Creating effective invited spaces : putting the lens on early childhood teacher education practica : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

The teaching practicum offers many opportunities for growth of knowledge, practice and development of new understandings and competencies for student teachers. However, student teachers who are placed within low socioeconomic early childhood settings, if they have little or no knowledge of this habitus, may find this a challenging aspect of their initial teacher education. This study aimed to identify factors that support, facilitate and nurture the positive relationships between associate teachers and student teachers during teaching practicum within low socioeconomic early childhood settings. A qualitative case study approach was used to gather data, including in-depth interviews with two pre-service teacher education coordinators as well as six associate teachers in a range of low socioeconomic early childhood educational settings. The findings provide insights into associate teachers’ pivotal role in allowing student teachers access to the very intimate and specific dispositions and approaches that they implement every day in their practice. In addition, the findings highlight the reciprocal responsibility of student teachers to take advantage of the opportunities to share with their associate teachers during the short passage of time that the teaching practicum allows. The findings from this study led to the development of a conceptual model which reveals the characteristics of an effective ‘invited space’. This invited space is most likely to emerge when both the associate teacher and the student teacher negotiate a respectful and trusting relationship that allows them to share their identity, beliefs, values and practices, and to be prepared to move flexibly between the roles of teacher and learner

Probing the effects of steric bulk on the solution-phase behaviour and redox chemistry of cobalt-diimine complexes

Cobalt-diimine complexes are important structural and redox-active elements in supramolecular assemblies. However, functionalisation of the diimine ligand adjacent to the N-donor atoms can affect dramatically the types of Co-diimine complexes that can form and their redox activity. Herein, we compare the solution phase and redox chemistry of Co(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline, 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine). In acetonitrile solutions containing Co(NO3)2 and neocuproine, the dominant species is the mono-diimine complex [Co(neocuproine)(NO3)(CH3CN)2]+. This complex cannot be oxidised, either electrochemically nor with iodine. We rationalise this behaviour by considering the steric constraints placed upon the metal centre by the bulky methyl substituents on the neocuproine ligand. Furthermore, from solutions of [Co(neocuproine)(NO3)(CH3CN)2]+, crystals of formula [Co(neocuproine)2(NO3)]+·[Co(neocuproine)(NO3)3]− can be obtained. We believe that this work will guide the development of Co-diimine supramolecular assemblies by highlighting the extent to which substituents close to the N-donor atoms affect which species form in solution, and their likely redox activity

A Proposal To Support Wellbeing in People With Borderline Personality Disorder: Applying Reminiscent Theory in a Mobile App

In this paper the research draws upon reminiscence therapy, which is used in treating dementia, as an applied theory to promote well being in people who experience low moods. The application proposed here aims to promote wellbeing for people suffering from mood disorders and dementia but could potentially be used to enhance wellbeing for many types of users. Use of the application is anticipated to improve mood in a group of users where severe emotional problems are prevalent. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a reminiscence based application in promoting well being in people specifically with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The long term objective of this research is to establish the effectiveness of reminiscence theory on user groups aside from dementia, particularly other mental illnesses. The research advocates involving end users within the design process both to inform and evaluate the development of a mobile and tablet application.Comment: Conference pape

Fall 2018 Professional Practices

While still being a college student, I have used many different practices to create artwork, differing from woodworking to metalsmithing and my emphasis, graphic design. However; the voice of my work always calls back to the theme which I feel the most connected to not only in my art making process, but also throughout my life as well. I believe nature and being outdoors is one of the keys to creating a happy life for ourselves – and is the place I feel most heard, comforted, and accepted. A hike through the woods or a day paddle boarding across the lake always brings solace and is able to still and refocus my mind. The calming effect of nature then is what translates to all of my favorite works and reappears no matter the media I am employing. Some of my works that deal with this recurring theme include an embroidery series of photographs that include my favorite places I have travelled heat transferred and then stitched over to emphasize individual elements of the landscape. When presented, its ideal location would be hanging from tree branches so that the viewer must take a step into a serene, outdoor location to view them. Another piece that demonstrates this is one of my most recent works, a band saw box created in the shape of a tobacco leaf, which represents the landscape where I spent my entire childhood. This theme not only translates into 3D materials, but into my graphic design projects as well. Here I often use simple patterning that include natural elements such as hand drawn leaves and flowers. My overall vision for my work would be for viewers to see my pieces and it draw them back to their favorite moments they have had travelling, or where they played outside as a child. That the small moment they spend viewing my work would take them back to a time they felt they were less stressed and carefree – and hopefully demonstrate that I believe these feelings can be brought back by spending time quietly enjoying nature. I believe my work fits in with contemporary art by relating to the current crisis to stop global warming. While not directly speaking to this issue, my work showcases the beauty of the natural world and could encourage others to do their part in keeping it clean for the sake of humans and animals alike. My work also reflects on that of art throughout history. Ancient people believed parts of nature to be gods and would create entire ceremonies around natural events such as rain or a good crop season. The theme of the importance of nature has been demonstrated since the beginning of art being recorded and we should hold onto that standard to continue. To conclude, I believe spending nature is one of the most important factors for happiness in our lives and this for me continues into every medium of my work. If I am able to make viewers stop their hectic lives for one moment, and remember a calmer time or time they have enjoyed outdoors then we as a society would be able to come together again and create positive change not only for our environments, but for our own lives as well.https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art399/1044/thumbnail.jp

Cut Song Cabaret: Performing the Replaced, Rewritten, and Recycled Songs of Musical Theatre

