An exploration into the criteria used in assessing design activities with adaptive comparative judgment in technology education

peer-reviewedThe use of design assignments for teaching, learning, and assessment is considered a signature of technology education. However, there are difficulties in the valid and reliable assessment of features of quality within designerly outputs. In light of recent educational reforms in Ireland, which see the introduction of classroom-based assessments centring on design in the technology subjects, it is paramount that the implementation of design assessment is critically considered. An exploratory study was conducted with a first year cohort of initial technology teacher education students (N = 126) which involved them completing a design assignment and subsequent assessment process through the use of adaptive comparative judgement (ACJ). In considering the use of ACJ as a potential tool for design assessment at post-primary level, data analysis focused on criteria used for assessment. Results indicate that quantitative variables, i.e. the amount of work done, can significantly predict performance (R2 = .333, p < .001), however qualitative findings suggest that quantity may simply align with quality. Further results illustrate a significant yet practically meaningless bias may exist in the judgement of work through ACJ (ϕ = .082, p < .01) and that there was need to use varying criteria in the assessment of design outputs

Absolute rigidity spectrum of protons and helium nuclei above 10 GV/c

Proton and helium nuclei differential spectra were gathered with a balloon borne magnet spectrometer. The data were fitted to the assumption that the differential flux can be represented by a power law in rigidity. In the rigidity range 10 to 25 GV/c the spectral indices were found to be -(2.74 plus or minus 0.04) for protons and -(2.71 plus or minus 0.05) for helium nuclei. A brief discussion is given by systematic errors

Tension relationships for steel cable on notched stumps

Tension relationships were determined in steel cable passed through a stump notch and anchored to another object. Tensions were measured in the cable coming into and leaving the notch with one full wrap on the stump. Data was collected from two sites with two test stumps (15.7 to 37.5 inches inside notch diameter) per site and two cable sizes (3/4 and 7/16 inch diameter) per stump. Tensions measured in the cable coming into the notch ranged from 4063 to 18701 pounds. Results show that the coefficient of static friction as determined assuming the V-belt tension equations increases with increased inside notch stump diameter and increased cable site. The coefficient of friction decreases with increased cable tension. A regression equation was developed incorporating these variables. The mean coefficient of friction was 0.1768. This represents a 9.22 to 1 ratio of cable tensions coming into and leaving the notch with a full wrap (3600) on the stump

Stagnate summers : climate induced changes in physical mixing parameters in Missouri reservoirs

Lakes and reservoirs are important environmental sentinels for climate change. As air temperatures rise so do the temperatures of these water bodies affecting their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Being used for drinking water supplies, fisheries, and human recreation, these long term potential changes can be an important factor for their use. Climate change has been associated with altering physical reservoir parameters, such as mixing depth, water temperatures, and water chemistry. Using a historical dataset to find both break points and monotonic trends that may indicate climate having influenced our reservoirs we found little in terms of monotonic trends. However, we did witness changes in all systems in regards to break points for almost every parameter. Our systems cannot directly correlate to having had climate change based effects, as we can neither support or refute its evidence in our reservoirs as changes relating to climate do not only impact physical parameters but also animal and plant communities, and social factors such as use (influenced by cyanobacteria blooms). It is even plausible that increased in reservoir production and turbidity could lead to shifts in physical trends that would otherwise be different in non-affected reservoirs. Over all more information is needed to create a better picture of exactly how climate change is impacting the physical mixing parameters in Missouri reservoirs as they are complex and varied systems.Cody Kimbell, John R. Jones, Daniel Obrecht, and Rebecca North (University of Missouri, Columbia

