E-learning and e-systems to facilitate learning from marked student work : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science at Massey University

Heinrich (2004a) first introduced the concept of 'electronic repositories of marked student work' and suggested an innovative approach of learning from marked student work. This research project further develops this e-learning approach. The learning approach was analyzed in the framework of modern educational theories, especially those relevant to formative assessment. Learning activities that mostly suit this new approach were identified. These activities show a large degree of variation in cognitive complexity and learning effectiveness, and according to their characteristics, can be associated with various learning styles. A range of factors that need to be considered in constructing learning processes based on these learning activities were investigated. The conceptualization of an e-learning environment to support the approach of learning from marked student work was developed. Three major objectives of developing such an e-learning environment were identified. Based on these objectives the general framework of e-learning from marked student work was outlined. There were very few applications of this approach in teaching practice and no study has been done on its effectiveness in the practical teaching before this research. An initial learning experiment using this approach was carried out. The effectiveness of this approach was evaluated and various aspects associated with this approach were investigated. To fully support this new learning approach, a web-based prototype system named E-Repositories of Marked Student Work, was developed. This research project developed opportunities for student learning and provided guidelines for teaching staff on how to reuse valuable learning resources in their teaching practice in the e-learning context

On double periodic non-homogeneous poisson processes

Non-homogenous Poisson processes with periodic claim intensity rate are proposed as the claim counting process of risk theory. We introduce a doubly periodic Poisson model with short and long term trends, illustrated by a double-beta intensity function. Here periodicity does not repeat the exact same short term pattern every year, but lets its peak intensity vary over a longer period. This model reflects periodic environments like those forming hurricanes, in alternating El Niño/La Niña years. The properties of the model are discussed in detail

Pure Exporter: Theory and Evidence

This paper provides the first evidence about pure exporters (i.e., firms exporting all of their output to the foreign market) -- a phenomenon overlooked and cannot be explained in the existing literature. It then offers a generalized model of Melitz (2003) for examining the existence and behavior of pure exporters. In particular, pure exporters arise when the export market is sufficiently large -- a situation more likely to hold in developing countries as opposed to large developed countries; and their productivity levels are above those of non-exporters, but below those of firms having both domestic sales and export. These theoretical predictions are borne out in a data of Chinese manufacturing firms for the period of 1998-2005.Pure Exporter, Firm Heterogeneity, Exporting Behavior