Exploring the mathematical and interpretative strategies of Maxwell's Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism

James Clerk Maxwell's Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism forms one of the major scientific texts of the 19th century, describing the phenomena of electricity and magnetism and the interaction between them. The sources Maxwell acknowledged as the inspiration for his own approach were the Englishman Michael Faraday and his fellow Scotsman William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin). In the Treatise Maxwell presents an approach he maintains was equivalent mathematically to the well established Continental electromagnetism but focused on an action via a medium approach to electromagnetism and located within a British experimental tradition. Exploring these features reveals the Treatise to be in accord with other deep themes in Maxwell's writings, which ground him intellectually and personally in the world of 19th century British Natural Philosophy.     

Intentional Online Discussions in Teacher Education

The goal of a creating civil discourse in teacher education deeply intersects with the ways that students interact in online discussions. However, as discussion shifts to online formats, digital misinformation is becoming widespread and threatens critical and civil communication as cognitive biases emerge in dialogue. The purpose of this case study research was to explore the participants' perceptions of growth and pitfalls while using the six essential elements of an online discussion typology developed as a pedagogical intervention to increase critical thinking and civility in discourse. The findings suggested that participants' responses in online discussions implied some cognitive biases and those participants engaged most often in discussions that were safe, comfortable, and familiar. Nevertheless, in their metacognitive reflections on the typology, participants demonstrated awareness of how these tendencies toward cognitive comfort shortchanged discussions and potential opportunities to develop new perspectives.     

Structured creative processes in learning playwriting: invoking imaginative pedagogies

The concept of the ‘creative’ in creative writing has a vexed history. This article explores the myths surrounding creativity and how they have influenced the way teachers have approached playwriting pedagogy. It reports on research into the teaching and learning experiences of students and teachers in secondary schools, focusing on the participants’ understanding of creativity and the impact this had on the pedagogical process. The research found that a counterproductive idealist view of creativity persists in classrooms: the teachers and students were operating on a conception of creativity and creative practice that reflected a belief in a mystical and unknowable creative process. This article explores the experiences of creativity through systems theory and argues that this approach can inform teaching and learning for creative processes and products. The article concludes that the teaching and learning practices were unnecessarily tentative and that knowledge of creativity theory would improve the students’ development of both playwriting proficiency as well as creativity-relevant skills. It suggests that demystifying the creative process should result in greater student proficiency and improved teaching and learning experiences for teachers and students.     

Musculoskeletal injuries in professional modern dancers: a prospective cohort study of 15 years

We analysed work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WMSI) in two modern dance companies to determine whether injury rates decreased and patterns altered compared to previous 3-yr and 6-yr audits (0.48 and 0.25/1000-hrs exposure respectively). In this prospectively designed 15-yr cohort study, data were collected in 30-dancer Company-1 and 12-dancer Company-2. In-house physical therapists tracked WMSI and time-loss-injuries for 159 dancers (42 dancers/yr). 15-yrs were grouped into five 3-yr blocks for comparison with prior audits. Negative binomial logistic regression analyses were conducted with exposure-hrs converted to the natural log and used as the offset variable. Block and company were categorical predictors for dependent variables: WMSI, time-loss-injuries, trauma-injuries and overuse-injuries (p < 0.05). 69% of dancers reported WMSI; 45% sustained at least one time-loss-injury. Company-1, with greater annual exposure, was 1.6-times more likely to sustain time-loss-injuries (p = 0.016, CI = 1.095–2.422) and 5.6-times more likely to sustain time-loss overuse-injuries (p = 0.003, CI = 1.812–17.327). Compared to Block-1, WMSI and time-loss-injuries decreased in Blocks-2, 3, and 5 (p ≤ 0.027). The ratio of time-loss overuse to trauma-injuries was reversed, with trauma-injuries accounting for over 80% of injuries by Block 5. Time-loss-injuries averaged 0.16 injuries/1000-hrs, lower than rates in ballet and sports. Decreased injury rates and changed injury patterns demonstrate efficacious injury management and prevention programming.     

Organizational Capacity and Political Activities of Canadian University Faculty Associations

In this study we examine the organizational capacity and political activities of Canadian university faculty associations in the development of higher education policy. We attempt to describe, from the perspective of the faculty associations, their political role both internal and extenral to the university and the extent to which faculty associations perceive themselves as being able to influence issues of policy. We report the findings of a national survey of university faculty associations including data on organizational structure, finance, perceived influence on institutional and provincial government, policy, services and programs, and other factors related to their role as political pressure groups.     

Deserts on the sea floor: Edward Forbes and his azoic hypothesis for a lifeless deep ocean

While dredging in the Aegean Sea during the mid-19th century, Manxman Edward Forbes noticed that plants and animals became progressively more impoverished the greater the depth they were from the surface of the water. By extrapolation Forbes proposed his now infamous azoic hypothesis, namely that life would be extinguished altogether in the murky depths of the deep ocean. The whole idea seemed so entirely logical given the enormous pressure, cold and eternal darkness of this apparently uninhabitable environment. Yet we now know that the sea floor is teeming with life. Curiously, it took 25 years for the azoic hypothesis to fall from grace. This was despite the presence of ample contrary evidence, including starfishes, worms and other organisms that seemingly originated from the deep seabed. This is a tale of scientists ignoring observations that ran counter to their deep-seated, yet entirely erroneous, beliefs.     

Ability of test measures to predict competitive performance in elite swimmers

The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between changes in test measures and changes in competition performance for individual elite swimmers. The 24 male and 16 female swimmers, who were monitored for 3.6 years (s = 2.5), raced in a major competition at the end of each 6-month season (3.6 competitions, s = 2.2). A 7 x 200-m incremental swimming step-test and anthropometry were conducted in up to four training phases each season. Correlations of changes in step-test and anthropometry measures between training phases and seasons with changes in competition performance between seasons were derived with repeated-measures mixed-modelling and linear regression. Changes in competition performance were best tracked by changes in test measures between taper phases. The best single predictor of competition performance was skinfolds for females (r = -0.53). The best predictor from the step-test was stroke rate at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol x l(-1) (females: r = 0.46; males: r = 0.41); inclusion of the second-best step-test predictor in a multiple linear regression improved the correlations (females: r = 0.52 with speed in the seventh step included; males: r = 0.58 with peak lactate concentration included). In conclusion, a combination of fitness and technique factors is important for competitive performance. The step-test is a useful adjunct in a swimmer's training preparation for tracking large changes in performance.     

Functions for school psychologists in community colleges

School psychologists are trained as developmental specialists. There is a tendency to assume that they function only in the K-12 educational system. In this paper, school psychology is presented as a viable resource for service to special needs students in a postsecondary setting, including those in the community college system. Student, teacher, and administrator perceptions of educational needs are examined, and the argument is made that no one professional in the community college currently meets all the needs discussed.     

The ecological treatment of hyperkinesis

A model of hyperkinesis is introduced based on an ecological conception. The antecedents of hyperkinetic behavior are provided by a child's family environment, academic environment, and physiologic environment. These factors influence cognitive processes of the child. The consequences of hyperkinetic behavior often are undesirable, and so professional treatment is sought. Based on the ecological approach, effective treatment is multimodal and can involve the child, the family, and the school. No single approach to treatment is effective with all children.