Adolescent girls and mathematics: classroom performance, attitudes toward mathematics and perceptions of parental attitudes /

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which gender differences exist in student attitudes toward mathematics and in their performance in mathematics at the Grade Seven and Eight level. The study also questioned how parents influence the attitudes of this grade level of male and female students toward mathematics. Historically, the literature has demonstrated gender differences in the attitudes of students toward mathematics, and in parental support for classroom performance in mathematics. This study was an attempt to examine these differences at one senior public school in the Peel Board of Education. One hundred three Grade Seven and Eight students at a middle school in the Peel Board of Education volunteered to take part in a survey that examined their attitudes toward mathematics, their perceptions of their parents' attitudes toward mathematics and support for good performance in the mathematics classroom, parental expectations for education and future career choices. Gender differences related to performance levels in the mathematics classroom were examined using Pearson contingency analyses. Items from the survey that showed significant differences involved confidence in mathematics and confidence in writing mathematics tests, as well as a belief in the ability to work on mathematics problems. Male students in both the high and low performance groups demonstrated higher levels of confidence than the females in those groups. Female students, however, indicated interest in careers that would require training and knowledge of higher mathematics. Some of the reasons given to explain the gender differences in confidence levels included socialization pressures on females, peer acceptance, and attribution of success. Perceived parental support showed no significant differences across gender groups or performance levels. Possible explanations dealt with the family structure of the participants in the study. Studies that, in the past, have demonstrated gender differences in confidence levels were supported by this study, and discussed in detail. Studies that reported on differences in parental support for student performance, based on the gender of the parent, were not confirmed by this study, and reasons for this were also discussed. The implications for the classroom include: 1) build on the female students' strengths that will allow them to enjoy their experiences in mathematics; 2) stop using the boys as a comparison group; and 3) make students more aware of the need to continue studying mathematics to ensure a wider choice of future careers.

Web based content and hybrid teaching: student perceptions of the effectiveness of using web based content and hyper-linked teaching units in teaching hybrid business and marketing post secondary classes /

This exploratory, descriptive action research study is based on a survey of a sample of convenience consisting of 172 college and university marketing students, and 5 professors who were experienced in teaching in an internet based environment. The students that were surveyed were studying e-commerce and international business in 3^^ and 4*'' year classes at a leading imiversity in Ontario and e-commerce in 5^ semester classes at a leading college. These classes were taught using a hybrid teaching style with the contribution of a large website that contained pertinent text and audio material. Hybrid teaching employs web based course materials (some in the form of Learning Objects) to deliver curriculimi material both during the attended lectures and also for students accessing the course web page outside of class hours. The survey was in the form on an online questionnaire. The research questions explored in this study were: 1. What factors influence the students' ability to access and learn from web based course content? 2. How likely are the students to use selected elements of internet based curriculum for learning academic content? 3. What is the preferred physical environment to facilitate learning in a hybrid environment? 4. How effective are selected teaching/learning strategies in a hybrid environment? The findings of this study suggest that students are very interested in being part of the learning process by contributing to a course web site. Specifically, students are interested in audio content being one of the formats of online course material, and have an interest in being part of the creation of small audio clips to be used in class.

An examination of grade three mathematics textbooks for problem solving strategies

Three grade three mathematics textbooks were selected arbitrarily (every other) from a total of six currently used in the schools of Ontario. These textbooks were examined through content analysis in order to determine the extent (i. e., the frequency of occurrence) to which problem solving strategies appear in the problems and exercises of grade three mathematics textbooks, and how well they carry through the Ministry's educational goals set out in The Formative Years. Based on Polya's heuristic model, a checklist was developed by the researcher. The checklist had two main categories, textbook problems and process problems and a finer classification according to the difficulty level of a textbook problem; also six commonly used problem solving strategies for the analysis of a process problem. Topics to be analyzed were selected from the subject guideline The Formative Years, and the same topics were selected from each textbook. Frequencies of analyzed problems and exercises were compiled and tabulated textbook by textbook and topic by topic. In making comparisons, simple frequency count and percentage were used in the absence of any known criteria available for judging highor low frequency. Each textbook was coded by three coders trained to use the checklist. The results of analysis showed that while there were large numbers of exercises in each textbook, not very many were framed as problems according to Polya' s model and that process problems form a small fraction of the number of analyzed problems and exercises. There was no pattern observed as to the systematic placement of problems in the textbooks.

