Learning Anatomy with Augmented Reality: learning design and app design for optimal learning

An Augmented Reality (AR) application was developed to help students at SDU to learn the anatomy of the human body (mediastinum). This research project intended to evaluate whether AR strengthened the students’ self-efficacy and motivation, improved learning, and provided a good learning experience. This study focusses on how AR can help students to translate two-dimensional into three-dimensional understanding and evaluates formats of the app (the use of quizzes) together with the didactic design of the teaching sessions with AR. The objectives were to examine A. the effectiveness of using AR on student’s short, long term, and transfer learning outcome compared with traditional teaching, B. the effect of quizzes, and C. app design in relation to didactic design. In the AR world students saw a standardized hologram body combined with selected images from a computed tomography (CT) scan. The CT images were presented at the proper spatial positions in a hologram body. The user could select which structures to be shown at the body (e.g. skin, the vascular system, etc.). They could approach the body, circumvent it, study structures in details and compare the concurrent presentation with the different CT images. During class one group received traditional teaching and two groups studied CT scans in Augmented Reality. One AR-group complemented the AR app with quiz questions and received corrective feedback. The other AR group did not use quiz questions but studied content on their own hand. A teacher was present and ready to help students in all groups. The aim of this paper is to share lessons learned from this intervention and suggest solutions for app design and learning design to facilitate deeper learning processes and scaffold learners’ needs with AR as a learning resource

Volatility co-movement between Bitcoin and Ether

Using a bivariate Diagonal BEKK model, this paper investigates the volatility dynamics of the two major cryptocurrencies, namely Bitcoin and Ether. We find evidence of interdependencies in the cryptocurrency market, while it is shown that the two cryptocurrencies' conditional volatility and correlation are responsive to major news. In addition, we show that Ether can be an effective hedge against Bitcoin, while the analysis of optimal portfolio weights indicates that Bitcoin should outweigh Ether. Understanding volatility movements and interdependencies in cryptocurrency markets is important for appropriate investment management, and our study can thus assist cryptocurrency users in making more informed decisions

Intended and unintended test constructs in a Multiple-Mini admission Interview. A validity study.

Admission interviews in higher education may be developed with the intention to select applicants with specific personal competences not captured by traditional grade-based admission. In this study, we examined whether the data structure of multiple-mini admission interview scores supported the presence of communication, empathy, collaboration, and resilience as independent test dimensions. In addition, the associations between the interview scores and unintended test constructs (station format, pre-university grades, age, gender) were examined. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses and regression analyses were used to examine interview data from a cohort of Danish medical school applicants. The proposed multi-dimensionality was not supported by the data structure. The influence of the unintended constructs examined was limited or non-existing. These results are in line with the scarce existing literature. This situation makes a priori claims that the multiple-mini interview can measure multi-dimensional personal competences inadvisable, and care should be taken about what is communicated to stakeholders

Combining Islamic Equity Portfolios and Digital Currencies: Evidence from Portfolio Diversification

Digital currencies are unregulated and potentially have a destabilizing effect coupled with increased concerns over capital gains and losses in a high volatility environment. When added to a portfolio, this currency may have certain driving factors in terms of return and risks in the case of portfolio diversification. In this study, from the Sharia angle, we follow the position of Monzer Kahf (Fatwa on Bitcoin (by Monzer Kahf). http://lightuponlight.com/blog/fatwa-on-bitcoin-by-monzer-kahf/. Accessed 03 Feb 2020, 2017) who explained that Bitcoin is considered “Like any other currency”. It should be used under the “same conditions of exchanging currencies”. Therefore, we explore the effects of adding digital currencies to an Islamic portfolio by relying on a mean-variance efficient frontier and comparing the risk-return of portfolios with and without digital currencies for different scenarios. The results show that by adding digital currencies to Shariah-compliant portfolios, its performance improves; but this depends more or less on the increase in returns than in the reduction of total risk. Specifically, digital currencies may have a big role in bringing high risks with speculative effect in portfolio diversification. Therefore, we provide some recommendations to investors and regulators to secure these currencies in Islamic capital markets