title: Introducing a new subject: The case of environmental education in Taiwanese junior high schools

authors: Yueh, Mei-Chun Michelle

subjects: environmental education

abstract: The introduction of environmental education in schools has been the focus of a long campaign worldwide since the late 1960s.  The difficulties in teaching environmental education, including the choice of curriculum models, and the obstacles to changing contemporary schooling patterns have been well documented.  The traditional process of new subject emergence has been detailed in the literature; whether or not environmental education should or could follow this traditional pattern of subject emergence in schools is the focus of this thesis.  

In Taiwan, the introduction of environmental education in junior high schools occurred as part of a nationwide curriculum change in 2002.  This research used an interpretive approach to explore the views and practices of staff in three typical Taiwanese junior high schools at this time.  The focus of the research was to study what happened at the level of classroom teaching and school development.  The research program was designed to interview both administrators and teachers before, during and after the first year (2002 school year) of curriculum implementation in each of the three case study schools.  Three rounds of interviews were conducted over a period of three years (Sept. 2001 - June 2004).  As well as interviews, national and school documents were collected; and announcements and decisions from the Ministry of Education and schools were documented.  Also, because the reform encouraged the development of school-based curriculum, a questionnaire was given to the one school which chose environmental education as their school-based curriculum in order to better understand the emergence of environmental education in this school.  

The findings show a paradox in Taiwanese junior high schooling: although each school placed considerable value on environmental education, the data showed that the introduction of environmental education via an infusion strategy during a time of national curriculum change had minimal impact in the three Taiwanese case study schools.  A cross-case analysis indicated the reason for this failure was the lack of effectiveness of eleven supporting themes often discussed in the emergence of a new subject: the possibility of gaining external examination credit and entry to a university department; the prioritising of the subject in school timetabling and programming; the development of a systematic syllabus; the presence of proactive support from central government leadership; the provision of teacher professional development; the inclusion in the informal as well as the formal curriculum in a school; the inclusion of environmental education in non-formal education in society; the presence of clear subject characteristics and definition; the presence of substantial school-based material interests; the gaining of support from an external constituency, especially parents; and the presence of an emergence process that couples internal value evolution with external compulsion.  The Taiwanese case studies raised three particular and additional themes for the emergence of environmental education, specifically: the need to set up long-term partnerships with local groups that have an interest in or responsibility for the local environment (e.g. societies, agencies and non-governmental organisations) to achieve local environment involvement; the need for a whole school approach through curriculum integration to achieve the transformative nature of environmental education; and the need to build up a sound cooperative network that includes people at all levels of the education system and society to achieve a national cooperation network.  These three particular themes derived from the nature of environmental education as a holistic, integrative and interdisciplinary subject.  In summary, the findings not only confirmed the themes important for the emergence of environmental education and other contemporary school subjects, but they also raised particular themes pertinent to the emergence of environmental education.  When these three particular themes are not taken into account, the effective emergence of environmental education in contemporary schooling, as exemplified by Taiwanese junior high schools, will be difficult to achieve in mainstream education.

text: Introducing a new subject: The case of environmental education in Taiwanese junior high schools The introduction of environmental education in schools has been the focus of a long campaign worldwide since the late 1960s.  The difficulties in teaching environmental education, including the choice of curriculum models, and the obstacles to changing contemporary schooling patterns have been well documented.  The traditional process of new subject emergence has been detailed in the literature; whether or not environmental education should or could follow this traditional pattern of subject emergence in schools is the focus of this thesis.  

In Taiwan, the introduction of environmental education in junior high schools occurred as part of a nationwide curriculum change in 2002.  This research used an interpretive approach to explore the views and practices of staff in three typical Taiwanese junior high schools at this time.  The focus of the research was to study what happened at the level of classroom teaching and school development.  The research program was designed to interview both administrators and teachers before, during and after the first year (2002 school year) of curriculum implementation in each of the three case study schools.  Three rounds of interviews were conducted over a period of three years (Sept. 2001 - June 2004).  As well as interviews, national and school documents were collected; and announcements and decisions from the Ministry of Education and schools were documented.  Also, because the reform encouraged the development of school-based curriculum, a questionnaire was given to the one school which chose environmental education as their school-based curriculum in order to better understand the emergence of environmental education in this school.  

