Co-constructing writing: handing over the reins to young authors

Learning to write is a complex process and children have to orchestrate a range of processes and skills in order to produce written messages. Young children are facing increasing demands in terms of the expected complexity of their written messages in education settings across the world. Teachers, in turn, are challenged to support children and guide them towards independence in writing. This article explores the complexity of writing and, drawing on a study that describes the implementation of an observation as assessment framework for supporting writing, practical research-based strategies are provided to leverage observation as a form of assessment and how to support children to organise their own composition of messages

Imagine images for formative assessment

There are many complex concepts and theories that students need to navigate throughout a chemistry course. Often the priority is to memorize facts and algorithms to pass exams rather than developing an adequate understanding. Students can also bring creative alternative conceptions, which hinder further learning. Visualization of the ideas behind chemical processes helps to effectively evaluate and learn concepts. Examples include Einstein’s ‘Elevator’ and Heisenberg’s gamma ray microscope. “A picture tells a thousand words”, graphics are therefore a powerful tool to facilitate understanding of concepts. Presented are examples of graphics for formative assessment supporting exam revision

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Port Plans in Italy: Experiences, Approaches, Tools

Evaluation is increasingly important in decision-making processes for the sustainable planning and design of port plans. It acts as a support for plan preparation, for making values, interests and needs explicit, and for exploring the components of the decision-making process itself. Evaluation can be likened to an "implicit tool" that can integrate approaches, methodologies and models, adapting to the many needs revealed during the decision-making process. New sustainability challenges call for new approaches to creating frameworks for the analysis and evaluation of plans and projects that allow the integration of multidimensional goals and values. Utilizing some selected case studies of port plans in six Italian cities, this paper explores how environmental assessment can become a tool for dialog and interaction among different fields of expertise to support dynamic learning processes, knowledge management and the creation of shared choices, using suitable approaches and tools. In this view, Integrated Spatial Assessment (ISA) can be useful in supporting decision-making processes on different scales and institutional levels to stimulate dialog between technical and political evaluations, referring to complex values that are part of conflicting and changing realities in which it has become imperative to operate according to sustainability principles

Analysis of Energy Utilization in 3D Printing Processes

AbstractManufacturing paradigm is shifting from production-centric to service-oriented to meet emerging requirements, such as highly customized products and public “green” awareness. 3D printing, using a layered production mechanism, becomes a featured technology worldwide. This is attributed directly to its ability to efficiently fabricate complex and on-demand product. In this paper, energy consumption of 3D printing processes is focused and analyzed in the context of environmental impact. A preliminary study is conducted on a 3D printing process, where energy is divided into two parts, primary and secondary energy. Energy models were then proposed for each part, providing a fundamental approach for energy estimation and optimization, and subsequently, improving actual production settings and supporting 3D printing product re-design. The findings reported in this research, form an important knowledge piece, which complements life cycle assessment of 3D printing processes

A web-based course assessment tool with direct mapping to student outcomes

The assessment of curriculum outcomes is an essential element for continuous academic improvement. However, the collection, aggregation and analysis of assessment data are notoriously complex and time-consuming processes. At the same time, only few developments of supporting electronic processes and tools for continuous academic program assessment and curriculum performance feedback have emerged. In this paper, we introduce a novel course assessment process supported by a Web based interface that articulates and streamlines the assessment data collection, performance evaluation and tracking of remedial recommendations. To close the assessment loop, the Web interface provides also a mechanism to follow up on the implementation of remedial recommendations and analyzes their associated reflective actions during the subsequent course assessment cycle. A guide to map assessment instruments to the course and overall program outcomes is advocated by the proposed tool to propagate the course assessment results towards higher educational objectives (e.g., student outcomes) in a dashboard-like assessment interface. This approach streamlines improvements in education through reflecting the achievement of course outcomes on the achievement of higher educational objectives.In addition, the tool maps the course outcomes to the corresponding course outlines to facilitate the detection of areas where revisions in the instruction and content is needed, and to best respond to recommendations and remedial actions. We provide a methodical approach as well as a Web-based automation of the assessment process, which we evaluate in the context of our regular academic assessment cycles that have eventually led to a successful international accreditation experience. The collected assessment data shows a significant improvement in the achievement rate of the student outcomes after deploying the tool

