scholarly journals How Student Reflections Have Guided the Evolution of a Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Course

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Machiel Van der Loos ◽  
Antony Hodgson ◽  
Jon Mikkelsen ◽  
Markus Fengler
Keyword(s):  
Professional Growth ◽  
Teaching Evaluations ◽  
The Past ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Teaching Team ◽  
The University ◽  
Student Reflections ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Capstone Design

To provide for professional growth of students and to gain deeper insight into student engagement in the University of British Columbia MECH Capstone Design Project Course, the teaching team has deployed an open-ended reflection opportunity over the past 6 years as an adjunct to the required teaching evaluations. Three years of year-end questionnaires and three years of bi-monthly instructor-led reflection sessions form the datasets. Although the two formats are fundamentally different, the quality of the responses provides evidence of high student awareness of their own learning process and a desire to be a meaningful contributor in the conversation on course improvement.

SUITABILITY OF ACID-SOLUBLE AND ACID-INSOLUBLE LEATHER FRACTIONS IN RADIOCARBON DATING

Radiocarbon ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Alyssa M Tate ◽  
Brittany Hundman ◽  
Jonathan Heile
Keyword(s):  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Insoluble Fraction ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Chemical Pretreatment ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
The Past ◽  
Acid Soluble Collagen ◽  
Method Of Production ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACT Leather has been produced by a variety of methods throughout human history, providing researchers unique insight into multiple facets of social and economic life in the past. Archaeologically recovered leather is often fragile and poorly preserved, leading to the use of various conservation and restoration efforts that may include the application of fats, oils, or waxes. Such additives introduce exogenous carbon to the leather, contaminating the specimen. These contaminants, in addition to those accumulated during interment, must be removed through chemical pretreatment prior to radiocarbon (14C) dating to ensure accurate dating. DirectAMS utilizes organic solvents, acid-base-acid (ABA) and gelatinization for all leather samples. Collagen yield from leather samples is variable due to the method of production and the quality of preservation. However, evaluating the acid-soluble collagen fraction, when available, provides the most accurate 14C dates for leather samples. In instances where gelatinization does not yield sufficient material, the resulting acid-insoluble fraction may be dated. Here we examine the effectiveness of the combined organic solvent and ABA pretreatment with gelatinization for leather samples, as well as the suitability of the acid-insoluble fraction for 14C dating.

scholarly journals Repeated Negative Teaching Evaluations: A Form of Habitual Behaviour?

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-321
Author(s):  
J Paul Grayson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Generational Status ◽  
First Year ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Campus Engagement ◽  
Teaching Evaluations ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Mcgill University ◽  
The University ◽  
Do So

Teaching evaluations have become part of life on Canadian campuses; however, there is no agreement among researchers as to their validity. In this article, comparisons were made between first- and third-year collective evaluations of professors’ performance at the University of British Columbia, York University, and McGill University. Overall, it was found that students who provided low evaluations in their first year were also likely to do so in their third year. This effect held independent of degree of campus engagement, sex, student status (domestic or international), and generational status (students who were the first in their families to attend university, compared to those who were not). Given that over the course of their studies, students likely would have been exposed to a range of different behaviours on the part of their professors, it is argued that the propensity of a large number of students to give consistently low evaluations was a form of “habitual behaviour.”  

Using Team-Based Learning to Improve Learning and the Student Experience in a Mechanical Design Course

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Ostafichuk ◽  
H. F. Machiel Van der Loos ◽  
James Sibley
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Teaching Evaluations ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Team Based Learning ◽  
Mechanical Components ◽  
Multiple Choice Exam ◽  
Course Format ◽  
The University

In 2008, a design course on mechanical components (MECH 325) at the University of British Columbia was converted from a conventional lecture-based format to a team-based learning (TBL) format. The MECH 325 course is content-rich and covers the characteristics, uses, selection, and sizing of common mechanical components (including gears, flexible drives, bearings, and so on). With the shift in course format to TBL, student performance on exams as well as responses to teaching evaluations and course surveys all indicate an improvement in the students’ perception of the course and student learning. Specifically, performance on multiple choice exam questions from different years (remaining similar in both style and difficulty) increased by 17%. Likewise, on official University teaching evaluations over a five-year period, students rated the TBL version of the course as having a reduced workload, seeming less advanced, seeming more relevant, and being more interesting. On informal course surveys, 76% of students on average indicated they felt the various elements of TBL were effective towards the course aims. Finally, from instructor observations, the shift to TBL has resulted in increased student engagement and collaboration, and an increased emphasis on higher-level learning, such as application, synthesis, and judgment.

