Development and Validation of the Star Properties Concept Inventory     

Janelle M. Bailey  Bruce Johnson  Edward E. Prather  Timothy F. Slater 《International Journal of Science Education》2013,35(14):2257-2286

Concept inventories (CIs)—typically multiple-choice instruments that focus on a single or small subset of closely related topics—have been used in science education for more than a decade. This paper describes the development and validation of a new CI for astronomy, the Star Properties Concept Inventory (SPCI). Questions cover the areas of stellar properties (focussing primarily on mass, temperature, luminosity, and lifetime), nuclear fusion, and star formation. Distracters were developed from known alternative conceptions and reasoning difficulties commonly held by students. The SPCI was tested through an iterative process where different testing formats (open-ended, multiple-choice?+?explain, and multiple-choice) were compared to ensure that the distracters were in fact the most common among the testing population. Content validity was established through expert reviews by 26 astronomy instructors. The SPCI Version 3 was then tested in multiple introductory undergraduate astronomy courses for non-science majors. Post-test scores (out of 23 possible) were significantly greater (M?=?11.8, SD?=?3.87) than the pre-test scores (M?=?7.09, SD?=?2.73). The low post-test score—only 51.3%—could indicate a need for changing instructional strategies on the topics of stars and star formation.  相似文献   

ESPN—The Women's Sports Network? A Content Analysis of Internet Coverage of March Madness     

Edward Ted M. Kian Ph.D.  Michael Mondello Ph.D.  John Vincent Ph.D. 《广播与电子媒介杂志》2013,57(3):477-495

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“Listening in,” our new national pastime     

Edward W. Borgers 《广播与电子媒介杂志》2013,57(3):239-240

The current emphasis placed by the television industry on the development and production of public affairs programing has led to increased reliance upon perhaps the oldest, most simple, and least costly form of informative programing: the interview. This recent attention should not be allowed to obscure two facts: 1) the average interview program, valuable as it may be, rarely attracts audiences (and sponsors) to the same extent as does an “entertainment” program; and 2) some programs are exceptions. For eight years the “Paul Coates Show” has fascinated a loyal audience that has amply repaid the program's sponsors. Why has this particular program done so well? Mr. Coates, a widely‐read newspaper columnist, does not fit the stereotype of a television “personality,” neither are his questions so probing as those of some other television interviewers. In an attempt to uncover the factors underlying the popularity of the “Paul Coates Show,” Dr. Borgers has analyzed the structure of a number of programs and has arrived at some useful conclusions.  相似文献   

Tutoring in mathematics: a generic method     

Keith J. Topping  Maura Kearney  Edward McGee  John Pugh 《Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning》2013,21(3):353-370

A pilot study is reported of a generic method for tutoring in mathematics, intended to be suitable for use by peers, parents and volunteers in a wide range of applications. Thirty children aged 9–10 years of below average mathematical ability were randomly allocated to experimental or control conditions. Experimental tutees (n=17) were tutored in mathematical problem solving at home by their parent(s) using the method, while control children (n=13) received traditional maths problem homework. Pre‐ and post‐test assessment of both groups involved a criterion‐referenced mathematics test in parallel forms and a scale of attitudes to mathematics. Experimental tutors completed a pre‐test questionnaire on attitudes to mathematics and home‐school links, and experimental tutees and tutors engaged in a post‐test debriefing interview. On the attainment test, the experimental group gained significantly, while the control group did not. Male tutees gained more than females. No significant pre‐post differences were evident on the tutee attitude questionnaire. However, interview feedback from both tutees and tutors was generally positive. Given the brevity of the pre‐ to post‐test interval, the finding of positive differences in attainment was considered encouraging. Recommendations for future research were made.  相似文献   

Nine by two: guidelines for job applicants and for selectors of staff in schools and similar educational organizations     

John Banfield  Edward Fearn 《School Leadership & Management》2013,33(3):311-316

Teacher unions have shown increasing concern about the effects of stress on their members. Although stress is difficult to define, its existence is undeniable. Consequently, the literature highlights a symptomatology. In my research, into stress in relation to heads of year in a comprehensive school, role conflict and role ambiguity emerged as stressors. The research was based on diary entries and interviews. Their coping strategies varied in terms of effectiveness. A consequence of this research was the creation of sessions on The Positive Uses of Stress and a greater willingness on the part of staff to discuss stressful incidents. However, as the latter were unstructured their therapeutic value must be question An implication of my research is that all schools should place a high priority on stress management strategies. At the organisational level this could include the appointment of a Staff Counsellor, the adoption of sensivity training for staff and a corporate culture which places a high value on the individual's worth.  相似文献   

Designing individualised leadership development programmes     

Christine Forde  Margery McMahon  Peter Gronn 《School Leadership & Management》2013,33(5):440-456

