Linking on-line assessment in mathematics to cognitive skills

The project, undertaken in 2000/2001, investigated the ability of on-line assessment to test the skills in Bloom’s cognitive domain (Bloom et al, 1956) in the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA, 2002) Advanced Higher in Mathematics. There were three main sources of data. 1. The course information: The SQA learning outcomes, content detail and performance criteria. 2. The assessments: The National Assessment Bank questions (NABs), SQA specimen exam papers and the SCHOLAR project (Paterson, 2001; SCHOLAR 2002) on-line assessments. 3. The computer software and data: The online questions and features of assessment engines. The intention was to match the cognitive skills required in the learning outcomes with those tested in the questions through examination of the key verbs used in each. It was envisaged that the limitations of using one assessment system could be addressed by focussing on features that were available elsewhere. Many difficulties arose and led to a complete rewrite of the on-line questions with closer reference to the performance criteria, the paper based specimen exams, the features of on-line assessment systems and the marking scheme used. This paper addresses: a) the subjective nature of the choice of which cognitive skills are expected to be tested in each learning outcome b) the use of cognitive skills to identify levels of learning in Mathematics c) the use of key verbs in Mathematics to identify the cognitive skills d) the approach taken of trying to convert paper based systems for on-line use e) the features and limitations of existing on-line assessment in producing summative assessment f) the need for further development in particular areas to increase the scope of summative on-line assessmen

What's in a name? - a new hierarchy for question types

One of these is the terminology that is used to identify question types. As computer assisted assessment develops and extends, new assessment systems are introduced. It is a competitive sector and for those commercial companies involved, a measure of uniqueness is advantageous. All too often this can result in an undue emphasis on finding ways of naming question types to produce the largest number. Close scrutiny reveals that many of these types are derived from the same basic structure with different formatting. The clear cut naming of the initial question types during the first few years of computer assisted assessment worked well but advances in the technology and innovative approaches to assessment are making this convention difficult to sustain. The work of the IMS QTI group (IMS QTI project 2002) is very valuable and the issue of question types is partly addressed by them. A new structure and naming convention for question types that can be implemented by all interested parties is needed urgently. There are two aspects to this. 1. A naming convention that would interest those involved in IMS QTI standards and build on the work already undertaken. (the technical sector) 2. A naming convention for the authors, users, academics and researchers interested in what question types are available. (the non-technical sector) The advantages of such a hierarchy would include • progress in interoperability • progress in the use of item banking • stronger focus on the aims of assessment • greater awareness of the true question types available This paper proposes such a hierarchy developed from a non-technical viewpoint but with a sound structure as a basis for discussion, development and to motivate interest in research in this area

Outbreak of encephalitic listeriosis in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

An outbreak of neurological disease was investigated in red-legged partridges between 8 and 28 days of age. Clinical signs included torticollis, head tilt and incoordination and over an initial eight day period approximately 30–40 fatalities occurred per day. No significant gross post mortem findings were detected. Histopathological examination of the brain and bacterial cultures followed by partial sequencing confirmed a diagnosis of encephalitis due to Listeria monocytogenes. Further isolates were obtained from follow-up carcasses, environmental samples and pooled tissue samples of newly imported day-old chicks prior to placement on farm. These isolates had the same antibiotic resistance pattern as the isolate of the initial post mortem submission and belonged to the same fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (fAFLP) subtype. This suggested that the isolates were very closely related or identical and that the pathogen had entered the farm with the imported day-old chicks, resulting in disease manifestation in partridges between 8 and 28 days of age. Reports of outbreaks of encephalitic listeriosis in avian species are rare and this is to the best of our knowledge the first reported outbreak in red-legged partridges

In Situ Measurements of Micro-Scale Surface Roughness of Sea Ice

Surface roughness at the centimetre and millimetre scale is an important factor governing radar backscatter, especially in the case of warm (>-5 degrees C) or highly saline sea ice types. Quantitative measurements of surface roughness are required as input to backscatter models. Several field techniques have been used to quantitatively measure the surface roughness of sea ice. These techniques usually posses at least one of the following obstacles: difficult field operation, expense, poor accuracies or arduous data processing. A prototype portable field instrument called the Surface Roughness Meter has been designed to measure micro-scale surface roughness. The instrument provides measurements of two surface roughness parameters, root mean square height and correlation length. The instrument consists of a 35 mm camera and a flash mounted on a platform. The system illuminates and photographs a rectangle of known size on the surface from a fixed height. The negatives are digitized and the root mean square height and correlation length are calculated and recorded using a PC-based image analysis system in the laboratory. The first sea ice application for the instrument was the Labrador Ice Margin Experiment (LIMEX) 1989. The instrument was used to measure surface roughness of first-year deformed pack ice. The resulting data from LIMEX '89 were digitized and surface roughness statistics were computed using a PC image analysis system. LIMEX '89 Surface Roughness Meter data compared favourably to roughness statistics obtained from LIMEX '87.Key words: surface roughness, radar backscatter, sea ice, Surface Roughness Meter, root mean square height, correlation length, LIMEX ’89Mots clés: rugosité de la surface, rétrodiffusion radar, glace de mer, profilographe, hauteur quadratique moyenne, longueur de corrélation, LIMEX ’8

