Mathematical Modeling in the Primary School: Children's Construction of a Consumer Guide

This paper examines 6th grade children's local conceptual development and mathematization processes as they worked a comprehensive mathematical modeling problem (creating a consumer guide for deciding the best snack chip) over several class periods. The children and their teachers were participating in a 3-year longitudinal teaching experiment in which sequences of mathematical modeling problems were implemented from the 5th grade (10 years of age) though to the 7th grade. In contrast to traditional problem solving, mathematical modeling requires children to generate and develop their own mathematical ideas and processes, and to form systems of relationships that are generalizable and reusable. Reported here is a detailed analysis of the iterative cycles of development of one group of children as they worked the problem, followed by a summary of the mathematization processes displayed by all groups. Children's critical reflections on their models are also reported. The results show how children can independently develop constructs and processes through meaningful problem solving. Children's development included creating systems for operationally defining constructs; selecting, categorizing, and ranking factors; quantifying quantitative and qualitative data; and transforming quantities.     

Reflectors as online extraverts?

Increasingly, online learning is perceived as an effective method of instruction. Much recent educational research has focused on examining the purposes and situations for which online education is best suited. In this paper, students enrolled in two online courses are compared with their peers enrolled in equivalent classroom‐based courses to investigate aspects of the relationship between learning style and mode of delivery. Student satisfaction measures are taken from participants in both modes of delivery and compared with student learning style. Feedback from the ‘Reflector’ learning style demonstrates higher satisfaction levels with the online mode of delivery compared with their matched counterparts following equivalent classroom‐based courses. Therefore, whilst ‘Reflectors’ might be regarded as Introverts in the traditional classroom setting, the additional time for reflection offered by online delivery makes this group more likely to contribute to online discussion, report higher satisfaction levels and generally behave more like online Extraverts.     

中小学课程的改革与评价考试体系的完善

为了保证课程改革的成功,评价考试体系的改革必须同步进行。应辩证地看待传统的考试方法,批判地继承传统考试的优点,要充分利用课程改革的有利时机,对传统的中小学评价考试观进行改革,还要引进相应的现代评价考试理论和方法,树立以激励学生发展,发展学生专长的评价考试观,使用先进的评价考试技术方法,建立与课程改革相适应的评价考试体系,从而更好地促进课程改革的顺利进行。     

小学体育课适应学生兴趣差异教学探讨

个体差异是影响教学活动的一个重要因素。教师在培养学生体育兴趣的同时须正视学生的兴趣差异，在体育课中围绕教学目标，根据学生身心发展特点，创设情境，善用游戏，迎合学生兴趣。努力开设多样项目，开叟器材多种功能，创设丰富“玩法”，让学生自主选择，依兴趣自由组合，以满足学生兴趣需要和特长发展要求。还要通过因人而异的积极评价维护各水平段学生兴趣，促进学生终身体育锻炼意识不断增强。     

Differential recognition of children's cultural practices in middle primary literacy classrooms

This paper argues that teachers' recognition of children's cultural practices is an important positive step in helping socio‐economically disadvantaged children engage with school literacies. Based on 21 longitudinal case studies of children's literacy development over a 3‐year period, the authors demonstrate that when children's knowledges and practices assembled in home and community spheres are treated as valuable material for school learning, children are more likely to invest in the work of acquiring school literacies. However, they also show that while some children benefit greatly from being allowed to draw on their knowledge of popular culture, sports and the outdoors, other children's interests may be ignored or excluded. Some differences in teachers' valuing of home and community cultures appeared to relate to gender dimensions.     

Gandhian education in Bali: globalisations and cultural diversity in a time of fundamentalisms

The paper presents findings from a research project undertaken at the Taman Rama Gandhi School in Bali during the first anniversary week of the Bali Bombings in 2003. It explores the school's response to four key components of Gandhi's model of Basic Education (Nai Talim) and shows that the claimed curriculum is framed by two contradictory discourses: a globalisation from above discourse and a Gandhian discourse of tolerance and peace, more consistent with a globalisation from below discourse. The argument is made that the curriculum's commitment to the neo‐liberal capitalist values of the globalisation form above discourse may ultimately thwart the emphasis upon peace and tolerance in the discourse from below.     

光学分层成像法重建火焰温度场的理论和实验研究

提出了一种测量三维火焰温度的新方法 .根据光学分层成像理论 ,三维火焰可以看成若干个互相平行的二维发光断层的组合 .用高速摄像控制系统沿着某一固定方向对火焰进行分层聚焦摄像 ,得到一组辐射图像 ,每个图像都是其对应断层的聚焦像和其它断层离焦像的叠加像 ,运用图像反演算法 ,即可重建各断层的原始图像 ,再用彩色三基色测温方法 ,处理所得到的原始图像 ,即可建立火焰的三维温度场 .通过蜡烛火焰的试验 ,验证了该方法的可行性     

小学师资培养中的语文教学法课程改革试探

小学师资培养逐渐进入高等师范教育体系。初等教育专业建设和课程结构的探讨已引起了越来越多的人的重视。本立足于初等教育专业建设的高度。针对小学语教学法课程的陈旧和不足。从课程结构和编写体例两个方面提出了大胆的构想和改革思路。