Adaptive games for learner and systems (bidirectional) learning

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Traditional learning environments are ineffective and inefficient and are failing to adequately equip students and employees with the knowledge and skills required in today’s jobs, let alone prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. Given the rapidly changing landscapes of technologies and business models, organisations need to be flexible and adaptable to respond to, and even pre-empt future demands. One of the primary shortcomings of existing learning environments is their inflexibility and the ‘one size fits all’ approach followed. Serious games and game-based learning are widely recognised for their potential in providing more effective learning environments, especially when designed in a personalised, adaptive manner, and are explored in this dissertation. In addition to adapting to the individual traits and preferences of users, games are also highly context dependent. Whilst there is a great deal of literature and documented case studies of game-based learning, most focus only on the implementation of one particular game in a specific context. Whilst many existing game design models and approaches focus on achieving improved learning outcomes of learners, there is an opportunity to consider the impact of gameplay on other stakeholders and drive the active development of meta-skills in various stakeholders. Bidirectional learning, where learning simultaneously takes place in a two-way direction [295], has great potential and has, to date, not been incorporated in serious game design. By integrating different perspectives and variable scenarios, the dynamic personalisation of learning trajectories may be possible. Serious games offer a potential platform to aggregate learner behaviours and results, and use these to dynamically configure, adjust and tailor the game to individuals and contexts, ultimately providing a learning environment of improved quality, effectiveness and efficiency. In this dissertation, adaptive, bidirectional games are explored as a means to provide more effective and efficient learning environments for multiple stakeholders. Moreover, an architecture is presented to support the creation of such games for specific scenarios in a faster, more effective and more efficient manner. Following a research-by-design approach, the architecture is iteratively developed and simultaneously applied in four case studies. Experiences and learnings from each case study are infused into subsequent design iterations of the architecture. The architecture allows users to explore and exploit the solution space more deliberately and better understand the various functions and the interrelations between them. The flexible and modular structure of the architecture allows users to prioritise functionalities as required in the given scenario. Furthermore, the directional relations between functions can be interpreted and prioritised as needed given the specific context and requirements. The architecture incorporates various stakeholders in the design process, leading to greater transparency and better understanding throughout the process. More importantly, it emphasises bidirectional learning whereby different stakeholders can learn from gameplay and the aggregated results and behaviours of players.AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Tradisionele leeromgewings is oneffektief en ondoeltreffend en slaag nie daarin om studente en werknemers voldoende toe te rus met die kennis en vaardighede wat in die huidige werk benodig is nie, en nog minder vir toekomstige werk. Gegewe die vinnig veranderende landskappe van tegnologie¨e en sakemodelle, moet organisasies buigsaam en aanpasbaar wees om te reageer op, en selfs toekomstige behoeftes te voorkom. Een van die belangrikste tekortkominge van bestaande leeromgewings is die onbuigsaamheid daarvan asook die ‘een grootte pas almal’ benadering wat gevolg word. Ernstige speletjies en spelgebaseerde leer word oor die algemeen erken vir hul potensiaal om meer effektiewe leeromgewings te skep, veral as dit op ’n persoonlike, aanpasbare manier ontwerp is, en word in hierdie proefskrif ondersoek. Benewens die aanpassing by die individuele eienskappe en voorkeure van gebruikers, is speletjies ook baie kontekstafhanklik. Alhoewel daar baie literatuur en gedokumenteerde gevallestudies oor spelgebaseerde leer is, fokus die meeste daarvan slegs op die implementering van een spesifieke spel in ’n spesifieke konteks. Alhoewel baie bestaande spelontwerpmodelle en -benaderings op die verbeterde leeruitkomste van leerders focus, is daar ’n geleentheid om die impak van spel op ander belanghebbendes te oorweeg en die aktiewe ontwikkeling van metavaardighede by verskeie belanghebbendes te dryf. Tweerigtingleer, waar leer gelyktydig in twee rigtinge plaasvind [295], het ’n groot potensiaal en is huidig nog nie in ernstige spelontwerp opgeneem nie. Deur die integrasie van verskillende perspektiewe en veranderlike scenario’s, word die dinamiese personalisering van leertrajekte moontlik. Ernstige speletjies bied ’n moontlike platform om leerdergedrag en -resultate saam te voeg, en dit te gebruik om die spel dinamies te konfigureer en aan te pas by individue en kontekste, wat ’n leeromgewing van verbeterde kwaliteit, effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid bied. In hierdie proefskrif word aanpasbare, tweerigting speletjies ondersoek as ’n manier om meer effektiewe en doeltreffende leeromgewings vir verskeie belanghebbendes te bied. Boonop word ’n argitektuur aangebied om die skep van sulke speletjies vir spesifieke scenario’s vinniger, meer effektief en doeltreffender te ondersteun. Na aanleiding van ’n navorsing-deur-ontwerp benadering word die argitektuur iteratief ontwikkel en gelyktydig toegepas in vier gevallestudies. Ervarings en leerstellings uit elke gevallestudie word ingesluit in die daaropvolgende ontwerp iterasies van die argitektuur. Met die argitektuur kan gebruikers die oplossingsruimte doelbewus ondersoek en benut, en die verskillende funksies en onderlinge verwantskappe tussen hulle beter verstaan. Die buigsame en modulˆere struktuur van die argitektuur stel gebruikers in staat om funksionaliteite te prioritiseer soos vereis in die gegewe scenario. Verder kan die rigtingverhoudinge tussen funksies ge¨ınterpreteer en geprioritiseer word soos benodig, gegewe die spesifieke konteks en vereistes. Die argitektuur bevat verskillende belanghebbendes in die ontwerpproses, wat lei tot verbeterde deursigtigheid en begrip gedurende die proses. Belangriker nog, dit beklemtoon tweerigtingleer waardeur verskillende belanghebbendes kan leer deur die spel en die saamgestelde resultate en gedrag van spelers.Doctora

