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Item Open Access 300 AND FELLINI-SATYRICON: FILM THEORY IN THE TERTIARY CLASSROOMTHIN-FILM MATERIALS(Dialogue, 1(1), 2014) Glass, LeannePedagogical practices in Reception-based courses on ancient Greece and Rome in film often focus on an individual film’s connections to its historical themes and meta-narrative. In contrast, courses based on Film Studies often focus pedagogical discourses on filmic techniques or the filmmaking process per se. Regularly, the two approaches remain discrete and discipline-based. In view of this disjuncture in teaching approaches and foci, the intention of this paper is to explore the benefits of film theory, including its consideration of film technique, within Classical Reception courses. Therefore, the suggestion offered herein is that more emphasis on the pedagogies of Film Studies would provide an enhanced or richer understanding of cinematic interpretations and possibilities for the student of Classical Reception and film. To illustrate this pedagogical suggestion, a discussion of mainstream, Hollywood-style cinema as depicted by Zack Snyder’s 300 (2007), in contrast to the independent auteur-driven film, Federico Fellini’s Fellini-Satyricon (1969), is the focus. These two films provide the tertiary instructor with a variety of theoretical and technical considerations that are important learning components in a course on ancient Greece and Rome in film. Not only do the films enable the instructor to discuss concepts such as the auteur but also to introduce students to topics such as art-house and Hollywood studio filmmaking, which further introduces subjects such as “high” art versus popular culture. Additionally, focusing on two different styles of filmmaking and including an acknowledgment of each filmmaker’s objectives enables the tertiary instructor to explore other fields of inquiry that cover broader cultural issues such as class, race, gender, and sexuality. This, in turn, allows for a more informed interaction on specific cultural themes between the ancient and modern worlds as interpreted by the filmmakers.Item Open Access A facile approach for enhancing mechanical resilience,and corrosion protection in epoxy coatings usingbismuthene nanosheets(Wiley, 2024) Meng, Qingshi; Li, Shuangshan; Guo, Fuyuan; Demiral, Murat; Han, Sensen; Meng, Fanze; Zhang, Yanxi; Gouda, Sherif ArabyThis study presents novel mechanochemical methods for the synthesis and chemical modification of bismuthine nanosheets (BINS) using a high-speed blender and planetary ball milling. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements confirmed successful exfoliation of 1.5-nm BINS. Epoxy/BINS nanocomposites exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. Chemical modification via ball milling improved the interface and dispersion of BINS within the epoxy matrix, leading to significant enhancements in mechanical performance and chemical resistance. Compared to neat epoxy, at 0.75 vol% m-BINS, Young's modulus, impact strength and fracture toughness K IC were respectively enhanced by 30%, 88.6%, and 144.4%while these increments were 10%, 55.7%, and 97.8% for pristine BINS-based epoxy nanocomposite. A 3D finite element model of the impact test of the nanocomposite was developed to predict its behavior under high-strain rate loadings; the numerical model showed high agreement with experimental measurements. Epoxy/m-BINS nanocomposites demonstrated exceptional chemical resistance, attributed to the small lateral dimensions of m-BINS, which fill the spaces between cross-linked epoxy molecules and uniformly dis-tribute within the matrix. These findings highlight the crucial role of interface and dispersion in defining the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Over-all, this study provides a facile and scalable method for synthesizing and modifying bismuthene, showcasing its potential for developing functional polymer nanocomposites.Item Open Access A Multilingual Journey: An Autoethnography of Language Learning and Transformation(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 7(1), 2024) Jumamuratova, GullalaMultilingualism has become a daily tool in communication in the modern world for many members of it (Stein-Smith,2021). High-speed globalization is accelerating multilingualism; however, the education system in many countries uses a monolingual approach (Tucker, 1999), Therefore, it is necessary for the education system of many countries to consider the needs of society to shift from monolingual traditional education to multilingual education. It is necessary to give space for multilingual students in a safe and inclusive classroom where they can learn without being neglected in their home languages (Garcia et al., 2014). Multilingual education goes beyond the classroom. It requires cooperation among teachers, families, and communities to ensure that everyone comprehends and recognizes the significance of speaking multiple languages. This can be done through community programs, engaging parents, and collaborating