Problem-solving Environment Research Articles

Tomographic image analysis of reinforcement distribution in composites using a flexible and material’s specialist-friendly computational environment

A computational environment - in the following called Problem Solving Environment (PSE) - dedicated to the analysis of tomographic images of composite materials is presented. The PSE current version is centered on reinforcement characterization and its main features are: (i) running on a desktop PC equipped with GPGPUs (General Purpose Graphical Processing Units); (ii) allowing a non-specialist in Computer Science to define visual programs that specify a sequence of processing steps; (iii) execution times compatible with an interactive use, due to the computational processing power of GPUs; (iv) the inclusion of visualization modules and the possibility of steering the computations through parameter changes.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Mobile-Application Technology: A Project-Based Learning

In the development of technology and its advances in this industrial revolution 4.0 era, the graduates of vocational higher education institution are required to have a ready to use skill as demanded by the job market. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of utilizing mobile applications regarding vocabulary acquisition which occurred within a learning process. It was a project-based learning (PBL) performed during the supervision time of the student’ final project applying dictionary applications; The Free Dictionary and Dictionary.com. A mixed method approach was implemented where the data for the quantitative study was collected from the comparison of Vocabulary Size Test (VST) Monolingual-Version A which were carried out prior to and after the PBL. Moreover, the qualitative data was obtained from semi close-ended questionnaire, and open-structured interview. The result shows the superiority of using the mobile apps through this project-based process and at the same time the apps provide contextualized problem-solving environment to their users.
 HIGHLIGHTS:
 
 Even though written reference sources still have a place for students, it cannot be denied that online reference sources have many advantages in the current process of English teaching and learning.
 Through the project-based learning, mobile application technology can facilitate the students in the language learning process effectively and efficiently, and empower themselves to get maximum results, which is ultimately improve the output of educational institutions in the future.

AL-FARABI'S MATHEMATICAL LEGACY AND ALGORITHMIC APPROACH TO RESOLVING PROBLEMS REGARDING GEOMETRICAL CONSTRUCTIONS IN GEOGEBRA ENVIRONMENT

Al-Farabi had left a rich scientific heritage for the succeeding generations including studies in various scientific areas. So far, his proceedings are still valuable being of great interest in the scientific society. The actuality of analyzing the problems with regard to geometric constructions accomplished by Al-Farabi for modern mathematical and engineering education lies in the unique character of Al-Farabi’s efforts involving the use of the algorithmic approach for resolving mathematical problems and application-oriented researches. These algorithmic approaches enable the creation of didactic teaching techniques based on the use of information processing technology. One of the main Al-Farabi’s principles is to study and consider the mathematics in terms of natural phenomena and processes as well as all types of its practical implementation. This article pursues studying AlFarabi’s mathematical heritage concerning geometrical construction problems as well as the development of their solution methods using modern information technology, in particular, using the GeoGebra dynamic geometry system which is a problem-solving environment designed for studying, conversion and visualization of geometric object models. This scientific article shows examples of resolving geometric construction problems using only a mathematical compass and a ruler by the Al-Farabi’s procedures as well as problems for dividing squares and spheres and giving Al-Farabi’s visual evidence of proving Ptolemy’s theory from trigonometry area. The authors are interested in a targeted audience to familiarize themselves with algorithms developed by Al-Farabi and this software implementation; for this purpose, a scientific-education portal has been designed for the concerned researches and pedagogues may find out a lot of useful and interesting information.

Multiple Representations in Computational Thinking Tasks: A Clinical Study of Second-Grade Students

Computational thinking requires high cognitive load as students work to manage multiple tasks in their problem-solving environment. Through research in K-2 classrooms on computational thinking, we noticed that students lack the representational fluency needed to move from one form to another—such as moving from physical to more abstract representations. Therefore, the following research question was studied: How do second-grade students use and translate among representations to solve computational thinking tasks using the robot mouse game? To address this, we employed a task-based interview approach with three second-grade students who were engaged in four computational thinking tasks using the Code and Go Robot Mouse Coding Activity Set developed by Learning Resources. Through four clinical tasks involving the robot mouse, students solved puzzles set up to force them to make particular representational translations. Each translation involved a level of cognitive complexity the students needed to manage to successfully complete the task. We found that students translated between many different representations using concrete representations to ease translations, language as a scaffold between translations, and embodied movements as representations or to assist with translation. Furthermore, the levels of representational maturity showed by the students varied with the difficulty of the task, and the spatial orientation was particularly difficult for them. These results provide important insights into how learners may develop their ability to engage with abstract representations that will be part of future practices associated with activities in science, mathematics, engineering, and computational thinking.

