Challenges and needs of ESL teachers in implementing portfolio assessment as alternative assessment in teaching English

Traditional assessment does not confirm and result in learning. Assessment in Malaysia is now shifting from assessment of learning and for learning to assessment as learning to prepare students to face life beyond classroom to meet global challenges. This study intends to identify the challenges and needs of ESL teachers in implementing alternative assessment in the form of portfolio assessment in teaching English language. Qualitative study specifically online classroom observation and interviews with five ESL teachers were carried in the district of Perak. Findings revealed that the teachers still faced challenges in implementing alternative assessment in teaching English language. These challenges include selecting the content and learning standards to determine assessment activities, selection of authentic assessment, assessing student work based on learning objectives, providing feedback and educating students on using feedback to improve learning. Finally, the findings on teachers’ need for portfolio assessment showed that teachers preferred a range of authentic assessments with proper instructions and rubrics to guide them. Teachers expressed the need for training to expose them on the ‘what’ and ‘how’ to implement alternative assessment in classrooms

PID, BFO-optimized PID, and PD-FLC control of a two-wheeled machine with two-direction handling mechanism: a comparative study

In this paper; three control approaches are utilized in order to control the stability of a novel five-degrees-of-freedom two-wheeled robotic machine designed for industrial applications that demand a limited-space working environment. Proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control scheme, bacterial foraging optimization of PID control method, and fuzzy logic control method are applied to the wheeled machine to obtain the optimum control strategy that provides the best system stabilization performance. According to simulation results, considering multiple motion scenarios, the PID controller optimized by bacterial foraging optimization method outperformed the other two control methods in terms of minimum overshoot, rise time, and applied input forces

Análisis de controlador difuso contra pid para vehículo autobalanceado de dos ruedas

Este documento presenta un análisis y comparación de dos tipos de control para un vehículo auto balanceado de dos ruedas basado en el principio del péndulo invertido. Con este fin primero se modelara el sistema y se diseñara un control PID usando como herramienta el software de simulación octave 3.6.4. Posteriormente se diseñara un controlador difuso para el mismo sistema y se compararan los resultados obtenidos

A complex systems approach to education in Switzerland

The insights gained from the study of complex systems in biological, social, and engineered systems enables us not only to observe and understand, but also to actively design systems which will be capable of successfully coping with complex and dynamically changing situations. The methods and mindset required for this approach have been applied to educational systems with their diverse levels of scale and complexity. Based on the general case made by Yaneer Bar-Yam, this paper applies the complex systems approach to the educational system in Switzerland. It confirms that the complex systems approach is valid. Indeed, many recommendations made for the general case have already been implemented in the Swiss education system. To address existing problems and difficulties, further steps are recommended. This paper contributes to the further establishment complex systems approach by shedding light on an area which concerns us all, which is a frequent topic of discussion and dispute among politicians and the public, where billions of dollars have been spent without achieving the desired results, and where it is difficult to directly derive consequences from actions taken. The analysis of the education system's different levels, their complexity and scale will clarify how such a dynamic system should be approached, and how it can be guided towards the desired performance