title: PIWeCS: enhancing human/machine agency in an interactive composition system

authors: Whalley, Ian

abstract: This paper focuses on the infrastructure and aesthetic approach used in PIWeCS: a Public Space Interactive Web-based Composition System. The concern was to increase the sense of dialogue between human and machine agency in an interactive work by adapting Paine's (2002) notion of a conversational model of interaction as a ‘complex system’. The machine implementation of PIWeCS is achieved through integrating intelligent agent programming with MAX/MSP. Human input is through a web infrastructure. The conversation is initiated and continued by participants through arrangements and composition based on short performed samples of traditional New Zealand Maori instruments. The system allows the extension of a composition through the electroacoustic manipulation of the source material.

text: PIWeCS: enhancing human/machine agency in an interactive composition system This paper focuses on the infrastructure and aesthetic approach used in PIWeCS: a Public Space Interactive Web-based Composition System. The concern was to increase the sense of dialogue between human and machine agency in an interactive work by adapting Paine's (2002) notion of a conversational model of interaction as a ‘complex system’. The machine implementation of PIWeCS is achieved through integrating intelligent agent programming with MAX/MSP. Human input is through a web infrastructure. The conversation is initiated and continued by participants through arrangements and composition based on short performed samples of traditional New Zealand Maori instruments. The system allows the extension of a composition through the electroacoustic manipulation of the source material.

year: 2004

title: Are they really at risk? Students' stories of success.

authors: Gray, Sheridan

subjects: Student engagement

abstract: In 2011, as the year level dean for year 13, I was surprised and pleased to see a group of students complete their fifth year of secondary schooling, contrary to teacher expectations, and in spite of earlier signs of disengagement and struggle.  Such students are frequently labelled “at risk” in our secondary schools. Truancy, lack of achievement, conduct issues, learning difficulties and health problems are seen as indicators of an at risk student by teachers. 

Statistically in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika students and students from low socio-economic families tend to be overrepresented among disengaged or early leavers from secondary schools, and so being from these cultures, and being from a low socio-economic group becomes a “risk” factor.   This can lead to assumptions among teachers about the students’ families, how parents value education, and even about the capacity of these groups to be able to succeed in education.  A range of strategies and programmes have been implemented in an attempt to address these issues, including Te Kotahitanga, Ka Hikitia and the Pasifika Education Plan, Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour, Restorative Practice, and more recently Positive Behaviour for Learning

While there has been a shift in such approaches from deficit of students to emphasising more positive attitudes in teachers, the perspectives of the students themselves are missing from the discussion about these issues.  This study asks students what factors helped them to stay, and to achieve at least a level one NCEA qualification

The findings show that retention and engagement of “at risk” students requires careful attention to the quality of relationships across the school community: students, teachers and parents. They discredit some commonly held assumptions that “at risk” students and their parents do not value education and that teachers cannot support these students sufficiently. These quality relationships are respectful, responsive and tenacious showing a high level of respect for and interest in the students that goes beyond a teaching and learning relationship.  It also suggests that the discourse of “risk” invites a disrespectful response to retention and engagement of students.

text: Are they really at risk? Students' stories of success. In 2011, as the year level dean for year 13, I was surprised and pleased to see a group of students complete their fifth year of secondary schooling, contrary to teacher expectations, and in spite of earlier signs of disengagement and struggle.  Such students are frequently labelled “at risk” in our secondary schools. Truancy, lack of achievement, conduct issues, learning difficulties and health problems are seen as indicators of an at risk student by teachers. 

Statistically in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika students and students from low socio-economic families tend to be overrepresented among disengaged or early leavers from secondary schools, and so being from these cultures, and being from a low socio-economic group becomes a “risk” factor.   This can lead to assumptions among teachers about the students’ families, how parents value education, and even about the capacity of these groups to be able to succeed in education.  A range of strategies and programmes have been implemented in an attempt to address these issues, including Te Kotahitanga, Ka Hikitia and the Pasifika Education Plan, Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour, Restorative Practice, and more recently Positive Behaviour for Learning

While there has been a shift in such approaches from deficit of students to emphasising more positive attitudes in teachers, the perspectives of the students themselves are missing from the discussion about these issues.  This study asks students what factors helped them to stay, and to achieve at least a level one NCEA qualification

The findings show that retention and engagement of “at risk” students requires careful attention to the quality of relationships across the school community: students, teachers and parents. They discredit some commonly held assumptions that “at risk” students and their parents do not value education and that teachers cannot support these students sufficiently. These quality relationships are respectful, responsive and tenacious showing a high level of respect for and interest in the students that goes beyond a teaching and learning relationship.  It also suggests that the discourse of “risk” invites a disrespectful response to retention and engagement of students.

year: 2012

title: Long term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall

authors: Long, Lauren M.

