1 . When middle school math teachers completed an online professional development (PD) program that uses artificial intelligence to improve their math knowledge and teaching skills, their students’ math performance improved.
This online professional development program relies on a virtual facilitator to present problems and provide feedback, aiming to enhance teachers’ mastery of knowledge and skills required. It covers why mathematical rules and procedures work and focuses on helping students employ instructional tools and strategies to overcome common struggles.
An experiment was conducted in which 53 middle school math teachers were randomly assigned to either this Al-based professional development or no additional training. On average, teachers spent 11 hours to complete the program. We then gave 1,727 of their students a math test. While students of these two groups of teachers started off with no difference in their math performance, the students taught by teachers who completed the program increased their mathematics performance by 0.18 points on average. This is a statistically significant gain that is equal to the average math performance difference between sixth and seventh graders in the study.
Teachers often have limited access to high-quality PD programs to improve their knowledge and teaching skills. Time conflicts or living in rural areas that are far from in-person professional development programs can prevent teachers from receiving the support they need. Additionally, many existing in-person professional development programs for teachers have little impact on student achievement. AI-based PD programs include opportunities for teachers to observe teaching practices. Teachers also receive real-time support from the program facilitators. The Al-supported virtual facilitator acting as a human instructor gives teachers authentic teaching activities to work on, asks questions and provides real-time feedback and guidance.
Advancements in AI technologies will allow researchers to develop more interactive, personalized learning environments for teachers. More importantly, AI-based PD programs can collect rich, real-time interaction data, which help make programs more effective. Despite billions of dollars being spent each year on professional development for teachers, research suggests that how teachers learn through professional development is not yet well understood.
1. What was the goal of the online professional development program?A.To create widely accessible methods | B.To improve teachers’ teaching skills. |
C.To solve students’ common problems. | D.To analyze students’ math performance. |
A.They exhibited statistically significant improvement. |
B.They performed even better than the seventh graders. |
C.They solved the math problem faster than the average. |
D.They started with lower performance but ended higher. |
A.By listing current shortcomings. | B.By clarifying essential concepts. |
C.By providing theoretical models. | D.By comparing different trainings. |
A.There is a demand for larger investments in professional development. |
B.AI technologies have helped us figure out how teachers learn in trainings. |
C.The expected benefits of teacher training programs have yet to be realized. |
D.It is a must for teachers to complete the professional development programs. |
2 . Between 1945 and 2000, educators employed a fairly uniform approach. The teacher was the sun in the classroom, and all lessons and activities centered around him or her. Educators stressed the importance of discipline and obedience(服从) within the classroom, and students were expected to follow very rigid standards for behavior and academic performance. The stated goal of this model was to ensure fairness by applying the same expectations; however, the result was that only a few students succeeded while many others were left behind.
When computers and Internet technology entered the classroom a few decades ago, another pattern appeared and progressive educators immediately saw the opportunity to change the way school worked. Instead of needing to focus on the teachers for the vast majority of the day, students could use computers, websites, and even games to learn new materials and improve their skills and knowledge. Not all educators welcomed this shift, however, as some believed it took power and responsibility away from the teachers and cheapened the educational experience for learners.
Over the last decade, two distinct camps of educators have emerged. Tech advocates stress that computers and Internet technology allow students to learn at their own pace in an environment that makes them feel comfortable, while the traditional classroom sets a pace that many learners can’t keep up with and often makes students feel uncomfortable. Traditionalists, on the other hand, believe that over-reliance on tech limits students’ ability to develop their own knowledge and skills and does little to prepare them for the realities of being adults in the real world.
Regrettably, the inability of these two parties to find an agreement has prevented the growth of our education system. We must learn from what worked in the past while adopting the best of our new technologies to create an education system that reflects our modern world. If we can’t get all our teachers on the same page, then we will be at risk of failing future generations.
1. Who can probably learn better under the 1945 -2000 model of education?A.Lisa who tends to read by herself. | B.Michael who disciplines himself. |
C.Kate who can focus on listening for long. | D.Tom who prefers hands-on learning. |
A.It allows for different learning styles. | B.It has the same hope for students. |
C.It fires students’ enthusiasm for learning. | D.It reduces teachers’ level of stress. |
A.Two of a trade never agree. | B.Everyone thinks in his way. |
C.Every potter praises his pot. | D.One’s words reflect one’s thinking. |
A.It’s full of well-trained subject teachers. | B.It’s an accurate mirror of the real world. |
C.It’s inclusive and accessible to all students. | D.It’s an integration of tradition and modernity. |
3 . Making the decision to invest in healthy lifestyle changes is more than just flipping a switch.
Focus on the whole picture. Lifestyle changes are like a puzzle. There are many pieces that must add up to the whole picture. Building habits in only one area of the puzzle will leave your overall picture lacking dimension.
