Legislated Love and Loyalty: An Analysis of State Patriotism Statutes

State statutes require students to engage in patriotic exercises and to learn the concept of patriotism. Through emphasis on ceremonial exercises, requirement of specific document study, framing of patriotism as a character trait, and language regarding civic engagement, state statutes promote various conceptualizations of patriotism. Rarely fitting into a dichotomic framework of either authoritarian or democratic patriotism (Westheimer, 2006, 2009), statutes emphasize varying levels of maintenance of status quos or acknowledgement of societal flaws. Identified were four patriotism statute categories related to the degree to which they maintain status quos or acknowledge societal flaws: active maintenance of status quos; ceremonial maintenance of status quos; shallow critique; and less-shallow critique. Implications for educators are discussed

Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of the “Public Displays of History” Debate

We examined how the preservice history and social science teachers (n=84) with whom we worked conceptualized debates regarding Public Displays of History (PDH) such as monuments and building names. Participants described PDH as important venues for learning history but viewed them as incomplete, often biased, sources of information. When determining whether removal or alteration is appropriate, the preservice teachers stressed comparison of the PDH to current societal norms, original overt and tacit intent of the creators of the PDH, the actions or deeds of the subject through a historical accuracy lens, and whether removal changes understanding of the subject of the PDH. Participants described some PDH as ineligible for alteration or removal because of their importance to society. Participants viewed classrooms as appropriate places for students to engage in debate regarding PDH. Discussed are implications for classroom practice and future research

Amélioration des conditions de coupe du bois d'érable à sucre et d'épinette noire en rabotage hélicoïdal