with local organizations that promote language diversity. Embracing multilingual education is not only crucial but also an opportunity to set fairness and inclusivity in education. Therefore, it is crucial for education systems worldwide to acknowledge the value of speaking multiple languages and take steps to celebrate linguistic diversity in the school setting.Item Open Access A typical point bar with atypical strata in the McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada: Floods, tides and high suspended sediment concentrations(Wiley, 2024) Fustic, Milovan; Plink‐Björklund, Piret; Shchepetkina, Alina; Strobl, RudyStratigraphic positions and the nature of some breccias and mudstones observed in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation type section (Alberta, Canada) challenge the existing fluvial point bar facies models. The currently applied large-scale, tidally influenced, sandy bedload facies model suggests that point bars fine upward, where breccias and cross-strata occur at the base of the succession and mud content increases upward. Instead, this study documents that: (i) mudstone clast breccias are not exclusively associated with basal channel-lag deposits and can occur throughout the point bar; and (ii) stratified mudstones are not limited to the top of the fining-upward succession and can occur at or near the channel base. This outcrop data, including lithology, sedimentary structures, trace fossils, bed thickness and boundaries, and the nature of stratal packages, further suggests dynamic interplay between fluvial and tidal processes. This article discusses the potential role of high-magnitude river floods in temporarily elevated sus pended sediment concentrations and highlights that fluid mud processes played a crucial role in mud deposition in both tide-influenced and fluvial parts of the system. Fluid mud processes allowed mud deposition along the channel base and across the point bar accretion surfaces. The breccias pre dominantly consist of broken pieces of inclined heterolithic strata and mostly occur on accretion sets of point bars, suggesting erosion and collapse of the point bar rather than of the cutbank. This work introduces a novel perspective to the existing models of point bar sedimentation, offering a new end member and concepts for the interpretation of subsurface data. The authors hope that this research encourages further investigations into similar phenomena elsewhere in the world.Item Open Access Abay’s Legacy to the Philosophy of Education(NUGSE Research in Education, 2(1), 2017) Shon, PeterAs early as the nineteenth century, Abay Kunanbayev foresaw the need to adapt to the world being altered by the hands of geopolitical powers. Rather than to be swept away by the waves of colonial influences, he became the lonely voice in the wilderness urging the Kazakhs to become educated multi-lingually. Though Abay is revered as the country’s foremost philosopher and poet, his writings are mostly covered in secondary school Kazakh Literature courses; though often quoted, the work of Abay is seldom read in its entirety. In addition, information about the impact of his writings on present-day educators in Kazakhstan is lacking. The purpose of this paper is to describe and juxtapose the main ideas in Abay’s The Book of Words, first published in 1909, with various philosophers from the West to examine the relevance of his philosophy in today’s Kazakhstani society. This paper is a historical description which seeks to answer the metaphysical, epistemological, and pedagogical questions under the themes of man, knowledge, and education. This study will contribute to bringing a further spotlight on Abay, not only as a steppe philosopher and poet of the past, but as a philosopher in education for contemporary Kazakh society.Item Open Access ABILITY GROUPING IN KAZAKHSTANI EFL SECONDARY SCHOOL CLASSES(NUGSE Research in Education, 6(2), 2023) Ussenova, AyimThe ability grouping in Kazakhstani English as a Foreign Language (EFL) class is a process where a class is divided in two subgroups if class capacity is twenty-four or more students in both rural and urban schools. However, clear instructions of how to produce such divisions are not described and teachers are left to choose for themselves. This study's primary purpose is to study the teachers’ experiences of grouping students in Eng-lish classrooms and it provides a qualitative interview-based research approach, where a teacher from one sec-ondary school in Astana was selected through a purposeful maximal variation sampling strategy. The findings revealed practices of structuring English language programs in Kazakhstan. The use of mixed-ability groups is a key aspect, driven by the need to balance students' academic performance levels. Challenges arise when stu-dents with diverse learning experiences join a single class, emphasizing the teacher's role in navigating these differences. The study suggests that while mixed-ability groups have advantages, concerns about evaluating oral competency and potential conflicts