Set realistic and achievable goals.
A.Track your progress and adjust your goals accordingly |
B.Adopt new habits slowly and build on success |
C.Therefore, focus on building one habit at a time |
D.The goals you set for yourself are essential for overall success in changing your lifestyle |
E.Making sustainable lifestyle changes is a process that takes time, dedication, and patience |
F.So, give yourself time to start small and build on success so that the end result is rock solid |
G.Your physical, mental, and emotional health all work together to make or break lifestyle changes |
4 . Aesthetic (审美) education aims to enhance aesthetic perception, experience aesthetic qualities, stimulate aesthetic creativity, and promote aesthetic judgement.
In order for kids to be able to appreciate natural wonders, shapes and pictures, they must be able to first notice them. This is why the development of the ability to notice the beautiful is the primary task of aesthetic education.
It is essential to allow children to participate in activities that will develop their creative abilities.
Judging or evaluating aesthetic qualities demands formed evaluation criteria. In order for beauty to reveal its true value, we must be familiar with its particularities. Throughout the process of aesthetic education, various types of knowledge, abilities and evaluation criteria must be applied.
A.Aesthetic qualities have to be felt. |
B.Beauty can be found all around us. |
C.The beautiful will be likely to be created. |
D.And it is these that the aesthetic experience is built upon. |
E.In some way, this is the ability to perceive aesthetic qualities. |
F.This way, the child will develop the foundations for assessing the beautiful. |
G.This is not so much about creating aesthetic abilities in the sense of training artists. |
5 . Teaching comedy is a delicate craft that Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Teaching Artists handle with expertise. Sabrina Mandell, specializing in clowning and physical comedy, believes in starting with examples of what she finds funny, helping students understand humor and its subtlety (微妙之处). She emphasizes the importance of discovering what works for individuals rather than specifying a right way.
Overcoming fear is crucial in comedy, with Mark Jaster noting that comedians must be willing to push beyond social norms. Sabrina also advocates opening up emotionally, recognizing the closeness of laughter and tears. After all, pushing students to face fear head-on can tap into their full comedic potential.
Precision is also essential in comedy, requiring crisp, clean, and well-timed performance. Jim Gagne emphasizes the need for precision in comedy compared to the flexibility allowed in drama. Teaching comedic timing is challenging, with some students naturally possessing the talent, while others need more guidance to refine this essential skill. Jim, however, believes it can be developed through awareness, practice, and thorough exploration.
Play and fun are crucial in teaching comedy. Sabrina emphasizes the importance of rediscovering the joy of play. Mark envisions a comedy lab where exploring its mysteries is as significant as its performance.
Despite the desire for laughs, teachers emphasize the importance of storytelling within comedic scenes. Jim provides a valuable insight: “In drama, you throw the dishes down; in comedy, you throw them up.” This comparison underscores that comedy demands a different approach, one that is more lighthearted and humorous. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal is to truly engage the audience and genuinely make them laugh.
1. What does Sabrina Mandell find important when teaching comedy?A.Conveying her sense of humor to students. | B.Prioritizing storytelling over humor. |
C.Focusing on creating physical humor. | D.Inspiring students to explore their humor. |
A.fear is one of the primary sources of humor | B.comedians need to go beyond social conventions |
C.laughter and tears enhance the comedic effect | D.it enables people to unlock comedic potential |
A.He considers it merely a natural gift. |
B.He emphasizes precision more in comedy than in drama. |
C.He thinks teaching precision requires a sense of timing. |
D.He believes precision in comedy is similar to flexibility in drama. |
A.Comedy aims to find out mysteries. |
B.Comedy requires a serious and dramatic approach. |
C.Comedy brings the audience new inspirations. |
D.Comedy can be taught through play and exploration. |
6 . In one’s lifetime, especially during adolescence when mental maturity is yet to be achieved, everyone is likely to make some foolish mistakes that will be remembered for a lifetime. The way parents
When I was ten years old, I got really angry one day and ended up breaking my favorite pen. Instead of scolding me, my parents chose a different
In the beginning, I couldn’t understand why they didn’t yell at me or punish me
The silence from my parents
Time
A.put off | B.give in | C.lead to | D.deal with |
A.approach | B.career | C.punishment | D.expectation |
A.unique | B.expensive | C.damaged | D.magic |
A.practical | B.powerful | C.well-organized | D.challenging |
A.directly | B.gently | C.quietly | D.openly |
A.secretly-promoted | B.newly-invented | C.highly-recommended | D.ill-considered |
A.catch up with | B.in terms of | C.take control of | D.team up with |
A.whispered | B.spoke | C.shouted | D.remained |
A.essential | B.rough | C.average | D.satisfactory |
A.reflect | B.fight | C.scream | D.dream |
A.freezes | B.flies | C.talks | D.cures |
A.happiness | B.imagination | C.regret | D.creativeness |
A.planed | B.bought | C.set | D.taught |
A.drew | B.compared | C.terrified | D.shaped |
A.pens | B.consequences | C.parents | D.people |
7 . Imagine a school where students are taught by the best teachers in every subject, regardless of locations. Imagine a school where children can go on safe field trips to the Amazon rainforest or Everest base camp. Well, such schools are already being built: in virtual reality(VR).
