An unembalmed cadaveric preparation for simulating pleural effusion: A pilot study of chest percussion involving medical students

Cadaveric simulations are an effective way to add clinical context to an anatomy course. In this study, unembalmed (fresh) cadavers were uniquely prepared to simulate pleural effusion to teach chest percussion and review thoracic anatomy. Thirty first‐year medical students were assigned to either an intervention (Group A) or control group (Group B). Group A received hands‐on training with the cadaveric simulations. They were instructed on how to palpate bony landmarks for identifying the diaphragm and lobes of the lungs, as well as on how to properly perform chest percussion to detect abnormal fluid in the pleural space. Students in Group B practiced on each other. Students in Group A benefited from the training in several ways. They had more confidence in their percussive technique (A = mean 4.3/5.0, B = 2.9/5.0), ability to count the ribs on an intact body (A = mean 4.0/5.0, B = 3.0/5.0), and ability to identify the lobes of the lungs on an intact body (A = mean 3.8/5.0, B = 2.3/5.0). They also demonstrated a greater ability to locate the diaphragm on an intact body (A = 100%, B = 60%) and detect abnormal pleural fluid (A = 93%, B = 53%) with greater confidence (A = mean 3.7/5.0, B = 2.5/5.0). Finally, the hands‐on training with the unembalmed cadavers created more excitement around learning in Group A compared with Group B. This study shows that simulating pleural effusion in an unembalmed cadaver is a useful way to enhance anatomy education. Anat Sci Educ 10: 160–169. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.     

An analysis of Ph.D. examiners’ reports in engineering

In recent years, there have been increasing calls for an overall transformation of the nature of engineering Ph.D. programs and the way theses are assessed. There exists a need to understand the examination process to ensure the best quality outcome for candidates in engineering. The work we present in this paper uses data collected between 2003 and 2010 for a total of 1220 Australian Ph.D. theses by analysing examiner reports. Our analysis indicates that Ph.D. theses in engineering, N?=?106, differ considerably from those in other fields in areas such as gender of candidates and examiners and the examiners’ geographical location. We also found that assessment areas such as significance and contribution of the thesis, publications arising from the thesis, breadth, depth and recency of the literature review and communication and editorial correctness are areas in which the proportion of text of engineering examiners' comments differs significantly from other fields.     

评考试舞弊问题

各种各样的考试中共同存在的考试舞弊问题，产生了极大的负面影响，不能把它简单看成是一般的学生违纪行为。必须进一步加强考试管理，公开，公平地选拔或认定每一位考生，为国家提高高水平，高素质的社会主义建设人才。     

论高等教育自学考试教材建设

加强自学考试教材建设对提高高等教育自学考试教育质量具有重要意义。本文认为加强自学考试教材建设应从三方面入手:编辑、出版高质量自考教材和辅助教材,建立合理有效的教材发行体系;重视自考教材内容的及时更新。     

对自学考试《小学科学教育》试卷及答案的商榷

根据小学科学教育自学考试大纲“关于命题的若干要求”,对四川省2004年上半年(4月)高等教育自学考试《小学科学教育》试卷及答案提出了意见和建议．     

关于普通话测试中几个问题的探讨

普通话水平测试是对应试人员运用普通话所达到的标准程度的检测和评定。在实际操作时发现，造成应试人员失分的原因带有一定的普遍性。为此，对测试中普遍存在的问题分不同的情况作出简要的分析，并对《普通话水平测试大纲》中存在的不足之处进行了探讨。     

中考加试理化实验操作的启示

介绍了山西省大同市中考加试理化实验操作的经验和效果。     

初中升学考试质量与基础教育发展关系研究

政府教育行政部门、高级中等学校、考生及其家庭、所毕业学校和市场经济条件下的社会主体是初中升学考试的价值主体。其价值诉求,决定了初中升学考试的质量既受基础教育内外部规律制约,又对基础教育的发展产生着重要的影响。政府教育行政部门、社会生产力和科学技术发展水平、青少年的身心发展规律,是基础教育制约初中升学考试质量的外部因素；而基础教育目标和初中教学的内容,则是基础教育制约初中升学考试质量的内部因素。初中升学考试质量的优劣,左右基础教育改革和发展的方向,加固或削弱高级中等教育的培养目标,影响初、高级中等学校的办学效益。     

国际教育考试质量与公平标准的特点与趋势——基于NVivo 11.0的编码分析

国家教育考试是选拔人才的主要手段。欧美等国十分重视对教育考试质量与公平的研究,形成了许多有影响力的教育考试标准,这是教育考试公平和质量的重要保障。研究选取了美国心理协会、教育研究会、全美教育测量协会联合制定的标准,美国教育考试服务中心制定的标准,欧洲测试协会制定的两个标准,欧洲国际语言测试协会制定的两个标准,共计6个国际教育考试标准。通过编码研究,发现它们共同呈现出的国际特点为:一是突出基于证据的考试测量决策与操作;二是强调对考试分数的有效解释;三是公平与质量是共识性最高的价值取向;四是考试标准不具有明显的本土化特征。除了特点以外,研究还总结了国际教育考试标准呈现出的趋势:一是考试质量与公平标准多由测试协会主导制定;二是兼顾测试公平性原则和测试行为准则;三是所有考试利益相关者承担维护的协作责任。教育考试在我国有着举足轻重的作用,这些特点与趋势为制定我国考试质量与公平标准提供了理论基础和技术支持,从而保障考试的公平与质量。     

宋代占卜与宋代社会

宋代卜人数增多，占卜书籍增多，占卜方式增多，占卜被社会各阶层广泛地运用于社会生活各领域，各种政治势力还将占卜作为政治 工具，宋代占卜盛行，具体原因虽多，但关键在于当时社会流行的趋势增大。