Examination of Student-Active Learning Practices in a College/Middle School Educational Collaboration

A college and middle school student teaching collaboration was developed to interest more college students in teaching K-12 science, to enhance diversity among K-16 teaching faculties, and to inspire the K-12 students to expand their knowledge beyond their classroom curriculum. To assess our results, we used a modified Likert survey instrument and self-reflective analysis in middle school and college students, respectively. Overall, middle school students expressed satisfaction in the science learning in which they participated. In addition, college students reported that they learned specific content when made responsible for teaching material to younger students. Collaborative projects such as this one may positively impact attitudes towards math and science learning among middle school students. Research suggests that middle school girls who have positive experiences in math and science classes select further training and career options in these areas. Similarly, college students reported increased interest in K-12 teaching. Collaborative project based learning could be successfully modified by other educators for use in alternative or mainstream educational settings

Unified molecular field theory of nematic, smectic-A, and smectic-C phases

A unified mean-field molecular theory of nematic (NU), smectic A (SmA), and smectic C (SmC) liquid crystal phases, composed of uniaxial nonpolar molecules, is developed taking into account the variation of all orientational and translational order parameters in these phases. Numerical results, obtained by direct global minimization of the free energy, are presented in the form of three typical phase diagrams of different topology. Temperature variation of the relevant order parameters in different sequences of phases is analyzed for various cross sections of the phase diagrams. The present model enables one to reproduce all possible sequences of phase transitions between the given phases including isotropic (Iso)-NU-SmA-SmC, Iso-NU-SmC, Iso-SmA-SmC, and Iso-SmC. The properties of the NAC point, where the NU, SmA, and SmC structures coexist, are considered in detail and the shape of the phase diagram in the vicinity of the NAC point is compared with existing experimental data

Intersex child’s parents’ negative experiences – case study

Intersexualism is often treated as a secret in medical and family systems. According to the thesis that intersex body is pathological and requires immediate surgical and hormonal regulation, intersex persons are subject to the process which involves rapid production of normative masculinity or femininity through invasive clinical practices. The goal of the study was to diagnose the experiences of parents of an intersex child with searching for support during the treatment for both the child and themselves. The study was conducted by means of individual semi-structured interview. The results are presented as a case study. It was shown that parents do not always receive the necessary social and medical support, and their children are treated as sensations and pathologies, regardless of the fact that empathy and acceptance are critical for making the right treatment-related decisions.Intersexualism is often treated as a secret in medical and family systems. According to the thesis that intersex body is pathological and requires immediate surgical and hormonal regulation, intersex persons are subject to the process which involves rapid production of normative masculinity or femininity through invasive clinical practices. The goal of the study was to diagnose the experiences of parents of an intersex child with searching for support during the treatment for both the child and themselves. The study was conducted by means of individual semi-structured interview. The results are presented as a case study. It was shown that parents do not always receive the necessary social and medical support, and their children are treated as sensations and pathologies, regardless of the fact that empathy and acceptance are critical for making the right treatment-related decisions

‘Graphic Medicine’ as a Mental Health Information Resource: Insights from Comics Producers

Recent literature suggests that a growing number of comics are being published on health-related topics, including aspects of mental health and social care (Williams 2012; Czerwiec et al 2015) and that comics are increasingly being used in higher education settings as information resources. This article offers insights from comics creators and disseminators and explores the wider context of comics production and distribution (with a focus on 'Graphic Medicine' or health-related comics) as part of a larger examination of the interface between these documents and potential academic audiences. Original data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants actively involved in comics creation and production. Elements of domain analysis (Hjørland 2002) were used to obtain insights into attitudes to the creation, dissemination and use of mental health-related comics. Though potentially useful comics material is being produced in the mental health domain, significant challenges remain for producers in enabling their work to be accessed within higher education settings. This paper suggests that comics producers need to make a concerted effort to reach academia, and academia - including information professionals - need to embrace new types of material to enhance teaching

The ferroelectric PLZT type ceramics as a material for transducers

Modification of the PZT system by the addition La3+ ions has marked beneficial effect on several the basic parameters, such as squerness of the hysteresis loop, decreased coercive filed, increased dielectric constant, maximum coupling coefficients, increased mechanical compliance, and enhanced optical transparency. The mechanical and electrical properties in lanthanum modified lead zirconate-titanate ceramics of 5/50/50 and 10/50/50 were studied by electric permittivity ε and dielectric losses tan δ measurements. The temperature dependences of ε = f(T) and tan δ = f(T) were determinate in temperature range from 300 K to 730 K. The values of TC obtained during ε and tan δ measurements were respectively: 560 K for 5/50/50 and 419 K for 10/50/50

Pre-Service Teachers’ Knowledge and Attitudes in the Field of Intersexuality and Transsexuality

The research was conducted in 2015–2020 using the method of focus interviews with 78 pre-service teachers. The aim of the research was to diagnose how social transformations in the field of human gender identity shape students’ attitudes towards intersexuality and transgenderism. It has been demonstrated that pre-service teachers claim that the perception of gender identity changes along with moral changes, and the activities of the media and public benefit organizations lead to a change in the negative attitudes of society towards the problems of human biology in terms of gender, while at the same time students do not feel prepared for contact with an intersex or transgender student.Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2015–2020 za pomocą wywiadów fokusowych z 78 studentami specjalności nauczycielskich. Celem badań było zdiagnozowanie, w jaki sposób transformacje społeczne w zakresie tożsamości płciowej człowieka kształtują postawy studentów wobec interpłciowości i transpłciowości. Wykazano, że studenci – przyszli nauczyciele są zdania, iż postrzeganie tożsamości płciowej zmienia się wraz ze zmianami obyczajowymi, a działalność mediów, organizacji pożytku publicznego powodują zmianę negatywnych postaw społeczeństwa wobec problemów biologii człowieka w zakresie płci, przy czym studenci nie czują się przygotowani na kontakt z uczniem interpłciowym lub transpłciowym

The influence of the La3+ content on the mechanical properties of electrooptic transducers based on PLZT type ceramics

Modification of the PZT system by the addition La3+ ions has marked beneficial effect on several the basic parameters, such as squerness of the hysteresis loop, decreased coercive filed, increased dielectric constant, maximum coupling coefficients, increased mechanical compliance, decreased Tc temperature, and enhanced optical transparency. The mechanical and electrical properties in lanthanum modified lead zirconate-titanate ceramics of 5/50/50 and 10/50/50 were studied by internal friction Q¡1, dynamic Young modulus E, electric permittivity " and tangent of dielectric loss of angle tan± measurements. The temperature dependences of Q¡1 = f(T) and E = f(T) were determinated in temperature range from 300 K to 600 K. The temperature dependences of " = f(T) and tan± = f(T) were determinated in temperature range from 300 K to 730 K. The values of TC obtained during " and tan± measurements were respectively: 560 K for 5/50/50 and 419 K for 10/50/50