Diffusion and implementation of a tobacco prevention program: A replication study

Tobacco use is a major health hazard, and the onset of tobacco use occurs almost entirely in the teenage years. For this reason, schools are an ideal site for tobacco prevention programs. Although studies have shown that effective school-based tobacco prevention programs exist, all too frequently these programs are not used. In order for effective programs to achieve their potential impact, strategies for speeding the diffusion of these programs to school districts and seeing that, once adopted, programs are implemented as they are intended, must be developed and tested.^ This study (SC2) set out to replicate the findings of an earlier quasi-experimental study (The Smart Choices Diffusion Study, or SC1) in which strategies based on diffusion theory and social learning theory were found to be effective in encouraging adoption and implementation of an effective tobacco prevention program in schools. To increase awareness and encourage adoption, intervention strategies in both studies utilized opinion leaders, messages highlighting positive aspects of the program, and modeling of benefits and effective use through videotape and newsletters. To encourage accurate implementation of the curriculum, teacher training for the two studies utilized videotaped modeling and practice of activities by teachers. SC2 subjects were 38 school districts that make up one of Texas' 20 education service regions. These districts had served as the comparison group in SC1, and findings for the SC1 comparison and intervention groups were utilized as historic controls.^ SC2 achieved a 76.3% adoption rate and found that an average of 84% of the curriculum was taught with an 82% fidelity to methods utilized by the curriculum. These rates and rates for implementation of dissemination strategies were equal to or greater than corresponding rates for SC1. The proportion of teachers implementing the curriculum in SC2 was found to be equal to SC1's video-trained districts but lower than the SC1 workshop-trained group.^ SC2's findings corroborate and support the findings from the earlier study, and increase our confidence in its findings. Taken together, the findings from SC2 and SC1 point to the effectiveness of their theory-based intervention strategies in encouraging adoption and accurate implementation of the tobacco prevention curriculum. ^

A realidade das entidades científicas e a formação de professores de física: uma análise sociocultural

O objetivo da presente tese é realizar uma abordagem acerca da realidade das entidades científicas no contexto da formação de professores de física. A literatura em ensino de ciências destaca a importância do entendimento de aspectos da natureza da ciência por professores. Dentre esses aspectos, exploramos a questão da realidade das entidades inobserváveis descritas pelas teorias científicas, tratando sobretudo de critérios utilizados para a caracterização dessa realidade por licenciandos, bem como possíveis influências na constituição desses critérios. Consideramos que um professor de física, durante sua atuação profissional, precisará lidar com a questão da realidade de entidades não acessíveis aos sentidos, tendo talvez de explicar em que se baseia uma proposição sobre sua existência. No desenvolvimento do presente trabalho, trouxemos alguns elementos de uma discussão que se dá no âmbito filosófico a respeito do realismo científico e também abordamos formulações teóricas que tratam da questão da realidade em perspectivas que se referem ao campo cotidiano e ao senso comum. Como referencial mais geral, utilizamos uma abordagem sobre cultura, que aponta para a influência de diversas estruturas culturais nas formas de entendimento do mundo e permite conceber a ciência como uma dessas estruturas. Entre outras coisas, a aprendizagem da ciência envolveria a compreensão de suas formas específicas de atribuir realidade, em contraposição às formas de outras estruturas culturais. Foram desenvolvidos três estudos, com análises fundamentadas em metodologias qualitativas. No primeiro, investigamos critérios usados por licenciandos em física para definir a realidade de entidades da ciência e de entes relacionados a outros domínios; no segundo, analisamos formas pelas quais certas entidades científicas são caracterizadas e tomadas como reais em uma coleção de livros didáticos de física do ensino superior; e, por fim, o terceiro consistiu na construção e utilização de um heurístico, com o objetivo de proporcionar reflexões acerca de questões relacionadas ao conhecimento científico e a elementos de outras estruturas culturais e foram analisadas as entrevistas de quatro estudantes de licenciatura sobre o uso desse instrumento. Os resultados obtidos parecem mostrar que há influência de elementos vindos de fora da ciência nos critérios utilizados por estudantes para a definição da realidade das entidades. Além disso, mostram que esse tema não é comumente trazido à reflexão dos alunos, o que não contribui para a reelaboração dos critérios de realidade já trazidos por eles de outros campos que não o científico. O heurístico utilizado no terceiro estudo serviu para trazer à tona as bases do pensamento dos estudantes e lhes indicar certos elementos para reflexão; existiram diferenças nos tipos de reflexão suscitados pelo instrumento, o que consideramos ser uma espécie de \"contextualização cultural\" na maneira de compreender as questões trazidas por ele. O desenvolvimento dos três estudos nos permitiu compreender alguns aspectos relevantes sobre os modos de entendimento das entidades da ciência e pensar sobre suas formas de tratamento em um curso de física.

