High Tech Hunks of Steel: Fixed-Site Amusement Rides and Safety Under State Regulation

Tomorrow is the big day! Little Bobby Missoula is going to turn ten tomorrow and his parents have promised to take him to Outlandish Adventures, an amusement park that Bobby has seen advertised on television. As Bobby drifts off to sleep, he begins to dream about the fun that he will have on his birthday. He dreams about the smell of cotton candy and the yells of carnies soliciting people in to play their games, but most of all, he dreams about the Lightning Bolt - the tallest, fastest, and scariest roller coaster that little Bobby has ever seen. In his dream, the Lightning Bolt whips Bobby around sharp angles, through upside down loops so close to water that Bobby’s hair and face get wet, down vertical descents at speeds over 100 miles per hour, and finally to an abrupt stop where Bobby rushes to the end of the line to do it all over again

Persistent andragogical patterns across the generations: From university tutorial classes to postgraduate online education

The concept of design patterns in education raises the question of whether their validity can persist over a period of time or whether social and technological change means that yesterday’s virtues are today’s irrelevancies. Many see e-learning as something which is the latest and greatest form of education, possibly one that has made previous forms obsolete. However, when we look beyond the technology to the desired pedagogy, how much has radically changed? This paper compares two examples of how adults have been educated on a part-time basis in Britain; examples which are separated by 100 years. Because adults are involved, we should more properly talk of andragogy rather than pedagogy. It compares elements of University Tutorial Classes, which started in 1908 as a university outreach programme to deliver undergraduate level education to ordinary working people, with key features of an online Master’s degree programme started in the 21st century. The University of Liverpool has been associated with both initiatives, and therefore provides a useful focus for comparison. On the face of it, the two initiatives could not be more different. However, if we strip away the differences in circumstances, motivation and technology, we find that the andragogical approach is remarkably similar. The same basic desirable elements are present

Theory to practice : is there a real connection for teachers in teacher education? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, College of Education, Te Kupenga o Te Matauranga, School of Arts, Development and Health Education, Health and Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the process of learning to teach, which is the focus and objective of the one year Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), and to assess whether education in theory can make a difference in graduate teacher competence. Questionnaires and semi structured interviews were used to ascertain the perceptions of student and beginning teachers on how well theory and practice are integrated in the Diploma programme. The study would indicate that student teachers appear to see little relevance of theory to classroom practice. The study also suggests that student teachers believe that the majority of learning occurs in classrooms during the practical teaching experience and consider that the mastery of management is the most crucial factor of teaching. The research also sought to establish to what extent students bring established beliefs with them to University and the extent to which their perceptions of what constitutes an effective teacher. It was apparent that student teachers had, at least in the beginning, established opinions based on their own experiences as school students, about what constitutes an effective teacher. These student teachers also claim that associate teachers varied hugely in their ability to support and give feedback to student teachers in the classroom, and indicated that it was difficult for the college tutors to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The findings of the study will suggest fundamental changes need to be made to the organisational structure of teacher education in order to meet the needs of the modern teacher with modern classrooms

Hermann Hesse's interpretation of adolescent boyhood ..

Typewritten sheets in cover. Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University Bibliography: p. 54-55

Air permeability of balsa core, and its influence on defect formation in resin infused sandwich laminates

Many large composite structures are manufactured using sandwich laminates to achieve high specific bending strength and stiffness. Examples include wind turbine blades, where self-weight becomes increasingly important as blade size increases. Resin infusion of three-dimensional sandwich laminates can result in complex resin flow paths, and subsequent defect formation, which are difficult to predict. The core material used for sandwich construction and its interaction with liquid resins may also influence the formation of defects, and in the case of balsa this effect can be used to reduce defect severity. In order to evaluate the effect of cored sandwich laminate construction on the formation of defects, this thesis concentrates on the characterisation of commonly used core materials and their interaction with liquid resin under high vacuum conditions. It also considers two numerical flow-modelling packages which are shown to be effective at the prediction of flow front convergence for monolithic laminate, but over-estimate defect severity when modelling air- permeable cored laminates. For balsa core, experiments indicate that the available pore space can act as sink for trapped air, which can aid the reduction of defects where multiple flow fronts converge due to the complexity of flow in sandwich laminates. Empirical data for air absorption and desorption rates in balsa core were obtained using a custom-designed experiment. Using these data a theoretical model was developed that can indicate available pore space, which can inform optimum processing conditions, such as time under vacuum. The diffusion coefficients obtained for air absorption and desorption in balsa are very similar, and lie in the middle of published ranges for hard woods at around 2 x 10 -7 m2/s. The methodology developed for this research project represents actual behaviour of air absorption/desorption during resin infusion, whilst other techniques do not, merely measuring diffusion of air through a sample not allowing for finite pore space. In consequence, infusion strategies can be planned more precisely because core/resin interaction is better understood. Knit line defect formation could be predicted with greater accuracy with suitably modified flow-modelling programs.Vestas Technologies, EPSR

Towards a framework for educational change : state deregulation, citizen empowerment, and strategic partnership : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

This thesis is an interweave of global, national, and local issues. It is about the nature of motivation that turns dissatisfaction with the status quo in teacher education into action for change. It is also about the opportunity for change to occur. Themes, both top-down and bottom-up, relate to new perspectives in the field of Development Studies including development from below, the retreat of the slate, empowerment, and community motivation. The study focuses on innovation in teacher education, and views the activities of three institutions as one 'project'. The study investigates circumstances of change within the context of the local scene and international trends. Recent literature seems to indicate decreasing involvement of the state in many facets of everyday life has resulted in a range of commercial and social responses. A number of driving forces are involved. From above there are concerns about increasing inability to afford to pay for public services in the future. From below there are calls for rights, choices, and empowerment. Both perspectives evidence diminishing confidence in the assurances offered by grand theory, and both result in a marked shift away from a dominant state-run model. Narrowing further into education locally, there have been changes in many aspects of New Zealand education including school governance, curriculum, types of courses, qualifications, and opportunities for new players. This has occurred within the context of concerns about declining academic and behavioural standards. The research question is: What factors have motivated change in a New Zealand teacher-education development project? Participant observation and structured interview methods have been used to examine possible motivations. The objective has been to identify and quantify benefits to the community derived from more involvement, sense of ownership, mission and purpose. The findings indicate strength of commitment and involvement by participants in the purposes and activities. The study found there was a sense of success connected with what participants had achieved. There was also an optimistic view of the future, which seems likely to involve increased government-community partnership and a more consultative approach towards ongoing development

Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Shark Tank Shouldn\u27t be the Model

For the past half century, innovation has driven the economic growth that has made the American economy the envy of the world. For most of this period, venture capitalists provided not only the capital that new innovative companies needed, but also the management expertise