Self-directed Growth Research Articles

THEORY OF CONSTRUCTIVISM AND A COMMUNICATIVE COURSEBOOK AS A PREREQUISITE FOR ORGANIZING THE FIRST YEAR IT STUDENTS’ INDEPENDENT WORK AT THE ESP CLASSES

This article explores how the theory of constructivism, enclosed in the communicative coursebook, influences the design of independent work for the first-year IT students, learning a foreign language. It outlines the fundamental elements of constructivism such as self-directed learning and growth, as well as it considers two key dimensions of productivity: self-reliance and educational accomplishment with focuss on the crucial role of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and “scaffolding” conceptions within this paradigm. Our research emphasizes the efficacy of constructivism and the learning cycles of the communicative coursebook, built on the constructivists’ principles, in enhancing students' learning experiences, promoting active knowledge and skills acquisition, and cultivating critical thinking skills. Practical examples of applying constructivism to educational processes are provided here to enhance students' proficiency in English as a foreign language. Finally in this article, the four stages procedure of the students’ involvement into independent work within the communicative coursebook’s learning cycles- is described and the main assumption about the four-stage procedure, based on the experience of piloting the communicative coursebook, is made: this communicatively-oriented procedure appears to become an effective tool of learning, teaching and communication.

Designing a Course for Lifelong, Self-Directed Character Growth

In this paper, we discuss how to create a course that helps students set a foundation for lifelong, self-directed character growth. To this end, we offer a new framework for character change which we call the 3M’s for “mindset” (having a growth mindset for character growth), “motivation” (using psychological needs described in the Self Determination Theory, autonomy, competence, relatedness, and purpose), and “means” (tools for character development). We then give concrete examples of how each component of this framework can be used in a classroom setting to help students develop their character.

Relationship of high self-directed learning readiness and growth mindset among general surgery resident

Relationship of high self-directed learning readiness and growth mindset among general surgery resident

How do peer support workers value self-directed growth over conventional change goals among young people experiencing homelessness?

The aim of this study is to explore how peer support workers (individuals with similar lived experiences employed to provide support) conceptualize change work with young people experiencing homelessness. The present study used participatory qualitative methods, including semistructured interviews and journaling with peer support workers and program supervisors and administrators, to understand how peers understand change work with young people experiencing homelessness. This study found that peers center self-directed growth among young people experiencing homelessness, rather than change that prioritizes meeting program-directed outcomes such as obtaining housing or gaining employment. Peer relationships invite possibility and create containers of hope when supporting young people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their paths. Lastly, peers recognize that growth happens in seasons, and embrace such seasons as checkpoints on youths' journeys. Such findings may guide service providers beginning peer programming or those considering models for engaging young people experiencing homelessness in relationship-supported growth.

Self-Directed Learning and Growth Mindsets among General Surgery Residents in Thailand

Eurboonyanun, Chalerm MD, FRCST; Petrusa, Emil R. PhD; Eurboonyanun, Kulyada MD; McKinley, Sophia K. MD, EdM; Phanphruk, Warachaya MD; Gee, Denise W. MD, FACS; Phitayakorn, Roy MD, FACS Author Information

Self-directed hierarchical Cu3(PO4)2/Cu-BDC nanosheets array based on copper foam as an efficient and durable electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

Overall water splitting is a promising approach to produce sustainable energy. For the practical application of overall water splitting, easy-to-operate catalysts as well as catalysis of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in identical electrolyte are critical. Herein, we report a high-efficiency electrocatalyst with hierarchical Cu3(PO4)2/copper metal-organic framework (Cu3(PO4)2/Cu-BDC) nanosheets array supported by copper foam. In this work, Cu3(PO4)2 nanosheets are firstly prepared on the surface of copper foam by means of in-situ growth method. Subsequently, Cu-BDC nanosheets array are synthesized via self-directed growth. In each step of this reaction, copper ions are all released from the substrate, which is facile and controllable. The effect of reaction temperature and reaction time on the morphology of Cu-BDC was discussed in detail. The optimal electrocatalyst (Cu3(PO4)2/Cu-BDC-150-6 foam) exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance for OER and HER in 1 M KOH, delivering a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at low overpotential of 241 mV and 145 mV, respectively. Using Cu3(PO4)2/Cu-BDC-150-6 foams as both anode and cathode electrocatalyst in 1 M KOH, a current density of 10 mA cm−2 was achieved at a low cell voltage of 1.56 V. In addition, the Cu3(PO4)2/Cu-BDC foam showed excellent catalytic stability and thus will be promising for application in industrial overall water splitting.