among teachers underscore the complexity of class organization in Kazakh-stani EFL instruction.Item Open Access Academic mobility and the labor market(NUGSE Research in Education, 1(1), 2016-06) Jumabayeva, ZhannaThe current study is aimed to better understand the concept of academic mobility and identify its labor market outcomes in the context of Kazakhstan. The paper considers whether mobility is an advantage for the domestic employment market and whether it enhances graduates’ employability. The researcher also investigates whether in Kazakhstan students’ participation in the international programs, particularly the Bolashak International Scholarship of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, affects their employment upon completion of their studies. This investigation indicates that increasingly large numbers of students continue to study abroad despite the lack of clear evidence supporting the gains graduates have in finding jobs. This suggests that students who return are not necessarily guaranteed with ideal jobs upon their graduation. Just because someone studied abroad, the competition for them does not disappear: work experience can have a higher priority. Hence, the results of this study showed that the Bolashak program is not always a ticket to a better future, at least in the short term.Item Open Access Advances in Top Transparent Electrodes by Physical Vapor Deposition for Buffer Layer-Free Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells(Wiley, 2024) Smirnov, Yury; Nigmetova, Gaukhar; Ng, AnnieThe advancements in halide perovskite materials, celebrated for their exceptional optoelectronic properties, have not only led to a remarkable increase in deficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) but also opened avenues for the development of semitransparent devices. Such devices are ideally suited for integration into building facades and for use in tandem solar cell configurations. However, depositing transparent electrodes (TEs) on top of the charge transport layers in PSC poses significant challenges. Physical vapor deposition (PVD),commonly used in the industry to prepare transparent conducting oxides (TCOs)as TEs, can introduce plasma-induced damage during the process, which decreases the efficiency of the final devices. While incorporating a buffer layer is the typical approach to mitigate plasma damage, it also increases the complexity and costs of solar cell fabrication. This perspective focuses on the developments of buffer-free semitransparent PSCs. It highlights the shift away from the typical approach of incorporating a buffer layer. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent research, this work presents successful cases of direct TCO deposition onto transport layers, evaluates scalability and stability, and concludes with recommendations for optimizing PVD processes in the fabrication of buffer-free PSCs. PERSPECTIVE www.solar-rrl.comSol. RRL 2024, 8, 2400354 2400354 (1 of 15) © 2024 The Author(s). Solar RRL published by Wiley-VCH GmbHItem Open Access Advancing Photocatalysis: Insights from 2D Materials andOperational Parameters for Organic Pollutants Removal(Wiley, 2024) Balarabe, Bachir Yaou; Atabayev, TimurPhotocatalysis plays a crucial role in tackling environmental challenges by efficiently breaking down organic pollutants in water. This study highlights the significant contribution of 2D materials in advancing photocatalytic technology for sustainable environmental remediation. It explores various aspects of photocatalytic processes, including important performance metrics such as reaction rate, quantum yield, space yield, energy consumption, and figure of merit. The main focus is on 2D materials-based structures, such as metal oxide supported on graphene and graphene oxides, MXene, or MoS2 (referred as2D-MO NPs), as well as more complex nanocomposite configurations (referred as 2D-MO NCs). Furthermore, the research examines the complex interaction between compositional and operational factors that influence photocatalytic activity, as well as different photocatalytic mechanisms and active species. Finally, it addresses the current limitations of photocatalytic organic pollutants degradation for field applications and discusses the prospects of this technologyItem Open Access AFROSURREALISM, ARISTOTLE, AND RACIAL PRESENCE IN NETFLIX’S LUKE CAGE(Dialogue, 7(2), 2020) Mack, Angela D.This essay examines Netflix’s Luke Cage as a rhetorical reading of racial embodiment and productions of the cultural identity of Blackness and People of Color, and the tensions they produce to help audiences understand the current climatic flux between racial hostility and American idealism. With only two seasons in the small-screen version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Cheo Hodari Coker’s adaptation of the 1970s Blaxploitation Power Man comic foregrounded the recent wave of superhero narratives that expanded minority/gender representation from both major comic houses (MCU and DC Extended Universe [DCEU]). This examination employs