Conditions affecting the usefulness of pre- and post-tests for assessment purposes

Interest in measuring and evaluating student learning in higher education is growing. There are many tools available to assess student learning. However, the use of such tools may be more or less appropriate under various conditions. This study provides some evidence related to the appropriate use of pre/post‐tests. The question of whether graded tests elicit a higher level of performance (better representation of actual learning gains) than ungraded post‐tests is examined. We examine whether the difficulty level of the questions asked (knowledge/comprehension vs. analysis/application) affects this difference. We test whether the student’s level in the degree programme affects this difference. Results indicate that post‐tests may not demonstrate the full level of student mastery of learning objectives and that both the difficulty level of the questions asked and the level of students in their degree programme affect the difference between graded and ungraded assessments. Some of these differences may be due to causes other than grades on the assessments. Students may have benefited from the post‐test, as a review of the material, or from additional studying between the post‐test and the final examination. Results also indicate that pre‐tests can be useful in identifying appropriate changes in course materials over time.     

论学生前概念及对教学的启示

许多研究表明,学生在接受正规的科学教育前,头脑中并非一片空白,而是已形成了他们对周围世界的看法和观点.通常被称为\"前概念\".了解学生的前概念,会对学校教育,特别是理科教学起到积极的作用.本文着重论述了学生前概念的特点及对理科教学的一些启示.     

数据发掘论题研究

数据库中知识发现（ＫＤＤ）是一个从数据中识别有效、新颖、潜在有用及完全可理解模式的非平凡过程。数据发掘（ＤａｔａＭｉｎｉｎｇ）是ＫＤＤ的核心构件。本文从一个新的角度来论述ＫＤＤ研究及应用的各个方面,强调数据发掘预处理研究的基本重要性     

对儿童的自然认识的研究事例

通过介绍 80年代初新西兰的研究者对儿童的自然认识的研究事例 ,从中了解国外的研究者对儿童或学生的前科学认识的一般性研究手法和研究过程。对儿童的自然认识的研究 ,需要预先观察了解归纳出具有代表性的前科学认识类型 ,然后作成调查问卷 ,对学生进行一定规模的取样调查 ,从而得到带普遍性的认识实态。了解学生的认识状态可以促使教师方面思考如何帮助学生意识到自己的认识存在矛盾 ,从而激发学生内在的学习动机     

Environmental literacy of pre‐service teachers in Israel: a comparison between students at the onset and end of their studies

The adequate preparation of teacher education students in environmental education is a prerequisite for their future ability to design and implement effective environmental education. This longitudinal study compared the environmental literacy of 214 students at the onset and towards the end of their studies, in three academic colleges of education in Israel. A questionnaire and a paired pre‐test–post‐test design were used to explore environmental literacy variables and their perceptions regarding the contribution of their college studies to their environmental literacy and worldviews. Students towards the end of their studies reported increased involvement in most of the study’s environmental behaviour categories as compared to the beginning. Despite this, the pattern characterizing their environmental behaviour did not change: a negative relationship was found between the frequency at which they engaged in different behaviour categories and the environmental‐commitment‐level of the corresponding category. Overall, while their environmental attitudes were positive, both as beginning and advanced students, their level of environmental knowledge remained low. Advanced students noted the limited contribution of their studies to the development of their environmental literacy and worldviews. In spite of the improvement in students’ environmental literacy over the course of their studies, the levels of their environmental literacy towards the end of studies are still inadequate for educators. The findings from this study are of relevance to decision makers bringing environmental education into the policy of teacher education institutions, and for program developers, on effective directions for integrating environmental education given the structures and frameworks of current programs.     

先秦文献《孟子》自动分词方法研究

自动分词是中文信息处理重要的基础课题。文章主要探讨了先秦文献《孟子》基于条件随机场统计模型的自动分词方法和利用相关注疏文献的自动分词方法等自动分词技术。自动分词实验结果表明,这两种分词方法效果显著,词语F值和小句F值均达到了较高的水平。在用不同的方法对《孟子》进行自动分词时,在词语F值的统计指标外,首次尝试引入了小句F值这一统计指标。     

Perception of teacher education and professional identity among novice teachers

This study examines student teachers’ perceptions of teacher education and its contribution to their professional life, when they become novice teachers during their internship period. The sample comprised 97 student teachers in their fourth year of studies for a BEd degree. Data were collected through questionnaires which included both a structured and an open‐ended part, with regard to five aspects of the teaching profession and teacher education: motivation for teaching, conceptions of teaching–learning, roles of teachers, components of teacher education, and agents of training. Prominent among the findings regarding the motivational aspects of teaching, is a perception of the profession as granting intrinsic rewards. Teaching is perceived as according self‐realisation, providing a sense of purpose and mission, and enabling lifelong development. The component perceived as most important to the teacher’s role is delivering universal values. Findings regarding perception of learning–teaching processes reveal a preference for a constructivist approach.     

国家优秀马拉松运动员赛前生理生化监控研究

为了解优秀马拉松运动员赛前训练中身体机能的变化规律,测定在备战2006年厦门国际马拉松赛的10名男子运动员赛前训练期间某些生化指标的变化.结果显示:赛前运动员的各部分机能指标随运动强度呈现不同的阶段变化,赛前1周基本调整至较好状态,表明赛前训练安排基本达到了较好的效果.     

教师资格制度改革与考前培训的对接

教师资格全国统考与定期注册制度的推行,将对现行的教师资格考前培训提出新的挑战;要做好考前培训工作,需要处理好以下几个方面的对接和优化工作：从时间维度看,需要做好与传统师范教育的对接,与后续的在职教师培训对接;从空间维度看,需要做好与区域、全国的对接,与国际社会的对接;从内容和方式维度看,需要加大力气做好实践能力的培养、师德教育工作与方式方法的优化。