The Muktangan story (Part A): an organizational study and The Muktangan story (Part B): winds of change

Subject area The subject areas are organizational management, organizational behaviour and human resource management. Study level/applicability The study is applicable for courses in human resource management and organizational behaviour as part of masters-level programmes in business administration and management, executive development programmes on organization design and development for middle/senior management. Case overview In 2003, Elizabeth and Sunil Mehta had founded a voluntary organization, “Muktangan”, focussed on child-centric education through innovative pedagogy for the community of the urban poor. Elizabeth, an educationist, and Sunil, a highly successful business person, joined hands to contribute to the well-being of urban poor to make a difference to their lives. Elizabeth and Sunil presented a proposal to impart education for “the children of the community, by the teachers drawn from the community” to the residents of the slums in central Mumbai. With a humble beginning of running a small pre-school, Muktangan now manages seven schools with 3,400 children and 500 teachers, and a teachers’ training centre with a capacity to train 100 teachers a year. Muktangan won acclaim for its unique pedagogy and a very effective child-to-teacher ratio. Over the years, Elizabeth and Sunil led Muktangan with a strong passion and a “hands-on” approach. Of late, Elizabeth and Sunil faced questions from their donors about the sustainability of Muktangan with respect to leadership and management succession. Elizabeth and Sunil had a vision for Muktangan for self-directed growth with an empowered team. Muktangan embarked on the journey to create a leadership for self-directed growth. Sunil, Elizabeth and team Muktangan conceptualized and implemented a change management intervention with help from an external consultant to build the desired organization. Expected learning outcomes Outcomes are understanding issues involved in the leadership, organization design and management of change, particularly of those organizations engaged in social change and development in developing societies. Supplementary materials The Muktangan Story: Part A – An Organizational Study; The Muktangan Story Part B – Winds of Change; Teaching Note;

Addition of a Patient Examination Module to Address Student Preparedness for the First Full-Time Clinical Experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEClinical education experiences (CEEs) are a core component and required element of all physical therapist (PT) entry-level education programs,1 affording students the opportunity to be mentored by experienced clinicians as they apply the knowledge and skills gained during the didactic portions of the education program. Readiness to enter and progress through CEEs is a key recommendation identified by the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT).1,2 Our program routinely collects student perceptions about their academic preparation for the CEE. Perceptions are collected during midterm phone calls by our directors of clinical education and through anonymous surveys collected following the first CEE.Historically, students comment they feel least prepared in organizing and executing patient examinations. The authors consulted education literature to develop a 2-week patient examination module. Many educational methods are utilized within the academic setting to help prepare students for CEEs, including the following: skill-based laboratory experiences,3-6 patient case scenario s,3-5,7,8 patient simulations,5,9-13 case-based discussion boards,3 and objective structured clinical examinations.14,15 Literature supports the use of each of these educational methods to develop and assess clinical skills. Limited literature, however, addresses the effect of utilizing these methods on student clinical readiness or performance during the first CEE.The purpose of this paper is to describe our evidence-based 2-week education module focused on patient examination and report outcomes, including themes from student perceptions and student clinical performance using the Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument (PT CPI). The paper also demonstrates the use of outcome-based assessment to inform curricular change. The module was added immediately prior to the first full-time CEE with the goal of enhancing student confidence and preparedness in patient examinations, and ultimately, readiness for the clinic. Reported outcomes include student perspectives on the module and clinical performance, as rated on the PT CPI.METHOD/MODEL DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATIONEducational Theory and Literature Guiding Design of the ModuleEvidence-based clinical practice is a clear professional goal and focus in education. Likewise, student preparation and training should be grounded in evidence-based teaching and learning research. Design and development of the 2-week patient examination module was guided by the established principles of experiential learning16,17 and reflective practice.18-20 Specific components were included based on current literature supporting use of multisource feedback,3,21 adult learning strategies,22,23 and standardized patients (SP) in PT education.24-27Experiential Learning and ReflectionCentral to experiential learning theory is the cyclical process of experience and reflection. Learning as an active process is emphasized with concepts being derived and revised by experiences.16 Kolb's experiential learning model depicts the process of gathering and processing information. The model describes 4 elements that form the basis for making sense of and learning from our concrete experiences. The elements in the model are: engagement in new experiences, reflection on the experiences, interpretation of the experiences to generate new ideas, and application of the ideas to other experiences.17 In cycling through the elements, the learner should be able to solve problems, view problems from a new perspective, and move to a new frame of reference. Reflection, 1 of the 4 elements in Kolb's learning model, is identified as a key process for continued refinement of skills and professional growth.28 Reflection helps to create meaning of our experiences and is important for self-directed growth. Reflection during an experience (reflection-in-action) encourages revisions to actions and decisions throughout an activity. …

Self-directed orientation of molecular columns based on n-type hexaazatrinaphthylenes (HATNAs) for electron transport.

