MOOCs in language education and professional teacher development: possibilities and potential

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) developed from the traditions of distance and selfaccess learning, and are growing in popularity. As a new and exciting area of education, the potential of MOOCs to transform education by allowing free access to courses for anyone with the access to technology and the internet has potential for teachers and learners to benefit from the courses offered. In this short article, three different perspectives on using MOOCs in educational contexts within Japan are discussed. The first describes a collaborative project in which one of the authors participated in a MOOC alongside a group of language learners. In the next, individual students pursuing self-directed language learning chose MOOCs to meet their various goals of knowledge and skill development as they prepared to study abroad. Finally, this article considers the role of MOOCs in professional teacher development through the reflections from a teacher participant. All three discussions relate their ideas to the themes of possibility and potential, while considering practical issues for language learners and educators

The Dispute Settlement Process of the WTO: A Normative Structure to Achieve Utilitarian Objectives

The paper posits that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has failed to efficiently promote mutually advantageous global relationships. The authors contend that the structure and the functioning of the Dispute Settlement Body have contributed to the failure of the WTO. The DSB’s approach to interpreting the WTO agreements has been normative, as opposed to a realistic. Consequently, decisions from the DSB have resulted in strict interpretation of WTO agreements without appropriately balancing member’s national realities. Thus, the overall goals of the organization have been compromised to reinforce existing global power structures rather than promote cooperative governance. The authors examine two decisions of the DSB - one relating to agriculture issues and the second relating to the TRIPS agreement compliance - to assert their position. The operation of the DSB, the authors assert, results in three distinct disadvantages being, 1. reducing the line between domestic issues and market access issues; 2. failing to balance the rights and obligations of members; 3. allowing powerful nations to avoid WTO rules by simply not adopting them at the national level and, thus, works to preserve the existing bargaining imbalances. The paper concludes by offering suggestions that can be incorporated into the settlement process in the future

Mars Pathfinder Flight System Design and Implementation

This paper describes the system architecture and implementation approach for the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft scheduled to land on the surface of Mars in July, 1997. Mars Pathfinder (MPF) is one of the new series of small challenging missions doing significant science/engineering on a very fast schedule and limited budget. Along with Clementine and the Near Earth Asteroid Flyby (NEAR), Mars Pathfinder is pushing the frontiers of planetary missions. This paper details the system architecture, configuration, descriptions of all the subsystems, and status of the development effort. The implementation approach is discussed including new ways of doing business, fault tolerant design strategy and test approach. The uniquely challenging part of the MPF mission is the entry, descent, landing and operation on the surface of Mars. The entry, descent and landing system, including the aero shell, parachute, rocket assisted deceleration and airbag elements are discussed. The design drivers for this implementation of a surface landing mission are discussed

Creative practice as mutual recovery in mental health

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the value of approaches to mental health based on creative practice in the humanities and arts, and explore these in relation to the potential contribution to mutual recovery. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a conceptual analysis and literature review. Findings – Recovery can embrace carers and practitioners as well as sufferers from mental health problems. Divisions tend to exist between those with mental health needs, informal carers and health, social care and education personnel. Mutual recovery is therefore a very useful term because it instigates a more fully social understanding of mental health recovery processes, encompassing diverse actors in the field of mental health. Research demonstrates the importance of arts for “recovery orientated mental health services”, how they provide ways of breaking down social barriers, of expressing and understanding experiences and emotions, and of helping to rebuild identities and communities. Similarly, the humanities can advance the recovery of health and well-being. Originality/value – The notion of mutual recovery through creative practice is more than just a set of creative activities which are believed to have benefit. The idea is also a heuristic that can be useful to professionals and family members, as well as individuals with mental health problems themselves. Mutual recovery is perhaps best seen as a relational construct, offering new opportunities to build egalitarian, appreciative and substantively connected communities – resilient communities of mutual hope, compassion and solidarity. Keywords Mental health, Recovery, Mutuality, Health humanities, Arts, Humanities, Mental health service

