45 research outputs found
Teaching Engineering as a design science
No full textIn this paper, we take the position that teaching engineering itself is a design science. Engineering educators worldwide creatively design, implement, and evaluate new ways of teaching to facilitate the learning of their students and to respond to various societal challenges. Sadly, their teaching and course design discoveries often remain with them. By representing successful experiences in engineering education as structured pedagogical patterns, we could develop this vital professional knowledge collectively into a so-called pattern language. The pattern language method acknowledges the complexity of instructional design and divides it into smaller and more understandable pieces. One piece is called a ‘pattern’. This paper aims to set the argument of why and how to develop a pedagogical pattern language for engaging and activating engineering education. In Delft, we see this pedagogical language as a part of TU Delft’s so-called ecosystem approach toward learning and teaching. TU Delft recognizes the need among students for impact-driven education that matches the way this generation learns and what our society needs. Successful ecosystem pedagogies will be the core of the intended pedagogical pattern language. It is our idea to develop this pattern language in close cooperation with the teaching communities of TU Delft, that is the TUD Teaching Academy, the 4TU Centre of Engineering Education, and CDIO.Spatial Planning and StrategyEducation and Student Affair
The First Cut; the locus of decision at the limits of subjectivity
No full textThis project examines the concept of decision in philosophical writing, in particular the question of whether subjectivity can be said to constitute a ‘locus’ of decision. The writing of Søren Kierkegaard is the main focus of discussion. Giorgio Agamben, Michel Henry and Jacques Derrida also provide important contributions.
Although for Kierkegaard ‘all decisiveness is rooted in subjectivity’, subjective agency takes the form of an active surrendering to an external unknown authority (God). Kierkegaard uses the term ‘leap of faith’ to describe the moment of decision where subjective transformation occurs.
For Derrida, any decision requires an undecidable leap beyond all reasoning made in preparation for that decision. He extends a reading of faith beyond the theistic by suggesting that Kierkegaard’s unknowable God could also be another name for the ‘structure of subjectivity.’
Giorgio Agamben’s writing on the concept of human life situated at the threshold of categories (socio-political, philosophical, physiological and so on), helps to further the exploration of subjectivity as the ‘locus’ of decision. Michel Henry’s work on The Essence of Manifestation provides a focus for a discussion on the ‘radical subjectivity’ that Kierkegaard proposes as the fulcrum of decision.
The research project as a whole maintains a synergy between these philosophical concerns and the form of their explication. The thesis is made up of both written text and DVD documentation of live works. These instances of practice, whose form and mode of presentation were informed by a specific aspect of the research, are integrated into the thesis to constitute ‘chapters’. The practice can and does function independently in other contexts. However, what is presented in this research document constitutes the outcome of my practice-based PhD project and includes both the ‘theoretical’ and ‘practice’ elements.
Supervisors: Neil Cummings and Howard Caygil
Smoking Restrictions, Bans Rise in Hospitality Industry
No full textWith the rise of smoking restrictions and bans in the hospitality industry the author discusses solutions that are implemented to protect the workforce and guests from involuntary smoking. Historical and societal contexts are drawn, and enforcement of smoking bans as well as their economic impact is explored in an international perspective, primarily since US researchers have propelled the research on smoking and health issues. The author illustrates that there has been no way to avoid enforcements of strict smoking restrictions, and the struggle to do so could just delay the process and waste resources
Development planning concept and tools for planners, managers and facilitators
No full text"This new textbook in development planning aims to provide a comprehensive and practically relevant guide to strategic planning at postgraduate and practitioner level. The author aims to bridge the unfortunate gap that now exists between much development planning theory and planning practice. He also promotes a more value-based, action-centred and organization-inclusive approach to development planning than is normally presented in textbooks on planning." "The book explores the different concepts of development and development planning. It introduces a simple model of strategic planning, and then elaborates more complex arrangements. The author operationalizes various aspects and processes of planning, and critically analyses the tools involved, always in the context of more fundamental planning concerns. Specific topics include logical framework analysis, the use of indicators, process planning schemas, principles and tools of prioritization, and dimensions of participation and community institution building. The analysis consistently progresses from the theoretical and conceptual to the practical and specific."--BOOK JACKET
Et forsvar for hus som har kommet i knestående
No full textNorwegian cultural heritage management is based on a developed and strict legislation. The administration is placed under the Ministry of Environment and the different categories of cultural heritage are handled by a professional staff with different academic backgrounds, relevant to the categories. The ideology of cultural heritage management has changed through time and the present motto is “Vern gjennom bruk” (Protection through use).
The legislation, the categories linked to different academic disciplines, the motto and the influence of the demands derived from a modern lifestyle add up to an interesting contrast in the handling of buildings. Priority is given to buildings in a relatively stable condition of decay, called archaeological sites, and to buildings with a potential for use in a modern context after reconstruction, called architectural monuments.
