Derivation of Knowledge Structures for Distributed Learning Objects
Knowledge space theory (Doignon & Falmagne, 1985; Albert & Lukas, 1999; Doignon & Falmagne, 1999) offers a rigorous and efficient formal framework for the construction, validation, and application of e-assessment and e-learning adaptive systems.
This theory is at the basis of some existing e-learning and e-assessment adaptive systems in the U.S. and in Europe. Such systems are based on a fixed and local domain of knowledge, where fixed means that the domain does not change in time and local ref
Harnessing Wind
This lesson introduces the ways that engineers study and harness the wind. Students will learn about the different kinds of winds and how to measure wind direction. In addition, students will learn how air pressure creates winds and how engineers build and test wind turbines to harness energy from wind.
Floodplain Modeling
Students explore the impact of changing river volumes and different floodplain terrain in experimental trials with table top-sized riverbed models. The models are made using modeling clay in an aluminum baking pans placed on a slight incline. Water added "upstream" at different flow rates and to different riverbed configurations simulates different potential flood conditions. Students study flood dynamics as they modify the riverbed with blockages or levees to simulate real-world scenarios.
Is That Legal? A Case of Acid Rain
The goal of this activity is to understand how techniques of persuasion (including background, supporting evidence, storytelling and the call to action) are used to develop an argument for or against a topic. Students develop an environmental case study for presentation and understand how a case study is used as an analysis tool.
Disaster Dynamics
The Disaster Dynamics project is a learning environment for the study of the unique challenges surrounding natural disasters. By focusing on dynamics, this project emphasizes the complex and emergent interplay between different aspects of the design activities and the extreme event. The website has several educational role-playing simulation games such as decision making under uncertainty, complex systems and emergent properties, understanding design decisions and fostering collaborations.
Collaborative Decision Making: NASA's Deep Impact Mission
The NASA's Deep Impact Mission is used to teach collaborative decision making. This Starting Point Teaching Collection page describes the highly-developed unit plan involving collaborative problem solving using data. The subject is the launch of a probe to investigate the composition of a comet. The students will engage in quantitative risk analysis, role-playing, persuasive writing and speaking, and group decision-making procedures. The students will study the objectives and the risks of the pr
Building-Stone Geology
This laboratory activity gives an example of the creativity required when teaching non-native rock types. In order to study igneous and metamorphic rocks in central Florida (a huge area consisting solely of sedimentary rock), geology students examined building stones in downtown St. Petersburg. Each student picked a particular rock type used in a particular way (structure, decorative facade, etc.), performed geologic tests on it, read up on its properties, history, and uses, and prepared a paper
Developmental Signs Testing in Rat Pups
This dataset comes from a study of rats given one of 4 doses of a drug. The resulting pups were tested for developmental signs. Questions from this study refer to the relationship between dosage and developmental response. A text file version of the data is found in the relation link.
Bon Voyage to Bad Boating Habits
Students will learn about common boating-related threats to waterways. They will learn about the problems created in waterways by recreational boaters and discuss ways boaters can change their behaviors to reduce their impact on waterways. Students will also learn about the history of water pollution through a study of the Cuyahoga River. They will create a commercial to raise awareness about boating-related pollution. Exercises will also help students explore the reliability of information on t
Computer - Tool vs. Medium
We have arrived an important juncture in the history of computing in our profession: This history is long
enough to reveal clear trends in the use of computing, but not long to institutionalize them. As computers
peremate every area of architecture - from design and construction documents to project administration
and site supervision - can ?virtual practice? be far behind? In the old days, there were basically two ways
of architects working. Under stress. Or under lots more stress. Over time, s
Hot and Cold
What happens to a racquetball when it gets very cold? What happens to neon gas when it gets very hot? In this experiment, liquid nitrogen and Tesla coils are used to study the effects of extreme temperatures on everyday objects.
Thomas Jefferson, Scientist
Thomas Jefferson's passion for politics is rivaled only by his passion for science. Historic Interpreter Bill Barker shares his study of the third president.
An integrated system for computer-aided design and construction of reinforced concrete buildings usi
The study reported in this paper investigates the feasibility of automating the on-site construction of reinforced concrete residential buildings. The basic construction tasks are identified, analyzed and modified with a view towards potential for automation. Emphasis is placed on developing modular forms that facilitate automation. The majority of work in the field of construction robotics has focused on the adaptation of existing industrial robots to automate traditional construction processes
Investigating the evolution of grain scale microstructure during large plastic deformation of polycr
Polycrystalline deformation and its modeling by currently used crystal plasticity
models has been investigated by means of experiments involving direct
measurement of deformation induced orientation changes. The experiments used a
polycrystalline aluminum sample with columnar grains, whose initial lattice
orientations were mapped using the Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM)
technique. The sample was then deformed under (i) simple compression by 40%
along the axis of the columnar grains and (ii
α [Greek small letter alpha]-Nitrosulfones: Synthetic and mechanistic studies
Three-α-substituted nitroethylene derivatives were prepared in situ from phenylsulfonylnitromethane, α-nitroacetophenone, and ethyl nitroacetate and allowed to react with a series of dienes to yield the corresponding Diels-Alder cycloadducts. The same nitroethylene derivatives were also prepared from the corresponding β-sulfoxides via elimination. The β-sulfoxides were prepared from the corresponding β-sulfides which were in turn prepared by trapping the nitroethylene derivatives with thiop
Novel associated PVA/PVP hydrogels for nucleus pulposus replacement
Degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine is marked by a dehydration of theintervertebral disc and loss of biomechanical function of the spinal unit. Since thecurrent surgical procedures are ineffective in restoring natural biomechanical functionback to the diseased disc, researchers have looked to replace the intervertebral disc.These designs are flawed in that they either donâ t restore natural movement back to thespinal unit, require surgeries that are highly invasive, or they further p
Biomechanical evaluation of the intact, injured and surgically reconstructed ulnar collateral ligame
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow is a major passive stabilizer againstvalgus moments and is a frequent site of injury for the professional throwing athlete. Due to theimportance of the UCL in elbow stabilization, many clinical and biomechanical studies wereconducted in the past to understand its role; however, no study has evaluated the stabilizingfunction of the UCL when subjected to a pure valgus-varus moment at varying degrees of flexion.In addition, few comparative studies ha
Frequency domain blind multiple-input multiple-output system identification
Since commercial banks play important roles in the financial markets, it is important to evaluate whether banks operate efficiently. Moreover, given increased competition from non-bank financial institutions, commercial banks should operate more efficiently than they did previously. Commercial banks might operate more efficiently if they have superior information. If this is true, bank size should not matter to the operation of the bank. Thus, as long as the bank has superior information, it wil
Climate and Water in Ghana
shows the dramatic contrast between the rainy and dry seasons in West Africa and helps students define and identify the features of climate. They apply this knowledge to the study of how climate affects people and the environment.
Oh Boy, Buoyancy!
This teacher developed Design Challenge unit weaves engaging inquiry lessons and design challenges into the physical science content of buoyancy to create a hands-on, content rich unit of study.
