Ways of talking and ways of positioning: Students’ beliefs in an inquiry-oriented differential equations class

As part of developmental research for an inquiry-oriented differential equations course, this study investigates the change in students’ beliefs about mathematics. The discourse analysis has identified two different types of perspective modes - i.e., discourse of the third-person perspective and discourse of the first-person perspective - in the students’ mathematical narratives, depending on their ways of positioning themselves with respect to mathematics. In the third-person perspective discourse, the students positioned themselves as passive recipients of mathematics that has been established by some external authority. In the first-person perspective discourse, the students positioned themselves as active mathematical inquirers and produced mathematics by interweaving their own mathematical ideas and experiences. Over the semester, students’ mathematical discourse changed from third-person perspective narratives to first-person perspective narratives. This change in their discourse pattern is interpreted as an indication of change in their beliefs about mathematics. Finally, this article discusses the instructional features that promote the change.     

Secondary-school teachers’ noticing of aspects of mathematics teaching talk in the context of one-day workshops

In a research project with one-day teacher education workshops for secondary-school mathematics teachers, our study explores the potential of tool-supported discussions in helping them to notice important and critical aspects of mathematics teaching talk. Mathematical practices of naming and explaining in teaching talk, students’ content learning challenges, and noticing processes of identifying, interpreting and deciding are the components of our framework and the tools that guided the design and implementation of three workshops on linear equations, fractions and plane isometries. The data was collected during the discussions with the seven teachers and the teacher educator throughout these workshops. The coding of the discussions allowed us to see discourse moves that reveal the teachers’ noticing of: (i) challenges in the identification of mathematical naming, (ii) mathematical explaining that voices the students’ learning, (iii) classroom practice in relation to mathematical naming and explaining.     

Facilitating an Elementary Engineering Design Process Module

STEM education in elementary school is guided by the understanding that engineering represents the application of science and math concepts to make life better for people. The Engineering Design Process (EDP) guides the application of creative solutions to problems. Helping teachers understand how to apply the EDP to create lessons develops a classroom where students are engaged in solving real world problems by applying the concepts they learn about science and mathematics. This article outlines a framework for developing such lessons and units, and discusses the underlying theory of systems thinking. A model lesson that uses this framework is discussed. Misconceptions regarding the EDP that children have displayed through this lesson and other design challenge lessons are highlighted. Through understanding these misconceptions, teachers can do a better job of helping students understand the system of ideas that helps engineers attack problems in the real world. Getting children ready for the 21st century requires a different outlook. Children need to tackle problems with a plan and not shrivel when at first, they fail. Seeing themselves as engineers will help more underrepresented students see engineering and other STEM fields as viable career options, which is our ultimate goal.     

武汉市在校大学生数与经济增长的协整分析

近二十年来,我国高等教育规模不断扩大,高校在校生数不断增加,其中武汉市位居全国前列．为了研究高校在校生数对当地经济发展的影响,本文利用武汉市1992—2012年在校大学生人数数据,通过建立合适的模型,来定量探讨武汉市在校大学生数与经济增长的内在关系．结果表明,武汉市经济增长与武汉在校大学生人数模型之间存在着长期均衡关系且互为格兰杰因果关系．     

从PISA视角分析新加坡初中Discover Chemistry教材中的科学探究思想

基于2015年经济合作与发展组织公布的PISA测试的最新结果，以及新加坡学生的科学成绩，结合新加坡初中科学教学大纲对新加坡初中化学教材中体现的科学探究思想进行分析。以Discover Chemistry教材为素材，从中选取实验类、调查类、反思和交流类探究活动，挖掘其蕴含的科学素养，分析教材中的探究思想，旨在为我国教科书中的科学探究内容的编写与修改提供启示，也为教师和学生开展有效的探究活动提供借鉴。     

Analysis of proportional reasoning and misconceptions among students with mathematical learning disabilities

We investigated not only the effects of schema-based instruction (SBI) on the mathematical outcomes of seventh-grade students with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD), but also extended prior work to analyze students’ written explanations on open-ended items involving ratio and proportion situations—ratio, proportion, and percent of change problems— to understand the ability to reason about proportions and identify misconceptions. The sample of 338 students with MLD [scored below the 25th percentile on a proportional problem solving (PPS) pretest] was taken from Jitendra, Harwell, Im, et al. (2019), which randomly assigned classrooms to either the SBI or control condition. Students with MLD in SBI classrooms outperformed their counterparts in control classrooms on proportional problem solving and general mathematics problem solving. Similar results, favoring the SBI condition, were found on the open-ended items; however, overall mean scores across pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest were low. Findings provide evidence for the limited understanding of fractional representations of ratios and highlight students’ persistent use of numerical and additive reasoning in explaining their low performance on the open-ended items.     

The effectiveness of resources created by students as partners in explaining the relevance of mathematics in engineering education

First-year engineering students often struggle to see the relevance of theoretical mathematical concepts for their future studies and professional careers. This is an issue, as students who do not see relevance in fundamental parts of their studies may disengage from these parts and focus their efforts on other subjects they think will be more useful to them. In this study, we surveyed engineering students enrolled in a first-year mathematics subject on their perceptions of the relevance of the individual mathematical topics taught. Surveys were administered at the start of semester when some of these topics were unknown to them, and again at the end of semester when students had not only studied all these topics but also watched a set of animated videos. These videos had been produced by higher-year students to explain where they had seen applications of the mathematical concepts presented in the first year. We notice differences between the perceived relevance of topics for future study and for professional careers, with relevance to study rated higher than relevance to careers. We also find that the animations are seen as helpful in understanding the relevance of first-year mathematics. The majority of students indicated that lecturers with students as partners should work collaboratively to produce future videos.     

不同消费者对品牌代言传播的多种反应关系研究

伴随着市场经济模式的根本改变,商业传播的方式、策略等也发生着质的变化。当然,最具冲击力的,应该是它对社会的消费文化、消费理念以及企业的经营理念、服务理念等社会层面和文化层面上的巨大影响。因此,如何通过不同类型的品牌代言人提升品牌资产成为了学术界和企业界关注的一个焦点。为此,通过对"90后"在校大学生进行调查,针对实证研究结论,最终提出适应"90后"在校大学生群体的品牌代言传播策略建议。     

物理师范生教学基本功培养中存在的问题及其对策

通过调研上海市部分中学一线教师以及观摩物理师范生教育实习,分析物理专业师范生在备课、课堂教学技能、实验、现代信息技术应用等方面存在的问题,提出有关改善教学基本功的建议和策略．