Zwischen Schule und Universität: Argumentation in der Mathematik

Several studies show that university students in Germany still have problems in reasoning mathematically although this already should be fostered at high school since the implementation of standards for school mathematics. Mathematical argumentation is a core competence and highly important, especially in academic mathematics. To foster mathematical argumentation at the beginning of university studies, competence models are needed which give more detailed insights in the skills that are necessary for reasoning. As mathematical argumentation is a complex process, especially at the higher secondary level or at university, many little steps are needed to complete a competence model for argumentation at the secondary–tertiary transition gradually. A possible step can be to initially identify several aspects of mathematical argumentation competence that influence the reasoning quality. The empirical basis for identifying those aspects is a cross-sectional study with 439 engineering students who participate in a transition course in mathematics. We address the following questions: (1) how is the quality of student’s reasoning? (2) Which kind of arguments do students use? (3) What resources do students who reasoned correctly use for solving the problems? (4) Does the content of the tasks play an important role? The results show a great influence of the content on the reasoning quality, especially if the content is abstract or concrete. Argumentation quality of students decreases with an increasing level of abstraction of the content. Furthermore, the results reveal that students often use routines for solving the problems. That indicates that procedural approaches still play an important role in school mathematics. If procedures could be used for solving the tasks, students are more successful. Competence models for mathematical argumentation at the beginning of the tertiary level should, therefore, include these factors.     

Human Rights Education as a Field of Practice and of Theoretical Reflection

International Review of Education -     

The effectiveness of subsidies revisited: Accounting for wage and employment effects in business R&D

The present paper investigates the effectiveness of public subsidies on business enterprise research in a panel of OECD countries. We contribute to the literature by explicitly distinguishing between the effects of a subsidy on R&D employment and expenditure, thereby accounting for a potential increase in scientists’ wages. We employ instrumental variable regressions to address endogeneity problems of the subsidization. The results indicate that subsidies are effective in generating additional research expenditure. Expenditure for business research increases by roughly 20% more than employment. We take this as evidence that subsidies may raise scientists’ wages given standard production functions.     

Students' Acceptance of Tablet PCs in the Classroom

In recent years digital technologies, such as tablet personal computers (TPCs), have become an integral part of a school's infrastructure and are seen as a promising way to facilitate students' learning processes. This study empirically tested a theoretical model derived from the technology acceptance model containing key constructs developed in previous research on the acceptance of technological innovations. On the basis of the research model, it was hypothesized that students' acceptance of tablet PCs could be explained by key constructs and could be distinguished in organizational, individual, and technological factors. The survey research was conducted in three German middle schools, involving a total of 120 students. Overall, participants' attitude toward the TPC positively predicted their behavioral intention to use the TPC and as such had the strongest direct influence. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding factors affecting students' attitudes in order to manage and influence the integration of TPCs in schools.     

Advisory work as assistance in problem-solving — Problem-solving models as basic concepts for advisory work

Abstract

This article summarises some basic concepts of advisory work, incorporated into novel forms of extension over the past half century at Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany. It emphasis a certain understanding of advisory work: as support through “mental help” in structuring and restructuring by informing, motivating and enabling. Through exercises given in the article one can get the idea that problem situations are determined by one's own lack of insight and difficulties in breaking through the limitations of perceptions. The concept presented here in “stages of systematic problem-solving” starts with the perception of a problem by the client. The further critical steps are described within this process from perception of a problem towards solutions and evaluation of results. Two other models that are useful in thinking about problem-solving are also presented. Advisors should value them and be able to make use of them in a flexible way.     

Sino-German Cooperation on Stratigraphy, Vegetation and Climatic Development

The research project between the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, CAS (NIGPAS), the Research Center of Paleontology, Jilin University, the Geological Survey No.1, Xinjiang and the Institute of Geology, University of Tübingen deals with the Mesozoic biota and stratigraphy of the Junggar Basin, located in the Xinjiang Autonomous Uygur Region in Northwest China.