Theoretical and Factual Meaning in Assisted Instruction

Technology determines new borders for knowledge domain while education reflects more complex activities. A solution in this context is to integrate technology in the educational system, extending it as e-Education.E-Education is a dynamic system and a conceptdeveloped on three kinds of infrastructure which are likely to emerge: technological infrastructure, conceptual infrastructure of the type ofthe study programmes, and cognitive infrastructure of all participants involved in the teaching-learning activities. The purpose of this paper is to provide a meaningful framework for contextual learning, developed on the idea that a personal computer can deliver many skills to a student, but only academic environment can connect those skills to a modern community where they belong. This approach is developed on the much known principle which sustain that the educational system becomes the engine of the learning society.Scientific Research in E-Education, Assisted Instruction, E-Classroom, Didactic Knowledge, Concepts Map Approach

Linking somatic and symbolic representation in semantic memory: the dynamic multilevel reactivation framework

Biological plausibility is an essential constraint for any viable model of semantic memory. Yet, we have only the most rudimentary understanding of how the human brain conducts abstract symbolic transformations that underlie word and object meaning. Neuroscience has evolved a sophisticated arsenal of techniques for elucidating the architecture of conceptual representation. Nevertheless, theoretical convergence remains elusive. Here we describe several contrastive approaches to the organization of semantic knowledge, and in turn we offer our own perspective on two recurring questions in semantic memory research: (1) to what extent are conceptual representations mediated by sensorimotor knowledge (i.e., to what degree is semantic memory embodied)? (2) How might an embodied semantic system represent abstract concepts such as modularity, symbol, or proposition? To address these questions, we review the merits of sensorimotor (i.e., embodied) and amodal (i.e., disembodied) semantic theories and address the neurobiological constraints underlying each. We conclude that the shortcomings of both perspectives in their extreme forms necessitate a hybrid middle ground. We accordingly propose the Dynamic Multilevel Reactivation Framework—an integrative model predicated upon flexible interplay between sensorimotor and amodal symbolic representations mediated by multiple cortical hubs. We discuss applications of the dynamic multilevel reactivation framework to abstract and concrete concept representation and describe how a multidimensional conceptual topography based on emotion, sensation, and magnitude can successfully frame a semantic space containing meanings for both abstract and concrete words. The consideration of ‘abstract conceptual features’ does not diminish the role of logical and/or executive processing in activating, manipulating and using information stored in conceptual representations. Rather, it proposes that the materials upon which these processes operate necessarily combine pure sensorimotor information and higher-order cognitive dimensions involved in symbolic representation

A Context Ontology for Mobile Environments

The widespread use of mobile devices is leading to a next generation of applications that exploit user contextual information to provide a richer experience. One of the activities to perform during the development of these context-aware applications is to define a model to represent and manage context information. Currently, there is a lack of consensual models, and this supposes a handicap when developing these applications. This paper presents a context ontology network to model context-related knowledge that allows adapting applications based on user context. We describe the methodological process followed during the ontology development as well as the ontology network obtained from this process. Besides, we provide an example of how to extend the ontology for a particular use case in a concrete domain

Implementing packaged enterprise software in multi-site firms: Intensification of organizing and learning

Packaged enterprise software, in contrast with custom-built software, is a ready-made mass product aimed at generic customer groups in a variety of industries and geographical areas. The implementation of packaged software usually leads to a phase of appropriation and customization. As the associated processes remain ill understood, particularly for multi-site implementations, the objective of this paper is to understand the impact of packaged software in a multi-site organization. Adopting a case study method, this paper reports on a multi-site project that was analyzed at the group, site, and corporate level. Our findings suggest that as organizational units face the unsettling experience of having to implement a single source code across globally distributed sites, packaged software intensifies organizing and learning processes across these levels. The paper identifies specific processes for these levels and concludes with implications for research and practice. Our research extends IS research on packaged software implementation with an emphasis on multi-site firms

System level modelling and design of hypergraph based wireless system area networks for multi-computer systems

This thesis deals with issues pertaining the wireless multicomputer interconnection networks namely topology and Medium Access Control (MAC). It argues that new channel assignment technique based on regular low-dimensional hypergraph networks, the dual radio wireless hypermesh, represents a promising alternative high-performance wireless interconnection network for the future multicomputers to shared communication medium networks and/or ordinary wireless mesh networks, which have been widely used in current wireless networks. The focus of this work is on improving the network throughput while maintaining a relatively low latency of a wireless network system. By means of a Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) based design of the MAC protocol and based on the desirable features of hypermesh network topology a relatively high performance network has been introduced. Compared to the CSMA shared communication channel model, which is currently the de facto MAC protocol for most of wireless networks, our design is shown to achieve a significant increase in network throughput with less average network latency for large number of communication nodes. SystemC model of the proposed wireless hypermesh, validated through mathematical models, are then introduced. The analysis has been incorporated in the proper SystemC design methodology which facilitates the integration of communication modelling into the design modelling at the early stages of the system development. Another important application of SystemC modelling techniques is to perform meaningful comparative studies of different protocols, or new implementations to determine which communication scenario performs better and the ability to modify models to test system sensitivity and tune performance. Effects of different design parameters (e.g., packet sizes, number of nodes) has been carried out throughout this work. The results shows that the proposed structure has out perform the existing shared medium network structure and it can support relatively high number of wireless connected computers than conventional networks

Age Structure and Neighborhood Homicide: Testing and Extending the Differential Institutional Engagement Hypothesis

We examine the empirical applicability of differential institutional engagement in explaining the youth age structure effect on neighborhood homicide. Using the National Neighborhood Crime Study and Census data, we conduct a multilevel spatial analysis of homicides in 8,307 census tracts. We find support for three indicators of differential institutional engagement (disengaged youth, educational engagement, employment engagement). An additional dimension of institutional engagement (familial engagement) operates in the expected direction but is not statistically significant. We argue that previous cross-sectional studies reporting a null or negative relationship between percentage of young and homicide are due to omitting measures of institutional youth (dis)engagement

Individual accessibility and travel possibilities: A literature review on time geography

In the late 1960s, Torsten Hägerstrand introduced the conceptual framework of time geography which can be deemed an elegant tool for analysing individual movement in space and time. About a decade later, the auspicious time-geographic research has gradually lost favour, mainly due to the unavailability of robust geocomputational tools and the lack of georeferenced individual-level travel data. It was only from the early 1990s that new GISbased research gave evidence of resurgence in popularity of the field. From that time on, several researchers have steadily been publishing work at the intersection of time geography, disaggregate travel modeling, and GI-science. This paper reviews the most important timegeographic contributions. From this exercise, some prevailing research gaps are deduced and a way to deal with these gaps is presented. In particular, we focus on space-time accessibility measures, geovisualisation of activity patterns, human extensibility and fuzzy space-time prisms in relation to CAD

ERDS: Emerging Risks Detection Support : 2007 project report

Rapport over het detecteren van risico's met de veiligheid van voeding. Aan de hand van het melamineschandaal wordt gekeken hoe in een vroegtijdig stadium risico's onderkend kunnen worde