Comparison of different types of reasoning & proof present in solved tasks from geometry in Slovak and Czech mathematics textbooks for lower secondary school

Atom is a concept that students meet with in both physics and chemistry. The difficulty of the explication of this concept is that it is a highly abstract construct; the atom can not be perceived by the human senses and can not be seen by means of simple instruments. Teachers use different, more or less suitable models, analogies and metaphors during the interpreting of this concept (e.g. electron cloud, „fuzzy“ electron, atomic nucleus, etc.). However, pupils often create their own models in their minds and their ideas may differ considerably from the idea of the atom that their teachers have. In this respect, textbooks also play an important role, but in various physics textbooks there are presented different models of atoms. In the paper, we present the most common models of atoms used in physics textbooks for lower secondary schools in the Czech Republic and show their possible influence on the formation or the strengthening of some pupils’ misconceptions. The frequency of these misconceptions is exemplified by a study we carried out in the Czech Republic, involving a set of 170 of 15-year-old pupils from seven lower secondary schools. All participants of this study were quizzed on their understanding of the concept of an atom using a one-tier diagnostic test which included some of the most common misconceptions about atoms that have been identified in foreign education research.

Vocabulary is the foundation of language and plays an important role in language learning. Vocabulary teaching has been paid more and more attention at home and abroad.Whether the vocabulary of English textbooks for primary and secondary schools can meet students' learning and information exchange needs is a question worth exploring.This paper analyzes the vocabulary of English textbooks for primary and secondary schools and shows their usage and coverage in different real language communication activities, which provides statistical reference for the selection and revision of English textbooks for primary and secondary schools in the future.

With the development of information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a new focal point of international competition. AI education in primary and secondary schools is gradually becoming an important component of education in the intelligent era in China. Textbooks are a crucial medium for courses, and AI textbooks for primary and secondary schools are the core teaching materials for AI courses. This study examines 18 AI textbooks for primary and secondary schools, based on relevant curriculum standards such as the AI Curriculum Development Standards for Primary and Secondary Schools in China (Trial). Using content analysis and quantitative curriculum difficulty models, the study compares and analyzes the textbooks from five dimensions: teaching arrangement logic, textbook content, textbook usage conditions, textbook evaluation, and textbook difficulty. The study concludes that the textbooks have systematic teaching arrangement logic, though some lack learning objectives; the content is contemporary, but the knowledge system is not comprehensive; the usage conditions are diverse, but some schools lack the necessary implementation environment; and the difficulty is moderate, though there is a gap compared to the curriculum standards.

This paper explores the function of the visual syntax of images in Greek primary school textbooks. By using a model for the formal analysis of the visual material, which will allow us to disclose the mechanisms through which meanings are manifested, our aim is to investigate the discursive transition relating to the view of nature and the human-nature relationship between two series of natural science textbooks. The model is applied to a total of 635 pictures; 434 coming from the old series of textbooks introduced in the early 1980s and 201 from the new introduced in 2006. The results show that a) no differences in the codes of the visual representation of nature or human-nature relationship were recorded between the two series of textbooks, b) the environmental rhetoric mediated by the pictorial material of the textbooks appears closer to its lay counterpart than to scientific rhetoric, c) both series of textbooks favor a viewer-picture relation which diverges from the epistemological (subject/object) ideas of the romantic worldview and comes closer to the baroque one that depicts the world as non-linear and disconnected, while gives more freedom to the viewer to proceed to subjective interpretations. Thus, we assert that the baroque approach adopted by both series of textbooks does not aim at the initiation of students to the highly conventionalized ways of expression, and ultimately to the formalized and scientific rhetoric. On the contrary, within a constructionist context, the textbooks’ visual mode allows students to equally share power with a quite familiar world.

Textbooks, as potentially implemented curriculum, play an important role in school education. Earlier studies in mathematics education revealed that teaching using mathematics games had a positive effect on students’ learning. However, how mathematics games are presented in mathematics textbooks has rarely been systematically examined. In this study, we aimed to investigate how mathematics games are presented in school mathematics textbooks in China. We selected three series of Chinese secondary mathematics textbooks (Grades 7–9) and identified 112 mathematics games in total; then, we coded and analyzed the games according to an analysis framework we established for the study. The results showed that, across the three series of textbooks, the distribution of games was inconsistent and, within the same series of textbooks, it was irregular across the different grade levels; in terms of locations and cognitive objectives, most games were presented as exercise questions and the main purpose was to improve students’ problem solving ability. Moreover, most of the games were single player games and there were slightly more competitive games than non-competitive games. The implications of the findings for the design and research of mathematics games in mathematics textbooks are discussed at the end of the study.

