title: MLearning in a New Zealand secondary school: A case study

authors: Wright, Noeline

subjects: MLearning

abstract: Four classroom teachers (geography, food technology, ESOL, Japanese) experimented with a range of mobile devices (digital cameras, proprietary hardware/software, phones and mp3 players) during 2010. In conjunction both with a telecommunications provider and the Ministry of Education, this research sought to understand the following: how teachers use various mobile technologies for learning, what issues arise that impede this, what benefits emerge if any, and what students’ experiences are of using these devices as part of their subject learning. Interviews and classroom observations were the key data collection methods over a month. Twenty-nine students were interviewed across three classes and three of the four classroom teachers were interviewed, plus the IT Director in the school. These data were analysed thematically for patterns of experience. 
Findings included: the importance of the pedagogical background knowledge of the IT Director in supporting the learning; the improved engagement and participation of students in their learning when mobile devices were used; the desire of students to use these tools regularly in their classrooms to support their learning; the crucial value of the experience of the trial teachers in experimenting with new tools. This last finding suggests that teachers of more than 10 years’ practice are likely to be most comfortable with coping with the potential destabilising effects of introducing unfamiliar/untried tools to a classroom setting.

text: MLearning in a New Zealand secondary school: A case study Four classroom teachers (geography, food technology, ESOL, Japanese) experimented with a range of mobile devices (digital cameras, proprietary hardware/software, phones and mp3 players) during 2010. In conjunction both with a telecommunications provider and the Ministry of Education, this research sought to understand the following: how teachers use various mobile technologies for learning, what issues arise that impede this, what benefits emerge if any, and what students’ experiences are of using these devices as part of their subject learning. Interviews and classroom observations were the key data collection methods over a month. Twenty-nine students were interviewed across three classes and three of the four classroom teachers were interviewed, plus the IT Director in the school. These data were analysed thematically for patterns of experience. 
Findings included: the importance of the pedagogical background knowledge of the IT Director in supporting the learning; the improved engagement and participation of students in their learning when mobile devices were used; the desire of students to use these tools regularly in their classrooms to support their learning; the crucial value of the experience of the trial teachers in experimenting with new tools. This last finding suggests that teachers of more than 10 years’ practice are likely to be most comfortable with coping with the potential destabilising effects of introducing unfamiliar/untried tools to a classroom setting.