Características del desarrollo de una mirada profesional en estudiantes para profesor de matemáticas en un contexto b-learning

Esta investigación presenta un estudio cuyo objetivo es identificar aspectos que apoyan el desarrollo de la mirada profesional en estudiantes para profesores de matemáticas en un contexto b-learning. Analizamos las producciones de un grupo de estudiantes para profesores de matemáticas de educación secundaria (documentos escritos y participaciones en un debate on-line) cuando analizaban el razonamiento proporcional de estudiantes de educación secundaria. Los resultados indican que la interacción en el debate en línea permitió a algunos estudiantes para profesor mejorar su capacidad de identificar e interpretar aspectos relevantes del pensamiento matemático de los estudiantes de educación secundaria. Estos resultados indican que el desarrollo de “una mirada profesional” del profesor es un proceso complicado pero que la posibilidad de construir un discurso progresivo en línea es un factor importante para su desarrollo.

Cómo estudiantes para profesor interpretan el pensamiento matemático de los estudiantes de Bachillerato: la derivada de una función en un punto

El objetivo de esta investigación es caracterizar grados de desarrollo de la competencia docente “mirar con sentido” el pensamiento matemático de los estudiantes en el ámbito específico de la derivada de una función en un punto. A partir de los resultados de las investigaciones previas sobre la derivada diseñamos un cuestionario formado por tres tareas a partir de las respuestas de estudiantes a 3 problemas sobre el concepto de derivada en un punto. Los resultados han permitido generar descriptores de niveles de desarrollo de la competencia docente “mirar con sentido” el pensamiento matemático de los estudiantes. Estos resultados aportan información para el diseño de intervenciones en la formación de profesores de matemáticas que tengan como uno de sus objetivos el desarrollo de la competencia docente “mirar con sentido” el pensamiento matemático de los estudiantes.

Conocimiento de los estudiantes para maestro cuando interpretan respuestas de estudiantes de primaria a problemas de división-medida

El objetivo de esta investigación es indagar en el conocimiento especializado de contenido matemático de estudiantes para maestro (EPM) sobre problemas de división-medida. Los EPM respondieron a dos cuestionarios en los que resolvieron dos problemas de división-medida e interpretaron respuestas dadas por alumnos de primaria. Un alto porcentaje de EPM resolvieron con éxito los dos problemas, pero pocos fueron capaces de interpretar de forma adecuada las respuestas de los alumnos de primaria cuando empleaban un procedimiento correcto alternativo a la división. Los resultados obtenidos ofrecen a los formadores referencias iniciales acerca de los conocimientos de los EPM sobre problemas de división-medida y sobre el uso que hacen de estos conocimientos en una de sus tareas profesionales: interpretar las respuestas de los alumnos.

