Teacher perceptions and management of challenging student behaviours in primary school classrooms

This study aimed at investigating Teacher perceptions and management of challenging student behaviours in classrooms and what support is available to the teachers to manage students with challenging behaviours. Managing challenging behaviour in a classroom setting is a problem faced by many teachers. The literature review indicated that teachers who show a genuine interest in students and what they learn and do are more likely to build strong positive relationships with their students and as a result are better able to manage challenging behaviours in their classrooms. The literature review also indicated that it is important, that teachers recognise their perceptions of challenging behaviour and reflect on their own personal beliefs and the beliefs of others regarding the understanding of challenging behaviours. The study is a small-scale educational research project that was qualitative in nature. The qualitative nature of this research allowed for the exploration of the eight teacher participants’ experiences shared during the semi-structured interviews regarding challenging behaviours and what the issues are in managing these behaviours. The outcomes of this study confirm findings in literature by demonstrating that a close, positive and supportive relationship between teacher and students is essential for developing a mutual relationship of respect and for managing challenging behaviours successfully. Findings indicate that teachers need to discuss with colleagues their current perceptions and attitudes towards working with those students who present challenges and investigate ways of working positively with these students. School management and teachers need to work collaboratively in order to minimise the occurrence of and impact of challenging behaviours in classrooms. Findings also indicated some issues raised by teachers that were not viewed in the literature. reviewed. For example issues facing teachers due to occurrence of challenging student behaviour

Smart Shopping Cart

Shop Smart is a system which is designed to assist grocery shoppers with their daily shopping. It is a system which combines both hardware and software components in a way that users will be able to finish their shopping quickly. Shop Smart takes advantage of a GUI and smartphone app technology to enhance user’s experience while shopping

Replacement of rice-wheat cropping system with alternative diversified systems concerning crop productivity and their impact on soil carbon and nutrient status in soil profile of north-west India

AbstractThe depth-wise depletion of soil organic carbon (OC), macro, micro, and secondary nutrients under the rice-wheat system has resulted in multi-nutrient deficiencies and a decline in crop productivity, emphasizing the replacement of rice-wheat with alternate cropping systems like maize-wheat, cotton-wheat, soybean-wheat, and moongbean-wheat to restore soil fertility and productivity. Long-term investigations (since 2016) revealed that there was a depth-wise decline in pH, EC, OC, and nutrients in soil profile (Udic Ustrochept, Inceptisols) among different cropping systems. The practice of deep-rooted cropping systems (maize-wheat and cotton-wheat) led to maximum OC, soluble calcium, and magnesium, while legume-based systems (especially soybean-wheat) led to maximum available phosphorus (30.86 kg ha−1), boron (0.49 mg kg−1), and DTPA-zinc (1.82 mg kg−1) in soil profile (0–120 cm). This system also led to the maximum surface soil OC, available phosphorus, soluble magnesium, DTPA-zinc, and boron. From the production point of view, soybean-wheat system (115.65 q ha−1) led to higher system grain productivity as compared to rice-wheat system (109.60 q ha−1). Therefore, the practice of alternative cropping systems like soybean-wheat and cotton-wheat helps in the build-up of nutrient status by playing a pivotal role in influencing the surface and depth-wise distribution of organic carbon and nutrients in the soil

Customer support for a local food system and food produced from ecologically and socially conscious producers

The ultimate goal of the UBC Food Systems Project is to increase the sustainability of the university food system. One step towards achieving this goal involves re-localization of our foodstuffs. Consequently, our task in 2006 was to develop a survey to assess the desirability and feasibility of re-localization on campus along with current purchasing behaviors, and to further determine willingness to purchase foods produced by socially and ecologically conscious producers. This survey has been built upon a foundation provided by our colleagues over the past several years and finalized through integration of information provided through a pilot test made up of both a class and a field survey. Further, funding, incentives and survey implementation have been organized to ensure success. Collectively, the resulting survey can be implemented in the fall of 2006, through either student distribution or a web based survey, to provide statistically relevant results to our partners in food services on campus to move towards a more sustainable food system here at UBC. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofUnreviewedUndergraduat

Economic evaluation of the Happy Seeder for rice-wheat systems in Punjab, India

Burning of rice stubbles is widely practised in Punjab, India, due to a lack of suitable machinery to direct drill wheat into combine-harvested rice residues. Although burning is a rapid and cheap option, and allows quick turn around between crops, it has serious effects on human and animal health due to air pollution, reduced soil fertility due to loss of nutrients and organic matter, and green house gas (GHG) emissions. The recently developed Happy Seeder (HS) overcomes the technical problems associated with direct drilling into rice residues. The primary aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the direct financial benefits and costs to farmers of use of the HS in comparison with the current practices of straw burning followed by direct drilling or conventional tillage prior to sowing. The results of the evaluation suggest that the HS technology is more profitable than conventional cultivation or direct drilling after burning, and that it is viable for farmers from a financial perspective. The net present value (NPV) of the benefits is highly sensitive to yield; a 5% increase in yield with the HS doubles the increase in NPV of the HS over conventional tillage. The NPV is also quite sensitive to changes in herbicide use, and less sensitive to changes in irrigation water saving and discount rate. Furthermore, there are significant economic, community and environmental benefits through adoption of the technology. For widespread adoption of the technology, a range of potential mechanical, technical, social, institutional and policy constraints need to be considered and addressed in conjunction with a detailed economic assessment of the HS technology

Economic evaluation of the Happy Seeder for rice-wheat systems in Punjab, India

Burning of rice stubbles is widely practised in Punjab, India, due to a lack of suitable machinery to direct drill wheat into combine-harvested rice residues. Although burning is a rapid and cheap option, and allows quick turn around between crops, it has serious effects on human and animal health due to air pollution, reduced soil fertility due to loss of nutrients and organic matter, and green house gas (GHG) emissions. The recently developed Happy Seeder (HS) overcomes the technical problems associated with direct drilling into rice residues. The primary aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the direct financial benefits and costs to farmers of use of the HS in comparison with the current practices of straw burning followed by direct drilling or conventional tillage prior to sowing. The results of the evaluation suggest that the HS technology is more profitable than conventional cultivation or direct drilling after burning, and that it is viable for farmers from a financial perspective. The net present value (NPV) of the benefits is highly sensitive to yield; a 5% increase in yield with the HS doubles the increase in NPV of the HS over conventional tillage. The NPV is also quite sensitive to changes in herbicide use, and less sensitive to changes in irrigation water saving and discount rate. Furthermore, there are significant economic, community and environmental benefits through adoption of the technology. For widespread adoption of the technology, a range of potential mechanical, technical, social, institutional and policy constraints need to be considered and addressed in conjunction with a detailed economic assessment of the HS technology.Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management,