the lens of Afrosurrealism, a conceptual framework of understanding Blackness through its many complex manifestations of cultural and aesthetic representations in art across time. It is through this Afrosurrealist concept where references to race such as “Black”, “Brown”, “White,” and “People of Color” are applied to describe specific people groups/collectives throughout this essay. Using Afrosurrealism, I argue that Luke Cage can be analyzed through Aristotle’s three species of rhetoric: the judicial rhetoric of the past, the epideictic rhetoric of the present, and the deliberative rhetoric of the future. By using these three rhetorical branches, this analysis demonstrates a diasporic reading of race with Harlem as its bridge to the “realms” of New York City and beyond. This reading of a Black superhero’s world, Luke Cage’s “Harlem World,” thus brings about an awareness of a necessary racial presence, resulting in a grounding of racial realities, that subverts an ideal post-racial afterlife in the post-Obama “American” universe. By understanding the show’s characters and the setting of Harlem as another type of Americana manifestation, an America that from its origin to its current iteration is constructed through race, we can continue to learn the significance of representation and how working through issues of race for African Americans and People of Color impacts everyone. If we continue to resist the racial tensions and realities in our social climate, then we run the risk of contributing to the racial issues we say we would like to help heal. Keywords: Luke Cage, race, rhetoric, Afrosurrealism, Aristotle, Marvel, MCUItem Open Access AMC’S INFAMOUS CRIMINAL PARTNERSHIPS: SUPPRESSING THE FEMALE ANTIHERO(Dialogue, 6(2), 2019) Vosen Callens, MelissaUsing a feminist lens, the author argues that audiences have failed to embrace female characters on AMC as antiheroes, particularly when they are in romantic relationships with male antiheroes, for three primary reasons. First, female characters often challenge binary thinking, and thus, gender role stereotypes. Rather than exhibiting passive, yet nurturing characteristics, characteristics often associated with femininity and motherhood, female characters within the dataset frequently challenge their partners and exert their dominance. Second, writers often fail to fully develop female characters. The absence of their backstories (who they are and what they are thinking) makes it difficult for audiences to relate to and sympathize with these characters. Finally, within the dataset, female characters are rarely viewed as equals in the eyes of their male partners, and the audience takes cues from this treatment. When female characters are childless and/or respected by their male partners, they are more widely accepted as antiheroes. In this paper, the author examines some of the most famous criminal antihero partnerships in the top-rated AMC series over the last decade: Walter and Skyler White (Breaking Bad), Rick and Lori Grimes / Rick Grimes and Michonne (The Walking Dead), Don and Betty Draper (Mad Men), and Saul Goodman and Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul). Following this critique, the broader cultural implications of these representations are offered, particularly the disempowerment of women through motherhood. Keywords: AMC, antihero, feminist criticism, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Better Call SaulItem Open Access APPLICATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM: HARDLY ELEMENTARY — FRONTIERS FOR FRESHMAN COMPOSITION WITH CONAN DOYLE’S A STUDY IN SCARLET(Dialogue, 2(1), 2015) Donley, Kate M.Three recent television and film adaptations testify to the continuing popularity of Arthur Conan Doyle’s consulting detective Sherlock Holmes. The fast-paced novella that introduces detective duo Holmes and Watson, A Study in Scarlet involves some astonishing elements, and not just in the plot. With just a little probing, collegiate readers may wonder whether Conan Doyle plagiarized his most famous character, invented forensic science, despised Mormons, and accidentally wrote a Western. The novel was adapted as A Study in Pink, the first episode of the BBC’s series Sherlock created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. Their vision of Holmes set in present-day London will thrill students and also leave them wondering what happened to the second half of the novel. Beyond the predictable (yet exciting) classroom discussion topic of adaptation, A Study in Scarlet presents a rich context for research and discussion by challenging students’ modern-day notions of genre, historical truth, political correctness, and academic credibility. Although this novel is well-suited for high-level secondary or freshman composition classes, advanced students of English literature will find much to explore. This book analysis contains a summary of A Study in Scarlet with explication of its literary features and associated pedagogical issues for the freshman composition class. Topics for more advanced students are also