Violence in U.S. public schools : 2000 school survey on crime and safety /

"NCES 2004-314."

Procesos de cambio curricular a partir de la sanción de la última Ley de Educación Superior del año 1995 : El caso del Profesorado en Educación Física en la UNLP

Este artículo se propone analizar la última reforma curricular de la carrera Profesorado en Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, a partir de la sanción de la Ley de Educación Superior del año 1995, aún vigente. Dicha reforma se enmarcó en una reforma más estructural del Estado, en donde la educación fue uno de los aspectos centrales. En este trabajo se abordarán someramente esos cambios, centrando la mirada en el nivel educativo superior universitario, y específicamente en el tiempo histórico, institución y carrera mencionadas

Políticas académicas y reconocimiento social en universitarios de Educación Física de la UNLP : El diseño de la investigación

Este trabajo se propone socializar e intercambiar con la comunidad académica de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) la construcción del proyecto de tesis de maestría. Dicho proyecto busca comprender la construcción del reconocimiento social de un grupo de universitarios de Educación Física (EF) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) a partir de su participación en políticas académicas entre 1992 y 2004. La investigación se focaliza en las prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad vinculadas a la legitimación de su campo disciplinar y su carrera en la FaHCE, en un período histórico particularmente intenso en cuanto al diseño y desarrollo de políticas académicas ligadas a la revisión curricular, la formación académica y la producción científica. El trabajo se plantea analizar, desde la perspectiva de los actores, las formas de apropiación y resignificación actual de esas políticas, prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad con relación a la configuración identitaria de la EF como disciplina académica. El enfoque teórico y metodológico de la investigación localiza a los actores objeto de estudio a partir de su participación en una compleja y cambiante trama de relaciones y prácticas sociales diversas (disciplinares, corporativas, profesionales, políticas y personales). Asimismo, se indagan los sentidos que construyeron en cuanto al reconocimiento social logrado en el presente, tanto de su campo disciplinar como carrera en la FaHCE-UNLP

Procesos de cambio curricular a partir de la sanción de la última Ley de Educación Superior del año 1995 : El caso del Profesorado en Educación Física en la UNLP

Este artículo se propone analizar la última reforma curricular de la carrera Profesorado en Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, a partir de la sanción de la Ley de Educación Superior del año 1995, aún vigente. Dicha reforma se enmarcó en una reforma más estructural del Estado, en donde la educación fue uno de los aspectos centrales. En este trabajo se abordarán someramente esos cambios, centrando la mirada en el nivel educativo superior universitario, y específicamente en el tiempo histórico, institución y carrera mencionadas

Políticas académicas y reconocimiento social en universitarios de Educación Física de la UNLP : El diseño de la investigación

Este trabajo se propone socializar e intercambiar con la comunidad académica de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) la construcción del proyecto de tesis de maestría. Dicho proyecto busca comprender la construcción del reconocimiento social de un grupo de universitarios de Educación Física (EF) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) a partir de su participación en políticas académicas entre 1992 y 2004. La investigación se focaliza en las prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad vinculadas a la legitimación de su campo disciplinar y su carrera en la FaHCE, en un período histórico particularmente intenso en cuanto al diseño y desarrollo de políticas académicas ligadas a la revisión curricular, la formación académica y la producción científica. El trabajo se plantea analizar, desde la perspectiva de los actores, las formas de apropiación y resignificación actual de esas políticas, prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad con relación a la configuración identitaria de la EF como disciplina académica. El enfoque teórico y metodológico de la investigación localiza a los actores objeto de estudio a partir de su participación en una compleja y cambiante trama de relaciones y prácticas sociales diversas (disciplinares, corporativas, profesionales, políticas y personales). Asimismo, se indagan los sentidos que construyeron en cuanto al reconocimiento social logrado en el presente, tanto de su campo disciplinar como carrera en la FaHCE-UNLP

Procedimientos de los investigadores de humanidades y ciencias sociales en la búsqueda de información

La búsqueda de información y sus problemas colaterales inciden en el desarrollo de la actividad de los investigadores. Nos proponemos analizar esta temática a través del estudio de las pautas de comportamiento de investigadores de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de La Plata, para identificar conductas informativas y al mismo tiempo detectar obstáculos que impiden el aprovechamiento óptimo de la Biblioteca Central y las Bibliotecas Departamentales de la Institución. Los resultados obtenidos servirán de base para definir indicadores de calidad aplicables a la mejora continua de los servicios de biblioteca. Como resultado del análisis de metodologías aplicadas en estudios de usuarios se determinó combinar las perspectivas cuantitativa y cualitativa en este trabajo en curso

