Socioeconomic Driving Forces of Land Use/Cover Dynamics and its Implications in Wallecha Watershed, Southern Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to examine land use cover dynamics and its implications in Wallecha Watershed Southern Ethiopia The study referred to have applied perceptions analyses descriptive statistics semi-structured and face to face interviews to identify the causes of the changes The study showed high population pressure which in turn leads to increasing demand for land and trees and change in farming systems poor institutional and socio-economic settings lack of land tenure security and inappropriate land use practices were identified as the reasons for the changes Thus it was understood that LU LC is inevitable that it was occurred at all times in the past are presently ongoing and are likely to continue in the future The changes in LU LC in the study watershed have both positive degrading and negative enhancing impacts on particular environmental and ecological changes of the watershe

Spatial and Temporal Rainfall Trend Analysis: A Case Study of South Western, Ethiopia

Based on the 31 year period rainfall record, analysis was carried out to extract the trends of seasonal and annual rainfall in south western Ethiopia. Eventhough, Nekemte and Jima are found in the same rainfall regime called single maxima; the analysis demonstrates that Nekemte stations are shown a slight decreasing trend in rainfall magnitude. Cross-correlation of annual rainfall between the two stations in the period of 1971-2002 is around 11.07, which is low. Though they are in the same rainfall regime, the correlation shows that they may not be subjected to the same climatic change influence. The coefficient of variation and standard deviation for 1951 to 1990 ranged from 0.32 to 0.2, and 60 mm to 90.4 mm, respectively, confirming the moderate variability of the mean monthly rainfall over the two stations. This shows that outside of the 4-months rainy period, there is little rainfall during the rest of the year and are highly variable. Even though the data was inadequate for the analysis of rainfall series, the temporal rainfall distribution shows that the dry spells are more frequent than the wet spells. In this regard, hence, the mean annual rainfall coefficient of variability (CV) clearly indicated moderate to high rainfall variability. Keywords: Trends, Climate change, Rainfall Variability, South Western Ethiopi

Strategies of formative assessment enacted through automatic assessment in blended modality

International audienceThis paper intends to contribute to the research on formative assessment in Mathematics providing a model of automatic assessment aimed at enhancing learning and self-regulation. The model was developed at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Turin (Italy). The main features of the model are: availability, algorithmic questions, open answers, immediate feedback, interactive feedback, and real-life contextualization. The effectiveness of the model to enact formative strategies is discussed though the results of a didactic experimentation involving 299 students of 8th grade, where automatically assessed assignments have been used both during Mathematics classes and as online homework

Ten Good Reasons to Adopt an Automated Formative Assessment Model for Learning and Teaching Mathematics and Scientific Disciplines

Abstract This paper will analyze an educational model for automated formative assessment developed at the Department of Mathematics of University of Turin for learning and teaching Mathematics and scientific disciplines. The model is provided through an automated grading system which, empowered by the engine of an advanced computing environment, allows the creation of algorithmic variables and open mathematical answers, recognized in all their equivalent forms. The adoption of automated formative assessment brings many advantages to learning. Easily available assignments, immediate feedback, adaptivity, the chance of learning from mistakes turn assessment into a fundamental enhancement in education; the intrinsic "rigidity" of technology can also have positive results on students' path to knowledge. Automated assessment brings innovation into teaching: time saved in grading can be used to improve materials and activities, teachers easily get information about students' learning, they need to change their approach and to attend trainings; sharing and collaboration among teachers are facilitated. Results obtained by the application of automated formative assessment in several class experiences are discussed and data about emerged satisfaction and criticisms are shown

Transverse Dynamic Susceptibility For An Ising Spin System: An Exact Eigenvalue Equation For The Resonance Frequencies

The dynamics of an Ising system is studied assuming that a microwave radiation field is coupled to the magnetic system through the transverse spin components. The transverse dynamic susceptibility is calculated with the use of the Green-function formalism in an exact manner, without the use of any decoupling scheme. The method yields an exact eigenvalue equation for the resonance frequencies, valid for any dimension and lattice, and a physical meaning of these resonances can be given in terms of the low-lying excitations for an Ising system. Those excitations correspond to spin-flip transitions in elementary clusters which represent all the possible spin arrangements of nearest neighbors. The present method does not allow for a calculation of line intensities without the help of statistical mechanics to evaluate correlation functions. © 1984 The American Physical Society.29143343

Developing problem solving competences through the resolution of contextualized problems with an Advanced Computing Environment

[EN] The paper shows how problem solving competences can be developed by solving contextualized problems using an Advanced Computing Environment (ACE). An ACE is a computer system which enables its user to perform numeric and symbolic computations, graphical representations in two and three dimensions, insert embedded components and create interactive worksheet, all in the same user-friendly environment. An ACE allows students to approach a problematic situation in the way that most suits their thinking, to use different types of representations according to the chosen strategy and to display the whole reasoning together with verbal explanation in the same page: in other words, they can fulfill all the processes that problem solving involves. This paper analyzes a problem solving activity with an ACE proposed by the XXX of the ZZZ, and clarifies, also through examples, how the use of the ACE makes it possible to solve real and relevant problems, facilitates the comprehension of the situation and of the Mathematics laying behind and enhance critical thinking.The authors desire to thank the Fondazione CRT of Turin, in particular dott.ssa Daniela Tornielli for the support given for the Project Digital Mate Training and for her remarkable dedication and passion.Barana, A.; Fioravera, M.; Marchisio, M. (2017). Developing problem solving competences through the resolution of contextualized problems with an Advanced Computing Environment. En Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1015-1023. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD17.2017.55051015102