Helping the Gifted Escape Metaphorical Entrapment

Linguists and philosophers have revealed the powerful shaping influences of metaphor on thought. Metaphorical frameworks have inspired and confined theories of mind, research paradigms, and even conceptions of morality in the larger sociopolitical environment. This paper explores these strong metaphorical influences on thought and action with special attention to sociopolitical and moral dimensions. It reveals profound metaphorical effects on the functioning of minds as well as ideological, liberal and conservative conceptions of aspirations, self-fulfillment, success, and morality. The analysis suggests the need for more attention to metaphorical analysis and the development of moral imagination in the education of the gifted.     

Technology Acceptance in Social Work Education: Implications for the Field Practicum

The exponential growth and sophistication of new information and computer technology (ICT) have greatly influenced human interactions and provided new metaphors for understanding the world. The acceptance and integration of ICT into social work field education are examined here using the technological acceptance model. This article also explores potential challenges regarding the adoption of ICT into social work field practica. The article concludes with implications for adopting and integrating ICTs in social work field education.     

Sensitivity analysis of stamping processes using various friction models appropriate for non-stationary contact problems

This paper looks at the sensitivity of thickness to variation of friction. The models of friction used are: the classic Amontons-Coulomb; a nonlinear pressure-dependent model proposed by Wriggers, vu Van and Stein; and a velocity-dependent model proposed by Molinari, Estrin and Mercier. They are coded in FORTRAN for use with finite element program ABAQUS. The contact problem is then formulated in the total Lagrangian formulation for contact between an elastic-plastic body and rigid tools. The variational (weak) form of the formulation is given and this is discretized by finite element method. To test and compare the models, one common metal forming processes is simulated: deep drawing of a square-cup. The sensitivity graphs showing each of the three friction models together is given at the end. One other conclusion although not major part of this work is that Amonton-Coulomb is not the best model suited for contact conditions in metal forming processes, because Wriggers et al. model and Molinari et al. model provide better results for modelling bends and corners.     

Extending educational planning discourse: A new strategic planning model

To academic visionaries the new century appears to have an emerging environment characterized by increased complexity, uncertainty, unpredictability which, some have argued, render traditional notions of planning and management irrelevant. The expectations of management and planning scholars carry the implicit assumption that somehow individual capability and organizational capacities will rise to meet the enormous challenges of this new environment. In the light of this situation the purposes of this paper are: (1) to briefly examine the limitations and criticisms of traditional educational planning; (2) to outline the emerging concepts and processes which collectively form a new paradigm for strategic planning; (3) to discuss the new model within the context of changing national policy and planning environments and increased localization; (4) to review the limited results of empirical research related to more participatory planning models; and (5) to offer a critique of the assumptions and practicality of the new model in the process of planning and sustaining educational change in developing countries     

Conceptions and Beliefs About “Good Teaching”: An integration of contrasting research areas

Previous research on conceptions of teaching comes from three distinct areas. The first is based on interviews with students and staff in higher education, the second involves the investigation of the conceptions and beliefs of schoolteachers, while the third derives from more general consideration of the nature of conceptions themselves. The empirical study reported here drew on these differing research areas to distinguish between beliefs and conceptions about good teaching and to explore their possible origins. The data came from student teachers, but the findings contribute to current thinking about conceptions of teaching in higher education. Bringing the empirical findings together with the three areas of previous research enables a more complete concept map to be drawn to summarise what may underlie the notion of “good teaching”.     

Preliminary studies on the detection ofMycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex using DNA probe from a clinical isolate

Genomic DNA from a clinical isolate ofMycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex was purified and cloned in PBR 322 at the tetracycline resistance site using Bam HI restriction enzyme. A 16 kb cloned fragment was purified, radiolabeled and used as a probe. Genomic DNA isolated from nineteen MAC strains, threeM. tuberculosis strains and oneM. kansasii strain were digested with Eco RI restriction enzyme, Southern blotted and hybridized with the 16 kb cloned and labeled fragment. Twelve MAC strains showed positive hybridization although five strains gave faint signals. Positive hybridization was noted in two out of the threeM. tuberculosis strains, possibly due to shared DNA homology. No signal was received from the singleM. kansasii strain used in this study.