Podcasting, pupils and pre-service-teachers

This Action Research conforms to Cohen's definition (2000) as "small scale intervention in the functioning of the real world and a close examination of the effects of such an intervention." It is a pilot study that uses a small, but representative group of students with a view to establishing generalisations about the wider applicability of the methods explored. (Burns, 2000, pp. 460-461) The authors examine the use of podcasting - a popular contemporary method of delivering audio content through computers and portable media players. Many rationales for their use in education can be advanced, for example Freedman (2006) lists sixteen reasons including the potential for students to access the podcasts at their own convenience. See also Maag (2006) and Kollar (2006). The study group included six undergraduate, pre-service science teachers who were completing a BSc (Honours) in Bioscience with Teaching. They had previously undertaken course assessments which incorporated presentations to peers and tutors. The pre-service science teachers had already completed block and serial school placements and were considered as being skilled in planning and delivering short presentations as part of their classroom practice. Their presentations had invariably been supported with well constructed and illustrated PowerPoint presentations. The Benchmark Standards for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) (General Teaching Council for Scotland & Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2006) relate to classroom to whole school standards for ITE in Scotland. They make specific reference to the significance and the expectations for Information and Communication Technology (ICT). ICT is viewed (paragraph 3.1) as a "Core professional interest" and student teachers should be "undertaking a range of approaches to teaching to facilitate the learning of pupils, including the appropriate use of information and communications technology". Also, ICT provides the potential "to contribute to a process of change". Boud (2000) was critical of assessment practices in higher education institutions and suggested "The purposes of assessment should be extended to include the preparation of students for sustainable assessment". Draper and Maguire (2006) explored the use of podcasts in campus based teaching with first year undergraduates in the Re-engineering Assessment Practices (REAP) project. These considerations helped motivate the authors to explore podcasts as a means of promoting sustainable assessment with fourth year undergraduates and consider their potential within professional graduate courses. The research explored the following questions: - Did the process of preparing podcasts extend their professional learning? - Can pre-service teachers deliver a well planned, coherent and well organised presentation to demonstrate their understanding of principles of learning and teaching? - Can pre-service teachers prepare a podcast to describe their own action research findings? Pre-service science teachers found the process challenging and rewarding. Pre-service teachers prepared podcast presentations that described their own action research findings. Pre-service teachers delivered well planned, coherent and well organised presentations to demonstrate their understanding of principles of learning and teaching. The process of preparing podcasts extended their professional learning in a variety of ways - base level technical competence in managing the software; pedagogically in identifying and supporting a teaching and learning resource; and professionally in relation to the Benchmark Standards for ITE. The approach is transferable to further study with a larger group of PGDE pre-service teachers

Podcasting and Pre-service Teachers

In 2008, the presenter examined the use of podcasting to assess short research studies by a group of six undergraduate, pre-service final year science teachers. The podcasts were assessed against existing criteria and potential of podcasts within professional graduate teaching courses was considered. The research found that the target audience met, and in many ways exceeded our expectations. As a result, the approach was developed with a larger group of pre service teachers for further study during session 2008/09. This seminar will explore: how the process of preparing podcasts extends pre-service teachers' professional learning; how pre-service teachers can use podcasts to demonstrate their understanding of principles of learning and teaching; and how podcasts can be peer and self-assessed. The presenter hopes to involve some students in this presentation

Letter from David [Gilrye Muir] to [John Muir], 1913 Sep 6.

Pacific Grove Cal Sep 6/13Dear Brother JohnI Enclose a clipping from a Portage paper on the Passenger Pigeon which I know will interest you & it may be worth while to follow it up.All usualy well here. The only item of news is that Sister Sarah is to be left alone here. Annie & Marjorie are about to leave for Los Angeles where Marjorie will attend normal school for two years. Mr Guidenger will build a small house on his land for them & Kenneth will earn the money to pay the bills. He gets $50.00 per month or more. He graduated from the Polytechnic last June.Sarah is real well & brave & I will look after her what I can. My kind regards to all the folk & yourself,Your Brother David05529 Wild, or passenger pigeons are remembered by many of the old residents of this state. In their boyhood many men who are now old and gray haired hunted these birds, They suddenly disappeared, however, and have been long thought to have become extinct. The Hartfort Press of last week has the following to say in regard to a flock seen near that city: Harry Malloy, of the town of Erin, witnessed a sight Tuesday that is unique in this generation, a flock of passenger pigeons. They came from the northeast and were flying southwest, apparently going to the swamp where, Mr. Malloy says he has been told, they bad their haunts years ago, and where the settlers used to go at night and kill them with clubs. [illegible]0552

