Announcing the Engagement of Sudoku: An In‐Class Genetic Algorithm Game

This teaching brief describes an engaging, in‐class exercise that introduces genetic algorithms as well as advanced Excel functions and capabilities by modeling the familiar Sudoku puzzle. Student groups are first asked to manually solve a given puzzle and then translate that solution methodology to a spreadsheet model. This exercise can be used to build classroom community and as a launching point for the content area of genetic algorithms and the use of Evolutionary Solver.     

Life Tables – A Plea for their Use

This article highlights the important contribution that life tables can make to teaching in the social sciences and in engineering subjects, especially when comparative work is carried out. The article ends by illustrating how to form the life table and generate appropriate graphs using a spreadsheet.     

Developing Students’ Understanding of Co‐opetition and Multilevel Inventory Management Strategies in Supply Chains: An In‐Class Spreadsheet Simulation Exercise

Instructors look for ways to explain to students how supply chains can be constructed so that competing suppliers can work together to improve inventory management performance (i.e., a phenomenon known as co‐opetition). An Excel spreadsheet‐driven simulation is presented that models a complete multilevel supply chain system—customer, retailer, wholesaler, distributor, and manufacturer—for up to six competing products. Students are provided the opportunity to compare the inventory cost and other key performance metrics of the alternative multilevel supply chain structures. This article explains the simulation model, describes the instructional approach, and presents assessment results from students in an introductory operations management course. Students find that the simulation is easy to use and helps them understand the performance impact of strategic supplier collaborations on supply chain operating performance.     

How Levels of Interactivity in Tutorials Affect Students' Learning of Modeling Transportation Problems in a Spreadsheet

Do students learn to model OR/MS problems better by using computer‐based interactive tutorials and, if so, does increased interactivity in the tutorials lead to better learning? In order to determine the effect of different levels of interactivity on student learning, we used screen capture technology to design interactive support materials for modeling and solving the transportation problem in a spreadsheet. A controlled experiment was carried out and the results indicate a general support for the effectiveness of interactive tutorials in enhancing students’ learning of modeling concepts. However, the study also found that excessive interactivity increased the cognitive load for the students and hindered their learning by making it difficult for them to consolidate concepts, integrate previous knowledge, and create meaningful mental models of the process.     

Introducing Simulation via the Theory of Records

While spreadsheet simulation can be a useful method by which to help students to understand some of the more advanced concepts in an introductory statistics course, introducing the simulation methodology at the same time as these concepts can result in student cognitive overload. This article describes a spreadsheet model that has been successfully utilized to introduce simulation as early as the third week of class—within the context of assigning probabilities—using a topic that students find immediately interesting: the theory of records. Use of this simulation in early class sessions not only facilitates student learning of later material but also builds a simulation knowledge base that can be leveraged in other classes.     

How helpful are error management and counterfactual thinking instructions to inexperienced spreadsheet users' training task performance?

This paper examined the impact of training strategies on the types of errors that novice users make when learning a commonly used spreadsheet application. Fifty participants were assigned to a counterfactual thinking training (CFT) strategy, an error management training strategy, or a combination of both strategies, and completed an easy task (assessing direct application of the skills learned) followed by a hard task (assessing adaptive transfer). Even though there were no objective differences in performance across conditions, a positive relationship was found between errors and task performance for the CFT and combined conditions in the hard task. These preliminary findings indicate the usefulness of examining not only task performance but also types of errors when assessing the effectiveness of software training strategies.     

Teachers’ emergent goals in spreadsheet-based lessons: analyzing the complexity of technology integration

We examine teachers’ classroom activities with the spreadsheet, focusing especially on episodes marked by improvisation and uncertainty. The framework is based on Saxe’s cultural approach to cognitive development. The study considers two teachers, one positively disposed towards classroom use of technology, and the other not, both of them experienced and in a context in which spreadsheet use was compulsory: a new curriculum in France for upper secondary non-scientific classes. The paper presents and contrasts the two teachers in view of Saxe’s parameters, and analyzes their activity in two similar lessons. Goals emerging in these lessons show how teachers deal with instrumented techniques and the milieu under the influence of cultural representations. The conclusion examines the contribution that the approach and the findings can bring to understanding technology integration in other contexts, especially teacher education.

