Exploring Teacher Candidates’ Perception of Practicum Placement Within Concurrent Teacher Education in Two Ontario Universities

In this study, teacher candidates’ perception of their concurrent education program at two Ontario universities were examined, with specific emphasis on how the programs utilized practicum placements, to determine the effectiveness in preparing teacher candidates to teach. This research also strived to uncover the best ways to optimize concurrent teacher education through practicum placements. A questionnaire and interviews were used to uncover teacher candidates’ perceptions at one teacher education program that used full integration of practicum and one that used minimal integration of practicum. The findings revealed that teacher candidates were generally more satisfied with the overall program when there was full integration of practicum. There were statistically significant differences found between the two concurrent programs with regard to practicum time and preparedness and context of the practicum and a highly significant difference found for theory-practice divide. There was also a statistically significant difference (p < .05) observed between the teacher candidates at each university in terms of their beliefs about the need for improvement of their program. Some of the improvements that participants believed could be made to their respective programs included having (a) exceptional mentor teachers and teacher educators, (b) longer placements with a balance of observation and practicum teaching, (c) clear expectations and evaluations of practicum placement, and (d) more distinct connections between theory and practice made within the programs.

Improving Performance of Open Access Clinics

Open Access Scheduling has shown great promise in allowing health care practices to provide same-day access, and to match patients with their regular physicians. However, similarly to traditional clinics where appointments are pre-booked, open access clinics are also frustrated with long waits, long idle time and long overtime due to uncertainties such as patient no-shows, variable service time and variable daily demand. These aspects have not been studied previously in an open access setting. This study investigates different management options to improve clinical performance in terms of patient waiting time, doctor idle time and clinic overtime. Other factors studied with a simulation model include client load and placement of pre-booked slots. Results show that a proper panel size is critical to obtain good performance for open access clinics, and that good choices for management options depend on the client load.

Fonctionnement de tâches discrètes et intégrées pour l'évaluation de la lecture en français langue seconde des nouveaux arrivants au Québec

Cette recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’évaluation des compétences langagières en français chez des adultes immigrants en vue de leur placement dans des cours de français. Elle porte sur la dimensionnalité, de même que sur la difficulté objective et subjective de tâches discrètes ou intégrées de compréhension écrite, à différents niveaux de maîtrise. Elle propose des analyses de l’estimation de la maîtrise linguistique en fonction de l’appartenance des candidats à des groupes linguistiques distincts. Pour mener à bien la recherche, un test de six textes et de 30 items a été créé. Il a été administré à 118 immigrants. Ces immigrants suivaient les cours de français proposés par le Ministère de l’immigration et des communautés culturelles du Québec (MICC) dans les écoles de langues de l’Université de Montréal et de l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Après administration, ce test a été soumis à des analyses portant sur la dimensionnalité et la difficulté des tâches discrètes et intégrées ainsi que sur les interactions entre ces tâches et les différents groupes de candidats. Des études plus précises ont été faites sur l’interaction entre le type de tâche, l’appartenance à un groupe linguistique pour des candidats et des items de niveau similaire. Enfin, des analyses ont permis d’étudier la perception de la difficulté des tâches par les candidats. L’étude, même si elle porte sur un test en rodage, permet de distinguer la dimensionnalité de tâches discrètes de celle de tâches intégrées. Elle permet également de constater les différences de fonctionnement entre ces deux types de tâches. Enfin, elle permet de comprendre l’interprétation de la difficulté par les candidats et, par ricochet, leur vision du test. In fine, des propositions sont formulées quant à l’opportunité d’utiliser des tâches discrètes et intégrées dans un test de positionnement adaptatif en français langue seconde.

Étude qualitative des perceptions de jeunes adolescents qui ont vécu un placement, à l'égard des services reçus

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Derrida and metaphor : drawing out the relation between metaphor and proper meaning through différance

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Utilisation des services sociaux et insertion sociale de jeunes adultes avec antécédents de placement pour des motifs de protection

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Arrestation et placement en détention avant jugement : points de vue et expériences des justiciables

Ce mémoire a comme objectif d’analyser le vécu des justiciables placés en détention avant jugement. Plus précisément, cette étude se veut préciser ce vécu sur les volets judiciaire et carcéral impliqués dans une mise en détention provisoire. Nous voulons de plus dégager les sentiments issus d’un tel placement. Enfin, nous souhaitions réfléchir sur le recours à la détention avant jugement à travers la perspective d’un modèle de justice basé sur la gestion des risques et sur une logique d’efficience, d’efficacité et de responsabilisation. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé l’approche qualitative pour mener vingt-trois entrevues auprès d’hommes et de femmes incarcérés en attente de leur jugement dans quatre établissements de détention du Québec. De ces entretiens, deux thèmes centraux sont ressortis, soit le Vécus carcéral et judiciaire du prévenu, marqué par l’incertitude, l’incompréhension, l’impuissance, la dépendance, les conditions difficiles de détention, les pertes ainsi que l’attente et les Sentiments issus d’une mise en détention provisoire, marqué par la souffrance, l’injustice et l’urgence de sortir de cette situation provisoire. Il ressort de nos analyses que la façon dont est administré le système de justice, l’opinion du public ainsi que les politiques en vigueur ont un impact sur la façon de gérer le recours à la détention provisoire en favorisant tout le contraire de sa mission initiale. Ainsi, la mesure s’en trouve conduite au détriment de l’acteur principal : le prévenu.