Satellite Navigation for the Age of Autonomy

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) brought navigation to the masses. Coupled with smartphones, the blue dot in the palm of our hands has forever changed the way we interact with the world. Looking forward, cyber-physical systems such as self-driving cars and aerial mobility are pushing the limits of what localization technologies including GNSS can provide. This autonomous revolution requires a solution that supports safety-critical operation, centimeter positioning, and cyber-security for millions of users. To meet these demands, we propose a navigation service from Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites which deliver precision in-part through faster motion, higher power signals for added robustness to interference, constellation autonomous integrity monitoring for integrity, and encryption / authentication for resistance to spoofing attacks. This paradigm is enabled by the 'New Space' movement, where highly capable satellites and components are now built on assembly lines and launch costs have decreased by more than tenfold. Such a ubiquitous positioning service enables a consistent and secure standard where trustworthy information can be validated and shared, extending the electronic horizon from sensor line of sight to an entire city. This enables the situational awareness needed for true safe operation to support autonomy at scale.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 2020 IEEE/ION Position, Location and Navigation Symposium (PLANS

A minimal-length approach unifies rigidity in under-constrained materials

We present a novel approach to understand geometric-incompatibility-induced rigidity in under-constrained materials, including sub-isostatic 2D spring networks and 2D and 3D vertex models for dense biological tissues. We show that in all these models a geometric criterion, represented by a minimal length $\bar\ell_\mathrm{min}$, determines the onset of prestresses and rigidity. This allows us to predict not only the correct scalings for the elastic material properties, but also the precise {\em magnitudes} for bulk modulus and shear modulus discontinuities at the rigidity transition as well as the magnitude of the Poynting effect. We also predict from first principles that the ratio of the excess shear modulus to the shear stress should be inversely proportional to the critical strain with a prefactor of three, and propose that this factor of three is a general hallmark of geometrically induced rigidity in under-constrained materials and could be used to distinguish this effect from nonlinear mechanics of single components in experiments. Lastly, our results may lay important foundations for ways to estimate $\bar\ell_\mathrm{min}$ from measurements of local geometric structure, and thus help develop methods to characterize large-scale mechanical properties from imaging data.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Security Intelligence and the public interest

Abstract: The attacks of September 11 2001 created an iconic moment where our history can be defined as the pre and post 9-11 period. The impact that this event had on how states organise their national security intelligence apparatus was immediately evident. Within New Zealand this new security conscious era created a polarised debate: on one side were those who demanded that the Government tighten border and domestic security, and on the other side were those who argued that New Zealand's isolation and independence created a condition that reduced the likelihood of the country becoming a target of terrorism or a place attractive to those with terrorist sympathies. When New Zealand was called on by the United States to contribute to the War On Terror, an argument flared within executive government. The political destabilisation manifested itself first within The Alliance, a party that had in 1999 formed a governing coalition with the Labour Party. The Alliance fragmented: on one side, the leader and deputy leader (both Cabinet Ministers) positioned in support of Cabinet's intention to contribute to the conflict, and, on the other side, the remaining caucus members opposed the move. The division became politically unreconcilable and the coalition became fragile through to the General Election late in 2002. Post-Election, the Labour Party and two members of the Progressive Party (a party created by The Alliance's former leader and deputy leader) formed a new coalition government. The new Cabinet decided on a limited military contribution to the War On Terror and embarked on a legislative programme designed to ensure New Zealand remained secure and protected from external and internal threats. Then, in December 2002, an Algerian Imam named Ahmed Zaoui arrived at the nation's border where he sought asylum. Immediately Zaoui was confronted by an environment that was politically and operationally highly sensitised to matters of internal security. Zaoui, New Zealand's authorities soon discovered, had been convicted of terrorism related charges in Belgium and France, and had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to death on three occasions in Algeria. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service stated that Zaoui was a risk to the nation's security and imprisoned him indefinitely in a maximum security prison pending an assessment of the case by the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security. The events that followed challenged New Zealand's democratic foundations, and created tensions between the governing executive and the judiciary. During this timeframe, the researcher reported on the Zaoui case and in 2004 was lead-author of an investigative journalism-styled book: I Almost Forgot About The Moon – the disinformation campaign against Ahmed Zaoui. This Thesis examines this case-study, analysing why the Inspector General found in Zaoui's favour. The case-study aids the Thesis' enquiry into what affect classified intelligence information has on the national and public interest when that information remains secret and unable to be tested by the wider executive, legislature, the judicial arena, the fourth estate, and the public

