Computer Tutorials and Drill-Practice Strategies on Senior Science Students\u27 Academic Achievement on Energy Transformation in Nature, Uyo, Nigeria

The study used computer tutorial and drill- practice strategies to investigate students\u27 achievement on energy transformation in nature, Uyo, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and three hypotheses. Quasi-experimental design of non-randomized pretest, posttest control group was used for the study. Population was all 2,629 senior secondary two students and sample size was 210 science students selected from three secondary schools in their intact classes using purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was Achievement Test. Three lecturers of test, measurement and evaluation in Science Education did instrument validation. Reliability index was .85 obtained using Kuder-Richardson Formulae-21. Data analysis for research questions used mean and standard deviation and ANCOVA for hypotheses formulated at .05 significant level. Findings revealed that students taught computer tutorial achieved and retained higher than those taught with computer drill-practice and lecture methods. Gender is a non-significant factor in academic achievement of students. The findings concluded that, computer tutorial enhances students\u27 academic achievement in energy transformation in nature. The study recommends that teachers of science embrace computer tutorial and drill-practice strategies in teaching science concepts

Computer-based collaborative concept mapping : motivating Indian secondary students to learn science : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

This is a study of the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a teaching and learning intervention. The overarching aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention ‘Computer-based Collaborative Concept Mapping’ (CCCM) on Indian secondary students’ conceptual learning and motivation towards science learning. CCCM was designed based on constructivist and cognitive theories of learning and reinforced by recent motivation theories. The study followed a Design-based research (DBR) methodology. CCCM was implemented in two selected Indian secondary grade 9 classrooms. A quasi-experimental Solomon Four-Group research design was adopted to carry out the teaching experiment and mixed methods of data collection were used to generate and collect data from 241 secondary students and the two science teachers. The intervention was designed and piloted to check the feasibility for further implementation. The actual implementation of CCCM followed the pilot testing for 10 weeks. Students studied science concepts in small groups using the computer software Inspiration. Students constructed concept maps on various topics after discussing the concepts in their groups. The achievement test ATS9 was designed and administered as a pre-post-test to examine the conceptual learning and science achievement. Students’ responses were analysed to examine their individual conceptual learning whereas group concept maps were analysed to assess group learning. The motivation questionnaire SMTSL was also administered as a pre-post-test to investigate students’ initial and final motivation to learn science. At the end of the teaching experiment, the science teachers and two groups of students were interviewed. Analyses of the quantitative data suggested a statistically significant enhancement of science achievement, conceptual learning and motivation towards science learning. The qualitative data findings revealed positive attitudes of students and teachers towards the CCCM use. Students and teachers believed that CCCM use could promote conceptual learning and motivate students to learn science. Both students and teachers preferred CCCM over on-going traditional didactic methods of teaching-learning. Some enablers and barriers identified by teachers and students in the Indian science classroom context are also explored and discussed. A framework for enhancing secondary school students’ motivation towards science learning and conceptual learning is proposed based on the findings. The findings of the study also contribute to addressing the prevailing learning crisis in Indian secondary school science classrooms by offering CCCM an active and participatory instructional strategy as envisioned by the Indian National Curriculum Framework 2005

The Pragmatist in Context of a National Science Foundation Supported Grant Program Evaluation: Guidelines and Paradigms

Background:  The philosophical underpinnings of evaluation guidelines set forth by a funding agency can sometimes seem inconsistent with that of the intervention. Purpose: Our purpose is to introduce questions pertaining to the contrast between the instructional program’s underlying philosophical beliefs and assumptions and those underlying our evaluation approach. Drawing heavily on Scriven, we discuss these from a pragmatist evaluation stance in light of issues defined by Lincoln and Guba (2000). The discussion is couched in the evaluation of an innovative approach to teaching computer science. Setting: Auburn University, Auburn, AL Intervention: The evaluation is designed to investigate the effects of a studio-based teaching approach in computer science education. The evaluation framework employs a rigorous design that seeks to provide evidence to support or refute some assumed truth about the object (or construct) investigated. The program evaluated is steeped in a constructivist framework which assumes that no universal truth or reality exists, but rather, is constructed by the individual. Research Design: Our evaluation design, to a good extent, reflects a post-positivist, quasi-experimental position. We also include a qualitative component using student interviews. Data Collection and Analysis: Evidence of the effectiveness of the instructional approach for learning is assessed quantitatively using pre- and post-test and pre- and post-survey data group comparisons (mixed design ANOVA). Interviews provide the basis for qualitative theme analysis. Findings: Quantitative results were somewhat weak but consistent in support of the studio-based teaching. Interview data suggest that most students did find working in groups enjoyable and a valuable experience

Hyperspectral Modeling of Material Appearance: General Framework, Challenges and Prospects

The main purpose of this tutorial is to address theoretical and practical issues involved in the development of predictive material appearancemodels for interdisciplinary applications within and outside the visible spectral domain. We examine the specific constraints and pitfalls found in each of the key stages of the model development framework, namely data collection, design and evaluation, and discuss alternatives to enhance the effectiveness of the entire process. Although predictive material appearance models developed by computer graphics researchers are usually aimed at realistic image synthesis applications, they also provide valuable support for a myriad of advanced investigations in related areas, such as computer vision, image processing and pattern recognition, which rely on the accurate analysis and interpretation of material appearance attributes in the hyperspectral domain. In fact, their scope of contributions goes beyond the realm of traditional computer science applications. For example, predictive light transport simulations, which are essential for the development of these models, are also regularly beingused by physical and life science researchers to understand andpredict material appearance changes prompted by mechanisms which cannot be fully studied using standard ``wet'' experimental procedures.For completeness, this tutorial also provides an overview of such synergistic research efforts and in silico investigations, which are illustrated by case studies involving the use of hyperspectral material appearance models