An Ontology-Driven Cyberinfrastructure for Intelligent Spatiotemporal Question Answering and Open Knowledge Discovery

The proliferation of geospatial data from diverse sources, such as Earth observation satellites, social media, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has created a pressing demand for cross-platform data integration, interoperation, and intelligent data analysis. To address this big data challenge, this paper reports our research in developing a rule-based, semantic-enabled service chain model to support intelligent question answering for leveraging the abundant data and processing resources available online. Four key techniques were developed to achieve this goal: (1) A spatial and temporal reasoner resolves the spatial and temporal information in a given scientific question and enables place-name disambiguation based on support from a gazetteer; (2) a spatial operation ontology categorizes important spatial analysis operations, data types, and data themes, which will be used in automated chain generation; (3) a language-independent chaining rule defines the template for input, spatial operation, and output as well as rules for embedding multiple spatial operations for solving a complex problem; and (4) a recursive algorithm facilitates the generation of executive workflow metadata according to the chaining rules. We implement this service chain model in a cyberinfrastructure for online and reproducible spatial analysis and question answering. Moving the problem-solving environment from a desktop-based environment onto a geospatial cyberinfrastructure (GeoCI) offers better support to collaborative spatial decision-making and ensures science replicability. We expect this work to contribute significantly to the advancement of a reproducible spatial data science and to building the next-generation open knowledge network.

Model of Representation and Acquisition of New Knowledge by an Autonomous Intelligent Robot Based on the Logic of Conditionally Dependent Predicates

The model for the representation of declarative and procedural knowledge of an autonomous intelligent robot is developed without reference to a specific subject area. The logic of conditionally dependent predicates underlies the construction of this model. Procedures that allow an autonomous intelligent robot to automatically generate new knowledge needed for a readout in the process of planning goal-seeking behavior in undetermined conditions of a problem-solving environment are proposed. The method of proving the satisfiability of the formulas under the logic of conditionally dependent predicates with linear complexity is based on the attribution of object variables in them as objects of the problem-solving environment and serves to process knowledge that is used by an autonomous intelligent robot to automatically build plans for goal-seeking behavior under undetermined operating conditions.

Investigating Interdisciplinary Practice: Methodological Challenges (Introduction)

Investigating Interdisciplinary Practice: Methodological Challenges (Introduction)

The effect of language modification of mathematics story problems on problem-solving in online homework

Students’ grasp of the non-mathematical language in a mathematics story problem—such as vocabulary and syntax—may have an important effect on their problem-solving, and this may be particularly true for students with weaker language skills. However, little experimental research has examined which individual language features influence students’ performance while solving problems—much research has been correlational or has combined language features together. In the present study, we manipulated six different language features of algebra story problems—number of sentences, pronouns, word concreteness, word hypernymy, consistency of sentences, and problem topic—and examined how systematically varying readability demands impacts student performance. We examined both accuracy and response time measures, using an assignment for learning linear functions in the ASSISTments online problem-solving environment. We found little evidence that individual language features have a considerable effect on mathematics word problem solving performance for a general population of students. However, sentence consistency reduced response time and problems about motion or travel had shorter response times than problems about business or work. In addition, it appears students may benefit or be harmed by language modifications depending on their familiarity with ASSISTments. Implications for the role of language in math word problems are discussed.

