title: The Effectiveness of Precision Teaching when Working with Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

authors: George, Veronica Anne

subjects: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

abstract: A two-dyad multiple baseline design was used to determine if Precision Teaching (PT) was effective in improving the target skills of sight word recognition for two boys aged six and eight (Group A) and multiplication for a 12-year old boy and a 10-year old girl (Group B). The participants were all diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and attended the Kauri Centre. SAFMEDS (Say All Fast Minute Each Day Shuffled) cards containing words or sums were used. Correct and incorrect responses were recorded on a Standard Celeration Chart. Group A also read from a reader, recalled facts about books previously read to them, and copied a passage of writing, while Group B answered sums on multiplication, division, and word problem worksheets. These measures were used to see if PT in a target skill had any effect on other classroom activities. Furthermore, aggressive behaviour, off-task behaviour, and responses to instructions were observed to determine if any changes occurred following the implementation of PT. The arrival of a new teacher, however, confounded these results. PT is a very effective method for teaching target skills to ADHD children, however there is limited application of this skill to other classroom activities and no new behaviours emerged as a result of the PT process. Future research could look at teaching this population other skills using PT and/or using PT to help other children experiencing reading or maths difficulties.

text: The Effectiveness of Precision Teaching when Working with Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder A two-dyad multiple baseline design was used to determine if Precision Teaching (PT) was effective in improving the target skills of sight word recognition for two boys aged six and eight (Group A) and multiplication for a 12-year old boy and a 10-year old girl (Group B). The participants were all diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and attended the Kauri Centre. SAFMEDS (Say All Fast Minute Each Day Shuffled) cards containing words or sums were used. Correct and incorrect responses were recorded on a Standard Celeration Chart. Group A also read from a reader, recalled facts about books previously read to them, and copied a passage of writing, while Group B answered sums on multiplication, division, and word problem worksheets. These measures were used to see if PT in a target skill had any effect on other classroom activities. Furthermore, aggressive behaviour, off-task behaviour, and responses to instructions were observed to determine if any changes occurred following the implementation of PT. The arrival of a new teacher, however, confounded these results. PT is a very effective method for teaching target skills to ADHD children, however there is limited application of this skill to other classroom activities and no new behaviours emerged as a result of the PT process. Future research could look at teaching this population other skills using PT and/or using PT to help other children experiencing reading or maths difficulties.

year: 2010

title: Photodegradation leads to increased carbon dioxide losses from terrestrial organic matter

authors: Rutledge, Susanna

subjects: abiotic decomposition

abstract: CO₂ production in terrestrial ecosystems is generally assumed to be solely biologically driven while the role of abiotic processes has been largely overlooked. In addition to microbial decomposition, photodegradation – the direct breakdown of organic matter (OM) by solar irradiance – has been found to contribute to litter mass loss in dry ecosystems. Previous small-scale studies have shown that litter degradation by irradiance is accompanied by emissions of CO₂. However, the contribution of photodegradation to total CO₂ losses at ecosystems scales is unknown. This study determined the proportion of the total CO₂ losses caused by photodegradation in two ecosystems: a bare peatland in New Zealand and a seasonally dry grassland in California. The direct effect of solar irradiance on CO₂  production was examined by comparing daytime CO₂  fluxes measured using eddy covariance (EC) systems with simultaneous measurements made using an opaque chamber and the soil CO₂ gradient technique, and with night-time EC measurements under the same soil temperature and moisture conditions. In addition, a transparent chamber was used to directly measure CO₂ fluxes from OM caused by solar irradiance. Photodegradation contributed 19% of the annual CO₂ flux from the peatland and almost 60% of the dry season CO₂ flux from the grassland, and up to 62% and 92% of the summer mid-day CO₂ fluxes, respectively. Our results suggest that photodegradation may be important in a wide range of ecosystems with exposed OM. Furthermore, the practice of partitioning daytime ecosystem CO₂ exchange into its gross components by assuming that total daytime CO₂ losses can be approximated using estimates of biological respiration alone may be in error. To obtain robust estimates of global ecosystem–atmosphere carbon transfers, the contribution of photodegradation to OM decomposition must be quantified for other ecosystems and the results incorporated into coupled carbon–climate models.

text: Photodegradation leads to increased carbon dioxide losses from terrestrial organic matter CO₂ production in terrestrial ecosystems is generally assumed to be solely biologically driven while the role of abiotic processes has been largely overlooked. In addition to microbial decomposition, photodegradation – the direct breakdown of organic matter (OM) by solar irradiance – has been found to contribute to litter mass loss in dry ecosystems. Previous small-scale studies have shown that litter degradation by irradiance is accompanied by emissions of CO₂. However, the contribution of photodegradation to total CO₂ losses at ecosystems scales is unknown. This study determined the proportion of the total CO₂ losses caused by photodegradation in two ecosystems: a bare peatland in New Zealand and a seasonally dry grassland in California. The direct effect of solar irradiance on CO₂  production was examined by comparing daytime CO₂  fluxes measured using eddy covariance (EC) systems with simultaneous measurements made using an opaque chamber and the soil CO₂ gradient technique, and with night-time EC measurements under the same soil temperature and moisture conditions. In addition, a transparent chamber was used to directly measure CO₂ fluxes from OM caused by solar irradiance. Photodegradation contributed 19% of the annual CO₂ flux from the peatland and almost 60% of the dry season CO₂ flux from the grassland, and up to 62% and 92% of the summer mid-day CO₂ fluxes, respectively. Our results suggest that photodegradation may be important in a wide range of ecosystems with exposed OM. Furthermore, the practice of partitioning daytime ecosystem CO₂ exchange into its gross components by assuming that total daytime CO₂ losses can be approximated using estimates of biological respiration alone may be in error. To obtain robust estimates of global ecosystem–atmosphere carbon transfers, the contribution of photodegradation to OM decomposition must be quantified for other ecosystems and the results incorporated into coupled carbon–climate models.

year: 2009

title: An AR memory app based on Māori mnemonic aids

authors: Taia, Ivy

subjects: computer science

abstract: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a world-wide “silent epidemic” causing a variety of memory issues for those affected. Although several software approaches aim to aid memory recollection, they are inadequate for many TBI survivors and none address aspects of cultural awareness in New Zealand. We explored design concepts of traditional Māori cultural tools / techniques and how they helped Māori people recall past information. This paper describes our research and development of Maumahara Papahou, a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality features to create a digital memory treasure box based on the concepts of Māori mnemonic aids.

text: An AR memory app based on Māori mnemonic aids Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a world-wide “silent epidemic” causing a variety of memory issues for those affected. Although several software approaches aim to aid memory recollection, they are inadequate for many TBI survivors and none address aspects of cultural awareness in New Zealand. We explored design concepts of traditional Māori cultural tools / techniques and how they helped Māori people recall past information. This paper describes our research and development of Maumahara Papahou, a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality features to create a digital memory treasure box based on the concepts of Māori mnemonic aids.

year: 2018