Didactic Research Research Articles

Report of meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences

The meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences was held in Oradea, Romania from the 25th to the 27th of January, 2013 at the Partium Christian University. It was organized by the PhD School of Mathematics and Computer Sciences of the University of Debrecen and the Partium Christian University in Oradea. The meeting was supported by the project: TAMOP-4.2.2/B/10/1-2010-0024. The 61 participants – including 50 lecturers and 21 PhD students – came from 5 countries, 22 cities and represented 35 intstitutions of higher education.

OPEN PROBLEMS IN MATHEMATICAL MODELLING AND PHYSICAL EXPERIMENTS. EXPLORING EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

Generally speaking the exponential function has large applications and it is used by many non physicians and non mathematicians, too. Nevertheless some crucial and practical problems happen for its mathematical understanding. Mostly, this part of mathematical cognitive programmes introduce it from the mathematical strictly point of view. On the contrary, since both physics experiments make a vast use of it, in this paper the exponential function will be explained starting from physical experiments and only later a mathematical modelling of it will be organized. The relationship physics-mathematics-geometry is crucial and indispensable in this kind of integrated and history&science education. The history and epistemology of mathematics and physics can be a significant means to make the epistemological and didactical research more profound and clear. Key words: interdisciplinary, elementary functions, geometric transformations, epistemological teaching, thermology and calorimetry.

The Fellows’ Pelvic Research Network (FPRN) 5 years later: an update

IntroductionFive years agoaninitiative was launchedduring the meetingof the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) by thepresident of the Society of Gynecological Surgeons (SGS),the head of the research committee of the SGS, and a fellowof the society: to establish a research network for fellows inurogynecology and female urology. The agenda of the net-work was published in this journal [1] and included thefollowing objectives: “Create an environment for fellowsto participate in collaborative research and conduct multi-center studies as primary investigators”. The main purposeof the network was to enhance fellows’ knowledge andskills in study design, implementation of multicenter stud-ies, data management, and statistical analysis. It was alsohoped that the network would provide an environment forfellows to develop long-term professional relationships.This initiative was inspired by acknowledgement of majordifferences in clinical research and mentoring opportunities forfellows from different programs throughout the USA. In addi-tion to didactic research training for fellows, the network wasenvisioned to enable the conduct of large scale studies withparticipants from across the USA. This was believed to beparticularly important for the investigation of rare conditionsand regional differences in clinical practice and outcomes.WemodeledthisnewnetworkonthetwoNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)-sponsoredmulticenterclinicaltrialnetworksinurogynecology that were being conducted in the USA at thattime: (1) the Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network, whichincluded urologists and urogynecologists from nine centersacrossthecountry;and(2)thePelvicFloorDisordersNetwork,whichincludedsevencenters. Our networkdiffered from theseNIH networks in two main ways: (a) we operate on a very lowbudget, which is allocated by the SGS, (b) we have no restric-tions or limitations on initial me mbership. Participation in thenetwork was extended to all fellows in female urology andurogynecology programs in the USA.First scientific meetingOn April 2007, 18 fellows from 18 different urogynecologyand female urology programs across the USA attended thefirst meeting of the Fellows’ Pelvic Research Network(FPRN) at the annual SGS scientific conference. An advi-sory board consisting of six senior urogynecologists – asubgroup of the SGS Research Committee – volunteeredto mentor the fellows and assist in establishment of thenetwork. Three fellows were elected to the FPRN SteeringCommittee, in the roles of chair, secretary, and treasurer. Atthe first meeting two multicenter clinical research trials werechosen as the first projects. These were selected from nineprojects that had been submitted by fellows. One of theadvisory board members was selected to oversee the

The learning study as an approach for “clinical” subject matter didactic research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to the conceptual classification of learning study as a research approach.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is mainly theoretical, drawing on articles concerning classroom‐based research approaches as well as on some distinctions between a university‐based science of the universal and a clinical science of the particular.FindingsThe main argument of the article is that learning studies can neither be subsumed under “design and development research” (because this type of research does not include the professional actor) nor under “teacher research” (because it does not pay much attention to theoretical knowledge) nor should it be regarded as a hybrid between design experiments and lesson studies. In spite of similarities to both it should rather be described as clinical research (in analogy to medical clinical research). The use of teachers’ experiences and tacit knowing in the knowledge‐producing process, the iterative process of specification of theory, and the uniqueness of the learning problems among different groups of pupils are central aspects of a particularistic clinical research process. In comparison with lesson study, the learning study is more focussed on constructing knowledge concerning objects of learning as well as teaching‐learning relations. Teachers are included in the research as interpretative professionals making professional sense of particular educational events.Originality/valueThe paper promotes the conceptual discussion of the learning study approach, as well as of both lesson and learning studies as research approaches, i.e. as knowledge‐producing practices.