Self-organizing n-type hexaazatrinaphthylenes (HATNAs) with various bay-located side chains have been synthesized. The HATNA derivatives are able to form long-range molecular columns with self-directed growth directions. In particular, alkyl-substituted HATNAs showed in-plane molecular columns with axes parallel to substrates, whereas the columnar orientation of the HATNAs with alkylethynyl or alkylthio groups strongly depended on the length of the introduced side chains. Interestingly, the derivative with octylthio chains exhibited out-of-plane molecular columns, in which electron mobility of up to 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) was determined through the time-of-flight technique, highlighting the fact that such molecular columns based on bay-substituted HATNAs are promising n-type semiconductors for device applications.

Self-Directed Growth of Aligned Adenine Molecular Chains on Si(111)7×7: Direct Imaging of Hydrogen-Bond Mediated Dimers and Clusters at Room Temperature by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The early stage of adsorption of adenine on Si(111)7×7 is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Bright protrusions are observed in both empty-state and filled-state STM images, indicative of molecular adsorption of adenine through dative bonding. The majority of these bright protrusions appear as dimer pairs formed by hydrogen bonding at the initial adsorption stage. The formation of dative bonds between the substrate and adenine and the feasibility of the H-bond mediated dimers are supported by ab initio DFT/B3LYP/6-31G++(d,p) calculations, and are in excellent accord with our recent X-ray photoemission data. Remarkably, these dimers are found to undergo self-organization into aligned superstructures, evidently with common link arrangements, including straight, offset, and zigzag chains, square quartets, double quartets, and other multiple dimer structures. As the exposure of adenine increases, the populations of dimers as well as the self-organized double dimer and other higher-order structures also increase. The end-to-end dimer links are found to be most prominent in the growth of adenine molecular chains, most notably aligned along the Si dimer-wall or [-1 1 0] direction of the 7×7 unit cell. The self-aligned adenine dimer molecular chains offer a natural template for catch-and-release biosensing, lithography, and molecular electronic applications.

Hexagonal microrods of anatase tetragonal TiO2: self-directed growth and superior photocatalytic performance

Novel TiO2 mesocrystalline microrods with unique hexagonal structure were prepared via a facial thermal method. Their photocatalytic performance under UV irradiation was much higher than that of the Degussa P25 benchmark, one of the best commercial polycrystalline TiO2 photocatalyst. The hexagonal microrods were formed through self-directed self-assembly within intermediate scaffolds.

Self-directed growth approach for acetylacetone lines on an H-terminated Si(001)-(2×1) surface

Self-directed growth approach for acetylacetone lines on an H-terminated Si(001)-(2<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mo>×</mml:mo></mml:math>1) surface

Effects of Radical Site Location and Surface Doping on the Radical Chain-reaction on H−Si(100)-(2 × 1): A Density Functional Theory Study

The radical chain-reactions of allyl mercaptan, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and 1,3-butadiene molecules on the H−Si(100)-(2 × 1) are systematically investigated on the basis of a hybrid (ONIOM) model. The formation of γC-, δC-, or δS-site radical intermediate reduces the kinetic selectivity of H-abstraction reactions. The H-abstraction activation energies have the order of across dimer row < interdimer (in the same dimer row) < intradimer H-abstraction, contrasting to the previously reported tendency of βC-site radical intermediate. The steric factor greatly affects the direction-selectivity of radical chain-reaction. The discrepancy between chain-reaction of allyl mercaptan [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 12304] and trimethylene sulfide molecules [J. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111, 11965] is rationalized by the doping effect of silicon substrate. It suggests the doping of silicon substrate can alter the direction of the surface chain-reaction. Furthermore, we also theoretically predict the self-directed growth behaviors of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and 1,3-butadiene molecules on the H−Si(100)-(2 × 1). The predicted growth behavior of 1,3-butadiene molecules is in good agreement with recent experimental observations.

