Teacher Use of Loss-Focused, Utility Value Messages, Prior to High-Stakes Examinations, and Their Appraisal by Students

This study set out to assess a new instrument designed to measure the perceived frequency that teachers use fear appeals (communicated value messages that focus on avoiding failure) prior to a high-stakes examination and their appraisal as a challenge or a threat. Data were collected from two samples of students preparing for their high-stakes school exit examinations. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor structure of message frequency, challenge, and threat appraisal. Challenge appraisal positively correlated with value, academic self-efficacy, and engagement. Threat appraisal negatively correlated with academic self-efficacy and engagement. Message frequency was unrelated to value, academic self-efficacy, and engagement. The critical factor in determining relations with antecedents and outcomes is not the message frequency but how it is appraised

Verifying the learning process in Physics

The paper describes an automated evaluation system for the learning of general Physics. The system whose name is Test on Line (ToL) is based on a questions bank from which an appropriate software generates individual multi-issue questionnaires to be submitted through the web. ToL has been extensively experimented during three years and is presently in use for basic Physics courses at the Engineering Faculties of the Turin Politecnico. The results of the experimentation and use are presented and discussed. Cumulating data allows for an optimization of the internal partitions of the questions bank and of the selection criteria for the generation of the questionnaires. The instrument proved to be useful and reliable and could become the core of an agreed common standard for physics education at university level.Comment: HTML, 10 pages, 8 figures. To appear on European Journal of Physic

Effects of step duration in incremental ramp protocols on peak power and maximal oxygen consumption

Purpose: Morton (J Sport Sci 29:307–309, 2011) proposed a model of the peak power attained in ramp protocol ( w˙peak ) that included critical power (CP) and anaerobic capacity as constants, and mean ramp slope (S) as variable. Our hypothesis is that w˙peak depends only on S, so that Morton’s model should be applicable in all types of ramps. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by validating Morton’s model using stepwise ramp tests with invariant step increment and increasing step duration. Methods: Sixteen men performed six ramp tests with 25 W increments. Step duration was: 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 s. Maximal oxygen consumption ( V˙O2max ) and w˙peak were identified as the highest values reached during each test. An Åstrand-type test was also performed. We measured oxygen consumption and ventilatory variables, together with lactate and heart rate. Results: V˙O2max was the same in all tests; w˙peak was significantly lower the longer the step duration, and all values differed from the maximal power of the Åstrand-type test ( w˙max ). Morton’s model yielded an excellent fitting, with mean CP equal to 198.08 ± 37.46 W and anaerobic capacity equal to 16.82 ± 5.69 kJ. Conclusions: Morton’s model is a good descriptor of the mechanics of ramp tests. Further developments of Morton’s model demonstrated that, whereas w˙peak is a protocol-dependent variable, the difference between w˙max and CP is a constant, so that their values do not depend on the protocol applied