L'objectif de cette recherche était d'améliorer le rabotage de deux bois très utilisés au Québec, l'érable à sucre et l'épinette noire. L'étude d'outils de coupe hélicoïdaux à angles d'hélice élevés a été décidée comme axe d'amélioration. Ainsi, 3 outils hélicoïdaux (angle d'hélice de 40˚, 50˚ et 60˚) et un outil droit (témoin) ont été fabriqués et montés tour à tour sur une CNC 5 axes. Chacun de ces outils a été utilisé à trois vitesses d'avance par couteau (FK). Les efforts de coupe, le niveau sonore et la consommation de puissance étaient alors mesurés. La qualité de surface des planches usinées a ensuite été évaluée. Pour l'érable à sucre, les efforts de coupe et le son produit augmentaient avec l'augmentation de FK pour les quatre outils de coupe. Les outils hélicoïdaux ont produit moins d'efforts de coupe parallèles (F[indice]P), normaux positifs et négatifs (F[indice]NP et F[indice]NN) et résultants (F[indice]R) que ceux de l'outil témoin. Les efforts F[indice]P et F[indice]R avaient tendance à diminuer quand l'angle d'hélice augmentait. Seul les efforts latéraux (F[indice]L) avaient tendance à augmenter avec des outils à angle d'hélice importants. Ces mêmes outils ont requis moins de puissance à faible FK, et le plus gros avantage provenait du niveau sonore, étant plus faible avec les angles d'hélice les plus élevés. Parmi ces paramètres, peu de différences significatives ont été trouvées entre les outils à 50˚ et 60˚. Pour l'épinette noire, augmenter FK augmentait le son et les efforts F[indice]P, F[indice]L et F[indice]R. Comme pour l'érable à sucre, les outils hélicoïdaux ont requis moins de F[indice]P, F[indice]NP, F[indice]NN et F[indice]R que l'outil témoin. Aussi, F[indice]P et F[indice]R avaient tendance à diminuer quand l'angle d'hélice augmentait, seulement à la plus grande FK. Augmenter l'angle d'hélice avait tendance à augmenter F[indice]L. Cependant, l'outil témoin produisait des efforts de coupe latéraux importants, similaires à ceux de l'outil à faible angle d'hélice (40˚). Par ailleurs, les paramètres de rugosité R[indice]k et R[indice]pk ont montré la meilleure précision pour évaluer la rugosité et la perception tactile des surfaces rabotées des deux essences. La rugosité augmentait au fur et à mesure que l'angle d'hélice et FK augmentaient. Les surfaces rabotées avec les outils hélicoïdaux présentaient une texture pelucheuse. Pour l'érable à sucre, les différences entre l'outil droit et celui à 40˚ étaient faibles. La rugosité des planches d'épinette noire avait tendance à augmenter avec l'augmentation de l'angle d'hélice, et cet effet dépendait de FK. L'outil droit a produit la rugosité la plus faible, à chaque FK. Les outils hélicoïdaux ont produit la plus grande rugosité, résultante d'une grande fibrillation. Ces défauts étaient plus prononcés que ceux obtenus avec l'érable à sucre, et encore plus présents avec les couteaux à 50˚ et 60˚, à FK moyen et élevé (2,9 et 4,7 mm respectivement). Le rabotage pourra donc être amélioré en travaillant à moyen FK (2,9 mm) pour optimiser la productivité, ou à faible FK (1,3 mm) pour minimiser la rugosité de surface. En usinage de l'érable à sucre, un outil à angle d'hélice de 50˚ est recommandé pour diminuer les efforts de coupe et le son. Un outil de 40˚ est à privilégier, si la qualité de surface est un critère important. Pour l'épinette noire, en première transformation, un angle d'hélice de 50˚ est envisageable. Les surfaces obtenues seront cependant très pelucheuses. Un outil à angle d'hélice de 40˚ est alors un bon compromis pour une meilleure qualité de surface, si besoin. Pour fins de finition, un couteau droit est préférable pour raboter l'épinette noire.The main objective of this research was to improve the planing of two wood species widely used in Quebec, sugar maple and black spruce. The study of helical cutting tools with high helix angles was decided for this purpose. Thus, three helical tools (helix angle of 40˚, 50˚ and 60˚) and a straight one (control) were manufactured and mounted on a 5-axis CNC. For each tool, the variations in cutting forces, sound level and power consumption for three feeds per knife (FK) were acquired. Finally, the surface quality of machined boards was evaluated. For sugar maple wood, all cutting forces and sound level produced by planing increased as FK increased for all cutting tools. The helical tools produced lower parallel (F[subscript]P), normal positive and negative (F[subscript]NP and F[subscript]NN), and resultant (F[subscript]R) cutting forces than the control tool. F[subscript]P and F[subscript]R tended to decrease as the helix angle increased. Only lateral forces (F[subscript]L) tended to increase with the increase in helix angle. Tools with high helix angles required lower power at low FK, However, the main advantage of these tools was the great reduction of the noise level compared to the straight tool. Among these parameters, few significant differences were found between the 50˚and 60˚ tools. For black spruce wood, sound level, F[subscript]P, F[subscript]L, and F[subscript]R increased as FK increased. As with sugar maple, the helical tools produced lower F[subscript]P, F[subscript]NP, F[subscript]NN and F[subscript]R than the control tool. Also, F[subscript]P and F[subscript]R tended to decrease as the helix angle increased, for the highest FK. Increasing the helix angle tended to increase F[subscript]L. However, the control tool produced high lateral cutting forces, similar to that produced by the low helix angle(40˚) tool. In addition, the roughness parameters R[subscript]K and R[subscript]PK showed the best precision for evaluating the roughness and the tactile perception of the planed surfaces of the two species. The roughness increased as the helix angle and FK increased. Surfaces planed with the helical tools showed a fuzzy texture. For sugar maple, the differences between the straight tool and the 40˚ tool were small. The roughness of black spruce boards tended to increase with increasing helix angle, and this effect depended on FK. The straight tool produced the lowest roughness at each FK. The helical tools produced the highest roughness, resulting in high fibrillation. These defects were more pronounced than those obtained with sugar maple, and even more present with the tools at 50˚ and 60˚, at medium and high FK (2.9 and 4.7 mm respectively). Planing can therefore be improved by working at medium FK (2.9 mm) to optimize productivity, or at low FK (1.3 mm) to minimize surface roughness. When machining sugar maple, a 50˚ helix angle tool is recommended to reduce cutting forces and sound level. A 40˚ tool is to be preferred if the surface quality is an important criterion. For black spruce wood, in primary processing, a helix angle of 50˚ is possible. The surfaces obtained will be however very fuzzy. A 40˚ helix angle tool could be a good compromise for better surface quality. For finishing purposes, a straight knife appears as a better option for planing black spruce wood

