Essayons: French as a Second Language Teacher Experiences of Technology-Enhanced Practice

While past research has identified the importance of teacher beliefs in informing practice, this work is underexplored in the context of Canadian French as a Second Language (FSL) teachers. Numerous studies have emphasized the benefits of technology-enhanced teaching practices, yet the daily challenges faced by FSL teachers limit their capabilities to fully integrate these tools and pedagogies into their practices. By considering how practicing FSL teachers experience the integration of technology in second language learning, this research contributes a current understanding of these realities. Through an interpretive lens, this article presents an account of the experiences of four FSL teachers in an urban school board in southern Alberta. The participants’ responses reveal that while current trends in technology integration aligned well with their beliefs, numerous barriers have presented ongoing challenges in enacting their visions for their professional practices

Examining CEFR-related Professional Learning Interventions for Language Teachers: A Qualitative Meta-synthesis

Current language teaching and learning reflects an increasingly situated approach, paralleling the tenets of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). Although these methods are promoted in language curricula globally, how language educators are being prepared to adopt these approaches is less clear. This project therefore sought to investigate how CEFR-related training interventions are being used internationally with second language (L2+) pre-service and in-service teachers. Here, we provide the results of a qualitative meta-synthesis of literature on professional learning on the CEFR. Seventeen studies met the final inclusion criteria. The existing literature demonstrates how explicit training on the CEFR can support teachers’ understanding and positive perception of the framework and align teachers’ planning, pedagogy, and assessment practices with contemporary tenets for language teaching and learning. These studies provide insights into the impact, opportunities, and challenges related to engaging L2 teachers in CEFR learning

Magnus Effect in Duct Flow

The following research paper details the preliminary research carried out by this team. The project was originally conceived to determine if Magnus Lift could be utilized in an unconventional way to assist rockets during takeoff. Several conceptual designs were proposed, but the idea was scrapped when it became apparent that the team would not be able to generate the desired lift without inducing significant amounts of drag and additional weight on a rocket. Instead, the team focused on researching an interesting topic that hasn’t been previously explored: Magnus lift on a cylinder within a duct. An experimental procedure that could be carried out in a wind tunnel at the University of Akron was designed along with several models for a test fixture. In order to predict the results of the experiment, several preliminary CFD simulations were performed. Unfortunately, due to limited time and resources, the test fixture was not built and the experiment was not carried out. However, more detailed simulations were performed. Unfortunately, the results suggested that minimal lift is generated on a duct/cylinder system compared to a spinning cylinder in open air. Several potential applications for utilizing the Magnus effect were suggested, such as assisting rockets during takeoff, or allowing trains to enter curves at higher speeds without derailing. Although Magnus effect in duct flow would likely provide negligible benefits, the potential uses for Magnus lift in open air are promising

Magnus Effect in Duct Flow

The following research paper details the preliminary research carried out by this team. The project was originally conceived to determine if Magnus Lift could be utilized in an unconventional way to assist rockets during takeoff. Several conceptual designs were proposed, but the idea was scrapped when it became apparent that the team would not be able to generate the desired lift without inducing significant amounts of drag and additional weight on a rocket. Instead, the team focused on researching an interesting topic that hasn’t been previously explored: Magnus lift on a cylinder within a duct. An experimental procedure that could be carried out in a wind tunnel at the University of Akron was designed along with several models for a test fixture. In order to predict the results of the experiment, several preliminary CFD simulations were performed. Unfortunately, due to limited time and resources, the test fixture was not built and the experiment was not carried out. However, more detailed simulations were performed. Unfortunately, the results suggested that minimal lift is generated on a duct/cylinder system compared to a spinning cylinder in open air. Several potential applications for utilizing the Magnus effect were suggested, such as assisting rockets during takeoff, or allowing trains to enter curves at higher speeds without derailing. Although Magnus effect in duct flow would likely provide negligible benefits, the potential uses for Magnus lift in open air are promising

