Australian and US preservice teachers' perceptions of the gender stereotyping of mathematics

Historically mathematics was considered a pursuit more suited to males than females. Using a new instrument, contemporary high school students' beliefs about the gender stereotyping of mathematics have been measured and an apparent change in beliefs reported. The same instrument was administered to preservice teachers in Australia and the USA. These countries share common social and cultural characteristics and both were active in addressing identified female disadvantage in mathematics education outcomes. The preservice teachers were asked to respond to the survey items as they believed high school students would answer. The Australian and US preservice teachers' responses were compared. The results are reported and discussed in this paper.

The stereotyping of mathematics: gender and cultural factors

The Who and mathematics instrument is used to measure the extent to which mathematics is considered a male, female or gender-neutral domain. Data from students in grades 7-10 in Australia and Greece were compared to explore the impact of the cultural environment. The data were also examined for within country gender differences and possible differences among males and among females across the two countries. An additional perspective on the influence of prevailing cultural norms - Greek ethnic home background and the broader Australian milieu - was provided by the findings from a small sample of Australian students who attended a school with a strong Greek affiliation and who completed a trial version of the Who and mathematics instrument.

Improving the color yield of ink-jet printing on cationized cotton

This study examines the performance of digital ink-jet printing on cationized cotton treated with polyepichlorohydrin-dimethylamine (PECH-amine). The results show that the color yield of ink-jet printing with reactive inks on cationic modified cotton is much greater than that on untreated cotton. The effect on the increase of color yield by cationic modification is greater than that by preparation with alkali, urea, and thickener. The reason for this is that introducing positively charged sites increases dye uptake and dye fixation on cationized cotton. The results also show that cationic modification with PECH-amine decreases the rub fastness but increases the wash fastness of the treated cotton.

Extending double standards and stereotyping approaches to hiring older workers

This thesis examined factors underlying discrimination against older job applicants. Drawing upon stereotyping and double standards-based approaches to discrimination the thesis found that positive and negative aspects of the older worker stereotype can have cumulative effects on hiring decisions and may interact with job requirements to affect discrimination.

Avoiding Stereotyping and enhancing intercultural understanding

Anecdotally, language learners often struggle to acquire in­tercultural understanding. Teaching intercultural understanding presents significant challenges for language teachers. This article offers some in-sights into language learners' intercultural understanding and strategies to help enhance intercultural understanding that seek to promote analyti­cal and critical thinking. The aim is to build on the principles of the emerging pedagogy of Intercultural Language Learning (1cLL). IcLL suggests there is a 'third place', where cultures overlap. IcLL acknowl­edges the importance of identifying with the 'other', whilst not denying the 'self'. Intercultural competence requires sensitivity to difference, an ability to identify with others and to critically reflect on one's own cul­tural background.

Development of an intelligent system for the solder paste printing process

A neurogenetic-based hybrid framework is developed where the main components within the framework are artificial neural networks (ANNs) and genetic algorithms (GAs). The investigation covers a mode of combination or hybridisation between the two components that is called task hybridisation. The combination between ANNs and GAs using task hybridisation leads to the development of a hybrid multilayer feedforward network, trained using supervised learning. This paper discusses the GA method used to optimize the process parameters, using the ANN developed as the process mode, in a solder paste printing process, which is part of the process in the surface mount technology (SMT) method. The results obtained showed that the GA-based optimization method works well under various optimization criteria

Weight-control effort and responsibility for weight in obesity stereotyping

Two online experiments investigated whether negative stereotypes of an overweight person are mitigated by their efforts (through dieting and exercise) to control their weight. Stereotyping was evident, substantial and persistent, albeit reduced in the presence of weight-control effort. These findings highlight the robustness of common biases against overweight people.

Additive manufacturing technologies : 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and direct digital manufacturing

This book covers in detail the various aspects of joining materials to form parts. A conceptual overview of rapid prototyping and layered manufacturing is given, beginning with the fundamentals so that readers can get up to speed quickly. Unusual and emerging applications such as micro-scale manufacturing, medical applications, aerospace, and rapid manufacturing are also discussed. This book provides a comprehensive overview of rapid prototyping technologies as well as support technologies such as software systems, vacuum casting, investment casting, plating, infiltration and other systems. This book also: Reflects recent developments and trends and adheres to the ASTM, SI, and other standards Includes chapters on automotive technology, aerospace technology and low-cost AM technologies Provides a broad range of technical questions to ensure comprehensive understanding of the concepts covered.

‘I’m not like that, why treat me the same way?’ The impact of stereotyping international students on their learning, employability and connectedness with the workplace

A significant body of literature on international education examines the experiences of international students in the host country. There is however a critical lack of empirical work that investigates the dynamic and complex positioning of international students within the current education-migration nexus that prevails international education in countries such as Australia, Canada and the UK. This paper addresses an important but under-researched area of the education-migration landscape by examining how the stereotyping of students as mere ‘migration hunters’ may impact their study and work experiences. It draws on a four-year research project funded by the Australian Research Council that includes more than 150 interviews and fieldwork in the Australian vocational education context. Positioning theory is used as a conceptual framework to analyse how generalising international students as ‘mere migration hunters’ has led to the disconnectedness, vulnerability and marginalization of the group of international students participating in this research.