Decentralized optimal controller design for multimachine power systems using successive approximation approach

In this paper, we propose to develop algorithmically and implement a nonlinear decentralized optimal control for multimachine power systems, based on a successive approximation approach for designing the optimal controller with respect to quadratic performance index. The advantage of this approach is to transform the high order coupling nonlinear two-point boundary value (TPBV) problem into a sequence of linear decoupling TPBV problem, which uniformly converges to the optimal control for nonlinear interconnected large scale systems. We apply this approach to a 3-machine power system which generators are strongly nonlinear interconnected, and containing possible uncertainties on the parameters. We demonstrate clearly via advanced simulations that this approach brings better performances than other decentralized controller, improving effectively transient stability of these power systems in few iterative sequences for different cases of perturbations.     

哈萨克斯坦高校汉语专业调查

通过对哈萨克斯坦高校汉语专业的抽样调查,了解到该国的汉语专业存在着课程设置较为单一、汉语师资队伍的数量和质量不高、缺乏适合哈萨克斯坦国情的汉语教材及哈萨克斯坦本国出版的教材、汉语图书资料缺乏、教学硬件使用有待加强、没有统一的汉语水平考试等问题,并从改变课程设置、加强哈萨克斯坦本国汉语教师培养、合作编写教材、设立统一的评估体系、建立交流平台等方面提出了相关建议.     

Individual differences in preferences for matched-ethnic mentors among high-achieving ethnically diverse adolescents in STEM

This short-term longitudinal study examined (a) adolescents' contact with mentors who share their background in relation to the importance they place on having such mentors, and (b) the associations of these perceptions with self-efficacy, identity, and commitment to a science career. Participants were 265 ethnically diverse adolescents (M age = 15.82) attending a 4-week science education program. Cluster analyses indicated that at Time 1, underrepresented ethnic minorities were more often in the cluster defined by feelings of importance of having a matched-background mentor but not having much contact. Perceptions of contact increased over time for these students and were associated with increased feelings of identity as a science student. The results suggest the need for attending to individual differences in students' preferences for matched-background mentors.     

Measuring attitude towards learning science in Malaysian secondary school context: implications for teaching

ABSTRACT

The aim of education is to ensure a holistic development towards knowledge and well-being. Despite exhaustive effort on embedding twenty-first century skills in science teaching, students show lack of interest to learn and pursue their science careers. This present study has attempted to develop an instrument for measuring attitude towards science learning. The purpose was to ensure valid items were identified to measure all aspects of attitude namely affect, behaviour and cognitive. The study of attitude in science will determine the direction on how teaching strategies can be successful in promoting interest in learning. The study has been underpinned from the theories related to Theory of Reasoned Action, Constructivist learning and Connectivism. Samples from three secondary schools were selected based on proportionate stratified random sampling. 350 samples were targeted to respond to self-constructed questionnaires. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to prove the hypothesised 5-factor measurement model. The results have supported a model fit with positive interactions between the factors are evident. The study has proven the theoretical contributions which embark on holistic development of an individual to ensure attitude is moulded. The emotional and spiritual aspects of learning are needed to ensure positive contribution to the social dynamic. In this paper, the discussions are elaborated from the standpoints of theories and practical importance. The results have contributed to a theoretical model of science teaching method.     

The Lack of Minority Students in Gifted Education: Hiring More Exemplary Teachers of Color Can Alleviate the Problem

When implemented well, gifted education creates opportunities for future success. However, when gifted students are not placed in gifted programs, they typically struggle in school. Unfortunately, low-income students of color are underrepresented in gifted education. A variety of causes, including a lack of teachers of color and biased methods of identifying students for these programs, contribute to this problem. This essay focuses on why teachers of color are likely to enhance the education of gifted minority students in the United States and why few teachers of color work in school settings. It also offers recommendations for increasing the percentage of students of color in gifted education.     

Multimodal Children’s E-Books Help Young Learners in Reading

Many children struggle with reading and are seldom engaged in this process when teachers assign them to read. Young learners may lack motivation to read an dislike this activity because they have had frequently have unpleasant experiences with reading. If educators fail to provide support for struggling readers, these pupils will likely experience academic problems in later years. One strategy that instructors can implement to provide help for students who perform poorly in reading is to teach reading with multimodal e-books. Multimodal e-books are interactive electronic resources that combine text with sound, animation, and images and often include text that is read aloud and highlighted. The purpose of this article is to discuss how teachers can use multimodal e-books to help children make academic gains in reading and to provide guidelines for selecting good interactive e-books. Also included in this article is an annotated bibliography of CD-ROMs and e-book apps for children.     

A structured career intervention program for academically challenged students

A study was carried out to test the effects of a 2-week structured intervention program on academically challenged students’ career development. A quasi-experimental study was designed using pre-tests, post-tests, and a control group approach to examine the effects of the intervention program. Data were collected from both the experimental and control groups. The test was carried out on eight schools in the state of Kedah in Malaysia. Eight school counselors were trained to facilitate the assignment to the experimental groups and to collect data. A total number of 335 students with low academic achievement participated in this study. This number included male (43.6 %) and female (56.4 %) students who were aged 15–16 and a half. Modes of measurement used consisted of a career planning inventory (measuring career planning skills), an academic learning motivation scale (measuring attitude toward academic learning), and an academic study skills test (measuring academic study competencies). Analysis was performed using t-tests and the multivariate analysis of variance to examine the differences in the mean scores. The results show that the sample’s career academic score improved significantly from the pre-test to the post-test. A simple regression analysis was also performed to see the effect of the intervention program on the three dependent variables, which revealed that the career intervention program has positive and significant effects on the three variables. However, further studies on the career program for academically challenged students are highly recommended to support the present study.     

The Make Up of Institutional Branding: Who,What, How?

Tertiary Education and Management - The purpose of this paper is to report on who creates branding within institutions of higher learning, and what impact branding has on core institutional...     

We are invited to imagine: using a literary text to encourage cross-cultural dialogue about citizenship

ABSTRACT

Using William Golding’s Lord of the Flies as a stimulus, researchers from Norway, Pakistan and the United Kingdom explored the potential of a literary text to encourage intercultural dialogue. The innovative research method used was to combine Literature Circles and Google Documents to provide a platform for asynchronous online exchange between three cohorts of students in higher education. The authors’ analysis of the data suggested differences between those students who regarded the text as a living document speaking directly to their personal experiences of citizenship issues and those for whom the novel remained a historical document, removed from their lived experience. The authors contend that this research can contribute original and significant insights to the literature on teaching citizenship through literary texts such as the relationship between text choice and context, models of international collaboration at the higher education level and contrasting approaches towards citizenship and reading.