Tombés entre les mailles du filet : expériences de vulnérabilisation chez les jeunes en situation de rue avec antécédents de placement

Les jeunes avec antécédents de placement sont surreprésentés parmi les jeunes adultes qui ont vécu un passage à la rue. Ce qui pourrait être interprété par certains comme un naufrage est vécu par d’autres comme une opportunité : l’expérience de la rue que font les jeunes est façonnée par leurs expériences antérieures. L’objectif de cette recherche était de combler un trou dans les connaissances concernant l’articulation entre l’expérience de placement et l’expérience de rue chez les jeunes. À partir de la méthodologie des récits de vie, j’ai rencontré six jeunes adultes en situation de rue qui, durant l’enfance ou l’adolescence, avaient fait l’objet d’un retrait du milieu familial en vertu de la Loi sur la protection de la jeunesse au Québec. Leur trajectoire a été étudiée sous l’angle de la « vulnérabilisation », un processus double d’appauvrissement matériel et de refoulement vers une position sociale dévalorisée. Les jeunes de mon étude ont vécu trois formes de vulnérabilisation dans le contexte du placement : la déliaison familiale, la disqualification professionnelle et sociale, et la stigmatisation. Les jeunes ont répondu à ces dynamiques en acceptant et en intériorisant la vulnérabilité, en la niant ou en la refusant, ou encore en la rationalisant et en la négociant. Cette étude permet de mieux comprendre l’articulation entre l’expérience du placement et celle de la rue chez les jeunes. Les résultats sont utiles pour informer d’autres études, ainsi que pour éclairer les pratiques auprès de cette population spécifique.

Utilisation of Coir Geotextiles for Unpaved Roads and Embankments

The increasing tempo of construction activity the world over creates heavy pressure on existing land space. The quest for new and competent site often points to the needs for improving existing sites, which are otherwise deemed unsuitable for adopting conventional foundations. This is accomplished by ground improvement methods, which are employed to improve the quality of soil incompetent in their natural state. Among the construction activities, a well-connected road network is one of the basic infrastructure requirements, which play a vital role for the fast and comfortable movement of inter- regional traffic in countries like India.One of the innovative ground improvement techniques practised all over the world is the use of geosynthetics, which include geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids, etc . They offer the advantages such as space saving, enviromnental sensitivity, material availability, technical superiority, higher cost savings, less construction time, etc . Because of its fundamental properties, such as tensile strength, filtering and water permeability, a geotextile inserted between the base material and sub grade can function as reinforcement, a filter medium, a separation layer and as a drainage medium. Though polymeric geotextiles are used in abundant quantities, the use of natural geotextiles (like coir, jute, etc.) has yet to get momentum. This is primarily due to the lack of research work on natural geotextilcs for ground improvement, particularly in the areas of un paved roads. Coir geotextiles are best suited for low cost applications because of its availability at low prices compared to its synthetic counterparts. The proper utilisation of coir geotextilcs in various applications demands large quantities of the product, which in turn can create a boom in the coir industry. The present study aims at exploring the possibilities of utilising coir geotextiles for unpaved roads and embankments.The properties of coir geotextiles used have been evaluated. The properties studied include mass per unit area, puncture resistance, tensile strength, secant modulus, etc . The interfacial friction between soils and three types of coir geotextiles used was also evaluated. It was found that though the parameters evaluated for coir geotextiles have low values compared to polymeric geotextiles, the former are sufficient for use in unpaved roads and embankments. The frictional characteristics of coir geotextile - soil interfaces are extremely good and satisfy the condition set by the International Geosynthetic Society for varied applications.The performance of coir geotextiles reinforced subgrade was studied by conducting California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests. Studies were made with coir geotextiles placed at different levels and also in multiple layers. The results have shown that the coir geotextile enhances the subgrade strength. A regression analysis was perfonned and a mathematical model was developed to predict the CBR of the coir geotextile reinforced subgrade soil as a function of the soil properties, coir geotextile properties, and placement depth of reinforcement.The effects of coir geotextiles on bearing capacity were studied by perfonning plate load tests in a test tan1e This helped to understand the functioning of geotextile as reinforcement in unpaved roads and embankments. The perfonnance of different types of coir geotextiles with respect to the placement depth in dry and saturated conditions was studied. The results revealed that the bearing capacity of coir-reinforced soil is increasing irrespective of the type of coir geotextiles and saturation condition.The rut behaviour of unreinforced and coir reinforced unpaved road sections were compared by conducting model static load tests in a test tank and also under repetitive loads in a wheel track test facility. The results showed that coir geotextiles could fulfill the functions as reinforcement and as a separator, both under static and repetitive loads. The rut depth was very much reduced whik placing coir geotextiles in between sub grade and sub base.In order to study the use of Coir geotextiles in improving the settlement characteristics, two types of prefabricated COlf geotextile vertical drains were developed and their time - settlement behaviour were studied. Three different dispositions were tried. It was found that the coir geotextile drains were very effective in reducing consolidation time due to radial drainage. The circular drains in triangular disposition gave maximum beneficial effect.In long run, the degradation of coir geotextile is expected, which results in a soil - fibre matrix. Hence, studies pertaining to strength and compressibility characteristics of soil - coir fibre composites were conducted. Experiments were done using coir fibres having different aspect ratios and in different proportions. The results revealed that the strength of the soil was increased by 150% to 200% when mixed with 2% of fibre having approximately 12mm length, at all compaction conditions. Also, the coefficient of consolidation increased and compression index decreased with the addition of coir fibre.Typical design charts were prepared for the design of coir geotextile reinforced unpaved roads. Some illustrative examples are also given. The results demonstrated that a considerable saving in subase / base thickness can he achieved with the use of eoir geotextiles, which in turn, would save large quantities of natural aggregates.