Technology teacher education requirements

What is the role of teacher education in preparing and supporting teachers of technology education? Before student teachers can even consider teaching technology education, they need an overarching, holistic view of the purpose of technology education in the curriculum, as well as what technology is and how it impacts and influences our world, people, and environment. They also need to understand the role content, pedagogical, and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) play in developing quality technology education teachers. Teacher education occurs at two levels, one in initial teacher education (ITE) programs where students are taught the fundamentals of teaching technology at early childhood, primary, or secondary school level. The second is in-service teacher education, targeted at practicing teachers, aimed at keeping them abreast with changes and contemporary understandings of teaching and learning. This entry’s main focus is the ITE and is based on the premise that student teachers come to technology classes in ITE programs with wide-ranging understandings of technology and little knowledge about pedagogical practices. In their development of the Pre-service Technology Teacher Education Resource (PTTER) framework, Forret et al. (2013) identified four cornerstones for quality technology teacher education. These are that to teach technology successfully, teachers need to understand the philosophy of technology, have a strong rationale for teaching technology, understand the underpinning ideas of the technology curriculum, and plan and implement it using sound pedagogical practices. This entry is structured around these four cornerstones. Throughout this entry, technology education refers to the school curriculum learning area of design and technology. Teachers teach technology either in early childhood centers, primary schools, or as specialist teachers of technology in intermediate or secondary schools, including junior and senior levels

Tunable critical field in Rashba superconductor thin-films

The upper critical field in type II superconductors is limited by the Pauli paramagnetic limit. In superconductors with strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling this limit can be overcome by forming a helical state. Here we quantitatively study the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram of finite-size superconductors with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. We discuss the effect of finite size and shape anisotropy. We demonstrate that the critical field is controllable by intrinsic parameters such as spin-orbit coupling strength and tunable parameters such as sample geometry and applied field direction. Our study opens new avenues for the design of superconducting spin-valves.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, supplemental material

Geometric Validation of Continuous, Finely Sampled 3-D Reconstructions From aOCT and CT in Upper Airway Models

Identification and treatment of obstructive airway disorders (OADs) are greatly aided by imaging of the geometry of the airway lumen. Anatomical optical coherence tomography (aOCT) is a promising high-speed and minimally invasive endoscopic imaging modality for providing micrometer-resolution scans of the upper airway. Resistance to airflow in OADs is directly caused by the reduction in luminal cross-sectional area (CSA). It is hypothesized that aOCT can produce airway CSA measurements as accurate as that from computed tomography (CT). Scans of machine hollowed cylindrical tubes were used to develop methods for segmentation and measurement of airway lumen in CT and aOCT. Simulated scans of virtual cones were used to validate 3-D resampling and reconstruction methods in aOCT. Then, measurements of two segments of a 3-D printed pediatric airway phantom from aOCT and CT independently were compared to ground truth CSA. In continuous unobstructed regions, the mean CSA difference for each phantom segment was 2.2 ± 3.5 and 1.5 ± 5.3 mm2 for aOCT, and -3.4 ± 4.3 and -1.9 ± 1.2 mm2 for CT. Because of the similar magnitude of these differences, these results support the hypotheses and underscore the potential for aOCT as a viable alternative to CT in airway imaging, while offering greater potential to capture respiratory dynamics

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Introducing Craft Design and Technology by A. Breckon and D. Prest, reviewed by Richard KimbellThe Design Process by The Design Council, reviewed by R. MillettDesign Project No. 2 Heavy Plant by John Jeffrey and Nigel Billington, reviewed by R. LightfootThe Eighteenth Century Art, Design and Society, 1689-1789 by Bernard Denvir, reviewed by Marjorie A. CruickshankIndustrial Design Requirements of Industry by C. Hayes and K. Dorsey, reviewed by B. SmithModern Design in Plastics by D. P. Greenwood, reviewed by J. EgglestonWoodturning Projects for Dining by J. A. Sainsbury, reviewed by J. EgglestonWood Turning Music Boxes by J. A. Jacobson, reviewed by J. EgglestonYoung Blood: Britain's Art and Design Schools Today and Tomorrow edited by Kate Baynes, reviewed by A. E. LambethA. Century of Art Education 1882-1982 Hornsey College of Art Centenary Book by Clive Ashwin, reviewed by Oberta de Joi