Technology-enhanced Pathways to Active Learning: Student Response Systems Facilitating Peer-instruction and Self-assessment in Large Classrooms

This paper describes an active learning approach implemented in a first-year undergraduate course in Introductory Macroeconomics taught at the University of East Anglia. The first part of the paper explains the motivation that led me to introduce this approach, which builds on powerful pedagogies such as self-assessment and peer-instruction, as well as on technology-enhanced learning through Student Response Systems. In the second part of the paper, I report on the mixed-methods evaluation strategy implemented to appraise pedagogical effectiveness. Whilst only briefly commenting on quantitative indicators, which have been the focus of previous publications, the focus of this paper is on qualitative data that conveys students’ perceptions of their learning experiences when using the approach. Analysis of the qualitative data highlights that students view my pedagogical approach, as well as its technology-enhanced implementation, as supportive of student learning, and as a means of enhancing their self-efficacy beliefs. The pedagogic approach is especially welcomed by students coming from an international background, characterised by diverse previous learning experiences. The approach also appears to be particularly effective for students who are struggling with their learning

BUILDING A LIBRARY OF FURANICS IN GRAM SCALE

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) - considered an archetype of bio-based platform chemicals[1] - can be easily prepared from D-fructose via triple dehydration catalysed by different types of acid catalysts including mineral and Lewis acids, metal chlorides, metal oxides, heteropolyacids and ion-exchange resins, etc.[2] Main drawbacks of this synthetic approach include harsh reaction conditions and difficult isolation of the target molecule from the reaction media. Furthermore, most of the syntheses leading to HMF - and in general furanics - are conducted on small scale reactions where separation and isolation strategies are rarely addressed. In our research group we are interested in investigating the synthesis and the subsequent upgrade of HMF - and other bio-based platform chemicals - into a variety of value-added derivatives, such as chemicals, fine chemicals, materials, bio-based polymers and fuels. In this prospect it is essential to develop simple gram scale synthetic approaches addressing both isolation and purification of these compounds. In recent years we have investigated gram scale syntheses of HMF,[3] 5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), 2,5-bis[(alkoxycarbonyl)oxymethyl]furan (BAMF),[4] 2,5-Bis[(alkoxycarbonyl)oxymethyl] furan (BCMF)[5], 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester (FDME)[6] and 5,5 '(oxy-bis(methylene)bis-2-furfural (OBMF) and its derivatives.[7] Most of the abovementioned compounds have been achieved employing commercially available catalysts, green solvents, mild reaction conditions and the products were isolated as pure via simple purification procedures. Besides in some cases the related green metrics have also been investigated

Enhancing Interns’ Aspirations towards the Labour Market through Skill-Acquisition: The Second Chance Schools Experience

Second Change School programmes are active in a number of European countries. These schools offer vulnerable young adults an alternative opportunity to enhance their employability skills by alternating education with work experience. People enrolling in these programmes disengaged from schools at an early age. They already experienced or are at-risk to enter into unemployment. This paper examines the impact of the Second Chance Schools on their participants’ aspirations towards the labour market through skill-acquisition. We are able to identify the perception of Second Chance Schools’ interns regarding entry to the professional life. A third of them, for example, consider their attitude or their surroundings as a barrier preventing them from getting a job. However, our results emphasise the role of the interns’ coach in improving their aspirations towards the labour market. We also show that when compared to male interns, female interns have a stronger (positive) perception of the school as a place where they can gain skills

Death of the pedagogue: pluralism and non-didacticism

Contest and controversy; orthodoxy and heterodoxy; critique and reject: how can economics curricula be adjusted to illustrate the multiplicity of, frequently antagonistic, explanations for observed phenomena? This paper commences by addressing the meaning of pluralism within the rubric of Foucault and Barthes, proposing that the application of pluralism in economics is a more complex process than has previously been acknowledged. It posits that the emphasis falls too often on pedagogical issues that re-affirm hierarchical teacher-learner relationships which hinder learner autonomy and encourages the transmission of teacher bias. Arguing that the economics instructor should instead act as an enlightened navigator, it addresses the practical aspects of delivery by exploring two key modules in undergraduate degree provision: intermediate microeconomics and the dissertation