Beta-enolization In Bicyclic Ketones

A variety of bicyclic ketones was prepared and under strongly basic conditions (t-BuOK/t-BuOH/185{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}C) their behaviour with respect to {dollar}\beta{dollar}-enolization was examined. Several new compounds were produced upon such treatment; these were identified on the basis of their {dollar}\rm\sp{lcub}13{rcub}Cmr{dollar} and {dollar}\rm\sp1Hmr{dollar} spectra.;3,3-Dimethylbicyclo (3.2.2) nonan-2-one slowly rearranged to 3,3-dimethylbicyclo (3.3.1) nonan-2-one, and the latter was stable. Similarly, 3,3-dimethylbicyclo (3.2.2) non-6-en-2-one rearranged to 3,3-dimethylbicyclo (3.3.1) non-6-en-2-one, which was not stable. Experiments with 3,3-dimethylbicyclo (3.3.1) non-6-en-2-one revealed that it was converted into five compounds. The major product, 2,2-dimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetra-hydrindan-1-one, arose from a {dollar}\beta{dollar}-enolate rearrangement. However, this enone underwent slow reduction to cis- and trans-8,8-dimethylbicyclo (4.3.0) nonan-7-one, presumably by single electron transfer from t-BuOK. As a result, the use of a {dollar}\beta{dollar}-enolate rearrangement in natural product synthesis was not considered worthwhile. Also, 3,3,7,7-tetramethylbicyclo- (3.3.1) nonan-2,6-dione was found to be reduced to 6-hydroxy-3,3,7,7-tetramethylbicyclo (3.3.1) nonan-2-one.;3,3-Dimethylbenzobicyclo (3.2.1) - and (2.2.2) octen-2-one and 3,3-dimethylbenzobicyclo (3.2.2) nonen-2-one were prepared and then examined under the same conditions as above. It was found that each rearranged to a single ketone; namely, 3,3-dimethyl-6,7-benzobicyclo (3.3.0) octen-2-one, 7,7-dimethyl-2,3-benzobicyclo (3.2.1) octen-6-one and 3,3-dimethyl-5,6-benzobicyclo (3.3.1) nonen-2-one, respectively. These rearrangement processes, however, are in competition with Haller-Bauer cleavage. The acids resulting from cleavage represented the major products of base treatment. This process precluded synthetic applications of {dollar}\beta{dollar}-enolate rearrangement in these systems.;The highly hindered alkoxide base, potassium 3-ethyl-3-pentoxide was prepared in an effort to retard the cleavage pathway, and while rearrangement was still observed, a predominance of cleavage products was again noted. The effect of several amide bases on the homoenolization of a variety of hindered ketones was also undertaken, in the hope of eliminating reduction caused by t-BuOK. Based on the results of this study, only N-lithio-9-azabicyclo (3.3.1) nonane (LABN) appeared to be worthy of further study, although for the systems studied herein, {dollar}\beta{dollar}-enolization was not observed when LABN was used as base

Bacterial populations and their activity in the Benguela upwelling system

Bibliography : pages 267-315.An investigation of variability in hydrological and bacterial parameters at a fixed coastal station (Oudekraal. Cape Peninsula 33°59'S 17°21'E) showed that bacterial populations varied in numbers and biomass on both a short term (daily) and seasonal basis in response to changes in hydrological conditions which were largely wind induced

Letter from D[avid] G. Muir to [John Muir], 1908 Mar 7.

Pacific Grove, Cal.,Mch. 7, \u2708.Dear brother John:Yours of late date gladly rec\u27d. Very sorry the Grippe has got you again. Glad to know by late reports from the Valley that you are much better. Thanks for Frank Abbott\u27s letter. I\u27ve written to him, I have also rec\u27d letter from Brad Brown saying he would be here in March. I anticipate a grand visit with him.We are all thankful that Helen is doing so nicely, and sincerely hope she may entirely recover. We are all well here. Sarah is herself again, as smart as ever. She was very sick with bowel trouble --would not take medicine nor have a doctor, and ate nothing. We were very much alarmed, but after weeks she began to mend.The coast has been very stormy all winter. We\u27ve had a good deal of nice weather, and lots of damp and chilly days, I\u27m getting so well that I want to do something and can\u27t find a thing to do -- not much business here, I sincerely hope that this will find you well. Lang may your lum reek. Yours as ever,D. G. Muir0408

Letter from David Muir to John Muir, 1867 Mar 25

Portage Cty. Wis, Mar 25/67.Dear Brother John I was made very sorry by your letter which I recd on Saturday eve. I believe it is the only accident that has happened to any member of our family of any account. I went over & told Maggie yesterday. She is very sorry. We talked of going down to see you & keep you company but con- cluded to wait until we heard from you again Now John if you want anything - money - clothing - eatables of preserves Just let let me know & I will send it to you. And if you would like some of us to come down and take care of you or keep you When sick in Floridacompany dont be afraid to say so, and I will either come or get some of the others to come & keep you company & wait on you or bring you home Maggie thinks you had better come home - and if you make up your mind to do so I will come down and get you, and you can stay at my house until you get wellNow John write me just a few words on the recript of this and tell me what I can do to be of the most service & comfort to you don\u27t keep us waiting, for I shall be very impatient until I hear from you again I remain your affectionate Brother David0039