year: 2011

title: ESIMS targeted synthesis of novel {Pt2S2} derivatives

authors: Fortney-Zirker, Ryland

subjects: Inorganic Chemistry

abstract: Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESIMS) was used to investigate ring-
opening reactions of several epoxides with the nucleophilic dinuclear PtII
complexes
[Pt2(μ-E)2(PPh3)4] (E = S, 1a; Se, 1b) and several activated cyclopropanes, N -
tosylaziridine, and thiirane with 1a. Epoxides cyclohexene oxide, styrene oxide,
epibromohydrin, and 2,2-dimethyloxirane were found to undergo ring-opening when
reacted with 1a and derivatives [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C6H10OH)(PPh3)4]BPh4 (5[BPh4],
[Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C8H8OH)(PPh3)4]BETI (6[BETI]), [Pt2(μ-S CH2CH(OH)CH2 μ-S)-
(PPh3)4][PF6]2 (3[PF6]2), and [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S CH2C(Me)2OH)(PPh3)4]BPh4 (7 [BPh4])
were respectively isolated and structurally characterised with 31P{1H} and 195Pt nu-
clear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and for 5, 3 and 7 single crystal X-
ray diffraction (XRD) studies. 6 was found to be a mixture of isomers, and crystals
suitable for a single crystal XRD experiment were not obtained. Both styrene oxide
and epibromohydrin underwent ring-opening when reacted with 1b and the respec-
tive derivatives [Pt2(μ-Se)(μ-Se C8H8OH)(PPh3)4]+ and [Pt2(μ-Se CH2CH(OH)-
CH2 μ-Se)(PPh3)4]2+ were characterised by ESIMS. The fully substituted epoxide
2,3-dimethyl-2,3-epoxybutane did not undergo ring-opening when treated with 1a
in refluxing methanol for several hours. 5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-[1,10]-phenanthro-
line resulted in ring-opening when reacted with 1a however the resulting deriva-
tive [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C12H8N2O)(PPh3)4]+ (8) was found to decompose readily in
solution. Cyclopropanes cyclopropyl methyl ketone and trans-1,2-dibenzoylcyclo-
propane did not undergo ring-opening when reacted with 1a. The more activated
2,2,3,3-tetracyanocyclopropane and diethylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylate both re-
i
sulted in ring-opening when reacted with 1a resulting in the isolation of deriva-
tives [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C(CN)2)(PPh3)4] (12) and [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C2H4CH(CO2Et)2)-
(PPh3)4]BETI (11[BETI]) respectively which were structurally characterised by het-
eronuclear NMR spectroscopy (12 31P{1H}, 195Pt{1H}; 11 1H, 31P{1H}) and single
crystal XRD studies. 12 was found to have a carbanionic center and is proposed
to result from an intramolecular rearrangement of the initially formed [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-
S C(CN)2C(CN)2CH3)(PPh3)4]+ (31). Bromomethylcyclopropane did not result
in ring-opening when reacted with 1a, however alkylation resulted in [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-
S CH2C3H5)(PPh3)4]+ (10) which was isolated as 10[BPh4] and structurally char-
acterised by 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy and single crystal XRD. 10[BPh4] did not
undergo ring-opening when refluxed in methanol. N -tosylaziridine resulted in the
ring-opened derivative [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C2H4NHtosyl)(PPh3)4]+ (13) when reacted
with 1a and was isolated as 13[PF6] and structurally characterised by 31P{1H}-NMR
spectroscopy and single crystal XRD. Thiirane appeared to rapidly undergo ring-
opening when reacted with 1a however only polymeric decomposition species were
detected by ESIMS. The previously reported reaction of 1a and 2-chloro-N -methyl-
pyridinium iodide (14[I]) was reexamined. Salts of 14 sans iodide were synthesized
using alkylating agents trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate or dimethyl sulfate giv-
ing 14[BF4] or 14[CH3SO4] respectively. The reaction of 1a and 14 was found to
result in the dicationic complex [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C6H7N)(PPh3)4]2+ (2) which was
isolated as the bis-hexafluorophosphate salt 2[PF6]2 and structurally characterised
with 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy, 195Pt{1H}-NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal
XRD. The 2-mercapto-N -methylpyridinium ligand in 2 was proposed to be an ex-
cellent leaving group and the reaction of 2 with excess bromide resulted in the isola-
tion of the mixed-bridged complex [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-Br)(PPh3)4]BPh4 (16[BPh4]) which
was structurally characterised with 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy and single crystal
XRD. The thiols N -acetylcysteamine, 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole, and 2-amino-
thiophenol were reacted with 2 to give [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C2H4NHC( O)CH3)(PPh3)4]+
(38), [Pt2(μ-S)(μNS-S C3H2N2CH3)(PPh3)4]+ (17), and [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C6H4NH2)-
ii
(PPh3)4]+ (39) respectively which were isolated as 38[BF4], 17[BETI], and 39[BF4].
17[BETI] was structurally characterised (31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy, 195Pt{1H}-
NMR spectroscopy, single crystal XRD) and found to contain a novel 6-membered
Pt-S-Pt-S-C-N heterocycle. 38 was characterised using NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C,
31P{1H}, and 195Pt{1H}). 39 was characterised using 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy.
2 was reacted with selenourea resulting in the detection by ESIMS of the mixed-
bridged [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-Se)(PPh3)4]+ (23) which decomposed over the course of several
days to 1a and 1b. When the diaryldichalcogenides Ph2Se2, Ph2Te2, di-4-ethoxy-
phenyl-ditelluride were reduced with hydrazine to the corresponding chalcogeno-
late anion and reacted with 2, substitution of the 2-mercapto-N -methylpyridinium
zwitterion resulted and mixed-bridged derivatives [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-E R)(PPh3)4]+ (E-
R = Se-Ph, 18; Te-Ph, 47; Te-C6H4-OEt, 19) detected by ESIMS. 18[BF4] and
19[BF4] were isolated and structurally characterised with heteronuclear NMR spec-
troscopy (31P{1H}-NMR, 195Pt{1H}-NMR) and single crystal XRD. A bridging hy-
drazine species was observed when reacting 2 with hydrazine reduced diaryldichalco-
genides, and the reaction between 2 and hydrazine was found to result in [Pt2-
(μ-S)(μ-NH NH2)(PPh3)4]+ (21) which was isolated as 21[BPh4] and structurally
characterised with 31P{1H} and 195Pt{1H}-NMR spectroscopy