DIALKYL CARBONATE CHEMISTRY: EXPLORING NEW GREEN, CHLORINE-FREE SYNTHETIC APPROACHES

Dialkyl carbonates are green solvents and reagents (DACs) extensively investigated as possible alternatives to chlorine reagents and solvents.[1] Specific areas where Green, chlorine-free synthetic approaches via DAC chemistry have been exploited include: Renewables upgrade: Substitution of petroleum-based compounds with renewable substances has been a focal point in recent research. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has published a list of target molecules considered of special interest for biorefinery development.[2] Among them D-sorbitol, and HMF derivatives occupies a top position in the list as they encompass all of the desired criteria for a bio-based platform compound. In particular, chlorine-free upgrading of D-sorbitol, isosorbide and HMF with DACs has led to several industrially relevant product.[2] Heterocycles: DACs chemistry has been proved efficient in the preparation of numerous 5- and 6-membered heterocycles including: furan systems, pyrrolidines, indolines, isoindolines, 1,4-dioxanes, piperidines and cyclic carbamates. In these reactions, the selected DAC acts as sacrificial molecule instead of Chlorine-based compounds.[3] Mustard carbonates: Mustard carbonate: Carbonate analogues of toxic mustard gases - are a new class of compounds, easily synthesized via DAC chemistry retaining the reactivity of mustard gases, but that are not toxic for the operators or the environment. Their reactivity as novel, green electrophiles and their possible potential application as green reagents have been investigated; applications include synthesis of heterocycles via ring expansion and macromolecules preparation.[4] Research conducted in the abovemention areas indicate that DACs can be used to develop a beyond chlorine chemistry with high efficiency and selectivity

Turning mustard gas chemistry into green chemistry: a new tool for pharmaceutical synthesis

N,N -dialkyl ethylamine moiety can be found in numerous scaffolds of macromolecules, catalysts and especiallypharmaceuticals such as Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, Amiodarone, Phenyltoloxamine, Trifenagrel and Trimethobenzamide.Common synthetic procedures for its incorporation in a substrate rely on the use of a nitrogen mustard gas or onmultistep syntheses featuring chlorine hazardous/toxic chemistry. Herein are reported our latest results on the one-potsynthetic approach for the introduction of the N,N -dialkyl ethylamine moiety in different phenolic substrates via dialkylcarbonate chemistry. In a typical reaction, 2-dimethylaminoethanol was reacted with a nucleophile (a phenolic scaffold)and dialkyl carbonate (DAC), i.e., diethyl carbonate (DEC), in the presence of a base. In particular, DEC was used for thein-situ formation of ß-aminocarbonate (mustard carbonate) that in turn acts as an alkylating agent via nitrogen nitrogenanchimeric assistance. Different substrates were investigated including precursors of commercially available drugsgiving the related alkylated compound in good to quantitative yields. This one-pot alkylation approach is a striking example of chlorine-free direct substitution of an alcohol, indicated as oneof the key Green Chemistry research areas for pharmaceuticals manufacturers. Furthermore, an in vitro toxicity studyhas been conducted on ß-aminocarbonate and its alcohol precursor, giving an insight into the cytotoxicity values of thereagents for the synthetic procedure proposed

5,5'(Oxy-bis(methylene)bis-2-furfural (OBMF) from 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF): a systematic study for the synthesis of a new platform molecule from renewable substances

The continued exploitation and depletion of fossil fuels has prompted the scientific community to search for more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives. In the last decade, the synthesis of biomass-derived chemicals has become a priority to boost the transition from refinery to biorefinery. Sugars are an extremely abundant bio-resource in nature; even today, one of the most studied reactions is the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF). This compound is considered extremely important for biorefinery because of its wide range of possible applications (pharmaceutical, biofuels, polymer precursors, surfactants). However, it has been observed, during the spontaneous degenerative process of HMF, the formation of a compound that could be equally important 5,5'-[oxybis(methylene)]bis-2-furfural (OBMF). The synthesis of OBMF is scarcely reported in the literature, only in recent years interest in this dimer of HMF has emerged for its possible applications in industry. Good yield values of OBMF are reported in the literature from HMF (Figure 1) in the presence of an acid catalyst; however, the solvents used are the most common halogenated and/or aromatic solvents, known to be toxic. The objective of this work was to find a viable synthetic route to access OBMF without having to resort to the use of such solvents and, in addition, utilize already commercially available and inexpensive acid catalysts. Through smallscale optimizations, the best solvent was found to be dimethyl carbonate;4 In addition, two heterogeneous acid catalysts - Purolite 269 and ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) - showed excellent efficiency in promoting the HMF etherification reaction with quantitative yields (> 90%). Subsequently, a scale-up of the reaction was carried out, obtaining OBMF with an isolated yield of 81%. Given the excellent results obtained, this work can be a starting point to undertake the study of new synthetic methodologies for this molecule such as continuous flow reactions of which the literature is lacking