The findings show a paradox in Taiwanese junior high schooling: although each school placed considerable value on environmental education, the data showed that the introduction of environmental education via an infusion strategy during a time of national curriculum change had minimal impact in the three Taiwanese case study schools.  A cross-case analysis indicated the reason for this failure was the lack of effectiveness of eleven supporting themes often discussed in the emergence of a new subject: the possibility of gaining external examination credit and entry to a university department; the prioritising of the subject in school timetabling and programming; the development of a systematic syllabus; the presence of proactive support from central government leadership; the provision of teacher professional development; the inclusion in the informal as well as the formal curriculum in a school; the inclusion of environmental education in non-formal education in society; the presence of clear subject characteristics and definition; the presence of substantial school-based material interests; the gaining of support from an external constituency, especially parents; and the presence of an emergence process that couples internal value evolution with external compulsion.  The Taiwanese case studies raised three particular and additional themes for the emergence of environmental education, specifically: the need to set up long-term partnerships with local groups that have an interest in or responsibility for the local environment (e.g. societies, agencies and non-governmental organisations) to achieve local environment involvement; the need for a whole school approach through curriculum integration to achieve the transformative nature of environmental education; and the need to build up a sound cooperative network that includes people at all levels of the education system and society to achieve a national cooperation network.  These three particular themes derived from the nature of environmental education as a holistic, integrative and interdisciplinary subject.  In summary, the findings not only confirmed the themes important for the emergence of environmental education and other contemporary school subjects, but they also raised particular themes pertinent to the emergence of environmental education.  When these three particular themes are not taken into account, the effective emergence of environmental education in contemporary schooling, as exemplified by Taiwanese junior high schools, will be difficult to achieve in mainstream education.

year: 2007

title: Alteration mineralogy and whole-rock geochemistry of the Tauhara Geothermal Field

authors: Mauriohooho, Kate

subjects: geothermal

abstract: The Tauhara Geothermal Field lies over a central zone of rhyolitic volcanism and caldera formation in the TVZ where extension allows magma to penetrate the crust and NE-SW oriented faults permit hot fluids to ascend and convect as individual hydrothermal systems.  The Jurassic greywacke basement hosts the heat source critical to geothermal systems, the Waiora Formation is the permeable reservoir hosting fluids and the Huka Falls Formation is the cap rock to the system. 304 drill cutting samples and six drill core samples were collected from three wells across the Tauhara field (TH9, TH10 and TH12) at 20 m intervals, and a variety of petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical techniques were applied to the samples.  New information on fluid flow pathways (feed zones), alteration types, alteration zones, hydrothermal conditions and mineral inferred temperatures were identified and interpreted from the data collected.

Using both alteration mineralogy data (from powder x-ray diffraction, short wave infrared or SWIR, and petrography) and geochemical data (from x-ray fluorescence and portable x-ray fluorescence), three main zones of alteration were identified across all wells:  A shallow zone of argillic to intermediate argillic alteration followed by a transition zone with increasing depth as propylitic alteration begins to dominate and an intense propylitic alteration zone at the deepest levels.

Mineral inferred temperatures are generally cooler than measured well temperatures in all wells except in TH10.  Here, mineral inferred temperatures agree with hotter measured well temperatures (> 280 °C) and strong potassic alteration indicates that TH10 is closest to the major upflow zone, making south Tauhara a prospective area for geothermal production.  In TH12, mineral inferred temperatures are inconsistent with measured well temperatures implying a recent increase of fluid temperature.  However petrographic evidence of an illite-calcite overprint suggests a cooler fluid at the bottom of well TH12 which is supported by petrography in this study showing pervasive illite alteration.  TH12 is perhaps more marginal to the upflow zone and the change in temperature regime may be related to blind faults at depth bringing the cooler fluid in.  An alteration halo based on geochemical data was identified in the vicinity of the dike in TH9 at ~1400 mRF by high alteration index values determined by pXRF data, which is useful because illite and chlorite detected by SWIR did not show any appreciable mineralogical alteration halo.

The pXRF technique on cuttings correlated well with lab XRF on powdered cutting samples crushed using a ring mill, showing excellent correlation (rs >0.8) for elements As, Ba, Ca, K, Nb, Rb, Sr, Y, and Zr but poorer correlation (rs <0.7) for others.  Samples analysed by XRF were classified as rhyolite/dacite or andesite/andesite-basaltic.  One sample was reclassified as andesite/andesite-basaltic rather than ignimbrite and this finding was corroborated by downhole pXRF geochemical data which show it belongs in the andesitic lithic crystal breccia unit. These results mean that downhole pXRF geochemical trends of immobile elements (Zr, Y, Nb) can be used to refine lithological boundaries, which cannot be identified from visual logging alone.  In addition, downhole immobile element trends are able to separate lithology packets and distinguish subunits or internal stratigraphic variations.  Conversely, variations in mobile element concentrations (Ba, K, Ca, As, Rb and Pb) indicated feed zones or permeable zones of fluid movement by depletions or elevations in element concentrations.  The (AlOH / H2O) ratio derived from SWIR data was plotted against depth downhole and changes in the ratio appear to coincide with some of the locations of feed zones (fluid pathways) in TH9 and TH12.