Terveydenhuolto ja kyberuhkat

Kyberturvallisuusstrategian vision mukaan Suomen tulee kyetä suojaamaan elintärkeät toimintonsa kyberuhkaa vastaan kaikissa tilanteissa. Terveydenhuolto on yksi elintärkeistä toiminnoista. Terveystoimiala on kyberhyökkäysten top-5-listalla ensimmäisenä. Hyökkäysten keskeisin motivaatio on potilastietojen arvo pimeillä markkinoilla. Vuonna 2015 varastettiin yli satamiljoonaa potilastietoa, jotka sisältävät rikollisille arvokkaita tietoja, kuten luottokorttinumeroita, työnantajatietoja ja sairaushistoriatietoja. Tässä artikkelissa kuvataan terveydenhuoltoon liittyviä kyberuhkia, kyberhaavoittuvuuksia ja toteutuneita kyberhyökkäyksiä kybermaailman eri ulottuvuudet kattaen.
 Tarkastelussa käytetään kybermaailman viisikerroksista verkostomallia, joka sisältää fyysisen, syntaktisen, semanttisen, palvelu- ja kognitiivisen kerroksen. Malli kattaa laajasti koko kybermaailman fyysisen kerroksen laitteista ja verkoista kognitiivisen kerroksen inhimillisiin ongelmanratkaisu- ja tulkintaympäristöihin. Haavoittuvuuksia ja toteutuneita hyökkäyksiä voidaan mallin mukaan jaotella laitekohtaisista haavoittuvuuksista aina koulutuksen puutteista johtuviin haavoittuvuuksiin ja pelottelu- ja kalasteluohjelmilla tapahtuneisiin hyökkäyksiin. Paljon julkisuutta ovat saaneet myös terveydenhuoltoon kohdistuneet kiristyshaittaohjelmahyökkäykset.
 Kyberuhkia vastaan voidaan suojautua useilla eri tasoilla ja tavoilla. Lähtökohtana on se, että jokainen organisaatio huolehtii oman toimintansa kyberturvallisuudesta tehden yhteistyötä muiden toimijoiden kanssa uhkien tunnistamisessa ja torjumisessa. Terveydenhuollon kyberturvallisuuden rakentaminen on systeemin hallintaa, jossa tulee keskittyä järjestelmien kokonaisuuteen yksittäisten laitteiden sijaan. Yhteistoiminnan tavoitteena on, että kokonaisosaaminen tukee yksittäisen toimijan toimintaedellytyksiä yhteistä uhkaa vastaan. Terveydenhuollon kyberturvallisuuden jatkuva parantaminen ja tietoisuuden lisääminen ovat kaikkien kansalaisten etuja, jotka vaativat vahvaa ymmärrystä niin tietoturvasta kuin terveydenhuollon toimintatavoistakin. Tämän vuoksi tietoisuuden kohottamisen ja henkilökunnan kouluttamisen tuleekin olla keskeisellä sijalla organisaatioiden kyberturvallisuudessa.

Playful Lenses: Using Twine to Facilitate Open Social Scholarship through Game-based Inquiry, Research, and Scholarly Communication

In academic contexts, digital games are often studied as texts or are used as pedagogical tools to teach basic concepts in early education situations. Less usefully, their systems and economies are often co-opted and decontextualized in short-sighted attempts to “gamify” various aspects of learning or training. However, given that games are highly controlled, conditional, choice-and-consequence-based, problem-solving environments in which players are expected to interact with simulated settings and elements after agreeing to take on particular roles and subject positions, there are promising potential uses of these experiences in academic contexts that have not been fully considered. Motivated by the imperative to explore alternative modes and methods of scholarly research and communication, and guided by the values of open social scholarship practices, this paper reconsiders games not as things to study, but as instruments to study with. Given that games can function as simulations, models, arguments and creative collaboratories, game-based inquiry can be used as a potential method of post-secondary and post-graduate humanities research and scholarly communication. While these ideas have been explored in a preliminary way in relation to a number of different academic disciplines (Donchin 1995; Boot 2015; Mitgutsch and Weise 2011; Westecott 2011) this paper is meant to catalyse a humanities-calibrated consideration of the pragmatics and potentials of game-based research, games as instances of critical making and scholarly communication, and more complex forms of game-based learning than those currently practiced. A number of examples that make use of the open source Twine platform will be featured.

Using Scratch to facilitate mathematical thinking


 
 
 
 This article reports on a research project that examined the ways that 10-year-old students, who were using Scratch for coding, engaged with mathematical ideas. Interactive software is emerging that has cross-curricula implications and facilitates thinking in rich, problem-solving environments. Scratch, a free-to-use graphical programming environment provides opportunities for creative problem solving. When students process mathematics through digital technologies, the digital pedagogical media influences the learning process and students’ understanding emerges in distinctive ways. The children used Scratch to create mathematical digital learning objects, including games. An interpretive approach was undertaken, with the data collected over a two-week research period. The students wrote daily blogs articulating their progress and reflections. Students and the teacher were interviewed, and classroom observations (both written and photographic) were recorded. The findings suggest that mathematical thinking, including geometry and problem-solving processes, was facilitated through this process. Together, these findings indicate that teachers should not only use Scratch in primary school classroom programmes to develop coding skills but also be aware of its potential to facilitate thinking in other related areas. 
 