subjects: bioreactor

abstract: Nitrogen (N) inputs to groundwater are one of the most widespread environmental problems globally. However, as N is important for crop production to support the current global population, it is difficult to limit N input to an extent where groundwater contamination is completely avoided. Researchers have been testing new ways to remove N (in the form of nitrate (NO3-)) from groundwater, primarily through enhancing microbial denitrification. One technology utilizing this microbial process is a denitrification wall, which is an inexpensive, low-maintenance technology compared to other options to treat NO3--contaminated groundwater. Denitrification walls have been shown to be effective for removing NO3- from groundwater through denitrification for seven years in New Zealand, nine years in Iowa, and 15 years in Canada; however, long-term data on the efficacy of denitrification walls remain limited. In order to understand how these systems function in the long term, the performance of a New Zealand denitrification wall installed in 1996 was examined. Field sampling was carried out during the winter of 2010 at the denitrification wall at Bardowie Farm in Cambridge, New Zealand. This farm had received relatively high N inputs from spray-irrigation of effluent from the nearby Hautapu Dairy Factory for over 30 years. The denitrification wall was originally constructed by mixing 40 m3 Pinus radiata sawdust with soil down to a depth of 1.5 m where it intercepted groundwater flow. Groundwater samples were collected from wells installed upslope and within the wall and samples were analyzed for NO3- concentrations on five occasions. Soil samples were collected on four occasions from below the water table and analyzed for denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), total carbon (C), available C, and microbial biomass C. Results were compared to previous measurements. Groundwater NO3- concentrations entering the wall averaged 2.6 mg N L-1, which was a decrease from 2002 where NO3- entered the wall at an average of 9 mg N L-1. Despite this decrease, NO3- concentrations within the wall averaged 0.2 mg N L-1, which corresponded to 92% NO3- removal. DEA rates in the wall were nearly as high as the first year of construction. In contrast, total C and microbial biomass C had decreased by half, while available C remained the same as measured two years after construction. Denitrification in the wall remained NO3- limited suggesting that C was still sufficiently available to the denitrifiers. These data indicated that the denitrification wall was still effective after 14 years. To predict denitrification wall longevity, a first-order decay curve was fitted to the total C data through time (R2 = 0.92; p < 0.05). The decay curve was used to predict the time until total C reached 0.1%, although it is unclear at what %C denitrification will become C limited. Using this decay curve, it was estimated that C in the wall would not be depleted for 66 years, although it is possible that C will become limiting to denitrifiers before that time. This long-term study suggested that denitrification walls are cost-effective solutions to removing NO3- from groundwater as they can be effective for a number of years without any maintenance.

text: Long term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall Nitrogen (N) inputs to groundwater are one of the most widespread environmental problems globally. However, as N is important for crop production to support the current global population, it is difficult to limit N input to an extent where groundwater contamination is completely avoided. Researchers have been testing new ways to remove N (in the form of nitrate (NO3-)) from groundwater, primarily through enhancing microbial denitrification. One technology utilizing this microbial process is a denitrification wall, which is an inexpensive, low-maintenance technology compared to other options to treat NO3--contaminated groundwater. Denitrification walls have been shown to be effective for removing NO3- from groundwater through denitrification for seven years in New Zealand, nine years in Iowa, and 15 years in Canada; however, long-term data on the efficacy of denitrification walls remain limited. In order to understand how these systems function in the long term, the performance of a New Zealand denitrification wall installed in 1996 was examined. Field sampling was carried out during the winter of 2010 at the denitrification wall at Bardowie Farm in Cambridge, New Zealand. This farm had received relatively high N inputs from spray-irrigation of effluent from the nearby Hautapu Dairy Factory for over 30 years. The denitrification wall was originally constructed by mixing 40 m3 Pinus radiata sawdust with soil down to a depth of 1.5 m where it intercepted groundwater flow. Groundwater samples were collected from wells installed upslope and within the wall and samples were analyzed for NO3- concentrations on five occasions. Soil samples were collected on four occasions from below the water table and analyzed for denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), total carbon (C), available C, and microbial biomass C. Results were compared to previous measurements. Groundwater NO3- concentrations entering the wall averaged 2.6 mg N L-1, which was a decrease from 2002 where NO3- entered the wall at an average of 9 mg N L-1. Despite this decrease, NO3- concentrations within the wall averaged 0.2 mg N L-1, which corresponded to 92% NO3- removal. DEA rates in the wall were nearly as high as the first year of construction. In contrast, total C and microbial biomass C had decreased by half, while available C remained the same as measured two years after construction. Denitrification in the wall remained NO3- limited suggesting that C was still sufficiently available to the denitrifiers. These data indicated that the denitrification wall was still effective after 14 years. To predict denitrification wall longevity, a first-order decay curve was fitted to the total C data through time (R2 = 0.92; p < 0.05). The decay curve was used to predict the time until total C reached 0.1%, although it is unclear at what %C denitrification will become C limited. Using this decay curve, it was estimated that C in the wall would not be depleted for 66 years, although it is possible that C will become limiting to denitrifiers before that time. This long-term study suggested that denitrification walls are cost-effective solutions to removing NO3- from groundwater as they can be effective for a number of years without any maintenance.

year: 2011