Acoustical Improvements with Natural Air Ventilation in the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-122
Author(s):  
Zohreh Razavi ◽  
Max Richter ◽  
Murray Hodgson ◽  
Alireza Khaleghi
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Air Ventilation ◽  
The University ◽  
Building Designs

Low speech privacy in shared and private offices in one of the early generation of a “green” building resulted in occupants' dissatisfaction. This problem is experienced in Liu institute with a natural-ventilation system. Such a system requires low air-flow resistance which is achieved by large openings which will result in noise transmission between various spaces within the building. The poor acoustical quality in this building resulted in occupants' noise complaints which were further investigated by way of relevant acoustical measurements. CATT-Acoustic software was utilized to modify the acoustical quality of the building without any disturbance to the occupants. The optimized design of the transfer box above the office door was selected based on CATT-Acoustic predictions. The acoustical measurements were conducted after installation of the transfer box above the office door. The measurements' results agreed with the predictions which led to improved speech privacy to an acceptable level between the office and the corridor in Liu Institute. More work should be done to improve the acoustical quality of natural-ventilated building to conform to ANSI standards.1The results of this study strongly support including acoustics in “green” building designs with natural ventilation to avoid users' complaints.

University Startup Accelerators: Startup Launchpads or Vehicles for Entrepreneurial Learning?

2020 ◽  
pp. 251512742093175
Author(s):  
Lynn E. Metcalf ◽  
Thomas M. Katona ◽  
Jonathan L. York
Keyword(s):  
Return On Investment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Uniform Structure ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mode Of Operation ◽  
The University ◽  
Insight Into

Over the past decade, universities have invested heavily in startup accelerator programs; however, their role in the university entrepreneurial ecosystem is ambiguous. Are university startup accelerators intended to educate or are they created to facilitate business starts and to contribute to regional economic development? In contrast, most private-sector startup accelerators serve a consistent and differentiated role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem—they provide programming and resources to startups to increase the probability of a return on investment. Understanding the role of university startup accelerators is an important precursor to evaluating their impact and whether or not the return is worth the considerable investment. In this study, we poll university accelerator directors to gain their perspective on the role(s) that university startup accelerators play and to identify how they are structured and operated. Our research reveals a fairly uniform structure and mode of operation. While facilitating business starts is a key role for some, it confirms education as the primary role for university startup accelerators. We outline appropriate means of assessing the learning that takes place in accelerator programs, offer insight into how these findings can help accelerator directors deliver on outcomes and demonstrate impact, and propose avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Pursuing Opportunities Available to Support Your Own Learning: A Case Study: University of Guyana Library

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Debra Lowe ◽  
Simmone La Rose ◽  
Nalisa Bhagwandin
Keyword(s):  
Personal Growth ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
The University ◽  
Continual Learning

This article provides an assessment of the pathways Librarians at the University of Guyana Library (UGL) explored to achieve continual learning for professional growth and self-development.The writers adopted a survey method to capture data from sixteen senior professionals from the University of Guyana Library. The findings revealed that while the University of Guyana Administration provided some avenues for professional growth and development for all professionals, there were some areas that required a more structured and equitable approach.  The findings indicated that much more can be done to facilitate growth and development for senior Library professionals, particularly in the field of Librarianship. From the discussions, the researchers concluded that in spite of the limited access to available resources, Library senior professionals actively pursued alternative avenues to enhance and advance learning. This was intended to acquire current knowledge and practice so that they may provide a higher quality of service to their clientele; further, their experience (in the process) will assist in enhancing their professional development and personal growth.

scholarly journals The editor's page

2002 ◽  
Vol 69 (415-417) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
P. Psomopoulos
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
World Society ◽  
Tsinghua University ◽  
The Past ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
City Regions ◽  
The World ◽  
The University ◽  
The City ◽  
Beijing China

As a documentation and communication vehicle - part of a broader effort of the Athens Center of Ekistics (ACE) to contribute to the development of a sound approach to the field of Human Settlements - Ekistics makes itself available as a free forum for the exposure of ideas and experiences from anywhere to everywhere, provided they are relevant and transferable. In this effort, writings of members of the World Society for Ekistics (WSE) have quite frequently been considered and published in Ekistics. How could our attitude be different in cases of collective efforts of the WSE such as its meetings last year in Berlin (24-28 October, 2001) with the title "Defining Success of the City in the 21st Century"? Actually, we have reported on such events on various occasions in the past, the most recent being in vol. 64, no. 385/386/387, July/August-Sept./Oct.-Nov./Dec.1997 and vol. 65, no. 388/389/390, Jan./Feb.-Mar./Apr.-May/June 1998 on "Mega-Cities ...and Mega-City Regions", a conference of which the WSE was a co-sponsor together with Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, and the University of British Columbia, Canada. We are happy that the World Society for Ekistics welcomed our proposal to consider the large number of documents made available at its meetings in Berlin and select some of the papers presented for publication in Ekistics. However, the amount of material available far exceeded the capacity even of one triple issue. Hence the following two triple issues: Defining Success of the City in the 21st Century - 1 of 2 (Ekistics, vol. 69, no. 412/413/414,January/February-March/April-May/June 2002); and, Defining Success of the City in the 21 st Century - 2 of 2 (Ekistics, vol. 69, no. 415/416/417, July/August-September/October-November/December 2002).

