Exploring Faculty Perceptions of a Case Library as an Online Teaching Resource

Professors need alternative programs to support their online teaching. This dissertation reports an initial study in a long-term research agenda for developing a faculty online teaching solution. The primary purpose of the study is to explore faculty perceptions of a case library to help decision makers and researchers determine whether they would pursue the use of such a tool to support faculty online teaching. The secondary purpose of the study is to generate design knowledge to inform future development of and research on this or similar case libraries. The methodology of this study includes three components: development research, rapid prototyping, and qualitative methods. Development research and rapid prototyping provided a three-stage framework for this study: conceptualization, development, and research. I synthesized the literature to create conceptual models of an Online Teaching Case Library (OTCL) at the conceptualization stage, built a prototype to implement the models at the development stage, and conducted research to evaluate the prototype at the research stage. Qualitative methods guided data gathering and analysis. I recruited seven faculty participants based on a purposeful sampling technique. To gather the data, I followed a three-step data collection process: initial interviews, contextual interviews, and final interviews. This process allowed me to observe and interview faculty participants while they were exploring the prototype. I analyzed the data by following an 11-step procedure synthesized from the works of Miles and Huberman (1994) as well as LeCompte and Schensul (1999a). This study found that on one hand, faculty members might use an OTCL, because they perceived that this tool could support their apprenticeship approach to learning to teach. On the other hand, however, their perceived decision to use an OTCL would also be influenced by the perceptions of the usefulness and usability of the tool. The study identified the initial evidence supporting an OTCL as an online teaching resource and the challenges involved in developing and implementing such a solution. It provides a base for decision makers to determine whether they would adopt this tool. It also offers some design guidance for those who do want to pursue this solution to faculty development

Developing intelligent environments with OSGi and JADE

Series: IFIP International Federation for Information ProcessingThe development of intelligent environments poses complex challenges, namely at the level of device heterogeneity and environment dynamics. In fact, we still lack supporting technologies and development approaches that can efficiently integrate different devices and technologies. In this paper we present how a recent integration of two important technologies, OSGi and Jade, can be used to significantly improve the development process, making it a more dynamic, modular and configurable one. We also focus on the main advantages that this integration provides to developers, from the Ambient Intelligence point of view. This work results from the development of two intelligent environments: VirtualECare, which is an intelligent environment for the monitorization of elderly in their homes and UMCourt, a virtual environment for dispute resolution.The work described in this paper is included in TIARAC - Telematics and Artificial Intelligence in Alternative Conflict Resolution Project (PTDC/JUR/71354/2006), which is a research project supported by FCT (Science & Technology Foundation), Portugal

A conceptual model for megaprogramming

Megaprogramming is component-based software engineering and life-cycle management. Magaprogramming and its relationship to other research initiatives (common prototyping system/common prototyping language, domain specific software architectures, and software understanding) are analyzed. The desirable attributes of megaprogramming software components are identified and a software development model and resulting prototype megaprogramming system (library interconnection language extended by annotated Ada) are described

Issues for auditors designing case-based reasoning systems

This paper examines the main methodological issues to be considered for case-based reasoning (CBR) systems. The advantages of knowledge representation in cases are discussed, giving the rationale for these systems. Many different aspects of design are considered, including user requirements where the system is intended to encourage user learning. A framework for designing such case-based learning and reasoning (CB-LR) systems is discussed. The focus is on feature calibration and case stabilisation processes, together with issues concerning implementation and evaluation of systems.Este artículo examina los principales problemas metodológicos que deben considerarse de sistemas CBR (de razonamiento basado en el caso). Se debaten las ventajas de la representación de este conocimiento sobre los casos, proporcionando la racionalidad a estos sistemas. Se consideran muchos aspectos diferentes del diseño, incluyendo los requerimientos para el usuario cuando el sistema está diseñado para alentar su aprendizaje. Se debate sobre el marco para diseñar un sistema basado en el razonamiento y aprendizaje sobre cada caso (CB-LR). Se hace énfasis en los procesos de calibración y estabilización de cada caso, junto con los problemas que abarcan los sistemas de implementación y evaluación

Development of a design feature database to support design for additive manufacturing (DfAM)

