Effect of Formational Learning Experiences on Student Attitudes

This action research project explored the impact of formational learning experiences with refugees on student attitudes. One grade five class from an independent school in British Columbia interacted with, learned the stories from, and built relationships with refugees. All students in the class completed the same survey both prior to beginning the unit and after the unit was concluded about their attitudes toward both immigrants and refugees. Following the formational learning experiences with refugees, eight students participated in interviews where they responded to questions about how their own attitudes and understandings changed over the course of the unit. The results of the survey and interviews showed a change in attitude regarding refugees. The findings of the study suggest formational learning experiences positively impact students’ attitudes towards refugees by increasing their understanding of the diverse stories of people in our world and thus motivating students to care for refugees

Synthesis and structure of methyltriphenylphosphonium dicyanodibromoaurate [Ph3PCH3] [Au(CN)2Br2]

Methyltriphenylphosphonium dicyanodibromoaurate (1) [Ph3PMe]+[Au(CN)2Br2]- was synthesized by the reaction of potassium dicyanodibromoaurate with methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide in an aqueous solution and was structurally characterized. The complex is a yellow-col-ored, air-resistant crystalline substance with a clear melting point. The structure of the compound was established by IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. An intense absorption band was observed in the IR spectrum of compound at 2220 cm-1, corresponding to the stretching vibrations of cyano groups. The absorption band of the deformation vibrations of the P-SPh bonds in the IR spectrum is at 1438 cm-1. In the recorded 1N, 13S, and 31R NMR spectra, signals are observed for the number, value of chemical shifts and integral intensity that do not contradict the proposed complex structure. The X-ray diffraction analysis of crystal 1 was carried out on a Bruker D8 QUEST diffractometer (MoKα radiation, λ = 0.71073 A, graphite monochrom-ator). [C21H18AuBr2N2P, M = 686.13, crystal system triclinic, space group P-1, a = 8.802(5), b = 8.989(5), c = 15.233(11) A, V = 1143.8(13) A3, Z = 2, μ = 10.002 mm-1, F(000) = 644, crystal size 0.41x0.30x0.22 mm]. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis (XRDA) data there are two types of centrosymmetric crystallographically independent monomeric dicyanodibromoaurate anions and methyltriphenylphosphonium cations in the crystal of compound MFDDA. The cations have a distorted tetrahedral configuration: the CPC angles equal 108.8(2)°-110.0(2)°, the P-S distances are 1.791(5)-1.800(5) A. All SAuC and BrAuBr trans-angles are 180.0° in the [Au(CN)2Br2]-an-ions. The Au-C distances in anions differ from each other and equal 2.040(7), 2.024(1), 1.991(2) A. These values are close to the sum of the covalent radii of atoms (2.03 A). The Au-Br bond lengths are equal to 2.4162(14), 2.4591, 2.474(5) A in dicyanodibromoaurate anions. Formation of the crystal structure occurs due to formation of weak N···N-S hydrogen bonds between cations and anions (2.68, 2.59, 2.38 A) and Br···N-S (3.03, 3.02 A). Complete tables of coordinates of atoms, bond lengths and valence angles are deposited at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre. © 2020, Ivanovo State University of Chemistry and Technology.Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Minobrnauka: 4.6151.2017/8.9South Ural State University is grateful for the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (grant No. 4.6151.2017/8.9)