97,264 research outputs found
Variational Temporal IRT: Fast, Accurate, and Explainable Inference of Dynamic Learner Proficiency
Dynamic Item Response Models extend the standard Item Response Theory (IRT)
to capture temporal dynamics in learner ability. While these models have the
potential to allow instructional systems to actively monitor the evolution of
learner proficiency in real time, existing dynamic item response models rely on
expensive inference algorithms that scale poorly to massive datasets. In this
work, we propose Variational Temporal IRT (VTIRT) for fast and accurate
inference of dynamic learner proficiency. VTIRT offers orders of magnitude
speedup in inference runtime while still providing accurate inference.
Moreover, the proposed algorithm is intrinsically interpretable by virtue of
its modular design. When applied to 9 real student datasets, VTIRT consistently
yields improvements in predicting future learner performance over other learner
proficiency models.Comment: 9 pages, 16th International Conference on Educational Data Mining
(EDM'23
System Dynamics in Education: The First Steps
This pdf tutorial covers the basics of systems dynamics and the use of Stella II software. The purpose of this article, as stated by its author, is to introduce or clarify system dynamics, which together with learner-centered learning, "are alternative approaches to the status quo of strict factual education." The tutorial is meant to serve as a hands-on introduction to system dynamics and learner-centered learning for educators and others interested in learning the basics of system dynamics through computer modeling. The tutorial sets forth some of the principles of system dynamics and learner-centered learning by guiding the reader through two simple population models. This is a great resource for getting started with Stella II. It is part of Road Maps 2. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, High school, Intermediate elementary, Middle school, Primary elementary
Neural Network Dynamics for Model-Based Deep Reinforcement Learning with Model-Free Fine-Tuning
Model-free deep reinforcement learning algorithms have been shown to be
capable of learning a wide range of robotic skills, but typically require a
very large number of samples to achieve good performance. Model-based
algorithms, in principle, can provide for much more efficient learning, but
have proven difficult to extend to expressive, high-capacity models such as
deep neural networks. In this work, we demonstrate that medium-sized neural
network models can in fact be combined with model predictive control (MPC) to
achieve excellent sample complexity in a model-based reinforcement learning
algorithm, producing stable and plausible gaits to accomplish various complex
locomotion tasks. We also propose using deep neural network dynamics models to
initialize a model-free learner, in order to combine the sample efficiency of
model-based approaches with the high task-specific performance of model-free
methods. We empirically demonstrate on MuJoCo locomotion tasks that our pure
model-based approach trained on just random action data can follow arbitrary
trajectories with excellent sample efficiency, and that our hybrid algorithm
can accelerate model-free learning on high-speed benchmark tasks, achieving
sample efficiency gains of 3-5x on swimmer, cheetah, hopper, and ant agents.
Videos can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/mbm
Online Learning of a Memory for Learning Rates
The promise of learning to learn for robotics rests on the hope that by
extracting some information about the learning process itself we can speed up
subsequent similar learning tasks. Here, we introduce a computationally
efficient online meta-learning algorithm that builds and optimizes a memory
model of the optimal learning rate landscape from previously observed gradient
behaviors. While performing task specific optimization, this memory of learning
rates predicts how to scale currently observed gradients. After applying the
gradient scaling our meta-learner updates its internal memory based on the
observed effect its prediction had. Our meta-learner can be combined with any
gradient-based optimizer, learns on the fly and can be transferred to new
optimization tasks. In our evaluations we show that our meta-learning algorithm
speeds up learning of MNIST classification and a variety of learning control
tasks, either in batch or online learning settings.Comment: accepted to ICRA 2018, code available:
https://github.com/fmeier/online-meta-learning ; video pitch available:
https://youtu.be/9PzQ25FPPO
Systems thinking: critical thinking skills for the 1990s and beyond
This pdf article discusses the need for teaching systems thinking and critical thinking skills. Systems thinking and systems dynamics are important for developing effective strategies to close the gap between the interdependent nature of our problems and our ability to understand them. This article calls for a clearer view of the nature of systems thinking and the education system into which it must be transferred. Educational levels: Graduate or professional
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