FLAX: Flexible and open corpus-based language collections development

In this case study we present innovative work in building open corpus-based language collections by focusing on a description of the opensource multilingual Flexible Language Acquisition (FLAX) language project, which is an ongoing example of open materials development practices for language teaching and learning. We present language-learning contexts from across formal and informal language learning in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Our experience relates to Open Educational Resource (OER) options and Practices (OEP) which are available for developing and distributing online subject-specific language materials for uses in academic and professional settings. We are particularly concerned with closing the gap in language teacher training where competencies in materials development are still dominated by print-based proprietary course book publications. We are also concerned with the growing gap in language teaching practitioner competencies for understanding important issues of copyright and licencing that are changing rapidly in the context of digital and web literacy developments. These key issues are being largely ignored in the informal language teaching practitioner discussions and in the formal research into teaching and materials development practices

The economic impact of immigration

This submission is in response to a request from the Clerk to the Economic Affairs Committee for further information on migration to the North of England, with particular reference to skills. It is an individual rather than School or University response. The following comments are concerned with Polish migration and are based on nearly three years accrued knowledge of Polish migrant workers following a series of projects in the North of England that either I have undertaken myself or in one case been part of a research team. Although, this work has not sort to specifically investigate the introduction of skilled Polish workers into the North of England I consider that it provides a context into which many skilled Polish workers have been introduced

Miscellaneous Publication 2004-08

When Elsa the reindeer first stepped into the classroom, handler Greg Finstad had no idea where that first educational excursion would lead. Now, five years later, the Reindeer Research Program (RRP) has published Reindeer Roundup! A K-12 Educator's Guide to Reindeer in Alaska. Development of the curriculum, complete with book, CD-ROM, and instructional kit, was supported by the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, and the UAF College of Rural Alaska, with considerable support also coming from the SNRAS Reindeer Research Program

Country Report: United Kingdom

This book chapter forms the basis of an expert UK county report submitted to the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers as part of a 12 country EU project. The project itself was dedicated to an analysis of the theory and practice of the functioning of the Posting of Workers Directive. The key focus was on the practical experiences of compliance authorities, labour inspectors and other controlling bodies. With one of the main conclusions of the project being that the use of the posting mechanism ranges from normal and decent long-established partnership between contracting partners to completely fake letter box practices of labour-only recruitment

Can “compulsory” annuities provide a fair pension?

This discussion paper finds that since 2002 compulsory annuities no longer provide an actuarially fair pension. Hence annuities are a poor investment giving returns of less than 85% in present value terms. The paper uses a data base of annuity rates collected from MoneyFacts monthly reports since 1994. This includes all products available on the market for Male Only aged 55 to 75 in 5 year increments. The present value of future annuity streams and their resultant moneys worth values (MW) are calculated and analysed, with particular attention to the actuarial aspects. The approach and results are independently confirmed giving a high degree of confidence in the findings. The analysis progresses on from the literature review of recent published work The paper plots historic trends of annuity payout rates and their MW values and highlights some significant characteristics of the annuity market. While annuity rates can be expected to fall as life expectation rises no logical reason can be found to also justify the recent and significant reduction in their MW value below the actuarially fair value of 1.0. This research provides a valuable insight for developing strategies to guide the pensioner when formulating his income drawdown plans, especially in the light of. recent A-day changes

History of a Problem Solving Course for Pre-Service K-8 Teachers

James Madison University\u27s mathematics course in problem solving for prospective K-8 teachers has gone through many changes since we introduced it as a course for prospective middle school teachers four years ago. This paper will discuss the original design of the course, the changes made and their reasons, and the current state of the course