Results of boron-aluminum thrust structure

Results are presented of testing-to-failure a two member boron-aluminum thrust structure. The structure represented one section of a more complex planar truss and was designed to test the integrity of a diffusion bonded joint. The structure failed at 107 percent of the ultimate design load in the diffusion bond region. Strain gages and displacement transducers were used to measure loads and deflections of the truss. The experimentally derived axial loads, bending moments, and torsion in the various members are presented and compared with predicted values

An Empirical Analysis of Student Perceptions of WebSite Components for Class Web-Sites

Technology has improved to the point where web-sites for every course taught by an instructor are possible. This has produced many instructional benefits; however, it has also created a new set of problems. The problem addressed by this paper is the question of which web-site components to include in the class web-site. This is important because different web components support different student learning styles. Because it is not feasible to include all known webcomponents, the instructor must select those components that are most useful and support the broadest group of students. To address this question, a survey instrument was developed and administered to 220 undergraduate business students. This questionnaire asked students for their perceptions of the usefulness of thirty-seven web components in four component categories. The results of this survey were analyzed and discussed. Several useful findings for the instructor were presented

MOSAIC: A dynamic menu interface for end users and system administrators

The environment for corporate computing has become much more complex than the average end user is willing to comprehend. A solution to this problem is the development of menu shells and user-interface management systems. This paper describes the design and use of a menu shell called Mosaic. In addition to the traditional shell function of running user programs, Mosaic provides security, improves data integrity, furnishes debugging and data usage support, and aids the system administrator in day-to-day tasks. Mosaic was used successfully at a medium- sized electronics corporation for two years

A Graph-Theoretic Approach to Improved Curriculum Structure and Assessment Placement

Assurance of student learning is an important issue in modern education. Accrediting bodies and government entities alike have begun requiring proof that students actually learn the material taught in the classroom. To comply with this mandate, education programs are actively engaged in incorporating assessment procedures into their curricula. Unfortunately, there are no generally agreed upon methods on how to do this. This paper addresses the issue and answers several key questions concerning where to locate topic coverage, assessment data collection, and corrective action within the curriculum. The approach described and developed in this paper cast the curriculum problem into an abstract graph representation. Graph theoretic metrics are calculated and visualization software is utilized to create a picture that helps answer the research questions. The result is a systematic, easy to understand approach that produces defensible output which should greatly aid faculty and administrators tasked with creating an assessment scheme

A Web-Based Knowledge Management Tool Utilizing Concept Maps for On-Line Student Advising

Increasingly complex program offerings by universities combined with on-line educational opportunities have created a situation where students must deal with an extremely complicated array of curriculum decisions. At the same time, many universities are moving away from the traditional one-on-one advising model toward one that relies heavily on web-based resources. The result of this is that students are often forced to self-advise using complicated and often poorly structured websites. This paper describes a knowledge management tool to mitigate this problem by creating an intuitive, web-based interface to help students navigate directly to the Internet advising materials that are most applicable

A New Blended Course Architecture for the Modern University

University-level instructors work in an environment where new technology-based teaching tools are created daily. Most instructors are not formally trained in these technologies, so they must determine by trial-and-error which tools are effective. This paper describes a research project that develops a new blended course architecture that combines the best traditional and online tools. The architecture was implemented into two classes and students were surveyed. The results of the survey show that 87.7% of the students perceive the new architecture to be effective. Further, key components in the design are shown to be very useful individually and in combination

Modular Curriculum Design Using Personal Learning Plans and Reusable Learning Components

University-based education is facing direct competition from for-profit corporations over the lucrative lifetime-learning market. This is occurring primarily because universities have not adapted to advances in technology and changes in the educational needs of students. To correct this problem, a new curriculum solution is proposed. This solution is loosely based upon the model curricula generated by professional organizations. The solution utilizes personal learning plans tied to a global learning schema. The end result is a very flexible curriculum delivery model that effectively utilizes modern technology and is potentially superior to any offered by commercial education providers

Orion: A menu-driveri source code generator for end users

Low software development productivity is a major concern for corporations. This paper describes one approach to improve productivity by allowing end users to build their own business data processing systems. The approach uses Orion, a menu-driven software development tool. Orion generates source level COBOL programs that compile and run without modification. The tool does not require end users to know COBOL or high-level query languages. Orion was used for nearly two years to build real business systems. The approach resulted in a significant improvement in software development productivity

Socioeconomic impact and farmers' assessment of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in Bangladesh

The book reports on the socioeconomic study made on tilapia culture in seasonal ponds/ditches in Bangladesh. Results show that the simple technology, requiring very low labor input, is economically viable and brings other benefits.Tilapia culture, Sociological aspects, Cost benefit analysis, Aquaculture techniques, Bangladesh, Oreochromis niloticus

Managing resident intern rotation schedules using an on-line, user-controlled system

Accredited medical clinics that provide resident programs are faced with the problem of scheduling interns for service rotation. These schedules must meet a complex set of criteria to assure that all services are covered and each resident receives appropriate training. This paper describes the design and implementation of a windows-based resident scheduling system that meets these goals. Following that, the paper discusses the advantages and problems of working in a visual programming environment and outlines future enhancements to the system