A Course or a Pathway? Addressing French as a Second Language Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Canadian BEd Programs

Institutions strive to offer programs that address both the needs of the educational system and incorporate current pedagogical research. Creating a program that is relevant, inspiring, and accessible to aspiring French as a Second Language (FSL) teachers, while also equipping them with the skills and knowledge deemed necessary by the education system, is a delicate balancing act. This study reviewed 44 FSL teacher education programs that lead to professional certification across Canada. Environmental scans drew information from the program websites related to admission requirements, program structure and content, practicum, and graduation criteria. Follow-up interviews with program stakeholders were conducted to verify or clarify the data. The results highlight the inconsistencies that exist among programs for developing FSL educators. We position the ways in which Canadian faculties of education might provide a more holistic “pathway” approach to recruiting, preparing, and retaining emerging FSL teachers.Les établissements qui préparent les futurs enseignants de français langue seconde (FLS) s’efforcent d’offrir des programmes qui répondent à la fois aux besoins du système éducatif et qui intègrent les recherches pédagogiques actuelles. Créer un programme à la fois pertinent, inspirant et accessible aux futurs enseignants de FLS, tout en les dotant des compétences et des connaissances jugées nécessaires par le système scolaire, est un exercice d’équilibre délicat. Cette étude a examiné 44 programmes de formation des enseignants de FLS qui mènent à la certification professionnelle au Canada. Des analyses de l’environnement ont permis de tirer des informations des sites Web des programmes concernant les conditions d’admission, la structure et le contenu du programme, les stages et les critères d’obtention du diplôme. Des entrevues de suivi avec des intervenants des programmes ont été menées pour vérifier ou clarifier les données. Les résultats mettent en évidence les incohérences qui existent entre les programmes de formation des futurs enseignants de FLS. Nous proposons des moyens par lesquels les facultés d’éducation canadiennes pourraient offrir une approche plus holistique de « parcours » pour recruter, préparer et retenir les nouveaux enseignants de FLS

Nitrogen transport in the orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis - further evidence for a mutualistic association.

Mycorrhizas are symbioses integral to the health of plant-based ecosystems (Smith & Read, 2008). In a typical mycorrhizal association, fungi in, or on, plant roots pass soil-acquired inorganic nutrients and water to the plant host. In return, the host transfers excess photosynthate to the fungus

Hard X-ray emitting Active Galactic Nuclei selected by the Chandra Multi-wavelength Project

We present X-ray and optical analysis of 188 AGN identified from 497 hard X-ray (f (2.0-8.0 keV) > 2.7x10^-15 erg cm^-2 s^-1) sources in 20 Chandra fields (1.5 deg^2) forming part of the Chandra Multi-wavelength Project. These medium depth X-ray observations enable us to detect a representative subset of those sources responsible for the bulk of the 2-8 keV Cosmic X-ray Background. Brighter than our optical spectroscopic limit, we achieve a reasonable degree of completeness (77% of X-ray sources with counter-parts r'< 22.5 have been classified): broad emission line AGN (62%), narrow emission line galaxies (24%), absorption line galaxies (7%), stars (5%) or clusters (2%). We find that most X-ray unabsorbed AGN (NH<10^22 cm^-2) have optical properties characterized by broad emission lines and blue colors, similiar to optically-selected quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey but with a slighly broader color distribution. However, we also find a significant population of redder (g'-i'>1.0) AGN with broad optical emission lines. Most of the X-ray absorbed AGN (10^22<NH<10^24 cm^-2) are associated with narrow emission line galaxies, with red optical colors characteristically dominated by luminous, early type galaxy hosts rather than from dust reddening of an AGN. We also find a number of atypical AGN; for instance, several luminous AGN show both strong X-ray absorption (NH>10^22 cm^-2) and broad emission lines. Overall, we find that 81% of X-ray selected AGN can be easily interpreted in the context of current AGN unification models. Most of the deviations seem to be due to an optical contribution from the host galaxies of the low luminosity AGN.Comment: 26 pages; 13 figures (7 color); accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

