245 research outputs found

    Histograms: An educational eye

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    Many high-school students are not able to draw justified conclusions from statistical data in histograms. A literature review showed that most misinterpretations of histograms are related to difficulties with two statistical key concepts: data and distribution. The review also pointed to a lack of knowledge about students’ strategies when solving histogram tasks. As the literature provided little guidance for the design of lesson materials, several studies were conducted in preparation. In a first study, five solution strategies were found through qualitative analysis of students’ gazes when solving histograms and case-value plot tasks. Quantitative analysis of several histogram tasks through a mathematical model and a machine learning algorithm confirmed these results, which implied that these strategies could reliably and automatically be identified. Literature also suggested that dotplot tasks can support students’ learning to interpret histograms. Therefore, gazes on histogram tasks were compared before and after students solved dotplot tasks. The "after" tasks contained more gazes associated with correct strategies and fewer gazes associated with incorrect strategies. Although answers did not improve significantly, students’ verbal descriptions suggest that some students changed to a correct strategy. Newly designed materials thus started with dotplot tasks. From the previous studies, we conjectured that students lacked embodied experiences with actions related to histograms. Designed from an embodied instrumentation perspective, the tested materials provide starting points for scaling up. Together, the studies address the knowledge gaps identified in the literature. The studies contribute to knowledge about learning histograms and use in statistics education of eye-tracking research, interpretable models and machine learning algorithms, and embodied instrumentation design

    Sustainable Value Co-Creation in Welfare Service Ecosystems : Transforming temporary collaboration projects into permanent resource integration

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    The aim of this paper is to discuss the unexploited forces of user-orientation and shared responsibility to promote sustainable value co-creation during service innovation projects in welfare service ecosystems. The framework is based on the theoretical field of public service logic (PSL) and our thesis is that service innovation seriously requires a user-oriented approach, and that such an approach enables resource integration based on the service-user’s needs and lifeworld. In our findings, we identify prerequisites and opportunities of collaborative service innovation projects in order to transform these projects into sustainable resource integration once they have ended

    Analytics and Intuition in the Process of Selecting Talent

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    In management, decisions are expected to be based on rational analytics rather than intuition. But intuition, as a human evolutionary achievement, offers wisdom that, despite all the advances in rational analytics and AI, should be used constructively when recruiting and winning personnel. Integrating these inner experiential competencies with rational-analytical procedures leads to smart recruiting decisions

    Binaural virtual auditory display for music discovery and recommendation

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    Emerging patterns in audio consumption present renewed opportunity for searching or navigating music via spatial audio interfaces. This thesis examines the potential benefits and considerations for using binaural audio as the sole or principal output interface in a music browsing system. Three areas of enquiry are addressed. Specific advantages and constraints in spatial display of music tracks are explored in preliminary work. A voice-led binaural music discovery prototype is shown to offer a contrasting interactive experience compared to a mono smartspeaker. Results suggest that touch or gestural interaction may be more conducive input modes in the former case. The limit of three binaurally spatialised streams is identified from separate data as a usability threshold for simultaneous presentation of tracks, with no evident advantages derived from visual prompts to aid source discrimination or localisation. The challenge of implementing personalised binaural rendering for end-users of a mobile system is addressed in detail. A custom framework for assessing head-related transfer function (HRTF) selection is applied to data from an approach using 2D rendering on a personal computer. That HRTF selection method is developed to encompass 3D rendering on a mobile device. Evaluation against the same criteria shows encouraging results in reliability, validity, usability and efficiency. Computational analysis of a novel approach for low-cost, real-time, head-tracked binaural rendering demonstrates measurable advantages compared to first order virtual Ambisonics. Further perceptual evaluation establishes working parameters for interactive auditory display use cases. In summation, the renderer and identified tolerances are deployed with a method for synthesised, parametric 3D reverberation (developed through related research) in a final prototype for mobile immersive playlist editing. Task-oriented comparison with a graphical interface reveals high levels of usability and engagement, plus some evidence of enhanced flow state when using the eyes-free binaural system

    Sustainability in International Business

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    In a context best characterized by uncertainty and volatility, it is necessary to rethink the key concepts and assumptions underpinning the broad debate on international business. In brief, the world is more interconnected than ever, yet—as the cases of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine confirm—supply chains are not immune to developments in politics and society. Other factors weigh in on the analysis too. Moreover, as the context in which businesses operate is ever more competitive, traditional approaches to building a competitive edge and succeed in foreign markets need to be reconsidered. Talent management might be the missing link. Hence, this book makes a case for a more direct engagement of the research community with this topic

    Z-Numbers-Based Approach to Hotel Service Quality Assessment

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    In this study, we are analyzing the possibility of using Z-numbers for measuring the service quality and decision-making for quality improvement in the hotel industry. Techniques used for these purposes are based on consumer evalu- ations - expectations and perceptions. As a rule, these evaluations are expressed in crisp numbers (Likert scale) or fuzzy estimates. However, descriptions of the respondent opinions based on crisp or fuzzy numbers formalism not in all cases are relevant. The existing methods do not take into account the degree of con- fidence of respondents in their assessments. A fuzzy approach better describes the uncertainties associated with human perceptions and expectations. Linguis- tic values are more acceptable than crisp numbers. To consider the subjective natures of both service quality estimates and confidence degree in them, the two- component Z-numbers Z = (A, B) were used. Z-numbers express more adequately the opinion of consumers. The proposed and computationally efficient approach (Z-SERVQUAL, Z-IPA) allows to determine the quality of services and iden- tify the factors that required improvement and the areas for further development. The suggested method was applied to evaluate the service quality in small and medium-sized hotels in Turkey and Azerbaijan, illustrated by the example

    Learning Outcomes of Classroom Research

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    Personal pronouns are a linguistic device that is used to engage students at various educational levels. Personal pronouns are multifunctional, and their functions range from inclusion to exclusion, and include establishing of rapport with students. In this chapter, we compare the use of personal pronouns at university and secondary school levels. Our previous study (Yeo & Ting, 2014) showed the frequent use of you in lecture introductions (2,170 instances in the 37,373-word corpus) to acknowledge the presence of students. The arts lecturers were more inclusive than the science lecturers, reflected in the less frequent use of exclusive-we and we for one, as well as the frequent use of you-generalised. We have also compiled and analysed a 43,511-word corpus from 15 English lessons in three Malaysian secondary schools. This corpus yielded 2,019 instances of personal pronoun use. The results showed that you was the most frequently used personal pronoun, followed by we and I. You-audience was used more than you-generalised, and the main function was to give instructions to students. The teachers appeared to be more directive than the lecturers in the previous study, who sometimes used the inclusive-we for you and I and we for I to lessen the social distance with students, indicating that the discourse functions of personal pronouns vary with the educational context. The findings suggest that educators can be alerted to the versatility of personal pronouns, for example, for engaging students in the lesson and for asserting authority in the subject matter. Keywords: student engagement; personal pronouns; lecture; classroom; teache

    Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Bulletin

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    Graduate bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2022-2023. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for graduate programs
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