An Australian/UK comparison of contemporary teaching and learning technologies

The last decade has delivered substantial changes in construction and property education in Australia and the UK. There has been an increase in the number of courses offered in built environment education and the profile of a typical student has changed. In both countries students are under pressure to balance study and work due to the higher costs of living and education. This has placed demands on providers to deliver teaching and learning which meets student, industry and professional needs. Simultaneously there has been an increase in the application of technology in the business and corporate world which has resulted in increased efficiencies and new challenges. This paper evaluates changes in construction and property education courses to embrace new technology. The focus is on the delivery of innovative teaching and learning materials and the interaction between students, staff and the community. Results from questionnaires from new and existing students at Deakin University and Nottingham Trent University were used alongside examples of teaching and learning as illustrative case studies, the emphasis is placed on pushing the boundaries of the conventional built environment education process. The findings show that by embracing technology there can be a &bdquo;win-win‟ scenario for students, staff and industry stakeholders. Whilst courses adopt varying levels of technology, it seems inevitable that educators must evolve the delivery of education to become efficient and effective as the century progresses.<br /

Critiquing the Critique: Analyzing a Report on the Housing Credit Program

The federal low-income housing tax credit (“LIHTC”) is the largest production resource for affordable rental housing. Advocacy groups have critiques of the program’s administration, but a recent study used to support their arguments contains multiple controversial elements. In evaluating this report, Mark Shelburne also discusses racial desegregation, concentrating poverty, preservation, community revitalization, and other related housing policy issues. This article concludes that those researching the LIHTC program should communicate with state administrators in order to avoid analytical flaws

Clonal Variation In The Quality of Radiata Pine Random Width Boards

This clonal study was undertaken to analyze clonal variation in the quality of random width boards, and to document broad sense heritabilities of the board quality and the associated tree variables in radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don). Two individual trees from each often clones were selected based on a wide range of clone mean values for diameter at breast height (DBH), internode index, branch index, and outerwood basic density.Several defect types and frequencies showed differences between clones; variation between clones was greater for defect frequencies than for defect areas. Also differences between clones were greater for boards from unpruned logs than from pruned logs. Knot frequency was far higher in boards coming from the clones with shorter internodes, while knot area per m2 did not vary significantly between clones. Internode length appeared to be highly heritable. The blemish area per m2 from pruned logs was highly variable between clones. Causes and exact configuration of this latter defect are largely unknown and unpredictable but appear to be associated with pruning.Differences were observed in the grade distributions between clones. For all log types, the best performing clone was a large DBH clone with the longest internodes, while a small DBH clone with the shortest internode was the worst. These results show that defect frequency and grades in appearance lumber and associated tree characteristics show high broad sense heritability. This suggests that the grades and the value of these products can be predicted, particularly from tree internode index. A breeding program for long internode radiata pine, started in 1970, has already shown that this trait responds well to selection and breeding

Isometry of medial collateral ligament reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to determine the femoral and tibial fixation sites that would result in the most isometric MCL reconstruction technique. Seven cadaveric knees were used in this study. A navigation system was utilized to determine graft isometry continuously from 0º to 90º. Five points on the medial side of the femur and four on the tibia were tested. A graft positioned in the center of the MCL femoral attachment (FC) and attached in the center of the superficial MCL attachment on the tibia led to the best isometry (2.7 ± 1.1 mm). Movement of the origin superiorly only 4 mm (FS) led to graft excursion of greater than 10 mm (P < 0.01). MCL reconstruction performed with the origin of the MCL within the femoral footprint and the insertion in tibial footprint of the superficial MCL results in the least graft excursion when the knee is cycled between 0º and 90º. Although the MCL often heals without surgical intervention, surgical reconstruction is occasionally in Grade III MCL and combined ligamentous injuries to the knee. This study demonstrates the optimal position of the MCL reconstruction to reproduce the kinematics of the native knee