title: Enhancing the learning of technology in early childhood settings

authors: Fox-Turnbull, Wendy

subjects: technology education

abstract: This article describes a study of early childhood teachers’ understanding of teaching and learning in children four and five years-of-age in technology education. The research aimed at assisting teachers’ understanding of learning in technology using a developed framework. This study investigated the development of dispositions and attitudes including the building of children’s confidence and self-belief in their capabilities, within four aspects of learning and across five pre-determined behaviours relevant to technology education. The study employed qualitative research methods to assist teachers with the use of an observation and conversation framework aimed to improve their ability to assess formatively their children and their own ability to give specific feedback. Observations and interviews were used to gauge teachers’ developed understandings of children’ learning in technology. The study shows that the framework used benefitted teachers and children. It allowed for insight into understanding how and what children learn in technology and teachers’ understanding of technology.

text: Enhancing the learning of technology in early childhood settings This article describes a study of early childhood teachers’ understanding of teaching and learning in children four and five years-of-age in technology education. The research aimed at assisting teachers’ understanding of learning in technology using a developed framework. This study investigated the development of dispositions and attitudes including the building of children’s confidence and self-belief in their capabilities, within four aspects of learning and across five pre-determined behaviours relevant to technology education. The study employed qualitative research methods to assist teachers with the use of an observation and conversation framework aimed to improve their ability to assess formatively their children and their own ability to give specific feedback. Observations and interviews were used to gauge teachers’ developed understandings of children’ learning in technology. The study shows that the framework used benefitted teachers and children. It allowed for insight into understanding how and what children learn in technology and teachers’ understanding of technology.

year: 2019

title: Synthesis, crystal structure, computational analysis and biological properties of 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-[2-(2-{2-[3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-thioureido]-ethoxy}ethoxy)ethyl]-thiourea and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes

authors: Oyeka, Ebube Evaristus

subjects: thiourea

abstract: A new dianionic ligand, 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-[2-(2-{2-[3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-thioureido]-ethoxy}ethoxy)ethyl]-thiourea(CBEDEA), and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized. X-ray single crystal analysis of CBEDEA shows that the molecule crystallized in the triclinic crystal system, space group P-1, with two molecules per unit cell. The studied compounds were further characterized by FT-IR, UV-VIS,¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy. The metal complexes were isolated as four coordinated ML(M: Ni(II), Cu(II), L:CBEDEA) molecules. Computational studies on CBEDEA gave electrostatic potential energy isovalues which showed that there is a higher probability of metal coordination around the carbonyl and thione groups. Results of non-covalent interaction studies revealed the presence of significant amount of hydrogen bonding and other weak non-covalent interactions in the molecule. Docking calculations on CBEDEA and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal complexes revealed that they have affinity for beta-lactamase, a protein implicated in antibiotic drug-resistant mechanism. Complexation with the metal ion shrank the size of the molecule and enabled the metal complexes to fit more appropriately within the binding groove of the protein resulting in the improved affinity over CBEDEA ligand. Target-ligand binding interactions resulted from hydrophobicity and possibility of hydrogen bonding of the molecules. In vitro screening of the compounds against 17 bacteria and 4 yeasts confirmed their antimicrobial potency against more susceptible Gram-positive bacteria. Results of this study suggest that the metal complexes could be developed into novel antimicrobial compounds.

text: Synthesis, crystal structure, computational analysis and biological properties of 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-[2-(2-{2-[3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-thioureido]-ethoxy}ethoxy)ethyl]-thiourea and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes A new dianionic ligand, 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3-[2-(2-{2-[3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-thioureido]-ethoxy}ethoxy)ethyl]-thiourea(CBEDEA), and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized. X-ray single crystal analysis of CBEDEA shows that the molecule crystallized in the triclinic crystal system, space group P-1, with two molecules per unit cell. The studied compounds were further characterized by FT-IR, UV-VIS,¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy. The metal complexes were isolated as four coordinated ML(M: Ni(II), Cu(II), L:CBEDEA) molecules. Computational studies on CBEDEA gave electrostatic potential energy isovalues which showed that there is a higher probability of metal coordination around the carbonyl and thione groups. Results of non-covalent interaction studies revealed the presence of significant amount of hydrogen bonding and other weak non-covalent interactions in the molecule. Docking calculations on CBEDEA and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal complexes revealed that they have affinity for beta-lactamase, a protein implicated in antibiotic drug-resistant mechanism. Complexation with the metal ion shrank the size of the molecule and enabled the metal complexes to fit more appropriately within the binding groove of the protein resulting in the improved affinity over CBEDEA ligand. Target-ligand binding interactions resulted from hydrophobicity and possibility of hydrogen bonding of the molecules. In vitro screening of the compounds against 17 bacteria and 4 yeasts confirmed their antimicrobial potency against more susceptible Gram-positive bacteria. Results of this study suggest that the metal complexes could be developed into novel antimicrobial compounds.

