Monitoring Student Cues: Tracking Student Behaviour in Order to Improve Instruction in Higher Education

In this paper, we focus on monitoring, a particular aspect of reflection related to teaching. We define monitoring as a feedback mechanism which entails attending to and evaluating a multitude of cues in the envi- ronment in order to evaluate progress towards a goal. We direct our attention to monitoring because it is a way in which a teacher is able to gain understanding of how effective his/her teaching actions are. Thus, knowing what cues to evaluate (and being able to do so) is a critical skill in reflection. Further, we focus exclusively in this paper on the concur- rent monitoring of cues related to students since we believe that attention to student cues while teaching provides teachers with a window into their students' learning experiences. We call this particular type of reflection, reflection-in-action. As well as depicting multiple examples of monitoring drawn from our research, we explore the contribution of this work to the literature in higher education and to faculty development activities, particularly, to the growing literature on teacher thinking.Cet article est principalement consacré au «monitorage», c'est-à-dire à un aspect particulier de la réflexion portant sur l'enseignement. Nous entendons par monitorage un mécanisme de rétroaction qui consiste à observer et à évaluer une multitude de signaux dans un environnement donné afin de mesurer les progrès accomplis par rapport à un objectif. Nous nous intéressons au monitorage, car ce moyen permet au professeur de mesurer l'efficacité de ses interventions. Pour mener à bien cette réflexion, il est donc essentiel de pouvoir déterminer quels signaux il faut évaluer (et d'être en mesure de les évaluer). Cet article porte en outre exclusivement sur le monitorage simultané des signaux émis par les étudiants, car nous pensons que l'observation de ces signaux fournit au professeur un aperçu des apprentissages que font les étudiants. Nous appelons "réflexion sur le vif' ce type de réflexion. En plus d'offrir de nombreux exemples de monitorage tirés de nos recherches, nous étudions sous tous ses aspects la contribution qu'elles apportent aux études consacrées à l'enseignement supérieur et au perfectionnement des professeurs et particulièrement aux études de plus en plus nombreuses qui portent sur la pensée des professeurs

A Comprehensive Spectroscopic Analysis of DB White Dwarfs

We present a detailed analysis of 108 helium-line (DB) white dwarfs based on model atmosphere fits to high signal-to-noise optical spectroscopy. We derive a mean mass of 0.67 Mo for our sample, with a dispersion of only 0.09 Mo. White dwarfs also showing hydrogen lines, the DBA stars, comprise 44% of our sample, and their mass distribution appears similar to that of DB stars. As in our previous investigation, we find no evidence for the existence of low-mass (M < 0.5 Mo) DB white dwarfs. We derive a luminosity function based on a subset of DB white dwarfs identified in the Palomar-Green survey. We show that 20% of all white dwarfs in the temperature range of interest are DB stars, although the fraction drops to half this value above Teff ~ 20,000 K. We also show that the persistence of DB stars with no hydrogen features at low temperatures is difficult to reconcile with a scenario involving accretion from the interstellar medium, often invoked to account for the observed hydrogen abundances in DBA stars. We present evidence for the existence of two different evolutionary channels that produce DB white dwarfs: the standard model where DA stars are transformed into DB stars through the convective dilution of a thin hydrogen layer, and a second channel where DB stars retain a helium-atmosphere throughout their evolution. We finally demonstrate that the instability strip of pulsating V777 Her white dwarfs contains no nonvariables, if the hydrogen content of these stars is properly accounted for.Comment: 74 pages including 30 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Development of methodologies and procedures for identifying STS users and uses

A study was conducted to identify new uses and users of the new Space Transporation System (STS) within the domestic government sector. The study develops a series of analytical techniques and well-defined functions structured as an integrated planning process to assure efficient and meaningful use of the STS. The purpose of the study is to provide NASA with the following functions: (1) to realize efficient and economic use of the STS and other NASA capabilities, (2) to identify new users and uses of the STS, (3) to contribute to organized planning activities for both current and future programs, and (4) to air in analyzing uses of NASA's overall capabilities

User benefits and funding strategies

The justification, economic and technological benefits of NASA Space Programs (aside from pure scientific objectives), in improving the quality of life in the United States is discussed and outlined. Specifically, a three-step, systematic method is described for selecting relevant and highly beneficial payloads and instruments for the Interim Upper Stage (IUS) that will be used with the space shuttle until the space tug becomes available. Viable Government and private industry cost-sharing strategies which would maximize the number of IUS payloads, and the benefits obtainable under a limited NASA budget were also determined. Charts are shown which list the payload instruments, and their relevance in contributing to such areas as earth resources management, agriculture, weather forecasting, and many others

Infrared photochemistry of ethylene clusters

Infrared irradiation of ethylene clusters formed in supersonic molecular beams, using a low power cw CO2 laser, results in the photodissociation of a large fraction of the van der Waals molecules. Under such conditions, infrared absorption intensity exhibits first-order power dependence and is readily detected as loss in molecular beam intensity. Intramolecular energy transfer rates, determined by measuring spectral linewidths, are shown to vary with the vibrational mode initially excited. Ethylene clusters containing one quantum of vibrational energy corresponding to the nun7 fundamental in the monomer (949 cm^–1) have a vibrationally predissociative lifetime of 0.33 psec. In comparison, the relaxation rate of ethylene-d4 clusters with one quantum of excitation corresponding to the nu12 (1078 cm^–1) mode of C2D4 is 0.7 psec