Procesos de cambio curricular a partir de la sanción de la última Ley de Educación Superior del año 1995 : El caso del Profesorado en Educación Física en la UNLP

Este artículo se propone analizar la última reforma curricular de la carrera Profesorado en Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, a partir de la sanción de la Ley de Educación Superior del año 1995, aún vigente. Dicha reforma se enmarcó en una reforma más estructural del Estado, en donde la educación fue uno de los aspectos centrales. En este trabajo se abordarán someramente esos cambios, centrando la mirada en el nivel educativo superior universitario, y específicamente en el tiempo histórico, institución y carrera mencionadas

Políticas académicas y reconocimiento social en universitarios de Educación Física de la UNLP : El diseño de la investigación

Este trabajo se propone socializar e intercambiar con la comunidad académica de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) la construcción del proyecto de tesis de maestría. Dicho proyecto busca comprender la construcción del reconocimiento social de un grupo de universitarios de Educación Física (EF) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) a partir de su participación en políticas académicas entre 1992 y 2004. La investigación se focaliza en las prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad vinculadas a la legitimación de su campo disciplinar y su carrera en la FaHCE, en un período histórico particularmente intenso en cuanto al diseño y desarrollo de políticas académicas ligadas a la revisión curricular, la formación académica y la producción científica. El trabajo se plantea analizar, desde la perspectiva de los actores, las formas de apropiación y resignificación actual de esas políticas, prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad con relación a la configuración identitaria de la EF como disciplina académica. El enfoque teórico y metodológico de la investigación localiza a los actores objeto de estudio a partir de su participación en una compleja y cambiante trama de relaciones y prácticas sociales diversas (disciplinares, corporativas, profesionales, políticas y personales). Asimismo, se indagan los sentidos que construyeron en cuanto al reconocimiento social logrado en el presente, tanto de su campo disciplinar como carrera en la FaHCE-UNLP

Historia de la natación en la ciudad de La Plata

El presente texto hace referencia a mis estudios de tesina de grado los cuales me encuentro realizando para la Licenciatura Universitaria en Educación Física (LUEF) en el Departamento de Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Mientras transcurría el período de cursadas en el Profesorado Universitario en Educación Física (PUEF), más específicamente desde el ingreso a la carrera, he observado el problema de que los alumnos que cursan los ejes Natación 1 y 2 en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3 en el segundo y tercer año del plan de estudios vigente (2000) comparado con otro plan mas antiguo (1984), gran número de cursantes desaprueban las comisiones existentes; entonces es que me pregunté: ¿cuál es el problema por el que tantos alumnos desaprueban estos ejes? En base a eso he decidido investigar sobre dicho tema, para conocer si el problema son los alumnos, los docentes, los contenidos, la teoría-práctica, los métodos de enseñanza, los saberes previos, la evaluación, etc. , es decir, los aspectos pedagógicos y didácticos en general. En función de lo desarrollado anteriormente considero que en mi tesis de grado, no podía faltar un capítulo de la historia de la Natación en la Ciudad de La Plata. Dicho capítulo es el primero de la tesina, en el cual describo en un recorrido socio-histórico la creación de la ciudad de La Plata, detallo cómo y por qué han surgido los primeros clubes deportivos con sus respectivos natatorios en la ciudad. Particularizo sobre la creación de la UNLP y cómo ha llegado el PUEF a incorporarse en la FaHCE. Y por último, relato la incorporación del el eje Natación en el plan de estudios como así mismo en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3. Describir el contexto socio- histórico cultural es importante para poder comprender el motivo y las circunstancias de la incorporación de la natación en el PUEF. Metodológicamente me inclinaré por una investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa donde la recolección de datos será realizada por medio de encuestas, entrevistas y observaciones de campo. Así mismo, otro tipo de fuentes como planes de estudio, leyes o legislación, material bibliográfico, serán analizados. Para finalizar, intentaré triangular los datos relevados en el trabajo de campo con el objeto de arribar a conclusiones posibles y dar respuesta a mi interrogante

The development and analysis of a field project model curriculum and its impact on achievement and attitude toward science and the environment with at-risk eleventh and twelfth grade students

