589,404 research outputs found
A systematic literature review of methodology used to measure effectiveness in digital game-based learning
In recent years, a growing number of studies is being conducted into the effectiveness of digital game-based learning (DGBL). Despite this growing interest, however, it remains difficult to draw general conclusions due to the disparities in methods and reporting. Guidelines or a standardized procedure for conducting DGBL effectiveness research would allow to compare results across studies and provide well-founded and more generalizable evidence for the impact of DGBL. This study presents a first step in this process by mapping current practices through a systematic literature review. The review included peer-reviewed journal and conference publications between 2000 and 2012. Other inclusion criteria were that (1) the study’s primary aim was effectiveness measurement of cognitive learning outcomes, (2) the focus was on digital games and (3) a pre-post design with a control group was used. Twenty-five publications were found eligible for this study. Important differences were found in the number of control groups used and the type of intervention implemented in the control group (e.g. traditional classroom teaching, use of multimedia, computer-based learning, paper exercises, other games, or no intervention). Regarding the implementation method of the DGBL intervention in the experimental group, two approaches can be distinguished: stand-alone intervention or as part of a larger program. Moreover, a wide variety of effectiveness measures was used: measures for learning outcomes were complemented with time measurements and/or with self-reported measurements for self-efficacy and motivation. Learning effect calculation also varied, introducing pre-test scores in the analysis, conducting a separate analysis on pre- and post-test scores or conducting an analysis on difference scores. Our study thus indicates that a variety of methods is being used in DGBL effectiveness research opening a discussion regarding the potential and requirements for future procedural guidelines
Effects of ground-plane size on planar UWB monopole antenna
Planar monopole antennas have found widespread applications in wireless communication systems. Their advantages of compact size, omnidirectional radiation pattern and wide impedance bandwidth make them good candidates for the designs of ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas. This paper investigates the effects of the dimensions of the rectangular ground-plane on the return loss and efficiency of an elliptical planar monopole antenna for UWB applications. Computer simulation and measurement are carried out on a group of nine antennas with different rectangular ground plane sizes. The simulated and measured results on return loss agree well. However, the simulated and measured efficiencies do not agree well in the lower UWB band. The measured efficiency shows that the efficiency is affected more by the width rather than by the length of the ground plane while the length of the ground plane affects the lower cutoff frequency. © 2010 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe 2010 IEEE Region 10 International Conference (TENCON 2010), Fukuoka, Japan, 21-24 November 2010. In TENCON (IEEE Region 10 Conference) Proceedings, 2010, p. 422-42
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Analysis of the topography of microchannels with different sizes
This paper was presented at the 2nd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2009), which was held at Brunel University, West London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IPEM, the Italian Union of Thermofluid dynamics, the Process Intensification Network, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.The longterm aim in the design of modern evaporators is to find a heat transfer calculation method based on the phenomena of growing and departing vapour bubbles on the heated surface. New developments in computer calculation and in measurement technique support the local analysis of the heat transfer, bubble formation and the microstructure of the heated surface. All three kinds of data originate from the same
equipment and from experiments performed with equal detail and precision. The influence of different rough and structured surfaces on the heat transfer coefficient will be investigated by a joint research project of Brunel and Hannover Universities with refrigerants boiling in single microchannels of different inner diameter. The microchannels are capillary tubes and they are manufactured by industrial processes. The samples of the microchannels have to be prepared by special methods, because the surfaces inside the microchannels cannot be measured in the same way as used for the heat transfer measurements. The microstructure of the surfaces of three microchannels (D = 0.4, 0.5 and 0.8mm) is measured by a contact stylus instrument. The paper will focus on the detailed description of the profiles and
the topographies of the samples. The roughness parameter in accordance with standard practice are calculated for ca 1000 runs (profiles). The roughness parameters of the smaller microchannels are twofold higher than those of the largest microchannel investigated. The scattering of the roughness of the largest microchannel (D = 0.8 mm) is less and the cavities are smaller than those of the other ones (D = 0.4 and
0.5 mm). All surfaces investigated demonstrate a deterministic microstructure as for emery ground surfaces on smooth tubes in the literature
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The peer review paradox - An Australian case study
This paper discusses the results of a series of 42 interviews with Chemists, Computer Scientists and Sociologists conducted in 2006-2007 at two Australian universities. All academics perform peer review with later career researcher usually taking a greater load. The amount and type of review undertaken differs between disciplines. In general, review of journal articles and conference papers is unpaid work although reviewing books (a much larger task) often results in at least an offer of a free book from the publishers. Reviewing of grant proposals and theses does attract an honorarium, but these are insignificant amounts. Most interviewees indicated that reviewing is part of what is expected in academia, and that it offers the benefit of early access to new research results. The competing requirements of an academic’s peer group and the institution at which they work has meant a sharp increase in the number of papers published over the past decade. This in turn has made finding referees difficult, and the fact the work goes unrecognised by the performance measurement process adds to the problem. The claim of certain conferences that their papers are refereed is met with some cynicism, even in Computer Science, which normally uses conferences as its main channel of peer reviewed communication. Overall these findings open the question of whether the amount of effort expended in peer review is justified
An Applied Study on Educational Use of Facebook as a Web 2.0 Tool: The Sample Lesson of Computer Networks and Communication
The main aim of the research was to examine educational use of Facebook. The
Computer Networks and Communication lesson was taken as the sample and the
attitudes of the students included in the study group towards Facebook were
measured in a semi-experimental setup. The students on Facebook platform were
examined for about three months and they continued their education
interactively in that virtual environment. After the-three-month-education
period, observations for the students were reported and the attitudes of the
students towards Facebook were measured by three different measurement tools.
As a result, the attitudes of the students towards educational use of Facebook
and their views were heterogeneous. When the average values of the group were
examined, it was reported that the attitudes towards educational use of
Facebook was above a moderate level. Therefore, it might be suggested that
social networks in virtual environments provide continuity in life long
learning.Comment: 11 page
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