Team Learning: A Theoretical Integration and Review

With the increasing emphasis on work teams as the primary architecture of organizational structure, scholars have begun to focus attention on team learning, the processes that support it, and the important outcomes that depend on it. Although the literature addressing learning in teams is broad, it is also messy and fraught with conceptual confusion. This chapter presents a theoretical integration and review. The goal is to organize theory and research on team learning, identify actionable frameworks and findings, and emphasize promising targets for future research. We emphasize three theoretical foci in our examination of team learning, treating it as multilevel (individual and team, not individual or team), dynamic (iterative and progressive; a process not an outcome), and emergent (outcomes of team learning can manifest in different ways over time). The integrative theoretical heuristic distinguishes team learning process theories, supporting emergent states, team knowledge representations, and respective influences on team performance and effectiveness. Promising directions for theory development and research are discussed

ExecProject: an educational tool for simulating project execution

Tecnologias educacionais têm sido inseridas em sala de aula com o objetivo de desenvolver competências e motivar os estudantes. Em cursos de graduação em computação, guias de currículo recomendam o uso de ferramentas para o ensino prático de gerência de projetos. No entanto, na prática, o uso de tecnologias educacionais no ensino de GP em cursos de computação ainda é restrito, principalmente, devido a limitação das ferramentas na abrangência dos conteúdos. Diante disso, o objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o desenvolvimento e avaliação de uma ferramenta educacional (ExecProject) para a simulação da execução de projetos. Resultados de uma avaliação envolvendo 17 alunos indicam que a ExecProject possui uma boa usabilidade (score escala SUS = 75.15), é de fácil utilização e, do ponto de vista dos alunos, contribui para aprendizagem e compreensão da execução de projetos e suas interferências. Resultados deste artigo podem auxiliar professores na adoção de tecnologias e, assim, contribuir para a aplicação prática de GP na formação de estudantes de computação.Educational technologies have been used in the classroom with the aim of developing skills and motivating students. In undergraduate computing courses, curriculum guides recommend the use of tools for the practical teaching of project management. However, in practice, the use of educational technologies in the teaching of GP in computing courses is still restricted, mainly due to the limitation of the tools in the covering of the content. Therefore, the objective of this article is to present the development and evaluation of an educational tool (ExecProject) for the simulation of the project execution. Results of an evaluation involving 17 students indicate that the ExecProject has good usability (SUS scale score = 75.15), is easy to use and, from the students' perspective, contributes to learning and understanding the execution of projects and their interferences. Results of this article can assist teachers in the adoption of technologies and, thus, contribute to the practical application of GP in the training of computing students.Facultad de Informátic

Evaluating Educational Interventions in Emergency Medicine

This article presents the proceedings of the 2012 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference breakout group charged with identifying areas necessary for future research regarding effectiveness of educational interventions for teaching emergency medicine ( EM ) knowledge, skills, and attitudes outside of the clinical setting. The objective was to summarize both medical and nonmedical education literature and report the consensus formation methods and results. The authors present final statements to guide future research aimed at evaluating the best methods for understanding and developing successful EM curricula using all types of educational interventions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94811/1/acem12022.pd

Advances in solar-pumped laser efficiency and brightness

Advances in both solar-pumped laser efficiency and brightness are herein presented. Several solar laser prototypes with both end-side-pumping and side-pumping configurations were studied and developed to efficiently pump small diameter Nd:YAG laser rods, leading to substantial increase in solar laser collection efficiency and brightness, which have gained international recognitions. All the design parameters were optimized in ZEMAX© non-sequential ray-tracing software. LASCAD© laser cavity analysis software was then used to optimize the laser resonator parameters. Based on the numerically optimization of the solar laser system, the solar laser prototypes were designed and built in Lisbon. Solar energy collection and concentration were achieved through the PROMES-CNRS heliostat-parabolic system, NOVA Fresnel lens system, and the recently new NOVA heliostat-parabolic system. Measurements of the solar input / laser output performance, beam quality M2 factors, and laser beam profiles for both multimode and fundamental mode regime were performed and compared with that of the numerical results. 13.9 W/m2 solar laser collection efficiency was achieved in 2013, through PROMES heliostatparabolic mirror system, by end-side-pumping a 5 mm diameter, 25 mm length Nd:YAG laser rod. This result was further increased to 21.1 W/m2, in 2015, within the same solar facility. In 2016, 25 W/m2 collection efficiency was reported, by end-side-pumping a thinner laser rod through NOVA heliostat-parabolic mirror system. In addition to the enhancement of solar laser collection efficiency, the thermal performance of end-side-pumped solar laser was also substantially improved. In 2017, record solar laser collection efficiency of 31.5 W/m2 was reported by end-sidepumping a 4 mm diameter, 35 mm length Nd:YAG laser rod in PROMES-CNRS heliostatparabolic mirror system. Also, record slope efficiency of 8.9% was achieved. A substantial progress in solar laser beam brightness with Fresnel lens was reported in 2013, through the first TEM00-mode solar laser. 1.9 W solar laser brightness was registered, being 6.6 times more than the previous record. The adoption of an asymmetric laser resonator, for maximum extraction of TEM00-mode solar laser, was also essential for improving significantly the solar laser brightness. By side-pumping a 3 mm diameter, 30 mm length Nd:YAG rod with a double-stage rectangular light guide / 2D-CPC concentrator, 4.0 W solar laser brightness was reported in 2015, doubling the previous record with Fresnel lens. TEM00-mode solar laser collection efficiency of 4.0 W/m2 was obtained by side-pumping a Nd:YAG grooved rod in 2016. Most recently, by endside-pumping a 4 mm diameter, 35 mm length, Nd:YAG rod, the TEM00 mode solar laser collection efficiency was almost doubled, reaching 7.9 W/m2. Record-high solar laser brightness of 6.5 W was also achieved. Advances in solar laser beam stability were also achieved by developing sculptured twisted light guides for efficient uniform redistribution of pump light into a thin and long laser rod. In addition to this, we were also able to demonstrate the first emission of doughnut shaped solar laser beam, which may widen the applications areas of solar-pumped lasers. The research efforts performed during this work for enhancing both solar laser efficiency and beam brightness are explained. Experimental results are discussed and future suggestions are proposed

Identifying the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMES)

The Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMES) is a human resource intervention that provides feedback to members of an organizational unit via a measurement system constructed by the unit personnel. The unit constructs the system by defining their objectives, identifying productivity indicators for each objective, and developing utility curves or contingencies for each indicator, specifying the overall and relative value to the organization of different performance levels on each indicator. Over the years, it has produced very positive results upon implementation. However, there has been great variability in the effectiveness of ProMES. This study attempted to identify the factors that contributed to this variability. Three major factors were proposed to influence the success of the intervention: feedback quality, the degree to which units prioritized their actions on the feedback, and the organizational social context. Additionally, the individual effects of the components of the organizational social context factor were analyzed; these components included the degree of employee participation in the intervention, unit attitudes towards productivity improvement, organizational support for the intervention, and organizational stability. Three productivity indices were used as dependent variables: the unit d-score (the difference between feedback productivity and baseline productivity divided by the pooled standard deviation), the rate of productivity change over the first third of the feedback stage, and the degree to which units were able to sustain prior productivity improvements over the last two thirds of the feedback stage. The degree of match with the original ProMES methodology was proposed as a moderator in the relationship between the three major factors and the criteria, and the degree of feedback interpretation training given to the unit was proposed as a moderator between the units? action on feedback and the criteria. Drawing on a database of 74 units from different industries and countries, scales were constructed to operationalize the factors. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that favorable attitudes towards productivity improvement were associated with faster productivity improvements. Additionally, feedback quality and the action taken on feedback significantly predicted greater and faster productivity improvements. The implications for human resource professionals and researchers in industrial/organizational psychology are discussed

Solar Concentrators and Solar-pumped Lasers

Innovative substitutions for Fresnel lenses concentrators by Elliptical shaped Fresnel lens (ESFL) and parabolic concentrators by ring array concentrator (RAC) models are presented, as well as, advances of solar-pumped lasers of Ce:Nd:YAG operation during a clean and clouded weather. The design of the ESFL and RAC were modelled into Zemax® non-sequential ray-tracing soft-ware from well-defined mathematical equations. Most of the key parameters were analysed and the resulting outputs were compared and documented in publications. The design parameters for solar-pumped lasers were optimized using Zemax®, and then the LAS-CAD™ laser cavity system software was used to further optimize the laser resonator parameters. A solar laser prototype was built with an active medium of Ce:Nd:YAG and tested using a heliostat-parabolic mirror system at both NOVA University of Lisbon and Procédés, Matériaux et Énergie Solaire - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (PROMES-CNRS) in Odeillo-Font Romeu, France. The ESFL offers a 4.58 W/mm2 increase in solar flux concentration compared to a Fresnel lens, which only achieves 2.66 W/mm2 at the same size and focal distance. A 3.14 m2 RAC with a focal length of 300 mm can capture over 18 W/m2. The first recorded Ce:Nd:YAG solar laser operating with a small collection area of 0.293 m2 at the NOVA facility, produced a multimode output power of 11.2 W, resulting in a solar-to-laser power conversion efficiency of 3.37%, with a minimum threshold pump power of 66 W. The MSSF parabolic mirror from PROMES-CNRS achieved a lower threshold pump power of 32.4 W using a smaller col-lection area of 0.075 m2, and during cloudy weather, a threshold pump power was further reduced to 29.2 W. Furthermore, cloud interference improved the solar-to-laser conversion efficiency to 6.32%, nearly tripling the 2.32% efficiency on a clear sky, while the solar laser conversion efficiency of 21.47 W/m2 was nearly twice the value of 12.62 W/m2 on a clear sky. The research efforts performed during this work are explained. Experimental results are dis-cussed, and future suggestions are proposed.Inovações para substituições de concentradores de lentes de Fresnel por lentes de Fresnel elípticas (ESFL) e concentradores parabólicos por modelos de concentradores de matriz de anéis (RAC) são apresentados, bem como avanços de lasers solares de Ce:Nd:YAG operando no limiar mais baixo e durante o clima nublado. O projeto do ESFL e do RAC foi modelado incorporando as equações recém-deduzidas no software de rastreamento de raios não sequencial Zemax®. A maioria dos principais parâ-metros foi analisada e as saídas resultantes foram comparadas e documentadas em publicações. Em relação aos lasers solares bombeados, todos os parâmetros de projeto foram otimizados e adaptados no Zemax® e o software de sistema de cavidade a laser LASCAD™ foi usado para otimizar os parâmetros do ressonador a laser. O protótipo de laser solar com o meio ativo de Ce:Nd:YAG foi construído e testado na instalação helióstato-parabólica na Universidade Nova de Lisboa e no forno solar de tamanho médio (MSSF) no Procédés, Matériaux et Énergie Solaire - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (PROMES-CNRS) em Odeillo-Font Romeu, França. O ESFL oferece um aumento de 4,58 W/mm2 na concentração de fluxo solar em comparação com uma lente de Fresnel, que alcança apenas 2,66 W/mm2 no mesmo tamanho e distância focal. Um RAC de 3,14 m2 com uma distância focal de 300 mm pode capturar mais de 18 W/m2. O primeiro laser solar Ce:Nd:YAG registrado, operando com uma pequena área de coleta de 0,293 m2 na instalação da NOVA, produziu uma potência de saída multimodo de 11,2 W, resultando em uma eficiência de con-versão de energia solar para laser de 3,37%, com uma potência mínima de bombeamento de 66 W. O espelho parabólico MSSF do PROMES-CNRS alcançou uma potência de bombeamento de limiar mais baixa de 32,4 W usando uma área de coleta de 0,075 m2 e, durante o tempo nublado, uma potência de bombeamento de limiar de 29,2 W foi registada. Além disso, a interferência das nuvens melhorou a eficiência de conversão de energia solar para laser em 6,32%, quase triplicando a eficiência de 2,32% em um céu claro, enquanto a eficiência de conversão de energia do laser solar de 21,47 W/m2 foi quase o dobro do valor de 12,62 W/m2 em um céu claro

An investigation into the impact of goal-setting on productivity in a selected team sports environment

