Researching the efficacy of online learning: A collaborative effort amongst scholars in Asian open universities

This article reports on a collaborative effort amongst scholars from ODL institutions across Asia that resulted in an analysis of the status of online learning. Eleven leading open universities participated in this project, each having representatives join the project team. The exchange among team members and data collection was conducted solely online and comprised the following three stages: (1) continuous email exchange; (2) institutional profile survey; and (3) student perception survey of online learning. Altogether, 1906 students returned valid questionnaires. The results reveal an array of methodologies used to design, implement and deliver online learning and include the perceptions of users on the advantages, disadvantages and barriers to learning online from an ODL perspective in Asia.     

Sailing the Digital Seas: Charting a New Course with CONTENTdm

With the transition of government publications from print to digital over the last decade, the State Library of North Carolina saw the need to implement a content management system for the state’s digital publications. The State Library formed a Digital Information Management Program (DIMP) in 2006 to address the challenge of managing their digital collections. The library chose to utilize OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC)’s CONTENTdm software to manage their digital materials and associated metadata. The presentation described below outlined the processes and challenges in managing their collections with this software.     

Towards culturally relevant classroom science: a theoretical framework focusing on traditional plant healing

A theoretical framework is an important component of a research study. It grounds the study and guides the methodological design. It also forms a reference point for the interpretation of the research findings. This paper conceptually examines the process of constructing a multi-focal theoretical lens for guiding studies that aim to accommodate local culture in science classrooms. A multi-focal approach is adopted because the integration of indigenous knowledge and modern classroom science is complex. The central argument in this paper is that a multi-focal lens accommodates the multifaceted nature of integrating indigenous knowledge and western oriented classroom science. The objective of the paper, therefore, is to construct a theoretical framework that can be used to guide and inform the integration of indigenous knowledge and western science at classroom science level. The traditional plant healing form of indigenous knowledge is used as a case study. The paper is important for raising the complexities, tensions and dilemmas inherent in the design and implementation of indigenous knowledge-science integrated curricula. An understanding of the issues raised will pave the way towards achieving culturally relevant classroom science.     

Operational space consensus of multiple heterogeneous robots without velocity measurements

This paper proposes a control algorithm for networks of multiple heterogeneous robot manipulators, which solves the leader–follower and the leaderless consensus problems in the operational space. In the leader–follower scenario, the controller ensures that all the robots in the network asymptotically reach a given leader pose (position and orientation), provided that, at least, one follower robot has access to the leader pose. Without a leader pose, in the leaderless problem, the robots asymptotically reach a pose of consensus. The controller is a simple distributed proportional plus damping injection (P+d) scheme which does not require velocity measurements. A singularity-free representation, unit quaternions, is used to describe the orientation of each manipulator. The paper presents some simulations, with a network of six 6-Degrees-of-Freedom (DoF) manipulators, and experiments, with a network of three 6-DoF manipulators, to show the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

Physico-chemical characterization of a farmland affected by wastewater in relation to heavy metals

This study investigated selected properties of soils affected by wastewater and its relationship with some heavy metals A free survey technique involving target sampling was used in siting soil profile pits. Soil samples were collected based on horizon differentiation and analyzed using routine and special analytical techniques. Soil data were subjected to correlation analysis using SAS program. Results show that all heavy metals studied had values above critical limits in the polluted soils using known standards and that these biotoxic metals decreased with soil depths. Highly significant （P=0.01 and 0.05） relationships were established between investigated heavy metals and some soil properties, especially soil pH and organic matter. Further studies involving more edaphic properties, biotoxic metals and their bioaccessibility in crops growing on wastewater soils will surely enhance knowledge and management of these highly anthropogenically influenced soils of the study site.     

Associations Between Reading Skills,Interest in Reading,and Teaching Practices in First Grade

This study examined associations between classroom-level reading fluency, comprehension, interest in reading, and teaching practices. Participants were 466 children from 21 classrooms. Reading fluency and interest were assessed at the beginning and end of Grade 1, reading comprehension at the end of Grade 1. Teaching practices were observed with the Early Childhood Classroom Observation Measure (ECCOM). Teachers were more likely to use teacher-directed methods in classrooms where children had poorer initial reading fluency. In classrooms with mostly child-centered methods, children showed better reading fluency, comprehension, and higher interest, whereas in classrooms with predominately teacher-directed practices, children had lower reading comprehension at the end of Grade 1. Findings highlight the need for teacher education programs to incorporate discussions about the benefits and disadvantages of different teaching methods.     

Hacia una formalización de los procesos implicados en la comprensión musical

El principal problema que se plantea en la comparación músical lenguaje estriba en la naturaleza de los procesos implicados en la percepción y comprensión de las producciones musicales. En este artículo se plantean ciertas precauciones a la hora de trasponer sin más los modelos de análisis formales del lenguaje a la música, abogando por la teoría generativa de Lerdahl y Jackendoff y analizando sus implicaciones para la formación musical.