title: Language use and the instructional strategies of Grade 3 teachers to support 'bridging' in Papua New Guinea

authors: Franken, Margaret

subjects: multilingual education

abstract: For over a decade, the Department of Education in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has adopted vernacular education as a way of ensuring that the educational experiences of children in schools draw on the cultural and linguistic knowledge they bring to the classroom. In PNG, there are many potential vernaculars - apart from the local languages, there are Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu. The policy advocates 'bridging' as an instructional strategy. While the term is used extensively by teachers, it is unclear what teachers think it entails and how they enact bridging. This small-scale exploratory study documents the views of a group of Grade 3 teachers in the East New Britain region and provides observations of their bridging strategies. While the teachers are not particularly supportive of vernacular education, they report on and use instructional strategies that include translation, metalinguistic comparison, contrast and elaboration. The teachers make much use of elicitation to encourage children to articulate their understanding of English, and they demonstrate flexible and dynamic use of languages in their classrooms. The fact that the study recorded no use of the local languages suggests that systematic follow-up of policy in practice is much needed, together with more in-depth research.

text: Language use and the instructional strategies of Grade 3 teachers to support 'bridging' in Papua New Guinea For over a decade, the Department of Education in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has adopted vernacular education as a way of ensuring that the educational experiences of children in schools draw on the cultural and linguistic knowledge they bring to the classroom. In PNG, there are many potential vernaculars - apart from the local languages, there are Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu. The policy advocates 'bridging' as an instructional strategy. While the term is used extensively by teachers, it is unclear what teachers think it entails and how they enact bridging. This small-scale exploratory study documents the views of a group of Grade 3 teachers in the East New Britain region and provides observations of their bridging strategies. While the teachers are not particularly supportive of vernacular education, they report on and use instructional strategies that include translation, metalinguistic comparison, contrast and elaboration. The teachers make much use of elicitation to encourage children to articulate their understanding of English, and they demonstrate flexible and dynamic use of languages in their classrooms. The fact that the study recorded no use of the local languages suggests that systematic follow-up of policy in practice is much needed, together with more in-depth research.

year: 2011

title: Low-cost fluid flow sensor to enable electronic control of fractional distillation columns

authors: Scott, Jonathan B.

subjects: sensors

abstract: A sensor is described that measures fluid flow up to 20 ml/minute, and down to 0.001 ml/minute. The measurement involves counting drips as they fall through a pair of optical beams. The beams are formed using a pair of ordinary optical proximity sensors arranged to face each other so that each photo- receiver sees the other sensor’s emitter. The beams operate at two different frequencies so as to prevent reflected signals interfering. Only two sensors, an 8-pin microcontroller, and four resistors are required for the sensing. Calibration for a specific fluid is straightforward. An ethanol-water mixture produces 16 drips/ml, significantly different from the default pharmaceutical value of 12 drips/ml.

text: Low-cost fluid flow sensor to enable electronic control of fractional distillation columns A sensor is described that measures fluid flow up to 20 ml/minute, and down to 0.001 ml/minute. The measurement involves counting drips as they fall through a pair of optical beams. The beams are formed using a pair of ordinary optical proximity sensors arranged to face each other so that each photo- receiver sees the other sensor’s emitter. The beams operate at two different frequencies so as to prevent reflected signals interfering. Only two sensors, an 8-pin microcontroller, and four resistors are required for the sensing. Calibration for a specific fluid is straightforward. An ethanol-water mixture produces 16 drips/ml, significantly different from the default pharmaceutical value of 12 drips/ml.

year: 2021

title: Kuta (Eleocharis sphacelata, Cyperaceae), a locally important and highly valued weaving plant

authors: Wehi, Priscilla M.

subjects: Northland (N.Z.)

abstract: This article introduces and discusses kuta (Eleocharis sphacelata, Cyperaceae), a tall spikerush found on the margins of shallow lakes in New Zealand, which, although often overlooked, is considered in Northland to be a valuable weaving resource.

text: Kuta (Eleocharis sphacelata, Cyperaceae), a locally important and highly valued weaving plant This article introduces and discusses kuta (Eleocharis sphacelata, Cyperaceae), a tall spikerush found on the margins of shallow lakes in New Zealand, which, although often overlooked, is considered in Northland to be a valuable weaving resource.

year: 2006