37 research outputs found
Examining Effective Secondary Physics Pedagogy in the UK: A Review of Literature from 2010- 2021
No full textPedagogy is arguably a contested term, encompassing classroom practices, the
theories that underpin practice and wider contexts of school cultures and society
beyond schools. This thesis focuses on effective teaching practices specifically in
secondary school physics with this wider picture in mind. An exploration of the general
literature on effective pedagogy was a necessary step towards understanding how this
resonates with research specifically concerning secondary school physics teaching.
From the general literature, techniques such as regular low-stakes feedback, pupil
active participation, lesson objectives, meta-cognition and scaffolding emerged as
particularly important. Pupils’ prior conceptions about scientific ideas and the use of
practical laboratory work are also important themes within science pedagogy. It is also
recognised that features of effective practice are often linked to constructivism and
social constructivism, and teaching practices are often evaluated through
measurements of pupils’ progress.
This project subsequently adopted a systematic approach to identify relevant peerreviewed papers concerning effective secondary physics teaching in the United
Kingdom (UK), published between 2010 and 2021. This systematic search of education
databases identified five such peer-reviewed papers, spanning quantitative and
qualitative research. The papers were assessed for quality, and two papers were rated
as moderately high quality with the rest seen to be of moderate quality. A narrative
approach was then taken to develop a description of effective secondary physics
teaching in the UK, by looking for consonances and differences among these fives
paper and triangulation with the wider literature. Constructivist and social constructivist
theories were again seen as important in these five papers, even if only implicitly.
From this narrative synthesis, a picture emerges of physics teaching that values
dialogue and discussion, engages with research on pupils’ prior conceptions and in
which teachers are equipped with good subject knowledge, pedagogical content
knowledge and a repertoire of techniques, explanations and analogies. However, the
identification of only five papers (two of which reported different aspects of the same
trial and only two of which were of higher quality) could perhaps indicate a paucity of
reported research into effective secondary physics teaching in the UK in the past
decade. Therefore, there is scope for further empirical research in this area
Assessment of a freshwater turtle reintroduction
No full textThe history of conservation translocations goes back over a century, but reintroduction biology is a young discipline. Reintroductions often elicit criticism for attempting to restore populations without directly addressing sources of declines. However, global population declines have made reintroduction a necessary tool for modern conservation necessitating the refinement of reintroduction methodologies. I evaluated behavior, health, and demography of a reintroduced population of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) with reference to the suitability of this species for reintroduction and the prognosis of the reintroduction.
Using radio telemetry, I found dispersal was size-dependent, but turtles displayed no maladaptive post-release dispersal behavior. Larger turtles were more likely to move and moved farther distances than smaller turtles. Movement behavior was related positively to temperature and precipitation. However, further analysis showed precipitation resulted in passive downstream dispersal, which could become exacerbated with predicted increases in flooding due to climate change.
Habitat use and selection of reintroduced turtles were similar to natural populations of M. temminckii. Because turtles preferred higher canopy cover and log jams, managers should consider them when managing habitat or choosing release sites. I found smaller turtles selected shallow water, whereas larger turtles selected for deeper water. Thus, providing heterogeneous habitats should be a management goal for this species due to ontogenetic shifts in habitat requirements.
Hematologic assessments of reintroduced turtles pre- and post-release identified non-health drivers of these values. I found packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell counts (WBC) varied by size and season, while total solids (TS) measures were unique to sampling periods. My results show that population-specific baselines that consider environmental and individual variation are important for maximizing the utility of hematologic assessments.
