John W. L. Martin

Service learning: engineering, construction science, and the experiential curriculum

Service Learning is a form of experiential learning that utilizes the context of a community service project to practice academic skills. In recent years Service learning has been included in many academic disciplines throughout the United States. Incorporating a hands-on component into the curriculums of construction science is challenging for the instructor. Most often these service-learning activities are accompanied by lessons in the classroom creating a pedagogical synergy not found in singular teaching/learning activities in the traditional classroom setting. A difficulty arises when professors want to develop service-learning projects for courses in structures. This paper examines the current status of service learning in the Construction Science curriculum and proposes a service-learning project for Construction Science students at Texas A&M University. Interest in Service Learning has occurred at the university.

THE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER(II) AND NICKEL(II) COMPLEXES OF NOVEL 16-MEMBERED MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS HAVING VARYING DEGREES OF SATURATION

Abstract Novel tetraaza[16] diene macrocyclic complexes of nickel(II) and copper(II) have been synthesized by the reaction of 4,4,9,9-tetramethyl-5,8-diazadodeca-2,11-dione with 1,4-butanediamine in the presence of the corresponding metal ion. The C[sbnd]N double bonds of the macrocycle have been hydrogenated using NaBH4 for both the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes. The preparation and properties of a series of complexes of macrocycles having a varying degree of saturation are described.