"Informationsanbieter im Wandel" - Bibliothekstagung 2013 (Wien, 25./26.04.2013)

Report on a conference on trends in information services, held in Vienna in April 2013

The Role of Music Context in High School Students\u27 Translations Among Representations in Algebra

Previous research suggests that integrating music into mathematics can benefit students’ mathematics learning but leaves questions as to exactly how students interact with music context and mathematics simultaneously. This study used a descriptive multiple-case study design to understand the way high school students utilize music while engaging in music-contextualized algebra tasks. Eight pairs of high school students participated in this study. The procedures included training four volunteer high school teacher-researchers to carry out three music-contextualized mathematics lessons in their own classes. Data sources for each pair included three student work samples, three audio-video recordings of class sessions, and one audio recording of a semi-structured interview. Qualitative data analysis included within- and between-cases using both open and deductive coding. Results revealed how students utilized music during the three consecutive mathematics lessons and five distinct ways the students utilized the music context. Students used the music context (1) as a source of engagement, (2) to label mathematics, (3) to contextualize an answer, (4) to reevaluate the accuracy of answers, and (5) as a fund of knowledge to draw from. However, students did not always utilize the music context in every task problem. Task problems involving physical, verbal, and contextual representations were more often associated with contextualized answers than task problems involving visual and symbolic representations. The findings also showed how students translating from contextual representations engage in processes of “articulating” and “modelling.” Students translating to contextual representations from other representation types engaged in processes of “contextualizing.” These findings suggest that when music is purposefully integrated into mathematics lessons, there is potential for students to utilize the music context in a variety of ways. These findings are important to teachers and curriculum writers wishing to understand how they can create music-contextualized mathematics lessons and understand the types of connections their students might make to music during those lessons. Implications from this study help educators understand the importance of bridging the gap between mathematical representations and music in high school mathematics classes

Wind profiler signal detection improvements

Research is described on potential improvements to the software used with the NASA 49.25 MHz wind profiler located at Kennedy Space Center. In particular, the analysis and results are provided of a study to (1) identify preferred mathematical techniques for the detection of atmospheric signals that provide wind velocities which are obscured by natural and man-made sources, and (2) to analyze one or more preferred techniques to demonstrate proof of the capability to improve the detection of wind velocities

Paper Session II-B - Commercial Launch Services - The key to the Capital Markets for Space Projects

Space projects have been experiencing crippling difficulties in getting access to private capital markets. As launch operations move from public management to the tougher \u27real world 1 , competition will generate increased access to space, better launch operations and lower project costs. These changes will dramatically improve the cash flow projections and risks of space projects, enabling them to gain access to capital. This paper will give examples of how launch delays can devastate the rate of return on a project. It will also illustrate how fast turnaround can be used to reduce costs and the effect of competition on payload prices

On the electronic structure of CaCuO2 and SrCuO2

Recent electronic structure calculations for the prototypical lowdimensional cuprate compounds CaCuO2 ans SrCuO2 performed by Wu et. al. (J. Phys.: Condens. Matter v. 11 p.4637 (1999))are critically reconsidered, applying high precision full-potential bandstructure methods. It is shown that the bandstructure calculations presented by the authors contain several important inconsistencies, which make their main conclusions highly questionable.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Condens. Matte

Removal of Varnish Layers verifying with UV-vis Spectroscopy

According to the Roy J. Carver grant, one of the goals is to get the mastodon tusk back to its original state. The preservation methods have not been well documented, therefore determining what the best solvents to remove the different layers needs to be known. In order to do this, various solvents will be used and confirmed through UV-vis spectroscopy with a Diffuse Reflectance Accessory (DRA) attached. This will measure the percentage of light that gets reflected back towards the detector. The image to the left shows the various layers that have been used in preserving the tusk, including some organic and inorganic material. As the layers are removed the composition will be checked by T. Divis, which will also confirm when there is only Tusk material remaining on the sample. Due to the size of the Tusk (see below), it is important to know what solvent will remove the most layers, and work the most efficiently.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/mastodon_posters/1006/thumbnail.jp

Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Themselves As Learners Of Mathematics And Science

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here. This study investigated how prospective elementary teachers view themselves as learners of mathematics and science during their last year in a teacher preparation program at an American university. Using drawing and reflections as the method for collecting data, prospective teachers were prompted to draw themselves and reflect on learning mathematics and draw themselves and reflect on learning science prior to and after their mathematics and science methods courses. Drawings (n = 147) were coded according to the presence or absence of several themes including physical objects, teachers, students, and environment. The drawings and reflections indicated that the experience of participating in mathematics and science methods courses taught from a social constructivist perspective positively impacted prospective teachers’ conceptions of themselves as learners and in ways consistent with current research-based pedagogies. The research study described here proposes that prospective teachers’ learning experiences in mathematics and science methods classes might impact how they will teach mathematics and science in their future elementary classrooms

"Informationsanbieter im Wandel" - Bibliothekstagung 2013 (Wien, 25./26.04.2013)

Report on a conference on trends in information services, held in Vienna in April 2013