Perspectivas de estudiantes para profesores sobre el papel de la tecnología para apoyar el aprendizaje matemático de los estudiantes

El objetivo de esta investigación es caracterizar perspectivas de estudiantes para profesores de educación secundaria (EPS) sobre el papel que puede desempeñar la tecnología para apoyar el aprendizaje matemático de los estudiantes. Los datos proceden de la planificación de una lección basada en la resolución de problemas mediante el uso de tecnología. Las perspectivas de los estudiantes para profesor se situaron a lo largo de un continuo considerando la relación entre: (i) lo que se pretendía con el uso de recursos tecnológicos y (ii) la naturaleza de la actividad matemática generada. La relación entre ambos aspectos ayuda a reconocer el papel que pueden desempeñar las perspectivas de los estudiantes para profesor cuando están aprendiendo a integrar la tecnología en la enseñanza de la resolución de problemas.

Caracterización de la “mirada profesional” de los estudiantes para maestro sobre la comprensión de la generalización de patrones

El objetivo de esta comunicación es caracterizar la mirada profesional de los estudiantes para maestro (EPM) cuando describen e interpretan respuestas de alumnos de Primaria a problemas de identificación de patrones. El estudio conjunto de los grados de evidencia de la identificación de los elementos matemáticos relevantes en el proceso de generalización de patrones y de la interpretación de la comprensión de los estudiantes, nos permitió identificar cinco perfiles de EPM con una gradación entre ellos. Esto nos ha llevado a caracterizar cinco perfiles de EPM que muestran que el conocimiento de matemáticas es necesario pero no suficiente para el desarrollo de una “mirada profesional”.

A transição entre a educação de infância e o 1º ciclo do ensino básico

Relatório de estágio, apresentado para a obtenção do grau de Mestre na área de educação de infância e ensino do 1º ciclo do ensino básico

Expert survey on priorities for the information society in the Caribbean

An on-line survey of experts was conducted to solicit their views on policy priorities in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Caribbean. The experts considered the goal to “promote teacher training in the use of ICTs in the classroom” to be the highest priority, followed by goals to “reduce the cost of broadband services” and “promote the use of ICT in emergency and disaster prevention, preparedness and response.” Goals in the areas of cybercrime, e-commerce, egovernment, universal service funds, consumer protection, and on-line privacy rounded out the top 10. Some of the lowest ranked goals were those related to coordinating the management of infrastructure changes. These included the switchover for digital terrestrial television (DTT) and digital FM radio, cloud computing for government ICT, the introduction of satellite-based internet services, and the installation of content distribution networks (CDNs). Initiatives aimed at using ICT to promote specific industries, or specific means of promoting the digital economy, tended toward the centre of the rankings. Thus, a general pattern emerged which elevated the importance of focusing on how ICT is integrated into the broader society, with economic issues a lower priority, and concerns about coordination on infrastructure issues lower still.

Muscle metabolism during sprint exercise in man: Influence of sprint training

In order to examine the influence of sprint training on metabolism and exercise performance during sprint exercise, 16 recreationally-active, untrained, men (TO2peak= 3.8+/-0.1 1.min(-1)) were randomly assigned to either a training (n=8) or control group (n=8). Each subject performed a 30-sec cycle sprint and a test to measure VO2peak before and after eight weeks of sprint training. The training group completed a series of sprints three times per week which progressed from three 30-sec cycle sprints in weeks 1 and 2, to six 30-sec sprints in weeks 7 and 8. Three mins of passive recovery separated each sprint throughout the training period. Muscle samples were obtained at rest and immediately following the pre- and post-training sprints and analysed for high energy phosphagens, glycogen and lactate; the activities of both phosphofructokinase (PFK) and citrate synthase (CS) were also measured and muscle fibre types were quantified, Training resulted in a 7.1% increase in mean power output (p

An Internet training intervention for people with traumatic brain injury: Barriers and outcomes

