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Writing built environment dissertations and projects practical guidance and examples
No full textWriting Built Environment Dissertations and Projects will help you to write a good dissertation or project by giving you a good understanding of what should be included, and showing you how to use data collection and analysis tools in the course of your research. Addresses prominent weaknesses in under-graduate dissertations including weak data collection; superficial analysis and poor reliability and validity. Includes many more in-depth examples making it easy to understand and assimilate the concepts presented. Issues around study skills and ethics are embedded throughout the book and the many examples encourage you to consider the concepts of reliability and validity. Second edition includes a new chapter on laboratory based research projects. Supporting website with sample statistical calculations and additional examples from a wider range of built environment subject
High performance triboelectric generator using high dielectric constant poly(vinylidene fluoride) -barium titanate composite
No full textWe present a type of high performance contact-separation mode triboelectric generators (TEG). The TEGs consist of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) composite with embedded barium titanate nanomaterial (PVDF-BaTiO3) and polyamide-6 (PA6). Additional BaTiO3 nanomaterial in the PVDF increase the relative permittivity and piezoelectric effect, thus enhance the performance of the TEGs. Owing to the increased energy storage capability, the PVDF-BaTiO3/PA6 TEG demonstrates a significantly higher voltage of 1040 V and charge density of 17.2 mu C/m(2), as compared to 440 V and 13.2 mu C/m(2) of the PVDF-PA6 TEG. The improvement in performance of the TEGs is attributed to not only the enhanced polarization of composite, but also the increased relative permittivity
Pertinent coping strategies for supporting the wellbeing of international students in Higher Education
No full textThe nature and the wellbeing of students have been exhaustively discussed in academia from the 19th century. The unravelling of the visible and invisible challenges pertaining to students’ wellbeing is a common practice in UK higher education (HE). Society has been channelled into thinking that highly visible support systems in HE enhance students well-being. This study provides perspectives from international students, in particular Black African students, on their experiences in higher education, in relation to acquiring relevant support services for their well-being. The study identifies the indignation aroused in HE with regards to the challenges faced by the students. Findings indicate that there is a dichotomy between what is generally accepted as students’ well-being and what they encounter in the course of their student life. In view of the recurring issues that affect the student’s high level of well-being, coping strategies have been adopted by the international students to maintain their status quo. The study concludes by arguing that UK HE institutions, should consider within its main stream services and systems, the wellbeing and coping mechanisms for international students, which supports their critical moments of dissatisfaction whilst undertaking their studies in a foreign country. This will ensure a meaningful social life and positive wellbeing for all students, irrespective of their country of origin
Remarkable Lives : Ben Robinson in conversation with Jerome Carson.
No full textPurpose :The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Ben Robinson.Design/methodology/approach :Ben provides a short summary of his life and is then interviewed by Jerome.Findings :Ben talks about his inpatient treatment for anorexia and his long journey of recovery.Research limitations/implications :Single case studies provide us with unique insights into the lived experience of people with mental health problems. They often provide us with hints as to how services could be improved.Practical implications :Ben argues that the voice of service users needs to be heard more by professionals. “The only experts of a mental health problem are the people who have been through a mental health issue themselves.” Originality/value :Ben is determined to use his experiences for the benefit of others. Even to have helped a single person, will be his biggest life achievement
Missing Out: does masters students' preference for surveys produce sub-optimal research outcomes? (poster)
No full textEnhancing international students' engagement via social media - A case study of Wechat and Chinese students at a UK university.
No full textInternational students potentially experience stress in a number of areas whilst studying in the UK; encountering a range of challenges and adjustment issues. This research found that WeChat (a Chinese social media app) has helped Chinese students to address key communication barriers and study challenges within their university experience. This has led to an increase in their motivation in undertaking learning activities; as well as impacting on issues of engagement, performance and retention. Focus groups were conducted with Chinese students ranging from year two undergraduate to postgraduate level. Questionnaires were used to collect data in order to evaluate the influencing factors of the students’ engagement and motivation when WeChat is deployed. Results show that social media can facilitate lecturers to achieve student-centred pedagogy within the blended e-learning environment. Moreover, effectiveness factors regarding the use of social media within higher education are identified to support the development of curriculum design and communication methods. The study seeks to make suggestions regarding the implementation of social media for international students within higher education according to the needs, education settings and cultural backgrounds of the “always-on” generation
Leisure in a post-work society
No full textModern understandings of leisure have formed in terms of its relationship to work. The effects of industrialization in the western world are well known, regulating time for leisure and, through urbanization, producing social scientific definitions of leisure as either a civic good or a social problem requiring surveillance and regulation. Current predictions of a rapid quantitative decline in work are therefore of serious social, economic and psychological concern, raising questions about the meanings of leisure without work. This paper reviews the historical formation of work–leisure relationships. It then considers predictions of the impact of further technological change on the future of work and proposals for a universal basic income, and the implications of these for free time and leisure. Finally, it reviews the new focus on well-being in academic research and in government policy in the UK, and discusses the importance of leisure in terms of enjoyment of life, meaningful activity and social participation
To flip or not to flip? Exploring the best mix : an action researched study regarding teaching pedagogy for a postgraduate research methods module.
No full textFlipped classroom pedagogy has become popular in several different disciplines. Key advantages being the increased level of lecturer and student interaction, which can have a positive impact on students’ motivation, engagement and performance. However, there is limited evidence regarding such impact within business and management education. In order to explore best practice regarding the implementation of this pedagogy; action research was adopted to evaluate students’ motivation, engagement, satisfaction and performance in a postgraduate research methods module, focusing on different cohorts (2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17). The flipped classroom approach was delivered in 2016-17 using Socrative quizzes reinforced by in-class activities and support via Whatsapp, Viber, PowerPoint with narrations, Youtube / TED videos and online reading materials (before and after the classes). This was compared to the 2015-16 cohort when a blended teaching approach was adopted and the 2014-15 cohort when a more traditional teaching style was used.Many challenges were acknowledged when the flipped approach was adopted. Compared to results in 2014-15: students’ motivation, engagement, satisfaction and performance were improved significantly when a more blended teaching strategy (2015-16) was used. However, there were no significant differences between this blended teaching approach (2015-16) and the flipped classroom approach (2016-17) in terms of students’ motivation, engagement and performance; according to the feedback from questionnaires, focus groups and their performance results. Although students’ satisfaction of the module was improved in 2016-17. Moreover, influencing factors of an effective use of flipped classroom were identified and evaluated according to the students’ perceptions and performance. Additionally, this research developed an evidence-based conceptual framework to help educators to design curriculum with rigorous evidence-based teaching strategies
Remarkable Lives : Jana Rozenhalova in conversation with Jerome Carson
No full textPurpose:The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Jana Rozenhalova.Design/methodology/approach :Jana provides a short summary of her life and is then interviewed by Jerome.Findings :Jana tells us about her long struggles with eating disorders and provides us with the metaphor that it is like being a broken cup glued back together again. You have to be very careful it does not break again.Research limitations/implications :Jana’s story is one, yet it offers us unique insights. She comments at one point, “[…] if it was not for the eating disorders […] I would not be me”.Practical implications :Jana notes that while she could see many reasons behind her eating disorders, they did not really matter. What mattered was that she could overcome them.Social implications :While Jana first thought hope was an empty word, she now realises in retrospect that she was more hopeful than anyone she knew. As Patricia Deegan (1996) puts it, “Hope is not just a nice sounding euphemism. Hope and biological life are inextricably intertwined” (p. 93).Originality/value :Jana concludes her account saying she would like to be able to look back at her life and feel that she had lived up to her potential. Most of us would also be happy with that outcome