Examining the five‐stage e‐moderating model: Designed and emergent practice in the learning technology profession

This paper highlights the need for learning technologists to establish their ‘academic legitimacy’ within the complexities of online learning and teaching practice. Frameworks such as the ‘five stage e‐moderating model’ can be useful in developing the knowledge base but there are dangers in them becoming too reified within an increasingly commodified higher education (HE) environment. The paper calls for greater professional reflexivity and contestation within learning technology practice and concludes by inviting the Alt‐J readership to engage in a critical debate with regard to these issues

On reification: A reinterpretation of designed and emergent practice ‐ a reply

We welcome the response of Chris Tompsett and Graham Alsop to our article (Lisewski and Joyce, 2003). Within its ‘stricter analysis’, it is thoughtful and incisive, presenting an interesting critique of our ideas. However, we cannot help but think that the authors have missed the point. Indeed, if we wish to be mischievous we woidd argue that their response is an exemplar of some of the concerns we wanted to raise in our original article

A Model for Creation: Part II

In Part I we developed a model, called system P, for constructing the physical universe. In the present paper (Part II) we explore the hypothesis that something exists prior to the physical universe; i.e. we suppose that there exists a sequence of projections (and levels) that is prior to the sequence that constructs the physical universe itself. To avoid an infinite regress, this prior sequence must be finite, meaning that the whole chain of creative projections must begin at some primal level which is itself uncreated. So, from this primal level emanates a primal sequence of projections, which yields a first-created system; by definition, there is no creation prior to this first system. Proceeding from this basis, we use the template of our previous work in constructing entities in the physical universe to outline the construction of entities in this first-created system. Next, we seek an interpretation of this first system and its entities. Since our "primal level" is an uncreated state of being from which all creation springs, it draws obvious allusions to the concept of "God". So at this point the model bumps head-on into theology, and we are forced to ask: Is there some metaphysically- or theologically-related work that can help us to interpret this first-created system and its entities? Indeed, such a work, and consequent interpretations, will be put forth --- from which much more then follows

A Model for Creation: Part I

Four initial postulates are presented (with two more added later), which state that construction of the physical universe proceeds from a sequence of discrete steps or "projections" --- a process that yields a sequence of discrete levels (labeled 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). At or above level 2 the model yields a (3+1)-dimensional structure, which is interpreted as ordinary space and time. As a result, time does not exist below level 2 of the system, and thus the quantum of action, h, which depends on time (since its unit is time•energy), also does not exist below level 2. This implies that the quantum of action is not fundamental, and thus e.g. that the physical universe cannot have originated from a quantum fluctuation. When the gravitational interaction for the model is developed, it is seen that the basic ingredient for gravity is already operating at level 1 of the system, which implies that gravity, too, is not fundamentally quantum mechanical (since, as stated, h only kicks in at level 2) --- perhaps obviating the need for a quantum theory of gravity. Further arguments along this line lead to the conclusion that quantum fluctuations cannot be a source of gravity, and thus cannot contribute to the cosmological constant --- thereby averting the cosmological constant problem. Along the way, the model also provides explanations for dark energy, the beginning and ending of inflation, quark confinement, and more. Although the model dethrones the quantum, it nevertheless elevates an idea in physics that was engendered by quantum mechanics: the necessary role of "observers" in constructing the world

Effects of Workers' Compensation: A Survey

This survey covers extensively the theoretical and the empirical work that was done on the incentive effects related to the existence of workers' compensation (WC) in the North American context. It first analyzes the economic rationale for compulsory WC. Then it studies the impact of WC on behavior. Three types of effects can be distinguished: 1) WC may influence frequency, duration and nature of claims through a variety of incentive effects. Under asymmetrical information about accident prevention activities, WC may affect safety behavior of both employers and employees and the risk level in the market place. Under asymmetrical information about the true nature of workplace injuries, insured workers may attempt to report false or off-the-job accidents and to undertake activities in order to obtain higher WC benefits, especially in the case of hard-to-diagnose injuries. Moreover, substitution between WC and other insurance programs may be observed. The decision of reporting a workplace accident may also be affected by the generosity of WC benefits. 2) WC may induce changes in occupational wages rates and 3) WC may affect firms' productivity. So far, the literature has focused mainly on the first type of effects. The main results show that increases in WC insurance are associated with an increase in the frequency of injuries (elasticities ranging from 0.4 to 1), and with an increase in the average duration of claims (elasticities ranging from 0.2 to 0.5). Furthermore, increases in WC are associated with more reporting of injuries that are hard-to-diagnose and, in the same line, there are some evidence (at least in Canada) of substitution between unemployment insurance and WC insurance. Lastly, there are empirical results showing that the presence of WC insurance induces important reductions in wage rates, while an emerging literature suggests that changes in WC insurance may also have negative productivity effects. Cette étude couvre un grand nombre des travaux théoriques et empiriques réalisés sur les effets incitatifs de l'existence d'indemnisation pour les accidentés du travail (IAT) dans le contexte nord- américain. Nous analysons d'abord la rationalité économique de l'indemnisation obligatoire des accidentés du travail. Nous étudions ensuite l'impact de l'IAT sur le comportement. On peut distinguer trois types d'effets : 1) l'IAT peut influencer la fréquence, la durée et la nature des réclamations à travers une variété d'effets incitatifs. Dans le cas d'information asymétrique sur les activités de prévention des accidents, l'IAT peut affecter les activités préventives des employés et des employeurs, ainsi que le niveau de risque sur le marché. Dans le cas d'information asymétrique sur la véritable nature des accidents du travail, les travailleurs assurés peuvent tenter de déclarer de faux accidents, ou des accidents survenus à l'extérieur de leur lieu de travail. Ils pourront aussi entreprendre certaines activités afin de bénéficier d'indemnisations plus élevées, particulièrement dans le cas de blessures difficiles à diagnostiquer. De plus, on peut observer une substitution entre l'IAT et d'autres programmes d'assurance. La décision de déclarer un accident du travail peut également être affectée par la générosité des prestations. 2) L'IAT peut modifier le taux de salaire des travailleurs et 3) l'IAT peut affecter la productivité de la firme. Jusqu'à présent, les écrits ont mis l'accent sur le premier type d'effets. Les principaux résultats montrent qu'une hausse de l'IAT est associée à une augmentation de la fréquence des blessures (élasticités entre 0.4 et 1), et à une hausse de la durée moyenne des réclamations (élasticités entre 0.2 et 0.5). Par ailleurs, on peut constater une relation positive entre l'accroissement de l'IAT et le nombre de blessures difficiles à diagnostiquer. Et, dans le même ordre d'idées, les études ont montré (du moins au Canada) qu'il s'effectue une substitution entre l'assurance chômage et l'assurance contre les accidents du travail. Enfin, des résultats empiriques ont montré que la présence de l'assurance contre les accidents du travail conduit à d'importantes réductions du taux de salaire, tandis qu'une nouvelle vague d'études suggère que les changements de l'assurance contre les accidents du travail peuvent également exercer un effet négatif sur la productivité.Assurance, accidents du travail, sécurité du travail, incitation, salaires, productivité, Insurance, workers' compensation, occupational safety and health, incentives, wages, productivity

