Flip or flop? Students’ perspectives of a flipped lecture in mathematics

This paper describes students’ perspectives of a one-off flipped lecture in a large undergraduate mathematics service course. The focus was on calculating matrix determinants and was designed specifically to introduce debate and argumentation into a mathematics lecture. The intention was to promote a deeper learning and understanding through engagement with the added hope of instilling some passion for the subject. During the lecture, students were asked to vote with their feet, literally moving around the lecture theatre to form groups according to their shared favourite technique for calculating matrix determinants. Group discussions were then followed by a whole class debate facilitated by the lecturers, before they wrapped up the lecture by resolving the professional disagreements that had come to light during the debate. Following the lecture, data on student perspectives was gathered using both surveys and focus groups. Within this paper, we share the data and reveal the interesting results that emerged from our analysis. Despite remaining unconvinced as to whether flipped lectures are better for learning, students reported greater engagement and increased understanding of the material covered.     

Critical perspectives of the ‘new’ difference equation solution method of Rivera-Figueroa and Rivera-Rebolledo

Recently, claims of a ‘new and straightforward’ method of solution to second-order linear difference equations have appeared in the mathematics education literature from Rivera-Figueroa and Rivera-Rebolledo. The claim of novelty is based on an assumption that ‘since the equation is worked in its canonical form’, the method within this context must be new. In addition, the assertion of straightforwardness is based on the position that ‘the solution comes naturally’ through this method, rather than artificially. In this article, we subject these claims and assumptions to closer scrutiny, examination and analysis. We note that the method has been published before, and we present the method in a more succinct form. We also discuss how the method can be extended to solve difference equations with non-constant coefficients, illustrating this via a discussion of an example.     

University students’ perspectives on diagnostic testing in mathematics

Many universities issue mathematical diagnostic tests to incoming first-year students, covering a range of the basic concepts with which they should be comfortable from secondary school. As far as many lecturers are concerned, the purpose of this test is to determine the students' mathematical knowledge on entry. It should also provide an early indication of which students are likely to need additional help, and hopefully encourage such students to avail of extra support mechanisms at an early stage. However, it is not clear that students recognize these intentions and there is a fear that students who score poorly in the test will have their confidence further damaged in relation to mathematics and will be reluctant to seek help. To this end, a questionnaire was developed to explore students’ perspectives on diagnostic testing. Analysis of responses received to the questionnaire provided an interesting insight into students’ perspectives including the optimum time to conduct such a test, their views on the aims of diagnostic testing, whether they feel that testing is a good idea, and their attitudes to the support systems put in place to help those who scored poorly in the test.     

学科能力视域下的初中化学命题评价研究——以阶段性学业水平测试为例

化学学科能力是核心素养的重要组成部分,包括学习理解能力、应用实践能力和迁移创新能力.依据初中化学学科核心素养和关键能力的评价模型,对区域初中化学阶段性学业水平测试进行命题评价研究,分析统计了学科能力的占比、得分率以及与5大主题知识点的匹配情况,并从学科认识方式考查的角度对例题进行分析阐述.针对学生部分层级能力表现欠佳等...     

国家自然科学基金情况介绍-兼谈高分子科学发展

概述了近期高分子科学前沿问题以及最新研究进展,对今后高分子科学的发展进行展望,介绍了2012年国家自然科学基金化学科学部高分子科学学科基金申请指南和申请注意事项等。     

论高职高专英语教学改革的理念与方法

高职高专英语教学改革涉及到教学理念、教材、教学法、教学检测等一系列问题。其中，教学理念与教学法是教改的核心问题。文章提出了以学生为中心和两个“结合”的理念及四种教学方法，并指出英语教学改革应结合各校的具体情况，配合相应的教材，采用适当的方法。     

基于融资能力约束的多模式Max-npv项目调度优化: 双重视角

从项目双方的视角出发,研究融资能力约束下的Max-npv项目调度问题。首先进行问题界定,构建由两个子模型构成的多模式Max-npv项目调度优化模型。随后,鉴于问题的强NP-hard属性,设计针对两个子模型迭代循环求解的禁忌搜索启发式算法,得到项目双方都满意的解。最后用一个实际案例对研究进行验证说明,并分析关键参数对合同双方收益的影响,结果表明:与实际进度安排相比,满意进度安排下合同双方的收益均有显著的提升;承包商和业主的融资能力、项目截止日期、承包商收益底线、折现率及支付比例均会对双方的收益产生重要影响。     

Future perspectives of radiation chemistry

Future perspectives of radiation chemistry are discussed by the analysis of the related information in detail as obtained from our recent surveys of publications and scientific meetings in radiation chemistry and its neighboring research fields, giving some examples, and are summarized as follows. (1) Traditionally important core-parts of radiation chemistry should be activated more. The corresponding research programs are listed in detail. (2) Research fields of physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and technology in radiation research should interact more among them with each other. (3) Basic research of radiation chemistry should interact more with its applied research. (4) Interface research fields with radiation chemistry should be produced more with mutually common viewpoints and research interests between the two. Interfaces are not only applied research but also basic one.