Examining features of how professional development and enactment of educative curricula influences elementary science teacher learning

This research examines factors influencing elementary science teacher learning as they participate in professional development with and enactment of educative curricula in comparison with learning following limited professional development and enactment of traditional curricula. Using a randomized cluster design (125 teachers and 2,694 students in 4th—5th grades) that met the What Works Clearinghouse standards without reservations, teacher learning was conceptualized using four outcomes. Data were analyzed using standard single-level multiple regression models and possible mediation models for the teacher outcomes were considered using piecewise multiple regression and path analytic approaches. Treatment group teachers experienced greater increases in content knowledge, views of science inquiry, beliefs about reform-based teaching, and teaching self-efficacy than comparison group teachers. The findings indicate that what teachers learn from the combination of professional development and teaching with educative curriculum varies according to what their knowledge and beliefs are on entering the experience. Surprisingly, high entry-level self-efficacy was associated not only with lower learning gains for the teachers, but also for their students. Finally, teachers' space science learning and that of their students are implicated as mediators of the positive effect of the professional development and educative curriculum enactment on teacher beliefs about reform science teaching. This work refines and extends a theoretical framework of teachers' participatory relationship with curricula.     

Subject English as citizenship education

This article is equal parts educational history and political philosophy. We aim to remind readers that subject English (SE) and indeed state education emerge from the contradictory impulses of classical liberalism, and that, more than simply resembling citizenship education, SE emerges in the first instance as a form of highly normativising citizenship education. We further argue that, following England's recent educational reforms initiated by former Education Secretary Michael Gove, SE continues to be framed in moral terms consistent with citizenship education—again, of a highly normativising sort. England's current educational policy generally, and specifically the framing of SE, employs the language of liberal possibility, while ultimately espousing an invidious exclusionary and assimilationist politics. The framing of SE, moreover, is one that misrepresents the supposedly ‘rich and varied literary heritage’ it is supposed to exemplify and promote. The current political landscape in which the study of literature takes place is one where a crisis of liberalism is manifest (in terms of populism, radicalisation or apathy). However, we do not believe the answer is to retreat into a sealed, hermetic canon that excludes the reality that England and English literature are fundamentally multicultural and polyethnic. SE will be the poorer for not fully acknowledging and embodying this, for not enabling students to imaginatively and critically engage with characters and experiences that reflect both the present and long-standing diversity of English society, as well as its present and long-standing inequalities.     

From safe spaces to communities of disagreement

The idea of the classroom as a ‘safe space’ has been popular in education for at least two decades. More recently, the term has also been used by religious education scholars not least in the wake of the use of the term in the influential Council of Europe publication ‘Signposts’. In this article, I want to question the usefulness of the term ‘safe space’ within RE. The argument is not against many of the pedagogical aims and strategies that are referred to by the term ‘safe space’. However, the term is ambiguous, fraught with politicised controversy and promises more than in can deliver. These problems cannot be easily fixed by defining the term anew. The article is not only critical in its aim. It presents an alternative strategy. In the conclusion of the article, I suggest construing the RE classroom as a community of disagreement.     

Differences of math anxiety groups based on two measurements,MASS and EEG

This article investigated how mathematic anxiety (MA) of Korean middle school students could be reduced by comparing analytically their cognitive neuroscience and questionnaire results. We developed a three-hour Complex Treatment Program (CTP) on quadratic functions for the study. In the summer of 2016, we collected data of the pre and post MA questionnaires by Mathematics Anxiety Scale for Students (MASS), the percent of correct answers (PCA) and reaction time (RT) by E-prime program, and also brain-imaging data of the event related potentials (ERP) by Electroencephalograph (EEG) using computer-based functional F-G model. The result indicated the CTP to be effective with the group with higher math anxiety and the group with higher achievement respectively. The MASS result was verified with the better performance of PCA on type G, which was measured by E-prime program. Some interesting patterns were revealed on brain-imaging data by EEG, indicating more brain activities with the MA groups.     

Is CLT feasible in China?

CLT has developed rapidly and has become one of the most effective teaching approaches towards English Language Teaching(ELT).Thus,this paper will try to discuss whether CLT is feasible in China.     

实验教学体系的研究与实践——机械设计制造及其自动化专业实验教学改革

针对机械设计制造及其自动化专业实验教学现状,将部分实验进行综合、汇总并以＂独立课程＂的方式进行;同时鼓励学生进行课外作品的创作,建立了课内实验与课外相结合的实验教学新体系,保证了学生的基本实验技能,锻炼和提高了动手能力和工程意识。     

研究型实验课教学模式的试验报告

通过研究实验课的教学模式,发现了传统实验课教学模式的弊端,并通过对实验课教学模式近5年的改革及试验,发现了研究型实验课教学模式的优势。本文阐述了这种实验课教学模式的特点,并与传统实验课教学模式进行了对比,得出了该实验课教学模式可以推广的结论。     

项目驱动教学在综合布线实训教学中的应用与实践

以网络技术专业综合布线实训课程为例,通过综合布线课程实训教学改革,体现＂学生为主体,教师为主导＂的教学模式,给学生一个真实的实训情境,探索如何对学生进行专业岗位技能培训,让学生尽快掌握、熟练综合布线的各项基本技能。     

社区康复实训中心学生自主管理模式探析——以重庆城市管理职业学院社区康复实训中心为例

根据社区康复实训中心管理的现状和存在的问题,提出以学生为主体的自主管理模式,让学生成为管理的主人,充分发挥学生的主观能动性,促进实训中心管理水平和实践教学质量的提高,培养学生的服务意识、责任意识,提升学生的自我管理能力,使他们能更快适应岗位需求。     

三维立体教学平台的高职实践教学模式——以深圳职业技术学院为例

在论述三维立体教学平台实践教学模式（“模块化、进阶式、组合型”模式）的构建思路基础上,详细介绍和阐述了该模式的实施策略和实践,总结了该模式的特征以及与传统模式的区别。