ePortfolio implementation in the master\u27s program of Business Educaiton and Development

The introduction of the new Master’s Program of Business Education and Development in the winter term of 2009/10 also marked the ePortfolio-initiative’s kick-off. At the same time the companion research was started to accompany the initiative for a period of at least six terms. This article gives insights into the initial results of the companion research, which has the purpose to examine the ePortfolio-initiative’s effectiveness

Knowledge-Based Systems. Overview and Selected Examples

The Advanced Computer Applications (ACA) project builds on IIASA's traditional strength in the methodological foundations of operations research and applied systems analysis, and its rich experience in numerous application areas including the environment, technology and risk. The ACA group draws on this infrastructure and combines it with elements of AI and advanced information and computer technology to create expert systems that have practical applications. By emphasizing a directly understandable problem representation, based on symbolic simulation and dynamic color graphics, and the user interface as a key element of interactive decision support systems, models of complex processes are made understandable and available to non-technical users. Several completely externally-funded research and development projects in the field of model-based decision support and applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) are currently under way, e.g., "Expert Systems for Integrated Development: A Case Study of Shanxi Province, The People's Republic of China." This paper gives an overview of some of the expert systems that have been considered, compared or assessed during the course of our research, and a brief introduction to some of our related in-house research topics

Advanced Decision-Oriented Software for the Management of Hazardous Substances. Part VI: The Interactive Decision-Support Module

In this paper we introduce an interactive, display-oriented postprocessor for multiobjective selection or discrete optimization, which has been implemented within the framework of a project on Advanced Decision-Oriented Software for the Management of Hazardous Substances. The approach and software described here is designed as a tool to improve the usefulness and usability of decision support systems through the easy access to a rich set of powerful support functions and display options, and tight integration with substantive models and data bases. At the same time it adds a new dimension of usefulness to the simulation models it is connected to as an output post-processor, aiding in the comparative evaluation of complex modeling results

Expert Systems for Environmental Screening. An Application in the Lower Mekong Basin

This research report describes MEXSES, a rule-based expert system for environmental impact assessment at a screening level, implemented for the analysis of water resources development projects in the Lower Mekong Basin. The report makes a brief review of environmental impact assessment methods and tools. It discusses expert systems technology, with emphasis on environmental applications. The Lower Mekong Basin and its specific environmental problems, as well as the Mekong Secretariat's environmental policy are examined. Subsequently, the software system is described from a user's perspective, followed by a detailed description of the methodology employed and its implementation. In the final chapter, a number of issues around the successful application of such a system are discussed, including a number of suggested improvements and extensions to the current operational prototype

A Novel Approach to Monitoring the Cs-137 Contamination of Forest Soils in Bavaria, Germany

Regarding the radioactive fission product Cs-137, particularly forest soils are hot spots of long-term contamination. Previous studies have indicated that monitoring should take account of the exceptional role of humus for Cs-137 mobility and bioavailability to effectively evaluate contamination patterns and to enhance future protection strategies in forests. As official programmes in Bavaria lack such considerations, a new monitoring project has been established together with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health, focussing on humus-controlling landscape parameters (relief, vegetation etc.) as crucial core criteria. Comprising a total of 48 sites, the project provides a solid base for future research. Both the site selection process and first results are presented here

Orientation on learning outcomes with multidimensional student assessment

The orientation towards learning outcomes implies the need for competence-based learning as well as a competence-based student assessment. The ideas for innovative self and peer assessment presented in this paper enable individualized business education. Furthermore, various methods and instruments for a multidimensional design of students assessment are introduced, such as assessment circle (360°feedback), portfolio, learning diary, skills demonstration, and appraisal interview