Techniques for investigating the understanding of concepts in science

Starting from a theoretical model of concept development, three diagnostic techniques for investigating a pupil's understanding of selected concepts in science are described.

The first, and most basic technique involves the selection of specific ‘instances’ of each named concept from a 5 × 5 grid of numbered boxes. The second involves the gradual ‘homing‐in’ on the selected concept from a number of ‘clues’, presented one at a time. To start with, the ‘clues’ are not specific to one particular concept, but, as more ‘clues’ are provided, the selected concepts can be uniquely determined. The third, and most comprehensive technique involves the application of concepts to ‘problem solving’. Given a standard problem, the pupil selects, from a 3 × 4 grid of concept statements, those which are relevant to the given problem. The chosen statements are then arranged by the pupil in the order required to solve the given problem.     

The Delphi Technique in Identifying Learning Objectives for the Development of Science,Technology and Society Modules for Palestinian Ninth Grade Science Curriculum

This article outlines how learning objectives based upon science, technology and society (STS) elements for Palestinian ninth grade science textbooks were identified, which was part of a bigger study to establish an STS foundation in the ninth grade science curriculum in Palestine. First, an initial list of STS elements was determined. Second, using this list, ninth grade science textbooks and curriculum document contents were analyzed. Third, based on this content analysis, a possible list of 71 learning objectives for the integration of STS elements was prepared. This list of learning objectives was refined by using a two-round Delphi technique. The Delphi study was used to rate and to determine the consensus regarding which items (i.e. learning objectives for STS in the ninth grade science textbooks in Palestine) are to be accepted for inclusion. The results revealed that of the initial 71 objectives in round one, 59 objectives within round two had a mean score of 5.683 or higher, which indicated that the learning objectives could be included in the development of STS modules for ninth grade science in Palestine.     

The utilization of congruence coefficients in human communication research

This paper describes the use of congruence coefficients, which can be used to determine the similarity of factor structures (Tucker, 1951). Although this technique has been widely used, the human communication literature contains no simple explanation of how to calculate congruence coefficients. Therefore, this paper provides information on how to use factor analytic data to compute congruence coefficients. Information on testing congruence coefficients for statistical significance is also provided.     

Online Texts and Conventional Texts: Estimating,Comparing, and Reducing the Greenhouse Gas Footprint of two Tools of the Trade

Many universities are endeavoring to understand and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—or carbon footprints. Hard‐copy textbooks are (perhaps surprisingly) a large component of this footprint. Because they are “virtual,” electronic texts (e‐texts) are often considered environmentally superior to conventional hard‐copy texts. However, such claims lack thorough empirical validation. An effective tool for evaluating environmental impacts of products and services is lifecycle assessment (LCA). This article enumerates the steps in the lifecycles of conventional (hard copy) texts and e‐texts and it reports the potential GHG footprints of these activities. However, the actual footprint of most products and services depends on how individuals actually use them. Therefore, our second objective is to report survey results regarding actual student behaviors. Combining LCA and survey data, we estimate the GHG emissions of representative e‐texts and conventional texts; and we compare the two. This allows us to provide insight into the question, which alternative is best? Just as importantly, our analysis also identifies three levers that administrators, faculty and students can use to reduce text‐related GHG emissions.     

秦汉职业技术教育初探

职业技术教育在汉代取得很大进展,教育形式多样化,有职官教育、设官教民、开设专门学校、技艺家传、私人授徒、文籍传播、官职世袭等教育形式。教材的编写也日臻完备,在教学方法上也有所创新。这些都为后世职业技术教育提供了一定的借鉴经验。     

一部精心编写的古代汉语教材——谈荆贵生主编的《古代汉语》兼及一些合编教材的弊端

荆贵生主编的《古代汉语》受到了专家学者们的好评。本文以一些合编教材为此照,谈了教材编写中的两个问题:一、合编教材多有内容不协调或前后矛盾的现象,而荆编教材内容协调一致,没有拼凑的痕迹;二、古代汉语教材选择例句的问题。师专教材中的例句问题很多,让师生为难,而荆编教材则为教学着想,大量选择中学文言文和教材文选中的例句,不是为出书编的教材,而是为搞好教学编的教材。     

论小学语文教科书中漫画图的审美价值——以部编版1-2年级为例

根据不同的分类标准,部编版(1-2年级)小学语文教科书插图可分为水彩画和水墨画两类,也可以分为景物图、人物图、动物图三类,还可以分为实物图、描绘图、漫画图三类。同时依据插图抽象水平的不同,本文对1-2年级部编版小学语文教科书插图进行了分类统计,结果显示,漫画图在所有插图总数所占的比例很大。据此,笔者研究发现,作为小学语文教科书插图类型,漫画图具有"形象表达童心"、"增进趣味效果"、"张扬想象力"、"增强艺术感染力"及"扩大哲理内涵"等独特审美价值。     

Studying the classroom implementation of tasks: High-level mathematical tasks embedded in ‘real-life’ contexts

Mathematical tasks embedded in real-life contexts have received increased attention by educators, in part due to the considerable levels of student engagement often triggered by their motivational features. Nevertheless, it is often challenging for teachers to implement high-level (i.e., cognitively demanding), real-life tasks in ways that exploit their motivational features without overshadowing the mathematics involved. This paper proposes an analytic framework for describing and explaining the classroom implementation of different kinds of tasks, and uses this framework to analyse a classroom episode where a secondary teacher implemented with low fidelity a high-level, real-life mathematical task. Implications for research are discussed.     

也谈现代汉语词缀的定义和范围——以五种现代汉语教材为例

在现代汉语构词法中,“词根 词缀”是合成词构成的一种常见的方式,而历来关于词缀的范围和特点各家说法不同,由此带来词缀识别的分歧。文章着眼于梳理几种现代汉语教材和有关论著的主要观点,辩难献疑,并得出初步结论。     

大学生职业指导立体化教材建设

通过阐述立体化教材建设的内涵及必要性,文章从设计思路、构成、注意问题和实施四个方面讨论了大学生职业指导立体化教材建设的内容与实现。