Econometrics as an Academic Discipline in Higher Education: An Exploratory Study of the Need, Relevance and Significance

Econometrics is a young science. It developed during the twentieth century in the mid-1930’s, primarily after the World War II. Econometrics is the unification of statistical analysis, economic theory and mathematics. The history of econometrics can be traced to the use of statistical and mathematics analysis in economics. The most prominent contributions during the initial period can be seen in the works of Tinbergen and Frisch, and also that of Haavelmo in the 1940's through the mid 1950's. Right from the rudimentary application of statistics to economic data, like the use of laws of error through the development of least squares by Legendre, Laplace, and Gauss, the discipline of econometrics has later on witnessed the applied works done by Edge worth and Mitchell. A very significant mile stone in its evolution has been the work of Tinbergen, Frisch, and Haavelmo in their development of multiple regression and correlation analysis. They used these techniques to test different economic theories using time series data. In spite of the fact that some predictions based on econometric methodology might have gone wrong, the sound scientific nature of the discipline cannot be ignored by anyone. This is reflected in the economic rationale underlying any econometric model, statistical and mathematical reasoning for the various inferences drawn etc. The relevance of econometrics as an academic discipline assumes high significance in the above context. Because of the inter-disciplinary nature of econometrics (which is a unification of Economics, Statistics and Mathematics), the subject can be taught at all these broad areas, not-withstanding the fact that most often Economics students alone are offered this subject as those of other disciplines might not have adequate Economics background to understand the subject. In fact, even for technical courses (like Engineering), business management courses (like MBA), professional accountancy courses etc. econometrics is quite relevant. More relevant is the case of research students of various social sciences, commerce and management. In the ongoing scenario of globalization and economic deregulation, there is the need to give added thrust to the academic discipline of econometrics in higher education, across various social science streams, commerce, management, professional accountancy etc. Accordingly, the analytical ability of the students can be sharpened and their ability to look into the socio-economic problems with a mathematical approach can be improved, and enabling them to derive scientific inferences and solutions to such problems. The utmost significance of hands-own practical training on the use of computer-based econometric packages, especially at the post-graduate and research levels need to be pointed out here. Mere learning of the econometric methodology or the underlying theories alone would not have much practical utility for the students in their future career, whether in academics, industry, or in practice This paper seeks to trace the historical development of econometrics and study the current status of econometrics as an academic discipline in higher education. Besides, the paper looks into the problems faced by the teachers in teaching econometrics, and those of students in learning the subject including effective application of the methodology in real life situations. Accordingly, the paper offers some meaningful suggestions for effective teaching of econometrics in higher education

A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE I/W-'ll/EA/6'1.-' OF GANDHIJI AND HIS TEACHING ON MODERN HINDI POETRY

Hindi

50 songs for helping and enjoying... the teaching of English.

Esta recopilación pretende servir de ejemplo de distintas formas de explotación de canciones en el aula. La mayoría de las canciones seleccionadas contienen elementos para el desarrollo más amplio de ciertos temas, algunas son ejemplos para la repetición de estructuras muy básicas y útiles para los planteamientos pedagógicos. Los objetivos que se pretenden trabajar con cada una de las canciones se especifican en una ficha adjunta y son ampliables en función de las necesidades o conocimientos de la clase en que vaya a trabajarse. La aplicación de estas técnicas y actividades al Segundo Ciclo de Secundaria y BUP es muy aconsejable, ya que los intereses de los alumnos y sus conocimientos gramaticales se acercan más al mundo de la canción.

English in the digital age : Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the teaching of English.

Muestra cómo la aplicación de las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación (TIC) mejoran la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de la lengua inglesa, enriquecen las habilidades de los alumnos e, introducen nuevos métodos educativos. Los estudios de varios colaboradores de Europa, Australia y América del Norte, consideran que tanto la utilización del material audiovisual tradicional: videos, películas, cintas de audio, cómo la de recursos más recientes: juegos de ordenador, recursos en línea, son materiales valiosos para la práctica educativa.

