Teaching and learning for the future

This is the final report of the Committee on MultiMedia in Teacher Training (COMMITT), which offers a strategic framework to support efforts of teacher training institutes in the Netherlands to develop their own plans for enhancing the teaching and learning process as well as its outcomes through the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The purpose of the plan of action, called "a leap for the future," is to serve as a catalyst for teacher training institutes, elementary and secondary schools, and universities to work together on a common goal: improving teaching and learning through the application of ICT. This report consists of seven chapters. The first chapter is an introduction to the initiative to revitalize teacher training and the committee's activities. Chapter 2 describes an analysis of the transformation of society and consequences for learning in the future. Chapter 3 discusses key elements in the teaching and learning process. A conceptual model is presented which serves as a frame of reference for COMMITT. The role of ICT in teaching and learning is also discussed. Chapter 4 outlines the scope of COMMITT and provides examples illustrating the impact of ICT as a medium for education. Chapter 5 describes the challenges, opportunities and possible threats of implementing ICT in the education system and teacher training institutes. Guidelines for a program of action are elaborated in Chapter 6. The role of government, vision underlying the program, strategy and program of action, management and organization, and budget are discussed. Chapter 7 includes concluding remarks with a special emphasis on issues and factors which are expected to influence the implementation of the "leap for the future." Appendices present a list of the COMMITT members; a discussion on the Dutch education system; Committee statements; statements developed and judged by ICT coordinators; and different types of use of ICT as a medium. (AEF

Insights into the mechanism of energy transfer with poly(heptazine imide)s in deoximation reaction

Following our previous studies on potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI) – catalyzed photooxidative [3+2] aldoxime-to-nitrile addition to form 1,2,4-oxadiazoles, we discovered that electron-rich oximes yield the parent aldehydes instead of target products. In this work, the mechanism of this singlet oxygen-mediated deoximation process was established using a series of control reactions and spectroscopic measurements such as steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence quenching experiments. Additionally, singlet-triplet energy gap value was obtained for K-PHI in suspension, and the reaction scope was broadened to include ketoximes

Multisite PCET with photocharged carbon nitride in dark

A combination of photochemistry and proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) is a primary strategy employed by biochemical systems and synthetic chemistry to enable uphill reactions under mild conditions. Degenerate nanometer-sized n-type semiconductor nanoparticles (SCNPs) with the Fermi level above the bottom of the conduction band are strongly reducing and act more like metals than semiconductors. Application of the degenerate SCNPs is limited to few examples. Herein, we load microporous potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI) nanoparticles with electrons (e–) and charge balancing protons (H+) in an illumination phase using sacrificial agents. e–/H+ in the K-PHI nanoparticles are weakly bound and therefore could be used in a range of PCET reactions in dark, such as generation of aryl radicals from aryl halides, ketyl radicals from ketones, and 6e–/6H+ reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline. The integration of several features that until now were intrinsic for plants and natural photosynthesis into a transition metal free nanomaterial composed of abundant elements (C, N, and K) offers a powerful tool for synthetic organic chemistry

Van de grond : verkenning mogelijkheden voor het inzetten van publieke grond voor maatschappelijke doelen in Eemland

Eemland is één van de beste weidevogelgebieden van Nederland. Veel boeren doen al aan agrarisch natuurbeheer, maar de groei is eruit. Agrarische natuur- en landschapsvereniging Ark & Eemlandschap zou graag meer in handen hebben dan de subsidieregeling SNL om boeren te stimuleren om mee te doen. Zij ziet in grondgebruiksrecht een potentiële extra beloning, juist omdat grond schaars is. Hoge grondprijzen en een lage grondmobiliteit zijn typische problemen van stadsrandgebieden zoals Eemland. Ark & Eemlandschap zou grond in bezit bij overheden en maatschappelijke organisaties graag inzetten om extra groenblauwe diensten te stimuleren. Voor het verdelen van de publieke grond kan worden gedacht aan een grondbank als organisatievorm. Ark & Eemlandschap wil namelijk met de grondbank publieke grond in pacht uitgeven, in ruil voor extra agrarisch natuurbeheer (of klompenpaden) op grond die de boer al in gebruik of in bezit heeft. Op deze manier wil Ark & Eemlandschap boeren verleiden om bijvoorbeeld op voor de weidevogel gunstige plekken agrarisch natuurbeheer te gaan doen

Workplace flexibility across the lifespan

As demographic changes impact the workplace, governments, organizations and workers are looking for ways to sustain optimal working lives at higher ages. Workplace flexibility has been introduced as a potential way workers can have more satisfying working lives until their retirement ages. This paper presents a critical review of the literature on workplace flexibility across the lifespan. It discusses how flexibility has been conceptualized across different disciplines, and postulates a definition that captures the joint roles of employer and employee in negotiating workplace flexibility that contributes to both employee and organization benefits. Moreover, it reviews how flexibility has been theorized and investigated in relation to older workers. The paper ends with a future research agenda for advancing understanding of how workplace flexibility may enhance working experiences of older workers, and in particular focuses on the critical investigation of uses of flexibility in relation to older workers

A cross-national study on the antecedents of work–life balance from the fit and balance perspective

Drawing on the perceived work–family fit and balance perspective, this study investigates demands and resources as antecedents of work–life balance (WLB) across four countries (New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain), so as to provide empirical cross-national evidence. Using structural equation modelling analysis on a sample of 870 full time employees, we found that work demands, hours worked and family demands were negatively related to WLB, while job autonomy and supervisor support were positively related to WLB. We also found evidence that resources (job autonomy and supervisor support) moderated the relationships between demands and work–life balance, with high resources consistently buffering any detrimental influence of demands on WLB. Furthermore, our study identified additional predictors of WLB that were unique to some national contexts. For example, in France and Italy, overtime hours worked were negatively associated with WLB, while parental status was positively associated with WLB. Overall, the implications for theory and practice are discussed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft