Design Principles for Interactive Learning Environments with Embedded Formative Assessments

2011 ◽  
pp. 687-700
Author(s):  
Sara Dexter

The new technology-enhanced conception of assessment stands in contrast to the traditional view of assessments as tests of a learner’s ability to recall facts. Because technology mediates learning in new ways, it engenders new forms of knowledge as well as possibilities for documentation and analysis. Many have noted that games, simulations, and cases are engaging for learners and thus warrant further development for their expanded use. Research on learning and assessment suggests design principles that developers should follow when investing such effort in order to capitalize on how the interactive aspects of these tools can serve as assessments about what, how, and when learning is occurring. The ETIPS application described here serves as an example of how such principles can be used to guide priorities and decisions for developers as well as applied as criteria for determining the quality of such digital tools as learning environments and assessment tools.

Author(s):  
Sara Dexter

The new technology-enhanced conception of assessment stands in contrast to the traditional view of assessments as tests of a learner’s ability to recall facts. Because technology mediates learning in new ways, it engenders new forms of knowledge as well as possibilities for documentation and analysis. Many have noted that games, simulations, and cases are engaging for learners and thus warrant further development for their expanded use. Research on learning and assessment suggests design principles that developers should follow when investing such effort in order to capitalize on how the interactive aspects of these tools can serve as assessments about what, how, and when learning is occurring. The ETIPS application described here serves as an example of how such principles can be used to guide priorities and decisions for developers as well as applied as criteria for determining the quality of such digital tools as learning environments and assessment tools.


2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sakhvadze ◽  
Gigo Jandieri ◽  
Giorgi Jangveladze ◽  
Giorgi Sakhvadze

AbstractThe technological factors required to improve the operational properties of granulated metallurgical slags demanded in the building industry have been analyzed. In order to satisfy these factors, a new technology for hydro-vacuum granulation of slag melts (HVG) has been developed. It is shown that the main advantage of the proposed HVG process is the provision of forced high-speed vortex convection of water, with the effect of vertical suction, crushing, and degassing of the three-phase (water–slag granules–water vapor) heterogeneous medium formed during the overcooling and solidification of slag. It is proved that the high-speed volumetric disintegration and overcooling with the degassing effect sharply reduces a degree of aggressive gas/vapor impact on the being cooled particles of slag, which, in turn, leads to the reduction of the perforation degree of the granules. The obtained granules are distinguished by stable fractionation and improved, well-defined dense amorphous glassy structure, the water-holding capacity of which has reduced from 45–50% to 25–13%, the actual moisture content from 24–20% to 6–4%, while the hydraulic activity in terms of CaO-uptake increased from the conventional 320–360 mg/g to 610–650 mg/g. Pilot scale research demonstrated that the designed equipment for the HVG technology allows sustainable control of the quality of granules, and it has the potential for further development and implementation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garazi Álvarez-Guerrero ◽  
Ane López de Aguileta ◽  
Sandra Racionero-Plaza ◽  
Lirio Gissela Flores-Moncada

The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying safety measures, including confinement, has meant an unprecedented challenge for the world population today. However, it has entailed additional difficulties for specific populations, including children and people with disabilities. Being out of school for months has reduced the learning opportunities for many children, such as those with less academic resources at home or with poorer technological connectivity. For students with disabilities, it has entailed losing the quality of the special attention they often need, in addition to a more limited understanding of the situation. In this context, a case study was conducted in a special education classroom of a secondary education school. This class started implementing Dialogic Literary Gatherings with their special education students before the COVID-19 confinement and continued online during the confinement. Qualitative data was collected after a period of implementation of the gatherings showing positive impacts on the participants. The case study shows that interactive learning environments such as the Dialogic Literary Gatherings can provide quality distance learning for students with disabilities, contributing to overcome some of the barriers that the pandemic context creates for the education of these students.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Eschen ◽  
Franzisca Zehnder ◽  
Mike Martin

This article introduces Cognitive Health Counseling 40+ (CH.CO40+), an individualized intervention that is conceptually based on the orchestration model of quality-of-life management ( Martin & Kliegel, 2010 ) and aims at improving satisfaction with cognitive health in adults aged 40 years and older. We describe the theoretically deduced characteristics of CH.CO40+, its target group, its multifactorial nature, its individualization, the application of subjective and objective measures, the role of participants as agents of change, and the rationale for choosing participants’ satisfaction with their cognitive health as main outcome variable. A pilot phase with 15 middle-aged and six older adults suggests that CH.CO40+ attracts, and may be particularly suitable for, subjective memory complainers. Implications of the pilot data for the further development of the intervention are discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Petrescu ◽  
Florian Popescu ◽  
Alina Gligor

AbstractUsing blended learning method, Blast Furnace subject was analysed inside the DidaTec Project. The analysed factors were the quality of presentation, quantity of information per page and human – computer interaction. The analysis shows the preference of students to work with different learning environments.


2020 ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Yu. M. Tsygalov

The forced work of Russian universities remotely in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) has generated a lot of discussion about the benefits of the new form of education. The first results were summed up and reports were presented, the materials of which showed that the main goal of online education — the prevention of the spread of infection, - has been achieved. Against this background, proposals and publications have appeared substantiating the effectiveness of the massive introduction of distance learning in Russia, including in higher education. However, the assessment of such training by the population and students in publications and in social networks was predominantly negative and showed that the number of emerging problems exceeds the possible benefits of the new educational technology. Based on the analysis of the materials of publications and personal experience of teaching online, the potential benefits and problems of distance learning in higher education in Russia are considered. It is proposed to consider the effects separately for the suppliers of new technology (government, universities) and consumers (students, teachers, society). It is substantiated that the massive introduction of online education allows not only to reduce the negative consequences of epidemics, but also to reduce budgetary funding for universities, optimize the age composition of teachers, and reduce the cost of maintaining educational buildings. However, there will be a leveling / averaging of the quality of education, and responsibility for the quality of training will shift from the state/universities to students. The critical shortcomings of online education are the low degree of readiness of the digital infrastructure, the lack of a mechanism for identifying and monitoring the work of students, information security problems, and the lack of trust in such training of the population. The massive use of online education creates a number of risks for the country, the most critical of which is the destruction of the higher education system and a drop in the effectiveness of personnel training. The consequences of this risk realization are not compensated by any possible budget savings.


Author(s):  
Jacob Stegenga

Medical scientists employ ‘quality assessment tools’ to assess evidence from medical research, especially from randomized trials. These tools are designed to take into account methodological details of studies, including randomization, subject allocation concealment, and other features of studies deemed relevant to minimizing bias. There are dozens of such tools available. They differ widely from each other, and empirical studies show that they have low inter-rater reliability and low inter-tool reliability. This is an instance of a more general problem called here the underdetermination of evidential significance. Disagreements about the quality of evidence can be due to different—but in principle equally good—weightings of the methodological features that constitute quality assessment tools. Thus, the malleability of empirical research in medicine is deep: in addition to the malleability of first-order empirical methods, such as randomized trials, there is malleability in the tools used to evaluate first-order methods.


Author(s):  
Jeasik Cho

This book provides the qualitative research community with some insight on how to evaluate the quality of qualitative research. This topic has gained little attention during the past few decades. We, qualitative researchers, read journal articles, serve on masters’ and doctoral committees, and also make decisions on whether conference proposals, manuscripts, or large-scale grant proposals should be accepted or rejected. It is assumed that various perspectives or criteria, depending on various paradigms, theories, or fields of discipline, have been used in assessing the quality of qualitative research. Nonetheless, until now, no textbook has been specifically devoted to exploring theories, practices, and reflections associated with the evaluation of qualitative research. This book constructs a typology of evaluating qualitative research, examines actual information from websites and qualitative journal editors, and reflects on some challenges that are currently encountered by the qualitative research community. Many different kinds of journals’ review guidelines and available assessment tools are collected and analyzed. Consequently, core criteria that stand out among these evaluation tools are presented. Readers are invited to join the author to confidently proclaim: “Fortunately, there are commonly agreed, bold standards for evaluating the goodness of qualitative research in the academic research community. These standards are a part of what is generally called ‘scientific research.’ ”


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Cuda ◽  
Sara Ghiselli ◽  
Alessandra Murri

Abstract Background Prevalence of hearing loss increases with age. Its estimated prevalence is 40–50 % in people over 75 years of age. Recent studies agree that declinein hearing threshold contribute to deterioration in sociality, sensitivity, cognition, and quality of life for elderly subjects. The aim of the study presented in this paper is to verify whether or not rehabilitation using first time applied Hearing Aids (HA) in a cohort of old people with hearing impairment improves both speech perception in a noisy environment over time and the overall health-related quality of life. Methods The monocentric, prospective, repeated measurements, single-subject, clinical observational study is to recruit 100 older adults, first-time HA recipients (≥ 65 years).The evaluation protocol is designed to analyze changes in specific measurement tools a year after the first HA usage in comparison with the evaluation before HA fitting. Evaluations will consist of multiparametric details collected through self-report questionnaires completed by the recipients and a series of commonly used audiometric measures and geriatric assessment tools. The primary indicator of changes in speech perception in noise to be used is the Italian version of Oldenburg Satz (OLSA) test whereas the indicator of changes in overall quality of life will be the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) and Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) questionnaires. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) will help in screening the cognitive state of the subjects. Discussion The protocol is designed to make use of measurement tools that have already been applied to the hearing-impaired population in order to compare the effects of HA rehabilitation in the older adults immediately before first HA usage (Pre) and after 1 year of experience (Post). This broad approach will lead to a greater understanding of how useful hearing influences the quality of life in older individuals, and therefore improves potentials for healthy aging. The data is to be analyzed by using an intrasubject endpoint comparison. Outcomes will be described and analyzed in detail. Trial registration This research was retrospectively registered underno. NCT04333043at ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/) on the 26 March 2020. This research has been registered with the Ethics Committee of the Area Vasta Emilia Nord under number 104, date of approval 17/07/2017.


2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107096
Author(s):  
Waldemar Głusiec

Background and aimsFew Polish hospitals have Hospital Ethics Committee (HECs) and the services are not always adequate. In this situation, the role of HECs, in providing, among others, ethical advice on the discontinuation of persistent therapies, may be taken over by other entities. The aim of our research was to investigate, how often and on what issues hospital chaplains are asked for ethical advice in reaching difficult medical decisions.MethodsA survey of 100 Roman Catholic chaplains was conducted, that is, at least 10% of all chaplains currently working in Polish hospitals.ResultsOf the participants, 29% confirmed receiving requests for advice in making a morally difficult medical decision. Receiving this type of request was not conditional on the place of their service, duration of their pastoral mission or HEC membership. The largest group of chaplains (21%) encounter questions concerning the ethical dilemmas associated with discontinuing persistent therapy. Patients and their families most often raise issues related to the methods of birth control, and the medical staff raise the issue of termination of pregnancy—as reported by 9% and 15% of chaplains, respectively. Most of the chaplains asked for help (79%) experience a deficit of specialist knowledge in the area of medicine or ethics.ConclusionsIn order to improve the quality of ethical consultations in Polish hospitals, in addition to further development of HECs, it is postulated to develop a system for bioethical education of chaplains.


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