Mathematics textbooks for primary and secondary schools play an important role in elementary education and the realization of their functions and value depends on the scientific and effective use of teachers and students. Therefore, some strategies are put forward: understand the intentions of the mathematics textbook, explore the educational and teaching value of mathematics textbooks, grasp mathematics textbooks as a whole, use mathematics textbooks creatively, attach importance to the comparative study and use of different versions of mathematics textbooks.

Chinese–English bilingual programs in China advocate using both English and Chinese in instruction. Mathematics teachers in these schools need to use English as the medium of instruction to achieve the learning objectives of the school mathematics curriculum and also meet the English proficiency goals. Mathematics textbooks play a crucial role in teaching and learning within such a learning environment. This study presents a comparative study aiming to examine how linear equation unit is arranged in secondary school mathematics textbooks (i.e., IB, IGCSE, and Chinese textbooks) in Chinese-English bilingual schools. It explores the similarities and differences in these three series of textbooks. Four aspects of linear equations in different textbooks are compared: the number of examples, the distribution of contents, the learning activities, chapter review exercises. The results show that the three textbooks have different approaches and priorities that emphasize the positions and weights of the linear equation unit. The textbooks in China contain the highest percentage of linear equation contents and pay the most attention to explaining and analyzing how to set the unknown variable and using the concept of the linear equation to solve real-life problems. The findings can enrich teachers’ and researchers’ knowledge of mathematics textbooks in international schools in China and put forward some suggestions to improve the effectiveness of using textbooks in such schools.

Previous articleNext article FreeCurrent Educational WritingsThe New Civics: A Textbook for Secondary Schools. R. L. Ashley PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Volume 25, Number 7Sep., 1917 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/436791 Views: 4Total views on this site Journal History This article was published in The School Review (1893-1979), which is continued by the American Journal of Education (1979-present). PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

As part of our efforts to understand how history and culture are manifested in mathematics textbooks, we investigated particularly in this study how mathematicians are represented across three different series of contemporary school mathematics textbooks used in primary and junior secondary schools in China. The study intends to document the ways of representation of mathematicians in the three series of textbooks, compare the similarities and differences, and explore the reasons and implications of the findings concerning mathematics textbook research and development. Our findings show that each series of mathematics textbooks introduced both Chinese and non-Chinese mathematicians in a commendable way, though most of the mathematicians introduced were ancient mathematicians, and all the three series introduced mathematicians each year from Grade 2 to Grade 9. There is also a high level of consistency in the distribution of the introduction of mathematicians in the three series in terms of mathematics contents and the structures of the chapters. In comparison, we found the mathematics textbook series by the PEP presented a more balanced distribution of the introductions of mathematicians in terms of grade levels, ethnic origins and the history timeline. The explanations and implications of the findings are discussed at the end of the paper

متون درسی دوره مدرسه فرصت ایده‌آلی برای تربیت و پرورش شخصیت دانش‌آموزان محسوب می‌شود و برای تحقق این مهم اغلب از شخصیت‌های برتر و الگو بهره گرفته می‌شود. سیره و شخصیت حضرت فاطمه زهرا(س) فرصت مناسبی را برای سیاستگذاران آموزش دوره متوسطه و مؤلفان کتاب‌های درسی فراهم می‌آورد تا بتوانند با بهره‌گیری از آن، سبک زندگی اسلامی و شیعی را با اتکا بر شخصیت تاریخی و چند وجهی آن حضرت به دانش‌آموزان مقطع متوسطه آموزش دهند. در این پژوهش که به شیوه تحلیل محتوا صورت گرفته، کتاب‌ها و متون درسی دوره متوسطه (اول و دوم) بررسی شده است. یافته‌های این مطالعه نشان می‌دهد که اگرچه تلاش مناسبی در این کتاب‌ها برای معرفی فاطمه (س)صورت گرفته، اما بازنمایی ابعاد شخصیتی و سیره آن حضرت در این متون، آنگونه که باید ترسیم نشده است. به طور کلی‌ می‌توان گفت که تصویر ارائه شده از آن حضرت در متون درسی عمدتاً متکی بر قالب‌های مرسوم، ثابت و تکراری است و به‌رغم وجودِ درس «برترین بانو» در پیام‌های‌آسمان پایه هفتم دوره اول متوسطه، ارتقاء کیفی و هدفمند وجوه شخصیتی آن حضرت در کتاب‌های درسی این مقطع ضروری به‌نظر می‌رسد.