Finally, I constructed integral projection models (IPMs) using population-specific survival and individual growth rates. The reintroduced population was declining (λ = 0.95), although improving individual growth and adult survival through a reduction of incidental bycatch resulted in a stable population. Elasticity analysis further illustrated the value of individual growth and survival for population growth. Ultimately, though M. temminckii appears well-suited for reintroduction, low site-specific individual growth rates and incidental bycatch resulted in a low probability of success for the current reintroduction.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2022-05-01The student, Ethan Kessler, accepted the attached license on 2020-04-21 at 01:56.The student, Ethan Kessler, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2020-04-21 at 02:16.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2020-04-21 at 09:51.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #15014 on 2020-08-25 at 17:27:45Made available in DSpace on 2020-08-26T23:54:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 4
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Previous issue date: 2020-04-21Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115725
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Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115725
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Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115725
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Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115725
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Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemU of I Onl
A Performance Guide and Recordings for Four New Works Featuring Improvisation for Soprano Saxophone and Various Instruments
No full textabstract: This project’s goal is to expand the repertoire for soprano saxophone featuring improvisation. Each work detailed in this document features improvisation as an integral component. The first piece, Impetus, was written by Grant Jahn for soprano saxophone and piano. The second piece, Sonata, was written for the same instrumentation by Brett Wery. Ethan Cypress wrote the third work for solo soprano saxophone, Noir et Bleu. The final composition on the project, Counterpunch by Gregory Wanamaker, was written for saxophone sextet. This paper also includes composer biographies, program notes, performance guides, and composer questionnaires. The central component of this project is a recording of all these works which features the author.Dissertation/ThesisCounterpunch for Saxophone Sextet, by Gregory WanamakerSonata for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, II. Adagio sognando – “Bluesy” andantino by Brett WerySonata for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, III. Danza ritmica, by Brett WeryNoir et Bleu for Solo Soprano Saxophone, by Ethan CypressImpetus for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, by Grant JahnSonata for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, I. Allegro ma non troppo, by Brett WeryDoctoral Dissertation Music 201
The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics
No full textBibliography: leaves 102-106.The dissertation examines the broader musical value of microtonal composer Harry Partch's musical theories by locating his critique of abstract music within mainstream compositional theory and aesthetics. This contextualisation aims to deconstruct Partch's iconoclastic image so as to understand his contribution within a wider realm of critical discourse. The work of composers that follow in Partch's footsteps becomes important in this context, especially that of his one-time student Ben Johnston whose own microtonal aesthetic is firmly rooted in European aesthetics from Debussy to Schoenberg. By a study of Johnston's utilisation of Partch's theory of just intonation the dissertation attempts to arrive at a more inclusive compositional theory, one which continues to address those aspects of Partch's theories that serve as a valid and constructive critique of traditional musical values. Taking Adorno's view that musical critique must deal with the problem of reification at the level of musical materials, the author proposes a reading of Partch's corporeal philosophy that is applicable beyond the confines of narrative musical drama. By creating a distinction between historical models of organisation and 'second nature' forms of musical presentation, it is suggested that critique does not necessarily prefigure alienation from the mainstream, but can rather be situated within musical discourse in such a way that a new image of the latter's forms results. On a practical level, the dissertation explores the validity of expanded just intonation as a means of achieving this immanent critique, both in the realm of compositional theory and, implicitly, in that of analytical theory, concluding with the description of a tuning system with the capacity to synthesise the range of compositional theories explored
A multitude of monuments : finding and defending access to resources in third millennium BC Oman
No full textHow do different types of monuments and different monumental forms express social realities and inform larger social patterns? This dissertation research adds to this discussion from the perspective of the region best known for its ancient monuments: the Middle East. Known to its neighbors as the land of "Magan," the Oman Peninsula in the third millennium BC was the location of a dispersed yet well-integrated cultural tradition known as the Umm an-Nar. The people of Magan were trade partners with both the Mesopotamians to the west and the Indus to the north. Beginning in the late fourth millennium, the integration of coastal fishing communities and interior agricultural oases across the hyper-arid peninsula was matched by the development of a monumental tomb tradition spanning the length and breadth of Magan. In certain places, such as the Wadi al-Hijr, a second monumental tradition developed alongside the tomb tradition: that of the Umm an-Nar "tower." The combination of these two types of monuments provides a unique opportunity to consider the way(s) in which middle-range societies use monuments. This data set is a combination of published and unpublished excavation reports (particularly the towers of Bat by the American Expedition) and a survey designed and carried out for this project. The research progresses in several stages. Survey results indicate a high degree of clustering among the tombs, and occur within a variety of landscapes. I argue that the earliest ("Hafit") tombs mark access to resources, but are also mnemonics of regional social integration. Although the later ("Umm an-Nar") tombs do not mark resources, they reference the earlier tomb tradition, concentrate energy in the mortuary realm and on the monument itself, and thereby indicate a shift toward local (tomb-based) group identity. Excavations (led by the author) at the Hafit-Umm an-Nar transitional tower at Matariya demonstrate a change over time in the monumental aspects of the structure. This research argues that intensification limited access to underground and permanent water sources, and was used by local groups to leverage relative social, economic, and political position. Resource exclusivity flew directly in the face of ideologies of integration, visible in the Hafit tomb tradition, and Umm an-Nar people attempted to off-set this tension through an intensification of their mortuary practices. Contemporary monument types balance tensions between environments, individuals, kin and corporate groups. A diachronic study points to the ways in which structures of both types expand in monumentality. Together, synchronic and diachronic comparisons between different monument types indicate both growing friction between social groups, and a refusal to admit these divisions. Future research should investigate the tensions noted here.Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, Anthropology, 2012Includes bibliographical references (pages 383-403
