Expansive Learning

Chapter six explores the concept of ‘expansive learning’ taken from Fuller and Unwin’s (2003) research of apprenticeships where they identified a ‘restrictive- expansive continuum’ that classified the type of learning environment presented in the work place. Crucially, expansive learning encouraged a supportive environment for students to learn higher level skills such as dialogue, problem solving and reflexive forms of expertise. Supportive and collaborative learning environments can instil confidence in the student to develop and the supervisory role (or previously the mentor) is significant to this. The chapter theme of expansive learning is led by the goal to discover what teaching and learning processes can assist all levels of clinical staff in supporting students to move effectively, and in a well-supported way, to the expertise or ‘graduateness’ (Eden, 2014) required at registration and beyond. This was an important foundation of the recent NMC (2017) review. Chapter 2 and 3 have already demonstrated the potential educational role of unqualified staff and peer students who previously have not been officially recognised for coaching learners in practice. With focused and explicit support for their learning, students’ placement experience can be ‘supercharged’ so their learning advances quicker and with greater impact on their long term professional development (Morley, 2018). A model of coaching that emerged from the research study is also presented. Current emphasis in practice learning is placed on the assessment of measurable clinical skills rather than the students’ ability to join these skills holistically in professional practice (Morley, 2015). The ability to be able to teach this type of integration of student performance into the busy clinical practice is more akin to the fluidity of ‘coaching’ rather than ‘teaching’ and this is explored fully within the chapter

Structural Integrity of Single Shell Tanks at Hanford -9491

ABSTRACT The 149 Single Shell Tanks at the Hanford Site were constructed between the 1940's and the 1960's. Many of the tanks are either known or suspected to have leaked in the past. While the free liquids have been removed from the tanks, they still contain significant waste volumes. Recently, the tank farm operations contractor established a Single Shell Tank Integrity Program. Structural integrity is one aspect of the program. The structural analysis of the Single Shell Tanks has several challenging factors. There are several tank sizes and configurations that need to be analyzed. Tank capacities range from fifty-five thousand gallons to one million gallons. The smallest tank type is approximately twenty feet in diameter, and the three other tank types are all seventy-five feet in diameter. Within each tank type there are varying concrete strengths, types of steel, tank floor arrangements, in-tank hardware, riser sizes and locations, and other appurtenances that need to be addressed. Furthermore, soil properties vary throughout the tank farms. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been conducting preliminary structural analyses of the various single shell tank types to address these parameters. The preliminary analyses will assess which aspects of the tanks will require further detailed analysis. Evaluation criteria to which the tanks will be analyzed are also being developed for the Single Shell Tank Integrity Program. This information will be reviewed by the Single Shell Tank Integrity Expert Panel that has been formed to issue recommendations to the DOE and to the tank farm operations contractor regarding Single Shell Tank Integrity. This paper provides a summary of the preliminary analysis of the single shell tanks, a summary of the recommendations for the detailed analyses, and the proposed evaluation criteria by which the tanks will be judged

Review of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites

Natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites which contain one or more types of natural reinforcement are gaining increasing research interest. This paper presents a review of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites. Both thermoplastic and thermoset composites reinforced by hybrid/synthetic fibres or hybrid/hybrid fibres are reviewed. The properties of natural fibres, the properties and processing of composites are summarised

Building bridges: evaluation of a practice-based foundation course

Introduction Successful transition into busy, acute clinical areas such as the Emergency Department and Medical Admissions is influenced by the provision of appropriate support for newly-qualified or inexperienced nurses. This paper presents the collaborative development, implementation and evaluation of an innovative practice-based, accredited foundation course situated across five acute hospitals in south-west London, UK. Methods The aims of this two-phase case study evaluation included identifying how the course influenced participants’ development, to what extent and why. Phase one was a longitudinal exploratory study which used a phenomenological approach and involved all nurses (n=20) enrolled on the first run of the course. Data collection included focus group interviews and questionnaires at the beginning, middle and end of the course. Phase two employed a mixed-methods design and focused upon stakeholder evaluation. Mentors, senior nurses, practice educators and managers participated in semi-structured interviews individually and in small groups. Further data were collected from the second cohort via questionnaires; analysis of the nurses’ portfolios; and employers’ recruitment and retention figures. Results Phase one results were conceptualised as a theoretical model. Participants described a developmental journey involving increasing confidence, job satisfaction, knowledge and skills. The course had a positive influence; in particular providing a ‘bridge’ to support the transition into practice for newly-qualified staff. Practice had both positive and negative influences, with staff from some areas reporting a significant lack of support for the work-based learning activities. Stakeholder evaluation echoed the positive influence of the course on professional and academic development and also recruitment and retention of staff. Discussion Whilst the results of this study are not generalisable, evaluation of this course has demonstrated the value of providing structured development for junior staff in demanding clinical environments. The theoretical model generated may inform the development of similar courses elsewhere

A review on the tensile properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites

This paper is a review on the tensile properties of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. Natural fibres have recently become attractive to researchers, engineers and scientists as an alternative reinforcement for fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Due to their low cost, fairly good mechanical properties, high specific strength, non-abrasive, eco-friendly and bio-degradability characteristics, they are exploited as a replacement for the conventional fibre, such as glass, aramid and carbon. The tensile properties of natural fibre reinforce polymers (both thermoplastics and thermosets) are mainly influenced by the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fibres. Several chemical modifications are employed to improve the interfacial matrix-fibre bonding resulting in the enhacement of tensile properties of the composites. In general, the tensile strengths of the natural fibre reinforced polymer composites increase with fibre content, up to a maximum or optimum value, the value will then drop. However, the Young's modulus of the natural fibre reinforced polymer composites increase with increasing fibre loading. Khoathane et al. found that the tensile strength and Young's modulus of composites reinforced with bleached hemp fibers increased incredibly with increasing fiber loading. Mathematical modelling was also mentioned. It was discovered that the rule of mixture (ROM) predicted and experimental tensile strength of different natural fibres reinforced HDPE composites were very close to each other. Halpin-Tsai equation was found to be the most effective equation in predicting the Young's modulus of composites containing different types of natural fibers