La enseñanza de la gramática: las relaciones entre la reflexión y el uso lingüístico

El presente artículo se centra en la relación didáctica entre la gramática, entendida como reflexión sobre la lengua, y la mejora del uso lingüístico. Para ello, se aborda, en primer lugar, la finalidad de la enseñanza de las lenguas en los currículos escolares y el papel que se atribuye a la reflexión gramatical en ellos. A continuación, se muestra la importancia de las investigaciones sobre la actividad metalingüística de los hablantes para un planteamiento de la gramática en función del uso. Por último, se revisan algunas vías exploradas por la investigación didáctica en relación con lo que sucede en las aulas (cómo aprenden los alumnos, cómo intervienen los profesores, qué contenidos se trasladan al aula) y en relación con los planteamientos que apuntan al desarrollo de la conciencia metalingüística y muestran la viabilidad de nuevas formas de intervención en el aula.

¿Cómo enseñar a leer sin pedir que deletreen? una experiencia de enseñanza de estrategias de lectura en nivel inicial

¿Cómo es posible que se proponga que los niños aprendan a leer leyendo si no saben aún las letras? Este trabajo se hace cargo de la búsqueda de respuestas a esta pregunta formulada habitualmente por los docentes que actúan en la alfabetización inicial. Se asume que alfabetizar consiste en transmitir prácticas y quehaceres de la lectura, diseñando situaciones en las que, con ciertas intervenciones docentes, permitimos a los alumnos interactuar con los textos reales escritos, activando estrategias de lectura. Para determinar si ello es posible, en una sala de 5 años de un jardín de infantes se hizo una investigación didáctica en tres fases, la primera de las cuales consistió en entrevistar a 10 niños a fin de determinar qué estrategias de lectura activaban para interpretar un folleto publicitario. En la segunda fase del estudio se desarrollaron para todo el grupo-clase actividades orientadas a enseñar el uso de estrategias de lectura para leer una receta de cocina y un instructivo de construcción de objetos. En la tercera se tomó una segunda entrevista con textos similares a los de la primera instancia a la misma muestra de niños, para comparar los cambios en los modos de activación de estrategias de lectura que se evidenciaban luego de la experiencia.Los resultados fueron promisorios, ya que 7 de los 10 niños en la segunda entrevista tuvieron en cuenta indicadores textuales cualitativos para anticipar el significado de las palabras escritas. Esto es, en solo pocas clases se registraron cambios relevantes en la activación de estrategias de lectura en la mayoría de los niños, lo que permite ser optimistas en relación con los avances que podría manifestar el resto si experiencias de este tipo tuvieran continuidad en su formación.

Dossier I. Textos y usos de la escritura en la enseñanza de la historia: Usos de la escritura en la enseñanza de la historia

We present a characterization of uses of writing in the teaching of history, produced as part of a Specific Didactics research that studies the relationships between reading and writing in the teaching and learning in school history. It discusses related uses of writing for different purposes, in addition to imposing the usual didactic function of history as a school subject. Identifies potential complementarities and tensions between different rationalities involved in the generation of writing proposals, particularly the tension between the logic of study and the logic of the exercise. Finally characterized a problem of using the written productions for evaluation on the way in which the instructions can operate in the possibility that students deployed, or otherwise, the learned contents about the subject evaluated

Report of meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences

The meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences was held in Levoca, Slovakia from the 20th to the 22th of January, 2012. The 66 participants – including 54 lecturers and 25 PhD students – came from 6 countries, 20 cities and represented 33 institutions of higher and secondary education. The abstract of the talks and the posters and also the list of participants are presented in this report.

A pesquisa contemporânea em didática: contribuições para a prática pedagógica

Se é fato que já há décadas a crítica à Didática prescritiva se consolidou na reflexão educacional, por outro lado, a potencialidade propositiva das teorizações que esse campo produz ainda se coloca como alvo de debate. Neste texto, analisamos o conjunto de trabalhos apresentados no GT Didática nas reuniões anuais da ANPEd, no período de 2004 a 2008, visando a contribuir para a necessária problematização da dimensão propositiva dessa produção. Com base nas conclusões de revisões anteriores do campo, que questionavam a dispersão de focos de pesquisa e a concentração na temática da formação de professores, definem-se três eixos de sistematização da análise desenvolvida - temática privilegiada; metodologia utilizada na pesquisa em questão; análises e conclusões apresentadas - a partir dos quais se busca responder a tais questionamentos.

