Monopolistic Screening under Learning By Doing

This paper investigates the design of incentives in a dynamic adverse selection framework when agents’ production technologies display learning effects and agents’ rate of learning is private knowledge. In a simple two-period model with full commitment available to the principal, we show that whether learning effects are over- or under-exploited crucially depends on whether learning effects increase or decrease the principal’s uncertainty about agents’ costs of production. Hence, what drives the over- or underexploitation of learning effects is whether more efficient agents also learn faster (so costs diverge through learning effects) or whether it is the less efficient agents who learn faster (so costs converge). Furthermore, we show that if divergence in costs through learning effects is strong enough, learning effects will not be exploited at all, in a sense to be made precise.Asymmetric Information, Learning by Doing, Regulation

EFFECT OF DETERMINATION OF MINIMAL EXHAUSTIVE CRITERIA ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEARNING PROCESS IN BUILDING DRAWING DEPARTMENT OF SMK NEGERI 2 PENGASIH

The application of minimal exhaustive criteria in study setting is an initial stage of the implementation of study result assessment as a part path for developing KTSP. Minimal exhaustive criteria is the qualification for minimum passing grade which constitutes as student competence achievement standard. The application of minimal exhaustive criteria will give positive effects for students and also teachers in order that can reach the grade according to minimal exhaustive criteria. This study was aimed to understand 1) effects of minimal exhaustive criteria decree in department of construction drawing of SMK N 2 Pengasih towards learning motivation of class XII students, 2) effects of minimal exhaustive criteria decree in department of construction drawing of SMK N 2 Pengasih towards learning discipline of class XII students, 3) effects of minimal exhaustive criteria decree in Department of Construction Drawing towards teaching methods of class XII teachers. This study is a quantitative research description. This research is a case study in SMK Negeri 2 Pengasih Programs XII-class image building. Data collection was using the documentation and questionnaires. Data analysis was using quantitative analysis techniques and results description. The result of this study showed in minimal exhaustive criteria application achievement in Department of Construction Drawing of SMK N 2 Pengasih for productive subjects class XII, was found that each productive subject has reached minimal exhaustive criteria with average grade above 75.00 and all students’ grade in every subjects reach above 75.00. Effects of minimal exhaustive criteria decree towards student learning motivation known as much as 58.7%, students are categorized in highly learning motivated. Effects of minimal exhaustive criteria decree towards student learning discipline showed result that 55.6% of students have highly learning discipline categorization. Effects of minimal exhaustive criteria decree towards learning quality by class XII was found that as much as 50% of the teachers have learning quality in very good categorization and as much as 50% of the teachers have learning quality in good categorization. Keyword : Influence, minimal exhaustive criteria, Learnin

Structure Learning in Nested Effects Models

Nested Effects Models (NEMs) are a class of graphical models introduced to analyze the results of gene perturbation screens. NEMs explore noisy subset relations between the high-dimensional outputs of phenotyping studies, e.g. the effects showing in gene expression profiles or as morphological features of the perturbed cell. In this paper we expand the statistical basis of NEMs in four directions: First, we derive a new formula for the likelihood function of a NEM, which generalizes previous results for binary data. Second, we prove model identifiability under mild assumptions. Third, we show that the new formulation of the likelihood allows to efficiently traverse model space. Fourth, we incorporate prior knowledge and an automated variable selection criterion to decrease the influence of noise in the data

Learning to Price with Reference Effects

As a firm varies the price of a product, consumers exhibit reference effects, making purchase decisions based not only on the prevailing price but also the product's price history. We consider the problem of learning such behavioral patterns as a monopolist releases, markets, and prices products. This context calls for pricing decisions that intelligently trade off between maximizing revenue generated by a current product and probing to gain information for future benefit. Due to dependence on price history, realized demand can reflect delayed consequences of earlier pricing decisions. As such, inference entails attribution of outcomes to prior decisions and effective exploration requires planning price sequences that yield informative future outcomes. Despite the considerable complexity of this problem, we offer a tractable systematic approach. In particular, we frame the problem as one of reinforcement learning and leverage Thompson sampling. We also establish a regret bound that provides graceful guarantees on how performance improves as data is gathered and how this depends on the complexity of the demand model. We illustrate merits of the approach through simulations

Financing lifelong learning

This paper describes and analyzes different financial schemes to promote lifelong learning. Considered are financial instruments to stimulate successful early learning, financial aid schemes and subsidization mechanisms. Theoretical analyses about funding of early learning have mainly focused on vouchers. Yet, the available empirical evidence is more ambiguous about the effects of vouchers than about the effects of conditional cash transfers and financial incentives for pupils and teachers. Positive effects of financial incentives to pupils are not restricted to high ability pupils, as low ability students also seem to benefit. The evidence regarding the effects of subsidy forms is limited. The most prominent knowledge gaps regarding the effects of various financing schemes related to lifelong learning are the effects of vouchers in compulsory education; financial aid schemes for students; and entitlements and individual learning accounts.Tertiary Education,Access to Finance,Primary Education,Teaching and Learning,Economics of Education

Investigation into the Effects of Blended Learning in Students' Second Language Learning

Color poster with text, images, and graphs.Hybrid education has become increasingly common as an alternative and/or additional curriculum design in the postsecondary system. Students learn through a dual format; half of the instruction is in the classroom, while the other half is given through online instruction. This study attempted to determine if the hybrid experience is effective by examining participants' beliefs about the program and their desire to continue learning Spanish.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

High reward enhances perceptual learning.

Studies of perceptual learning have revealed a great deal of plasticity in adult humans. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects and mechanisms of several forms (trial-by-trial, block, and session rewards) and levels (no, low, high, subliminal) of monetary reward on the rate, magnitude, and generalizability of perceptual learning. We found that high monetary reward can greatly promote the rate and boost the magnitude of learning and enhance performance in untrained spatial frequencies and eye without changing interocular, interlocation, and interdirection transfer indices. High reward per se made unique contributions to the enhanced learning through improved internal noise reduction. Furthermore, the effects of high reward on perceptual learning occurred in a range of perceptual tasks. The results may have major implications for the understanding of the nature of the learning rule in perceptual learning and for the use of reward to enhance perceptual learning in practical applications

Student Attitudes Toward Client Sponsors and Learning: An Analysis of the Effects of Incorporating a Client Sponsored Project in an Introductory Marketing Course

This study examines i) the effects of a client-sponsored project (CSP) on student attitudes toward a sponsoring client, ii) the effects of a CSP on student attitudes toward learning core marketing concepts, and iii) moderators of student attitudes toward learning core marketing concepts. Introductory marketing course students prepared marketing plans for a client-sponsor who awarded cash prizes. The CSP yielded i) positive student attitudes toward client sponsors and ii) beliefs that CSPs enhance learning of core marketing concepts and increase confidence in academic ability. Positive attitudes toward competition and instructor helpfulness strengthened student perceptions that the CSP enhanced learning

Exploring Digital Media & Learning

Summarizes the foundation's grantmaking on digital media and learning. Highlights foundation-funded research on digital media's effects on youth as well as their potential to enhance learning experiences and enable collaborations among institutions