In musical theatre, “cut songs” are the pieces of music that are removed from a show, whether the cut occur in the early creative stages, a pre-Broadway run, minutes before opening night, or even for a major revival years after its initial debut. These songs easily go unnoticed, as some are never made public while some are sneakily recycled for other musicals. Cut songs, though greatly varying in quality, are still works of art that at one time fulfilled their sacred duty of entertaining an audience and required just as much artistic effort to produce as the songs that survived the chopping block. By gaining an understanding of the songs themselves, theatre consumers and creators alike can deepen their base knowledge and overall appreciation of musical theatre, its history, and its construction. Cut Song Cabaret is a fifty-five minute, one-person show that aims to bring eleven cut songs from a century’s worth of notable musicals to light while exploring each song’s history and function through a largely comedic, and occasionally profound, lens

Structure-reactivity relationships through-ray and neutron diffraction studies

This thesis is primarily concerned with the investigation of a structure-reactivity relationship in a series of pentacyclic Isodrin derivatives. These compounds undergo a two-hydrogen atom dyotropic rearrangement at vastly differing rates when apparently small structural changes are made. Two pairs of these isomers (with the formulas C(_16)H(_8)Cl(_10) and C(_16)H(_9)Cl(_9) ) have been investigated using both X-ray and neutron single crystal diffraction studies, at ambient and low temperatures. The experimental details of these studies are given for five experiments and the results of the least-squares refinements made using the data from these experiments are reported herein. In addition to conventional crystallographic studies, an experimental charge density study of one of these compounds, C(_16)H(_9)Cl(_9), has been made at 123K. The electron density was modelled using a multipole model which allows explicitly for the aspherical nature of the electron density. The results of this study, including a topological analysis of the charge density are reported in this thesis. The structures of six organometallic, four molybdenum bis(imido) and two half-sandwich niobium imido complexes, are also reported herein. Their structures were determined from single crystal diffraction data. These compounds show the expected structures predicted using the pseudo-isolobal relationship to the Group 4 bent metallocenes of which they may be considered analogues

Bloom

The sense of home and spending time in nature has been rooted in my heart since I was a child. The beauty of the natural world brings me freedom as well as peace, tying many of my memories together in a single gesture. Summers spent running barefoot through freshly cut grass, picking daffodils from the side of backroads, and planting a sunflower garden in the backyard have all been formative experiences for me. Nature has been a theme I have been continually drawn to throughout my art career and it seemed to be the perfect fit to pair with my love of illustration. These symbolic parallels between the growth of plants and humans hold an important place in the branding of Bloom. Bloom – a fictional flower shop made up of a series of branded package designs, posters, t-shirts, and garden tools. The logo includes a sans serif font with line drawings of two flowers and a branch of leaves. The logotype is used throughout the body of work as well; and references the organic, hand-drawn theme within the branding and illustrations of the work. Using a hand-written typeface for the logotype as well as in other aspects throughout helps create a strong brand identity between the packaging, posters, and other design elements. Hand-drawn illustrations help provide a personal connection for the audience, as well as represent my connection to the subject matter. A second script typeface is also used to contrast the sans serif and which again reinforces the theme found in things that are created by hand and found in the natural world – being perfectly imperfect. The color scheme includes soft, natural shades of earth tones and floral colors. I draw inspiration from Alli Koch’s illustration style, Julianna Swaney’s color palettes, and Jessica Hische’s hand lettering. All three designers create unique works that are organic and personal in feel. My goal for this body of work is to create a consistent brand identity and to remind my viewers of the beauty in the natural world and that simply bringing a bouquet of flowers or a plant inside can create a more positive atmosphere. The size of the seed packets encourage viewers to get closer to view the smaller scale illustrations and planting instructions while the large scale mural allows them to take a step back and absorb the exhibition as a whole. The theme of objects being handmade continues within the media used, including terra cotta pots, natural wood shelves, and recycled paper textures – no two objects are perfect or exactly the same. Creating this discussion with the viewer allows them to connect with the idea behind the entire branding of Bloom: the organic qualities found in something that is hand-drawn reflect the imperfect perfection found in nature itself.https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art498/1058/thumbnail.jp

An introduction to Translation, Poetry and Creative Practice

This edition takes a wide understanding of translation, exploring not only translation practices, but also the ways in which translation can be an impetus for thinking and creating for both poets and translators. The edition explores the practice of translation as an encounter with other cultures or as a collaborative act; it unravels the crossdisciplinary associations made when taking words into transit; it investigates the journey into the self as one’s own languages interact and pull against each other

Crystallographic investigation into the self-assembly, guest binding, and flexibility of urea functionalised metal-organic frameworks

Introduction of hydrogen bond functionality into metal-organic frameworks can enhance guest binding and activation, but a combination of linker flexibility and interligand hydrogen bonding often results in the generation of unwanted structures where the functionality is masked. Herein, we describe the self-assembly of three materials, where Cd2+, Ca2+, and Zn2+ are linked by N,Nʹ-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)urea, and examine the effect of the urea units on structure formation, the generation of unusual secondary building units, structural flexibility, and guest binding. The flexibility of the Zn MOF is probed through single-crystal to single-crystal transformations upon exchange of DMF guests for CS2, showing that the lability of the [Zn4O(RCO2)6] cluster towards solvation enables the urea linkers to adopt distorted conformations as the MOF breathes, even facilitating rotation from the trans/trans to the trans/cis conformation without compromising the overall topology. The results have significant implications in the mechanistic understanding of the hydrolytic stability of MOFs, and in preparing heterogeneous organocatalysts