Disponibilidad léxica sobre palabras específicas en estudiantes de Educación Secundaria de Almería

Siguiendo la tradición previa de investigación sobre didáctica de la lengua y disponibilidad léxica, en este estudio presentamos los resultados de la aplicación de una prueba asociativa a una muestra de cuatrocientos estudiantes de educación secundaria, durante el curso académico 1998-1999, en la ciudad de Almería (España). El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en determinar los usos específicos de palabras basadas en dieciocho centros de interés. Esto es, se examinaron palabras de registro coloquial, extranjerismos, formas dialecto-patrimoniales, marcas, siglas y abreviaturas. Finalmente, se proporciona un análisis de estos grupos léxico-semánticos, desde una perspectiva descriptiva, que nos permite conocer mejor el vocabulario específico con el que cuentan los discentes en este nivel de enseñanza.

Aktuelle Forschungsfragen der deutschsprachigen Phraseodidaktik

Phraseology in foreign language learning and teaching has been an object of linguistic and didactic research for almost 40 years. This article begins with an overview over phraseodidactic research in German. Then it discusses aspects of phraseology in teaching German as a foreign language, i.a. the influence of Kühn's three step model on phraseology in foreign language teaching and methods to define the phraseological units that are to be learned (phraseological minimum). Finally, it addresses a newer research approach: The question how multimodality affects the language competence and thereby also the learning of phraseology.

Knowledge-in-action between rules and experiences: lessons from high performance sport for physical education

Background: Most of the current work in physical education champions a culture of ‘off-beat’ educational practices over more traditional and accepted methods. However, in this paper we claim that in order for a student to gain a quality physical education, practices and methods used for novices need to be closely linked to those used by high performing athletes.Purpose: Our study, which draws on scientific research in didactics, will study high performance situations in rhythmic gymnastics as a possible ‘model’ for physical education in schools. The study uses ‘undeveloped’ students so that conclusions can be drawn by analysing both the application of the ‘traditional rules’ of rhythmic gymnastics to their work as well as the students’ own ‘concrete experience’.Method: From the detailed analysis of these two contrasting training methods in France and in Bulgaria, we will describe the type of knowledge gained by the trainer and gymnast; looking at their execution of a series of pivots on the same foot, performed within an individual exercise with handling of apparatus, with reference to the strict rules of the sport. In order to do this, we have compiled a dossier of the different interactions of the trainer/gymnast pair in both situations.Conclusions: The results show that, in each situation, the trainer interacts with the gymnast by emphasising both the technical aspect of their work, as well as encouraging the gymnast to take responsibility for her work. Both aspects serve to make up a ‘milieu’ (medius) between gymnast and trainer. The milieu is ‘didactic’ in the sense that the gymnast is compelled to act instinctively when faced with a ‘physical’ obstacle. In this case, creating a particular rule within a sport is akin to creating a sense of autonomy: in other words, the gymnast incorporates the particular rule rather than consciously following it. This paper demonstrates, for all situations and levels of ability, that a collective genesis of knowledge can be gained through changes to behaviour, rather than simply accumulating factual knowledge.

Report of meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences

The meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Science was held in Satu-Mare, Romania from the 28th to the 30th of January, 2011. The 46 Hungarian participants – including 34 lecturers and 12 PhD students – came from 3 countries, 14 cities and represented 20 institutions of higher education. The abstract of the talks and the posters and also the list of participants are presented in this report.

Partikels volgens de schijf van vijf

Particles are a notorious problem for learners of Dutch as a foreign or second language. This paper focuses on the question of how courses for learners of Dutch deal with the Dutch particles (modal and other ones). One course, Help!, is analyzed in more detail. The findings are evaluated with the help of the so called ‘schijf van vijf’ (Westhoff 2008), a checklist which distinguishes five aspects: input, intake, focus on form, production, and strategies in language use. Whereas Help! provides a rich input of particles, the other aspects need closer attention in course development. Further descriptive and didactic research is necessary in order to implement a more effective way of teaching Dutch particles.