The study and design of a national supply chain for the aerospace titanium components manufacturing industry

CITATION: Van der Merwe, L., Ruthven, G. A. & Von Leipzig, K. 2012. The study and design of a national supply chain for the aerospace titanium components manufacturing industry. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 6(1):15-34, doi:10.4102/jtscm.v6i1.29.The original publication is available at http://www.jtscm.co.zaTitanium’s strength-to-density ratio, corrosion resistance and high thermal compatibility makes it the perfect metal for aerospace. Titanium is for instance used for the structural airframe, seat tracks, engine components and landing gear of aircraft. The Boeing 787 that had its test flight in 2009 is one of the latest aircraft designs that incorporates a substantially higher percentage of parts manufactured from titanium due to the weight benefit. Titanium’s extensive use in aerospace applications ensures that the aerospace market is the main driver of titanium metal demand. South Africa is the second largest titanium producer in the world after Australia. The abundance of titanium in South Africa together with the growing demand has led it to be identified as a beneficiation priority in a collaborative government initiative, called Titanium Beneficiation Initiative (TBI). The purpose of this paper is to develop a supply chain model for the anticipated South African titanium component manufacturing industry.http://www.jtscm.co.za/index.php/jtscm/article/view/29Publisher's versio

Capacity self-assessment as a catalyst for improved municipal service delivery

CITATION: Van Baalen, S. M., Schutte, C. S. L. & Von Leipzig, K. 2015. Capacity self-assessment as a catalyst for improved municipal service delivery. Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering, 57(1):2–15, doi:10.17159/2309-8775/2015/v57n1a1.The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research paper illustrates that accurate and truthful capacity assessments are a fundamental phase of any capacity building process, and that capacity assessments play a fundamental role in reaching the necessary performance efficiency. Service delivery performance enhancements by municipalities are becoming increasingly necessary. At the same time, however, the majority of municipalities in South Africa find themselves under-capacitated. Some municipalities are aware of the lack of capacity within their organisation, but are unable to identify, define and quantify these shortcomings. Many other municipalities are not aware of their capacity shortfalls. In both cases, this is often caused by the lack of necessary systems and procedures to assess the different dimensions of organisational capacity. In this regard, this research paper introduces a proposed Subjective Municipal Capacity Self-Assessment Model (SMCSAM) as an alternative solution to the current practices of the Municipal Demarcation Board. It is intended that this model be used internally by municipalities to sustain internal capacity building and performance enhancement initiatives.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaarhttp://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S1021-20192015000100001&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=enPublisher's versio

Retroviral DNA Integration: Viral and Cellular Determinants of Target-Site Selection

Retroviruses differ in their preferences for sites for viral DNA integration in the chromosomes of infected cells. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrates preferentially within active transcription units, whereas murine leukemia virus (MLV) integrates preferentially near transcription start sites and CpG islands. We investigated the viral determinants of integration-site selection using HIV chimeras with MLV genes substituted for their HIV counterparts. We found that transferring the MLV integrase (IN) coding region into HIV (to make HIVmIN) caused the hybrid to integrate with a specificity close to that of MLV. Addition of MLV gag (to make HIVmGagmIN) further increased the similarity of target-site selection to that of MLV. A chimeric virus with MLV Gag only (HIVmGag) displayed targeting preferences different from that of both HIV and MLV, further implicating Gag proteins in targeting as well as IN. We also report a genome-wide analysis indicating that MLV, but not HIV, favors integration near DNase I–hypersensitive sites (i.e., +/− 1 kb), and that HIVmIN and HIVmGagmIN also favored integration near these features. These findings reveal that IN is the principal viral determinant of integration specificity; they also reveal a new role for Gag-derived proteins, and strengthen models for integration targeting based on tethering of viral IN proteins to host proteins

