title: Developing classroom‐focused research in technology education

authors: Jones, Alister

abstract: During the last 10 years, curriculum documents in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and New Zealand have emphasized the importance of students’ developing technological literacy. In utilizing research findings to consider future curriculum needs, there is the danger that the field may come to be understood in light of the research undertaken, not in light of what needs to be done. Past research has tended to focus on curriculum issues and the defining of the subject. If technology education is to advance as a curriculum area of worth and as a focus of research, then much more of our research effort must be on student and teacher learning in technology. This paper argues that classroom‐based research must become the focus of research over the next 10 years. While there is published research on what students do when involved in technological activities, we still lack significant research on students’ learning in technology and on ways in which this learning can be enhanced. Teacher and student conceptualization of technology is a complex issue and requires an understanding of the many factors that influence it. Classroom culture and student expectations appear to influence strongly the way in which students carry out their technological activities. Student learning in technology can be enhanced by effective formative interactions occurring between teacher and student and between student and student. Part of technology assessment should provide evidence of progression in learning, about which we currently know very little. This paper describes some fruitful areas of classroom‐based research that could inform technology curriculum development.

text: Developing classroom‐focused research in technology education During the last 10 years, curriculum documents in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and New Zealand have emphasized the importance of students’ developing technological literacy. In utilizing research findings to consider future curriculum needs, there is the danger that the field may come to be understood in light of the research undertaken, not in light of what needs to be done. Past research has tended to focus on curriculum issues and the defining of the subject. If technology education is to advance as a curriculum area of worth and as a focus of research, then much more of our research effort must be on student and teacher learning in technology. This paper argues that classroom‐based research must become the focus of research over the next 10 years. While there is published research on what students do when involved in technological activities, we still lack significant research on students’ learning in technology and on ways in which this learning can be enhanced. Teacher and student conceptualization of technology is a complex issue and requires an understanding of the many factors that influence it. Classroom culture and student expectations appear to influence strongly the way in which students carry out their technological activities. Student learning in technology can be enhanced by effective formative interactions occurring between teacher and student and between student and student. Part of technology assessment should provide evidence of progression in learning, about which we currently know very little. This paper describes some fruitful areas of classroom‐based research that could inform technology curriculum development.

year: 2003

title: Application of optical and infrared remote sensing to the retrieval of selected land and sea features

authors: Jelenak, Aleksandar

abstract: This thesis discusses two main areas of remote sensing research and thus is divided into two parts. The first part deals with novel methods for sea surface temperature (SST) retrieval using measurements of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on-board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) series of satellites.

The basis for this work is the Dynamic Water Vapour method developed by Steyn-Ross et al. [1993], Smith [1993]. Two new methods are proposed in this thesis: The Dynamic Water Vapour or Atmospheric Temperature (DWVT) and the Simultaneous Water Vapour and Atmospheric Temperature (SimWVT).

The second part of the thesis is a feasibility study on the potential applicability of airborne multispectral remote sensing technology to pasture biomass prediction in New Zealand. This was a pilot project, done in collaboration with AgResearch Ltd. and Dexcel Ltd. Charles Sturt University’s four-band airborne multispectral imaging system was used to acquire images of 65 test pasture plots.

Biomass of the test plots is predicted using a selection of vegetation indices, and multispectral reflectances. The results confirm the widely-held view that vegetation indices are not applicable to New Zealand pastures. Noticeably better results are achieved using the multispectral test plot reflectance in linear multiple regression-type equations.

text: Application of optical and infrared remote sensing to the retrieval of selected land and sea features This thesis discusses two main areas of remote sensing research and thus is divided into two parts. The first part deals with novel methods for sea surface temperature (SST) retrieval using measurements of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on-board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) series of satellites.

The basis for this work is the Dynamic Water Vapour method developed by Steyn-Ross et al. [1993], Smith [1993]. Two new methods are proposed in this thesis: The Dynamic Water Vapour or Atmospheric Temperature (DWVT) and the Simultaneous Water Vapour and Atmospheric Temperature (SimWVT).

The second part of the thesis is a feasibility study on the potential applicability of airborne multispectral remote sensing technology to pasture biomass prediction in New Zealand. This was a pilot project, done in collaboration with AgResearch Ltd. and Dexcel Ltd. Charles Sturt University’s four-band airborne multispectral imaging system was used to acquire images of 65 test pasture plots.

Biomass of the test plots is predicted using a selection of vegetation indices, and multispectral reflectances. The results confirm the widely-held view that vegetation indices are not applicable to New Zealand pastures. Noticeably better results are achieved using the multispectral test plot reflectance in linear multiple regression-type equations.

year: 2001

title: Location of Te Wahitapu Stream and other possible streams in 1877

authors: de Lange, Willem P.

abstract: Review of evidence to establish, with as much confidence as possible, the path of the Te Wahitapu Stream at Matapouri in 1877. The review also examines if other streams may have been present on or in the vicinity of Te Wahitapu Stream in 1877, and if the 1877 or later tsunami may have latered the course of the boundary stream.

text: Location of Te Wahitapu Stream and other possible streams in 1877 Review of evidence to establish, with as much confidence as possible, the path of the Te Wahitapu Stream at Matapouri in 1877. The review also examines if other streams may have been present on or in the vicinity of Te Wahitapu Stream in 1877, and if the 1877 or later tsunami may have latered the course of the boundary stream.

year: 2009