This paper serves three purposes First, it makes a case for seeing creativity as a key learning outcome in our times, and thus the core business of education It then goes on to examine the nexus of creativity and pedagogy, showing the conceptual work done to demonstrate creativity as a learnable set of dispositions and capabilities Finally and most importantly, the paper argues the value of a pedagogical approach the author calls “Meddling-in-the-Middle”, in augmenting and enhancing the repertoires of “Sage-on-the-Stage” and “Guide-on-the-Side” in order to build students' creative capacity Examples are given of what these meta-approaches might look like in relation to the teaching of Shakespeare The author concludes by arguing the important connection between Meddling pedagogy and creative capacity building

Teaching for creativity : from sage to guide to meddler

For sessile marine invertebrates with complex life cycles, habitat choice is directed by the larval phase Defining which habitat-linked cues are implicated in sessile invertebrate larval settlement has largely concentrated on chemical cues which are thought to signal optimal habitat There has been less effort establishing physical settlement cues, including the role of surface microtopography This laboratory based study tested whether surface microtopography alone (without chemical cues) plays an important contributing role in the settlement of larvae of coral reef sessile invertebrates We measured settlement to tiles, engineered with surface microtopography (holes) that closely matched the sizes (width) of larvae of a range of corals and sponges, in addition to surfaces with holes that were markedly larger than larvae Larvae from two species of scleractinian corals (Acropora millepora and Ctenactis crassa) and three species of coral reef sponges (Luffariella variabilis, Carteriospongia foliascens and Ircinia sp,) were used in experiments L variabilis, A millepora and C crassa showed markedly higher settlement to surface microtopography that closely matched their larval width C foliascens and Ircinia sp, showed no specificity to surface microtopography, settling just as often to microtopography as to flat surfaces The findings of this study question the sole reliance on chemical based larval settlement cues, previously established for some coral and sponge species, and demonstrate that specific physical cues (surface complexity) can also play an important role in larval settlement of coral reef sessile invertebrates

Larval settlement: the role of surface topography for sessile coral reef invertebrates.

Superhydrophobic surfaces for applications in seawater.

Underground coal gasification - part I: field demonstrations and process performance

Bioinspired marine antifouling coatings: Status, prospects, and future

Many studies have examined the effects of surface topography on the settlement behaviour of marine organisms and this article reviews these investigations with more emphasis on the effects of topography scale. It has been observed that macro topographies (1-100 mm) are generally favoured by marine fouling taxa and are unsuitable for antifouling applications. This is because macro topographies are usually large enough to fit fouling organisms and provide refuge from dangers in the marine environment. Micro topographies had only limited success at reducing fouling from a wide range of marine taxa. The antifouling performance of micro topographies (1 to ≤1000 μm) is dependent on the properties of topography features in terms of symmetry, isotropy, width, length, height/depth, separation distance and average roughness. In terms of the antifouling performance of micro topography, topography geometry may only be of secondary importance in comparison to the size of features itself. It is also noted that hydrodynamic stresses also contribute to the settlement trends of foulers on textured surfaces. Future studies on antifouling topographies should be directed to hierarchical topographies because the mixed topography scales might potentially reduce fouling by both micro and macro organisms. Patterned nano-topographies (1- ≤1000 nm) should also be explored because the antifouling mechanisms of these topographies are not yet clear.

/pdf/the-interaction-of-marine-fouling-organisms-with-topography-3w6d3soyot.pdf

The interaction of marine fouling organisms with topography of varied scale and geometry: a review.

Global coal mining activity is increasing due to demands for cheap energy and the availability of large coal deposits around the world; however, the risks associated with conventional coal mining activities remain relatively high. Underground coal gasification (UCG), also known as in-situ coal gasification (ISCG) is a promising alternative method of accessing energy resources derived from coal. UCG is a physical-chemical-geotechnical method of coal mining that has several advantages over traditional mining, for example, its applicability in areas where conventional mining methods are not suitable and the reduction of hazards associated with working underground. The main disadvantages of UCG are the possibility of underground water pollution and surface subsidence. This work is focused on the latter issue. A thorough understanding of subsidence issues is a crucial step to implement UCG on a wide scale. Scientists point out the scarce available data on strata deformations resulting from UCG. The former Soviet Union countries have a long history of developing the science related to UCG and experimenting with its application. However, the Soviet development occurred in relative isolation and this makes a modern review of the Soviet experience valuable. There are some literature sources dealing with Soviet UCG projects; however, they are neither up-to-date nor focus on aspects that are of particular importance to surface subsidence, including geological profiles, strata physical-mechanical properties, thermal properties of geomaterials, and temperature spreading. The goal of this work is to increase the knowledge on these aspects in the English-speaking science community.

