scholarly journals Leveraging technology to enhance STEM Education Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic: An overview of pertinent concerns

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 40-55
Author(s):  
Jane Amunga
Keyword(s):  
Stem Education ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Transition Plans ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Remote Labs ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Manpower Needs

Although technology in its various forms had already permeated peoples’ lives, the closure of educational institutions worldwide due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic thrust education sectors in many countries into fraught experimentation with online learning. Many educators had to adopt pedagogical practices that were in tandem with online instruction. The pandemic had a silver lining as it opened doors to new ideas and technologies that could be leveraged to enhance STEM education. This paper adopts the desk top research approach to establish the technologies that were leverageable for STEM education during the ongoing pandemic, and to determine pertinent concerns about moving STEM education online. The study found that most institutions leveraged basic synchronous and asynchronous technologies for STEM education during the pandemic. The study also established that a few institutions were embracing sophisticated technology like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in enhancing STEM education. There were also institutions already training VR and VR experts to meet anticipated STEM education manpower needs. It was established that while the use of technology enhanced STEM education during the Covid-19 pandemic, it raised concerns about access, equity, quality and student engagement.  To address these concerns, the study recommends that governments should invest in the provision of power in rural settings and subsidize the cost of hardware for students. For equity considerations, the disadvantaged should be prioritized in the provision of technology enablers for online STEM education and measures that safeguard them should be inbuilt in the online transition plans. Finally, where possible remote labs should be established but this is not possible, students should be allowed to take series of scheduled physical lab sessions in turns and rules of social distancing enforced. Countries should look to superior technologies for online STEM education so that any similar future occurrences do not stall practical STEM education sessions.

scholarly journals Inclusionary Housing: An Evaluation of a New Public Rental Housing Governance Instrument in China

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Juan Yan ◽  
Marietta Haffner ◽  
Marja Elsinga
Keyword(s):  
Housing Market ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Rental Housing ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Inclusionary Housing ◽  
The Cost

Inclusionary housing (IH) is a regulatory instrument adopted by local governments in many countries to produce affordable housing by capturing resources created through the marketplace. In order to assess whether it is efficient, scholarly attention has been widely focused on its evaluation. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating IH from a governance perspective. Since IH is about involving private actors in affordable housing production, the governance point of view of cooperating governmental and non-governmental actors governing society to achieve societal goals is highly relevant. The two most important elements of governance—actors and interrelationships among these actors—are taken to build an analytical framework to explore and evaluate the governance of IH. Based on a research approach that combines a literature review and a case study of China, this paper concludes that the ineffective governance of Chinese IH is based on three challenges: (1) The distribution of costs and benefits across actors is unequal since private developers bear the cost, but do not enjoy the increments of land value; (2) there is no sufficient compensation for developers to offset the cost; and (3) there is no room for negotiations for flexibility in a declining market. Given that IH is favored in many Chinese cities, this paper offers the policy implications: local governments should bear more costs of IH, rethink their relations with developers, provide flexible compliance options for developers, and perform differently in a flourishing housing market and a declining housing market.

scholarly journals Assessing and Benchmarking Learning Outcomes of Robotics-Enabled STEM Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
S. M. Mizanoor Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
User Study ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Traditional Teaching ◽  
Assessment Metrics ◽  
Social Scientific ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Mathematics And Science Teachers

Experienced middle school mathematics and science teachers were recruited for a pilot study. The teachers separately responded to a survey related to determining expected learning outcomes based on their traditional teaching, classroom experiences and observations, and self-brainstorming. The teachers then received training on how to design, develop, and implement robotics-enabled lessons under a design-based research approach for experiential learning, and taught robotics-enabled lessons to a selected student population in classroom settings. The teachers then responded to the survey for the robotics-enabled teaching. For each case (traditional and robotics-enabled), the survey responses were analyzed, and a set of expected learning outcomes of math and science lessons was derived separately. The thematic analysis results showed that the expected learning outcomes for the robotics-enabled lessons were not only related to the educational gains (content knowledge) observed in traditional teaching, but also to the improvements in the behavioral, social, scientific, cognitive, and intellectual aptitudes of the students. Then, a set of metrics and methods were proposed for assessing the learning outcomes separately. To validate the assessment metrics and methods, teachers from different schools taught two selected robotics-enabled lessons (one math, one science) to same grade students, and separately assessed the learning outcomes of each student using the proposed metrics and methods. The learning outcomes were then compared and benchmarked between schools and subjects. The results of a user study with the teachers showed user acceptance, effectiveness, and suitability of the assessment metrics and methods. The proposed scheme of assessing learning outcomes can be used to assess and justify the benefits and advantages of robotics-enabled STEM education, benchmark the outcomes, help improve teaching preparations, motivate decision-makers to confer on robotics-enabled STEM education and curricula development, and promote robotics-enabled STEM education.

