Does regular online testing enhance student learning in the numerical sciences? Robust evidence from a large data set

While a number of studies have been conducted on the impact of online assessment and teaching methods on student learning, the field does not seem settled around the promised benefits of such approaches. It is argued that the reason for this state of affairs is that few studies have been able to control for a number of confounding factors in student performance. We report on the introduction of a regular (every 3 weeks) low-mark online assessment tool in a large, first-year business mathematics course at the University of New South Wales, a major Australian university. Using a retrospective regression methodology together with a very large and rich data set, we test the proposition that exposure to the online assessment instrument enhances student learning. Significantly, we are able to control for prior student aptitude, in-course mastery, gender and even effort via a voluntary class attendance proxy. Furthermore, the study incorporates two large, and statistically diverse cohorts as well as manipulations in the model tested to robustly examine the outcomes. Our central result is that higher exposure to the online instrument robustly leads to higher student learning, all else being equal. Various implications for online assessment design, implementation and targeting are also discussed.     

The Potentiality of Authenticity in Becoming a Teacher

This paper arises out of the transition from a PhD thesis on Heidegger's phenomenology to my attempts to come to terms with 'becoming a teacher'. The paper will provide a phenomenological interpretation of being a teacher in relation to the question of an 'authentic' interpretation of teaching/learning and the possibility of an authentic interpretative praxis. I will argue that being a teacher is a phenomenon of human existence which can be interpreted as a possible way of being with authentic and inauthentic potentialities. This way of being is intrinsically linked to that of learning; of becoming human or becoming the authentic possibilities of being-human. As such, the problem of being a teacher is primarily an ethical question (or a question of ɛτηοσ—dwelling); of who we are as humans and of how being a teacher engages with the in-formation of the becoming of students as authentic human beings. This then leads to the problem of how a phenomenological interpretation of education can be applied or lived; of authenticity in teaching/learning and the possibilities of authentic learning environments (educational dwelling) .     

论新疆高校辅导员机制的改进

思想政治教育是一切工作的生命线,高校辅导员则是高校思想政治教育者的中坚力量.近年来,党中央围绕这一要素做了大量的工作,建立了辅导员机制,成效卓著.为了更有效推进该机制,唯有发现存在的问题,剖析其成因,从而提出解决的对策和方法才可以.     

论功用主义伦理思想的演进过程

功用主义伦理学属于目的论伦理学,它盛行于18世纪末至19世纪初。但就其思想渊源而言,可上溯到古希腊时期的快乐论和幸福论。长期以来人们一般都将功用主义伦理学分为古典和现代两种理论形态,这似乎是在学界比较流行的观点。但这种观点的一个明显缺陷就是：它只承认功用主义是快乐论和幸福论的一个较为晚近的形式。如若承认功用主义是古希腊时期快乐论和幸福论的一个较为晚近的形式,那么就等于承认了功用主义伦理思想是由古希腊时期的快乐论和幸福论思想的基础上演变而来的历史事实。因此,功用主义本身无论如何改变其理论形态,都不可能完全脱离快乐论和幸福论所主张的快乐或幸福等核心概念。因此,将整个功用主义分为前功用主义、古典功用主义和现代功用主义等彼此关联的三个发展阶段是非常有必要的。     

从"雅则红城"分析白黄黑帐霍尔的民族归属

本文根据几个地区霍岭大战传说中的霍尔城堡“雅则红城”遗址,通过引证这些城堡与历史上藏语所称几个“霍尔”民族之间的关系,分析说明了白帐霍尔、黄帐霍尔及黑帐霍尔的民族归属。     

基于改进蚁群算法的维吾尔文字图像分割

针对传统蚁群算法在维吾尔文字图像分割时容易产生缺陷和干扰的缺点,提出了一种改进的蚁群算法。该算法首先利用区域蚁群通过聚类中心对图像进行初步搜索和分割;然后再引入边界蚁群通过不同的路径选择信息素和策略更新手法来对图像进行边界补偿搜索;最后利用两种蚁群分别采用不同的路径选择信息素和筻略更新,共同实现对维吾尔文字图像精确分割的目标。实验结果表明,该算法准确分割出维吾尔文字区域,提高了其识别精度。     