The purpose of the current research was to determine whether goal-setting as motivational work theory influences productivity and the productivity measurement and enhancement system (ProMES) as a human resource intervention that provides feedback improves productivity in an Angolan female handball team after the implementation. Motivation and productivity are important to the success of a sports organisation. Goal-setting theory was formulated on the premise that conscious goals affect action. The ProMES approach offers a method for measuring action results, in other words team productivity, which takes this feature of typical team settings into account. Each participant completed a questionnaire toolkit and the results showed that when athletes are task oriented and collectivist they believe in goal-setting and productivity improves. The ProMES process itself, with its participative aspects and process of role clarifying and expectations can successfully be used within the sports industry. This research also reaffirms the relationship between motivation and productivity.Business ManagementM. Admin. (Business Management

Ensino de gerenciamento de projetos de software mediado por ferramentas

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Computação, Florianópolis, 2017.Projetos de software muitas vezes fracassam por não seguirem um processo de Gerenciamento de Projetos (GP). A adoção deste processo pode ser apoiada pelo uso de ferramentas de GP. Por isto, saber como utilizá-las é uma competência de grande relevância para os egressos dos cursos na área da Computação. Atualmente, observa-se que as unidades instrucionais (UIs) existentes tipicamente incluem aulas práticas para o uso de ferramentas de GP, adotando a estratégia de aprendizagem experiencial. Ainda, algumas UIs fazem uso de ferramentas de GP educacionais, que incluem características didáticas para facilitar a aprendizagem dos alunos. Entretanto, observa-se que estas UIs podem ser melhoradas, abordando lacunas como a cobertura do conteúdo, que tipicamente não abrange áreas de conhecimentos como integração, comunicação, custos, riscos, aquisições, e qualidade. Neste contexto, o objetivo desta tese é cobrir parte das lacunas existentes no ensino de ferramentas de GP, por meio do desenvolvimento de uma UI abordando os processos de iniciação e planejamento alinhando ao PMBOK. A metodologia de pesquisa inclui métodos de revisão bibliográfica para fundamentação teórica, análise do estado da arte e prática por meio de revisão sistemática da literatura e survey, e design instrucional para o desenvolvimento e avaliação da UI. Os resultados desta tese incluem o levantamento do estado da arte e prática do ensino de ferramentas de GP nos cursos superiores de Computação. Entre os resultados também está uma UI para ensino de ferramentas de GP para a iniciação e planejamento, evoluindo a ferramenta dotProject como parte de seus materiais instrucionais. Resultados da avaliação desta UI indicam como ensinar ferramentas de GP alinhado ao guia PMBOK, promovendo a aprendizagem no nível de aplicação do domínio cognitivo da taxonomia de Bloom. Este resultado busca contribuir para Ciência da Computação ao reduzir lacunas existentes no ensino de ferramentas de GP, impactando na melhor formação dos profissionais da área, e possibilitando o aumento do sucesso de projetos conduzidos pelas organizações de software.Abstract : Software projects fail by not adopting a Project Management (PM) process. The adoption of this process is facilitated by PM tools, which take advantage from technology to support the PM process or part of it. The usage of such tools has been considered mandatory to manage the contemporary software projects. Hence, the usage of such tools is an important competency for computer students. Analyzing the state of the art and practice about the teaching of PM tools, it is observed that the existing Instructional Units (IUs) typically adopts the experimental learning strategy, including practical classes for propitiates the usage of PM tools by students. More specifically, some IUs adopt some educational PM tools that include didactic features to improve students learning. However, when analyzing the addressed content by these IUs it is observed that commonly just the time and human resources knowledge areas are addressed, hence existing a gap between what is currently been taught and the complete PM process. In this context, this thesis aims to develop and evaluate an IU for teaching PM tools covering the initiating and planning processes, addressing the 10 PM knowledge areas aligned with PMBOK. The research design includes methods as bibliography review for background definition, Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and survey for state of the art and practice analysis, and an instructional design approach for developing and evaluating the proposed IU. The main result produced by this thesis is the IU, which based on the context analysis, has developed the IU teaching plan and instructional materials compatible with higher computer education in Brazilian institutions. This IU covers a reasonable part of PM tools education, being aligned with PMBOK and addressing topics of curriculums guidelines for computer science higher education. Secondary results include the state of the art analysis which is composed of 2 SLRs, and the state of practice analysis carried out by a survey conducted with teachers that teach about PM tools in higher computers programs. These results may be important for computer science by reducing existing gaps in the teaching of PM tools, thus better preparing computer professionals, and assisting to the success of software projects conducted by Brazilian organizations