Professionalism in the IT Industry (COMP1635)

Tutorial Week 8
Critical Reflection
Read the two articles below carefully and then answer the questions associated with
each.
UPLOAD THE ANSWERS TO YOUR WEEKLY UPLOAD AREA FOR THIS WEEK (w/c 12
Nov 2012).

Article 1:

UK students are way ahead in maths!

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an
international study that assesses the maths and science knowledge of children
around the world. The idea was developed by the International Association for the
Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) in 1995 and since that time the study
has been undertaken once every four years.
As a part of the latest study, designed by academics from Boston College in the USA,
more than 400,000 pupils aged 10 and 14 sat independent tests in 60 countries. A
series of league tables showing how children from different nations performed in the
tests was then compiled.
The results of the latest survey, published in December 2008, showed that
schoolchildren in England are continuing to lag behind those from the Far East in
maths and science, despite pulling ahead of other European nations.
The league tables showed that English children who took part in the survey achieved
consistently better results than children in Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Germany,
Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy. They also outperformed children from Australia
and the United States in every area. However, they were outranked by the leading
countries in the survey - which included Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and
South Korea.
Specifically, the survey showed that primary pupils jumped from 10th to 7th in
maths, but fell slightly from 5th to 7th in science. Among 14-year-olds, England's
maths ranking soared from 18th to 7th and in science it jumped from 7th to 5th.
The Schools Secretary , Ed Balls, viewed these results as proof that educational
policies are working. He commented: "These results show the gap is closing between
us and some of the high-performing Pacific Rim countries. We have much to learn
from their success and will continue to look closely at the education systems in the
best of the best Asian economies. Our teenagers are leading Europe and teachers can
be really proud of our position in maths and science."
Critics of government policy on maths and science teaching schools were not so
positive about the results of the survey however. It was noted by Government
opposition that among primary school pupils, science standards have not improved
at all and, in maths, England was overtaken by Kazakhstan. Other top-performing
nations including Finland - which normally tops the tables - Canada and Belgium
were not included in the league table this year.

Michael Gove, the conservative shadow schools secretary, said: "This report shows
that we are in the global second division for education with Asia pulling further and
further ahead. Parents will be worried that our maths performance is behind that of
Kazakhstan."
Questions for article one:
1.
Do you think the article heading is misleading or a fair reflection of the
discussion that follows? Give some examples to support your answer.
Answer : No. the article is misleading. The results of the latest survey,
published in December 2008, showed that schoolchildren in England are
continuing to lag behind those from the Far East in maths and science,
despite pulling ahead of other European nations.
2.

Would you consider the TIMSS to be a reliable study? What information given
in the article would influence your view? How could you check this out
further?
Answer :
No. TIMSS is a reliable study for math but not for science accroding the
overall survey. Specifically, the survey showed that primary pupils jumped
from 10th to 7th in maths, but fell slightly from 5th to 7th in science. But for
Among 14-year-olds, TIMMS is a reliable study, for instances, England's maths
ranking soared from 18th to 7th and in science it jumped from 7th to 5th.

3.

Can you find any examples of personal bias within the article ? (that is when
facts/figures are interpreted to fit an individuals beliefs or views). Again,
identify any examples that you find.
Answer : Yes. According to the The Schools Secretary , Ed Balls, viewed these
results as proof that educational policies are working. He commented: "These
results show the gap is closing between us and some of the high-performing
Pacific Rim countries. We have much to learn from their success and will
continue to look closely at the education systems in the best of the best Asian
economies. Our teenagers are leading Europe and teachers can be really
proud of our position in maths and science."

Article 2:
Britons spend more time on the internet than the rest of Europe
Britain is a nation of technology geeks spending more time on the internet, playing
computer games and on social networking sites than the rest of Europe.
The UK leads the table of 12 industrialised nations in a report by communications
regulator Ofcom when it comes to embracing digital technology.
Of the countries studied for the report, it offers the cheapest mobile, basic paytelevision and broadband rates.
Broadband take-up, at 60 per cent, is above the average in developed nations.
Digital music also now makes up eight per cent of the total music sales market,
ahead of the rest of Europe apart from Spain, which shares the lead. Both countries
are still well behind the USA, where almost a quarter of sales are digital.
Half of the UK uses sites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace, up 11 per cent since
last year, while uploading photos to the internet is the most popular networking
activity, with 43 per cent of the population doing so.
Nearly a fifth of advertising spending is now online. Ofcom also found that for the
first time advertising represented less than half of television income.
Professor Simeon Yates, director of the Culture, Communication and Computing
Research Institute at Sheffield Hallam University said: "One of the things that is
becoming clear is that for a lot of reasons British people, especially those under the
age of say 40, have got used to using their mobile phones for communication,
whereas in the US they are used to using their computer and in Japan they still use
their phone in a different way."
Minutes per week spent online:
UK - 839
France - 794
Germany - 573
Italy - 523
USA - 913
Spain - 449

Percentage of social networkers:

UK - 50
France - 27
Germany - 34
Italy - 32
USA - 40
Canada - 55
Japan 33
Text Messages sent per person per month
UK - 81
France - 25
Germany - 23

USA - 107
Canada - 26
Poland - 108
Spain - 24
Netherlands - 31
Sweden - 45
Ireland - 154
Questions for article two:
1. The assertion put forward by the writer of this article is that Britain is a
nation of technology geeks spending more time on the internet, playing
computer games and on social networking sites than the rest of Europe. Is
that fact or interpretation?
Answer : It is an interpretation.
2. What evidence has the writer for making this argument?
Answer : The UK leads the table of 12 industrialised nations in a report by
communications regulator Ofcom when it comes to embracing digital
technology.
3. Look at the given statistics and think of TWO other ways in which they could
be interpreted.
Answer : Compare with the UK spent on 839 minutes per week,
- Although USA is spending 913 minutes in a weeks is the most highest and at
the same time also higher than UK, but is may due to online business purpose
instead of playing game and spent on social networking. Compare with the
UK spent on 839 minutes per week, may in order to uses sites such as
Facebook, Bebo and MySpace, and according to the report show up 11 per
cent since last year, while uploading photos to the internet is the most
popular networking activity, with 43 per cent of the population doing so.
-Other way is the percentage of the social networker of UK is 50, for USA is 40
so that UK the percentages of UK social network is more higher.