Institutional and Student Transitions Into Enhanced Blended Learning

This presentation provides an overview of the ‘Transitions into blended learning’ project, which has focused on three areas: developing an institutional transition framework, researching student experiences, and identifying interventions to support effective transitions. The framework identified external drivers for blended learning, a set of considerations for institutions, and a set of processes to facilitate change involving three stakeholder groups at the heart of the model. The work included learner experience research with students newly engaged in blended learning. This work identified support needs around access (to technology and learning materials), attitudes (towards learning online) and attributes (skills) needed to engage autonomously in blended learning. The institution-wide Enhancement themes team identified a set of interventions or ‘anchor points’ to prevent the institution ‘drifting back’ into purely traditional approaches to learning and teaching. These included the recognition and promotion of good practice through case studies, development of an institutional e-learning framework, and an event to encourage staff and students to share good practice in blended learning. This three-year project was largely led by a PhD student (JA), working with the principal investigator (VHD) and the institutional representative (KG)

Intelligence and Autonomy in the Sat4EO+ Satellite

The responsiveness of an Earth observation (EO) service, in terms of the time from the initiation of satellite tasking after an End User request is accepted, until the availability of the Earth Observation product to the End User, is a key metric in many applications, such as security, disaster monitoring and nowcasting, and more generally in enhanced-NRT services. Elecnor DEIMOS is currently developing its next proprietary Very-High Resolution (VHR) small satellite [1][2], Sat4EO+, to meet current and upcoming market needs for Earth Observation products derived from a sub-meter optical imaging capability. Sat4EO+ is an agile low-cost ~200kg VNIR optical satellite, providing ~50cm native VHR imaging. In Sat4EO+, responsiveness has been included as a key performance parameter, with a requirement that the Sat4EO+ service shall provide responsiveness down to 10 minutes, globally, for high-priority products. This poster describes the approach employed by DEIMOS to achieve this responsiveness requirement below 10 minutes globally in the Sat4EO+ satellite. The responsive service is based on several key capabilities for small satellites, which, when employed in combination, lead to an intelligent satellite, with increased autonomy, that provides for an innovative service to the End User. These capabilities are: rapid global tasking, exploiting a permanent communications link to the Sat4EO+ satellite through a global high-rate geo-relay link; re-configurable data handling on-board the satellite, to manage both high and standard priority products and their transfer to the End User; on-board processing, through DEIMOS\u27 propriety Insight4EO HW/SW turnkey product embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, allowing for the generation of high-priority Earth observation products on-board the satellite and their direct transfer to the End User globally with very low latency (real-time), exploiting the global communications link and the relative small size of such products; autonomous task management on-board the satellite, to manage autonomously high and standard priority tasks, and perform tasks such as data prioritisation, thus maximising the overall duty cycle of the satellite and the service performance and ROI

The present-day star formation rate of the Milky-Way determined from Spitzer detected young stellar objects

We present initial results from a population synthesis model aimed at determining the star formation rate of the Milky-Way. We find that a total star formation rate of 0.68 to 1.45 Msun/yr is able to reproduce the observed number of young stellar objects in the Spitzer/IRAC GLIMPSE survey of the Galactic plane, assuming simple prescriptions for the 3D Galactic distributions of YSOs and interstellar dust, and using model SEDs to predict the brightness and color of the synthetic YSOs at different wavelengths. This is the first Galaxy-wide measurement derived from pre-main-sequence objects themselves, rather than global observables such as the total radio continuum, Halpha, or FIR flux. The value obtained is slightly lower than, but generally consistent with previously determined values. We will extend this method in the future to fit the brightness, color, and angular distribution of YSOs, and simultaneously make use of multiple surveys, to place constraints on the input assumptions, and reduce uncertainties in the star formation rate estimate. Ultimately, this will be one of the most accurate methods for determining the Galactic star formation rate, as it makes use of stars of all masses (limited only by sensitivity) rather than solely massive stars or indirect tracers of massive stars.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Published in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Future policy implications of tidal energy array interactions