乙酸乙酯皂化实验数据的处理方法

为了使物理化学实验中的数据计算、处理、作图更加便捷,以乙酸乙酯皂化反应为例,使用电子表格进行处理,首先对Excel电子表格进行了数学计算模式设计,然后根据数学计算要求编制了计算公式,给出了具体处理方法的详细过程,研究了具体实例的数据处理.结果表明该方法处理二级反应——乙酸乙酯皂化数据,方法简单,操作步骤少,处理速度快,避免了人为误差.     

Setting Personalized Homework Exercises Using ISCUS

This article describes how a spreadsheet‐based tool can be used to provide personalized statistics homework exercises for each student in a class.     

Comparison of Two Neural Networks in MC CDMA Multiuser Detection

ＭＣＣＤＭＡ如同ＤＳＣＤＭＡ一样,也存在多用户干扰．ＭＬ准则是最佳的多用户检测准则,但其计算复杂度随用户数目增多而呈指数增长．神经网络利用其大规模并行的特点,可应用于此问题．本文论述了均场退火和混沌神经网络在此问题中的解决方案,并作了比较．     

Individualized Statistics Coursework Using Spreadsheets

This article describes how a spreadsheet‐based tool can be used to allocate each student in a class a unique subset of a large set of data, as the basis for a statistical assignment.     

百度知道中网络信息资源与用户发展的仿真研究

百度知道是一个复杂适应系统,可以利用多主体系统方法对其进行研究。在对百度知道进行复杂适应系统分析的基础上结合Netlogo软件特点,建立了百度知道信息发展过程模型,对资源发展与用户激励的互动关系,资源发展与用户数量的关系和不同激励水平用户的互动关系进行了仿真和研究。得出结论:初始用户数、新增用户数量影响了系统的演化过程,但不影响系统的稳定状态;激励值、问题再生率和潜在用户数量影响了系统中用户和问题数量发展;不同激励值用户的发展与最大用户数、问题再生率等因素相关。     

Influence of measurement errors on HIV risk behavior analysis: A case study examining condom use among drug users

Multiple indicators of HIV risk behaviors are not yet well developed in the field of drug abuse and AIDS prevention, with most research relying on single‐item measures. Weak or inconclusive statistical analyses often result from measurement errors. This study illustrates the problems of biased statistical estimates when single‐item measures with measurement errors are used. Using HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users as an example, this study shows the impact of measurement error on statistical results in path analysis. The results suggest that more attention is needed to address the issue of measurement reliability in survey data. Measurement error should be taken into account in analyzing HIV risk behaviors, and appropriate multiple indicators for a full range of HIV risk behaviors should be developed to deal successfully with the “errors‐in‐variables” problem.     

From a Disciplinary to an Interdisciplinary Design Research: Developing an Integrative Approach for Design

As the new generation of designers face more complex design issues, the forms of design research start to shift towards a user‐centred approach to problem‐solving. The cooperation and communication among various fields and specialisations are becoming more complex; in many practical design cases, in particular, technology developers face challenges in deciphering the creative ideas of designers and the needs and restraints of users, society, law and science. The emergence of integrative design based on a wide range of disciplines has prompted discussion and exploration among various participants. The direction of contemporary design research has already transformed from one based on production of artefact to one focused on the integration of varied knowledge and fields at different stages. We examine such design research based on a problem‐driven approach in two case studies characterised by interdisciplinary collaboration for solving complex problems. We focus on the transformation and implementation of integrative design research methods and suggest a ‘reflection‐in‐action’ problem‐solving process for strengthening the capabilities of multidisciplinary design research.     