Last month, Optima Academy Online (OAO) was launched in Florida and started to deliver courses for elementary, middle and high schools and 170 full-time students from all over the state signed up. They used VR headsets for about three hours a day for formal lessons and then do course work independently with digital check-ins.
It is worth watching how such educational experiments develop. Used properly, the VR technology can help students to access learning resources and be connected with fellow students and teachers all over the world. But if employed poorly, it will have the opposite effect and turn a digital inequality into an educational one.
There is growing evidence to suggest that it is happening. In Mexico, according to a survey, only 24% of 15-year-old students in poor schools have access to home computers for schoolwork compared with 87% in rich ones. As reported in another study, some students in northern England have been forced to travel around on the Greater Manchester train network or camp out around McDonald’s to access free WiFi because they cannot do their schoolwork at home.
“VR technologies will be widely used in education. The only questions are: for what purpose and at what speed?” says Beeban Kidron, a member of the UK’s Digital Futures Commission. “The trouble is that they are too often seen as a shiny new toy that will solve all problems and save money rather than being viewed as a means to enrich learning.”
The inescapable truth is that there is nothing that can replace teachers educating students in safe schools—ideally, with access to well-designed technological platforms. Leaving children in their bedrooms with just VR headsets and no physical social interaction with other kids will fill-many of them—and their parents—with horror.
1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?A.Lead in the subject for discussion. |
B.Provide some advice for the readers. |
C.Show the advantages of VR headsets. |
D.Introduce an unsuccessful online school. |
A.To relax themselves. | B.To enrich their learning. |
C.To make their study fun | D.To get free WiFi service. |
A.will replace traditional learning | B.are the future of education |
C.will become a very helpful tool | D.are a means to save money |
A.Supportive | B.Disapproving. | C.Doubtful. | D.Unclear. |
Schools and companies are encouraged to take actions
School teachers should educate students to prevent them from
Online addiction prevention for primary and secondary school students
1. 陈述观点;
2. 分享经验;
3. 提出倡议。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
More Housework, Less Pressure
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 . Two and a half millennia ago, Socrates complained that writing would harm students. With a way to store ideas permanently and externally, they would no longer need to memorize. However, studies today have found that writing on paper can improve everything from recalling a random series of words to better understanding complex concepts.
For learning material by repetition, the benefits of using a pen or pencil lie in how the motor and sensory memory of putting words on paper reinforces that material. The scribbling (涂鸦) on a page feeds into visual memory: people might remember a word they wrote down in French class as being at the bottom-left on a page.
One of the best-demonstrated advantages of writing by hand seems to be in note-taking. Students typing on computers wrote down almost twice as many words directly from lectures, suggesting they were not understanding so much as rapidly copying the material. However, handwriting forces note-takers to process and organize ideas into their own words. This aids conceptual understanding at the moment of writing, resulting in better performance on tests.
Many studies have confirmed handwriting’s benefits, and policymakers have taken note. Though America’s curriculum from 2010 does not require handwriting instruction past first grade (roughly age six), about half the states since then have required more teaching of it. In Sweden there is a push for more handwriting and printed books and fewer devices. England’s national curriculum already includes the teaching of basic cursive writing (连写体) skills by age seven.
However, several school systems in America have gone so far as to ban most laptops. This is too extreme. Some students have disabilities that make handwriting especially hard. Nearly all will eventually need typing skills. Virginia Berninger, professor of psychology at the University of Washington, is a longtime advocate of handwriting. But she is not a purist; she says there are research tested benefits for “manuscript” print-style writing but also for typing.
Socrates may or may not have had a point about the downsides of writing. But no one would remember, much less care, if his student Plato had not noted it down for the benefit of future generations.
1. According to the text, why does writing on paper have benefits for learning?A.It provides visual enjoyment in class. |
B.It improves the effect of memorization. |
C.It promotes the motor and sensory ability. |
D.It helps to remember the information forever. |
A.By giving examples. | B.By providing statistics. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By making classification. |
A.Difficulties faced by the disabled. |
B.Unreasonableness of forbidding typing. |
C.The research-tested benefits of typing. |
D.The longtime advocacy for handwriting. |
A.To thank Plato for his efforts. |
B.To defend Socrates’ point of view. |
C.To show people’s indifference to typing. |
D.To confirm the importance of handwriting. |