A Reflective Evaluation of Group Assessment

There is a general agreement in the literature that groupwork helps to develop important interpersonal and personal skills (Race, 2001; Visram & Joy, 2003; Elliot & Higgins, 2005; Kench et al, 2008). However, one of the problems with groupwork for both students and lecturers is how the work should be assessed (Parsons & Kassabova, 2002). The possibility of having ‘free-riders’ and the difficulty of fairly awarding marks to reflect the level of students’ contribution to a group output are some of the key problem areas in groupwork assessment (Race, 2001). Peer assessment is seen as one of the methods to deal with these problems. It can generally involve students assessing each other’s level of contribution to the group’s output (Visram & Joy, 2003). This paper provides our reflection on the use of peer assessment on a student group project

[Review of] Roger D. Abrahams, ed. Stories from Black Traditions in the New World

Abrahams has selected this collection of tales concerning the experiences of African-Americans during and after slavery in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the American South in an attempt to seriously look at Afro-American folktales (mostly collected by whites) in the New World

The influence of rotational speed and pressure on the properties of rotary friction welded Titanium alloy (Ti‐6Al‐4V)

Abstract: This paper presents an investigation of rotary friction welding of 25.4 mm diameter Ti‐6Al‐4V rods. The weld process parameters used for this research were rotational speed, axial pressure and forging time. Only relative speed and axial pressure were the varied parameters while the forging time was kept constant. The mechanical properties of the weld joints were analysed and characterized. The results showed that the rotational speed and friction pressure have significant influence on the tensile strength, microstructure and weld integrity. As rotational speed increased heating time also increased in the weld, as a result, greater volume of material was affected by heat resulting in a wider width of the weld joint. Fine microstructure resulted due to an increased rotational speed and frictional pressure respectively. The oxidation and discolouration of welds were also discussed

Process optimization of rotary friction welding of Ti-6Al-4V alloy rods

Abstract: This paper presents an investigation on the performance of rotary friction welded 25.4 mm diameter Ti-6Al-4V alloy rods. The process parameters used are friction and forging pressure, rotational speed, forging time and upset distance. The heating time was determined by the amount of friction pressure and rotational speed utilised. The final weld joints were examined for mechanical properties. The results revealed that friction welding process parameters have significant influence on the weld joint properties and weld joint integrity. The hardness and ultimate tensile properties of the weld joints varied with the variation in rotational speed and axial pressure. The tensile properties of the weld joints were higher than the parent material at lower rotational speed or higher axial pressure. The weld width was proportional to relative motion and inversely proportional to axial pressure

Renewable Energy Sources and Technologies in Commercial Buildings - Understanding the Nigerian Experience

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions and experiences of building practitioners in the adoption of renewable energy (RE) in commercial buildings in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology was used guided by the principles of the Grounded Theory Method (GTM). Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of five industry practitioners. Findings Five distinct factors emerged, namely, being compliant, change in mindset, normalising, being autonomous and identity. The research revealed the significance of contextual (cultural) peculiarities and the role identity plays in informing RE adoption. The findings substantiate the significance of RE adoption in the future practice of building practitioners and in ensuring environmental stability within the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) context. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on commercial office buildings and attempts to provide contextual grounding to inform theory generation as part of a wider study. Originality/value This research contributes methodologically and empirically by providing grounded insight into the adoption of RE in commercial buildings. Thereby, enabling a much greater understanding of the issues associated with enhanced promotion and adoption by professionals and stakeholders, which can inform policy interventions. Furthermore, it will benefit further research within the SSA context and provide valuable lessons associated with adopting GTM in construction research

