Good education in an age of measurement: on the need to reconnect with the question of purpose in education

In this paper I argue that there is a need to reconnect with the question of purpose in education, particularly in the light of a recent tendency to focus discussions about education almost exclusively on the measurement and comparison of educational outcomes. I first discuss why the question of purpose should always have a place in our educational discussion. I then explore some reasons why this question seems to have disappeared from the educational agenda. The central part of the paper is a proposal for addressing the question of purpose in education—the question as to what constitutes good education—in a systematic manner. I argue that the question of purpose is a composite question and that in deliberating about the purpose of education we should make a distinction between three functions of education to which I refer as qualification, socialisation and subjectification. In the final section of the paper I provide examples of how this proposal can help in asking more precise questions about the purpose and direction of educational processes and practices.     

Hands-on at a Distance: Evaluation of a Temperature and Heat Distance Learning Course

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that all teachers be certified within the content areas that they teach. However, attracting and retaining highly qualified science teachers in rural school districts is particularly difficult due to limited resources and geographic and professional isolation. Science professional development programs could help improve inservice teachers’ understanding of concepts they are expected to teach, but such programs are often limited in rural areas. This study evaluates a unique distance learning, inquiry-based professional development course in physical science developed to meet the needs of central Appalachian middle school teachers. Instruction through hands-on inquiry investigations distinguishes this program from other distance learning programs. Preliminary findings from the pilot study reported in this paper reveal significant growth in 43 teachers’ content knowledge for six of nine temperature and heat concepts assessed in the course. Outcomes from the distance learning project are discussed as they relate to future research goals and implications for science professional development programs in rural regions.     

如何在综合英语课堂中提高学生的口语能力

在英语专业基础阶段的教学中,培养和训练学生的口语能力是综合英语课程的任务之一。在英语教学中,教师应注意采取形式多样的教学方法,将口语能力的培养渗透到综合英语教学的各个方面．并将其作为综合英语课的一项长期、重要任务。     

碑刻类书稿的新典范——喜读《保山碑刻》

《保山碑刻》汇集了保山市文物考古工作者多年劳动的心血和汗水,以实证展示了保山的历史文化。该书与以往的碑刻类书稿相比,更重视了碑刻面貌、历史面貌、文体格式的全面性和述评、编排的精警性。无论在内容选择或形式编排上,都有较大的突破、都达到了一个新的高度。无论对史学研究还是碑刻书法的研究,都具有重要的意义,值得文化界大力推介和研究。     

技术市场发展绩效评价研究——以湖北省为例

在分析全国技术市场一体化建设和湖北省技术市场基本情况的基础上,通过构建适用于湖北省技术市场发展的指标体系,运用数据降维方法,研究发现影响湖北省技术市场发展贡献率的主成分是基础投入指标。提出创新政府引导、企业主导的政策环境,健全科技成果转化和技术转移的公共服务平台,培育科技成果转化和技术转移的中介服务体系等政策措施建议。     

北京市民用建筑节能规划实施效果评价研究

随着北京市城市功能定位转变和高能耗产业的退出,建筑节能作为节能减排的重要工作进入新的阶段。北京市“十二五”民用建筑节能规划在广度和深度上已全面拓展。笔者通过深入调研北京市“十二五”时期民用建筑节能工作的任务完成情况,构建北京市“十二五”民用建筑节能规划实施效果评价指标体系,采用模糊综合评价法评价北京市民用建筑节能规划的实施效果,并分析规划实施过程中存在的问题。为北京市民用建筑节能工作提出对策建议,以期对北京市制定“十三五”民用建筑节能规划提供参考。     

上海市全面创新改革试验区相关政策研究

在全面创新改革试验区建设背景下,梳理上海市出台的促进全面创新改革的各项政策文件,利用社会网络法研究全面创新改革相关政策之间的网络结构,并进一步从政策工具视角分析评价上海市全面创新改革相关政策对试验区建设方案的作用和存在的问题,旨在为地方全面创新改革政策的优化与完善提供政策指引和技术支持。     

建立高校学报退出机制的理性思考

【目的】 针对目前高校学报“千刊一面”、内涵匮乏、竞争力不足等问题,提出建立高校学报退出机制的构想,以推动高校学报改革,促进高校学报健康发展。【方法】 深入探析高校学报退出机制的内涵,借鉴报刊退出机制的实践情况,对比报刊退出机制与高校学报退出机制的联系和区别,分析高校学报退出机制建立的有利条件,并在此基础上探讨高校学报退出二级评估方案、退出标准及退出善后等问题。【结果】 建立高校学报退出机制,应充分考虑高校学报的特殊性,构建切实可行的评估方案,设定科学合理的退出标准,妥善处理退出善后等问题。【结论】 建立高校学报退出机制为高校学报体制改革提供了一条新思路。     

风险投资竞技体育后备人才评估与决策研究

以项目管理、风险投资理论为基础,阐述风险投资竞技体育后备人才模式投资评价与决策。过程包括项目收集、筛选和调查研究、项目评估与决策的四个步骤;重点以层次分析法(AHP)建立投资评价指标体系,其中运动员竞技水平预测指标为主要关键指标。     

Controlling the complexity in comparing search user interfaces via user studies

Over time, researchers have acknowledged the importance of understanding the users’ strategies in the design of search systems. However, when involving users in the comparison of search systems, methodological challenges still exist as researchers are pondering on how to handle the variability that human participants bring to the comparisons. This paper present methods for controlling the complexity of user-centered evaluations of search user interfaces through within-subjects designs, balanced task sets, time limitations, pre-formulated queries, cached result pages, and through limiting the users’ access to result documents. Additionally, we will present our experiences in using three measures – search speed, qualified search speed, and immediate accuracy – to facilitate the comparison of different search systems over studies.