title: Constructing a successful Restorative Justice Conference: A tentative analysis

authors: Holm, Rodney

subjects: Restorative Justice Conference analysis

abstract: This thesis is an examination of the language used in Restorative Justice Conferences in schools.  After examining the origins and the concept of restorative justice the study utilises the conceptual tools which are located in a social constructionist approach to language use and meaning-making.  In so doing the study draws on discourse theory, positioning theory, narrative theory, and, more latterly, relational theory.
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a modern approach to social conflict, offering an alternative process to the traditional punitive system widely used in schools.  Although the process is increasingly used around the world, and has many fervent practitioners, there is a considerable gap in our understanding of just how the process achieves the results that its adherents claim for it.
The site of this study is a secondary school in New Zealand, and two RJ conferences were audio recorded along with separate recordings later from each participant.  The theory of social constructionism suggests that the meaning of things and any sense of personal identity is created through social interaction and the creation of particular kinds of relationship.  In this framework, meaning is never established once and for all, but is constantly negotiated and created through social interaction.
Accordingly, close attention has been paid to the dialogue and the nature of the linguistic exchanges.  In short, it has focussed on the way relationships and identities are constructed through the deliberate and purposeful use of language, thus setting up the possibility of people resolving the harm, and going on in peace.  It is suggested that a key element is in the setting up of relationships of equal concern, dignity and respect.
The research both vindicates the claims that are made for the efficacy of the process in solving social conflict, and more importantly, offers an enhanced understanding of exactly what is going on in those conferences that makes that peaceful resolution possible.  Although it is limited to only two such conferences, it is hoped that it will offer a glimpse of what it is possible to learn about the effects of different ways of speaking using these constructionist conceptual tools.

text: Constructing a successful Restorative Justice Conference: A tentative analysis This thesis is an examination of the language used in Restorative Justice Conferences in schools.  After examining the origins and the concept of restorative justice the study utilises the conceptual tools which are located in a social constructionist approach to language use and meaning-making.  In so doing the study draws on discourse theory, positioning theory, narrative theory, and, more latterly, relational theory.
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a modern approach to social conflict, offering an alternative process to the traditional punitive system widely used in schools.  Although the process is increasingly used around the world, and has many fervent practitioners, there is a considerable gap in our understanding of just how the process achieves the results that its adherents claim for it.
The site of this study is a secondary school in New Zealand, and two RJ conferences were audio recorded along with separate recordings later from each participant.  The theory of social constructionism suggests that the meaning of things and any sense of personal identity is created through social interaction and the creation of particular kinds of relationship.  In this framework, meaning is never established once and for all, but is constantly negotiated and created through social interaction.
Accordingly, close attention has been paid to the dialogue and the nature of the linguistic exchanges.  In short, it has focussed on the way relationships and identities are constructed through the deliberate and purposeful use of language, thus setting up the possibility of people resolving the harm, and going on in peace.  It is suggested that a key element is in the setting up of relationships of equal concern, dignity and respect.
The research both vindicates the claims that are made for the efficacy of the process in solving social conflict, and more importantly, offers an enhanced understanding of exactly what is going on in those conferences that makes that peaceful resolution possible.  Although it is limited to only two such conferences, it is hoped that it will offer a glimpse of what it is possible to learn about the effects of different ways of speaking using these constructionist conceptual tools.

year: 2014

title: Tracking battery state-of-charge in a continuous use off-grid electricity system

authors: Apperley, Mark

subjects: state-of-charge

abstract: The growing importance of batteries in the delivery of primary energy, for example in electric vehicles and isolated off-grid electricity systems, has added weight to the demand for simple and reliable measures of a battery's remaining stored energy at any time. Many approaches to estimating this battery state-of-charge exist, ranging from those based on a full appreciation of the chemistry and physics of the storage and delivery mechanisms used, and requiring extensive data on which to base an estimate, to the naive and simple, based only, for example, on the terminal voltage of the battery. None, however, is perfect, and able to deliver a simple percentage-full figure, as in a fuel gauge. The shortcomings are due to a range of complicating factors, including the impact of rate of charge, rate of discharge, battery aging, and temperature, to name just some of these.
This paper presents a simple yet effective method for tracking state-of-charge in an off-grid electricity system, where batteries are in continuous use, preventing static parameter measurements, and where charge/discharge cycles do not necessarily follow an orderly sequence or pattern. A reliable indication of state-of-charge is, however, highly desirable, but need be only of fuel gauge precision, say to the nearest 12-20%. The algorithm described utilises knowledge of the past, and constantly adapts parameters such as charge efficiency and total charge capacity based on this knowledge, and on the occurrence of specific identifiable events such as zero or full charge.

text: Tracking battery state-of-charge in a continuous use off-grid electricity system The growing importance of batteries in the delivery of primary energy, for example in electric vehicles and isolated off-grid electricity systems, has added weight to the demand for simple and reliable measures of a battery's remaining stored energy at any time. Many approaches to estimating this battery state-of-charge exist, ranging from those based on a full appreciation of the chemistry and physics of the storage and delivery mechanisms used, and requiring extensive data on which to base an estimate, to the naive and simple, based only, for example, on the terminal voltage of the battery. None, however, is perfect, and able to deliver a simple percentage-full figure, as in a fuel gauge. The shortcomings are due to a range of complicating factors, including the impact of rate of charge, rate of discharge, battery aging, and temperature, to name just some of these.
This paper presents a simple yet effective method for tracking state-of-charge in an off-grid electricity system, where batteries are in continuous use, preventing static parameter measurements, and where charge/discharge cycles do not necessarily follow an orderly sequence or pattern. A reliable indication of state-of-charge is, however, highly desirable, but need be only of fuel gauge precision, say to the nearest 12-20%. The algorithm described utilises knowledge of the past, and constantly adapts parameters such as charge efficiency and total charge capacity based on this knowledge, and on the occurrence of specific identifiable events such as zero or full charge.

year: 2014

title: Arts Festival: 'Moonwalking Backwards Into The Future: "Poi E", Music Video and Documentary'

authors: Perrott, Lisa

subjects: Art

abstract: Research presentation - an audiovisual presentation drawing upon my published research (book chapter: 'Moonwalking Backwards Into The Future: "Poi E", Music Video and Documentary'). This presentation presented a Matuaranga Maori perspective of the temporal travels of music video and documentary, framed by the concept of whakapap. This presentation took place as part of a panel of 4 presenters who represented Te Kura Toi at the Arts Festival during the University of Waikato Open Day, 2023. This was an oral presentation, which included projected slides and videos from a PPT presentation. The audience included prospective students, their teachers and family members, community members, and current students and academic staff from the University of Waikato. My presentation was documented and photographed.

text: Arts Festival: 'Moonwalking Backwards Into The Future: "Poi E", Music Video and Documentary' Research presentation - an audiovisual presentation drawing upon my published research (book chapter: 'Moonwalking Backwards Into The Future: "Poi E", Music Video and Documentary'). This presentation presented a Matuaranga Maori perspective of the temporal travels of music video and documentary, framed by the concept of whakapap. This presentation took place as part of a panel of 4 presenters who represented Te Kura Toi at the Arts Festival during the University of Waikato Open Day, 2023. This was an oral presentation, which included projected slides and videos from a PPT presentation. The audience included prospective students, their teachers and family members, community members, and current students and academic staff from the University of Waikato. My presentation was documented and photographed.

year: 2023-05-26