WikiTextbooks: Designing Your Course Around a Collaborative Writing Project

This paper reports a study of a wiki-based collaborative writing project conducted between two Taiwanese universities. A total of 100 sophomore students from two English writing classes used the wiki with group members to collaboratively produce online picture books. The aims of the study were to examine student perception, their engagement in the project, and their overall writing development. Various sources of data, including the questionnaires, archived changes of wiki pages, and pre- and post-project essay writing scores were collected and analyzed. The results showed that students' general opinions toward the project were positive. Students particularly appreciated the experience of collaborating with peers. However, the students found it challenging to negotiate a common work schedule and to reach group agreement. Students' engagement in the collaborative writing project varied, due in large part to their diverse English proficiency levels. Specifically, more proficient English writers appeared to be more engaged in the writing tasks, while less proficient writers tended to contribute by offering story ideas and arranging layouts. In the end, students' writing skills on average improved more as a result of the frequent writing practice and peer editing tasks, rather than from the completion of the online picture books.

Teaching with Collaborative Writing Projects: Creating an Online Reader’s Guide to Karen Tei Yamashita’s <i>I Hotel</i>

Support vector machines (SVMs) are now one of the most popular machine learning techniques for solving difficult classification problems. Their effectiveness depends on two critical design decisions: 1) mapping a decision problem into an n-dimensional feature space, and 2) choosing a kernel function that maps the n-dimensional feature space into a higher dimensional and more effective classification space. The choice of kernel functions is generally limited to a small set of well-studied candidates. However, the choice of a feature set is much more open-ended without much design guidance. In fact, many SVMs are designed with standard generic feature space mappings embedded a priori. In this paper we describe a procedure for using an evolutionary algorithm to design more compact non-standard feature mappings that, for a fixed kernel function, significantly improves the classification accuracy of the constructed SVM.

Addressing interdisciplinary process engineering design, construction and operations through 4D virtual environments

Shared rehearsal spaces are an all-too-common compromise in music education, pitting vocal, and instrumental ensembles against each other for desirable room acoustics. More than ever, adjustable acoustics are needed in music spaces. An innovative new acoustic panel system was developed with this need for flexibility in mind. Providing variable sound absorption with a truly static aesthetic, control of reverberation time in the mid-frequency bands is ultimately handed over to the end user. New product development test methods and critical design decisions are discussed, such as curving the micro-perforated panel to improve scattering properties. In situ reverberation measurements are also offered against a 3D CAD model prediction using lab-tested material properties.

Speech recordings during an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) experiment yield valuable but noisy acoustic data for modelling purposes. Despite recent improvements in optical microphones for MRI, using an acoustic sound recording system in dipole configuration, based on shielded electret microphones and waveguides, has some inherent advantages: For example, the bandwidth can be made very wide, and the extremely linear behaviour of all components facilitates the numerical post-processing of signals. Here, the full measurement chain and the critical design decisions are reviewed. In particular, one must take into account the resonant behaviour of the necessarily non-optimally terminated waveguides as well as the environment acoustics within the MRI coils. Two competing approaches for the signal post-processing were developed: (i) Optimal subtraction of the noise and speech signals, and (ii) spectral peak removal by adaptively fitted comb filters. The main objective is the high-quality spectral identification, estimation, and classification of source features, e.g., vowel formants. Approach (i) preserves the phase behaviour of the original signal. Approach (ii) produces excellent speech sound quality when the noise consists of only few harmonic sources; a salient property of MRI acoustic noise. Both of the approaches must compensate the frequency dependent damping of the measurement chain.