This study is the first to apply pXRF to geothermal drill cuttings and has proven that the data collected can be used to aid visual logging, and quantify alteration intensity.  Application of rapid geochemistry on existing and future wells will generate detailed geology models and enable correlation between wells and across fields.  This newly developed approach can be applied worldwide to any geothermal fields, provided that appropriate quality assurance techniques are used to ensure consistency of data.

text: Alteration mineralogy and whole-rock geochemistry of the Tauhara Geothermal Field The Tauhara Geothermal Field lies over a central zone of rhyolitic volcanism and caldera formation in the TVZ where extension allows magma to penetrate the crust and NE-SW oriented faults permit hot fluids to ascend and convect as individual hydrothermal systems.  The Jurassic greywacke basement hosts the heat source critical to geothermal systems, the Waiora Formation is the permeable reservoir hosting fluids and the Huka Falls Formation is the cap rock to the system. 304 drill cutting samples and six drill core samples were collected from three wells across the Tauhara field (TH9, TH10 and TH12) at 20 m intervals, and a variety of petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical techniques were applied to the samples.  New information on fluid flow pathways (feed zones), alteration types, alteration zones, hydrothermal conditions and mineral inferred temperatures were identified and interpreted from the data collected.

Using both alteration mineralogy data (from powder x-ray diffraction, short wave infrared or SWIR, and petrography) and geochemical data (from x-ray fluorescence and portable x-ray fluorescence), three main zones of alteration were identified across all wells:  A shallow zone of argillic to intermediate argillic alteration followed by a transition zone with increasing depth as propylitic alteration begins to dominate and an intense propylitic alteration zone at the deepest levels.

Mineral inferred temperatures are generally cooler than measured well temperatures in all wells except in TH10.  Here, mineral inferred temperatures agree with hotter measured well temperatures (> 280 °C) and strong potassic alteration indicates that TH10 is closest to the major upflow zone, making south Tauhara a prospective area for geothermal production.  In TH12, mineral inferred temperatures are inconsistent with measured well temperatures implying a recent increase of fluid temperature.  However petrographic evidence of an illite-calcite overprint suggests a cooler fluid at the bottom of well TH12 which is supported by petrography in this study showing pervasive illite alteration.  TH12 is perhaps more marginal to the upflow zone and the change in temperature regime may be related to blind faults at depth bringing the cooler fluid in.  An alteration halo based on geochemical data was identified in the vicinity of the dike in TH9 at ~1400 mRF by high alteration index values determined by pXRF data, which is useful because illite and chlorite detected by SWIR did not show any appreciable mineralogical alteration halo.

The pXRF technique on cuttings correlated well with lab XRF on powdered cutting samples crushed using a ring mill, showing excellent correlation (rs >0.8) for elements As, Ba, Ca, K, Nb, Rb, Sr, Y, and Zr but poorer correlation (rs <0.7) for others.  Samples analysed by XRF were classified as rhyolite/dacite or andesite/andesite-basaltic.  One sample was reclassified as andesite/andesite-basaltic rather than ignimbrite and this finding was corroborated by downhole pXRF geochemical data which show it belongs in the andesitic lithic crystal breccia unit. These results mean that downhole pXRF geochemical trends of immobile elements (Zr, Y, Nb) can be used to refine lithological boundaries, which cannot be identified from visual logging alone.  In addition, downhole immobile element trends are able to separate lithology packets and distinguish subunits or internal stratigraphic variations.  Conversely, variations in mobile element concentrations (Ba, K, Ca, As, Rb and Pb) indicated feed zones or permeable zones of fluid movement by depletions or elevations in element concentrations.  The (AlOH / H2O) ratio derived from SWIR data was plotted against depth downhole and changes in the ratio appear to coincide with some of the locations of feed zones (fluid pathways) in TH9 and TH12.

