6,606 research outputs found

    Interpreting environmental computational spreadsheets

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    Abstract. Environmental computational spreadsheets are important tools in supporting decision making. However, as the underlying concepts and relations are not made explicit, the transparency and re-use of these spreadsheets is severely limited. The goal of this project is to provide a semi-automatic methodology for constructing the underlying knowl-edge level model of environmental computational spreadsheets. We de-velop and test this methodology in a limited number of case studies. Our methodology combines heuristics on spreadsheet layout and for-mulas, with existing methods from computer science. We evaluate our constructed model with both the original developers and their peers. 1 Problem Statement Current environmental issues, like climate change and biodiversity loss, are uni-versal in their scale and long-term in their impact, their mechanisms are complex, and empirical data are scarce [1–3]. In addition there is an urgent need to find strategies to cope with these issues, and political pressure on the research com

    Reaktiokinetiikan oppiminen rikkakasvien torjunta-aineiden kestÀvÀn kemian avulla: tapaustutkimus tulevien kemian opettajien kÀsityksistÀ

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    Att lÀra sig grunderna i kemisk kinetik pÄ universitetsnivÄ Àr utmanande, vilket bland annat beror pÄ begreppens abstrakta natur och den begrÀnsade kopplingen till vardagliga tillÀmpningar. Denna studie bestod av tvÄ faser. I det första steget, en inlÀrningsmiljö för inlÀrningskinetik baserad pÄ hÄllbar kemi. Sammanhanget var den samhÀllsvetenskapliga modulen för miljökemi, som tittade pÄ de kinetiska processerna för herbicider i vulkaniskbaserade jordar och deras potential att förorena grundvatten. Syftet med inlÀrningsmiljön var att bidra till utvecklingen av hÄllbara utvecklingsfÀrdigheter, att frÀmja inlÀrning av kemisk kunskap i sammanhang och att utveckla vetenskapliga fÀrdigheter. Materialet utformades för tvÄ kurser i analytisk kemi och en kurs i fysikalisk kemi i ett lÀrarutbildningsprogram. Effektiviteten av materialet studerades med hjÀlp av elevernas uppfattningar. Urvalet omfattade 22 studenter, som delades in i tre mÄlgrupper. Materialet analyserades och klassificerades med hjÀlp av kvalitativ innehÄllsanalys med hjÀlp av TPASK-ramverket (Technology Pedagogical Science Knowledge). Baserat pÄ resultaten förvÀrvade studenter kontextualiserad kunskap om kemi och utvecklade fÀrdigheter och kunskaper relaterade till anvÀndning av digitala resurser och kalkylblad i ett vetenskapligt sammanhang. Denna fallstudie visar att den problembaserade inlÀrningsmetoden erbjuder stor potential att stödja ovanstÄende fÀrdigheter.Kemiallisen kinetiikan perusteiden opettaminen korkeakoulutasolla on haastavaa, mikÀ johtuu mm. kÀsitteiden abstraktista luonteesta ja rajallisesta yhteydestÀ arkipÀivÀn sovelluksiin. TÀmÀ tutkimus koostui kahdesta vaiheesta. EnsimmÀisessÀ vaiheessa kestÀvÀÀn kemiaan pohjautuva reaktiokinetiikan oppimisympÀristö. Kontekstina toimi sosio-tieteellinen ympÀristökemian moduuli, jossa perehdyttiin rikkakasvien torjunta-aineiden kineettisiin prosesseihin tulivuoren tuhkapohjaisessa maaperÀssÀ ja niiden mahdollisuuteen saastuttaa pohjavesiÀ. OppimisympÀristön tavoitteena oli myötÀvaikuttaa kestÀvÀn kehityksen taitojen kehittÀmiseen, edistÀÀ asiayhteyteen kemiatietojen oppimista ja kehittÀÀ tieteellisiÀ taitoja. Materiaali suunniteltiin kahdelle analyyttisen kemian kurssille ja opettajankoulutusohjelman fysikaalisen kemian kurssille. Materiaalin vaikuttavuutta tutkittiin opiskelijoiden kÀsitysten avulla. Otos sisÀlsi 22 opiskelijaa, jotka jaettiin kolmeen kohderyhmÀÀn. Aineisto analysoitiin ja luokiteltiin laadullisen sisÀltöanalyysin avulla kÀyttÀen TPASK (Technology Pedagogical Science Knowledge) -kehystÀ. Tulosten perusteella opiskelijat hankkivat kontekstualisoitua kemian osaamista ja kehittivÀt taitoja ja tietoja, jotka liittyvÀt digitaalisten resurssien ja laskentataulukoiden kÀyttöön tieteellisessÀ yhteydessÀ. TÀmÀ tapaustutkimus osoittaa, ettÀ ongelmapohjaisen oppimisen lÀhestymistapa tarjoaa suuren potentiaalin edellÀ mainittujen taitojen tukemiseen.Teaching the fundamentals of chemical kinetics on the college level is challenging to teachers and students alike due to its abstract nature of concepts and limited connection with real context applications. This study consisted of two phases starting with designing a chemistry education for the sustainable development-based learning environment of reaction kinetics, followed by a case study in which students' perceptions toward learning chemistry by solving a real environmental problem using digital resources, spreadsheets, and an active learning environment, were explored. First, we designed a Socio-Scientific Environmental Chemistry module centered on the sorption kinetic processes of herbicides in volcanic ash derived soils (VADS) and their potential to pollute groundwater. The objective of the learning module was to contribute to the development of sustainability skills, to promote learning of contextualized chemistry knowledge, and to develop scientific skills. This module employs spreadsheets as computational tools in chemistry to model real sorption kinetic data of herbicides in VADS. The learning module was designed for one section of two Analytical Chemistry courses and one Physical Chemistry course of an undergraduate chemistry teacher-training program. After the design phase, the learning module was implemented in each course, and students' perceptions were gathered using the focus group technique. The sample was of 22 students distributed into three focus groups. The data collected were analyzed and categorized through qualitative content analysis using the Technological Pedagogical Science Knowledge (TPASK) framework. On the basis of our findings, the students acquired contextualized chemistry knowledge and develop skills and knowledge related to using digital resources and spreadsheets in a scientific context. Besides, the preservice chemistry teachers' knowledge of pedagogy allowed them to develop some elements of their pedagogical science knowledge and TPASK. This case study shows that the problem-based learning approach offers great potential in supporting a learning environment suitable to working with spreadsheets to solve real-environment problems in chemistry education.Peer reviewe