Scanning tunneling microscopy and computational study of the self-directed growth of 1,3-butadiene and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene on hydrogen-terminated silicon(1 0 0)-2 × 1

The formation of 1,3-butadiene and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene derived nanostructures on hydrogen-terminated silicon(100)-2×1 was studied using ultra-high vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory modeling. We find that the steric interactions between the methyl groups on 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene and the surface hydrogen causes 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene to grow relatively long, linear structures along one side of a dimer row. However, the less sterically encumbered 1,3-butadiene grows short, less orderly, self-terminating structures that involve at least two dimer rows. These results show that steric effects can be used as a parameter in the rational design of organic nanostructures on silicon surfaces.

Theoretical prediction of 1-D molecular lines on the Si(001) surface

We propose a facile method for the self-directed growth of ID molecular lines on the H-terminated Si(001) surface. This method employing a single H-free dimer instead of a single DB greatly enhances the stability of the radical intermediate, thereby facilitating the chain reaction for ID molecular lines. The proposed method will stimulate experiments for fabrication of ID molecular lines which are strongly attached to the Si(001) substrate.

Self-Directed Growth of Contiguous Perpendicular Molecular Lines on H−Si(100) Surfaces

Future nanoscale integrated circuits will require the realization of interconnections using molecular-scale nanostructures; a practical fabrication scheme would need to be largely self-assembling and operate on a large number of like structures in parallel. The self-directed growth of organic molecules on hydrogen-terminated silicon(100) [H-Si(100)] offers a simple method of realizing one-dimensional molecular lines. In this work, we introduce the ability to change the growth direction and form more complex, contiguous shapes. Numerous styrene and trimethylene sulfide L shapes were grown on a H-Si(100)-3x1 surface in parallel with no intermediate surface lithography steps, and similar shapes were also grown using allyl mercaptan and benzaldehyde on H-Si(100)-2x1. Registered scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) were used to investigate the growth process.

Self-Directed Growth of AlGaAs Core−Shell Nanowires for Visible Light Applications

Al0.37Ga0.63As nanowires (NWs) were grown in a molecular beam epitaxy system on GaAs(111)B substrates. Micro-photoluminescence measurements and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated a core--shell structure and Al composition gradient along the NW axis, producing a potential minimum for carrier confinement. The core--shell structure formed during growth as a consequence of the different Al and Ga adatom diffusion lengths.

Enhanced Stability of 1D Molecular Lines on the H-Terminated Si(001) Surface

We present a facile method for the self-directed growth of 1D molecular lines on the H-terminated Si(001) surface. Instead of a previously employed single dangling bond, we here employ a single H-free Si dimer as a reaction site, resulting in an enhanced stability of the radical intermediate for the O-phthalaldehyde (OP) molecule containing two carbonyl groups. This radical intermediate easily abstracts two H atoms from a neighboring Si dimer, thereby allowing the chain reaction for a 1D molecular line. Such a fabricated OP line will be stable at higher temperatures compared to previously reported alkene lines because of its enhanced stability.

Self-directed growth of iron core–shell oval-shaped nanorods and nanocubes on aH-terminated Si(100) substrate in an external magnetic field

Iron core–shell oval-shaped nanorods and nanocubes were electrodeposited on aH-terminated Si(100) substrate with and without the presence of an externally appliedmagnetic field (with a flux density of 1.3 T). The presence of an external magnetic fieldduring electrodeposition was found to produce clustering of oval-shaped nanorods withshort-range ordering in the long-axis orientation, and to induce self-assembly of nanocubesinto stripes along the field-line direction. Glancing-incidence x-ray diffraction showed thatthe magnetic field also changed the distribution of the crystal orientations of the Fenanocubes. An external magnetic field applied during electrodeposition could therefore beused to manipulate the spatial and crystallographic arrangements of the deposited Fenanoparticles.

A novel asymmetric capacitor based on Co(OH) 2/USY composite and activated carbon electrodes

A new hybrid electrochemical capacitor has been successfully designed by using Co(OH) 2/USY composite and active carbon (AC) as positive and negative electrode, respectively. The Co(OH) 2/USY composite material is cobalt hydroxide loaded on ultra-stable Y zeolite (designated Co(OH) 2/USY) through self-directed growth process. The Co(OH) 2/USY and AC electrodes were individually tested in 1 M KOH aqueous electrolyte in order to define the adequate balance of active materials in the capacitor as well as the working voltage. To fabricate the hybrid cell systems, it achieved the maximum capacitive performance of 110 F/g, which is the highest value compared with the other similar metal oxide in AC hybrid capacitor systems in the same medium. Also it was found that the asymmetric cell worked in the larger voltage range and exhibited higher energy and power characteristics. The notable improved electrochemical performances strongly suggest that the hybrid cell can be a promising capacitor devices applied for the energy storage.