This study is the first to apply pXRF to geothermal drill cuttings and has proven that the data collected can be used to aid visual logging, and quantify alteration intensity.  Application of rapid geochemistry on existing and future wells will generate detailed geology models and enable correlation between wells and across fields.  This newly developed approach can be applied worldwide to any geothermal fields, provided that appropriate quality assurance techniques are used to ensure consistency of data.

year: 2015

title: Understanding the Happiness of Māori and the Role of Consumption: Experiences of the Millennial Generation

authors: de Thierry, Ebony

subjects: Māori Well-Being

abstract: Happiness is commonly perceived as the ideal state of being for  all of human kind. Although a universal definition of the term remains elusive, happiness is a goal that everybody wants to achieve. In understanding the different aspects that shape happiness, the literature has shown that this can vary depending on the cultural context. As such, this study investigates the essence of happiness as it is experienced by Māori. In understanding the experiences of the Millennial generation, the role that consumption plays is also explored. This group of young adults have been raised in an era when consumerism and cultural revitalisation are the norm.  

This investigation was guided by hermeneutic phenomenology using a kaupapa Māori research perspective. Through this, thirteen young Māori individuals were interviewed to gain their experiences of happiness. Photo elicitation techniques were utilised as a means to facilitate these interviews. Stories of the participants’ experiences of happiness were crafted and then analysed to explore the role of consumption.

Findings show that the happiness of Māori is shaped by the five themes of; sense of belonging, whānau and relationships, spirituality, achievement and success, and sense of freedom. These themes interrelate as they are underpinned by the collective values of Māori. In particular, the aspects of spirituality and sense of belonging appear to be specific to the Māori realm. These are based on customs, values and beliefs that are inherited from our ancestors yet are still prevalent today. In terms of consumption, happiness can be positively linked to experiential consumption. In this case, it can play three different roles on the happiness of Māori through either; a direct connection, an indirect connection, or a negative connection. For Māori, consumption is more likely to have an indirect connection. This implies that it is able to facilitate, maintain and enhance happiness, but is not essential to creating these feelings. This investigation contributes to the literature in four ways. First, this study serves as a starting point to developing a comprehensive framework of happiness that is specific to the culture, views and values of Māori. This will assist Māori through ensuring that they are accurately represented in policies, frameworks and statistics. Second, it proposes five guidelines for Māori which suggest how they can maximise happiness through consumption. Third, this study provides a more up-to-date understanding of the happiness of Māori at the individual level whilst incorporating the impact of collective values. Marketers, researchers and practitioners can utilise this information in an attempt to aid in improving the happiness of Māori society. Finally, it shows that consumption can continue to be positively related to happiness once basic needs have been met. The positive role that consumption can play on happiness is identified, showing that marketers and consumers can work together to achieve happiness.

text: Understanding the Happiness of Māori and the Role of Consumption: Experiences of the Millennial Generation Happiness is commonly perceived as the ideal state of being for  all of human kind. Although a universal definition of the term remains elusive, happiness is a goal that everybody wants to achieve. In understanding the different aspects that shape happiness, the literature has shown that this can vary depending on the cultural context. As such, this study investigates the essence of happiness as it is experienced by Māori. In understanding the experiences of the Millennial generation, the role that consumption plays is also explored. This group of young adults have been raised in an era when consumerism and cultural revitalisation are the norm.  

This investigation was guided by hermeneutic phenomenology using a kaupapa Māori research perspective. Through this, thirteen young Māori individuals were interviewed to gain their experiences of happiness. Photo elicitation techniques were utilised as a means to facilitate these interviews. Stories of the participants’ experiences of happiness were crafted and then analysed to explore the role of consumption.

Findings show that the happiness of Māori is shaped by the five themes of; sense of belonging, whānau and relationships, spirituality, achievement and success, and sense of freedom. These themes interrelate as they are underpinned by the collective values of Māori. In particular, the aspects of spirituality and sense of belonging appear to be specific to the Māori realm. These are based on customs, values and beliefs that are inherited from our ancestors yet are still prevalent today. In terms of consumption, happiness can be positively linked to experiential consumption. In this case, it can play three different roles on the happiness of Māori through either; a direct connection, an indirect connection, or a negative connection. For Māori, consumption is more likely to have an indirect connection. This implies that it is able to facilitate, maintain and enhance happiness, but is not essential to creating these feelings. This investigation contributes to the literature in four ways. First, this study serves as a starting point to developing a comprehensive framework of happiness that is specific to the culture, views and values of Māori. This will assist Māori through ensuring that they are accurately represented in policies, frameworks and statistics. Second, it proposes five guidelines for Māori which suggest how they can maximise happiness through consumption. Third, this study provides a more up-to-date understanding of the happiness of Māori at the individual level whilst incorporating the impact of collective values. Marketers, researchers and practitioners can utilise this information in an attempt to aid in improving the happiness of Māori society. Finally, it shows that consumption can continue to be positively related to happiness once basic needs have been met. The positive role that consumption can play on happiness is identified, showing that marketers and consumers can work together to achieve happiness.

year: 2012