Let's talk evidence – The case for combining inquiry-based and direct instruction

Many studies investigating inquiry learning in science domains have appeared over the years. Throughout this period, inquiry learning has been regularly criticized by scholars who favor direct instruction over inquiry learning. In this vein, Zhang, Kirschner, Cobern, and Sweller (2022) recently asserted that direct instruction is overall superior to inquiry-based instruction and reproached policy makers for ignoring this fact. In the current article we reply to this assertion and the premises on which it is based. We review the evidence and argue that a more complete and correct interpretation of the literature demonstrates that inquiry-based instruction produces better overall results for acquiring conceptual knowledge than does direct instruction. We show that this conclusion holds for controlled, correlational, and program-based studies. We subsequently argue that inquiry-based and direct instruction each have their specific virtues and disadvantages and that the effectiveness of each approach depends on moderating factors such as the learning goal, the domain involved, and students' prior knowledge and other student characteristics. Furthermore, inquiry-based instruction is most effective when supplemented with guidance that can be personalized based on these moderating factors and can even involve providing direct instruction. Therefore, we posit that a combination of inquiry and direct instruction may often be the best approach to support student learning. We conclude that policy makers rightfully advocate inquiry-based instruction, particularly when students’ investigations are supplemented with direct instruction at appropriate junctures.     

The validity of student ratings of teaching quality: Factorial structure,comparability, and the relation to achievement

Student ratings are widely used to assess teaching quality in primary and secondary education. This necessitates a thorough examination their validity and reliability in such contexts. To this end, we present validity evidence for using student ratings of teaching quality based on their factorial structure, comparability across grades and subjects, and relation to achievement. Based on data from the 2019 Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and its national extensions in Norway (N = 3951 5th graders and N = 4575 9th graders), we could confirm a theoretically assumed three-dimensional factor structure (i.e., classroom management, cognitive activation, and supportive climate). Moreover, classroom management and supportive climate were more comparable across grades and subjects then cognitive activation. Finally, classroom management was associated with achievement across all groups, whereas other dimensions showed mixed results, especially across grades. Overall, the findings indicate that students, especially in Grade 9, can provide a valid assessment of teaching quality.     

论我国农业科技成果转化的影响因素

农业科技成果的转化已成为我国农业发展的重要影响因素,总体来说,我国农业科技成果的转化率偏低,这已成为各界关注的重要问题。本文分析并总结了影响我国农业科技成果转化因素的相关文献,并着重探讨了我国农民的技术吸收能力和农民的信息获取等因素对农业科技成果转化的影响。     

基于.NET的大学生创业信息服务平台建设与规划研究

本文根据大学生创业园信息管理的需求,采用.NET技术,构建了一套基于B/S三层架构的综合信息服务管理平台。利用该平台,可以实现大学生创业管理信息化,为大学生创业提供更好的项目来源和技术支撑,提升大学生创业服务能力,整合各类创业资源,有效提高大学生创业的成功率。     

浅谈《江西科技志》资料长篇的资料收集

科技志是专门记载科技发展历史和现状的书籍。我省新一轮的修志工作已经开始,在修志过程中,编写资料长篇的意义非常重要,本文针对《江西科技志》的资料收集方法进行了总结。关键词:科技志;志书编纂;资料长篇;收集方法     

隐私保护研究

伴随着数字化网络技术的发展和应用,许多社交网站被创建,使得关于个人的大量信息被收集和发布。为了能够安全地利用社交网站进行信息交流,社交网站在发布数据的同时也要对用户的个人隐私进行必要的保护,本文对社交网络发布的个人信息隐私保护进行了总结,阐述了个人隐私保护模型,指出了社交网络在数据发布时隐私保护存在的待解决的问题以及面临的挑战。     

简述科技查新对企业技术创新的作用

通过分析江西省中小企业在技术创新方面存在的问题,结合科技查新工作,提出提升我省中小企业技术创新能力的建议和对策。     

Is small actually big? The chaos of technological change

In this paper, we develop themes from complexity and chaos theory that help to explain the technological change process. We apply two quantifiers, correlation dimensions and Lyapunov exponents, to examine the signs and degrees of chaotic technological dynamics. To illustrate our ideas, we study the development of electronic displays from 1976 to 2010, using patent data. The results of the chaos model are matched against the profiles of patent citations. Our analysis contributes to the development of a chaotic model of technological change.     

Light emitting diodes and the lighting revolution: The emergence of a solid-state lighting industry

Emergence of new industries from evolving technologies is critical to the global economy, yet has been relatively understudied due to the paucity of available data. This study draws lessons on industry emergence, by analyzing how a solid-state lighting (SSL) industry grew out of light emitting diode (LED) technologies that evolved for half a century, with participation by tens of thousands of researchers in universities, national laboratories, and firms. Using data on publications, patents, and firms combined with business history we trace the evolution of SSL through a succession of market niches. At times a few researchers with unorthodox research approaches made breakthroughs that greatly advanced particular technology trajectories and pushed LED research in unexpected directions. A succession of LED market niches advanced the technology and provided profits to incentivize continuing research while reducing cost and improving efficacy of LEDs. Innovating firms developed a thicket of patents and captured substantial profit, but were embroiled in extensive litigation that was ultimately resolved through cross-licensing. A major new generation of lighting products is now disrupting the traditional lighting industry. Although the leading incumbent lighting firms all invested early and heavily in SSL, the industry's future leadership is uncertain.     

Financial information management for university departments,using open-source software

This paper presents a model to analyse the different outcomes generated by the application of Task-Technology Fit (TTF) theory to economic and financial information management in university departments. This model extends that proposed by Goodhue (1995), in two ways: (i) a key role is played by the manager in designing the technology and in performing the task in question. Both of these aspects can be modified, depending on the evaluation made of a series of characteristics (or dimensions) inherent to the model. (ii) The free dissemination of the source code of the application not only allows the transfer of knowledge, but also creates virtual communities which, through collaborative work and the exchange of experiences, can achieve a better fit of the technology to the task at hand. This model has been introduced in several departments at the University of Granada (Spain), and evaluated in terms of the results obtained at both individual and group levels. This evaluation was conducted by means of in-depth interviews with departmental managers.