year: 2018

title: The Application of Critical Discourse Theory: A Criterion-Referenced Analysis of Reports Relating to Language Revitalisation in Australia and New Zealand

authors: Lewis, Roger Brian

subjects: te reo Māori

abstract: The discipline of language policy and planning (LPP) is often proposed as a viable tool for language revitalisation. However, the conventional paradigm upon which LPP is based is inadequate for such an inherently political, contentious and problematic area of social policy, and does not address the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourse that is at the very core of language revitalisation efforts. It is therefore argued here that LPP needs to be explicitly underpinned by critical discourse theory (CDT) if it is to be of genuine use to those involved in language revitalisation efforts, particularly to grass roots language activists. Following an introductory chapter which provides a background to the research and a rationale for it (Chapter 1), there is a critical review of selected literature on LPP and CDT, a review which ends by proposing a list of criteria which, it is argued, can be used to determine the extent to which discourse that is intended to be counter-hegemonic adheres to the principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in the literature on CDT (Chapter 2). In the following three chapters (Chapters 3, 4 & 5), these criteria are applied to the analysis of three recent reports that have a direct bearing on indigenous language revitalisation in Australia (Our Land Our Languages) and New Zealand (Ko Aotearoa Tēnei and Te Reo Mauriora). The first of these reports is found to adhere very closely to the criteria; the second less so; the third almost not at all. The different ways in which each of these reports has been received would tend to support the hypothesis that, other things being equal, the more closely a text of this type conforms to the criteria - that is, the more closely it is aligned to the fundamental principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in CDT - the more likely it is to be positively received and, therefore, to represent an effective challenge to the existing hegemony. The overall conclusion is that CDT can not only assist language activists by providing a basis for determining how successful counter-hegemonic discourse is likely to be in achieving its aims but has the potential to provide LPP with a secure theoretical foundation (Chapter 6).

text: The Application of Critical Discourse Theory: A Criterion-Referenced Analysis of Reports Relating to Language Revitalisation in Australia and New Zealand The discipline of language policy and planning (LPP) is often proposed as a viable tool for language revitalisation. However, the conventional paradigm upon which LPP is based is inadequate for such an inherently political, contentious and problematic area of social policy, and does not address the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourse that is at the very core of language revitalisation efforts. It is therefore argued here that LPP needs to be explicitly underpinned by critical discourse theory (CDT) if it is to be of genuine use to those involved in language revitalisation efforts, particularly to grass roots language activists. Following an introductory chapter which provides a background to the research and a rationale for it (Chapter 1), there is a critical review of selected literature on LPP and CDT, a review which ends by proposing a list of criteria which, it is argued, can be used to determine the extent to which discourse that is intended to be counter-hegemonic adheres to the principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in the literature on CDT (Chapter 2). In the following three chapters (Chapters 3, 4 & 5), these criteria are applied to the analysis of three recent reports that have a direct bearing on indigenous language revitalisation in Australia (Our Land Our Languages) and New Zealand (Ko Aotearoa Tēnei and Te Reo Mauriora). The first of these reports is found to adhere very closely to the criteria; the second less so; the third almost not at all. The different ways in which each of these reports has been received would tend to support the hypothesis that, other things being equal, the more closely a text of this type conforms to the criteria - that is, the more closely it is aligned to the fundamental principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in CDT - the more likely it is to be positively received and, therefore, to represent an effective challenge to the existing hegemony. The overall conclusion is that CDT can not only assist language activists by providing a basis for determining how successful counter-hegemonic discourse is likely to be in achieving its aims but has the potential to provide LPP with a secure theoretical foundation (Chapter 6).

year: 2014