identified. Instructors can make a free virtual casebook of ancillary readings with the Internet links provided. Keywords: college composition, first-year writing, freshman composition, Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, detective fiction, adaptation, pseudo-scholarship, fanfictionItem Open Access APPLYING STATISTICAL DATABASES ON EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH(NUGSE Research in Education, 6(1), 2023) Alimkhanova Dinara, Drybrough Andrew G.This review presents information on international and national statistical databases that can be used for the purpose of educational research. Each database is derived from the websites and the authentic website source is provided through a hyperlink. These hyperlinks were accessible and working at the time of writing. Although most of these websites contain a range of types of data on different subject areas (e.g., economic and demographic statistics) each website has at least one section of data or research relating to education, or that might be of interest to the educational researcher. There are also some sites that may be of more specific interest to those involves in educational assessment. The analysis of each databases will cover two main aspects. First, there will be a short description of the statistical database. This is then followed by a brief analysis of that database that identifies the benefits and/or limitations of it. We begin by describing and analyzing the international education databases, followed by national educational databases of Kazakhstan. We have found these of use in our research and teaching, and hope that they can be of benefit to anyone who is interested in international educational research and educational research in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region...Item Open Access BAD GIRLS: AGENCY, REVENGE, AND REDEMPTION IN CONTEMPORARY DRAMA(Dialogue, 6(2), 2019) Watson, CourtneyCultural movements including #TimesUp and #MeToo have contributed momentum to the demand for and development of smart, justified female criminal characters in contemporary television drama. These women are representations of shifting power dynamics, and they possess agency as they channel their desires and fury into success, redemption, and revenge. Building on works including Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, dramas produced since 2016—including The Handmaid’s Tale, Ozark, and Killing Eve—have featured the rise of women who use rule-breaking, rebellion, and crime to enact positive change. Keywords: #TimesUp, #MeToo, crime, television, drama, power, Margaret Atwood, revenge, Gone Girl, Orange is the New Black, The Handmaid’s Tale, Ozark, Killing EveItem Open Access Balancing life and studies in a classroom without walls: graduate students’ perspectives on online learning(NUGSE Research in Education, 3(1), 2018-06) Akhmetova, DinaraTechnological advancements taking place in the 21st century are changing the ways in which classes are taught (Allen & Seaman, 2011). Education worldwide is reaching far beyond the four walls of classroom by offering courses online. This paper explores students’ perspectives on the quality of courses offered online by one Kazakhstani University, based on the advantages and challenges 12 master’s degree students faced while studying some courses online during two academic years of their enrollment. According to the results of this study, participants highlighted the flexibility of online education in pursuing their academic endeavors concurrently with other responsibilities as the main advantage. However, students were challenged in managing their time due to overlapping dates for submitting the tasks completed for online courses. Since the findings of the study have limited generalizability due to small size of population, several recommendations will be made for the future research.Item Open Access THE BATMAN COMES TO CLASS: POPULAR CULTURE AS A TOOL FOR ADDRESSING REFLEXIVE PAIN(Dialogue, 7(1), 2020) Hammonds, Kyle A.; Anderson-Lain, KarenIn this essay, a case study approach is used to examine ways in which comics and graphic narratives can be used to provide a context within which undergraduate students may theorize about culture. The authors employed Batman: Year One as an organizing narrative for students to theorize about culture and communication. Specifically, students were challenged to (1) understand applications of communication theory in the context of graphic narrative, (2) use graphic narrative as a space for theorizing about communication and culture outside of comics, (3) utilize narrative theory to extrapolate meaning from complex, multi-modal forms of communication. While this case study is situated within the Communication Discipline, the project may be customized to fit courses related to Rhetoric (English), Narrative Theory, or Critical/Cultural Studies. Keywords: Popular Culture Pedagogy; Batman; Graphic Narratives; Comics; Narrative Theory; Critical/Cultural Studies, CommunicationItem Open Access BREAKING THE RULES: PLAYING CRIMINALLY