How Much Life do I Lose from the Plague? Educational Board Games as Teaching Tools in Archaeology and Ancient History Courses

This article describes the development, implementation, assessment, debriefing and outcomes, and potential uses of a university student-driven educational gaming project, as a major assessment item in an archaeology course entitled ‘Ancient Medicine’. Discussion of these various aspects of the project is explored in the context of educational gaming theory and practice. We demonstrate that educational board games not only represent an effective method for students to retain and convey information in courses exploring the history and archaeology of medicine, but provide such a platform for undergraduate courses in general. Furthermore, we argue that they can present a cost-effective, fun and less time-/resource-intensive alternative to electronic or web-based projects, while still being an attractive addition to traditional classroom teaching methods.     

Fragility-Based Performance Evaluation of Asymmetric Single-Story Buildings in Near Field and Far Field Earthquakes

Previous studies have shown that both distribution and intensity of response parameters in asymmetric buildings are dependent on their stiffnesses and strength distributions. The locations of centers of strength and rigidity relative to the center of mass provide suitable metrics for strength and stiffness distributions. In general, the proper locations of these centers are a function of earthquake ground motion characteristics and the level of building's nonlinear responses. In this article, using nonlinear response evaluation of single-story building models with a wide range of uncoupled torsional to lateral frequencies subjected to near field and far field earthquake excitations the proper location of building centers is studied . Diaphragm rotation, interstory drift, hinge plastic rotation, and ductility demand are selected as damage measure parameters. To compare the performance of models in each limit state, fragility representation of responses is used. It is concluded that proper configuration of building centers in a torsionally stiff building fundamentally depends on the chosen demand parameter. The proper configuration of centers in a torsionally stiff building for a specific demand parameter can converge the probability and distribution of related damages to those in the symmetric building counterpart. When the critical demand parameter for a case is identified, its corresponding arrangements of centers for a suitable seismic behavior may also be recognized. By rearranging the configuration of centers based on the attained configuration, the adverse effects of asymmetry can be avoided.     

《英语写作》课堂教学探索

《英语写作》课程是英语本科专业学生必修课程、同时也是专业培养目标中学生必须掌握的核心技能之一。然而,其教学过程中也存在较多的问题。本文从课程内容设置、学生学习现状、及教学措施等方面对该课程进行探索,目的是改进教学方式方法,提高教学质量。     

Dancers in the Dark: Scientific Careers According to a Gender-Blind Model of Promotion

Abstract

The disparity between men and women in science is a hot topic in gender studies and a relevant target of scientific policies. The leaky pipeline metaphor illustrates the decreasing number of women along senior positions in academia; however many questions remain unanswered. What factors progressively diminish the number of women in scientific careers and why do they appear to be less successful than their male colleagues? In order to discover new insight, this work compares men’s and women’s career paths by taking into account academic and family milestones achieved throughout the life course. An innovative and interdisciplinary methodology (from bibliometrics, statistics, and sociology) has been constructed to examine men’s and women’s trajectories. Findings display gender differences in scientists’ trajectories. The evolution of scientists’ careers reveals linear careers for males, whilst women develop non-linear careers. Motherhood emerges as a problem for developing linear careers. And collegiate decisions of gatekeepers seem to systematically disfavour women scientists’ careers.     

Andrew Dury's map of the present seat of war,between the Russians,Poles, and Turks (1769)

Abstract

The chance assembling of a number of different impressions of Andrew Dury's Map of the present Seat of War between the Russians, Poles, and Turks (1769) in the British Library led the authors to examine the map's carto‐bibliographical history. Nine states of the map, two of which were sometimes sold with printed paste‐ons, have been identified to date. The two earliest states of the map are now in the State Historical Museum, Moscow. Although both are best described as proof, or pre‐publication, impressions, each bears evidence of intensive use at the highest levels of the Russian army command. Indeed, the circumstances leading to the creation of the map by Andrew Dury and Peter Bell and to a succession of different versions over the three decades or so of intermittent Russian‐Turkish hostilities highlight the interplay of international politics, individual initiative and commercial factors in late eighteenth‐century map production in London.     

Migration motives of gay men in the new acceptance era: a cohort study from Malmö, Sweden

Greater diversity in life courses has become both possible and real in the twenty-first century, affecting the relocation behaviours of individuals. Therefore, it is logical that the relocation patterns of minorities have been receiving increasing attention. In particular, the migration patterns of gay men have been studied, with a focus on the embodied reasons for mobility. This downsized analysis has shown the importance of identity building and identity search. However, this article argues that analysis of migration among gay men also needs to be upsized. This study aims to show how both context and embodiment has affected the mobility of gay men. Through a case study within the context of a strong welfare state (Sweden) that adopted sexual equality early, gay men’s motives for migration are studied. The results suggest that the migration patterns of gay men are becoming more similar to those of the general population. This finding shows that current conceptualisations of the migration patterns of gay men can be advanced by acknowledging contextual effects. The integration of a downsized and an upsized understanding also offers the possibility of moving beyond the identity specifics showing that populations are becoming increasingly diverse and homogeneous simultaneously.     

The impact of family ties on the mobility decisions of gay men and lesbians

In the twenty-first century, life paths are becoming ever more unpredictable and unstandardised as lives are lived in more diverse ways. Theories of individualisation suggest that this is a sign of an increased focus on the individual and the weakening family ties. Gay and lesbian migration studies that have focused on the importance of individual identity and coming out fit well into this narrative. However, as most of these studies have been conducted in the West, less is known of the lives of gay men and lesbians in other contexts. This study examines how a non-Western context differs from the Western experience through a case study involving interviews with gay and lesbian individuals in Izmir, Turkey. The results of the interviews highlight four themes: (1) the importance of the family as both constraining and supportive, (2) the emergence of gay and lesbian identities in Turkey leading to different cohort experiences, (3) the significance of emotional ties and intergenerational living and (4) empowering educational and work trajectories. It is argued that gay and lesbian migration must be reconceptualised beyond the view of the family as an entity to escape from. Rather, the study highlights the significance of the family and demonstrates that while individuals are becoming more independent, family ties are not necessarily weakening. Instead other trajectories, such as education and employment function as empowering paths in order to support and sustain identities. Thus, in contexts where the act of coming out is challenging, the potential for other life course trajectories should be considered.     

Enhancing critical thinking skills in first year environmental management students: a tale of curriculum design,application and reflection

This paper chronicles the experience of academic staff in developing a course to enhance the critical thinking skills of environmental management undergraduates. We outline our considerations and process for course development, discuss insights from course evaluations, and reflect on the challenges encountered. We believe these perspectives will be useful for others who are developing critical thinking skills curricula, especially first year courses. Aspects of the course design which were considered particularly effective were the use of scaffolded assessment, the application of threshold concepts, and well-structured collaborative learning activities paired with quality tutors. The key learning for the authors from the evaluation of the course was that while the tools and strategies developed were very useful, interweaving these tools into year 2 and 3 courses would help students see the ongoing value of critical thinking in their work.     

人文地理学课程建设与高校跨世纪教学改革

人文地理学与自然地理学构成一级学科地理科学。人文地理学课程建设在高校跨世纪教学改革中具有重要意义。因此要充分展现人文地理学的教育功能,构建高校多层次人文地理学课程体系;充分利用人文地理学社会针对性,全方位建设地理专业应用人文地理学课程群体;充分体现人文地理学课程的区域性,建设不同空间尺度的区域人文地理学课程系统;全面概括充分完善人文地理学理论,建设各专业通用的理论人文地理学课程;充分发挥人文地理的应用优势,建设各专业实用的应用人文地理学课程。