Training effectiveness of an intelligent tutoring system for a propulsion console trainer

A formative evaluation was conducted on an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) developed for tasks performed on the Propulsion Console. The ITS, which was developed primarily as a research tool, provides training on use of the Manual Select Keyboard (MSK). Three subjects completed three phases of training using the ITS: declarative, speed, and automaticity training. Data were collected on several performance dimensions, including training time, number of trials performed in each training phase, and number of errors. Information was also collected regarding the user interface and content of training. Suggestions for refining the ITS are discussed. Further, future potential uses and limitations of the ITS are discussed. The results provide an initial demonstration of the effectiveness of the Propulsion Console ITS and indicate the potential benefits of this form of training tool for related tasks

The development of expertise using an intelligent computer-aided training system

An initial examination was conducted of an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) developed for use in industry. The ITS, developed by NASA, simulated a satellite deployment task. More specifically, the PD (Payload Assist Module Deployment)/ICAT (Intelligent Computer Aided Training) System simulated a nominal Payload Assist Module (PAM) deployment. The development of expertise on this task was examined using three Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO) candidates who has no previous experience with this task. The results indicated that performance improved rapidly until Trial 5, followed by more gradual improvements through Trial 12. The performance dimensions measured included performance speed, actions completed, errors, help required, and display fields checked. Suggestions for further refining the software and for deciding when to expose trainees to more difficult task scenarios are discussed. Further, the results provide an initial demonstration of the effectiveness of the PD/ICAT system in training the nominal PAM deployment task and indicate the potential benefits of using ITS's for training other FDO tasks

The development of expertise on an intelligent tutoring system

An initial examination was conducted of an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) developed for use in industry. The ITS, developed by NASA, simulated a satellite deployment task. More specifically, the PD (Payload Assist Module Deployment)/ICAT (Intelligent Computer Aided Training) System simulated a nominal Payload Assist Module (PAM) deployment. The development of expertise on this task was examined using three Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO) candidates who had no previous experience with this task. The results indicated that performance improved rapidly until Trial 5, followed by more gradual improvements through Trial 12. The performance dimensions measured included performance speed, actions completed, errors, help required, and display fields checked. Suggestions for further refining the software and for deciding when to expose trainees to more difficult task scenarios are discussed. Further, the results provide an initial demonstration of the effectiveness of the PD/ICAT system in training the nominal PAM deployment task and indicate the potential benefits of using ITS's for training other FDO tasks

The effects of outcome and process feedback

A study was conducted to examine the effects of process and outcome feedback on performance during a skill acquisition phase and a transfer test phase. The research also examined the role of two moderators: self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. Subjects were college students participating for course credit. The task involved using a computerized simulation of the Space Shuttle's Remote Manipulation System (RMS). Results provided evidence of the beneficial effects of process feedback during skill acquisition. Results also provided evidence that self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation moderate the effects of feedback type on performance

The effects of instructional sets on reactions to and performance on an intelligent tutoring system

The effects of a contextual factor, i.e., task instructions, on performance on and reactions to an Intellegent Tutoring System (ITS) training Remote Manipulator System (RMS) tasks were examined. The results supported the first prediction that task instructions could be used to successfully induce a mastery versus an achievement orientation. Previous research suggests that a mastery orientation can result in beneficial effects on learning and performance of complex tasks. Furthermore, the results supported the second prediction that a mastery orientation would have beneficial effects on learning and performance as well as affective and cognitive reactions to the ITS tasks. Moreover, the results indicated that a mastery orientation was especially beneficial for the more complex ITS tasks and later in task practice, i.e., when a task was performed for the second time. A mastery orientation is posited to have its beneficial effects by focusing more effort and attention on task performance. Conclusions are drawn with some caution due to the small number of subjects, although the results for these subjects were consistent across multiple trials and multiple measures of performance. ITS designers are urged to consider contextual factors such as task instructions and feedback in terms of their potential to induce a mastery versus an achievement orientation

The Influence of Trunk Flexion during Stand-to-Sit on Knee Extensor Eccentric Control and the Relationship Between Eccentric Control and Postural Stability