The Luminosity Function of X-ray Selected Active Galactic Nuclei: Evolution of Supermassive Black Holes at High Redshift

We present a measure of the hard (2-8 keV) X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of Active Galactic Nuclei up to z~5. At high redshifts, the wide area coverage of the Chandra Multiwavength Project is crucial to detect rare and luminous (Lx > 10^44 erg s^-1) AGN. The inclusion of samples from deeper published surveys, such as the Chandra Deep Fields, allows us to span the lower Lx range of the XLF. Our sample is selected from both the hard (z 6.3x10^-16 erg cm^-2 s^-1) and soft (z > 3; f(0.5-2.0 keV) > 1.0x10^-16 erg cm^-2 s^-1) energy band detections. Within our optical magnitude limits (r',i' < 24), we achieve an adequate level of completeness (>50%) regarding X-ray source identification (i.e., redshift). We find that the luminosity function is similar to that found in previous X-ray surveys up to z~3 with an evolution dependent upon both luminosity and redshift. At z > 3, there is a significant decline in the numbers of AGN with an evolution rate similar to that found by studies of optically-selected QSOs. Based on our XLF, we assess the resolved fraction of the Cosmic X-ray Background, the cumulative mass density of Supermassive Black Holes (SMBHs), and the comparison of the mean accretion rate onto SMBHs and the star formation history of galaxies as a function of redshift. A coevolution scenario up to z~2 is plausible though at higher redshifts the accretion rate onto SMBHs drops more rapidly. Finally, we highlight the need for better statistics of high redshift AGN at z > 3, which is achievable with the upcoming Chandra surveys.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 25 pages, 18 figure

Discovery of a z=4.93, X-ray selected quasar by the Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChamP)

We present X-ray and optical observations of CXOMP J213945.0-234655, a high redshift (z=4.93) quasar discovered through the Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChaMP). This object is the most distant X-ray selected quasar published, with an X-ray luminosity of L(X)=5.9x10^44 erg/s (measured in the 0.3-2.5 keV band and corrected for Galactic absorption). CXOMP J213945.0-234655 is a g' dropout object (>26.2), with r'=22.87 and i'=21.36. The rest-frame X-ray to optical flux ratio is similar to quasars at lower redshifts and slightly X-ray bright relative to z>4 optically-selected quasars observed with Chandra. The ChaMP is beginning to acquire significant numbers of high redshift quasars to investigate the unobscured X-ray luminosity function out to z~5.Comment: Published in ApJ Letters; 4 pages; 3 figures; http://hea-www.harvard.edu/CHAMP

The Remarkable Be Star HD110432

HD110432 has gained considerable attention because it is a hard, variable X-ray source similar to gamma Cas. From time-serial echelle data obtained over two weeks during 2005 January and February, we find several remarkable characteristics in the star's optical spectrum. The line profiles show rapid variations on some nights which can be most likely be attributed to irregularly occurring and short-lived migrating subfeatures. Such features have only been observed to date in gamma Cas and AB Dor, two stars for which it is believed magnetic fields force circumstellar clouds to corotate over the stellar surface. The star's optical spectrum also exhibits a number of mainly FeII and HeI emission features with profiles typical of an optically thin disk viewed edge-on. Using spectral synthesis techniques, we find that its temperature is 9800K +/-300K, that its projected area is a remarkably large 100 stellar areas, and its emitting volume resides at a distance of 1 AU from the star. We also find that the star's absorption profiles extend to +/-1000 km/s, a fact which we cannot explain. Otherwise, HD110432 and gamma Cas share similarly peculiar X-ray and optical characteristics such as high X-ray temperature, erratic X-ray variability on timescales of a few hours, optical emission lines, and submigrating features in optical line profiles. Because of these similarities, we suggest that this star is a new member of a select class of "gamma Cas analogs."Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, accepted by ApJ (3/20/06