An Intelligent Marking Assistant: An Application of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching

We are entering the second computer revolution — described by many as “THE REVOLUTION”. The Japanese have committed themselves to a programme to develop a Fifth Generation of computers — machines that can understand natural language, diagnose problems, and discover solutions. What are the implications for higher education?

This paper argues that the most interesting applications of this new technology are in producing “intelligent assistants” or “powerful tools” in the teaching/learning process. It describes in some detail a particular “Expert System” being used in this role — assisting academic staff with the evaluation of student work.     

Acculturation,social support and academic achievement of Mexican and Mexican American high school students: An exploratory study

Concerns about the high dropout rate among Mexican American high school students has led researchers and educators to determine which variables affect academic success. The study investigated two factors associated with academic achievement: acculturation and social support. The sample consisted of 60 ninth‐grade students of Mexican decent in a southwestern school district. Results indicated that students identified as highly integrated and strongly Anglo‐oriented bicultural tended to have higher academic achievement. In addition, the sample as a whole perceived social support from all four sources. Although no generational effects were identified, females tended to have higher GPAs, and perceive more social support, while the males, interestingly, were slightly more acculturated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Is there a future for school counseling in the United States?

School counseling in the United States is going through a very difficult period. Reasons for the difficulties are discussed. Suggestions are offered for modifications in counseling practice and in counselor education needed to overcome the current problems. Hopefully, the issues raised in the paper will be especially relevant in those countries which have relied heavily on literature and expertise from the United States in developing their counseling services.     

Risk acceptability and cost-effectiveness of protective measures against terrorist threats to built infrastructure considering multiple threat scenarios

Decisions are often needed about the need and/or extent of protective measures against explosive blast loads on built infrastructure. A decision support analysis considers fatality risks and cost-effectiveness of protective measures expressed in terms of expected cost spent on risk reduction per life saved for terrorist threats to infrastructure. The analysis is applicable to any item of infrastructure, but in this paper is applied to casualties arising from building facade glazing damage. Risks may be compared with risk acceptance criteria in the form of quantitative safety goals. The risk acceptability and cost-effectiveness of protective measures includes cost of the protective measures, attack probability,reduction in risk due to protective measures,probability of fatality conditional on successful terrorist attack and number of exposed individuals.     

When Disaster Strikes: Opportunities for Community and Institutional Renewal at Elliot Lake Public Library

On June 23, 2012, the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake, Ontario, collapsed suddenly, killing two people, injuring many more, and destroying many of the community’s services, including the public library. After describing the events leading up to, during, and following the destruction of Elliot Lake Public Library, I discuss five opportunities for community and institutional renewal that are not currently being realized by the library. The destruction of the library need not be an entirely negative experience but, rather, a catalyst for refocusing the library’s role and improving its services and facilities in order to better meet the changing information needs of the community.     

An evaluation of argument mapping as a method of enhancing critical thinking performance in e-learning environments

The current research examined the effects of a critical thinking (CT) e-learning course taught through argument mapping (AM) on measures of CT ability. Seventy-four undergraduate psychology students were allocated to either an AM-infused CT e-learning course or a no instruction control group and were tested both before and after an 8-week intervention period on CT ability using the Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment. Results revealed that participation in the AM-infused CT course significantly enhanced overall CT ability and all CT sub-scale abilities from pre- to post-testing and that post-test performance was positively correlated with motivation towards learning and dispositional need for cognition. In addition, AM-infused CT course participants exhibited a significantly larger gain in both overall CT and in argument analysis (a CT subscale) than controls. There were no effects of training on either motivation for learning or need for cognition. However, both the latter variables were correlated with CT ability at post-testing. Results are discussed in light of research and theory on the best practices of providing CT instruction through argument mapping and e-learning environments.     

Instructional redesign: Developing learning communities in academia

Traditionally, learning is provided in a unidirectional manner from instructor to learner. This practice can be limiting to all individuals involved in the learning process. To develop quality instructional materials, the learning team can participate in instructional design and development (ID) as partners. This article discusses a proposed learning community to be created during the process of course redesign. Human performance technology and ID professionals who use learning community practices can improve their designs by including all relevant stakeholders.