 
 

Project-based Learning and Learner Interaction by Web Convergency Communication Types

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of learners' academic achievement and learner interaction through project - based learning. In the case of interaction, we focused on the field of learning, that is, the learner's communication style in various technical environments. The subjects of this study were 80 learners who took a 3-hour elective English language learning course at a university in Korea. This study is to investigate the effect of learner interaction through KakaoTalk and LMS (Learning Management System). As a result of the study, it was found that there was a significant difference between learner interaction by project - based learning and communication type and kakao talk utilization group and LMS (Learning Management System) group. 1) The results of the kakao talk utilization group were significant in both the learner interaction and the learner's academic achievement according to the project - based learning and communication type. For current digital native learners, Kakao Talk is the result of the fact that it is the optimal environment for problem solving, communication, and uploading and sharing of educational activities.

Natural parallelisation paradigm on accelerator physics example

In this paper the problems of using the existing methods and algorithms for applied science with the help of high performance techniques is described. The idea is to provide the scientists with an easy to use tools for constructing the implementation of their research working on heterogeneous systems. Without a doubt the problem-solving environment for these purposes must give the exact solution in a reasonable time. The concept which is described in the article was devised specifically for such kind of tasks. The application of it in terms of high energy physics is given. To illustrate the work of the concept the analysis of the distribution of the particles in the beam under the influence of the space charge is done.

Natural parallelisation paradigm on accelerator physics example

In this paper the problems of using the existing methods and algorithms for applied science with the help of high performance techniques is described. The idea is to provide the scientists with an easy to use tools for constructing the implementation of their research working on heterogeneous systems. Without a doubt the problem-solving environment for these purposes must give the exact solution in a reasonable time. The concept which is described in the article was devised specifically for such kind of tasks. The application of it in terms of high energy physics is given. To illustrate the work of the concept the analysis of the distribution of the particles in the beam under the influence of the space charge is done.

Software system exchange operations immediate estimation for mobile devices running

Here described the essentials of a problem-solving environment that was developed for mobile devices running under Android operating system, which was destined for exchange operations immediate estimation in the context of stochastically indefinite external economic environment. Given the chance to exchange funds in native currency for freely convertible currency and conversely, it’s viable to compare the results of available funds direct distribution to bank deposit or intermediated through another currency. The application system allows evaluating the deposit effectiveness for following schemes: opening deposit in foreign exchange with double conversion, opening deposit in native currency without conversion, opening deposit in native currency with double conversion. Interval analysis and Euclidean arithmetic used to perform accounting. System implements accounting based on interval axiom classical scheme and substandard axiom scheme. When choosing the formula structure used those which provides the least width of interval of uncertainty. Developed “Banking Forex transaction” application oriented toward students of economical specialty, bank official and all people that want to evaluate the efficiency of funds exchange and percentage buildup. In the conditions of high volatility of exchange rates, currently observed all over the world, the success of economic agents depends on correctly taken decisions in the foreign exchange market and thus raises the level of economic knowledge of the process owner, that’s required for making correct and an efficient solution on the currency market. Developed application helps to evaluate efficiency of the double conversion and make an efficient solution.

MEttLE: a modelling-based learning environment for undergraduate engineering estimation problem solving

Estimation is an important class of problems that engineering undergraduates must be able to solve. However teaching-learning of estimation is under emphasized in the current engineering curriculum. In this paper, we report on the first cycle of a design-based research project to design a technology-enhanced learning environment (TELE) to help students learn estimation. The TELE includes features such as a progressive higher-order modelling-based structuring of the estimation process, a problem system simulator and metacognitive scaffolds. We performed a lab study and found that learners were able to use the features in the TELE to solve the estimation problem and obtain an order-of-magnitude estimate. Further, learners learned some of the reasoning processes involved in performing estimation and recognized the role of evaluation and the need for practical considerations in estimation. We identified the roles of various features in the TELE for learning these estimation reasoning processes. These results have implications for the redesign of our TELE to improve student learning of estimation.