/pdf/soviet-experience-of-underground-coal-gasification-focusing-2qdigtau3w.pdf

Soviet experience of underground coal gasification focusing on surface subsidence

To date, there has been little written that explains how engineering-related tuition can be rapidly and effectively moved online. Furthermore, there is sparse literature written that focuses on how students can adapt to such technologies in a relatively short space of time. Finally, it is both necessary and prudent to increase discourse on the effective online teaching of technical design subjects. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of online tools such as interactive live lectures, slide annotation, and electronic whiteboard, for engaging students in electrical and electronic engineering education. The paper advances those debates by providing an evaluative analysis from the perspective of students taking an Integrated Circuits design module that was delivered during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. The major research question is: to what extent do electrical engineering students perceive online learning tools to be useful in enhancing their sudden learning change? Responses were collected using an online questionnaire that was offered to 23 students who enrolled in the module, and a 70% completion rate was received. The findings showed that students engaged well with the technologies, and they found them easy to use and beneficial for their learning.

/pdf/flexible-learning-during-educational-disruption-a-case-study-y0wsvmnd3j.pdf

Flexible Learning During Educational Disruption: A Case Study of Teaching Integrated Circuits Design

Purpose
It is possible for civil engineering (CE) students to graduate from a degree programme without gaining experience on a construction site. The implementation of virtual field trips using virtual reality (VR) in CE education is a development that can address this phenomenon and help facilitate the consolidation of abstract theories into tangible competences. This project aims to solve a fundamental CE education problem: once a structure has been completed, it is often impossible to see how it was built; hence, how can you demonstrate the construction process to a student?

Design/methodology/approach
This research used the opportunity of a new campus library development to record its construction sequence. This was achieved by visiting the site eight times to take panoramic stereoscopic photos of the construction process. By its nature, using VR as a didactic tool facilitates experiential learning, but this project also incorporates discovery learning and situated cognition to develop students’ understanding of the construction process.

Findings
The use of VR in education is becoming increasingly common, but the explicit pedagogy used in these environments is rarely obvious or stated. This project draws upon current VR education discussions and explores the development of a VR environment with a pedagogical context.

Originality/value
The development of the VR resource draws upon the pedagogical frameworks of discovery learning (Bruner, 1961) and situated cognition (Lave and Wenger, 1991). A further unique aspect of this research is the use of stereoscopic cameras to capture the library’s construction over time.

Developing a pedagogical photoreal virtual environment to teach civil engineering

Open educational resources (OERs) are teaching, learning, and research resources that have been made available such that they can be used, shared, and modified freely. Motivated by recent OER development successes, an interdisciplinary team at a Sino-foreign Higher Education Institution in China, University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), have been engaged in the creation of a new virtual reality (VR) OER, initially aimed at students and educators in the institution's Civil Engineering department. The VR OER centres around the creation of a virtual field trip (VFT), capturing knowledge and experience not often available to students. This paper examines the background and motivations to the project, outlining the strategies and cooperation so far employed, and explores the progress and challenges encountered. Anticipated further challenges, and potential mitigation, as the project continues are also discussed.

James Walker

Papers

The interaction of marine fouling organisms with topography of varied scale and geometry: a review.

Soviet experience of underground coal gasification focusing on surface subsidence

Flexible Learning During Educational Disruption: A Case Study of Teaching Integrated Circuits Design

Developing a pedagogical photoreal virtual environment to teach civil engineering

Developing Virtual Reality Open Educational Resources in a Sino-Foreign Higher Education Institution: Challenges and Strategies