text: ESIMS targeted synthesis of novel {Pt2S2} derivatives Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESIMS) was used to investigate ring-
opening reactions of several epoxides with the nucleophilic dinuclear PtII
complexes
[Pt2(μ-E)2(PPh3)4] (E = S, 1a; Se, 1b) and several activated cyclopropanes, N -
tosylaziridine, and thiirane with 1a. Epoxides cyclohexene oxide, styrene oxide,
epibromohydrin, and 2,2-dimethyloxirane were found to undergo ring-opening when
reacted with 1a and derivatives [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C6H10OH)(PPh3)4]BPh4 (5[BPh4],
[Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C8H8OH)(PPh3)4]BETI (6[BETI]), [Pt2(μ-S CH2CH(OH)CH2 μ-S)-
(PPh3)4][PF6]2 (3[PF6]2), and [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S CH2C(Me)2OH)(PPh3)4]BPh4 (7 [BPh4])
were respectively isolated and structurally characterised with 31P{1H} and 195Pt nu-
clear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and for 5, 3 and 7 single crystal X-
ray diffraction (XRD) studies. 6 was found to be a mixture of isomers, and crystals
suitable for a single crystal XRD experiment were not obtained. Both styrene oxide
and epibromohydrin underwent ring-opening when reacted with 1b and the respec-
tive derivatives [Pt2(μ-Se)(μ-Se C8H8OH)(PPh3)4]+ and [Pt2(μ-Se CH2CH(OH)-
CH2 μ-Se)(PPh3)4]2+ were characterised by ESIMS. The fully substituted epoxide
2,3-dimethyl-2,3-epoxybutane did not undergo ring-opening when treated with 1a
in refluxing methanol for several hours. 5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-[1,10]-phenanthro-
line resulted in ring-opening when reacted with 1a however the resulting deriva-
tive [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C12H8N2O)(PPh3)4]+ (8) was found to decompose readily in
solution. Cyclopropanes cyclopropyl methyl ketone and trans-1,2-dibenzoylcyclo-
propane did not undergo ring-opening when reacted with 1a. The more activated
2,2,3,3-tetracyanocyclopropane and diethylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylate both re-
i
sulted in ring-opening when reacted with 1a resulting in the isolation of deriva-
tives [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C(CN)2)(PPh3)4] (12) and [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C2H4CH(CO2Et)2)-
(PPh3)4]BETI (11[BETI]) respectively which were structurally characterised by het-
eronuclear NMR spectroscopy (12 31P{1H}, 195Pt{1H}; 11 1H, 31P{1H}) and single
crystal XRD studies. 12 was found to have a carbanionic center and is proposed
to result from an intramolecular rearrangement of the initially formed [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-
S C(CN)2C(CN)2CH3)(PPh3)4]+ (31). Bromomethylcyclopropane did not result
in ring-opening when reacted with 1a, however alkylation resulted in [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-
S CH2C3H5)(PPh3)4]+ (10) which was isolated as 10[BPh4] and structurally char-
acterised by 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy and single crystal XRD. 10[BPh4] did not
undergo ring-opening when refluxed in methanol. N -tosylaziridine resulted in the
ring-opened derivative [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C2H4NHtosyl)(PPh3)4]+ (13) when reacted
with 1a and was isolated as 13[PF6] and structurally characterised by 31P{1H}-NMR
spectroscopy and single crystal XRD. Thiirane appeared to rapidly undergo ring-
opening when reacted with 1a however only polymeric decomposition species were
detected by ESIMS. The previously reported reaction of 1a and 2-chloro-N -methyl-
pyridinium iodide (14[I]) was reexamined. Salts of 14 sans iodide were synthesized
using alkylating agents trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate or dimethyl sulfate giv-
ing 14[BF4] or 14[CH3SO4] respectively. The reaction of 1a and 14 was found to
result in the dicationic complex [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C6H7N)(PPh3)4]2+ (2) which was
isolated as the bis-hexafluorophosphate salt 2[PF6]2 and structurally characterised
with 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy, 195Pt{1H}-NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal
XRD. The 2-mercapto-N -methylpyridinium ligand in 2 was proposed to be an ex-
cellent leaving group and the reaction of 2 with excess bromide resulted in the isola-
tion of the mixed-bridged complex [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-Br)(PPh3)4]BPh4 (16[BPh4]) which
was structurally characterised with 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy and single crystal
XRD. The thiols N -acetylcysteamine, 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole, and 2-amino-
thiophenol were reacted with 2 to give [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C2H4NHC( O)CH3)(PPh3)4]+
(38), [Pt2(μ-S)(μNS-S C3H2N2CH3)(PPh3)4]+ (17), and [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-S C6H4NH2)-
ii
(PPh3)4]+ (39) respectively which were isolated as 38[BF4], 17[BETI], and 39[BF4].
17[BETI] was structurally characterised (31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy, 195Pt{1H}-
NMR spectroscopy, single crystal XRD) and found to contain a novel 6-membered
Pt-S-Pt-S-C-N heterocycle. 38 was characterised using NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C,
31P{1H}, and 195Pt{1H}). 39 was characterised using 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy.
2 was reacted with selenourea resulting in the detection by ESIMS of the mixed-
bridged [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-Se)(PPh3)4]+ (23) which decomposed over the course of several
days to 1a and 1b. When the diaryldichalcogenides Ph2Se2, Ph2Te2, di-4-ethoxy-
phenyl-ditelluride were reduced with hydrazine to the corresponding chalcogeno-
late anion and reacted with 2, substitution of the 2-mercapto-N -methylpyridinium
zwitterion resulted and mixed-bridged derivatives [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-E R)(PPh3)4]+ (E-
R = Se-Ph, 18; Te-Ph, 47; Te-C6H4-OEt, 19) detected by ESIMS. 18[BF4] and
19[BF4] were isolated and structurally characterised with heteronuclear NMR spec-
troscopy (31P{1H}-NMR, 195Pt{1H}-NMR) and single crystal XRD. A bridging hy-
drazine species was observed when reacting 2 with hydrazine reduced diaryldichalco-
genides, and the reaction between 2 and hydrazine was found to result in [Pt2-
(μ-S)(μ-NH NH2)(PPh3)4]+ (21) which was isolated as 21[BPh4] and structurally
characterised with 31P{1H} and 195Pt{1H}-NMR spectroscopy