Sustainability awareness and practices in the Zambian construction industry

The construction industry makes a significant contribution to the global green-house gas emission. It is, therefore, critical that construction industry professionals should be aware of and practise sustainable construction. However, there is a paucity of studies on the awareness of sustainability and their practices in developing countries, with some results seemingly contradicting. This article explored the awareness and practices of sustainability in the Zambian construction industry. Data was collected from construction industry professionals through a questionnaire survey and a total of 112 responses were received. The relative importance index (RII) and a series of linear regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The participants’ perception of sustainability was primarily enviro-centric as opposed to the economic or social context. However, social and economic sustainability practices ranked highest, while environmental sustainability practices ranked in the bottom five of the 16 practices. While the participants perceived the environmental context as more critical in their understanding of sustainability, their practice reflected a focus on the social and economic sustainability context. The findings imply that merely increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of environmental sustainability may not lead to gross improvements in environmental sustainability practices. Therefore, studies that recommended increasing knowledge and awareness, in order to increase the implementation of environmentally sustainable construction, may have neglected the effect of the other barriers to sustainable construction which may be more critical. Studies with multivariate analyses such as structural equation modelling are needed to establish the contributory effect of the various barriers to environmental sustainability practices and so establish the extent to which knowledge and awareness alone, and other factors, can improve environmental sustainability practices

1-(Ferrocen-1-ylmeth­yl)-3-methyl­imidazol-3-ium hexa­fluorido­phosphate

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Fe(C5H5)(C10H12N2)]PF6, consists of a ferrocene-1-methyl-(3-methyl­imidazolium) cation and a hexa­fluorido­phosphate anion. The ferrocenyl rings are skewed by 6.7 (4)° from the ideal eclipsed conformation. The inter­planar angle between the plane of the substituted cyclo­penta­dienyl ring and that of the imidazole ring is 89.9 (4)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds

The social and cultural meanings of infertility for men and women in Zambia: Legacy, family and divine intervention

Despite the high prevalence of infertility within the sub-Saharan sterility belt, infertility in Zambia is understudied, particularly from a social perspective. Furthermore, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa include the infertility experiences of men. This article seeks to fill this gap by qualitatively describing the ways in which infertility in Zambia is socially and culturally loaded for both men and women. Demonstrating fertility is necessary to be considered a full adult, a real man or woman, and to leave a legacy after death. People in Zambia, including medical professionals, currently lack the necessary information and access to (or ability to provide) care to effectively resolve fertility issues. Infertile people manage their experience through a variety of social, emotional, spiritual, and medical strategies. However, no solution is considered adequate unless the intervention results in childbirth. In this way, infertility is about producing babies and the social meaning of that process, rather than the raising of children

Thermodynamic effects of temperature during roasting of chromite for sodium chromate salts formation

This paper aims to assess the potential effects of roasting temperature on the formation of sodium chromate (Na2CrO4). To perform this task, chromite samples were complexed with NaCl at temperatures ranging from 900 °C to 1 200 °C in the presence of excess oxygen. These experimental conditions were set and assessed based on the predicted phase transformations using Facstage as a prediction tool. The scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) have revealed the roasting behaviour of chromite to be governed by a fully reacted outside layer and an unreacted core. As per the x-ray diffraction (XRD) results, at lower temperature settings, mineral phases such as hematite and chromium oxide reported as an indication of predicted oxidation of chromite. The key results indicate that the addition of NaCl reduces the equilibrium temperature, thereby fully decomposing the stable and refractory spinel structure of chromite at 1 200 °C

Occupational therapy students’ use of social media for professional practice

Background. The use of social media for professional practice is an emerging trend for healthcare professionals; however, limited literature exists on the phenomenon. Social media usage is prevalent among students, as it is incorporated into many health professions education curricula. This poses potential ethical dilemmas.Objective. To examine the nature of social media usage and knowledge of ethical considerations by occupational therapy (OT) students for professional purposes.Methods. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was administered to the entire cohort of OT students (N=128) enrolled at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa in 2016. Data were analysed descriptively using Microsoft Excel 2013 (Microsoft, USA).Results. The most commonly used device to access social media was mobile phones, with WhatsApp and YouTube frequently used for both general and professional purposes. Uses included accessing social media for developing professional skills and knowledge, and in fulfilling academic requirements. Ethical dilemmas were evident among students, who indicated that social media ethical considerations should be incorporated into the curriculum.Conclusion. The study highlighted that most students use some form of social media as part of their professional practice, which has the potential to be used effectively to enhance learning opportunities. Future studies of a qualitative nature could shed light on students’ perceptions of social media and practical implications for practice