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The Effect of Student Learning Styles on the Learning Gains Achieved When Interactive Simulations Are Coupled with Real-Time Formative Assessment via Pen-Enabled Mobile Technology
This paper describes results from a project in an undergraduate engineering
physics course that coupled classroom use of interactive computer simulations
with the collection of real-time formative assessment using pen-enabled mobile
technology. Interactive simulations (free or textbook-based) are widely used
across the undergraduate science and engineering curriculia to help actively
engaged students increase their understanding of abstract concepts or phenomena
which are not directly or easily observable. However, there are indications in
the literature that we do not yet know the pedagogical best practices
associated with their use to maximize learning. This project couples student
use of interactive simulations with the gathering of real-time formative
assessment via pen-enabled mobile technology (in this case, Tablet PCs). The
research question addressed in this paper is: are learning gains achieved with
this coupled model greater for certain types of learners in undergraduate STEM
classrooms? To answer this, we correlate learning gains with various learning
styles, as identified using the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) developed by
Felder and Soloman. These insights will be useful for others who use
interactive computer simulations in their instruction and other adopters of
this pedagogical model; the insights may have broader implications about
modification of instruction to address various learning styles.Comment: 6 pages 2 tables and 1 figur
Triply Special Relativity
We describe an extension of special relativity characterized by {\it three}
invariant scales, the speed of light, , a mass, and a length .
This is defined by a non-linear extension of the Poincare algerbra, ,
which we describe here. For , becomes the Snyder
presentation of the -Poincare algebra, while for it
becomes the phase space algebra of a particle in deSitter spacetime. We
conjecture that the algebra is relevant for the low energy behavior of quantum
gravity, with taken to be the Planck mass, for the case of a nonzero
cosmological constant . We study the modifications of
particle motion which follow if the algebra is taken to define the Poisson
structure of the phase space of a relativistic particle.Comment: 13 page
Quantum reference frames and deformed symmetries
In the context of constrained quantum mechanics, reference systems are used
to construct relational observables that are invariant under the action of the
symmetry group. Upon measurement of a relational observable, the reference
system undergoes an unavoidable measurement "back-action" that modifies its
properties. In a quantum-gravitational setting, it has been argued that such a
back-action may produce effects that are described at an effective level as a
form of deformed (or doubly) special relativity. We examine this possibility
using a simple constrained system that has been extensively studied in the
context of quantum information. While our conclusions support the idea of a
symmetry deformation, they also reveal a host of other effects that may be
relevant to the context of quantum gravity, and could potentially conceal the
symmetry deformation.Comment: 11 pages, revtex. Comments are welcom
Remarks on the rank properties of formal CR maps
We prove several new transversality results for formal CR maps between formal
real hypersurfaces in complex space. Both cases of finite and infinite type
hypersurfaces are tackled in this note
Comment on "On the uncertainty relations and squeezed states for the quantum mechanics on a circle"
It is shown by examples that the position uncertainty on a circle, proposed
recently by Kowalski and Rembieli\'nski [J. Phys. A 35 (2002) 1405] is not
consistent with the state localization. We argue that the relevant
uncertainties and uncertainty relations (UR's) on a circle are that based on
the Gram-Robertson matrix. Several of these generalized UR's are displayed and
related criterions for squeezed states are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, LaTex2e, 3 figures.ep
Curvature homogeneous spacelike Jordan Osserman pseudo-Riemannian manifolds
Let s be at least 2. We construct Ricci flat pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of
signature (2s,s) which are not locally homogeneous but whose curvature tensors
never the less exhibit a number of important symmetry properties. They are
curvature homogeneous; their curvature tensor is modeled on that of a local
symmetric space. They are spacelike Jordan Osserman with a Jacobi operator
which is nilpotent of order 3; they are not timelike Jordan Osserman. They are
k-spacelike higher order Jordan Osserman for ; they are k-timelike
higher order Jordan Osserman for , and they are not k timelike
higher order Jordan Osserman for .Comment: Update bibliography, fix minor misprint
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