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF QUALITY WORK OF LIFE FACTORS ON EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION REGIONAL OFFICE OF UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA AT PANGKALPINANG, INDONESIA

<p><em>The purpose of this research is to know the description of Quality of Work Life and Employee Motivation in UPBJJ-UT Pangkalpinang, and its influence is partially and simultaneously so that it can get information to increase motivation which will improve the quality of organizational performance. The research method used is descriptive quantitative approach with cross sectional design. The sample in this study amounted to 30 samples. The type of data used is the primary data. Data analysis technique using multiple linear regression test. The results showed that (1) The overall variables had a high average value that is in the category of 3.41-4.20 and the variable of pride to the institution had the highest average value of 4.21%. Thus the majority of respondents feel proud of the institution while working at UPBJJ-UT Pangkalpinang. In general, there are seven variables that have positive and significant influence and four variables that have positive but not significant influence. Variables that have positive and significant impacts are available facilities, workplace safety, employee engagement, communication, security, a sense of pride in institutions and work restructuring. While the variables that have positive but not significant are balanced compensation, career development, problem solving and work environment (3) Simultaneously the Quality of Work Life variable has a positive and significant influence on work motivation. This means that any increase or decrease in Quality of Work Life together will give a significant influence on employee motivation in UPBJJ-UT Pangkalpinang.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Keywords: Quality of Work Life, Work Motivation, and Employee Motivation</em></p>

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF QUALITY WORK OF LIFE FACTORS ON EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION REGIONAL OFFICE OF UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA AT PANGKALPINANG, INDONESIA

<p><em>The purpose of this research is to know the description of Quality of Work Life and Employee Motivation in UPBJJ-UT Pangkalpinang, and its influence is partially and simultaneously so that it can get information to increase motivation which will improve the quality of organizational performance. The research method used is descriptive quantitative approach with cross sectional design. The sample in this study amounted to 30 samples. The type of data used is the primary data. Data analysis technique using multiple linear regression test. The results showed that (1) The overall variables had a high average value that is in the category of 3.41-4.20 and the variable of pride to the institution had the highest average value of 4.21%. Thus the majority of respondents feel proud of the institution while working at UPBJJ-UT Pangkalpinang. In general, there are seven variables that have positive and significant influence and four variables that have positive but not significant influence. Variables that have positive and significant impacts are available facilities, workplace safety, employee engagement, communication, security, a sense of pride in institutions and work restructuring. While the variables that have positive but not significant are balanced compensation, career development, problem solving and work environment (3) Simultaneously the Quality of Work Life variable has a positive and significant influence on work motivation. This means that any increase or decrease in Quality of Work Life together will give a significant influence on employee motivation in UPBJJ-UT Pangkalpinang.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Keywords: Quality of Work Life, Work Motivation, and Employee Motivation</em></p>

US experiences with STEM education reform and implications for Asia

PurposeThe first indication that traditional lecture-style teaching is not very effective was provided by Dr Donald Bligh in the 1980s and 1990s. As empirical evidence about this fact has continued to accumulate, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in the USA has undergone a significant change in emphasis away from lecture-based approaches in favor of systems emphasizing more interactive learning. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachA wide range of experimental research has employed the principles of scientific teaching to investigate the efficacy of an ever widening range of pedagogical methods. For STEM education, the most successful of these has been active learning.FindingsAt its core, active learning is a redesign of in-class activities to maximize interactivity and feedback through facilitated problem-solving environments. Although the efficacies of both scientific teaching and active learning have been verified in a wide range of empirical works, the dissemination of these platforms, in general, teaching has been slow, even in the USA.Research limitations/implicationsThe first significant impediment has been an overall lack of awareness coupled with general skepticism about alternative learning methods.Practical implicationsThis paper first reviews the education literature behind scientific teaching and active learning before reviewing some of the challenges to their implementation on an institutional level.Social implicationsThese challenges and known solutions are then applied to the European and East Asian contexts to examine why scientific teaching and active learning remain predominantly an American phenomenon.Originality/valueFor East Asian countries, the authors offer a commentary on how certain aspects of Confucian classroom culture may interact negatively with efforts to install scientific teaching and active learning systems.

Unique functions of an autonomous asynchronous cooperation useful to a problem-solving environment (PSE)

Unique functions of an autonomous asynchronous cooperation useful to a problem-solving environment (PSE)