Reflections on the Ecolab and the Zone of Proximal Development

In 1999 we reported a study that explored the way that Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development could be used to inform the design of an Interactive Learning Environment called the Ecolab. Two aspects of this work have subsequently been used for further research. Firstly, there is the interpretation of the ZPD and its associated theory that was used to operationalize the ZPD so that it could be implemented in software. This interpretation has informed further research about how one can model context and its impact on learning, which has produced a design framework that has been successfully applied across a range of educational settings. Secondly, there is the Ecolab software itself. The software has been adapted into a variety of versions that have supported explorations into how to scaffold learners’ metacognition, how to scaffold learners’ motivation and the implications of a learner’s goal orientation upon their use of the software. The findings from these studies have informed our understanding of learner scaffolding and have produced consistent results to demonstrate the importance of providing learners with appropriately challenging tasks and flexible support. Vygotsky’s work is as relevant now as it was in 1999: it still has an important role to play in the development of educational software

Strengthening nonrandomized studies of health communication strategies for HIV prevention.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in impact evaluations of health communication (HC) interventions for HIV prevention. Although cluster randomized trials may be optimal in terms of internal validity, they are often unfeasible for political, practical, or ethical reasons. However, a common alternative, the observational study of individuals who do and do not self-report HC intervention exposure, is prone to bias by confounding. Cluster-level quasi-experimental study designs offer promising alternatives to these extremes. METHODS: We identified common rollout strategies for HC initiatives. We mapped these scenarios against established quasi-experimental evaluation designs. We identified key issues for implementers and evaluators if these designs are to be more frequently adopted in HC intervention evaluations with high internal validity. RESULTS: Stronger evaluations will document the planned intervention components in advance of delivery and will implement interventions in clusters according to a predefined systematic allocation plan. We identify 4 types of allocation plan and their associated designs. Where some places get the HC intervention, whereas others do not, a nonrandomized controlled study may be feasible. Where HC is introduced everywhere at a defined point in time, an interrupted time series may be appropriate. Where the HC intervention is introduced in phases, a nonrandomized phased implementation or stepped-wedge design may be used. Finally, where there is variation in strength of implementation of HC, a nonrandomized, dose-response study can be planned. DISCUSSION: Our framework will assist teams planning such evaluations by identifying critical decisions for the implementers and for the evaluators of HC interventions

Differences in behavioural traits among native and introduced colonies of an invasive ant

Identifying the factors that promote the success of biological invasions is a key pursuit in ecology. To date, the link between animal personality and invasiveness has rarely been studied. Here, we examined in the laboratory how Argentine ant populations from the species' native and introduced ranges differed in a suite of behaviours related to species interactions and the use of space. We found correlations among specific behavioural traits that defined an explorative-aggressive syndrome. The Main "European" supercolony (introduced range) more readily explored novel environments, displayed more aggression, detected food resources more quickly, and occupied more space than the Catalonian supercolony (introduced range) and two other Argentine supercolonies (native range). The two native supercolonies also differed in their personalities; one harbouring the less invasive personality, while the other is intermediate between the two introduced supercolonies. Therefore, instead of a binary pattern, Argentine ant supercolonies display a behavioural continuum that is independent on their geographic origin (native/introduced ranges). Our results also suggest that variability in personality traits is correlated to differences in the ecological success of Argentine ant colonies. Differences in group personalities may facilitate the persistence and invasion of animals under novel selective pressures by promoting adaptive behaviours. We stress that the concept of animal personality should be taken into account when elucidating the mechanisms of invasiveness

Up and down the number line: modelling collaboration in contrasting school and home environments

This paper is concerned with user modelling issues such as adaptive educational environments, adaptive information retrieval, and support for collaboration. The HomeWork project is examining the use of learner modelling strategies within both school and home environments for young children aged 5 – 7 years. The learning experience within the home context can vary considerably from school especially for very young learners, and this project focuses on the use of modelling which can take into account the informality and potentially contrasting learning styles experienced within the home and school

Scintillation of liquid neon from electronic and nuclear recoils

We have measured the time dependence of scintillation light from electronic and nuclear recoils in liquid neon, finding a slow time constant of 15.4+-0.2 us. Pulse shape discrimination is investigated as a means of identifying event type in liquid neon. Finally, the nuclear recoil scintillation efficiency is measured to be 0.26+-0.03 for 387 keV nuclear recoils

A methodology for the capture and analysis of hybrid data: a case study of program debugging

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Four Butterflies: End of Life Stories of Transition and Transformation

In this article, the author discusses her experiences as an Artist In Residence in the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which end of life images and narratives often unfold in the fragile yet powerful space where conceptions of aesthetics and spirituality intersect with critical issues in the medical humanities. Drawing on four vivid case studies, the author examines the ways in which end of life narratives shed valuable light on conceptions of the subtlety of human embodiment; issues of violation, sorrow, and forgiveness; the mystical dimensions of traditional cultural beliefs; and the capacity for perceiving the natural world as a living symbol of grace. In so doing, she explores how the themes of transition and transformation become invested with meaningful existential and symbolic dimensions in artworks that give voice and presence to some of the most vulnerable, and often invisible, members of our societyﾗpeople at the end of life

On how Unsupervised Machine Learning Can Shape Minds: a Brief Overview

This paper briefly examines the relationship between unsupervised machine learning models, the learning affordances that such models offer, and the mental models of those who use them. We consider the unsupervised models as learning affordances. We use a case study involving unsupervised modelling via commonly used methods such as clustering, to argue that unsupervised models can be used as learning affordances, bychanging participants’ mental models, precisely because the models are unsupervised, and thus potentially lead to learning from unexpected or inexplicit patterns

Removal of Giα1 Constraints on Adenylyl Cyclase in the Hippocampus Enhances LTP and Impairs Memory Formation

AbstractStimulation of adenylyl cyclase in the hippocampus is critical for memory formation. However, generation of cAMP signals within an optimal range for memory may require a balance between stimulatory and inhibitory mechanisms. The role of adenylyl cyclase inhibitory mechanisms for memory has not been addressed. One of the mechanisms for inhibition of adenylyl cyclase is through activation of Gi-coupled receptors, a mechanism that could serve as a constraint on memory formation. Here we report that ablation of Giα1 by gene disruption increases hippocampal adenylyl cyclase activity and enhances LTP in area CA1. Furthermore, gene ablation of Giα1 or antisense oligonucleotide-mediated depletion of Giα1 disrupted hippocampus-dependent memory. We conclude that Giα1 provides a critical mechanism for tonic inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity in the hippocampus. We hypothesize that loss of Giα1 amplifies the responsiveness of CA1 postsynaptic neurons to stimuli that strengthen synaptic efficacy, thereby diminishing synapse-specific plasticity required for new memory formation