Investigating landfill leachate toxicity in vitro: A review of cell models and endpoints

Landfill leachate is a complex mixture characterized by high toxicity and able to contaminate soils and waters surrounding the dumpsite, especially in developing countries where engineered landfills are still rare. Leachate pollution can severely damage natural ecosystems and harm human health. Traditionally, the hazard assessment of leachate is based on physicochemical characterization but the toxicity is not considered. In the last few decades, different bioassays have been used to assess the toxicity of this complex matrix, including human-related in vitro models. This article reviews the cell bioassays successfully used for the risk assessment of leachate and to evaluate the efficiency of toxicity removal of several processes for detoxification of this wastewater. Articles from 2003 to 2018 are covered, focusing mainly on studies that used human cell lines, highlighting the usefulness and adequacy of in vitro models for assessing the hazard involved with exposure to leachate, particularly as an integrative supporting tool for chemical-based risk assessment. Leachate is generally toxic, mutagenic, genotoxic and estrogenic in vitro, and these effects can be measured in the cells exposed to already low concentrations, confirming the serious hazard of this wastewater for human health. Keywords: Landfill leachate, In vitro models, Estrogenicity, Genotoxicity, Human cell line

Industry 4.0 Concepts and Lean Methods Mitigating Traditional Losses in Engineer-to-Order Manufacturing with Subsequent Assembly On-Site: A Framework

Abstract Engineer-to-Order companies design and manufacture complex products based on specific customer requirements. Their project-driven processes and non-repetitive production causes various inefficiencies, which lead to productivity losses. Conventional approaches such as Lean Manufacturing and Lean Construction are limited in mitigating these losses due to their challenging implementation in the Engineer-to-Order environment. New concepts and technologies from Industry 4.0 have the potential to mitigate these losses through digitizing processes but are little researched in the Engineer-to-Order industry. This article classifies traditional losses from Engineer-to-Order manufacturing companies and through literature review identifies several Lean as well as Industry 4.0 methods that have the potential to mitigate these losses. The results are presented in a framework which can be used to develop a Lean and Industry 4.0 assessment tool for companies supporting the implementation of these concepts to mitigate the presented loss categories. Further research should focus on validating the framework with empirical data

Advanced Techniques for Assets Maintenance Management

16th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing INCOM 2018 Bergamo, Italy, 11–13 June 2018. Edited by Marco Macchi, László Monostori, Roberto PintoThe aim of this paper is to remark the importance of new and advanced techniques supporting decision making in different business processes for maintenance and assets management, as well as the basic need of adopting a certain management framework with a clear processes map and the corresponding IT supporting systems. Framework processes and systems will be the key fundamental enablers for success and for continuous improvement. The suggested framework will help to define and improve business policies and work procedures for the assets operation and maintenance along their life cycle. The following sections present some achievements on this focus, proposing finally possible future lines for a research agenda within this field of assets management

Identifying and assessing the needs of carers of patients with palliative care needs: An exploratory study

© 2018 MA Healthcare Ltd. Background: Carers of patients with palliative care needs require careful assessment and support to undertake their role effectively. The carer component of palliative care is embedded in complex situations that necessarily focus on the patient. Aims: To explore experiences of specialist palliative care nurses in identifying, assessing and planning care to support those looking after patients with palliative care needs. Results: Findings identified gaps in identifying carers and their role, and in assessing carers' needs. Conclusions: This study confirmed the complexity in assessing carers' needs within the palliative care context, that practice gaps exist and positive outcomes result when routine processes were adopted. Future research should explore how to systematically make improvements in supporting carers in all palliative care contexts, including specialist and non-specialist settings