Content knowledge in teaching, an investigation into an adequate ‘milieu’ for teaching dance: The case of Indian dance in France

Since the 1970s, scientific researchers have shown that the nature and practice of the knowledge being taught plays an important role in the organization of teaching. Teaching content, first in mathematics, then in physical education, has become the object of scientific research in didactics in France. This research questions the commonplace identification of teaching competence with pedagogy alone, as well as the sharp distinction between content and the pedagogical process. It suggests that the construction of knowledge in a given discipline is organically related to the process of its transmission. We will study the case of teaching Indian dance kathak in France, which illustrates the diversity of meanings that students encounter in order to evolve in a ‘different culture’ and to learn new knowledge. How can a well-articulated Indian dance teaching be organized, outside its own academic and cultural context? This problem is examined through the mesogenesis concept (the genesis of a ‘milieu’) and describes three stages of construction of a ‘milieu’, seen as a condition of communicability of knowledge. The results demonstrate how these stages reflect the students’ spontaneous reactions to kathak, subsequently leading them to discover its academic codes.

Report of meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences

The meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences was held in Debrecen, Hungary from January 21 to January 23, 2010. The 42 Hungarian participants – including 16 PhD students – came from 5 countries, 14 cities and represented 25 institutions of higher education. The abstracts of the talks and the posters and also the list of participants are presented in this report.

La importancia de la Historia de la Química en la enseñanza escolar: análisis del pensamiento y elaboración de material didáctico de profesores en formación

El reconocimiento de la importancia de incorporar disciplinas metacientíficas en la reflexión sobre la práctica profesional docente es uno de los aspectos en los que se trabaja actualmente en la investigación en Didáctica de las Ciencias. En el presente estudio se analizan diversos factores del pensamiento de un grupo de Profesores en Formación en relación a las implicaciones didácticas de incluir la historia de la Química en las secuencias de enseñanza. En un orden progresivo de autonomía, en la primera fase se valora a nivel teórico, en la segunda se analizan materiales con diferentes enfoques didácticos, y en la tercera fase se crean materiales inéditos. En la cuarta fase se analiza el grado de coherencia en las tres fases anteriores, y se elige una muestra representativa entre los participantes, a los que se entrevista en la quinta fase.

To Bridge Time

Since the early 1990s, the concept of historical consciousness has been central to didactic research in Sweden. It has mostly been used as a theoretical framework on a macro-level or as an attempt to identify students' historical consciousness. This article applies the theoretical concept of historical consciousness to tangible source material: history textbooks from the twentieth century. It focuses on whether Swedish history textbooks for lower secondary school have articulated contexts that may be conducive to developing historical consciousness. The article employs a number of theoretical concepts—narratives, multichronology, identity, and values—in order to analyze perspectives that can be utilized to trigger historical consciousness.

Calculating and Understanding: Formal Models and Causal Explanations in Science, Common Reasoning and Physics Teaching

This paper presents an analysis of the different types of reasoning and physical explanation used in science, common thought, and physics teaching. It then reflects on the learning difficulties connected with these various approaches, and suggests some possible didactic strategies. Although causal reasoning occurs very frequently in common thought and daily life, it has long been the subject of debate and criticism among philosophers and scientists. In this paper, I begin by providing a description of some general tendencies of common reasoning that have been identified by didactic research. Thereafter, I briefly discuss the role of causality in science, as well as some different types of explanation employed in the field of physics. I then present some results of a study examining the causal reasoning used by students in solid and fluid mechanics. The differences found between the types of reasoning typical of common thought and those usually proposed during instruction can create learning difficulties and impede student motivation. Many students do not seem satisfied by the mere application of formal laws and functional relations. Instead, they express the need for a causal explanation, a mechanism that allows them to understand how a state of affairs has come about. I discuss few didactic strategies aimed at overcoming these problems, and describe, in general terms, two examples of mechanics teaching sequences which were developed and tested in different contexts. The paper ends with a reflection on the possible role to be played in physics learning by intuitive and imaginative thought, and the use of simple explanatory models based on physical analogies and causal mechanisms.

Design Tools in Didactical Research: Instrumenting the Epistemological and Cognitive Aspects of the Design of Teaching Sequences

European programs of design research have developed distinctive types of apparatus to structure and support the process of didactical design. This article illustrates how intermediate frameworks and design tools serve to mediate the contribution of grand theories to the design process, by coordinating and contextualizing theoretical insights on the epistemological and cognitive dimensions of a knowledge domain for the particular purposes of designing teaching sequences and studying their operation. The development and analysis of intermediate frameworks and design tools of these types provides a promising approach to establishing a public repertoire of theoretically informed apparatus for didactical design.