Studying School Architecture: some reflections

Abstract

This article reports on the findings of an investigation in which 30 secondary schools rated the priority being given to and the likely impact on teaching and learning of a selection of 23 issues currently on the agenda for school improvement. Results are considered for the whole sample, and according to the role of respondents and school context. Schools are giving high priority to the implementation of national policies and school‐generated initiatives directed at improved classroom practice. However, the perceived impact of externally generated change is less than that of change for which school staff feel a sense of ownership. Policies directed at a consideration of resource issues, professional development and salary changes are accorded low priority and are not considered to have a marked impact on teaching and learning. There is a potential for frustration and loss of morale when policies that are thought to be of limited value within schools require time and sometimes extensive consideration. The article's conclusions for policy‐makers are directed at minimising this risk.     

浙江省科技经费投入与经济增长关系的研究

研究采用格兰杰因果检验方法,对浙江省1990-2011年度研究与试验发展经费支出、大中型工业企业科技活动经费支出以及高等学校科技活动经费支出的统计,进行科技经费投入与经济增长之间关系的实证分析。研究结果显示,总体上,浙江省科技经费投入与经济增长之间存在着明显的格兰杰因果关系,并构成了稳定的均衡关系。长期来看,大中型工业企业科技经费投入与经济增长之间不存在明显的格兰杰因果关系。经济增长对科技经费投入基本不存在单项的格兰杰因果关系,经济的增长需要投入更多的科技经费,但同时不能忽视经费投入效率。     

Yellowing of Oil-Based Paints

Summary

The cause of yellowing of oil-based paints has been investigated by analysing drying oils simultaneously by iodometry (to determine the degree of oxidation) and by colorimetry. It was found that yellowing of drying oils can be attributed to co-oxidation reactions of contaminants. Yellowing level is closely related to the extent of drying and appears to be unaffected by increase in temperature, the addition of driers, or linolenate content.     

项目教学法的应用探讨

针对生搬硬套项目教学法在实际应用中可能出现的问题,提出五种具体的做法,并结合课程实践说明这些做法的有效性.     

Relationships between the use of test results and US students’ academic performance

In this study, we examined relationships between the use of test results and US students’ math, reading, and science performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009. Based on a literature review, we hypothesized that the 16 items in the PISA school questionnaire, which are related to the use of test results, can be categorized according to 4 factors. We validated this hypothesized factor structure using a confirmatory factor analysis and then obtained composite scores for each factor. As revealed by a multilevel analysis, when student and school demographic variables were controlled for, using test results to hold schools accountable to authority and the public was significantly positively related to students’ performance across all 3 subjects. No statistically significant relationship, however, was detected between students’ performance and the following uses of test scores: informing parents of their children’s performance, providing information for instructional purposes, and evaluating teachers and principals.     

对接工作岗位的高职助产专业技能抽查标准开发

标准开发是集集体智慧、团队经验、政策支持于一体的提炼过程。为完善助产专业学生技能抽测方法,检查高职院校助产专业技能教学水平,联合相关高职院校,对接助产工作岗位,通过市场调研、专家论证、预试与调整等过程,开发出一套由“助产核心技能＋护理基本技能”组成的9个技能组合模块且适合于高职助产专业的技能抽查的标准与题库,为培养规范化助产专业人员服务。     

视频公开课中投影屏幕信息的拍摄与处理

投影屏幕信息是视频公开课中不可缺少的教学信息。纵观已上线的视频公开课,发现大部分课程中投影屏幕信息的呈现方式为图片插入,这种方法存在漏失教师肢体语言及视觉注意引导信息的缺陷。采用直接拍摄法能很好地解决这一缺陷,但在拍摄时也会遇到诸多问题。在视频公开课拍摄前、拍摄中以及拍摄后采取一系列的措施和优化,可较好地解决这些问题,以传递真实完整的课堂信息。     

高校大规模计算机辅助英语口语测试实证研究

文章是关于大规模计算机辅助英语口语测试效果的实证研究报告。文章首先通过对比发现,计算机系统自动化判分与教师评分所得成绩的相关度为0.911,说明计算机评分基本可代替教师评分完成直接型口试任务。其次采用定量和定性分析方法,从受试者和教师角度对大规模计算机口语测试的效度和信度进行分析,论证了高校口语机考的可行性和整体测试效果。     

Development and Application of a Three‐Tier Diagnostic Test to Assess Secondary Students’ Understanding of Waves

This study focused on the development and application of a three‐tier multiple‐choice diagnostic test (or three‐tier test) on the nature and propagation of waves. A question in a three‐tier test comprises the content tier, which measures content knowledge; the reason tier, which measures explanatory knowledge; and the confidence tier, which measures the strength of conceptual understanding of the respondents. This paper presents results based on the responses of 243 Grade 10 students after they were formally instructed on the topic. The vast majority of the respondents showed an inadequate grasp of concepts about waves. Eleven alternative conceptions (ACs), which were expressed with confidence by more than 10% of the students, were identified; four of these ACs were expressed with high confidence.     

Using Johnson's Transformation With Approximate Test Statistics for the Simple Regression Slope Homogeneity

The authors used Johnson's transformation with approximate test statistics to test the homogeneity of simple linear regression slopes when both x_ij and x_ij may have nonnormal distributions and there is Type I heteroscedasticity, Type II heteroscedasticity, or complete heteroscedasticity. The test statistic t was first transformed by Johnson's method for each group to correct the nonnormality and to correct the heteroscedasticity; also an approximate test, such as the Welch test or the DeShon-Alexander test, was applied to test the homogeneity of the regression slopes. Computer simulations showed that the proposed technique can control Type I error rate under various circumstances. Finally, the authors provide an example to demonstrate the calculation.