Musicians’ perceptions and experiences of using simulation training to develop performance skills

Simulation has been applied as a tool for learning and training in sports, psychology and medicine for some time, but its current use and potential for training musicians is less well understood. The aim of this study was to explore musicians’ perceptions and experiences of using simulated performance environments. Nine conservatory students performed in two simulations, each with interactive virtual elements and vivid environmental cues: a recital with a virtual audience and an audition with virtual judges. Qualitative data were collected through a focus group interview and written reflective commentaries. Thematic analysis highlighted the musicians’ experiences in terms of (1) their anticipation of using the simulations, (2) the process of performing in the simulations, (3) the usefulness of simulation as a tool for developing performance skills and (4) ways of improving simulation training. The results show that while simulation was new to the musicians and individual levels of immersion differed, the musicians saw benefits in the approach for developing, experimenting with and enhancing their performance skills. Specifically, the musicians emphasised the importance of framing the simulation experience with plausible procedures leading to and following on from the performance, and they recognised the potential for combining simulation with complementary training techniques

Linking theory and practice: A case study of a co-teaching situation between a mathematics teacher educator and a primary classroom teacher

In recent years there has been growing concern as to how to bridge the gap between the theory pre-service teachers engage with as part of their learning in their tertiary classrooms and the profession. To enable pre-service teachers to make stronger connections with the profession, a mathematics teacher educator worked collaboratively with a practicing teacher by co-teaching one cohort of pre-service teachers studying primary mathematics education. In this paper, we present two snapshots of the co-teaching experience and a framework that was used to describe how the co-teaching partnership helped the pre-service teachers to elicit mathematical thinking make connections between theory and practice, when engaged in mathematical discourse

Produção extemporânea da videira, cultivar Syrah, nas condições do sul de Minas Gerais Extemporaneous production of vines, cultivar Syrah, in the climatic conditions of the south of Minas Gerais

Avaliou-se a produção extemporânea da videira, através de uma segunda poda anual, nas condições climáticas do sul de Minas Gerais. O experimento foi conduzido em vinhedo não-irrigado, da cultivar Syrah, clone 747 ENTAV-INRA, enxertada sobre o '3309 C' e conduzido no sistema de espaldeira, com espaçamento de 2,50 x 1,50 metros. A primeira poda de formação das plantas foi realizada em agosto de 2002, enquanto a poda de produção foi realizada no mês de janeiro, em ramos totalmente lignificados. O ciclo completo de produção foi de 164 dias e a precipitação pluviométrica acumulada neste período, de 480 mm, sendo que, nos últimos 15 dias que antecederam a colheita, não foi registrada nenhuma precipitação. Os valores do potencial hídrico de base permaneceram bastante baixos (valores absolutos) durante todo o ciclo, ao mesmo tempo que a transpiração das folhas e a assimilação do carbono se mantiveram em níveis elevados, caracterizando a ausência de estresse hídrico durante o ciclo de produção. A produção atingiu 8,45 t.ha-1 com 21,75º brix e 100 Meq.l-1 de acidez total na colheita, permitindo concluir que, nas condições de estudo, é possível a obtenção de um ciclo de outono para a videira com bons índices de produção sem o emprego da irrigação.<br>The extemporaneous production of vines was evaluated, through a second annual prune, in the climatic conditions of the South of Minas Gerais. The experiment was carried out in a non irrigated vineyard, of the cultivar Syrah, clone 747 ENTAV-INRA, grafted on 3309 C and conducted in the vertical system, with spacing of 2,50 x 1,50 meters. The first pruning of plant's formation was accomplished in August of 2002, while the production pruning was in the month of January in branches completely lignified. The complete cycle of production was of 164 days and the precipitation accumulated in this period was 480 mm, being that wasn't registered any precipitation on the last 15 days before the harvest. The values of the water potential stayed low (absolute mark) during the whole cycle, at the same time that, the transpiration of the leaves and the assimilation of the carbon stayed in high levels, characterizing the absence of water stress during the production cycle. The production reached 8,45 t.ha-1 with 21,75&deg; brix and 100 Meq.l-1 in the harvest, allowing to conclude that in the conditions of this experiment is possible to obtain an autumn cycle for the vine with good production rates, without the employment of the irrigation