Triathlon

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prior cycling on EMG activity of selected lower leg muscles during running. Ten elite level triathletes underwent two testing sessions at race pace: a 40 km cycle followed by a 2 km run (CR) and a 10 km run followed by a 2 km run (RR). EMG data from selected lower limb muscles were collected at three sections of each run (0 km, 1 km and 2 km) for six strides using a portable data logger. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between condition were found for the level of activation (L_act) for biceps femoris (BF) during stance and vastus lateralis (VL) during flight and stance. Vastus medialis (VM) changed in L_act, during flight, between sections in the 2 km run. Furthermore, significant differences (p < 0.05) between condition were found for BF during stance and for rectus femoris (RF) and VM during flight. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the duration of VL activation (D_act) across sections of the 2 km run. Findings from this investigation highlight changes in muscle function when changing from cycling to running and indicate a need to train specifically for the cycle to run transition. Such training may improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.     

Methodological considerations for the 3D measurement of the X-factor and lower trunk movement in golf

It is believed that increasing the X-factor (movement of the shoulders relative to the hips) during the golf swing can increase ball velocity at impact. Increasing the X-factor may also increase the risk of low back pain. The aim of this study was to provide recommendations for the three-dimensional (3D) measurement of the X-factor and lower trunk movement during the golf swing. This three-part validation study involved; (1) developing and validating models and related algorithms (2) comparing 3D data obtained during static positions representative of the golf swing to visual estimates and (3) comparing 3D data obtained during dynamic golf swings to images gained from high-speed video. Of particular interest were issues related to sequence dependency. After models and algorithms were validated, results from parts two and three of the study supported the conclusion that a lateral bending/flexion-extension/axial rotation (ZYX) order of rotation was deemed to be the most suitable Cardanic sequence to use in the assessment of the X-factor and lower trunk movement in the golf swing. The findings of this study have relevance for further research examining the X-factor its relationship to club head speed and lower trunk movement and low back pain in golf.     

Characteristics of the start in women's World Cup skeleton

This study characterizes key elements of the start in elite female World Cup skeleton athletes. The top 20 female competitors in three World Cup races were videotaped within a calibrated space to allow the following components of the start to be quantified: (1) acceleration (velocity at 15-m mark, time to 15-m mark), (2) capacity (time to load, total number of steps to load), and (3) load (velocity at 45-m mark). A correlation analysis was used to establish the relationship between the variables of interest and overall start time (15- to 65-m mark). Velocity at the 15-m mark accounted for 86% of the variance in overall start time at St. Moritz and 85% at Sigulda. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that approximately 89% of the variation in start time could be explained by velocity at the 15-m mark, time to load, and velocity at the 45-m mark. Of the variables analysed in this study, rapid acceleration to attain a high velocity at the 15-m mark was the most important component of a fast overall start time. The importance of the time to load and velocity at the 45-m mark vary according to the different track characteristics.     

全球化时代如何创建世界一流的研究型大学

我今天报告的主题是 :研究型大学在全球化形势下所扮演的角色。以我们在中国所开展的活动为例来说明在这一新形势下研究型大学所起的领导角色。在我们所处的时代 ,环保、人类健康和国家安全等等问题都已上升为国际问题。事实上 ,技术的发展使得任何事务都全球化了。自然 ,世界期待着我们的学生去探讨国际问题 ,因而培养国际领导才能也就从没有像今天这样成为一流研究型大学责无旁贷的责任。在下面的报告中 ,我将重点论述研究型大学具备全球影响力必须培养企业精神、发展合作伙伴关系、国际影响力、学术竞争力四个方面的特色。1.企业精神全球…