Fifteen pupils’ positive approach to primary school science: when does it decline?

The decline in secondary school pupils’ attitudes towards science is well documented. However, recent research has shown that pupils’ attitudes to science appear to become fixed during their primary school years. This study investigated end of Key Stage 1 (Yr 2 (ages six to seven years)) and end of Key Stage 2 (Yr 6 (ages 10–11 years)) pupils’ attitudes to science, using Klopfer’s themes (1971 Klopfer, L.E. 1971. “Evaluation of learning in science”. In Handbook on summative and formative evaluation of student learning, Edited by: Bloom, B.S., Hastings, J.T. and Madaus, G.F. 559–641. New York: McGraw‐Hill.  [Google Scholar]), through a paired activity and interview for Yr 2 pupils and a pre‐ and post‐Test of Science‐Related Attitudes questionnaire (adapted) for Yr 6 pupils. The questionnaire was analysed using the mean and chi square values and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to test reliability. The results revealed that while Yr 2 pupils exhibit a thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for science, Yr 6 pupils’ attitudes over the period of one academic year did not change: their attitude towards science was fixed. This insight raises some implications and responsibilities for primary school teachers.     

"情感态度与价值观"课程目标的理解与践行——基于安徽安庆、辽宁鞍山两市的调查分析

安徽安庆和辽宁鞍山两市调查结果显示,新课程标准实施十年来,虽然普遍认为情感态度与价值观这一目标很重要,但相当一部分教师对情感态度与价值观含义及三维目标之间关系的认识比较模糊;课堂教学实践还停留在浅表层次,没有内化为自己的教学行为;部分教师对如何进行情感态度与价值观评价感到困惑。建议完善在职教师培训机制,提高教师情感素质;改革师范院校课程结构,实施情感教师教育;优化教学过程,落实情感态度与价值观目标;建立评价指标体系,促进学生健康发展。     

浅论英语教学中美育的现状与出路

在审美活动成为人类生活重要内容的今天,美育也成为时代的客观要求。但由于升学率的压力以及教师自身素质的原因,英语教学中美育现状不容乐观。只有更新教育思想、教育理念,不断提高教师的美学修养,构建完美的英语美育理论体系,才能使英语美育走出困境。     

近三十年中国文学的审美精神

从"文革"结束到新世纪以来的今天,中国文学走过了近三十年挑战与应战交互作用的壮阔历程.近三十年来,中国文学贯穿性的思想灵魂的主线索是寻找人,发现人,肯定人,即对民族灵魂的发现与重铸;这一时期,中国文学的艺术探索精神的变化则可以概括为:启蒙、先锋、世俗化、日常化;与此同时,中国文学与世界文学的关联日益密切,经历了从最初的向西方学习到中国自身的文化苏醒再到民族文化和异质的西方文化对话、重组,并逐步与世界文学交流、交融的过程.     

《规划纲要》改革路径与现代国民教育体系构建方略

<国家中长期教育改革和发展规划纲要>所要推进的是一场整体性、全面性、系统性,在原理上有原创性新发展的"三级教育改革",负有崇高的社会历史使命.而在改革的态度确定之后,<规划纲要>的历史使命能否实现,最为关键的问题就是改革路径的设计和选择.作为全面建设小康社会整体目标中的教育发展目标和新世纪我国教育改革与发展的基本载体,现代国民教育体系的构建关系到<规划纲要>的改革路径.深入探讨现代国民教育体系的构建方略,有助于确定2012年、2020年等中长期时间节点上的国家教育发展战略目标,安排相应的实施步骤,保障<国家中长期教育改革与发展规划纲要>的实现.     

名人代言目的地对旅游者态度和行为的影响

聘请名人担任形象代言人逐渐成为一种流行的目的地营销策略,但旅游学界对名人代言的研究才刚刚起步。采用准实验设计研究方法,以大学生为样本收集数据,使用结构方程模型检验了名人代言的主流范式“一致性假说”在旅游研究领域的适用性。研究发现：①名人/目的地一致性通过名人可信度影响旅游者的目的地态度和旅游意向,即旅游者感知到名人形象与目的地形象越一致,他们对该名人担任代言人的信任度就越高,进而就会对其代言的目的地形成好感并产生较强的旅游意向;②名人/自我一致性通过名人认同影响旅游者的目的地态度和旅游意向,即旅游者感知到名人形象与自我形象越相似,他们对该名人的认同度就越高,因而对其代言的目的地就会产生较好的态度和较强的旅游意向。     

Evaluating the perception of disability and the inclusive education of teachers: the Italian validation of the Sacie-R (Sentiments,Attitudes, and Concerns about Inclusive Education – Revised Scale)

This study aimed to verify the factorial structure, internal validity, reliability, and criterion validity of The Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education Revised Scale (SACIE-R) in an Italian sample. The SACIE-R is a useful tool to measure three aspects of teachers’ perceptions about inclusion, which are Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns, providing valuable information to address the needs of teachers working with special students. A measure of this construct is currently not available in Italian, and a validation process is required. In order to provide an initial psychometric evaluation of the Italian adaptation, the SACIE-R was translated for use in Italian-speaking populations. Four hundred Italian teachers enrolled in educational teaching courses completed the SACIE-R. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated a good fit to the hypothesised 3-factor model, and adequate internal consistency for the scale was evidenced. A confirmatory factor analysis showed the same factor structural validity as the original instrument (although some items in the original version were deleted). Furthermore, taken together, the results showed a good level of reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. Finally, the Italian version of the SACIE-R has good psychometric characteristics that can make it a useful measure of teacher attitude toward inclusion in the Italian educational context.     

从先秦武舞看中华武术套路的审美基因

武术套路的渊源可以追溯到远古时期的武舞。运用文献资料法、逻辑分析法等,从哲学、美学、历史学、文化学、武术学等角度对先秦时期的武舞文化现象重新审视,以期揭示早期武舞所呈现出来的审美特征及其对武术套路所产生的深远影响。研究认为,先秦武舞所具有的"以舞通神、以舞习武、教化功能、中和适度"的特点深刻地影响了武术套路的形式、功能与审美特征,它们在一定程度上可视为中华武术套路审美意识的基因。     

Fostering changes in attitude,knowledge and behavior: demographic variation in environmental education effects

This study employs a uniquely multi-factorial, large-scale design to investigate baseline differences and the effects of a singular outdoor educational program on environmental attitudes, knowledge and behavior among primary and secondary school students educated in four different countries. Statistical modelling approaches employed country of residence, age, nationality, sampling year, gender and urban/ rural habitation as predictor variables. Baseline scores were explained by a number of predictors but country of residence and rural-urban differences appeared as the most consistent explanatory variable for positive changes in attitude, knowledge and behavior. Given the nexus of political, social, natural and cultural data contained within the residence variable, we discuss the complex web of drivers that may influence environmental literacy and environmentally responsible behavior. Spatial variation in the value of outdoor education programs is also discussed.     

Adventure education as aesthetic experience

This study is an investigation of what happens to participants during their adventure education (AE) experiences and the meanings they ascribe to those experiences. These topics were explored through the qualitative framework of educational connoisseurship and criticism at three sites: a backpacking expedition, a challenge course and a multi-activity adventure programme. Through 183 hours of observation and 74 interviews with 41 participants, the qualities of AE as aesthetic experience were revealed. This conception of AE experience is characterised through sensory encounters, full attention and aesthetic paradox. Findings are supported with the voices of participants, and the significance of this conception of AE experience is discussed.