I am a Genius! Influence of Virtually Embodying Leonardo da Vinci on Creative Performance

Virtual reality (VR) provides users with the ability to substitute their physical appearance by embodying virtual characters (avatars) using head-mounted displays and motion-capture technologies. Previous research demonstrated that the sense of embodiment toward an avatar can impact user behavior and cognition. In this paper, we present an experiment designed to investigate whether embodying a well-known creative genius could enhance participants' creative performance. Following a preliminary online survey (N = 157) to select a famous character suited to the purpose of this study, we developed a VR application allowing participants to embody Leonardo da Vinci or a self-avatar. Self-avatars were approximately matched with participants in terms of skin tone and morphology. 40 participants took part in three tasks seamlessly integrated in a virtual workshop. The first task was based on a Guilford's Alternate Uses test (GAU) to assess participants' divergent abilities in terms of fluency and originality. The second task was based on a Remote Associates Test (RAT) to evaluate convergent abilities. Lastly, the third task consisted in designing potential alternative uses of an object displayed in the virtual environment using a 3D sketching tool. Participants embodying Leonardo da Vinci demonstrated significantly higher divergent thinking abilities, with a substantial difference in fluency between the groups. Conversely, participants embodying a self-avatar performed significantly better in the convergent thinking task. Taken together, these results promote the use of our virtual embodiment approach, especially in applications where divergent creativity plays an important role, such as design and innovation

Organized chaos: Young adolescents' perceptions of social processes within a middle school cafeteria

Research identifies non-academic school spaces such as cafeterias as important locations where socialization occurs. Previous research is limited in describing how elementary school-aged children and high school students experience these settings. This qualitative study investigated young adolescents' perceptions of social processes that occurred within a middle school cafeteria. Two mixed-gender groups responded to semi-structured interview questions. Observations informed research questions and substantiated or challenged participants' statements. Participants identified negotiation of multiple authority structures, interpretation of gender roles, multiple peer group interactions, and individual roles as major social processes. Participants described adult authority figures as having an ancillary role to peer authority figures while in this setting. Social norms and rules were described as vague, flexible, and under continual reevaluation by participants. Boys' gender roles were framed by participants in terms of physical interactions. Girls' gender roles were framed by participants in terms of verbal interactions. Individuals were described by participants as being members of multiple peer groups. Peer groups were as blending together and continually changing in their memberships. Individual roles and behaviors were described by participants as both positive and negative influences on overall social processes of the cafeteria. The positive or negative nature of these behaviors was framed by relationships participants had with an individual. Teacher educators should continue to emphasize a holistic view of educational experiences by providing preservice with experiences that focus on adolescents' social behaviors. Future research should focus on investigating social processes of adolescents in a variety of non-academic school settings. Additionally, future investigations should include perceptions of adolescents who identify with various races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic characteristics

Looking Back at Their Futures: Preservice Middle Level Teachers' Examination of Past Educational Experiences - RMLE Online Vol. 34, No. 1

Abstract The researchers investigated the reflections of preservice middle school teachers (PSMTs) who were enrolled in an activity-based middle level social studies methods course. These reflections concerned the students' past educational experiences. Through weekly journals, the PSMTs were encouraged to reflect on course activities and relate them to the perceived effectiveness of teacher-centered and student-centered methodologies experienced in K-12 and college settings. Findings indicated that the analysis and evaluation of past educational experiences grew in complexity throughout the course. As the course progressed, the participants actively integrated the current activities into reconceptualizations of their past experiences. The researchers recommend future work with preservice teachers' reflections to address preservice teachers' perceptions of the reflective process and the effects on future practice