Impact of learner control on learning in adaptable and personalised e-learning environments

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the impact of learners‟ measure of control over their learning, while working in different online learning environments, and how this, in combination with a structured learning material selection according to their learning preferences, can affect their learning performance. A qualitative study was carried out on the understanding of different learning philosophies, different learning environments and different learning preferences, in correlation with learners‟ measure of control over their learning environments, in terms of their influence on their learning performance. The research commenced with a survey of UK Higher Educational institutions, to determine the usage of adaptive e-learning systems in UK HE and the type and nature of the systems in use, which in combination with the literature review enabled the clarification of the research hypothesis and objectives. Since a measurement of learners‟ learning performance was needed, an adaptable personalised e-learning system (ALPELS) was developed to create an environment where a qualitative measurement could be done. Experimental data was then gathered from two cohorts of MSc students over two semesters, who used the newly designed and developed online learning environment. The successful implementation of the project has produced a large amount of data, which demonstrates a correlation between i) adaptable and personalised e-learning systems, and ii) learners‟ learning styles (which in itself supports the behaviouristic approach towards this type of online learning environment – ALPELS). The study indicates a dependency between an online controlled learning environment and learners‟ learning performances, showing that a personalised e-learning system (PELS) would be supportive of recall (R) and understanding (U) types of content materials (with an indication of 4.89%), but also demonstrating an increase in student learning performance in an adaptable e-learning system (ALELS) while using competency (C) types of content materials (with an indication of 5.43%). These outcomes provide a basis for future design of e-learning systems, utilising different models of learner control based on underpinning educational philosophies, in combination with learning preferences, to structure and present learning content according to type

Improving Positive Learner Motivation towards Islamic Studies

The success in Islamic studies is getting lower and lower, and many learners are having difficulties with learning Islamic studies and with that also the motivation for learning Islamic studies decreases. The difficulties are shown in both, mastering the material in school and solving the exercises at home. For this reason, the study aims to improve positive learner motivation in learning Islamic studies. The aim of this study is to examine student\u27s motivation towards learning Islamic studies. The purposes of methodology are to explain research methodology, clarify the procedures that used in this research, define the measurements used in planning the instrument, explain data collection, and to provide a clear clarification of the statistical method used in order to analyse data. A quantitative method used in order to analyse data gathered by the researcher. The researcher used a questionnaire to obtain data about the learners\u27 motivation and analyse them. 89 students from different universities in Duhok participated in this study. Multiple regression analysis used in this study, as seen in table (3), the coefficients analysis shows the B value for social factor = .611> 0.01, which supported the first research hypothesis, the B value for capabilities factor = .712> 0.01, which supported the second research hypothesis and the B value for behavior factor = .609> 0.01, which supported the third research hypothesis

On the diophantine equation x2+2a3b73c=ynx^2+2^a3^b73^c=y^n

summary:In this paper, we find all integer solutions $(x, y, n, a, b, c)$ of the equation in the title for non-negative integers $a, b$ and $c$ under the condition that the integers $x$ and $y$ are relatively prime and $n \ge 3$. The proof depends on the famous primitive divisor theorem due to Bilu, Hanrot and Voutier and the computational techniques on some elliptic curves

Palpable Purpura in a Vietnamese Teenage Girl

A 19-year-old Vietnamese female with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department (ED) with fevers, sore throat, generalized myalgias, arthralgias, and a worsening lower extremity rash for the past two weeks. Approximately one week after the onset of constitutional symptoms, the patient noticed a rash developing on the anterior surface of her legs. Three days prior to hospitalization, her primary care physician prescribed cephalexin for her, but she didn’t recall what it was for. When her symptoms continued to worsen the next few days, she presented to the ED. In the ED, she also complained of abdominal tenderness. She had no previous hospitalizations, and her vaccinations were up to date. She also had a small tattoo noted on her neck that she reported receiving at a reputable place four years ago. She was sexually active with her boyfriend, and did not regularly use condoms. However, she denied any genitourinary symptoms

Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (THPP) is a rare but life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism characterized by recurrent episodes of muscle weakness due to intracellular potassium shifting in the presence of high levels of thyroid hormone. Attacks can be triggered by many factors. Its differential diagnosis from the other common causes of hypokalemic paralysis is necessary to maintain targeted therapy. Outcome was right away positive under potassium replacement therapy. Hyperthyroidism should be treated to prevent attacks

Testing for Financial Market Integration of the Chinese Market with the US Market

This paper investigates empirically whether or not the financial market of China is integrated with the financial market of the US. Unlike most previous studies on financial market integration, we allow for asymmetry in our investigation. The underlying data is transformed into cumulative partial sums by using a software component that is created by authors in Octave language. By estimating the asymmetric generalized impulse response functions we find that the financial markets of these two biggest economies in the world are linked interactively when the markets are falling. However, no significant impact between the two underlying markets are found when markets are rising. These results support the view that allowing for asymmetry in financial markets is important and it has crucial repercussions for both policy makers and investors

A MS-Excel Module to Transform an Integrated Variable into Cumulative Partial Sums for Negative and Positive Components with and without Deterministic Trend Parts.

Our aim is to describe how a software component called TDICPS can be used. TDICPS is a MS-Excel module developed in VBA (visual basics for applications) by the authors that transforms an integrated variable into cumulative partial sums for positive and negative components along with graphs for a potential sample size of more than one million observations. Several options are available. The variable might have both drift and trend, only drift or no deterministic trend parts. We demonstrate step by step how the stock price index of the US market can be transformed into partial components for positive and negative changes. Any other variable can also be transformed in a similar way. The transformed data can be used for implementing the asymmetric causality tests as developed by Hatemi-J (2012). It can also be used for estimating the asymmetric generalized impulse response functions and the asymmetric variance decompositions as introduced by Hatemi-J (2014). Other options are also possible. The MS-Excel code is available by e-mail from the authors

Testing for Financial Market Integration of the Chinese Market with the US Market

This paper investigates empirically whether or not the financial market of China is integrated with the financial market of the US. Unlike most previous studies on financial market integration, we allow for asymmetry in our investigation. The underlying data is transformed into cumulative partial sums by using a software component that is created by authors in Octave language. By estimating the asymmetric generalized impulse response functions we find that the financial markets of these two biggest economies in the world are linked interactively when the markets are falling. However, no significant impact between the two underlying markets are found when markets are rising. These results support the view that allowing for asymmetry in financial markets is important and it has crucial repercussions for both policy makers and investors

A MS-Excel Module to Transform an Integrated Variable into Cumulative Partial Sums for Negative and Positive Components with and without Deterministic Trend Parts.

Our aim is to describe how a software component called TDICPS can be used. TDICPS is a MS-Excel module developed in VBA (visual basics for applications) by the authors that transforms an integrated variable into cumulative partial sums for positive and negative components along with graphs for a potential sample size of more than one million observations. Several options are available. The variable might have both drift and trend, only drift or no deterministic trend parts. We demonstrate step by step how the stock price index of the US market can be transformed into partial components for positive and negative changes. Any other variable can also be transformed in a similar way. The transformed data can be used for implementing the asymmetric causality tests as developed by Hatemi-J (2012). It can also be used for estimating the asymmetric generalized impulse response functions and the asymmetric variance decompositions as introduced by Hatemi-J (2014). Other options are also possible. The MS-Excel code is available by e-mail from the authors