This study was an evaluation of a Field Project Model Curriculum and its impact on achievement, attitude toward science, attitude toward the environment, self-concept, and academic self-concept with at-risk eleventh and twelfth grade students. One hundred eight students were pretested and posttested on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, PHCSC (1985); the Self-Concept as a Learner Scale, SCAL (1978); the Marine Science Test, MST (1987); the Science Attitude Inventory, SAI (1970); and the Environmental Attitude Scale, EAS (1972). Using a stratified random design, three groups of students were randomly assigned according to sex and stanine level, to three treatment groups. Group one received the field project method, group two received the field study method, and group three received the field trip method. All three groups followed the marine biology course content as specified by Florida Student Performance Objectives and Frameworks. The intervention occurred for ten months with each group participating in outside-of-classroom activities on a trimonthly basis. Analysis of covariance procedures were used to determine treatment effects. F-ratios, p-levels and t-tests at p $<$.0062 (.05/8) indicated that a significant difference existed among the three treatment groups. Findings indicated that groups one and two were significantly different from group three with group one displaying significantly higher results than group two. There were no significant differences between males and females in performance on the five dependent variables. The tenets underlying environmental education are congruent with the recommendations toward the reform of science education. These include a value analysis approach, inquiry methods, and critical thinking strategies that are applied to environmental issues. ^

The effect of cooperative learning on the attitudes toward science and the achievement of students in a non-science majors' general biology laboratory course at an urban community college

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cooperative learning strategies on students' attitudes toward science and achievement in BSC 1005L, a non-science majors' general biology laboratory course at an urban community college. Data were gathered on the participants' attitudes toward science and cognitive biology level pre and post treatment in BSC 1005L. Elements of the Learning Together model developed by Johnson and Johnson and the Student Team-Achievement Divisions model created by Slavin were incorporated into the experimental sections of BSC 1005L.^ Four sections of BSC 1005L participated in this study. Participants were enrolled in the 1998 spring (January) term. Students met weekly in a two hour laboratory session. The treatment was administered to the experimental group over a ten week period. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used. Students in the cooperative learning group (n$\sb1$ = 27) were administered the Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA) and the cognitive biology test at the same time as the control group (n$\sb2$ = 19) (at the beginning and end of the term).^ Statistical analyses confirmed that both groups were equivalent regarding ethnicity, gender, college grade point average and number of absences. Independent sample t-tests performed on pretest mean scores indicated no significant differences in the TOSRA scale two or biology knowledge between the cooperative learning group and the control group. The scores of TOSRA scales: one, three, four, five, six, and seven were significantly lower in the cooperative learning group. Independent sample t-tests of the mean score differences did not show any significant differences in posttest attitudes toward science or biology knowledge between the two groups. Paired t-tests did not indicate any significant differences on the TOSRA or biology knowledge within the cooperative learning group. Paired t-tests did show significant differences within the control group on TOSRA scale two and biology knowledge. ANCOVAs did not indicate any significant differences on the post mean scores of the TOSRA or biology knowledge adjusted by differences in the pretest mean scores. Analysis of the research data did not show any significant correlation between attitudes toward science and biology knowledge. ^

The relationship of attitudes toward science, cognitive style, and self-concept to achievement in chemistry at the secondary school level

There is currently a crisis in science education in the United States. This statement is based on the National Science Foundation's report stating that the nation's students, on average, still rank near the bottom in science and math achievement internationally. ^ This crisis is the background of the problem for this study. This investigation studied learner variables that were thought to play a role in teaching chemistry at the secondary school level, and related them to achievement in the chemistry classroom. Among these, cognitive style (field dependence/independence), attitudes toward science, and self-concept had been given considerable attention by researchers in recent years. These variables were related to different competencies that could be used to measure the various types of achievement in the chemistry classroom at the secondary school level. These different competencies were called academic, laboratory, and problem solving achievement. Each of these chemistry achievement components may be related to a different set of learner variables, and the main purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of these relationships. ^ Three instruments to determine attitudes toward science, cognitive style, and self-concept were used for data collection. Teacher grades were used to determine chemistry achievement for each student. ^ Research questions were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients and t-tests. Results indicated that field independence was significantly correlated with problem solving, academic, and laboratory achievement. Educational researchers should therefore investigate how to teach students to be more field independent so they can achieve at higher levels in chemistry. ^ It was also true that better attitudes toward the social benefits and problems that accompany scientific progress were significantly correlated with higher achievement on all three academic measures in chemistry. This suggests that educational researchers should investigate how students might be guided to manifest more favorable attitudes toward science so they will achieve at higher levels in chemistry. ^ An overall theme that emerged from this study was that findings refuted the idea that female students believed that science was for males only and was an inappropriate and unfeminine activity. This was true because when the means of males and females were compared on the three measures of chemistry achievement, there was no statistically significant difference between them on problem solving or academic achievement. However, females were significantly better in laboratory achievement. ^

