Survey of Educational Modelling Languages (EMLs)

CEN/ISSS WS/LT Learning Technologies WorkshopThe reports compares several approaches to educational modelling. The work has been performed under the umbrella of the CEN/ISSS, the European workshop for learning technologies. (http://dspace.ou.nl/bitstream/1820/227/2/eml-report-cen-isss.pdf

Uxbridge College: report from the Inspectorate (FEFC inspection report; 37/95 and 68/99)

Comprises two Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) inspection reports for the periods 1994-95 and 1998/99

CITIDEL Collection Building

The aim of this study is to facilitate the goals of the Computing and Information Technology Interactive Digital Educational Library (CITIDEL) by increasing the number of collections available to it. This study will help in achieving this goal by focusing on four diverse collections

A critical analysis of the X.400 model of message handling systems

The CCITT X.400 model of store and forward Message Handling Systems (MHS) serves as a common basis for the definition of electronic mail services and protocols both within CCITT and ISO. This paper presents an analysis of this model and its related recommendations from two perspectives. First the concepts of service, protocol and interface are discussed together with their application to this model; second the positioning within ISO's reference model for Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) is commented on

Considerations for a design and operations knowledge support system for Space Station Freedom

Engineering and operations of modern engineered systems depend critically upon detailed design and operations knowledge that is accurate and authoritative. A design and operations knowledge support system (DOKSS) is a modern computer-based information system providing knowledge about the creation, evolution, and growth of an engineered system. The purpose of a DOKSS is to provide convenient and effective access to this multifaceted information. The complexity of Space Station Freedom's (SSF's) systems, elements, interfaces, and organizations makes convenient access to design knowledge especially important, when compared to simpler systems. The life cycle length, being 30 or more years, adds a new dimension to space operations, maintenance, and evolution. Provided here is a review and discussion of design knowledge support systems to be delivered and operated as a critical part of the engineered system. A concept of a DOKSS for Space Station Freedom (SSF) is presented. This is followed by a detailed discussion of a DOKSS for the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and Work Package-2 portions of SSF

The learning preferences of current generational groups

Today's computer literate students think in ways that are incompatible with current educational goals and practices. If one of the aims of learning is to provide lifelong benefits for all, then a substantial rethink on the learning needs of students and the goals of education has become paramount. This emergent imperative presents an unfamiliar challenge for educational institutions to examine their past assumptions and to facilitate success in meeting the needs of current and future generations of learners. The type of change proposed in this paper requires a comprehensive rethink not only to devise innovative alternatives to accepted methods and practices, but also to develop theories and pedagogies more attuned to the preferences, values, and attitudes of the technology and information proficient generations. The eventual outcome will be a dramatic transformation in the essential nature and purpose of the online learning environment. It is not just bridging the transition from 'traditional' to 'digitised' learning that is fraught with difficulties. Any attempt to accommodate the skills and learning needs of the current generation computer "literate" will compel education designers to think entirely "outside the box" and consider solutions previously thought impossible. Success in meeting the needs of learners will require radically new teaching methods and strategies. Such strategies may include for example: content interactive features that offer "intelligent" meaningful responses; the ability to annotate and record ideas as required; user generated (manually) and automatically (dynamically generated hyperlinks to alternative materials relative to the current context; and automated display of customised content such as interactive assessments and constructive feedback tailored to students' immediate learning needs. For these innovations to be truly effective, libraries must also be viewed as an essential component of a complex network of information resources. Thus, it is argued that the nature of the learning environment must change dramatically, in particular in relation to the choice of flexible delivery techniques that are supported by distributed computing networks, advanced educational software, and universal access to quality learning resources regardless of location and time

GIS for Airports – Electronic Terrain and Obstacle Data Model

This project presents a custom GIS solution to aid in the production of electronic terrain and obstacle data sets (eTOD) for the world’s airports. The eTOD mandates underlie the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) effort to modernize world air traffic control. ICAO has set a deadline of November, 2010 for nations to assemble eTOD sets for all their airports. The project client, ESRI, sought a custom eTOD solution for users, with limited GIS experience, to assess the quality of their terrain and obstacle data and plan for further data acquisition. A file geodatabase was developed to organize the user’s existing aeronautical data and manage these data for project application use. The eTOD rules establish data quality standards for four Coverage Area designations, each represented by specifically shaped and sized boundaries around airports. Methods were developed to generate these boundaries using tools assembled with ArcGIS Model Builder in ArcView. The models simultaneously select the obstacles within the generated boundaries for data quality assessment. With limited training, a user can easily organize their data, automatically generate the eTOD Coverage Areas, and produce data quality assessment reports in support of their preliminary efforts towards reaching eTOD compliance