The digital classroom : harnessing technology for the future of learning and teaching.

Basado en el Proyecto Interactivo de investigación, este libro examina e ilustra cómo las tecnologías digitales pueden transformar el aprendizaje a través del currículo. Al observar los distintos entornos educativos en los que se mueven los niños y jóvenes-la casa y la escuela en las etapas primaria y secundaria-los profesionales piensan en que las nuevas tecnologías (TIC) suponen una ayuda para planificar y apoyar un aprendizaje eficaz en las clases. También, se ofrece a los lectores, a través de ejercicios prácticos y temas para la reflexión, la oportunidad de examinar su propia práctica docente y su experiencia en relación con estas tecnologías y entender sus beneficios y limitaciones.

An A-Z of ELT: A dictionary of terms and concepts used in English Language Teaching.

Este es un libro para profesores de inglés como lengua extranjera. La formación y el desarrollo no sólo implican la adquisición de nuevas habilidades y técnicas sino también un lenguaje especializado para poder hablar. Este libro es más que solo un glosario o un diccionario, es también una enciclopedia donde cada entrada ofrece un breve resumen de los principales temas, debates y las implicaciones prácticas asociadas a cada concepto, así como conexiones entre conceptos relacionados. Para usuarios que están interesados en seguir áreas particulares con más detalle, hay una lista de documentos relacionados al final del libro.

Adecuación curricular del diagnóstico y la evaluación en matemáticas = Curricular validity of assessment and evaluation instruments in mathematics.

Resumen basado en el del autor

Discourses of power in Mathematics Education research : concepts and possibilities for action. 'Discursos sobre el poder en la investigación en Educación Matemática : conceptos y posibilidades para la acción'.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Patterns of Activity Sequencing in the Teaching of English as a Foreing Language and Their Effects on Learning : a Quasi-Experimental Study.'Patrones de secuenciación de actividades en la enseñanza del inglés como lengua extranjera y su incidencia en el aprendizaje : estudio cuasi-experimental.

Contrastar el modelo denominado CPM (basado en el desarrollo de los procesos comunicativos) con el modelo de secuenciación de actividades P-P-P (presentación-práctica-producción) que es el utilizado con mayor frecuencia en los libros de texto para la enseñanza de los idiomas, para medir la eficacia diferencial en el aprendizaje lingüístico del inglés como lengua extranjera.. Estudio llevado a cabo en la Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Murcia con una muestra inicial de 51 sujetos que se redujo a 34 nativos de lengua española de edades comprendidas entre los 16 y 41 años formada mayoritariamente por mujeres. Estudio cuasi-experimental de análisis de medidas repetidas con grupo experimental y grupo de control (factor intersujetos). La variable dependiente es la eficacia de la intervención objeto de estudio o intervención CPM. La variable independiente es el grupo, que consta de dos partes, el que sigue el programa establecido en el centro de enseñanza, versión P-P-P y el grupo experimental (EG) que recibe instrucción basada en el CPM. La aplicación duró 4 meses (enero-mayo 2003) y el total de sesiones fue de 35 para cada uno de los dos grupos. Se utilizó el examen estandarizado internacional Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) en su parte: Use of English.. La secuenciación de actividades en general y la basada en el CPM en particular merecen un justo reconocimiento en el ámbito de la investigación en enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras debido no solo a las puntuaciones obtenidas en la investigación sino también a su fundamentación teórica basada en un modelo cognitivo de adquisición de conocimientos ampliamente aplicado en SLA y a su flexibilidad en cuanto a las vías de aprendizaje propuestas, su atención al concepto script y su afinidad con los enfoques didácticos actuales (integración de destrezas, relevancia e interés para el alumno, variedad en la instrucción)..

Missing Value and Comparison Problems : what Pupils Know before the Teaching of Proportion. 'Problemas de valor ausente y de comparación : qué saben los alumnos antes de la enseñanza de la proporción'.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación