Evaluating tutor training for online PBL teamwork courses in first year engineering

The use of Problem-based Learning and other collaborative pedagogies in undergraduate engineering courses is recommended by a plethora of learning theory and research on educational best-practice, particularly for Applied Sciences such as Medicine and Engineering. One barrier to implementing and sustaining these curricular and pedagogical approaches lies in the development of the appropriate knowledge and skills and a consistent and appropriate approach in the teaching team. A significant change from the traditional pedagogies employed by tutors and the training of tutors is required, if PBL and similar methods are to be effective in delivering their numerous affordances, especially in asynchronous online environments for distance learning. This paper describes the development of a strategy to train engineering tutors in online PBL facilitation, and the evaluation framework used to assess the effectiveness of this training. Results of the evaluation of training and subsequent behavioural changes of the tutors are given. The evaluation revealed a variance between the message of the training and subsequent practice. Recommendations are made about the need for ongoing tutor development and support, and the necessity of evaluation in the implementation of PBL pedagogies

Trans-Tasman transmission of monetary shocks : evidence from a VAR approach : a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Business Studies (Financial Economics) at Massey University, Albany, 2004

This study investigates the cross-country transmission of monetary shocks, using evidence from Australia and New Zealand. A vector autoregressive model is constructed, using data from 1985:1-2003:4. The empirical results indicate that a contractionary monetary shock in either Australia or New Zealand has real effects in the short-run in both countries, however an Australian shock generates more significant responses of most variables. Australian output is found to be significantly more sensitive than New Zealand output to monetary innovations in either country

Acoustic emission used as weld quality monitor

Acoustic emission technique is described for use as quality control tool in nondestructive inspection of welds. Stress mounts around weld defect until it exceeds yield strength of material. Pressure wave relieving the stress is emitted and followed by oscillations caused by multiple reflections. Acoustic emissions are then detected by sensor similar to ultrasonic sensor

Mary is the Model of Christian Discipleship

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother” (Jn 19:26-27). At the foot of the cross, Mary, the mother of Jesus is given as mother to every single human being. Mary is the mother of all mankind. The New Testament traces Mary as a woman of limitless faith, obedience and humility who followed Jesus in a perfect way. Her heart was always centered on Jesus. She is the humble handmaid of God who surrendered herself completely into the hands of God. Without thinking of her fate, Mary said ‘yes’ to God. Thus, she became an example for those who wish to bear witness to Christ. By the four Marian dogmas (The Mother of God, The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, The Immaculate Conception of Mary, and The Assumption of Mary), Catholic Church teaches its faithful about Mary’s role in the salvation history. These dogmas help us to look more closely at Mary’s life. They teach us the reason why we can look at Mary as a model for Christian life. Like any other Christian, Mary is the example for consecrated people also. Mary is the first person who was consecrated unconditionally to God. As a sign of their consecration to God, Religious profess vows of obedience, chastity and poverty. Mary is the perfect example for Religious to live in the spirit of these three vows. She is our model and she will remain as an unique model for all those who desires to become disciples of Jesus

Guilt : anxiety reaction of parents in having an intellectually handicapped child : an independent project presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Psychology [at] Massey University.

Chronic Guilt: Parents emotional attitude response to having a mentally defective child. The aim of this project is two-fold (1) To propose that most parents who have a mentally defective child suffer from a pervasive psychological reaction, chronic guilt, and that it is not always recognized by the professional personnel – physicians, psychologists, and social workers, who attempt to help them (2) To suggest some of the implications of the phenomenon of chronic guilt for parent counselling processes. Chronic guilt is a complex emotional attitude of long term duration and generally involving emotional conflict, grief, fear, love, anxiety, anger, hatred, protection, sympathy and defensive elements, and arising out of real or imagined contravention of moral and social standards in act or thought. Most, if not all, of these parents suffer from chronic guilt throughout their lives regardless of whether the child is kept at home or 'put away'. The intensity of this guilt varies from time to time for the same person, from situation to situation, and from one family to another. chronic guilt may be more intense for one parent than the other in the same family. Many factors such as parents personality, ethnic origin, religion and social class can influence the intensity of this feeling. Although chronic guilt may be felt by some parents of minimally retarded children, the phenomenon is almost universal among parents of severely or moderately retarded children, that is those children who would be regarded as retarded in any society or group. The reality faced by the parents of severely retarded children is such as to justify the chronic guilt. When a parent is asked to accept mental deficiency it is not clear just what he is asked to do. The stress placed on acceptance may suggest to the parent that he is expected to see his or her child from the point of view of the professional. This expectancy can make the parent both resentful and resistant. The first part of this study reviews some of the important literature published during the past twenty years, and suggests that trait factor analysis could be a basis for the chronic guilt syndrome. The second part of the study is a field investigation of Wolfensberger's theory that guilt can be a positive attribute. From a small New Zealand sample of parents of handicapped children, who were referred or visited over one month (Kimberley Hospital) and asked to complete the 16 PF, four trait factors were extracted to support the contention and underline the complexity of the chronic guilt

A comparison of foliar and soil uptake of nutrients in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science in Soil Science, Massey University

An aspect of each of three factors relating to efficiency of fertilizer use were studied in glasshouse experiments using beans Phaseolus vulgaris var. Gallatin 50. These three factors were: the quantities that can be applied; physiological aspects of nutrient utilization following foliar uptake; and interactions with other sources of nutrient supply. Distribution patterns of S35, P32 and Zn65 were examined following application to soil and foliage of beans. It was found that a greater proportion of P32 and Zn 65 was present in the fruit following foliar uptake than was the case following root uptake. This difference was not evident for S35. Retention of a commercial nutrient spray on the foliage of bean plants was measured and found to correlate well with both leaf area and leaf fresh weight. The effect of sprays on leaf chlorophyll was also examined. Environmental effects were found to have more influence on leaf chlorophyll than nutrient sprays. Root uptake of 32 was increased by spraying the foliage with either nutrient solution or water. It was concluded that the effect was water related and not connected with nutrient application. The implications of the above findings were discussed in the context of efficiency of fertilizer use

Geographic Mobility and the Costs of Job Loss

This paper uses data from the 1968 through 1997 survey waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to analyze how the long-term costs of job loss vary by a worker’s post-displacement migration status. Results from the analysis show that those individuals who move within the first 2 years after a job loss experience lower earnings losses, lower reductions in hours worked, and smaller increases in time unemployed when compared to a group of displaced workers who are not geographically mobile during the early years following this life event. Workers who move within the first 2 years after displacement face a lower probability of homeownership when compared to their non-mobile counterparts. However, this lower probability is short-lived