A naive bayes approach for converging learning objects with open educational resources

Open educational resources (OER) are digitised material freely available to the students and self learners. Many institutions had initiated in incorporating these OERs in their higher educational system, to improve the quality of teaching and learning. These resources promotes individualised study, collaborative learning. If they are coupled with Learning Objects of Learning Management System (LMS), they can lead to opportunities for further pedagogical innovation. It has become increasingly important for educational institutions to support these resources, in a planned and systematic manner. Adapt, assemble and conceptualise existing OERs to respond to diverse learning needs of students and support a variety of learning approaches for a given learning goal is a challenge. In this work, convergence of OERs with Learning Objects is done through metadata using classification techniques. Localisation of these high quality learning materials with the learning content of LMS, delivered as a single instructional unit may help in greater knowledge delivery and this can satisfy the learning needs of diverse student.     

The Impact of Quality on Satisfaction,Revenue, and Cost as Perceived by Providers of Higher Education

Researchers have found a strong relationship between improvements in quality and satisfaction, revenue, and cost. However, no study to date investigates the same for higher education. This study investigates whether institutions of higher education have implemented quality improvement programs, and if so, if the results are similar to what has been observed with firms in the private sector. The study proposes and tests five hypotheses, and findings support four of the five hypotheses, with partial support for the fifth hypothesis. The study finds that implementing quality programs leads to an increase in satisfaction among constituent groups, increase in revenue, and a reduction in costs. The findings also show that increased satisfaction (due to improved quality) also leads to increase in revenue and reduction in costs.     

An ensemble approach in converging contents of LMS and KMS

Currently the challenges in e-Learning are converging the learning content from various sources and managing them within e-learning practices. Data mining learning algorithms can be used and the contents can be converged based on the Metadata of the objects. Ensemble methods use multiple learning algorithms and it can be used to converge the Learning Objects from Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Knowledge Objects from Knowledge Management System (KMS). This can increase the performance of the learning system, especially when there is different content available from a variety of models. In this research, Data mining ensemble techniques are used so that an appropriate learning content is delivered to the learner. By converging, the learning content from various sources the Learning system pedagogies can also be revolutionized and a right learning path can be provided to the learners. This research work uses various classification techniques for converging and are evaluated using statistical measures.     

Space and Time: From Antiquity to Einstein and Beyond

At the beginning of the 20th century, Einstein revolutionized the notions of space and time, first through special relativity and then, a decade later, through general relativity. Conceptual ideas underlying general relativity are explained and its physical ramifications summarized in general terms, without recourse to advanced mathematics. This theory is perhaps the most sublime creation of the human mind. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly clear that it too has serious limitations which can be overcome only through another dramatic revision of our notions of space and time. The article concludes by providing glimpses of what awaits us in the 21st century. Based on a public lecture given under the auspices of National Institute of Advanced Studies and Raman Research Institute, Bangalore on 22 December 2004.     

Application of learning analytics using clustering data Mining for Students’ disposition analysis

Learning Analytics (LA) is an emerging field in which sophisticated analytic tools are used to improve learning and education. It draws from, and is closely tied to, a series of other fields of study like business intelligence, web analytics, academic analytics, educational data mining, and action analytics. The main objective of this research work is to find meaningful indicators or metrics in a learning context and to study the inter-relationships between these metrics using the concepts of Learning Analytics and Educational Data Mining, thereby, analyzing the effects of different features on student’s performance using Disposition analysis. In this project, K-means clustering data mining technique is used to obtain clusters which are further mapped to find the important features of a learning context. Relationships between these features are identified to assess the student’s performance.     

Effect of vitamin C and E activity on surgically removed cataractous human lens epithelium cells

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a common underlying mechanism of cataractogenesis. Experimental and observational data suggest that micronutrients like vitamin C and vitamin E with antioxidant capabilities may retard the development of age-related cataract. Effect of these factors on lens epithelium cells, center of lens metabolic activities, is not completely elucidated. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of vitamin C and E on surgically removed lens epithelium cells of patients with cataract. Capsulorhexis samples were collected from 170 patients, admitted for cataract surgery. Catalase specific activity was estimated in lens epithelium cells with and without vitamin (C or E) treatment at different concentration for different time duration. Student’s t-test was employed for data analysis. We observed that in ex-vivo condition, a) both vitamin C and E bring about a decrease in catalase activity in lens epithelial cells. b) vitamin C showed toxic effect at high concentration. c) 100μM was the optimum concentration at which both vitamins showed maximum antioxidant activity. It was concluded that both vitamin C and E has direct effect on lens epithelium cells. At optimum concentration, they can reduce oxidative stress in these cells thus can support to prevent or delay cataract development.     

From training to performance: A case study

Faced with the prospect of engaging nearly two thousand employees before the situation became urgent, this case study shares why the best interests of employees, customers, and shareholders are neither disparate nor a zero‐sum game. It also shows how it takes passionate leadership coupled with proven HPT principles to unlock synergies. Its hallmarks are high employee engagement, quality customer interaction, and improved profitability.