Towards numeracy for the third millennium: A study of the future of mathematics and mathematics education

The research reported here has sought to identify target skills and abilities that will compose a future numeracy, so that new expertise can be incorporated and the exposed deficiencies remedied within a dynamic rather than static concept of competency. A nation-wide selection of panellists contributed to a three-round Delphi process, with the final data comprising both structured responses and qualitative comment. The scope of the items covered calculating activities, writing activities, reading activities, physical skills, supporting (mental) skills, applications, and problem solving. Responses to the structured items have provided priorities for numeracy for the turn of the century, in terms of both expected and desired characteristics. In general, expectations for numeracy fall short of the levels deemed desirable by panel consensus. The qualitative comments have been incorporated into three scenarios reflecting altermative visions for the future. A comparison of the scenarios uncovers wide differences between informed thinkers with respect to future visions of the ends, means, and mechanics of learning. These differences among individuals who are otherwise consistent in their views of future needs must be addressed if the identified priorities are not to be lost in a quagmire of conflicting interests, opinions, priorities, and values.     

英国开放大学外部质量控制的质性研究——专业人员的视角

英国开放大学以其优异的教学质量在国际远程教育界享有很高的声望,而高质量的教学是外部质量控制与内部质量保证综合作用的结果。本文以影响英国开放大学高质量水准的外部因素为切入点,采用质性研究范式,运用半开放问题访谈法,对英国开放大学的15名专业人员进行了深度访谈,并使用质性研究工具Nvivo8.0对访谈内容进行了话语分析,从而揭示出影响和控制英国开放大学质量的外部影响因素,希望能对我国开放大学的建设具有借鉴意义。     

Learning Styles Compared Across Health Science Courses

The Honey and Mumford Learning Style questionnaire was applied to undergraduate students at the first and third year level courses in Nursing, Optometry and Podiatryin the Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Health Science, and to students in the post‐graduate courses in Nursing and Nutrition and Dietetics. With one exception, there were no significant differences between first and third year student results for any learning style or course. The mean scores from all courses fell within the normal range defined by Honey and Mumford, but some differences were identified in the preferred learning styles across the different disciplines.

The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the use of different teaching techniques such as structured lectures, practical exercises, case discussions and role‐play, as the findings may be used to predict the type of instructional techniques which would be most effective. Recommendations are made on the most appropriate of these techniques for different health science courses.     

Crown-of-thorns starfish on the great barrier reef

During the 1960s and 1970s the bulk of the hard coral cover of reefs in the central region of Australia's Great Barrier Reef was killed as a result of population outbreaks of the coral-eating starfish, Acanthaster planci. Millions of starfish were involved. Renewed outbreaks have recently been noted on reefs where extensive recolonization has occurred since the mid-1960s, giving rise to concern that reefs in the region will be impoverished for long periods of time. The causes of the population outbreaks are unknown, but there is evidence of human involvement in triggering the population outbreaks.