Ion-Cyclotron Double Resonance

A charged particle in a uniform moving magnetic field H describes a circular orbit in a plance perpendicular to H with an angular frequency or "cyclotron frequency" omagae. When an alternating electric field E(t) is applied normal to H at omegae, the ions absorb energy from the alternating electric field, and are accelerated to larger velocities and orbital radii. [1] The absorption of energy from E(t) at the cyclotron resonance frequency can be conveniently detected using a marginal oscillator detector. When the ions accelerated by E(t) collide with other particles, they lose some of their excess energy. A mixture of ions and neutral molecules in the presence of H and E(t) then reaches a steady-state condition in which the energy gained by the ions from E(t) between collisions is lost to the neutral molecules in collisions

Mass spectrometer calibration of Cosmic Dust Analyzer

The time of flight mass spectrometer of the Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) instrument aboard the Cassini spacecraft, is expected to be placed in orbit about Saturn to sample the ring material and satellite impact ejecta. Upon impact of an incident dust particle against the target plate at velocities of 5-100 km/s, some 10–8 to 10–5 times the particle mass of positive valence, single-charged ions is induced. These are analyzed via a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Initial experiments employing a pulsed N2 laser (>300 µJ/pulse, 4ns, 337nm) acting on a suite of samples are described. The laser beam is focussed to deliver the light pulses onto a laser power density (1011 W/cm2) to simulate the impact of particles. Laser ionization produced a charge of 4.6 pC per pulse for aluminum alloy. Estimating that each Al+1 ion require energy of 5.98 eV ionization energy/ion implies that 10–5% of the laser energy produced ions and the present system has a 5% efficiency of collecting the laser-irradiation induced ions. Employing a multi-channel plate detector in this mass spectrometer yields for Al-Mg-Cu alloy and kamacite (Fe-Ni mineral) targets well defined peaks at 24 (Mg+1), 27 (Al+1) and 64 (Cu+1), and 56 (Fe+1), 58 (Ni+1) and 60 (Ni+1) dalton, respectively

New results on GP Com

We present high resolution optical and UV spectra of the 46 min orbital period, helium binary, GP Com. Our data contains simultaneous photometric correction which confirms the flaring behaviour observed in previous optical and UV data. In this system all lines show a triple peaked structure where the outer two peaks are associated with the accretion disc around the compact object. The main aim of this paper is to constrain the origin of the central peak, also called ``central spike''. We find that the central spike contributes to the flare spectra indicating that its origin is probably the compact object. We also detect that the central spike moves with orbital phase following an S-wave pattern. The radial velocity semiamplitude of the S-wave is ~10 km/s indicating that its origin is near the centre of mass of the system, which in this case lies very close to the white dwarf. Our resolution is higher than that of previous data which allows us to resolve structure in the central peak of the line. The central spike in three of the HeI lines shows another peak blueshifted with respect to the main peak. We propose that one of the peaks is a neutral helium forbidden transition excited in a high electron density region. This forbidden transition is associated with the permitted one (the stronger peak in two of the lines). The presence of a high electron density region again favours the white dwarf as their origin.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figures. Accepted for publication in A&

Teaching Sodium Fast Reactors in CEA

International audienceAmong the Fast Neutron Reactor Systems, the SFR has the most comprehensive technological basis as result of the experience gained from worldwide operation of several experimental, prototype, and commercial size reactors since the 1940s. This experience corresponds to about 402 years of operation by end of 2010. Six reactors are in operation BOR60, BN600 and BN800 in Russia, Joyo in Japan, FBTR in India and CEFR in China. One reactor is being commissioned PFBR (500MWe) in India and several projects are currently developed FBR1 and 2 in India, BN1200 in Russia, JSFR in Japan, PGSFR in Korea, CFR-600 in China and ASTRID in France. In order to support operation of existing reactors, design activities for new projects and decommissioning of old reactors, it is mandatory to develop skills, more particularly among the young generation, who will operate these new reactors. In addition, education and training is also essential to share the knowledge among the teams involved in Research and Development. Several strategies are developed at the national level, or within multilateral framework, like EU or IAEA to support development of Fast Reactors.In France, to answer to this increasing demand of Education and Training, four sessions are proposed, within the frame of INSTN (French National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology)-SFR History, main options, design and operational feedback-SFR Functional analysis and design-SFR Safety and operation-SFR Sodium structures interactionsThe French Na School (ESML) provides since 1975 also several sessions dedicated to Na facilities design, safe operation, handling, and also decommissioning and sodium treatment. Beside courses, practical exercises are organized during each session. 10 different modules are available, ranging in length from 1 to 5 days. CEA contributes also to the organization of European Sessions dedicated to Sodium Fast Reactors, organized within the frame of the European Commission (CP-ESFR, ESNII+ , ESFR-SMART) This Education and Training strategy is a key element for the future of the development of Sodium Fast Reactors, and more particularly ASTRID project. CEA is ready to share training experience and to collaborate with other foreign Education and Training Entities

Vortex Plastic Flow, B(x,y,H(t)),M(H(t)),Jc(B(t))B(x,y,H(t)), M(H(t)), J_c(B(t)), Deep in the Bose Glass and Mott-Insulator Regimes

We present simulations of flux-gradient-driven superconducting vortices interacting with strong columnar pinning defects as an external field $H(t)$ is quasi-statically swept from zero through a matching field $B_{\phi}$. We analyze several measurable quantities, including the local flux density $B(x,y,H(t))$, magnetization $M(H(t))$, critical current $J_{c}(B(t))$, and the individual vortex flow paths. We find a significant change in the behavior of these quantities as the local flux density crosses $B_{\phi}$, and quantify it for many microscopic pinning parameters. Further, we find that for a given pin density $J_c(B)$ can be enhanced by maximizing the distance between the pins for $B < B_{\phi}$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 PostScript Figure