Learning from errors: effects of teachers training on studentsâ attitudes towards and their individual use of errors

Constructive error handling is considered an important factor for individual learning processes. In a quasi-experimental study with Grades 6 to 9 students, we investigate effects on students’ attitudes towards errors as learning opportunities in two conditions: an error-tolerant classroom culture, and the first condition along with additional teaching of strategies for analyzing errors. Our findings show positive effects of the error-tolerant classroom culture on the affective level, whereas students are not influenced by the cognitive support. There is no evidence for differential effects for student groups with different attitudes towards errors

Hydrologic impacts of lined gravel pits, Colorado Front Range

2018 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.Sand and gravel quarries are a major source of natural aggregate. Gravel pits often excavate below the water table and therefore can influence alluvial aquifer groundwater flow directions and groundwater-surface water interaction. By regulation in the state of Colorado, low-permeability liners are installed after extraction to minimize water seepage into the pit. The liner impedes flow and disturbs the local water table, creating mounding on the upgradient side and shadow drawdown on the downgradient side. To better understand the magnitude and extent of these effects, numerical groundwater modeling was conducted for a study area along the Saint Vrain Creek alluvial aquifer in Colorado that contains an active gravel pit. The numerical model was based on a revised conceptual model, including a reinterpretation of the bedrock surface, and was calibrated using measured groundwater levels and estimated groundwater-surface water exchange rates constrained by streamflow gaging data. Two transient modeling scenarios were developed: a base case pre-mining scenario and a post-mining lined-pit scenario. The hydrologic effects of the pit liner were quantified through a detailed comparison of the scenarios. Model results indicate that the liner has a significant effect on water-table elevation in the vicinity of the pit during the non-irrigation season (October-March). In March, upgradient mounding produced by the liner exceeds 0.5 m at an approximate distance of 100 m, whereas the drawdown exceeds 0.3 m at this distance on the downgradient side of the pit. The magnitude of these liner-induced changes is less than other seasonal variability in hydraulic head, particularly the variability associated with irrigated agriculture (seasonally active irrigation ditches). During the irrigation season, simulated hydraulic heads are similar in both model scenarios, demonstrating that irrigation ditches are a major control on groundwater flow. Despite significant water table elevation change in parts of the year, groundwater discharge to the stream increased by 0.11% of the total streamflow at its maximum, demonstrating this particular pit liner has a negligible effect on the Saint Vrain Creek

Dressing the chopped-random-basis optimization: a bandwidth-limited access to the trap-free landscape

In quantum optimal control theory the success of an optimization algorithm is highly influenced by how the figure of merit to be optimized behaves as a function of the control field, i.e. by the control landscape. Constraints on the control field introduce local minima in the landscape --false traps-- which might prevent an efficient solution of the optimal control problem. Rabitz et al. [Science 303, 1998 (2004)] showed that local minima occur only rarely for unconstrained optimization. Here, we extend this result to the case of bandwidth-limited control pulses showing that in this case one can eliminate the false traps arising from the constraint. Based on this theoretical understanding, we modify the Chopped Random Basis (CRAB) optimal control algorithm and show that this development exploits the advantages of both (unconstrained) gradient algorithms and of truncated basis methods, allowing to always follow the gradient of the unconstrained landscape by bandwidth-limited control functions. We study the effects of additional constraints and show that for reasonable constraints the convergence properties are still maintained. Finally, we numerically show that this approach saturates the theoretical bound on the minimal bandwidth of the control needed to optimally drive the system.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

How is the role of the tuberculosis nurse pivotal in the multidisciplinary team?

Summary: This report will explore the significance of the tuberculosis specialist nurse, the numerous individuals that cohesively work alongside them, and how the difficulties that are encountered in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) can be approached. Relevance: There are many specialist nurses that work in the hospital environment, and it is crucial to appreciate the roles they contribute to the MDT, to increase effectiveness when working alongside them. Learning about the range of professionals involved can help shape the skills required to work within the MDT. Rather than having a theoretical underpinning, this is a topic with a vocational emphasis and can be better understood through observation and sharing experiences. Take-Home Messages: The MDT consists of a multitude of professionals, in addition to the patient and their family, so it is fundamental to have clear communication and collaboration. The nurse’s role is pivotal in being an advocate for the patient, maintaining continuity of care and educating those involved in the patient’s care

A convenient computational form for the Adomian polynomials

AbstractRecent important generalizations by G. Adomian (“Stochastic Systems”, Academic Press 1983) have extended the scope of his decomposition method for nonlinear stochastic operator equations (see also iterative method, inverse operator method, symmetrized method, or stochastic Green's function method) very considerably so that they are now applicable to differential, partial differential, delay, and coupled equations which may be strongly nonlinear and/or strongly stochastic (or linear or deterministic as subcases). Thus, for equations modeling physical problems, solutions are obtained rapidly, easily, and accurately. The methodology involves an analytic parametrization in which certain polynomials An, dependent on the nonlinearity, are derived. This paper establishes simple symmetry rules which yield Adomian's polynomials quickly to high orders

On composite nonlinearities and the decomposition method

AbstractAccurate, convergent, computable solutions using the decomposition method have been demonstrated in and papers for wide classes of nonlinear and/or stochastic differential, partial differential, or algebraic equations. It is shown specifically in this paper that composite nonlinearities of the form Nx = N0(N1(N2(···(x)···) appearing in such equations where the Ni are nonlinear operators can also be handled with the Adomian An polynomials

Meta-scientific reflection of undergraduate students: is mathematics a natural science?

Reflecting on the nature of mathematics is an important activity for undergraduate students. To analyse students’ reflection, we address the questions how students categorize mathematics in the system of scientific disciplines and what arguments they use to support their decision, in particular. In an online-survey, we implemented two open-ended items to gather information about the meta-scientific reflection of 296 undergraduate students enrolled in a mathematics-related study program. By analysing students’ answers, we identified nine subthemes that can be grouped in three themes: (1) the content, (2) the method, and (3) the purpose of mathematics. Most of the students concentrated on only one of the three themes. Based on these results, we discuss in which way prompts can support students’ meta-scientific reflection

Alleviating Equines: Investigating the Hypothesized Mechanisms of Change in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Animal Assisted Therapy research was integrated to develop the Tri-Level Mechanisms of Change (TLMC) Conceptualization, which is a comprehensive theoretical framework hypothesizing how Equine Assisted Psychotherapy produces psychological change. TLMC hypothesizes that the strength of human animal bond (HAB) with personal pets accounts for the development of HAB with therapy horses (primary level). The quality of HAB with therapy horses is responsible for producing changes in general psychological constructs (secondary level). Adaptive changes in secondary level constructs account for reductions in mental illness symptoms (tertiary level). Results indicated a significant reduction in tertiary level symptoms, and gains were maintained at follow-up. Primary level attachment to therapy horses and attachment to personal pets both accounted for a significant amount of variance in improvement in self-efficacy scores