Questions as a Generative Strategy for Knowledge Transfer and Problem Solving

Consistent with generative learning theory, Grabowski (1996) suggests the use of questions may serve as an effective generative strategy for learning. However, the learning effects of questions have produced conflicting results (Bulu & Pedersen, 2010; Chen & Bradshaw, 2007; Choi, Land, & Turgeon, 2005; Chou & Liang, 2009; Davis & Linn, 2000; Dornisch & Sperling, 2008; Ge & Land, 2003). Similarly, there are five basic challenges inherent in question research (Andre, 1979). These include lack of intentional and consistent question design, lack of detail making it difficult to replicate studies, lack of control groups against which to measure differences, aggregation of results only while omitting a question-by-question analysis, and results based upon the learners\u27 ability to recall information versus near and far transfer (Andre, 1979). Of importance for this study is the latter. Knowledge transfer is a major contributor to problem-solving (Jonassen, 2011b; Mayer & Wittrock, 1996). This study assessed the use of domain-specific, domain-general, and combined-domain-general specific question types when compared to a control group of no questions as a generative strategy promoting knowledge acquisition, retention, and transfer in support of solving well-structured and ill-structured problems while controlling for the methodological concerns of Andre (1979). The domain of the instruction was interpersonal communications and was delivered as a web-based course in two instructional units along with pretest and posttest assessment, unit assessments, and a role-play simulation using an automated agent to measure far transfer problem solving. Results from the study suggested no significant differences between treatment groups for knowledge acquisition, retention, or near problem-solving transfer. The data did suggest significant differences in far problem-solving transfer for the treatment group receiving domain-specific questions only. Further, measures of central tendency suggest domain-specific questions may produce slightly greater gains in performance over domain-general only and combined domain-specific/domain-general questions

Noticias de Bahía Academia

El Vivero de la ECCD. Las Amenazadas Tortugas de Cerro Paloma, Isabel. El Daño de los Chivos al Volcán Alcedo. Las Colecciones del Museo de la ECCD. Chivos en Pinta, Otra Vez? Existe un Guadalupe River en Galápagos? Avistamiento de un Tirano del Este. Tomar Palabras del Pasado. ¡Es Scalesia Atractyloides! El Beagle, Bote de Investigación de la ECCD. Alcedo al Día. Exposición de Arte a Beneficio de Alcedo. Nueva Construcción. Actividad Geológica? Ciencia de Alta Tecnología. Mas Noticias Sobre Pinta. Primer Registro de la Garza Verde (Butorides Viriscens) en las Islas Galápagos. Un Vuelo sobre los Volcanes del Norte de Isabela

Giant Galápagos tortoises; molecular genetic analyses identify a trans-island hybrid in a repatriation program of an endangered taxon

BACKGROUND: Giant Galápagos tortoises on the island of Española have been the focus of an intensive captive breeding-repatriation programme for over 35 years that saved the taxon from extinction. However, analysis of 118 samples from released individuals indicated that the bias sex ratio and large variance in reproductive success among the 15 breeders has severely reduced the effective population size (N(e)). RESULTS: We report here that an analysis of an additional 473 captive-bred tortoises released back to the island reveals an individual (E1465) that exhibits nuclear microsatellite alleles not found in any of the 15 breeders. Statistical analyses incorporating genotypes of 304 field-sampled individuals from all populations on the major islands indicate that E1465 is most probably a hybrid between an Española female tortoise and a male from the island of Pinzón, likely present on Española due to human transport. CONCLUSION: Removal of E1465 as well as its father and possible (half-)siblings is warranted to prevent further contamination within this taxon of particular conservation significance. Despite this detected single contamination, it is highly noteworthy to emphasize the success of this repatriation program conducted over nearly 40 years and involving release of over 2000 captive-bred tortoises that now reproduce in situ. The incorporation of molecular genetic analysis of the program is providing guidance that will aid in monitoring the genetic integrity of this ambitious effort to restore a unique linage of a spectacular animal

'Prove me the bam!': victimization and agency in the lives of young women who commit violent offences

This article reviews the evidence regarding young women’s involvement in violent crime and, drawing on recent research carried out in HMPYOI Cornton Vale in Scotland, provides an overview of the characteristics, needs and deeds of young women sentenced to imprisonment for violent offending. Through the use of direct quotations, the article suggests that young women’s anger and aggression is often related to their experiences of family violence and abuse, and the acquisition of a negative worldview in which other people are considered as being 'out to get you' or ready to 'put one over on you'. The young women survived in these circumstances, not by adopting discourses that cast them as exploited victims, but by drawing on (sub)cultural norms and values which promote pre-emptive violence and the defence of respect. The implications of these findings for those who work with such young women are also discussed

Resolved 24.5 micron emission from massive young stellar objects

Massive young stellar objects (MYSO) are surrounded by massive dusty envelopes. Our aim is to establish their density structure on scales of ~1000 AU, i.e. a factor 10 increase in angular resolution compared to similar studies performed in the (sub)mm. We have obtained diffraction-limited (0.6") 24.5 micron images of 14 well-known massive star formation regions with Subaru/COMICS. The images reveal the presence of discrete MYSO sources which are resolved on arcsecond scales. For many sources, radiative transfer models are capable of satisfactorily reproducing the observations. They are described by density powerlaw distributions (n(r) ~ r^(-p)) with p = 1.0 +/-0.25. Such distributions are shallower than those found on larger scales probed with single-dish (sub)mm studies. Other sources have density laws that are shallower/steeper than p = 1.0 and there is evidence that these MYSOs are viewed near edge-on or near face-on, respectively. The images also reveal a diffuse component tracing somewhat larger scale structures, particularly visible in the regions S140, AFGL 2136, IRAS 20126+4104, Mon R2, and Cep A. We thus find a flattening of the MYSO envelope density law going from ~10 000 AU down to scales of ~1000 AU. We propose that this may be evidence of rotational support of the envelope (abridged).Comment: 21 pages, accepted for A&

Associations of water and methanol masers at milli-arcsec angular resolution in two high-mass young stellar objects

Most previous high-angular (<0.1 arcsec) resolution studies of molecular masers in high-mass star forming regions (SFRs) have concentrated mainly on either water or methanol masers. While high-angular resolution observations have clarified that water masers originate from shocks associated with protostellar jets, different environments have been proposed in several sources to explain the origin of methanol masers. Tha aim of the paper is to investigate the nature of the methanol maser birthplace in SFRs and the association between the water and methanol maser emission in the same young stellar object. We have conducted phase-reference Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of water and methanol masers toward two high-mass SFRs, Sh 2-255 IR and AFGL 5142. In Sh 2-255 IR water masers are aligned along a direction close to the orientation of the molecular outflow observed on angular scales of 1-10 arcsec, tracing possibly the disk-wind emerging from the disk atmosphere. In AFGL 5142 water masers trace expansion at the base of a protostellar jet, whilst methanol masers are more probably tracing infalling than outflowing gas. The results for AFGL 5142 suggest that water and methanol masers trace different kinematic structures in the circumstellar gas.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic