Teachers\u27 Conceptions of Mathematics and Intelligent Tutoring System Use

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the relationship between teachers’ conceptions of mathematics and their use of intelligent tutoring systems for mathematics instruction. Intelligent tutoring systems are adaptive computer programs which administer mathematics instruction to students based on their cognitive state. A conception is a mixture of beliefs and knowledge. The participants in this study were 93 junior high school mathematics teachers from three school districts in the Midwest. Data were gathered using a two-part online survey. The first part of the survey contained questions about their use of intelligent tutoring systems, graphing calculators, Desmos and dynamic geometry software. The second part of the survey contained Likert questions from the teachers’ version of the Conceptions of Mathematics Inventory. Desmos is a website providing interactive classroom activities and a user-friendly graphing calculator. Dynamic geometry software is a class of interactive geometry programs. The quantitative analysis revealed no statistically significant interactions between teachers’ conception scores and intelligent tutoring system use, or between teachers’ conception scores and how intelligent tutoring systems were used. There were statistically significant interactions between teachers’ conception scores and their use of graphing calculators, Desmos, and dynamic geometry software. The qualitative analysis revealed that teachers used intelligent tutoring systems for differentiation. Teachers used graphing calculators, Desmos, and dynamic geometry software for visual, computational, and exploratory purposes. Teachers exclusively using intelligent tutoring systems to incorporate technology should also incorporate technology which promotes student exploration

Pioneers in Unknown Territory: Teacher Perceptions and Use of Non-Conventional Instructional Tools

In an ongoing effort to understand teacher adoption of innovative instructional practices and their consideration of non-conventional tools for teaching and learning we collected survey data from over 300 teachers. From the 44 teachers who participated in our research we found a lack of alignment between teacher personal use of technology for teaching, high levels of teacher-centered use of technology and low levels of student-centered access to technology for learning, and need for instructional technology professional development that is different than what the teachers are receiving. Our discussion includes possible explanations, implications, and directions for future research

ID, GPS Tracking, 24/7 Tag Link for CubeSats and Constellations: Flight Results

The tiny 40-gram EyeStar-Tag processor, GPS, and radio link will ID its satellite with GPS and critical status data within a minute after turn-on. The autonomous low power EyeStar Tag GPS (20mW for 3D lock) is now at TRL-9 based on the successful release and operation of the Spaceflight Inc. ring on the 1/24/2021 rideshare launch. The orbit (530 km polar) was projected using GPS seven element arrays to generate, on the fly, the future ephemeris predictions while monitoring critical fight systems. The Tag continues to transmit over the Globalstar network of satellites and ground stations the GPS elements and status with low latency of seconds, even if the primary satellite fails or stops. Whether dead or alive, orbital elements and TLEs for debris tracking, attitude, and ID are available to the 18th Squadron. AFWERX’s SBIR investment helped fast track the Black Box and Tag systems. Key enablers and new architecture are flight referenced for 30 ThinSat constellation launched in February 2021 NG-15. With the Globalstar constellation NSL can monitor a satellite 24/7 anywhere in LEO orbits with data available anytime, without the need for expensive ground stations. With a 100% success in orbit using the NSL EyeStar processor and Globalstar comm systems (110+ radios in space with several tumbling) can contribute to the commercial, educational, and research small satellite market that is rapidly growing. The EyeStar radio is ideal for the next step to advance many NASA, DOD, commercial, and STEM satellites now that appropriate FCC, NTIA, and ITU licenses have all been approved. The aircraft Black Box is well known and is essential for crash diagnostics after the fact, but in addition, the satellite Black Box and processor will operate in Telemetry Tracking and Command (TT&C) mode during the whole mission and will continue TT&C in orbit after a completed or failed mission. The Black Box transmits vital data, health and safety information, GPS, and summary data while in orbit for 24/7 coverage. With its included solar arrays, the Black Box would operate for many years after the primary satellite fails so that essential data and tracking is continuous, and altitude known. If the satellite reawakens after some long failure, the Black Box reports the new status, and the satellite may be reactivated. NSL customers have experienced this wake-up mode after a year on one of our Black Box/EyeStar communication processors after an unexpected two-month “dead” phase and wake. The “dead” satellite was reactivated

Explosion dynamics of pyroclastic eruptions at Santiaguito Volcano

In Jan. 2003 we monitored explosions at Santiaguito Volcano (Guatemala) with thermal, infrasonic, and seismic sensors. Thermal data from 2 infrared thermometers allowed computation of plume rise speeds, which ranged from 8 to 20 m/s. Rise rates correlated with cumulative thermal radiance, indicating that faster rising plumes correspond to explosions with greater thermal flux. The relationship between rise speeds and elastic energy is less clear. Seismic radiation may not scale well with thermal output and/or rise speed because some of the thermal component may be associated with passive degassing, which does not induce significant seismicity. But non-impulsive gas release is still able to produce a high thermal flux, which is the primary control on buoyant rise speed

Exoplanet Science Priorities from the Perspective of Internal and Surface Processes for Silicate and Ice Dominated Worlds

The geophysics of extrasolar planets is a scientific topic often regarded as standing largely beyond the reach of near-term observations. This reality in no way diminishes the central role of geophysical phenomena in shaping planetary outcomes, from formation, to thermal and chemical evolution, to numerous issues of surface and near-surface habitability. We emphasize that for a balanced understanding of extrasolar planets, it is important to look beyond the natural biases of current observing tools, and actively seek unique pathways to understand exoplanet interiors as best as possible during the long interim prior to a time when internal components are more directly accessible. Such pathways include but are not limited to: (a) enhanced theoretical and numerical modeling, (b) laboratory research on critical material properties, (c) measurement of geophysical properties by indirect inference from imprints left on atmospheric and orbital properties, and (d) the purpose-driven use of Solar System object exploration expressly for its value in comparative planetology toward exoplanet-analogs. Breaking down barriers that envision local Solar System exploration, including the study of Earth's own deep interior, as separate from and in financial competition with extrasolar planet research, may greatly improve the rate of needed scientific progress for exoplanet geophysics. As the number of known rocky and icy exoplanets grows in the years ahead, we expect demand for expertise in 'exogeoscience' will expand at a commensurately intense pace. We highlight key topics, including: how water oceans below ice shells may dominate the total habitability of our galaxy by volume, how free-floating nomad planets may often attain habitable subsurface oceans supported by radionuclide decay, and how deep interiors may critically interact with atmospheric mass loss via dynamo-driven magnetic fields

Highly Volcanic Exoplanets, Lava Worlds, and Magma Ocean Worlds:An Emerging Class of Dynamic Exoplanets of Significant Scientific Priority

Highly volcanic exoplanets, which can be variously characterized as 'lava worlds', 'magma ocean worlds', or 'super-Ios' are high priority targets for investigation. The term 'lava world' may refer to any planet with extensive surface lava lakes, while the term 'magma ocean world' refers to planets with global or hemispherical magma oceans at their surface. 'Highly volcanic planets', including super-Ios, may simply have large, or large numbers of, active explosive or extrusive volcanoes of any form. They are plausibly highly diverse, with magmatic processes across a wide range of compositions, temperatures, activity rates, volcanic eruption styles, and background gravitational force magnitudes. Worlds in all these classes are likely to be the most characterizable rocky exoplanets in the near future due to observational advantages that stem from their preferential occurrence in short orbital periods and their bright day-side flux in the infrared. Transit techniques should enable a level of characterization of these worlds analogous to hot Jupiters. Understanding processes on highly volcanic worlds is critical to interpret imminent observations. The physical states of these worlds are likely to inform not just geodynamic processes, but also planet formation, and phenomena crucial to habitability. Volcanic and magmatic activity uniquely allows chemical investigation of otherwise spectroscopically inaccessible interior compositions. These worlds will be vital to assess the degree to which planetary interior element abundances compare to their stellar hosts, and may also offer pathways to study both the very young Earth, and the very early form of many silicate planets where magma oceans and surface lava lakes are expected to be more prevalent. We suggest that highly volcanic worlds may become second only to habitable worlds in terms of both scientific and public long-term interest.Comment: A white paper submitted in response to the National Academy of Sciences 2018 Exoplanet Science Strategy solicitation, from the NASA Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration (SEEC) of the Goddard Space Flight Center. 6 pages, 0 figure

Letter from Andrew L. Glaze, Birmingham, Alabama, to A. H. Woodward, Woodward Iron Company, Woodward, Alabama, May 15, 1926

This item is from the Woodward Family Papers, an extensive collection, including business and personal correspondence, financial records, photographs, and other materials of this Birmingham, Alabama family which operated the Woodward Iron Company