A non-lethal approach identifies variability in δ15N values in fin rays of the Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. A non-lethal approach identifies variability in δ15N values in fin rays of the Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajar
Maintaining Weight Loss by Decreasing Sedentary Time: A Patient and Physician’s Perspective
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Metrology Capital Equipment Extended Warranty Valuation Model
No full textabstract: Semiconductor Manufacturer (Semi) wants to improve the valuation of the extended warranties they purchase for their metrology tools and determine whether or not extended warranties are worth the financial investment. Historically, suppliers have commonly overvalued warranties. For example, there is a 50%-60% profit margin on warranties in the consumer electronics industry. The costs incurred from purchasing extended warranties contribute to millions of dollars each year in tool ownership for Semi. By creating an extended warranty valuation model, our goal is to reduce the total cost of metrology tool ownership. A different perspective on the valuation of extended warranties will lead to an increased bottom line for Semi. Our valuation model will assist in determining warranty purchase pricing and appropriate service levels of maintenance personnel associated with the extended warranties. The model's objective is to compare the statistical expected total cost of buying tool parts on an "as needed" basis with the quoted price of an extended warranty. It will assess the strict financial value of either buying or not buying the extended warranty. Using actual tool part consumption data, the model can quickly evaluate the value of a supplier's warranty offer. In addition, the results from the model can be used as a negotiation tool with the suppliers. However the model will have its limitations. For example, the model will not be able to evaluate whether a metrology supplier relies on extended warranty revenues to fund research and development or whether a supplier has the financial health to remain in business with the loss of extended warranty related revenues. A shift in extended warranty purchasing by Semi could have a profound impact on the number of competitive suppliers in the future, and Semi's managers should take this into account when altering their extended warranty purchasing strategy. Our model can be utilized for three different functions: negotiating with suppliers, simplifying the decision to buy or not buy an extended warranty and influencing managers' purchasing strategies. Changing the service level costs of labor can impact Semi's decision to buy or not the extended warranty due to its effect on the probability of the warranty being a good or bad deal. In addition, the model output can significantly influence a manager's purchasing strategy within the organization by breaking down the cost savings associated with the metrology tools' part failures. In order to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the financial model, we recommend that Semi collect and assemble the model input data in a different manner. Although it is possible Semi does collect more detailed data, the input data we received needed to be more comprehensive; it should include a list of tool parts with their respective failure dates, along with which supplier is responsible for which tool. Furthermore, Semi should develop a supplier scorecard to account for financial health, which can be factored into the model. This will result in a more precise evaluation on whether or not an extended warranty is worth the financial investment
Household savings in transition economies
No full textDuring the transition from central planning to market economies now under way in Eastern Europe, output levels first collapsed by 40 to 50 percent in most countries, then staged a modest recovery in the last two years. Longer-term revival of growth requires a resumption of investment and thus, realistically, of domestic savings. To explore the determinants of household savings rates in transition economies, the authors studies matching household surveys for three Central European economies: Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland. They find that savings rates strongly increase with relative income, suggesting that increasing income inequality may play a role in determining savings rates. Savings rates are significantly higher for households that do not own their homes or that own few of the standard consumer durables-possibly because, with no retail credit or mortgage markets, households must save to purchase houses and durables. The influence of demographic factors broadly matches earlier findings for developing countries. Perhaps surprisingly, variables associated with the household's position in the transition process-including either sector of employment (public or private) or form of employment-do not play a significant role in determining savings rates.Environmental Economics&Policies,Services&Transfers to Poor,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Safety Nets and Transfers,Rural Poverty Reduction,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Theory&Research
Scale and strength of oak-mesophyte interactions in a transitional oak-hickory forest
No full textForests in eastern North America are undergoing rapid compositional changes as they experience novel climate, disturbance, and pest conditions. One striking pattern is the replacement of canopy oaks (Quercus spp.) by mesic, fire-sensitive, shade-tolerant species like red maple (Acer rubrum). To gain insight into the successional patterns driving stand-level canopy oak replacement we ask two questions: (i) What is the spatial association of oak and mesophyte recruitment compared to oak and mesophyte overstory individuals, and (ii) How do oaks and mesophytes differentially respond to canopy openings. We analyzed census data from a 23 ha forest plot surveyed in 2003, 2008 and 2014. We show that oak recruits are negatively associated with overstory red maples and black cherries (Prunus serotina), while mesophytic recruits were positively associated with overstory oaks. Second, we found that proximity to a dead overstory tree increased growth and survival for black cherries, increased growth for red maples, but had no effect on oaks. Black cherries and red maples are therefore better suited than oaks to take advantage of canopy openings and the moderate light available under adult oaks. These same fine scale competitive processes are contributing to canopy oak replacement across eastern North America.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