Variability of humidity conditions in the Arctic during the first International Polar Year, 1882-83

Of all the early instrumental data for the Arctic, the meteorological data gathered during the first International Polar Year, in 1882–83 (IPY-1), are the best in terms of coverage, quality and resolution. Research carried out during IPY-1 scientific expeditions brought a significant contribution to the development of hygrometry in polar regions at the end of the 19th century. The present paper gives a detailed analysis of a unique series of humidity measurements that were carried out during IPY-1 at hourly resolutions at nine meteorological stations, relatively evenly distributed in the High Arctic. It gives an overall view of the humidity conditions prevalent in the Arctic at that time. The results show that the spatial distribution of atmospheric water vapour pressure (e) and relative humidity (RH) in the Arctic during IPY-1 was similar to the present. In the annual course the highest values of e were noted in July and August, while the lowest occurred in the cold half of the year. In comparison to present-day conditions (1961–1990), the mean values of RH in the IPY-1 period (September 1882 to July 1883) were higher by 2.4–5.6%. Most of the changes observed between historical and modern RH values are not significant. The majority of historical daily RH values lie between a distance of less than two standard deviations from current long-term monthly means

Systematic review of methods used in meta-analyses where a primary outcome is an adverse or unintended event

addresses: Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. [email protected]: PMCID: PMC3528446types: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't© 2012 Warren et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Adverse consequences of medical interventions are a source of concern, but clinical trials may lack power to detect elevated rates of such events, while observational studies have inherent limitations. Meta-analysis allows the combination of individual studies, which can increase power and provide stronger evidence relating to adverse events. However, meta-analysis of adverse events has associated methodological challenges. The aim of this study was to systematically identify and review the methodology used in meta-analyses where a primary outcome is an adverse or unintended event, following a therapeutic intervention

Driving forces and barriers of Industry 4.0: Do multinational and small and medium-sized companies have equal opportunities?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution poses significant challenges to manufacturing companies from the technological, organizational and management points of view. This paper aims to explore how top executives interpret the concept of Industry 4.0, the driving forces for introducing new technologies and the main barriers to Industry 4.0. The authors applied a qualitative case study design involving 26 semi-structured interviews with leading members of firms, including chief digital officers and chief executive officers. Company websites and annual reports were also examined to increase the reliability and validity of the results. The authors found that management desire to increase control and enable real-time performance measurement is a significant driving force behind Industry 4.0, alongside production factors. Organizational resistance at both employee and middle management levels can significantly hinder the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies, though these technologies can also transform management functions. Multinational enterprises have higher driving forces and lower barriers to industry 4.0 than small and medium-sized companies, but these smaller companies have good opportunities, too

Gamification : teaching within learning factories

Gamification, the use of game elements for non-gaming purposes, may just make a huge impact on education, a contribution the world in general and South Africa in particular, desperately needs. In today’s fast-paced work environment, there is not only a severe skills shortage, but also a great need for graduates with practical knowledge - students that are not purely “book smart”. Didactic teaching habits have created an education realm in which reciting facts is more often than not what gets students to pass. Learning factories are physical, operational factories that serve as exemplary and realistic hands-on learning environments and provide an important step towards more industry-prepared graduates. Top universities around the world are establishing such environments and are showing superb results. This paper explores the potential benefit of applying gamification in such a setting to enhance the learning environment even further, and provide opportunities for training otherwise difficult to teach topics, such as shop floor management

Investigating momentum on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange

The original publication is available at http://www.isem.org.za/index.php/isem/isem2011Conference of the ISEM 2011 Proceedings, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 21 - 23 September 2011.Conference theme - Innovative Systems Thinking: Unravelling Complexity for Successful SolutionsThe paper examines if stock price momentum is a common trait amongst top performing shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and whether individual investors can harness the relationship of momentum and return to create a profit. The viability of the phenomenon as an investment strategy was gauged by comparing annualised average returns of momentum shares, identified through both technical analysis as well as price performance momentum measures, against the market capitalisation weighted JSE All Share Index as well as against an un-weighted representation of the market. The results revealed a seemingly unmistakable co-dependence between momentum and return, with statistically significant trends being ever present. Applying the maximum taxes and trading costs revealed that the highest ranked momentum shares did indeed outperform both market benchmarks from the period of January 1990 to August 2009, suggesting the validity of the philosophy as an investment strategy.The Industrial, Systems and Engineering Management (ISEM) conference is a joint initiative between the Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering (SAIIE), INCOSE (South Africa) and the Graduate School for Technology Management at the University of Pretori