Diffusion of innovations: Smartphones and wireless anatomy learning resources

The author has previously reported on principles of diffusion of innovations, the processes by which new technologies become popularly adopted, specifically in relation to anatomy and education. In presentations on adopting handheld computers [personal digital assistants (PDAs)] and personal media players for health sciences education, particular attention has been directed to the anticipated integration of PDA functions into popular cellular telephones. However, limited distribution of early “smartphones” (e.g., Palm Treo and Blackberry) has provided few potential users for anatomical learning resources. In contrast, iPod media players have been self‐adopted by millions of students, and “podcasting” has become a popular medium for distributing educational media content. The recently introduced Apple iPhone has combined smartphone and higher resolution media player capabilities. The author successfully tested the iPhone and the “work alike” iPod touch wireless media player with text‐based “flashcard” resources, existing PDF educational documents, 3D clinical imaging data, lecture “podcasts,” and clinical procedure video. These touch‐interfaced, mobile computing devices represent just the first of a new generation providing practical, scalable wireless Web access with enhanced multimedia capabilities. With widespread student self‐adoption of such new personal technology, educators can look forward to increasing portability of well‐designed, multiplatform “learn anywhere” resources. Anat Sci Ed 1:233–239, 2008. © 2008 American Association of Anatomists.     

Examining gender issues in perception and acceptance in web-based end-user development activities

In the recent years in the End-User Development (EUD) research there is a shift from the study of tools that focus on desktop graphical applications, to the development of EUD for web environments. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research has shown significant gender differences while users interact with EUD systems. However, most of this research focuses on desktop spreadsheet environments. In this paper we examine the potential gender differences in perception and acceptance in modern web-based EUD environments. We step on previous gender research in the fields of EUD and Technology Acceptance to concentrate a set of appropriate items and examine a set of related hypotheses. To check out our research hypotheses we have conducted a field test using a prototype web-based EUD tool based on a natural language approach (named ‘simple talking’), to assist end-users in creating database-driven mobile applications. The results of the field test show significant gender differences in Risk-Perception and Perceived-Ease of Use. As it was predicted, male users perceived significantly higher ease of use and female users perceived significantly higher risk. Gender differences also exist in the correlations between different pairs of perception and acceptance items.     

Spreadsheet Modeling of () Inventory Policies

This teaching brief describes a method for finding an approximately optimal combination of order quantity and reorder point in a continuous review inventory model using a discrete expected shortage calculation. The technique is an alternative to a model where expected shortage is calculated by integration, and can allow students who have not had a calculus‐based statistics course to better understand how uncertainty affects inventory decisions.     

Teaching Statistics Visually: A Quasi‐Experimental Evaluation of Teaching Chi‐Square through Computer Tutorials 1

This paper examines the effectiveness of computer graphic tutorials in explaining statistical concepts to undergraduates enrolled in two sections of criminal justice research methods. We demonstrated key concepts to a treatment group through a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and Macromedia Flash movies. The students’ statistical skills were measured through a test on mathematical calculation and multiple‐choice questions about chi‐square concepts. Both sections scored similarly on the skills test; however, the treatment group performed better on the conceptual questions. We discuss the implications for teaching methods and statistics and offer several resources that instructors can use in their courses.     

Introducing B2B Service Level Measures via a Poker‐Card Activity

To determine the appropriate level of product availability, most operations management textbooks introduce and define service level measures in a Business‐to‐Customer context. In other words, a retailer that wants to measure product availability in their store calculates the fill rate (FR) or cycle service level over an infinite review horizon. However, in a Business‐to‐Business (B2B) context, a retailer almost always calculates the FR or compliance level over a finite review horizon. The goal of this article is to highlight calculations of service level measures in a B2B context. Pedagogically, it presents in‐class activities that use standard playing cards and/or a spreadsheet simulation that allow students to experientially learn about service level measures in a B2B context.     

A simplified MMSE-based iterative receiver for MIMO systems

A simplified minimum mean square error （MMSE） detector is proposed for joint detection and decoding of multiple-input multiple-output （MIMO） systems. The matrix inversion lemma and the singular value decomposition （SVD） of the channel matrix are used to simplify the computation of the coefficient of the MMSE filter. Compared to the original MMSE detector, the proposed detector has a much lower computational complexity with only a marginal performance loss. The proposed detector can also be applied to MIMO systems with high order modulations.