Tidal stream energy technology has progressed to a point where commercial exploitation of this sustainable resource is practical, but tidal physics dictates interactions between tidal farms that raise political, legal and managerial challenges that are yet to be met. Fully optimising the design of a turbine array requires its developer to know about other farms that will be built nearby in the future. Consequently future developments, even those in adjacent channels, have the potential to impact on project efficiency. Here we review the relevant physics, consider the implications for marine policy, and discuss potential solutions. Possible management paths range from minimal regulation to prioritise a free market, to strongly interventionist approaches that prioritise efficient resource use. An attractive exemplar of the latter is unitization, an approach to resource allocation widely used in the oil and gas industry. We argue that an interventionist approach is necessary if the greatest possible energy yield is to be produced for a given level of environmental impact

Development of a Psychologically Enhanced Interactive Online Intervention for Hazardous Drinking

Aims: The content of novel interventions is often not well specified. We provide a detailed account of the rationale for and redevelopment of an Internet resource for hazardous drinkers—Down Your Drink (DYD) (www.downyourdrink.org.uk). Development Work: An iterative process blended literature reviews of Internet interventions for health conditions and brief treatments for alcohol problems, feedback from users of the original site and from users panels, and completion of a series of developmental tasks. Intervention: The detailed structure and content of the new version of the website is presented. This permits an appreciation of the intended interaction between the user and the intervention, and emphasizes both the freedom of choice available to the user to access diverse material for personal benefit and the value of a clear organizational structure. Conclusions: Presentation of detailed information on the theoretical underpinning, content and structure of an intervention makes it easier to interpret the results of any evaluation and is likely to be of use to those developing other online interventions for alcohol or other health behaviours