Background: Medical settings such as emergency departments (EDs) present an opportunity to identify and provide services for individuals with substance use problems who might otherwise never receive any form of assessment, referral, or intervention. Although screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment models have been extensively studied and are considered effective for individuals with alcohol problems presenting in EDs and other medical settings, the efficacy of such interventions has not been established for drug users presenting in EDs. Objectives: This article describes the design of a NIDA Clinical Trials Network protocol testing the efficacy of an screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment model in medical EDs, highlighting considerations that are pertinent to the design of other studies targeting substance use behaviors in medical treatment settings. Methods: The protocol is described, and critical design decisions are discussed. Results: Design challenges included defining treatment conditions, study population, and site characteristics; developing the screening process; choosing the primary outcome; balancing brevity and comprehensiveness of assessment; and selecting the strategy for statistical analysis. Conclusion: Many of the issues arising in the design of this study will be relevant to future studies of interventions for addictions in medical settings. Scientific Significance: Optimal trial design is critical to determining how best to integrate substance abuse interventions into medical care.

The development of an International Standard for Process Assessment commenced in 1993. Over the past 20 years, the standard suite has moved through three formal releases, and multiple drafts; during this time, several key design issues have been addressed, and in many cases reconsidered. This paper identifies key issues in the design of the Standard, and discusses decisions taken and their impact on the Standard, and on the theory and practice of process assessment.

This study employed the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework to guide the collaborative design process between preservice and practicing teachers. The teams designed technological pedagogical mathematics tools (TPMTs) for inquiry-based learning based on the syllabi for secondary mathematics. The content of the chat messages of preservice and practicing teachers was coded with different dimensions of TPACK to unpack the process of how the teams arrived at critical design decisions. The TPMTs were further evaluated by 30 practicing mathematics teachers, with respect to three criteria: (1) technology tools and curriculum goals, (2) technology tools and teaching activities, and (3) the fit between pedagogy and technology. The content analysis revealed that the collaborative design process involved three clear stages, demarcated by the different versions of the TMPTs: replacement, enhancement, and transformation. Practicing teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge played a crucial role in the design of pedagogically sound tools, and for refining the initial TPACK of preservice teachers. The subsequent evaluations supported the positive pedagogical values of the TPMTs. Overall, this study contributes to TPACK research with a case where the collaborative design process with distributed expert knowledge can be synthesised to create pedagogically sound technological tools for mathematics.

A narrow azimuth survey and an overlapping Coil survey were acquired and processed for TOTAL offshore Angola. After fast track processing, a direct comparison showed that at a specific location a sub-salt steeply dipping event was better defined on narrow azimuth image than on the Coil image. This case study illustrates how illumination analysis can be used to make critical survey design, acquisition and processing decisions. The initial flower plot analysis helps determine the survey design requirements to illuminate target horizons, and will fully justify the need for a full azimuth design. Then, an acquisition illumination analysis complements the previous analysis by creating offset and azimuth illumination maps for chosen design. This identifies illumination and shadow zones on the target horizon. This can be directly related to the seismic data and used to design an appropriate processing solution. Finally, during the processing phase, the specific azimuth contributions identified from illumination analysis need to be separated into azimuthal images. These are intelligently stacked to create the final image, using an intelligent stacking method, designed to retain azimuth specific contribution. To use the full benefit of Coil Acquisition, this two-steps processing strategy derived from the illumination analysis, is essential.

Chapter 22 - Facilities for Dogs, Swine, Sheep, Goats and Miscellaneous Species

In the framework of the European research project LEMCOTEC, a section was devoted to the further optimization of the recuperation system of the Intercooled Recuperated Aero engine (IRA engine) concept, of MTU Aero Engines AG. This concept is based on an advanced thermodynamic cycle combining both intercooling and recuperation. The present work is focused only on the recuperation process. This is carried out through a system of heat exchangers mounted inside the hot-gas exhaust nozzle, providing fuel economy and reduced pollutant emissions. The optimization of the recuperation system was performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computations, experimental measurements and thermodynamic cycle analysis for a wide range of engine operating conditions. A customized numerical tool was developed based on an advanced porosity model approach. The heat exchangers were modeled as porous media of predefined heat transfer and pressure loss behaviour and could also incorporate major and critical heat exchanger design decisions in the CFD computations. The optimization resulted in two completely new innovative heat exchanger concepts, named as CORN (COnical Recuperative Nozzle) and STARTREC (STraight AnnulaR Thermal RECuperator), which provided significant benefits in terms of fuel consumption, pollutants emission and weight reduction compared to more conventional heat exchanger designs, thus proving that further optimization potential for this technology exists.

