12,540 research outputs found
Learning while Competing -- 3D Modeling & Design
The e-Yantra project at IIT Bombay conducts an online competition, e-Yantra
Robotics Competition (eYRC) which uses a Project Based Learning (PBL)
methodology to train students to implement a robotics project in a step-by-step
manner over a five-month period. Participation is absolutely free. The
competition provides all resources - robot, accessories, and a problem
statement - to a participating team. If selected for the finals, e-Yantra pays
for them to come to the finals at IIT Bombay. This makes the competition
accessible to resource-poor student teams. In this paper, we describe the
methodology used in the 6th edition of eYRC, eYRC-2017 where we experimented
with a Theme (projects abstracted into rulebooks) involving an advanced topic -
3D Designing and interfacing with sensors and actuators. We demonstrate that
the learning outcomes are consistent with our previous studies [1]. We infer
that even 3D designing to create a working model can be effectively learned in
a competition mode through PBL
AI for the Common Good?! Pitfalls, challenges, and Ethics Pen-Testing
Recently, many AI researchers and practitioners have embarked on research
visions that involve doing AI for "Good". This is part of a general drive
towards infusing AI research and practice with ethical thinking. One frequent
theme in current ethical guidelines is the requirement that AI be good for all,
or: contribute to the Common Good. But what is the Common Good, and is it
enough to want to be good? Via four lead questions, I will illustrate
challenges and pitfalls when determining, from an AI point of view, what the
Common Good is and how it can be enhanced by AI. The questions are: What is the
problem / What is a problem?, Who defines the problem?, What is the role of
knowledge?, and What are important side effects and dynamics? The illustration
will use an example from the domain of "AI for Social Good", more specifically
"Data Science for Social Good". Even if the importance of these questions may
be known at an abstract level, they do not get asked sufficiently in practice,
as shown by an exploratory study of 99 contributions to recent conferences in
the field. Turning these challenges and pitfalls into a positive
recommendation, as a conclusion I will draw on another characteristic of
computer-science thinking and practice to make these impediments visible and
attenuate them: "attacks" as a method for improving design. This results in the
proposal of ethics pen-testing as a method for helping AI designs to better
contribute to the Common Good.Comment: to appear in Paladyn. Journal of Behavioral Robotics; accepted on
27-10-201
Evaluation of Use of Consortium of e-Resources in Agriculture in Context of Kerala Agricultural University
As digital information resources available online are increasing at an exponential rate, several practices
have evolved for the economic and effective delivery of such information to the end users. In this context,
consortia-based information services have gathered momentum world over during the last few years. Though,
there are several library consortia in India, UGC Infonet is mainly meant for universities controlled by UGC and
CeRA is meant for agricultural universities. This paper discusses utilisation of consortia-based digital information
resources by the post graduate and doctoral students of the Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. Results
show that cent percent of the students were familiar with the use of digital information resources available
online and 87.14 per cent of them used CeRA. Eighty two per cent students were acquainted with CeRA and
learned the required skills for the access and use of digital information resources through curriculum-based
courses like ‘library and information services’, ‘research methodology’, etc. The students in general would like
to strengthen the CeRA services by adding more resources and facilities
E-education in the UK
The paper outlines the results of a survey, by the EBONI project, of lecturers' use of and attitudes to electronic teaching and learning material, providing a snapshot of the current situation in UK higher education. Differences in the extent and type of e-content usage between academic disciplines, and lecturers' intentions for the future, are discussed. Based on an analysis of their hopes and concerns, recommendations are made for increasing the development, usage and effectiveness of electronic content
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