Stand-to-sit (StandTS) is an important functional activity that is done daily. During StandTS, knee extensor eccentric control plays a key role in decelerating the falling momentum for a stable and safe landing. The degree of trunk flexion is an important biomechanics factor to control the vertical downward acceleration of center of mass (CoM) during StandTS. This affects body weight loading on the knee extensors while they are eccentrically lengthening. Thus, manipulation of StandTS trunk flexion angle can modify the knee extensor eccentric control and StandTS landing balance (postural stability). However, the influence of trunk flexion on knee extensor eccentric control and the relationship between knee extensor eccentric control and postural stability during StandTS remains unknown. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of trunk flexion on knee extensor eccentric control and to determine the relationship between knee extensor eccentric control and postural stability during StandTS. METHODS: 9 healthy younger adults participated in this study (mean age = 21.2 ± 2.9 years). Participants maintained an upright standing position with the feet shoulder-width apart and placed their feet in a self-selected parallel foot position with feet on a force plate. All participants performed a StandTS action after a visual light cue was turned on. They repeated this task for a total of 20 trials, adjusting their trunk flexion angle each time. There were five trials for each of four different maximal trunk flexion angles (0°, 20°, 40°, 60°). Participants crossed their arms over their chest during the StandTS task and sat down on an armless, backless, height adjustable chair. Outcome measures include 1) Vastus Lateralis (VL) (the knee extensor) eccentric electromyography (EMG) burst duration 2) knee joint eccentric work (negative work to resist body weight against gravity) and 3) postural sway (standard deviation of CoM acceleration (SDCoMAccel)) in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions during StandTS. One-way multivariate analysis (MANOVA) was used for each variable with Tukey’s post hoc test to correct for multiple comparisons. A Pearson’s correlation was used to examine the correlation between eccentric control (EMG burst duration and eccentric work) and postural sway. RESULTS: There was a main effect of trunk flexion angle on knee extensor eccentric control and postural sway. 60° trunk flexion required greater eccentric control than 0° (EMG burst duration, p = 0.02, knee eccentric work, p= 0.01) and 20° (EMG burst duration, p = 0.01, knee eccentric work, p= 0.02). SDCoMAccel (postural sway) in the ML was smaller for 40° (p = 0.02) and 60° (p = 0.01) trunk flexion compared to 0° trunk flexion. In addition, there was a negative correlation between VL eccentric EMG burst duration and ML SDCoMAccel (postural sway) (r = – 0.30, p =0.04). CONCLUSION: Greater trunk flexion during StandTS required increased eccentric control at the knee joint. Increased knee extensor eccentric control has contributed to improved postural stability during StandTS. Our findings demonstrated the importance of trunk flexion and knee extensor eccentric control to maintain postural stability during StandTS

Some Aspects of the Farm Mortgage Situation in South Dakota and their Relation to a Future Land Use Policy

The purpose of this circular is to bring together in more available form some facts and figures regarding the development of the present farm mortgage situation in South Dakota and to point out their relationship to a future land use policy. It is hoped that each topic covered in the discussion will contribute something to a better understanding of farm mortgage credit conditions in the state, More knowledge of the present situation is essential if an intelligent attack is to be made on this important problem. It has not been possible to analyze thoroughly each problem considered. Such conclusions as are offered will therefore have to be considered as more or less tentative. If the discussion that follows will be of assistance in furnishing some background for intelligent action on these timely and most important problems the undertaking will have served its main purpose

Student Ensemble: Symphonic Winds

Center for the Performing ArtsFebruary 26, 2012Sunday Afternoon3:00 p.m

Feature-Based Change Detection Reveals Inconsistent Individual Differences in Visual Working Memory Capacity

Visual working memory (VWM) is a key cognitive system that enables people to hold visual information in mind after a stimulus has been removed and compare past and present to detect changes that have occurred. VWM is severely capacity limited to around 3–4 items, although there are robust individual differences in this limit. Importantly, these individual differences are evident in neural measures of VWM capacity. Here, we capitalized on recent work showing that capacity is lower for more complex stimulus dimension. In particular, we asked whether individual differences in capacity remain consistent if capacity is shifted by a more demanding task, and, further, whether the correspondence between behavioral and neural measures holds across a shift in VWM capacity. Participants completed a change detection (CD) task with simple colors and complex shapes in an fMRI experiment. As expected, capacity was significantly lower for the shape dimension. Moreover, there were robust individual differences in behavioral estimates of VWM capacity across dimensions. Similarly, participants with a stronger BOLD response for color also showed a strong neural response for shape within the lateral occipital cortex, intraparietal sulcus (IPS), and superior IPS. Although there were robust individual differences in the behavioral and neural measures, we found little evidence of systematic brain-behavior correlations across feature dimensions. This suggests that behavioral and neural measures of capacity provide different views onto the processes that underlie VWM and CD. Recent theoretical approaches that attempt to bridge between behavioral and neural measures are well positioned to address these findings in future work

Engaging the next generation in Appalachian studies: building community and expanding outreach through technology and diversity of programming

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1089/thumbnail.jp