A comparison of the effects of social constructivist and traditional approaches to teaching on students' attitude and achievement in high school chemistry

Current views of the nature of knowledge and of learning suggest that instructional approaches in science education pay closer attention to how students learn rather than on teaching. This study examined the use of approaches to teaching science based on two contrasting perspectives in learning, social constructivist and traditional, and the effects they have on students' attitudes and achievement. Four categories of attitudes were measured using the Upper Secondary Attitude Questionnaire: Attitude towards school, towards the importance of science, towards science as a career, and towards science as a subject in school. Achievement was measured by average class grades and also with a researcher/teacher constructed 30-item test that involved three sub-scales of items based on knowledge, and applications involving near-transfer and far-transfer of concepts. The sample consisted of 202 students in nine intact classrooms in chemistry at a large high school in Miami, Florida, and involved two teachers. Results were analyzed using a two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with a pretest in attitude as the covariate for attitudes and prior achievement as the covariate for achievement. A comparison of the adjusted mean scores was made between the two groups and between females and males. ^ With constructivist-based teaching, students showed more favorable attitude towards science as a subject, obtained significantly higher scores in class achievement, total achievement and achievement on the knowledge sub-scale of the knowledge and application test. Students in the traditional group showed more favorable attitude towards school. Females showed significantly more positive attitude towards the importance of science and obtained significantly higher scores in class achievement. No significant interaction effects were obtained for method of instruction by gender. ^ This study lends some support to the view that constructivist-based approaches to teaching science is a viable alternative to traditional modes of teaching. It is suggested that in science education, more consideration be given to those aspects of classroom teaching that foster closer coordination between social influences and individual learning. ^

The effect of an enriched learning community on success and retention in chemistry courses

Since the mid-1990s, the United States has experienced a shortage of scientists and engineers, declining numbers of students choosing these fields as majors, and low student success and retention rates in these disciplines. Learning theorists, educational researchers, and practitioners believe that learning environments can be created so that an improvement in the numbers of students who complete courses successfully could be attained (Astin, 1993; Magolda & Terenzini, n.d.; O'Banion, 1997). Learning communities do this by providing high expectations, academic and social support, feedback during the entire educational process, and involvement with faculty, other students, and the institution (Ketcheson & Levine, 1999). ^ A program evaluation of an existing learning community of science, mathematics, and engineering majors was conducted to determine the extent to which the program met its goals and was effective from faculty and student perspectives. The program provided laptop computers, peer tutors, supplemental instruction with and without computer software, small class size, opportunities for contact with specialists in selected career fields, a resource library, and Peer-Led Team Learning. During the two years the project has existed, success, retention, and next-course continuation rates were higher than in traditional courses. Faculty and student interviews indicated there were many affective accomplishments as well. ^ Success and retention rates for one learning community class ( n = 27) and one traditional class (n = 61) in chemistry were collected and compared using Pearson chi square procedures ( p = .05). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. Data from an open-ended student survey about how specific elements of their course experiences contributed to success and persistence were analyzed by coding the responses and comparing the learning community and traditional classes. Substantial differences were found in their perceptions about the lecture, the lab, other supports used for the course, contact with other students, helping them reach their potential, and their recommendation about the course to others. Because of the limitation of small sample size, these differences are reported in descriptive terms. ^

An investigation of mathematics and science instruction in English and Spanish for English language learners

The contextual demands of language in content area are difficult for ELLS. Content in the native language furthers students' academic development and native language skills, while they are learning English. Content in English integrates pedagogical strategies for English acquisition with subject area instruction. The following models of curriculum content are provided in most Miami Dade County Public Schools: (a) mathematics instruction in the native language with science instruction in English or (b) science instruction in the native language with mathematics instruction in English. The purpose of this study was to investigate which model of instruction is more contextually supportive for mathematics and science achievement. ^ A pretest and posttest, nonequivalent group design was used with 94 fifth grade ELLs who received instruction in curriculum model (a) or (b). This allowed for statistical analysis that detected a difference in the means of .5 standard deviations with a power of .80 at the .05 level of significance. Pretreatment and post-treatment assessments of mathematics, reading, and science achievement were obtained through the administration of Aprenda-Segunda Edición and the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test. ^ The results indicated that students receiving mathematics in English and Science in Spanish scored higher on achievement tests in both Mathematics and Science than the students who received Mathematics in Spanish and Science in English. In addition, the mean score of students on the FCAT mathematics examination was higher than their mean score on the FCAT science examination regardless of the language of instruction. ^