Buildings between these two categories, especially those that are in a state of dynamic decay, are in general ignored or destroyed. This paper discusses the resources we overlook by this policy and practice of management. The author argues that an exposure of the process of dynamic decay has a potential for a deeper understanding of both history and cultural heritage
Comparison of two heparin-coated extracorporeal circuits with reduced systemic anticoagulation in routine coronary artery bypass operations
No full textAbstractObjectives: The use of heparin-coated circuits for cardiopulmonary bypass attenuates the postperfusion inflammatory response. Postoperative bleeding and the need for allogeneic blood transfusions are reduced, particularly in combination with lowered systemic anticoagulation. The two most commonly used heparin-coated systems are the Carmeda BioActive Surface (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) and the Duraflo II coating (Baxter Healthcare Corp, Bentley Laboratories Division, Irvine, Calif). The 2 surfaces are technically unequal, and previous experimental studies have demonstrated disparities in effects on the immune system and the blood cells. However, no larger comparative studies of relevant clinical end points have thus far been reported. Methods: Over a 24-month period, all patients undergoing coronary artery bypass were prospectively randomized to one of the two heparin-coated circuits. Altogether, 1336 consecutive patients were included. The heparin dose was reduced in all cases, with an activated coagulation time of more than 250 seconds. Clinical data were consecutively collected and stored on a computer for comparative analyses. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in any demographic or operative parameters. The Duraflo II patients required less heparin to keep the target-activated clotting time, confirming the previous finding of some leakage of heparin from the surface to the circulation. Otherwise, there were no significant differences in time for ventilatory support (Duraflo II, 1.7 ± 1.3 hours; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 1.6 ± 1.0 hours; P =.37), amount of postoperative mediastinal drainage (Duraflo II, 665 ± 257 mL; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 688 ± 243 mL; P =.07), need for allogeneic blood-plasma transfusions (Duraflo II, 4.2% of the patients; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 4.4% of the patients; P =.93), or hemoglobin concentration at hospital discharge (Duraflo II, 120 ± 13 g/L; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 119 ± 13 g/L; P =.08). The effects on renal function and platelets were similar, as were the incidences of perioperative myocardial infarction (Duraflo II, 1.5%; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 1.5%; P =.96), stroke (Duraflo II, 1.3%; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 1.2%; P =.47), and hospital mortality (Duraflo II, 1 [0.14%] patient; Carmeda BioActive Surface, 3 [0.45%] patients; P =.31). Conclusions: Despite differences in technology, complexity, and effects on biologic markers, no clinical differences were observed between the Carmeda BioActive Surface system and the Duraflo II coating after coronary artery bypass operations. The overall clinical results were favorable in both groups, confirming the safety and feasibility of routine use of heparin-coated circuits in combination with reduced systemic anticoagulation. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;121:324-30
Consumption inequality in Norway in the 80s and 90s
No full textAbstract:
This article describes the consumption model and inequality study of Chapter 2 in the author's unpublished Ph.D. dissertation submitted at the Dept. of Economics, University of California, Berkeley. The Norwegian Research Council and Statistics Norway financed the project; project no. 120636/730. The following lent encouragement and expertise: Rolf Aaberge, Jørgen Aasness, George Akerlof, Erik Biørn, Clair Brown, Brad DeLong, Michael Hanemann, Christina Romer, David Romer, Kenneth Train, Thor Olav Thoresen, and Knut Reidar Wangen in addition to seminar participants at Statistics Norway and University of California, Berkeley. Thanks belong to all, shortcomings only to the author.
Keywords: Consumption inequality, distribution, household consumption, latent variable model, standards of living, tax refor
The logical framework: an easy escape, a straitjacket, or a useful planning tool?
No full textThe 'logical framework' and 'logical framework approach' have become widespread planning tools, particularly in donor-assisted projects in developing countries. With its simple format and the clear relationship between variables, the logical framework is helpful for summarising main concerns relating to development schemes. At the same time, the author argues, current conventions limit the framework's usefulness; and he suggests modifications that should substantially enhance its applicability and information-carrying capacity. The logical framework approach seeks to address additional dimensions of planning. However, it is too circumscribed by standardised steps and procedures to be defended as the ubiquitous planning methodology it is commonly held out to be. The 'logical framework approach' is here juxtaposed with a broader and more flexible concept of 'development planning', with which it should not be confused.This article is hosted by our co-publisher Taylor & Francis.</p
Eastern Europe does not exist: Hannah Arendt and the politics of the everyday in Loves of a Blonde
No full textIn this article I propose to show that film can challenge some of our political and geographical common sense. The article will be about Eastern Europe, while arguing that Eastern Europe does not exist. To illustrate what I mean by that statement, I will will begin with a conversation I had a few months ago with a friend. We talked about the German novelist Günther Grass and I said that I didn’t much appreciate his writing in the Tin Drum, because it is so rooted in East Germany. By that I meant the flat planes of Eastern Prussia. My friend, who thought that I referred to the DDR, said, “Yes, but Günther Grass was a West German author.” I replied, “That is true, and he was born in Gdańsk.” So at stake in this nice example of miscommunication was the use of the term ‘East’: is this a geographical or a political term