Design and Development of data mining models for the predictions of manpower placement in the technical Domain

Data mining is one of the hottest research areas nowadays as it has got wide variety of applications in common man’s life to make the world a better place to live. It is all about finding interesting hidden patterns in a huge history data base. As an example, from a sales data base, one can find an interesting pattern like “people who buy magazines tend to buy news papers also” using data mining. Now in the sales point of view the advantage is that one can place these things together in the shop to increase sales. In this research work, data mining is effectively applied to a domain called placement chance prediction, since taking wise career decision is so crucial for anybody for sure. In India technical manpower analysis is carried out by an organization named National Technical Manpower Information System (NTMIS), established in 1983-84 by India's Ministry of Education & Culture. The NTMIS comprises of a lead centre in the IAMR, New Delhi, and 21 nodal centres located at different parts of the country. The Kerala State Nodal Centre is located at Cochin University of Science and Technology. In Nodal Centre, they collect placement information by sending postal questionnaire to passed out students on a regular basis. From this raw data available in the nodal centre, a history data base was prepared. Each record in this data base includes entrance rank ranges, reservation, Sector, Sex, and a particular engineering. From each such combination of attributes from the history data base of student records, corresponding placement chances is computed and stored in the history data base. From this data, various popular data mining models are built and tested. These models can be used to predict the most suitable branch for a particular new student with one of the above combination of criteria. Also a detailed performance comparison of the various data mining models is done.This research work proposes to use a combination of data mining models namely a hybrid stacking ensemble for better predictions. A strategy to predict the overall absorption rate for various branches as well as the time it takes for all the students of a particular branch to get placed etc are also proposed. Finally, this research work puts forward a new data mining algorithm namely C 4.5 * stat for numeric data sets which has been proved to have competent accuracy over standard benchmarking data sets called UCI data sets. It also proposes an optimization strategy called parameter tuning to improve the standard C 4.5 algorithm. As a summary this research work passes through all four dimensions for a typical data mining research work, namely application to a domain, development of classifier models, optimization and ensemble methods.

A Multi-Objective Antenna Placement Genetic Algorithm for Matched Array Synthesis on Complex Platforms

A Multi-Objective Antenna Placement Genetic Algorithm (MO-APGA) has been proposed for the synthesis of matched antenna arrays on complex platforms. The total number of antennas required, their position on the platform, location of loads, loading circuit parameters, decoupling and matching network topology, matching network parameters and feed network parameters are optimized simultaneously. The optimization goal was to provide a given minimum gain, specific gain discrimination between the main and back lobes and broadband performance. This algorithm is developed based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) technique for producing diverse solutions when the number of objectives is increased beyond two. The proposed method is validated through the design of a wideband airborne SAR

Phosphorus placement an acid arenosols of the West African Sahel

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) growth on acid sandy soils of the West African Sahel. To develop cost-effective fertilization strategies for cash poor farmers, experiments with pearl millet were conducted in southwestern Niger. Treatments comprised single superphosphate hill-placed at rates of 1, 3, 5 or 7 kg P ha^−1 factorially combined with broadcast P at a rate of 13 kg ha^−1. Nitrogen was applied as calcium ammonium nitrate at rates of 30 and 45 kg ha^−1. At low soil moisture, placement of single superphosphate in immediate proximity to the seed reduced seedling emergence. Despite these negative effects on germination, P placement resulted in much faster growth of millet seedlings than did broadcast P. With P application, potassium nutrition of millet was improved and seedling nitrogen uptake increased two- to three-fold, indicating that nitrogen was not limiting early millet growth. Averaged over the 1995 and 1996 cropping seasons, placed applications of 3, 5 and 7 kg P ha^−1 led to 72%, 81% and 88% respectively, of the grain yield produced by broadcasting 13 kg P ha^−1. Nitrogen application did not show major effects on grain yield unless P requirements were met. A simple economic analysis revealed that the profitability of P application, defined as additional income per unit of fertilizer, was highest for P placement at 3 and 5 kg ha^−1.