An Examination of the Interaction Between Modelling and Its Relationship with Construction Kits: Lessons from the Past and for the Future

Construction kits have played a significant part in nurturing the growth and development of the minds and manipulation-based skills of children (and adults) in formal and non-formal education settings. These kits have origins rooted in the representation of the built world and now have a diversity of form and function, including technical versions with moving parts. This article examines some of the historically based ideas that lie behind the role that kits may have in terms of physical modelling. The article traces the transformation of kits from simple bricks and blocks into more complicated pieces for space-filling and achieving the transfer of forces and motion. This transformation occurred during the Victorian era when the influence of the ideas of educationalists and, perhaps rather strangely, exponents of early aviation, played major roles in determining the diversity of forms of construction kit and modelled possibilities that are now to be seen in classrooms and homes. The article ends with a review of some of the lessons from the past and present that will need to be considered in relation to concrete modelling in schools for the future. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Impact of the Implementation of Technology Education on In-Service Teacher Education in South Africa (Impact of Technology Education in the RSA)

In this article the impact of technology education, as a new learning area (subject) in the curriculum, on in-service teacher education in South Africa is described in order to ascertain the extent of the impact. The research on which this article is based draws on a variety of experiences and observations in the field at grassroots level (in particular an outreach project in rural communities). The envisaged impact of technology education on South African schools, communities, teacher educators and teachers, the range of in-service teacher education that is required, and the impacts in urban and rural areas are discussed. Finally a number of concluding remarks are made about the extent of the impact of the inclusion of technology education in the new National Curriculum Statement and whether the situation has changed since the implementation of a pilot technology education project in 1998. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

鹿溪河漂流

“岸芷汀兰,郁郁青青……”．当我乘橡皮艇漂流在成都近郊鹿溪河上的时候,范仲淹的此句名言便一再地从我的脑海中欢快地蹦跳出来。此时正是初夏的五月．明丽的阳光透过两岸浓郁的林木,哗啦啦地照射在或急或缓的河流上,这条成都境内的岷江二级支流所凸现的波光粼粼,美仑美奂,着实让人心醉:散发着亲切泥土气息的河水涌动两岸倒     

发展中国远期外汇品种的优先次序

中国人民银行宣布自2005年7月21日起中国开始实行以市场供求为基础、参考一篮子货币进行调节、有管理的浮动汇率制度。这是中国在汇率形成机制市场化改革进程中迈出的重要的关键一步,这表明人民币汇率的变动将更加灵活、具有弹性。此后不久,央行在8月10日推出促进银行间外汇市场发展的重大举措,其中包括扩大即期外汇市场交易主体、允许开办银行间远期外汇交易、并允许符合资格的市场会员开展人民币掉期交易等。这意味着,在新的汇率制度下,政府正加快发展完善远期外汇市场的步伐,从而为市场主体提供更充分、有效的避险工具,避免汇率变动对实…