Textbooks are the main source of teaching-learning materials used in primary and secondary schools. This study was carried out in Bhutan to examine if the existing textbooks in primary and secondary schools contain sufficient knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship education. This descriptive study collected 96 textbooks used by students and teachers in classes Pre-Primary (PP) to XII. The reviewers identified descriptions about entrepreneurship if any in the content and the pedagogical aspects. The content included the meaning of entrepreneurship, characteristics, student activity and images on entrepreneurship. The study revealed that entrepreneurship education is not thoroughly integrated into primary and secondary school textbooks. Three (3.1%) out of 96 textbooks contained descriptions about entrepreneurship. The study, therefore, recommends existing textbook contents and images on entrepreneurship education to be improved and experiential learning opportunities be included. Ministry of Education and the Royal Education Council needs to review and revise classes PP-XII existing school textbooks at various levels. Integrate entrepreneurship education-related topics in the existing textbooks of primary and secondary schools based on the current labour market needs. However, Media Information Literacy, Environmental Science, and Agriculture for Food Security textbooks were not analyzed since many schools did not offer these elective subjects due to no or poor ability rating for higher education admission in Bhutan.

The minimum wage was first established in the former Czech and Slovak Federative Republic in 1991, currently\nthe issue of minimum wage in the Czech Republic is stipulated by act number 262/2006 Coll., Labour Act. The\naim of the submitted article is to identify the position of the minimum wage in the wage distribution of the\nentrepreneurial sector in the Czech Republic, the outline of the further development in wages with respect to\naverage and median wages and the wages of the 1st and 9th deciles, as well as the outline of the development of\nthe statutory minimum wage. Official sample survey data from the Information system on average salaries from\nthe years 2001-2008 is used (quarterly-period frequency). This data is processed using the method of descriptive\nstatistics. Conclusion can be reached based on an analysis of this statistical data that during the period of time\nin question all monitored wage categories saw wage rises. However the rise was not uniformly fast or balanced.\nThe wages raised the most in case of the best-paid employees (9th decile wage) and in case of the minimum\nwage, whereas the 1st decile wage rose the least. The minimum wage amount was not adjusted since 1st July\n2006, so the growth in question had been recorded only between the years 2001 and 2006. The development of\nthe calculated indices of the decile ratio can lead us to the conclusion that certain increase in wage\ndifferentiation took place, even though this process was not uniform again.

Learner’s text books are one of the most important teaching and learning resources in most schools in developing countries, Zambia inclusive. This study was triggered as a result of concerns by various stakeholders and scholars regarding the quality of Social Studies learners’ textbooks for the junior secondary school which were developed following the 2013 revised Zambian school curriculum. The embedded research design of the mixed methods research approach was employed for this study. Using interview guides and questionnaires for data collection, information was collected from book publishers and 91 teachers of social studies. The findings of this study revealed that privatization of textbook development resulted in the development of poor quality textbooks. Furthermore, failure to adhere to a specific national textbook policy to guide the development of learners’ textbooks also contributed to the development of poor textbooks. It was further revealed that there was lack of coordination between the Curriculum Development Center and textbook publishing companies. Additionally, findings pointed to the fact that secondary school teachers of Social Studies were not fully involved in developing learners’ textbooks and political interference in textbook development was found to have also contributed to poor quality textbook development. Researchers in this study recommended that the Ministry of General Education (MoGE) through the Curriculum Development Centre should thoroughly revise the textbooks in question, broaden the scope of teacher involvement and stop the privatization of textbook development in Zambia. Keywords : Textbook development, Quality, Social Studies DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-6-14

The aim of the article is to evaluate the development of risk management support in agriculture in the Czech Republic in the period 2001 – 2013. The article also tries to outline some possibilities for the future risk management scheme in the Czech Republic. Data provided by the Support and Guarantee Agricultural and Forestry Fund (PGRLF) and the Czech Insurance Association (CAP) was described using descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation). The data sources for international comparison come from secondary sources made by the research centres for European Commission. Authors identify that risk management support in the Czech Republic after 2014 will not use EU funds from the Rural Development Programme. It will depend on national financial sources, either in the form of direct support (premium subsidies, ad hoc aids) or indirect support of prevention (disease fund, recovery fund). In order to eliminate unexpected need for ad hoc aid, it is highly desirable to establish and continuously contribute a fund for covering catastrophic risks which cannot be managed by farmers or insurance companies. Such fund should be eligible only for those applicants who continuously take risk management measures.

School textbooks have a significant role in transferring knowledge to the students and changing their behavior. This work aims to analyze school textbooks to find the representation of natural hazards in Iran, which is vital for supporting children in disaster situations. In this study, a qualitative content analysis was used. Data were analyzed qualitatively by using MAXQDA 2018 software. For the 2019-2020 school year, 300 Iranian school textbooks in Persian language were collected. Findings of this work show that students receive information about disaster risk reduction (DRR) education through the primary and secondary grade levels in all 12 grades. The educational content covers various types of natural hazards, including geophysical, hydrological, climatological, meteorological, and biological disasters. In addition, the textbooks contain discussions about local hazards, causes and effects of disasters, and the disaster management cycle. The coverage of DRR and the relevant contents in school textbooks reveals that the discourse of natural hazards is important for Iranian authorities, especially in the education system. This study helps decision-makers and practitioners design more effective interventions to prepare children for disasters.