The recruitment of sufficient numbers of suitably qualified teachers into headship is an international issue and to address this in Scotland alternative headship preparation programmes were trialled to provide greater flexibility in order to better match the individual development needs and circumstances of the aspirant head teachers. Drawing from the evaluation data of one of these programmes, the National Flexible Routes to Headship, the article analyses the key learning processes critical for the design of individualised leadership development programmes. The article begins with the policy context from which the proposal for the alternative headship preparation programmes emerged.  相似文献   

Exploring Students’ Ideas About Risks and Benefits of Nuclear Power Using Risk Perception Theories   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Ahmet Kılınç  Edward Boyes  Martin Stanisstreet 《Journal of Science Education and Technology》2013,22(3):252-266

Due to increased energy demand, Turkey is continuing to explore the possibilities of introducing nuclear power. Gaining acceptance from local populations, however, may be problematic because nuclear power has a negative image and risk perceptions are complicated by a range of psychological and cultural factors. In this study, we explore the views about nuclear power of school students from three locations in Turkey, two of which have been proposed as sites suitable for nuclear power plants. About half of the student cohort believed that nuclear power can supply continuous and sufficient electricity, but approximately three quarters thought that nuclear power stations could harm organisms, including humans, living nearby. Rather few students realized that adoption of nuclear power would help to reduce global warming and thereby limit climate change; indeed, three quarters thought that nuclear power would make global warming worse. There was a tendency for more students from the location most likely to have a nuclear power plant to believe negative characteristics of nuclear power, and for fewer students to believe positive characteristics. Exploration of the possible nuclear power programmes by Turkey offers an educational opportunity to understand the risk perceptions of students that affect their decision-making processes.  相似文献   

TEACHING IN CONTEXT: ENHANCING THE PROCESSES OF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MATHEMATICS     

Edward D. Laughbaum 《Community College Journal of Research & Practice》2013,37(5-6):383-390

Teaching in context can be defined as teaching a mathematical idea or process by using a problem, situation, or data to enhance the teaching and learning process. The same problem or situation may be used many times, at different mathematical levels to teach different objectives. A common misconception exists that assigning/teaching applications is teaching in context. While both use problems, the difference is in timing, in purpose, and in student outcome. In this article, one problem situation is explored thoroughly at different levels of understanding and other ideas are suggested for classroom explorations.  相似文献   

Differences in the Performance of Male and Female Students in Partially Online Courses at a Community College     

Edward Volchok 《Community College Journal of Research & Practice》2013,37(12):904-920

ABSTRACT

Many scholars argue that female students are more motivated than their male counterparts. This study examines evidence from 435 students, 237 males and 198 females, in 19 partially online Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Research classes taught by this researcher at an urban community college. The study spans 10 semesters from fall 2012 to spring 2017. In this retrospective study, female students outperformed male students on the following measures: (a) Students’ final course grades adjusted to remove extra credit grades, (b) Students pre-semester cumulative Grade Point Averages adjusted to remove extra credit grades, and (c) Scores on three early semester extra credit assignments assigned to all students. The data suggest that female students are more likely to be self-regulated learners – more disposed to adopt a proactive disposition to their studies – than male students. But, this study does not include psychometric data. Consequently, the proposition that female students are more self-regulated learners than male students is only a hypothesis that emerges from this analysis. Given that the data are not normally distributed, the analysis was conducted using nonparametric test: Chi-Square and Kruskal–Wallis H.  相似文献   

Re-presenting Sport: How Instant Replay and Perceived Violence Impact Enjoyment of Mediated Sports     

Leo Jeffres  Edward Horowitz  Cheryl C. Bracken  Guowei Jian  Kimberly A. Neuendorf  Sukki Yoon 《Mass Communication and Society》2013,16(6):787-815

Several long-standing theories intersect in discussing the impact of community characteristics and of the mass media. The structural pluralism model popularized by Tichenor and his colleagues says that social structure influences how mass media operate in communities because they respond to how power is distributed in the social system, whereas the linear model says that the increasing size of a community's population leads to more social differentiation and diversity and corresponding increases in subcultures with their own beliefs, customs, and behaviors. Recently, there has been a concern about how changes in society have led to a decline in organizational activity and the network of relationships and trust that constitute “social capital.” This article examines the impact of population and diversity (using census data) on individuals’ media use, interpersonal discussion and civic engagement (measured in a national survey), and the relationship among these variables. Analysis of a structural model provides evidence that the “linear hypothesis” can be combined with structural pluralism, with size—measured by population—impacting diversity, which influences the relationships that people have with their community. Concurrently, social categories influence people's communication patterns and community relationships, and communication impacts civic engagement.  相似文献