title: Using online citizen science to develop students' science capabilities

authors: Anderson, Dayle

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: In 2018, a research project funded by New Zealand’s teaching and learning research initiative (TLRI) explored the impact of online citizen science (OCS) projects on the science educa primary school children in New Zealand. This article provides an intion of depth case study from this project in order to share ways in which one teacher used OCS projects specifically to develop students’ science capability, ‘critique evidence’. Comparin g data from students’ conversations and work with the progress indicators for the science capabilities released by the Ministry of Education in 2019 suggests that many of the students were achieving at or above the expected level. We suggest that teacher p rofessional learning and development in relation to the intent of science in the NZC, and the purpose of the science capabilities, was a significant enabler.

text: Using online citizen science to develop students' science capabilities In 2018, a research project funded by New Zealand’s teaching and learning research initiative (TLRI) explored the impact of online citizen science (OCS) projects on the science educa primary school children in New Zealand. This article provides an intion of depth case study from this project in order to share ways in which one teacher used OCS projects specifically to develop students’ science capability, ‘critique evidence’. Comparin g data from students’ conversations and work with the progress indicators for the science capabilities released by the Ministry of Education in 2019 suggests that many of the students were achieving at or above the expected level. We suggest that teacher p rofessional learning and development in relation to the intent of science in the NZC, and the purpose of the science capabilities, was a significant enabler.

year: 2020-01-01
This is an author’s accepted version of an article published in the Curriculum Matters. © 2020 NZCER

title: Characterisation and applications of marine derived calcium phosphates and carbonates

authors: Mackintosh, Liam Jack

abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterise extensively, and process fishbone derived and shellfish mineral powders, followed by the investigation of potential applications for these materials. A variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and analytical techniques were used in this study, including FT-IR, SS-NMR, pXRD, SEM, ICP-MS, and laser diffraction particle sizing. These techniques enabled tracking of changes in the chemical and physical nature of the materials as a function of processing techniques. The potential applications covered in this study were the investigation of the immobilisation of the enzyme malL to bone materials with the aid of a coupling reagent, as well as investigations into the removal of various ionic species from aqueous water samples.
Differences in the mineral components of the materials between species were insignificant. Slight variations were found in the organic component of the bone materials, however these were most likely due to varying levels of oils remaining in the materials after processing by Plant and Food, Nelson, as the organic matter was found to be primarily composed of collagen in all species.
Thermally treating the bone samples to 800 oC was found to be the most effective and reliable method for removing the organic content from the bone materials. Synthetic HAp powders were successfully produced through the digestion and reprecipitation of bone-derived materials and an optimum method to produce these powders was devised.
Promising yet unexpected results were found in the enzyme immobilisation studies, results suggest that there is the potential for some enzymes to be bound to the bone materials, however more thorough investigations are required to understand the complex system. Promising results were also found from the adsorption experiments involving ionic species. The species trialled were Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Sr²⁺, AsO₄³⁻ and F⁻. Bone materials heated to 500 oC were consistently the most effective material for adsorption of the divalent metal cation species trialled. Adsorptions between this material and the divalent nickel and cadmium ions were found to follow pseudo second order kinetics, with Langmuir type isotherm behaviour. Fluoride adsorptions were also found to have a Langmuir type isotherm however the adsorption kinetics of this system were not investigated.
Overall the results from this study outline a few potential applications, which if investigated and developed further could add significant value to materials which are currently produced in high volumes as waste by-products from the fishing industry in New Zealand.

text: Characterisation and applications of marine derived calcium phosphates and carbonates The purpose of this study was to characterise extensively, and process fishbone derived and shellfish mineral powders, followed by the investigation of potential applications for these materials. A variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and analytical techniques were used in this study, including FT-IR, SS-NMR, pXRD, SEM, ICP-MS, and laser diffraction particle sizing. These techniques enabled tracking of changes in the chemical and physical nature of the materials as a function of processing techniques. The potential applications covered in this study were the investigation of the immobilisation of the enzyme malL to bone materials with the aid of a coupling reagent, as well as investigations into the removal of various ionic species from aqueous water samples.
Differences in the mineral components of the materials between species were insignificant. Slight variations were found in the organic component of the bone materials, however these were most likely due to varying levels of oils remaining in the materials after processing by Plant and Food, Nelson, as the organic matter was found to be primarily composed of collagen in all species.
Thermally treating the bone samples to 800 oC was found to be the most effective and reliable method for removing the organic content from the bone materials. Synthetic HAp powders were successfully produced through the digestion and reprecipitation of bone-derived materials and an optimum method to produce these powders was devised.
Promising yet unexpected results were found in the enzyme immobilisation studies, results suggest that there is the potential for some enzymes to be bound to the bone materials, however more thorough investigations are required to understand the complex system. Promising results were also found from the adsorption experiments involving ionic species. The species trialled were Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Sr²⁺, AsO₄³⁻ and F⁻. Bone materials heated to 500 oC were consistently the most effective material for adsorption of the divalent metal cation species trialled. Adsorptions between this material and the divalent nickel and cadmium ions were found to follow pseudo second order kinetics, with Langmuir type isotherm behaviour. Fluoride adsorptions were also found to have a Langmuir type isotherm however the adsorption kinetics of this system were not investigated.
Overall the results from this study outline a few potential applications, which if investigated and developed further could add significant value to materials which are currently produced in high volumes as waste by-products from the fishing industry in New Zealand.

year: 2018

title: Significance of an early date from an adzed tree stump in Northland

authors: Higham, Thomas F.G.

abstract: Ogle, Jones, Sutton and Wallace (1998) have recently investigated the radiocarbon dating of a tree stump ('Ogle's stump’) which had evidence of adze marks, near the site of Taumatawhana pa, Houhora, Northland. The conventional radiocarbon age of 938 ± 31 BP was obtained at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd (formerly INS) laboratory in 1971. Ogle et al.(1998) considered the 'inbuilt age' of the wood (see McFadgen, 1982) and assessed its contribution to the radiocarbon determination. In this brief paper we re-evaluate that methodology and question the conclusion of Ogle et al. (1998) that the date is reliable. We are particularly concerned with the comparison of the date with an associated radiocarbon result obtained by Elliot et al. (1995) from a nearby site at Lake Taumatawhana, which we think is misleading.

text: Significance of an early date from an adzed tree stump in Northland Ogle, Jones, Sutton and Wallace (1998) have recently investigated the radiocarbon dating of a tree stump ('Ogle's stump’) which had evidence of adze marks, near the site of Taumatawhana pa, Houhora, Northland. The conventional radiocarbon age of 938 ± 31 BP was obtained at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd (formerly INS) laboratory in 1971. Ogle et al.(1998) considered the 'inbuilt age' of the wood (see McFadgen, 1982) and assessed its contribution to the radiocarbon determination. In this brief paper we re-evaluate that methodology and question the conclusion of Ogle et al. (1998) that the date is reliable. We are particularly concerned with the comparison of the date with an associated radiocarbon result obtained by Elliot et al. (1995) from a nearby site at Lake Taumatawhana, which we think is misleading.

year: 1998