year: 2024-10-18

title: Home and the spirit in the Maori world

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

abstract: Today we explore home as a place of spiritual belonging and continuity and how tangi relies on the genealogical connectedness of ancestral and living communities to care for the tūpāpaku, the human remains, and wairua, the spirit of the deceased, as well as the living. While colonisation and westernisation have changed us, the institution of tangi, our rituals of death and mourning, have remained since pre-encounter times. In the face of death, tangi and its repetitive ritualised pattern of encounter and mourning might be viewed as a lifeline to hold on to as the disturbance and turmoil spawned by death is endured.

We begin this paper by returning to the beginning, the place of potentiality to contemplate our spiritual origins and life endowments. We consider the nature of Māori beliefs about a spiritual afterlife and how through the institution of tangi we guide and support the departing spirit on its way. We argue that these rituals of departure and support are most optimally performed within the context of our marae and spiritual landscapes. Reinforcing this, the interment of the deceased amongst kin enhances our togetherness, in life and death, and protects us from entities with malevolent intent. For these reasons, we reaffirm the rightness of our beliefs and practices. Contestation of tūpāpaku, an act of spiritual responsibility in which tūpāpaku are returned to their tribal homelands for mourning and interment amongst kin is presented as an exemplar of right spiritual practice. We conclude with a discussion of some challenges Māori must confront to live life more consciously in spiritually responsible ways and in continuity with our origins and futures.

text: Home and the spirit in the Maori world Today we explore home as a place of spiritual belonging and continuity and how tangi relies on the genealogical connectedness of ancestral and living communities to care for the tūpāpaku, the human remains, and wairua, the spirit of the deceased, as well as the living. While colonisation and westernisation have changed us, the institution of tangi, our rituals of death and mourning, have remained since pre-encounter times. In the face of death, tangi and its repetitive ritualised pattern of encounter and mourning might be viewed as a lifeline to hold on to as the disturbance and turmoil spawned by death is endured.

We begin this paper by returning to the beginning, the place of potentiality to contemplate our spiritual origins and life endowments. We consider the nature of Māori beliefs about a spiritual afterlife and how through the institution of tangi we guide and support the departing spirit on its way. We argue that these rituals of departure and support are most optimally performed within the context of our marae and spiritual landscapes. Reinforcing this, the interment of the deceased amongst kin enhances our togetherness, in life and death, and protects us from entities with malevolent intent. For these reasons, we reaffirm the rightness of our beliefs and practices. Contestation of tūpāpaku, an act of spiritual responsibility in which tūpāpaku are returned to their tribal homelands for mourning and interment amongst kin is presented as an exemplar of right spiritual practice. We conclude with a discussion of some challenges Māori must confront to live life more consciously in spiritually responsible ways and in continuity with our origins and futures.

year: 2013