This research introduces a method to aid the design of products or parts to be made using Additive Manufacturing (AM), particularly the laser sintering (LS) system. The research began with a literature review that encompassed the subjects of design and AM and through this the need for an assistive design approach for AM was identified. Undertaking the literature review also confirmed that little has been done in the area of supporting the design of AM parts or products. Preliminary investigations were conducted to identify the design factors to consider for AM. Two preliminary investigations were conducted, the first investigation was conducted to identify the reasons for designing for AM, the need for a design support tool for AM and current challenges of student industrial designers designing parts or products for AM, and also to identify the type of design support they required. Further investigation were conducted to examine how AM products are developed by professional industrial designers and to understand their design processes and procedures. The study has identified specific AM enabled design features that the designers have been able to create within their case study products. Detailed observation of the case study products and parts reveals a number of features that are only economical or possible to produce with AM. A taxonomy of AM enabled design features was developed as a precursor for the development of a computer based design tool. The AM enabled design features was defined as a features that would be uneconomical or very expensive to be produced with conventional methods. The taxonomy has four top-level taxons based on four main reasons for using AM, namely user fit requirements, improved product functionality requirements, parts consolidation requirements and improvement of aesthetics or form requirements. Each of these requirements was expanded further into thirteen sub categories of applications that contained 106 examples of design features that are only possible to manufacture using AM technology. The collected and grouped design features were presented in a form of a database as a method to aid product design of parts or products for AM. A series of user trials were conducted that showed the database enabled industrial designers to visualise and gather design feature information that could be incorporated into their own design work. Finally, conclusions are drawn and suggestions for future work are listed. In summary, it can be concluded that this research project has been a success, having addressed all of the objectives that were identified at its outset. From the user trial results, it is clear to see that the proposed tool would be an effective tool to support product design for AM, particularly from an educational perspective. The tool was found to be beneficial to student designers to take advantage of the design freedom offered by AM in order to produce improved product design. As AM becomes more widely used, it is anticipated that new design features will emerge that could be included in future versions of the database so that it will remain a rich source of inspirational information for tomorrow s industrial designers

A methodology for developing Second Life environments using case-based reasoning techniques

Launched in 2003, Second Life is a computer-based pseudo-environment accessed via the Internet. Although a number of individuals and companies have developed a presence (lands) in Second Life, no appropriate methodology has been put into place for undertaking such developments. Although users have adapted existing methods to their individual needs, this research project explores the development of a methodology for developing lands specifically within Second Life. After researching and examining a variety of different software methods and techniques, it was decided to base this research project methodology on Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) techniques, which shares a number of synergies with Second Life itself. With some modifications, a web-based system was designed based on CBR to work in accordance with Second Life. Collecting and analyzing the feedback for the first version of the web-based system identified the adjustments and improvements needed. Therefore, from tracking its progress against previous specifications and future activity, an updated version of the CBR web-based system covering the latest changes and improvements of the tool was introduced. In addition to this, new functionalities have been added in the improved version in order to refine and develop the original prototype to become a highly effective SL development tool. New feedback platforms have been provided to facilitate the use of the system and to obtain results which are more closely related to the users recommendations. Through the feedback process, the tool is becoming ever more useful to developers of Second Life systems. This research project discusses the use of Case-based reasoning techniques and evaluates their application to the development of space within Second Life

Artificial Intelligence in the development of modern infrastructures

Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs and perform tasks as human beings. Most of the examples of AI you hear about today - from computers playing chess to autonomous driving cars - rely heavily on deep learning and natural language processing

Agile AI development for Real World Solutions

This keynote will analyse the importance of IoT, Blockchain and Edge Computing as contributors to the development of distributed intelligent systems that have the capacity to interact with the environment "Smart" infrastructures need to incorporate all added-value resources so they can offer useful services to the society, while reducing costs, ensuring reliability and improving the quality of life of the citizens. The combination of AI, IoT and Blockchain in an Edge Computing model or elsewhere, offers a world of possibilities and opportunities

Managing smart cities with deepint.net

In this keynote, the evolution of intelligent computer systems will be examined. The need for human capital will be emphasised, as well as the need to follow one’s “gut instinct” in problem-solving. We will look at the benefits of combining information and knowledge to solve complex problems and will examine how knowledge engineering facilitates the integration of different algorithms. Furthermore, we will analyse the importance of complementary technologies such as IoT and Blockchain in the development of intelligent systems. It will be shown how tools like "Deep Intelligence" make it possible to create computer systems efficiently and effectively. "Smart" infrastructures need to incorporate all added-value resources so they can offer useful services to the society, while reducing costs, ensuring reliability and improving the quality of life of the citizens. The combination of AI with IoT and with blockchain offers a world of possibilities and opportunities

Intelligent Models in Complex Problem Solving

Artificial Intelligence revived in the last decade. The need for progress, the growing processing capacity and the low cost of the Cloud have facilitated the development of new, powerful algorithms. The efficiency of these algorithms in Big Data processing, Deep Learning and Convolutional Networks is transforming the way we work and is opening new horizons