    System upgrade: realising the vision for UK education

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    A report summarising the findings of the TEL programme in the wider context of technology-enhanced learning and offering recommendations for future strategy in the area was launched on 13th June at the House of Lords to a group of policymakers, technologists and practitioners chaired by Lord Knight. The report – a major outcome of the programme – is written by TEL director Professor Richard Noss and a team of experts in various fields of technology-enhanced learning. The report features the programme’s 12 recommendations for using technology-enhanced learning to upgrade UK education

    Decision Analytic Modeling of Uncertainty and Subjectivity in Water Quality Management

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    Quantification and reduction of uncertainty associated to decision making is one of the primary functions of modeling and monitoring targeted to assist decision making in reservoir, river, and lake water quality management. In many practical activities such as environmental impact assessment, the inference is bound to be based primarily on subjective, expert judgments, supported by empirical data and models. A bulk of analytical approaches is presently available for modeling purposes. The paper discusses selected decision analytic approaches to the handling of uncertainty associated to information available, uncertainty as a decision criterion, and as a component influencing the model structure. Computational solutions based on experience on six case studies are reviewed

    Using data visualization to deduce faces expressions

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    ConferĂȘncia Internacional, realizada na Turquia, de 6-8 de setembro de 2018.Collect and examine in real time multi modal sensor data of a human face, is an important problem in computer vision, with applications in medical and monitoring analysis, entertainment and security. Although its advances, there are still many open issues in terms of the identification of the facial expression. Different algorithms and approaches have been developed to find out patterns and characteristics that can help the automatic expression identification. One way to study data is through data visualizations. Data visualization turns numbers and letters into aesthetically pleasing visuals, making it easy to recognize patterns and find exceptions. In this article, we use information visualization as a tool to analyse data points and find out possible existing patterns in four different facial expressions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Processing mathematical thinking through digital pedagogical media: the spreadsheet

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    Abstract This study is concerned with the ways mathematical understanding emerges when mathematical phenomena are encountered through digital pedagogical media, the spreadsheet, in particular. Central to this, was an examination of the affordances digital technologies offer, and how the affordances associated with investigating mathematical tasks in the spreadsheet environment, shaped the learning trajectories of the participants. Two categories of participating students were involved, ten-year-old primary school pupils, and pre-service teachers. An eclectic approach to data collection, including qualitative and quantitative methods, was initially undertaken, but as my research perspective evolved, a moderate hermeneutic frame emerged as the most productive way in which to examine the research questions. A hermeneutic process transformed the research methodology, as well as the manner in which the data were interpreted. The initial analysis and evolving methodology not only informed this transition to a moderate hermeneutic lens, they were constitutive of the ongoing research perspectives and their associated interpretations. The data, and some that was subsequently collected, were then reconsidered from this modified position. The findings indicated that engaging mathematical tasks through the pedagogical medium of the spreadsheet, influenced the nature of the investigative process in particular ways. As a consequence, the interpretations of the interactions, and the understandings this evoked, also differed. The students created and made connections between alternative models of the situations, while the visual, tabular structuring of the environment, in conjunction with its propensity to instantly manage large amounts of output accurately, facilitated their observation of patterns. They frequently investigated the visual nature of these patterns, and used visual referents in their interpretations and explanations. It also allowed them to pose and test their informal conjectures and generalisations in non-threatening circumstances, to reset investigative sub-goals easily, hence fostering risk taking in their approach. At times, the learning trajectory evolved in unexpected ways, and the data illustrated various alternative ways in which unexpected, visual output stimulated discussion and extended the boundaries of, or reorganised, their interaction and mathematical thinking. An examination of the visual perturbations, and other elements of learning as hermeneutic processes also revealed alternative understandings and explanations. Viewing the data and the research process through hermeneutic filters enhanced the connectivity between the emergence of individual mathematical understanding, and the cultural formation of mathematics. It permitted consideration of the ways this process influences the evolution of mathematics education research. While interpretive approaches are inevitably imbued with the researcher perspective in the analysis of what gets noticed, the research gave fresh insights into the ways learning emerges through digital pedagogical media, and the potential of this engagement to change the nature of mathematics education
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