Impact of academic research through Northumbria’s physical sciences, technology and engineering outreach activities on improving the uptake of STEM disciplines by young people

Previous research highlights that children from an early age should have learning experiences on real world applications and careers to widen their horizons and open up future opportunities. In parallel, there is a growing emphasis especially in the UK, to ensure academic research impacts on wider society. This research brings these two elements together and contributes to the challenge of improving the uptake of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines by young people. Although there have been considerable numbers of STEM interventions (past and current) with young people and substantial funds invested in these, there is still little evidence on the effectiveness of those interventions. The aim of this study is to develop an effective evaluation framework and provide a process whereby academics and practitioners can plan, develop, implement and assess the impact of a range of intervention activities in primary schools, on children’s interest in STEM across many disciplines. The intervention activities under evaluation were targeted at children aged 7 – 11 years. The focus of these interventions combined research work done by academic researchers with practical/career applications to bring STEM subjects to life for children. Adopting an action research approach and a Theory of Change process, an innovative impact evaluation framework was designed to provide a set of pathways for widening aspirations and help children appreciate that STEM professionals are just ‘people like me’. Evaluation of the impact of STEM intervention activities on young people was achieved using a collection of instrumental case studies from intervention outreach activities across three STEM disciplines: computer science, materials science and geography. Data was collected from 343 children across the different case studies using a pre and post quasi-experimental design. Data was collected on the children’s aspirations, career knowledge and understanding, subject knowledge and inclination towards introduced career. Data analysis provides evidence to suggest that children are gendered in their career aspirations from an early age. Post intervention, the data shows there was an increase in career knowledge of the children across the different case studies and an increase in vocabulary used to describe subject specific concepts. The impact evaluation framework designed was successful in providing an iterative model and pathway for change that academics and outreach practitioners can use to design and refine research based STEM outreach activities for children

Index to Library Trends Volume 38

published or submitted for publicatio

การจัดการเรียนการสอนแบบผสมผสานตามแผนการสอนฐานสมรรถนะด้วยกระบวนการเรียนรู้โครงงานเป็นฐานร่วมกับบทเรียนคอมพิวเตอร์ช่วยสอน เรื่อง การพัฒนาโปรแกรมเว็บด้วยภาษา PHP

The aims of the research were 1) to develop an effective a computer-assisted instruction on web application development with PHP language, web programming course for blended learning through competency-based teaching plan integrating a project-based learning process, 2) to implement blended learning module through competency-based teaching plan integrating a project-based learning process and computer-assisted instruction on web application development with PHP language, and 3) to study the learners' satisfaction with blended learning module through competency-based teaching plan integrating a project-based learning process and computer-assisted instruction. Twenty seven third-year students, who were studying in computer science program, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University in the first semester of academic year 2016 were targeted participants of this study. The instruments in the study consisted of 1) experimental instruments, including a competency-based teaching plan, a computer-assisted instruction on web application development with PHP language which was approved by 3 experts and 2) data collection instruments for statistical analysis, which comprised performance evaluation forms for the effects of blended learning through competency-based teaching plan integrating a project-based learning process and computer-assisted instruction, pre-test, formative scoring forms, a project evaluation rubric, post-test, and a satisfactory survey. The findings of the study were as follows. 1) The average score of a computer-assisted instruction was highly positive (X̅ = 4.82, S.D. = 0.33). 2) The average IOC score of blended learning through competency-based teaching plan integrating a project-based learning process and computer-assisted instruction on web application development with PHP language was highly positive and the effective score a computer-assisted instruction was 88.30/84.34 which were higher than the expected criterion. Students’ learning achievement after blended learning through competency-based teaching plan integrating a projectbased learning process and computer-assisted instruction was significantly higher at .05 level and 3) The students’ satisfaction was highly positive (X̅ = 4.73, S.D. = 0.46). This research accomplished the intended purpose

Bilkent News Portal : a system with new event detection and tracking capabilities

Ankara : The Department of Computer Engineering and the Institute of Engineering and Science of Bilkent University, 2009.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 2009.Includes bibliographical references leaves 65-71.News portal services such as browsing, retrieving, and filtering have become an important research and application area as a result of information explosion on the Internet. In this work, we give implementation details of Bilkent News Portal that contains various novel features ranging from personalization to new event detection and tracking capabilities aiming at addressing the needs of news-consumers. The thesis presents the architecture, data and file structures, and experimental foundations of the news portal. For the implementation and evaluation of the new event detection and tracking component, we developed a test collection: BilCol2005. The collection contains 209,305 documents from the entire year of 2005 and involves several events in which eighty of them are annotated by humans. It enables empirical assessment of new event detection and tracking algorithms on Turkish. For the construction of our test collection, a web application, ETracker, is developed by following the guidelines of the TDT research initiative. Furthermore, we experimentally evaluated the impact of various parameters in information retrieval (IR) that has to be decided during the implementation of a news portal that provides filtering and retrieval capabilities. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of stemming, document length, query length, and scalability issues.Öcalan, Hüseyin ÇağdaşM.S