Performance prediction is an essential aspect of several critical system design decisions, such as workload scheduling and resource planning. However, developing a model with higher prediction accuracy is a challenging task in big data systems due to the stack complexity and environmental heterogeneity. Workload modelling aims to simplify the connection between workloads factors and performance testing. Most of the workload models rely on a single scenario under test (SUT) method, where the trained and the evaluated data have the same distribution. However, a single SUT is not the ideal modelling method for big data workloads, as SUTs change frequently. Big data systems have a considerable amount of possible test scenarios that are generated from changing one or more elements in the testing environment, such as changing benchmarks, software versions, or cloud service types. To address this issue, we propose a cross-Scenario workload modelling method that aims to improve the workloads’ performance classification accuracy. The proposed approach adopts the Transfer Learning concept for reusing models cross different but related scenarios. In this work, we evaluate the proposed approach on multi real-world scenarios in Hadoop which is an example of big data system. The empirical results showed that the proposed approach is more accurate than SUT method.

Several years ago, my colleagues and I developed a project-based assignment where students create a fictional animal and predict its ability to thrive in a hypothetical environment by examining the interactions between different combinations of designs for selected body systems. This assignment, which was implemented at different types of institutions and for different levels of students, can be readily adapted to either lecture-based or laboratory courses. Here I describe how students design a fictional animal as a semester-long collaborative group project in an interactive lecture course on comparative animal physiology of vertebrates. The fictional animal project aligns with several course learning goals including 1) Acquire a fundamental knowledge of “how animals work” and 2) Exercise responsibility and teamwork. Students learn integration of body systems as they choose a random fictional animal, consider if this animal can survive in a specific environment, and create the animal. Creation of the animal, which cannot closely resemble an extant animal, is scaffolded throughout the semester as students complete question sets where they describe the structure and function of the systems and consider potential trade-offs and physiological constraints. At the end of the semester, we hold a fictional animal showcase where students share highlights about their animal and its environment. Student learning is assessed through the questions sets, which are submitted as homework, and the class presentation; this group project contributes to 25% of the overall course grade and replaces more traditional assessments such as exams. Examples of fictional animals demonstrate how students must consider interactions and functions between different systems in their design; in addition, they must think about the metabolic requirements of their animal as they decide its lifestyle. Reflection data from students strongly supports that designing a fictional animal helps them understand how physiological systems function together; students gain a new or deeper awareness and appreciation of trade-offs in function as well as constraints on physiological processes. As this project continues to evolve, students will have the freedom to choose a creative format for the fictional animal showcase, such as a recorded or live oral presentation, a podcast, a tri-fold brochure, a poster, an educational game, or an illustrated story. All protocols were approved by Rice University IRB (Protocol FY2017-294). Rice University Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

In most professional settings writing is very much a collaborative project. However, it is quite surprising that after more than a decade of selling commercial software to support collaborative writing, little software is able to maintain and facilitate human collaboration adequately. Cerrato (2003) demonstrates that a lot of the di1culties that arise when using collaborative software seem to arise from the underlying assumptions about the collaborative activity that have formed the basis in the design process of the computer-mediated collaborative writing programs. Her andings revealed that the use of collaborative writing systems encompassed a rather restricted view of collaboration in the context of creative activities such as writing. A description of these complex activities is conveniently reviewed by Lowry et al (2004). Lowry, Paul B. et al. (2004). Building a taxonomy and nomenclature of Collaborative Writing to improve Interdisciplinary Research and Practice. Journal of Business Communication, 41(1), 66–99.