Determinants of acceptance of computer mediated communication system

Acceptance of Computer-Mediated communication Systems (CMCS) by managers and professionals corresponds to its incorporation into their daily patterns of communication and work. Acceptance includes at least three inter-related dimensions: amount of use, subjective satisfaction with the process of using the system, and a perception that system use has positive impacts upon productivity. Pre-use and follow-up questionnaires were distributed to 150- 250 new users of four different CMCS. Three are conferencing systems, designed to support group work. They differ in terms of comprehensiveness or complexity of design, and size and nature of the user communities; COM/KOM, a Swedish system with mostly European users, was included to provide a cross-cultural dimension. The fourth system is a commercially available electronic mail system used for internal communication within a single corporation. Users\u27 pre-use expectations are the strongest determinants of learning time, getting to know other people online, and subjective satisfaction with the system interfaces. Satisfaction with CMCS as a mode of communication, particularly for emotional or personal content, is most strongly affected by group-level variables. Those who have not previously communicated (offline) with group members and who do not like or trust them have the most problems with expressive communication via CMCS. Group membership and pre-use expectations in combination are the strongest determinants of amount of system use. The dropout rate varied from zero or 1% for some groups to over 50% for others. Among those who did use the three conferencing systems, the best predictor of cumulative time online at four months is the user\u27s own expectation of the amount of time that would be spent online, made at pre-use. In turn, expected usage is explained by a combination of importance of the online task; convenient access to a terminal, especially at home; and previous lack of regular communication channels with the online group. The pattern for the internal mail system was quite different; regular previous communication with the online group (rather than its absence) is correlated with use. The strongest correlate is an expectation that using the system will be hard; those who thought so simply did not use the electronic mail system. The contrasting pattern of association underscores the quite different functions of the two types of CMCS. Mail systems are used as a supplementary channel of communication to support ongoing communication within an organization. Conferencing system usage is maximized when it represents a new opportunity to communicate with others who were not conveniently available via traditional channels, about an important task. An experimental intervention in training and user support suggests that interactive online tutorials can be an effective learning mechanism and increase time online. The placement of a single personal telephone call offering assistance did not increase amount of use, within the context of the availability of a variety of other sources of information and support. Two factors comprising productivity impacts were identified. PRODUCTive is comprised primarily of improvements in the quantity and quality of work, the overall usefulness of the system, and improvements in the ease of reaching people. CAREER encompasses contributions to long-term and short-term career advancement, and the provision of information and ideas. The strongest correlates of PRODUCTivity improvements, for all four systems, are pre-use expectations about whether the system would increase productivity. The second strongest determinant appears to be the perceived leadership skill of the group moderator or leader. Another group-level variable, the level of satisfaction with previous channels of communication with one another, also significantly adds to predictions of productivity increases as a result of system use. Four process variables play an important part in determining positive productivity outcomes. One is the perceived value of the items contributed by the other group members. Another is time spent online, which is positively related to perceived productivity impacts, once pre-use expectations and motivations have been taken into account. A third is whether or not there were mode problems encountered, and the fourth , how many new people users came to know online. SYSTEM software differences do appear to make a significant impact on whether or not there will be productivity increases; but system enters the stepwise regressions in only fifth or sixth place, or not at all, depending on the combination of candidate variables entered. The best equations for predicting productivity increases are markedly different for the four systems. This is the main impact of software differences: given four basically well designed but quite different CMCS, the social context and software differences will interact to affect the most productive way to use the system. The best overall predictor of whether CMCS use will be seen to lead to CAREER advancement is whether the user was able to adequately express social-emotional content in communications in this mode. For individual systems, the specific variables and factors which are included in the best stepwise multiple regression equation to explain variations in CAREER vary markedly from one system to another, but all the equations include a subjective satisfaction factor in the selected variables. Career advancement depends to a large extent on strengthening and widening personal relationships with a network of peers and hoped-for peers. Thus, it is reasonable that this process was most likely to occur for those users who felt most comfortable and satisfied with the system as a communication mode. Only then is a user likely to go beyond the immediate task-oriented online activities and engage in the kinds of information exchanges and relationship-strengthening exchanges that may be related to general career advancement rather than just the efficient completion of a specific task at hand

Users\u27 manual for the Electronic Information Exchange System

The purpose of this manual is to teach you the simpler parts of the system and make you comfortable with using the one-page User\u27s Guide. As you gain more experience with the system, you may wish to learn some of the advanced features available. But EIES (pronounced eyes ) has been designed so that you don\u27t need to learn more than meets your needs. Since the best way to learn how to use a computer system is by direct experience, don\u27t be discouraged if some of this manual is confusing at first. The most effective way to learn is to try the instructions and see what happens. EIES has been designed to be forgiving : that is, nothing terrible will happen if you make a mistake. Since you can\u27t hurt the system, or easily lose anything, be brave about trying new things! Anyone can become proficient sending messages and participating in conferences after experimenting with the system for two to four hours, and EIES users have ranged in age from 8 to 90. After reading this manual, plan to spend about thirty minutes to an hour practicing logging on and learning to send messages. You\u27ll then know enough to begin messaging other people and participating in conferences. This manual is only an introduction to the simpler parts of EIES, which is a rich and evolving communications system that can be customized and tailored to the specific needs of individuals and groups. Feel free to contact the User Consultants (HELP,110) if you have needs not covered here, since there are a large and growing number of advanced and specialized features available

What do others think? The why, when and how of using surveys in CBT

Surveys are a powerful technique in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). A form of behavioural experiment, surveys can be used to test beliefs, normalise symptoms and experiences, and generate compassionate perspectives. In this article, we discuss why and when to use surveys in CBT interventions for a range of psychological disorders. We also present a step-by-step guide to collaboratively designing surveys with patients, selecting the appropriate recipients, sending out surveys, discussing responses and using key learning as a part of therapy. In doing so, we hope to demonstrate that surveys are a flexible, impactful, time-efficient, individualised technique which can be readily and effectively integrated into CBT interventions