钢琴踏板技巧浅论

钢琴被称为“乐器之王”,而踏板则被喻为“钢琴的灵魂”,由此可见踏板在钢琴演奏中的地位与作用。踏板在钢琴演奏中极具个性,不同的演奏家在同一乐曲的同一段落也许会运用不同的踏板技法,即便是同一个演奏家在不同场所演奏同一首乐曲,踏板的使用也可能会有变化。这种现象是许多因素所致,如乐器、声部平衡、作品风格、演奏场所和美学观等。踏板的准确运用可增强钢琴演奏的表现力,使乐曲更具生命力。     

浸润空气的温情——浅析影片《桃姐》

当今商业大片充斥电影市场,许鞍华导演的影片《桃姐》似一缕清新之风,让叙述隐于生活,以平实自然的叙事手法与平和冷静接纳生活的态度,塑造出一对凌驾于母子、主仆关系之上的含蓄温情、亲切动人的人物形象,使观众于最平实的生活记录中寻找记忆中的影子,于平静体味生命的进程,让我们在商业气息浓重的今天为情所动。影片以一种相对隐忍克制的镜头语言,还原电影记录现实生活的本质,还原生活本来的面目,通过润物细无声的情感让观众自己去体会人与人之间的那份亲情与感恩,感而不伤,温情涌动。     

Assessing second phase high school learners’ attitudes towards technology in addressing the technological skills shortage in the South African context

Abstract

This article argues the case that the decline in the numbers of school leavers entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics study courses worldwide and in South Africa in particular, is linked to negative attitudes towards Technology. The issue is regarded as critical since a negative trend in new entrants into the technology sector contributes to the technological skills shortage experienced locally and abroad. The purpose of the research was to determine learners’ perception of the concept of technology in general; their current attitude-status on seven dimensions of attitude towards technology; and factors that affect attitude. To this effect the article reports on the results of a technology perceptions-and-attitudes survey (derived from the PATT-US attitude-questionnaire) conducted on 95 Grade 10-to-12 learners during the 2009 National Science Week initiative held in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The initiative was hosted to promote science and technology awareness amongst the school going youth of the Northwest Province. The Grade 10-to-12 group included in the research represented future school leavers in the Northwest Province who would possibly consider entering into a technological career. The results of the study indicated that age, gender and grade-level of learners presented as factors that statistically significantly affected attitudes towards and perceptions of technology. The findings of the study raised the question whether the various dimensions of attitudes measured in the study influence learners’ choice of a career in technology in different ways.     

Revisiting a student-oriented curriculum in the Nigerian secondary school system

Abstract

The increasing gap between what students learn and what they remember has agitated the minds of educators in recent times. The apparent gap is that teaching tends to be more theoretical than practical. For instance an apparent absence of relevant instructional materials, skilled vocational education personnel and the current lack of awareness on the part of policy makers on the advantages of pragmatic education, constitute current obstacles to the actualisation of pragmatic student-oriented secondary school education curriculum in Nigeria. However, this paper therefore, describes methods by which secondary school education can be made more functional through the introduction of more practical learning schemes which shall ultimately equip graduates with revenue generating and life skills. Fifty teachers and 150 students were randomly selected for the study from formal and non-formal secondary schools in Calabar Metropolis and Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria. Ex-post facto design was adopted. A 16 item questionnaire constructed on a modified four-point Likert-type scale was used for data collection. The data was analysed using simple percentages, independent t-test and a One-way analysis of variance. The findings revealed that, the schools lack adequate instructional materials and adequately trained vocational education teachers. Based on this, it was recommended among others, that a student-oriented curriculum be implemented in line with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Education For All (EFA) and Universal Basic Education (UBE). Also more practical skills-oriented education and vocational education teachers should be employed to train the students on the development of functional literacy skills.     

The potential skills contribution of international students to South Africa

Abstract

There has been a significant increase in the number of international students, especially in those from other African countries, at South African universities over the last ten years. This has elicited some research, notably from Ramphele, Crush and McDonald (1999); Hall (2004); and Snowball and Antrobus (2005; 2006). However, none of these scholars considered the possibility of exploiting the skills potential of international students in South Africa, especially at a time when the country faces skills shortages. The authors conducted a survey at six higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2008, which sought to determine the skills profiles of international students in South Africa. It was found that the majority of international students are registered in disciplines where skills shortages exist, that a significant number of these students are young and that many would like to remain and work in South Africa. Labour policy makers in South Africa seem to be unaware of this, hence policy is ill-adapted to derive economic benefits from international students.     

中学生物实验员实验技能培训教学的思考

为了提高生物实验员实验技能培训教学效果,文章基于多年的培训经验,以"观察植物细胞有丝分裂"实验为例,阐述影响技能培训教学的关键因素,提出技能培训教学的循环过程,明确参与授课的高校教师和接受技能培训的中学生物实验员在技能培训教学中的作用,为进一步完善和提高中学生物实验员实验技能培训教学效果提供参考。     

The Human Side of Library Skills Instruction

The classroom provides a wonderful opportunity to lessen students' fear of the library and to teach them the beginning and advanced skills they need to analyze their information needs and to use libraries effectively. As important as skills are, however, there needs to be demonstrable human interaction in a classroom. By sharing something of ourselves, we help convince students that their own uniqueness is also to be shared and built upon.     

The Eighth Liberal Art

The traditional liberal arts are the key to a good general education, but they need to be revised and updated to include the six skills of information access. These have become important enough to be considered the eighth liberal art.     

Peer observation of teaching: A method for improving teaching quality

This study reports the results of a peer observation programme undertaken in the Library and Information Service at Aston University (where the author then worked). The conditions necessary for a successful peer observation programme are listed, and the necessary training is described. The results of the study are discussed in relation to the literature, with particular reference to the benefits of peer observation and the barriers to its implementation. The conclusions drawn from this study are that peer observation is a useful tool for encouraging lecturers to reflect on their own teaching practice, and thus improve the quality of teaching offered. This is true irrespective of the subject being taught. It is however important that the observation takes place in a supportive environment.     

Developing Critical Thinking Skills For Information Seeking Success

Critical thinking skills are required to successfully navigate the overwhelming amount of information sources available today. To address the challenge of developing critical thinking skills, this empirical study examines the effectiveness of exercises in developing thinking skills in college freshmen students. The workbook exercises were designed to develop specific skills related to academics and critical thinking. Two groups of college freshmen participated in the study: one group was given the workbook, the other group was not. At the end of the semester, both groups completed a critical thinking assessment test. A comparison of the test scores confirms the effectiveness of these exercises on improving the critical thinking skills of college freshmen.