counseling and guidance services. Finally, questions and gaps related to the new economic arrangements and to guidance and counseling are noted, including attention to the effects of the changes on 1) the role and status of women, 2) effects on racial and ethnic minorities within each culture, and 3) the pace and scope of change.University of Minnesota     

遵循学习心理活动规律,提高学习效率

在社会经济迅速发展、信息激增的时代 ,教师在教学中若能充分把握学生学习心理活动规律 ,注意培养、激发其学习动机及思维、观察、记忆、综合归纳等能力 ,让学生学会学习的方法 ,具备学习的能力 ,则将有利于对学生进行全面、综合素质的培养。     

中小学开展阳光体育运动的社会保障现状调查

采用文献资料法、访谈法、问卷调查法等,对中小学开展阳光体育运动的社会保障现状进行了调查。调查结果说明,政府及相关部门对开展阳光体育运动重视程度不够,缺乏开展阳光体育运动的社会保障机构和专项资金;贯彻落实“每天一小时校园体育活动”缺乏强有力保障措施;对体育伤害事故的畏惧严重制约了阳光体育运动的开展。由此,提出了几点建议。     

信息用户学学科体系构想

相对于信息产业的发展来说,信息用户研究起步较晚.最早可以追溯到二十世纪的三、四十年代,但其理论研究的范畴大都没有离开图书馆和文献.直到七十年代后期至今,才出现了以用户为中心,以因素分析为基础,致力于分析用户信息活动的发生,发展过程研究的理论模型.     

大嘴救援站

Q 车载播放器不认优盘怎么办？ 为什么爸爸的汽车不认我的优盘呢？国庆的时候出去玩，我把歌曲都复制到优盘上了，但是插进去却一点反应都没有；我还以为优盘被汽车弄坏了，后来插到电脑上，歌都那儿摆着呢!（杨雅冰 广州 读者来信）     

关东少数民族武术文化探微

关东少数民族武术文化是中国武术文化的有机构成,关东少数民族武术作为一种文化现象,以其内容与形式的多样丰富,渗透到关东少数民族生产、娱乐、宗教、礼教等各个层面.结合文化学、史学、社会学及武术文化等方面的理论,从武术文化形态的器与具、术与艺、教与礼3个层面着手,对关东少数民族武术文化特征进行探讨.从历史悠远的梏矢石即磐、厚重古朴的辽宁式青铜短剑,到兼具实用与娱乐属性的关东"跋里速戏""曲折多战斗之容"的满族扬烈舞,论证关东各民族注重实用、粗犷豪放、尚武好战的民族精神和文化特质;模拟征战场景、祈求神灵护佑的萨满文化及祭祀与修武紧密结合的"大射之礼",则真正地使关东武术由"术"入"礼".丰富关东少数民族武术文化的内涵,推进关东武术文化的发展.