Visual ageing of human faces in three dimensions using morphable models and projection to latent structures

We present an approach to synthesising the effects of ageing on human face images using three-dimensional modelling. We extract a set of three dimensional face models from a set of two-dimensional face images by fitting a Morphable Model. We propose a method to age these face models using Partial Least Squares to extract from the data-set those factors most related to ageing. These ageing related factors are used to train an individually weighted linear model. We show that this is an effective means of producing an aged face image and compare this method to two other linear ageing methods for ageing face models. This is demonstrated both quantitatively and with perceptual evaluation using human raters.Postprin

Er doped oxide nanoparticles in silica based optical fibres

Erbium doped materials are of great interest in optical telecommunications due to the Er3+ intra-4f emission at 1.54 ?m. Erbium doped fibre amplifiers (EDFA) were developed in silica glass because of the low losses at this wavelength and the reliability of this glass. Developments of new rare earth doped fibre amplifiers aim to control their spectroscopic properties including shape and width of the gain curve and optical quantum efficiency. Standard silica glass modifiers, such as aluminium, result in very good properties in current EDFA. However, for more drastic spectroscopic changes, more important modifications of the rare earth ions local environment are required. To address this aim, we present a fibre fabrication route creating rare earth doped calcia?silica or calcia?phosphosilica nanoparticles embedded in silica glass. By adding alkaline earth elements such as calcium, in low concentration, one can obtain a glass with an immisci- bility gap so that phase separation occurs with an appropriate heat treatment. We investigated the role of two elements: calcium and phosphorus (a standard silica modifier). Scanning electron microscopy shows that nanoparticles are only observed when calcium is incorporated. The size of the particles is determined to be around 50 nm in preform samples. The nature of these particles depends on phosphorus content: without P, electron diffraction shows that the particles are amorphous whilst they are partially crystalline when phosphorus is added. In addition through use of energy dispersive x-ray techniques, we have shown that erbium ions are located in the nanoparticles

Is Workers' Compensation Disguised Unemployment Insurance?

This paper examines how yhe Workers' Compensation (WC) and the Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs interact to influence the duration of claims due to workplace accidents. We use longitudinal WC administrative micro-data on more than 30,000 workers in the Quebec construction industry for the period 1976-1986. Our results show that a reduction in the UI wage replacement ratio is associated with an increase in the duration of claims due to serve accidents that are difficult to diagnose (this category includes severe back-related problems). Also, an increase in the WC replacement ratio leads to an increase in the average duration of claims due to minor accidents that are difficult to diagnose (this category includes minor low-back injuries). Moreover, there seems to be an important seasonal effect in the duration of claims; i.e., the average duration of spells on WC is estimated to be 21.2% higher when an accident occurs in December rather than in July. Ce texte examine comment l'assurance contre les lésions professionnelles (ALP) et l'assurance-chômage (AC) interagissent pour influencer la durée des réclamations pour lésions professionnelles. Nous utilisons des micro-données administratives longitudinales couvrant plus de 30 000 travailleurs du secteur de la construction pour la période 1976-1986. Nos résultats montrent qu'une réduction du taux de remplacement salarial de l'assurance-chômage est associée à une augmentation de la durée des accidents majeurs difficiles à diagnostiquer (cette catégorie inclut les maux de dos majeurs). De plus, un accroissement du taux de remplacement salarial de l'ALP entraîne un accroissement de la durée des accidents mineurs difficiles à diagnostiquer (cette catégorie inclut les lombalgies). Enfin, il semble y avoir un effet saisonnier lié à la durée des périodes d'indemnisation est plus élevée de 21.2% lorsqu'un accident survient en1101 plutôt qu'en0701.duration, worplace accidents, construction, worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, hazard, durée, accidents du travail, lésions professionnelles, assurance-chômage, construction, hazard