scholarly journals The phenomenon of tacit knowledge loss in high school: Causes and consequences. Part II.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 61-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Romanov
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Inductive Method ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
The University ◽  
Scientific Pedagogical

Introduction. The implementation of the strategic goal of Russia’s entry into one of the five largest economies in the world actualises the research aimed at identifying conditions for improving the quality of human capital, one of which is the creation of an integrated system of training and professional growth of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel.The aim of the present research was to substantiate the statement that the strategy of reforming higher education inRussia leads to the loss of tacit knowledge in higher education as a basis for determining the quality of educational and scientific activities. This process has a negative impact on the formation of the system of training and professional growth of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel (both in content and procedural aspects).Methodology and research methods. The methodological framework of the research was based on a systematic approach and an inductive method. The following general scientific methods were employed: analytical review of statistical sources and literature on the discussed issues, generalisation and comparison. The method of comparative analysis was used to assess the dynamics of changes in funding standards of universities in Sverdlovsk region, Chelyabinsk region and the Republic of Dagestan.Results and scientific novelty. The author substantiates the validity of the thesis on the loss of tacit knowledge in higher education, indirect confirmation of which is a significant reduction in the protection of PhD and doctoral theses with a significant decrease in patent activity in universities and activity to generate income from the results of intellectual activity. It is proved that the existing system of normativeper capita financing is the main “tool”, providing the loss of tacit knowledge: the level of a teacher’s workload is increased that it is impossible to carry out research related to the courses, which leads to a decrease in the quality of education. A formula for calculating the number of students, which ensures the performance of the average salary of the teaching staff at a certain number of disciplines per teacher, is proposed. On the example of the direction “Management”, it is shown that even through annual allocation of 25 budgetary places the teacher of profile disciplines will teach not less than 5 academic disciplines. In the absence of commercial recruitment comparable to the budget and additional sources of funding, the number of teaching staff will be reduced and the number of courses per teacher will increase. The proposals for preservation and reproduction of the personnel potential of state universities, involving the changes in the performance indicators of universities and the development of financial instruments that stimulate their achievement, are formulated.Practical significance. The materials and results of the research paper can be used by education authorities to develop the university strategy in terms of forecasting the volume of reductions in the number of teaching staff and the income that the university should receive to preserve its human resources.

scholarly journals Overview of Quality of Life of Older Lesbians and Trans Women in India

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mani A
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Present Author ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Queer Women ◽  
Interdisciplinary Work ◽  
The Past ◽  
Trans Women ◽  
Women In India ◽  
Insight Into

It is well-known that lesbians, trans and queer women face considerable discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization, and abuse in India. That is over and above the misogyny and discrimination faced by women in the patriarchal country. LGBTQIA people were also criminalized by law till recently. In spite of all the oppression and discrimination, lesbians and trans women have always existed in the country. A number of small sample studies with limited focus have been conducted by academic bodies, NGOs, and few state transgender boards over the past few years. Some of these studies provide direct or indirect insight into the quality of life of older trans women and lesbians (QOLO). In this research, these studies are reviewed in detail from a QOLO perspective, and a number of critical conclusions are arrived at by the present author. Further, an enhanced version of QOL (and QOLO) for lesbians is also proposed by her. It is hoped that this research would be useful for motivating interdisciplinary work in a relatively neglected area.

scholarly journals Stem Characteristics on the Lower Log of 35-Year-Old Western Redcedar Grown at Several Spacings

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. DeBell ◽  
Barbara L. Gartner
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Western Redcedar ◽  
Branch Diameter ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
The University ◽  
Number Of Branches

Abstract Information on stem characteristics of western redcedar (Thuja plicata) grown in managed stands is quite limited. Stem characteristics are important because they influence the quality of logs and lumber produced. We measured branch diameter, number of branches, taper, and fluting severity on the first 5m log of stems grown at spacings of 1.8 to 4.6 m in a 35-yr-old spacing trial on the University of British Columbia Research Forest. Average branch diameter increased from 15 mm to 25 mm as tree spacing increased from 1.8 m to 4.6 m. Number of branches per unit of stem length was unaffected by spacing. Trees at wider spacings tended to be more tapered and have more butt swell than those at narrower spacings. At wider spacings, more trees showed fluting, and that fluting was more severe than at narrower spacings. However, most trees had no fluting or only mild fluting even at the 4.6 m spacing. Branch diameter, taper, and fluting were all related to stem diameter. Smaller diameter stems tended to have smaller branches, less taper, and were less likely to have severe fluting than large diameter stems. Branch diameter was larger at wider spacings even for trees of the same stem diameter. West. J. Appl. For. 12(1):9-14.

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