The effect of uncertainty on learning in game-like environments

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Considering the role of games for educational purposes, there has an increase in interest among educators in applying strategies used in popular games to create more engaging learning environments. Learning is more fun and appealing in digital educational games and, as a result, it may become more effective. However, few research studies have been conducted to establish principles based on empirical research for designing engaging and entertaining games so as to improve learning. One of the essential characteristics of games that has been unexplored in the literature is the concept of uncertainty. This study examines the effect of uncertainty on learning outcomes. In order to better understand this effect on learning, a game-like learning tool was developed to teach a database concept in higher education programs of software engineering. The tool is designed in two versions: one including uncertainty and the other including no uncertainty. The experimental results of this study reveal that uncertainty enhances learning. Uncertainty is found to be positively associated with motivation. As motivation increases, participants tend to spend more time on answering the questions and to have higher accuracy in these questions

Teaching usage of equipments in a remote laboratory

Remote laboratories are technologies that aim to increase the effectiveness of educational programs. European Remote Radio Laboratory (ERRL) is an e-learning project for students, teachers and technicians who will use very important devices of a radio frequency laboratory remotely. As a solution we have developed an e-learning system which aims to support the ERRL learners while studying on how to use equipments in the system. The system is developed according to the electronic performance support system (EPSS) approach. An EPSS is a computer-based, well-structured system which improves the performance of individuals. It is an electronic infrastructure that contains, stores and distributes personal (individual) or corporate knowledge to enable people to reach necessary levels of performance in the fastest possible time and with minimum teaching support of other people. This paper discusses how the content for such a system is developed and how this content is interactively used in the EPSS platform. The technical details of the developed EPSS are also discussed in this study. We believe that this paper will help instructional system designers for designing different alternatives to improve learners' performance

Science competitions using technology: a study of the behavior of the participating schools in the CNC in Portugal

Neste trabalho investiga-se a dinâmica de escolas do 3º ciclo do Ensino Básico em Portugal, na preparação e participação em uma competição desenvolvida em ambiente computacional sobre conteúdos curriculares de Matemática, Português, Físico-Química e Geologia. Foi realizada uma análise fatorial exploratória de dados empíricos relativos às 143 escolas participantes nas competições realizadas em 2015, analisando-se as suas caraterísticas de atuação. Foram identificados quatro fatores latentes descrevendo o comportamento das escolas: Treino quantitativo, Treino qualitativo, Prestação e Utilizadores, constatando-se que: (i) a participação na competição de Matemática é predominante; (ii) escolas participantes em duas ou três competições apresentam diferentes dinâmicas de preparação; (iii) escolas que participam apenas em Matemática e Físico-Química parecem adotar estratégias pedagógicas mais articuladas e eficientes. Reconhece-se que, embora as escolas participantes desenvolvam trabalhos de preparação, existe uma tendência para as escolas apresentarem estratégias distintas de atuação consoante a combinação de grupos disciplinares presentes nas competições oficiais.In this work we investigate the dynamics of 143 schools of the 3rd cycle of Basic Education in Portugal, regarding the preparation and participation in online science competitions on curricular contents of Mathematics, Portuguese, Physics and Chemistry and Geology. An exploratory factorial analysis of empirical data concerning the competitions in 2015 was carried out, to analyze the characteristics inherent to schools’ performance. Four latent factors describing the schools’ behavior were identified: Quantitative Training, Qualitative Training, Proficiency and Users, which allowed us to verify that: (i) participation in mathematics competition is predominant; (ii) schools participating in two or three competitions present different preparation dynamics; (iii) schools involved only in Mathematics and Physics and Chemistry competitions seem to adopt a more articulated and efficient pedagogical strategy. Although all schools develop a preparatory work before competitions, the strategies used seem to be related to the combination of distinct disciplinary groups participating in the competitions.Trabalho subsidiado por fundos portugueses através do Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Matemática e Aplicações (CIDMA) da Universidade de Aveiro, e da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), dentro do projeto UID/MAT/04106/2013.publishe

Co-regulated learning in computer programming: students co-reflection about learning strategies adopted during an assignment

Higher education students exhibit difficulties in learning computer programming, particularly transitioning from initial programming to advanced programming, so it’s necessary to develop effective teaching strategies. We developed the SimProgramming approach to help students overcome learning difficulties transitioning from entry-level to advanced computer programming, by developing appropriate learning strategies. The students perform a specific set of tasks in a learning environment that simulates business operations, developing a problem-based learning assignment. One of those tasks is filling biweekly individual self-reflection and co-reflection forms. This approach was implemented at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal), in a 4th semester course of two bachelor programmes: Informatics Engineering and ICT. The students provided 37 biweekly forms, on which we conducted thematic analysis to identify their strategies for co-regulation of learning during the assignment. Students are adopting different strategies in each phase of the approach. Early phases are devoted to organization, planning, and transformation of information, and later phases focus on applying theoretical knowledge and hands-on programming. We recommend including this type of pedagogical task (biwekly self-reflection and co-reflection forms) in educational practices, in view of their contribution to improving self- and co-regulation learning strategies.Pedrosa, D. wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for Ph.D. Grant SFRH/BD/87815/2012. This work is financially supported by National Funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project UID/CED/00194/2013. We would like to thank all the students and teachers who collaborated on this research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parameters of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (TEMD Obesity Study)

Background: Obesity is the main obstacle for metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Turkey has the highest prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe. The effect of obesity on the metabolic control, and the macro-and microvascular complications of patients are not apparent. Objectives: This nationwide survey aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among patients with type 2 diabetes and to search for the impact of obesity on the metabolic control of these patients. We also investigated the independent associates of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients who were under follow-up for at least 1 year in 69 tertiary healthcare units in 37 cities. The demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data including medications were recorded. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, younger than 18 years, had decompensated liver disease, psychiatric disorders interfering with cognition or compliance, had bariatric surgery, or were undergoing renal replacement therapy. Results: Only 10% of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 4,648) had normal body mass indexes (BMI), while the others were affected by overweight (31%) or obesity (59%). Women had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity (53.4 vs. 40%) and severe obesity (16.6 vs. 3.3%). Significant associations were present between high BMI levels and lower education levels, intake of insulin, antihypertensives and statins, poor metabolic control, or the presence of microvascular complications. Age, gender, level of education, smoking, and physical inactivity were the independent associates of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: The TEMD Obesity Study shows that obesity is a major determinant of the poor metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. These results underline the importance of prevention and management of obesity to improve health care in patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, the results point out the independent sociodemographic and clinical associates of obesity, which should be the prior targets to overcome, in the national fight with obesity. (c) 2019 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, BaselC1 [Sonmez, Alper; Haymana, Cem; Demirci, Ibrahim] Univ Hlth Sci, Gulhane Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, TR-06018 Ankara, Turkey.[Yumuk, Volkan] Istanbul Univ, Cerrahpasa Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Barcin, Cem] Univ Hlth Sci, Gulhane Sch Med, Dept Cardiol, Ankara, Turkey.[Kiyici, Sinem] Univ Hlth Sci, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Bursa, Turkey.[Guldiken, Sibel] Trakya Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Edirne, Turkey.[Oruk, Gonca] Izmir Katip Celebi Univ, Ataturk Educ & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Izmir, Turkey.[Saydam, Basak Ozgen] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Izmir, Turkey.[Baldane, Suleyman] Selcuk Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Konya, Turkey.[Kutluturk, Faruk] Gaziosmanpasa Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Tokat, Turkey.[Kucukler, Ferit Kerim] Hitit Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Corum, Turkey.[Deyneli, Oguzhan] Marmara Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Cetinarslan, Berrin] Kocaeli Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Kocaeli, Turkey.[Sabuncu, Tevfik] Harran Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Urfa, Turkey.[Bayram, Fahri] Erciyes Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Kayseri, Turkey.[Satman, Ilhan] Istanbul Univ, Med Fac, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Ayturk, Semra] Trakya Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Edirne, Turkey.[Yilmaz, Murat] Corlu REYAP Private Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Corlu, Turkey.[Asik, Mehmet] Canakkale 18 March Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Canakkale, Turkey.[Dinccag, Nevin; Cakmak, Ramazan; Turker, Fulya; Idiz, Cemile; Hacisahinogullari, Hulya; Bagdemir, Elif; Yildiz, Busra; Haliloglu, Ozlem] Istanbul Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Cerrahpasa, Turkey.[Sancak, Seda] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Ozsari, Levent; Cagiltay, Eylem] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Sultanabdulhamit Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Imre, Eren] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Sait Gonen; Boysan, S. Nur] Istanbul Sci Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Altuntas, Yuksel; Ozturk, Feyza Yener] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Mert, Meral; Piskinpasa, Hamide] Univ Hlth Sci, Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Training & Res Ho, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Aydin, Hasan] Yeditepe Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Ersoy, Canan; Oz Gul, Ozen] Uludag Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Bursa, Turkey.[Selek, Alev] Kocaeli Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Kocaeli, Turkey.[Dogru, Teoman; Kirik, Ali] Balikesir Univ, Sch Med, Dept Internal Med, Balikesir, Turkey.[Kebapci, Nur; Efe, Belgin] Eskisehir Osmangazi Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Odunpazari Eskisehir, Turkey.[Kaya, Ahmet; Cordan, Ilker] Necmettin Erbakan Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Konya, Turkey.[Kirac, Cem Onur] Selcuk Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Konya, Turkey.[Capa, Zehra] Univ Hlth Sci, Gulhane Sch Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Capa, Zehra] Gulhane Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Cesur, Mustafa] Private Guven Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Yetkin, Ilhan] Gazi Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Corapcioglu, Demet; Canlar, Sule] Ankara Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Yildiz, Okan Bulent; Sendur, Suleyman Nahit] Hacettepe Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Cakir, Bekir; Ozdemir, Didem] Yildirim Beyazit Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Corakci, Ahmet] Ufuk Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Kutlu, Mustafa] Private Bayindir Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Bascil Tutuncu, Neslihan; Bozkus, Yusuf] Baskent Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Cakal, Erman] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Demirbas, Berrin] TOBB Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Ertek, Sibel] Private Mem Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Altay, Mustafa; Dagdeviren, Murat] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Kecioren Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Abedi, Amir Hassein] Erciyes Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Kayseri, Turkey.[Cetinkalp, Sevki; Ozisik, Hatice] Ege Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Izmir, Turkey.[Yener, Serkan] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Izmir, Turkey.[Guney, Engin; Unubol, Mustafa] Adnan Menderes Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Aydin, Turkey.[Yaylali, Guzin Fidan; Topsakal, Senay] Pamukkale Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Denizli, Turkey.[Hekimsoy, Zeliha] Celal Bayar Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Manisa, Turkey.[Akbaba, Gulhan] Mugla Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Mugla, Turkey.[Aslan, Ibrahim] Univ Hlth Sci, Antalya Training & Res Hosp, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Antalya, Turkey.[Balci, Mustafa Kemal; Dalkiran, Sefika] Akdeniz Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Antalya, Turkey.[Akbay, Esen] Mersin Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Mersin, Turkey.[Gul, Kamile] Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.[Agbaht, Kemal] Private Defne Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Antalya, Turkey.[Yilmaz, Muge Ozsan] Mustafa Kemal Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Antakya, Turkey.[Bozkirli, Emre] Baskent Univ, Adana Training Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Ankara, Turkey.[Tetiker, B. Tamer; Cetinkaya Altuntas, Seher] Cukurova Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Adana, Turkey.[Atmaca, Aysegul; Durmus, Elif Tutku] 19 Mayis Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Samsun, Turkey.[Mete, Turkan] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Samsun Training & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Samsun, Turkey.[Dikbas, Oguz] Giresun Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Giresun, Turkey.[Akin, Safak] Recep Tayyip Erdogan Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Rize, Turkey.[Nuhoglu, Irfan; Ersoz, Halil Onder] Karadeniz Tech Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Trabzon, Turkey.[Bayraktaroglu, Taner] Bulent Ecevit Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Zonguldak, Turkey.[Sisman, Pinar] Kars Harakani State Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Kars, Turkey.[Sahin, Ibrahim; Cetin, Sedat] Inonu Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Malatya, Turkey.[Capoglu, Ilyas; Akbas, Emin Murat] Erzincan Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Erzincan, Turkey.[Ucler, Rifki] Yuzuncu Yil Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Van, Turkey.[Eren, Mehmet Ali] Harran Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Sanliurfa, Turkey.[Tuzcu, Alpaslan Kemal; Pekkolay, Zafer] Dicle Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Diyarbakir, Turkey.[Ozkaya, Mesut] Univ Hlth Sci, Sch Med, Gaziantep Ersin Arslan Res & Training Hosp, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Araz, Mustafa] Gaziantep Univ, Sch Med, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Salman, Serpil] Liv Hosp Ulus, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Istanbul, Turkey.[Dizdar, Oguzhan Sitki] Kayseri Educ & Res Hosp, Dept Internal Med, Kayseri, Turkey.[Gurkan, Eren] Mustafa Kemal Univ, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Antakya, Turkey.[Kargili Carlioglu, Ayse] Erzurum Reg Educ & Res Hosp, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, Erzurum, Turkey