Implementing Archaeological Conservation During American Nation-Building Efforts

This thesis seeks to define best practices for implementing the conservation of archaeological sites as part of a broader system of cultural heritage protection within the framework of United States nation-building efforts. The ransacking of the Baghdad Museum, plus the widespread looting of the Iraq’s archaeological sites, makes it clear that measures for cultural property protection within the United States government military framework deserve a critical analysis. First, the importance of protecting cultural property during armed conflict will be examined from a historical and military perspective. Next, previous American nation building attempts are discussed to give a sense of the general circumstances within which conservation activities are to be conducted. Specifically, Iraq will be analyzed as a prime example of the necessity of cultural heritage protection and the damage that can be inflicted on archaeological heritage when such protection is not included as part of larger operational planning framework. Then, what the United States has done and is currently doing in response to the ratification of the Hague Convention and the destruction of cultural property in Iraq are explored. After that, internationally-accepted best practices of archaeological conservation are provided as a framework for evaluating current endeavors and planning those for the future. Finally, recommendations will be made on how the government, specifically the Department of Defense and the State Department, can institute measures for the conservation of archaeological heritage during the planning process of nation building operations

Handwriting or typing exams – can we give students the choice?

Previous work at the University of Edinburgh has explored the possibility of bringing computers into the traditional essay-examination context, and has presented initial reactions from students (Mogey & Sarab, 2006, Mogey et al 2007). This paper develops that work and describes a designed experiment intended to tease out critical differences between handwritten and typewritten student scripts and the students approaches to writing or typing exams. The study takes student scripts generated in a mock examination using the format of the student’s choice (either typed or handwritten) and transcribes them into the other format. All scripts are then double blind marked, and other quantitative data such as number of words written can be easily gathered. Qualitative data has also been collected about the students’ attitude to and confidence in computers. Analysis will enable us to take an informed decision about the equity of implementing computer based essay examinations on an institutional scale

Characteristics and outcomes of culture-negative prosthetic joint infections from the Prosthetic Joint Infection in Australia and New Zealand Observational (PIANO) cohort study

Introduction: Culture-negative (CN) prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) account for approximately 10 % of all PJIs and present significant challenges for clinicians. We aimed to explore the significance of CN PJIs within a large prospective cohort study, comparing their characteristics and outcomes with culture-positive (CP) cases. Methods: The Prosthetic joint Infection in Australia and New Zealand Observational (PIANO) study is a prospective, multicentre observational cohort study that was conducted at 27 hospitals between 2014 and 2017. We compared baseline characteristics and outcomes of all patients with CN PJI from the PIANO cohort with those of CP cases. We report on PJI diagnostic criteria in the CN cohort and apply internationally recognized PJI diagnostic guidelines to determine optimal CN PJI detection methods. Results: Of the 650 patients with 24-month outcome data available, 55 (8.5 %) were CN and 595 were CP. Compared with the CP cohort, CN patients were more likely to be female (32 (58.2 %) vs. 245 (41.2 %); p = 0.016), involve the shoulder joint (5 (9.1 %) vs. 16 (2.7 %); p = 0.026), and have a lower mean C-reactive protein (142 mg L−1 vs. 187 mg L−1; p = 0.016). Overall, outcomes were superior in CN patients, with culture negativity an independent predictor of treatment success at 24 months (adjusted odds ratio, aOR, of 3.78 and 95 %CI of 1.65–8.67). Suboptimal diagnostic sampling was common in both cohorts, with CN PJI case detection enhanced using the Infectious Diseases Society of America PJI diagnostic guidelines. Conclusions: Current PJI diagnostic guidelines vary substantially in their ability to detect CN PJI, with comprehensive diagnostic sampling necessary to achieve diagnostic certainty. Definitive surgical management strategies should be determined by careful assessment of infection type, rather than by culture status alone

Tomato: a crop species amenable to improvement by cellular and molecular methods

Tomato is a crop plant with a relatively small DNA content per haploid genome and a well developed genetics. Plant regeneration from explants and protoplasts is feasable which led to the development of efficient transformation procedures. In view of the current data, the isolation of useful mutants at the cellular level probably will be of limited value in the genetic improvement of tomato. Protoplast fusion may lead to novel combinations of organelle and nuclear DNA (cybrids), whereas this technique also provides a means of introducing genetic information from alien species into tomato. Important developments have come from molecular approaches. Following the construction of an RFLP map, these RFLP markers can be used in tomato to tag quantitative traits bred in from related species. Both RFLP's and transposons are in the process of being used to clone desired genes for which no gene products are known. Cloned genes can be introduced and potentially improve specific properties of tomato especially those controlled by single genes. Recent results suggest that, in principle, phenotypic mutants can be created for cloned and characterized genes and will prove their value in further improving the cultivated tomato.