IN VIDEO GAMES(Dialogue, 6(2), 2019) Tregonning, JamesVideo games have long courted controversy for their frequent valorisation of criminality. However, in this article, I consider heroic criminals in video games from a different perspective. I focus on two games – Lucas Pope’s Papers, Please (2013) and Osmotic Studio’s Orwell (2016) – that position the player as a low-level government operative in a fictional authoritarian regime. Players are expected to process information for their governments, although they are also given opportunities to undermine or subvert the regime. Thus, the trope of heroic criminal is used to comment on the function and role of the state. It becomes the lens through which issues of political philosophy and ethics are balanced against the more pragmatic concerns of personal safety. These multiple competing pressures allow Papers, Please and Orwell to position heroic criminality as a multifaceted problem for the player to critically engage with. Keywords: Papers, Please; Orwell; video games; criminality; video game violenceItem Open Access “CAN YOU IMAGINE, A REAL, LIVE INDIAN RIGHT HERE IN WALNUT GROVE?”: AMERICAN INDIANS IN TELEVISION ADAPTATIONS OF LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE(Dialogue, 2(1), 2015) Fatzinger, Amy S.Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House novels have been adapted into two major television series: Michael Landon’s well-known series, which aired from 1974-1983, and a more recent Disney adaptation, which aired as a miniseries in 2005. The premier movie, which preceded Landon’s series, and the Disney miniseries both focus on the events in Wilder’s 1935 novel, Little House on the Prairie, which covered the period from 1869-1871 during which the Ingalls family lived among the Osage in Kansas Indian Territory. Wilder’s portrayal of the Osage in her novel is controversial, but she does also include some literary devices that allow for a slightly more complex reading of the relationships between Native and non-Native settlers on the Kansas prairie. While adaptations of novels sometimes revise problematic or controversial content to better suit the perspectives of modern viewing audiences, the adaptations of Wilder’s novels alter the Native content in ways that do not move it beyond the realm of stereotypes. Both television adaptations present Native themes in ways that initially heighten the sense of fear associated with Native characters, then resolve the issues through happy endings and heavy-handed moral lessons that diminish the seriousness of the historic tensions between Native and non-Native residents of the frontier. The changes made to Native themes in the adaptations do, however, call attention to the challenges associated with adapting autobiographical and historical content and raise questions about how to prioritize more respectful portrayals of Native people when working with people’s life stories. Keywords: Little House on the Prairie, American Indian Studies, Pioneer Literature, Historical Fiction, Adaptation Studies, Television StudiesItem Open Access A Case Study: What is Better for His Future?(NUGSE Research in Education, 3(2), 2018-12) Manuilova, NatalyaThis case describes the implementation of inclusive education within a mainstream secondary school on the example of the experience of a student with a cognitive developmental delay, whose special educational needs limit his academic participation and socialization in a school learning environment. The policy initiative is administered by the school principal who needs to make a decision about the best option in addressing the situation. This case narrative both highlights the complexity of the policy execution, the challenges the school principal encounters when designing actions in ensuring student’s participation; and reflects ethical issues involved in the provision of special educational services. While there are no straightforward solutions to meeting all students’ diverse needs, this case provides helpful lessons for educational leaders working in accommodating students with special educational needs. Keywords: inclusion, leadership, mainstream school, special school, student development...Item Open Access CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN KAZAKHSTAN: A CRITICAL REFLECTION ON POLICY IM-PLEMENTATION AT A MAINSTREAM SCHOOL(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2025) Shaken, MadinaAfter ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) as part of its “Future without Barriers” initiative (2015), Kazakh-stan implemented inclusive education by aiming to make most of its schools inclusive (Allan & Omarova, 2021). The historical context of education in Kazakh-stan, particularly during the Soviet era, involved stigma-tizing students with special needs in separate institu-tions, influencing societal perceptions and creating bar-riers to inclusive education (Rollan, 2021). In this paper I will critically review the application of the inclusive education policy in practice in one of the mainstream school in Astana city.