Re-branding: The Case of Southern Miss Athletics

In late July 2011, administrative trademark judges in the US Patent and Trademark Office ruled, in a 2-1 decision, that the University of Southern Mississippi would have to discontinue the use of its Golden Eagle logo because it was too similar in appearance to the University of Iowa Hawkeye (Hinton, 2011). Administrative trademark judge David Bucher wrote in his majority opinion that he backed Iowa\u27s claim that there would be the likelihood of confusion in merchandise sales between the schools and the “the overall similarity in appearance of the marks on the goods, particularly in light of the use of identical color schemes, creates virtually identical commercial impressions (Hinton, 2011). The purpose of this presentation is not to debate the merits of the legal hearing. Rather, the case describes how university administrators, students, alumni, faculty, and other constituents turned a seemingly negative judicial ruling into a positive opportunity to upgrade and improve the university’s brand. An outline of this inclusive process began to emerge when then-President Martha Saunders stated, “You can change the way a product looks, repackage it, put a new wrapper on it, but to brand an organization requires people.” USM engaged a local consulting firm to assist with its rebranding effort, and the importance of focusing on several traditional factors was evident. The present study looks at how the character, pride, authenticity, and strength of the athletic department were incorporated into the new logo and ultimately the university’s identity. Other issues to be addressed are: 1) The timeline for revealing the new logo 2) How other institutions handled similar roll-outs of new logos 3) Logistic issues in using the new logo 4) Costs of implementing the new log

Politicians, Celebrities and Social Media : A case of informalization?

With electoral politics no longer organised by social class, politicians increasingly seek to relate to a broad spectrum of citizens and part of their relatability is conjured through more casual, informal performances aimed at cultivating authenticity. The various platforms of social media promote forms of authentic communication by blurring the public/private divide, creating ‘spontaneous’ and instant access to ‘real life’. This article seeks to investigate the informalization thesis (Wouters, 2007) by applying it to data from young people aged 16-21 years in Australia, the UK and the USA asked about the way politicians and celebrities use social media. Findings reveal respondents’ desire for more authentic and accessible politicians, but this was in direct tension with traditional views and expectations of politicians needing to be professional, informed and worthy of respect. Informalization amongst politicians is evident and welcomed by young citizens but persistent traditional views means it also threatens their credibility

A tiered model of substance use severity and life complexity : potential for application to needs-based planning

Background: In order to improve long-term outcomes for individuals with substance use problems, one approach is to adopt a system planning model that considers both addiction severity and life complexities. The tiered approach has been developed and tested to describe systems-level need based on levels of risk and problem severity. Methods: An existing tiered model was modified to accommodate Australian data, incorporating substance use severity and life complexity. The hypothesis was that tiers would reflect differences in well-being amongst help seekers such that an increase in tier would be associated with a reduction in well-being, suggesting the need for more intensive (and integrated) interventions. The model was tested using 2 data sets of screening data, collected from face-to-face alcohol and other drug (AOD) service (n = 430) and online help (n = 309) seekers, drawn from a larger sample of 2,766 screens. The screen included demographic information and substance use, mental health, and quality of life measures. Results: There was a significant relationship between well-being and tier ranking, suggesting that the model adequately captured elements of severity and complexity that impact on well-being. There were notable differences between the help-seeking populations with a higher proportion of online respondents allocated to lower tiers and more face-to-face respondents allocated to higher tiers. However, there was an overlap in these populations, with more than half of online respondents classified as higher tiers and one fifth of face-to-face respondents classified as lower tiers. This suggests that the model can be used both to assess unmet need in out-of-treatment groups and demand in the absence of dependence in a subpopulation of the face-to-face treatment population. Conclusions: The tiered model provides a method to understand levels of AOD treatment need and, as part of needs-based planning, may be used to optimize treatment responses and resourcing