Primary objective: To test whether people with cognitive-linguistic impairments following traumatic brain injury could learn to use the Internet using specialized training materials. Research design: Pre-post test design. Methods and procedures: Seven participants were each matched with a volunteer tutor. Basic Internet skills were taught over six lessons using a tutor's manual and a student manual. Instructions used simple text and graphics based on Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5. Students underwent Internet skills assessments and interviews pre- and post-training. Tutors completed a post-training questionnaire. Main outcomes and results: Six of seven participants reached moderate-to-high degrees of independence. Literacy impairment was an expected training barrier; however, cognitive impairments affecting concentration, memory and motivation were more significant. Conclusions: Findings suggest that people with cognitive-linguistic impairments can learn Internet skills using specialized training materials. Participants and their carers also reported positive outcomes beyond the acquisition of Internet skills.

Dynamic training volume: A construct of both time under tension and volume load

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three different weight training protocols, that varied in the way training volume was measured, on acute muscular fatigue. Ten resistance-trained males performed all three protocols which involved dynamic constant resistance exercise of the elbow flexors. Protocol A provided a standard for the time the muscle group was under tension (TUT) and volume load (VL), expressed as the product of the total number of repetitions and the load that was lifted. Protocol B involved 40% of the TUT but the same VL compared to protocol A; protocol C was equated with protocol A for TUT but only involved 50% of the VL. Fatigue was assessed by changes in maximum voluntary isometric force and integrated electromyography (iEMG) between the pre- and post-training protocols. The results of the study showed that, when equated for VL, greater TUT produced greater overall muscular fatigue ( p

Training emotional intelligence: Presenting the results of an experimental study

This presentation outlines the results of an eighteen month study examining the effect of an emotions focused training intervention on the emotional intelligence of employees from a large public sector organisation. Utilising an experimental methodology, 280 staff attended a two-day program focused on training emotional intelligence skills and abilities. These interventions were created around Mayer and Salovey’s four-branch model of emotional intelligence (awareness, understanding, facilitation and management of emotions). The experimental group’s emotional intelligence was tested pre and post training using the Workgroup Emotional Intelligence Profile (WEIP). In addition, a control group from the same organisation also completed the same measure at three points during the same eighteen month period. Analysis of the control and experimental group data were conducted, and whilst no changes were found in the control group, the experimental group’s overall emotional intelligence significantly improved post training. To further strengthen these findings, a measure of effect size using Cohen’s d was also conducted to assess the magnitude of the training intervention’s overall effect. Full results will be presented during the presentation, with feedback on the study and methods utilised encouraged from participants.

A sociocultural analysis of learning to teach

This paper addresses the question of how teachers learn from experience during their pre-service course and early years of teaching. It outlines a theoretical framework that may help us better understand how teachers' professional identities emerge in practice. The framework adapts Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, and Valsiner's Zone of Free Movement and Zone of Promoted Action, to the field of teacher education. The framework is used to analyse the pre-service and initial professional experiences of a novice secondary mathematics teacher in integrating computer and graphics calculator technologies into his classroom practice. (Contains 1 figure.) [For complete proceedings, see ED496848.]

Legitimate talk in feedback conferences

Feedback on performance is a feature of professional training. Much feedback is delivered in post-observation conferences where a ‘trainer’ will discuss the ‘trainee's’ performance with him/her. What transpires in these conferences, however, is ‘hidden from view’ (Heritage and Sefi 1992: 362) and the norms of interaction are largely unexamined in the literature. Even less is known about feedback conducted in groups, yet many teachers training to teach English experience feedback in this way. This article provides a discourse analysis of four extracts from group feedback conferences on a pre-service programme for teachers of English language. Drawing on the concept of ‘legitimate talk’, the analysis shows how topics and speaking rights are established and negotiated and how participants orientate to and contest both the forms of knowledge that emerge and the speaking rights. While the study was not initially designed to support trainers in their professional development, the argument is made that data from linguistic ethnographic studies can be used by research participants and others for these purposes, thus enhancing the relationship between the researcher and the researched.