Classroom

In this section of Resonance, we invite readers to pose questions likely to be raised in a classroom situation. Wemay suggest strategies for dealingwith them, or invite responses, or both. “Classroom” is equally a forum for raising broader issues and sharing personal experiences and viewpoints on matters related to teaching and learning science.     

Unexpected changes of itinerary – adaptive functioning difficulties in daily transitions for adults with autism spectrum disorder

Adaptive functioning skills, also known as adaptive behaviours, refer to a multifaceted concept defined as behaviours necessary for age-appropriate, independent functioning in social, communication, daily living or motor areas. In light of the growing population of children with ASD who will eventually become adults, increased understanding of adaptive functioning during the transition to adulthood is of importance, but current research in this area lacks first-hand evidence presenting adaptive skills difficulties among older adolescents and adults with ASD. This article focuses on adaptive functioning skills in daily transitions for adults with Asperger’s syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA). It draws on evidence from 12 interviews with individuals on the autism spectrum age 16–43, and 2 focus groups with 8 family members of people affected by ASD. Particular emphasis is placed on impact of adaptive functioning difficulties on well-being and quality of life for adults with ASD. Grounded theory approach has been used to analyse the gathered data. Interviewees reflected on daily challenges associated with unexpected changes in routine, sensory difficulties and social interactions. These in turn had an impact on their adaptive functioning skills by introducing complications in the process of making transitions between different contexts and decreasing interviewees’ ability to tackle challenges of daily life. Importance placed on societal expectations towards meeting bespoken standards and conforming to norms ruling the structure and interactions of daily life were also widely discussed. Frequently such expectations did not allow for factoring in the developmental nature of ASD and related difficulties, which as a result triggered additional complexity in managing daily transitions for adults on the spectrum. Further research addressing adaptive functioning skills in daily transitions for adults with ASD is needed.     

加强实践环节的铁路线路课程设计探索

线路课程设计是一门综合运用理论和专业知识的实践课程,对工程实际经验依赖性很强。本文分析了目前铁道工程线路课程设计培养现状,论述了加强实践环节的必要性,并开展了加强赴现场模拟踏勘、邀请线路设计专家入校讲解等尝试,以期为类似实践性较强的课程设计提供参考。     

现代化中的农民问题

农民问题伴随现代化进程始终,只有在一个国家充分实现城市化后才能最后解决。西欧、拉美等地的农民转变受到其历史与环境上的特殊条件的影响,而东亚的“小农制”模式缓和了农民在现代化进程中所难免遭受的苦难,对我们具有重要的借鉴意义。解决我国目前的农民问题,需要新的思路:尤其是转向主要在城市解决农民问题而不只是在农村解决,转向主要依靠个人与社会来解决而不是像以往那样只依赖于政府与官员。     

A Process Approach to Community-Based Education: The People’s Free University of Saskatchewan

On the basis of insights provided by Whitehead and John Cobb, I show how the People’s Free University of Saskatchewan (PFU) is a working model of free, open, community-based education that embodies several characteristics of Whitehead’s philosophy of education. Formed in opposition to the growing commercialization at the original “people’s university,” (the University of Saskatchewan) the PFU has spawned distinctive ideals of its own. The PFU reflects Whitehead’s belief in the importance of shared knowledge fostered by community-based education, the value of abstract and practical knowledge, and the power of the imagination to establish a community of learners capable of acting freely together.     

Different children’s perspectives on their learning environment

This article reports and discusses findings from an ethnographic case study, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of how different children perceive their learning environment in the first grade of primary school, with regard to social as well as academic aspects. The theoretical framework is based on an interactional perspective, where children’s learning and development are considered to take place in a dynamic and ecological system. The reported results are based on interviews with 16 children, and observed teaching situations during the first year of primary school. Research among children demands special ethical considerations, such as how to avoid questions and interest from the researcher affecting the position of children being vulnerable in some way. The findings show that, within a group of children, facing a similar learning environment, there are significant differences between the experiences expressed. The findings presented support the importance of listening to children when planning educational settings. Listening to and taking into account the children’s different voices is an essential part of research and education that strives for inclusion, learning and well-being of all children.     

阿尔兹海默症患者的语义记忆损伤:表现、理论及展望

图片命名、范畴流畅性等神经心理学测验表明,阿尔兹海默症(AD)患者普遍存在语义记忆的损伤,并随着病程的发展表现出进行性与弥散性特点。AD患者语义记忆的损伤既可能由语义知识的存储障碍造成,也可能由语义知识的提取障碍引发,还可能由存储与提取的双重损伤造成。未来研究应开发出对早期AD检测更为敏感的语义记忆测验,并采用横向与纵向多种研究技术与手段,考虑不同语言文化背景下AD患者语义损伤的情况,以综合分析AD患者语义记忆损伤的实质及其发展趋势。     

20世纪90年代校园话剧研究

校园话剧是一种特殊的戏剧艺术形式，它有其独特的发展历程和特点。观察两次校园话剧大规模发展的历程，我们可以由此反观中国正规戏剧的得失，研究其未来。     

提高农民素质是新农村建设的关键

在新农村建设中，提高农民素质尤为重要。当前新农村建设的背景下，农民素质不高不仅会影响农村劳动力的顺利转移、农业现代化的进程，而且会影响农民对自身利益的维护。各级政府对农村教育事业的认知偏差和农民对教育带有明显的功利性目的是农民素质偏低的主要原因。提高农民素质的主要措施有：转变政府办学理念，增加经费投入，确保实施相关政策。     

海明威《士兵之家》的文体风格

《士兵之家》是美国作家海明威以战争为背景创作的一篇短篇小说,该小说寓深刻的道理于简朴的描述以及平淡中追求变化的语言特色反映了作者一贯的艺术风格。