From a Seed to a Need: the Growth of Shape Memory Applications in Europe.

1991 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ir. J. Van Humbeeck
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Product Price ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Place Promotion ◽  
Memory Applications ◽  
The Cost

AbstractA more systematic marketing research approach has finally revealed good ideas anticipating a market need for the use of shape memory alloys. The success of those new ideas, prototypes and applications are analysed in terms of “the value of the function”, defined as the importance of the function divided by the cost of providing the function. A high importance and/or a low cost of the function are thus the basic requirements for the successful introduction of shape memory applications. Attention is also paid to the way how the 4 P's, product, price, place, promotion (the marketing mix) are applied by the European companies. Those different items will be illustrated on the basis of some small-, medium- and largescale applications, used in different markets. “to the point research”, fundamental and applied, on material properties as well as on manufacturing (cost reduction) is being discussed as the key factor to increase the function value.

scholarly journals Cost of Quality Analysis on Tailors’ Industry in Aceh

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-111
Author(s):  
Dinaroe Dinaroe ◽  
Syarifah Umaira ◽  
Fazli Syam BZ
Keyword(s):  
Data Availability ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Managerial Accounting ◽  
Quality Cost ◽  
Cost Of Quality ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Banda Aceh

Objective – This research aims to explore and find out the application of Cost of Quality in Managerial Accounting perspective on the Tailor’s businesses in Banda Aceh during the period of 2015 – 2017. In addition, the research purposes are to analyze the firms plan and control of the Cost of Quality and how the firms arrange the cost in order to improve the quality with minimum budget cost.Design/methodology – The study uses qualitative descriptive research approach and being conducted using data from the firms annual reports and additional in-depth interview with the owners. The technique of purposive sampling is used in this study with the data availability criteria. The population of the research are the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Banda Aceh, and the sample criteria among others are tailor industry factories in Banda Aceh that have already prepared financial report during the observed period. CV Kuta Alam Tailor and CV Aceh Moda Tailor have been selected as the samples and as the study case location. The researcher analyzed the data by analyzing and examining the costs incurred by the firms, at how much and what kind of it, related to the cost of quality and cost of goods sold before and after the cost of quality is being added. Results – The result shows that CV. Kuta Alam Tailor and CV. Aceh Moda Tailor in term of cost of quality is still above 2.5% of the sales, thus indicates that the cost extravagancy and there are big differences in the cost of the goods sold if the cost of quality is included into the cost of goods sold. In addition, it is also found that both firms do not make a quality cost report specifically.Research limitations/implications – The research is based on the qualitative approach and does not using empirical research tools, so then it can not be generalized for overall tailor industry in Aceh nor Indonesia, outside of the observed firms and location. Therefore, it is necessary for the future research to explore more this phenomenon by using quantitative approach in order to analyze the influence of quality cost and firm performance or budget efficiencies.Novelty/Originality – The research focuses on analyzing and examining the cost of Quality in manufactur industry, particularly in the Job-Process Industry, such as Tailor industry is still very novice and need to be nurtured. Thus, this study contributes to this area by examining the implementation and aplication of the cost of quality whether the cost information can produce managerial information through financial and managerial reporting that will improve the product quality toward cost effeciency.Keywords Cost of Quality, Prevention Cost, Appraisal Cost.

Subsea Production Layout: Design and Cost

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Hong ◽  
Yuxi Wang ◽  
Jiankun Yang ◽  
Yuri M. Berbert ◽  
Marcelo I. Lourenço ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Procedure ◽  
Layout Design ◽  
Harsh Environment ◽  
Deep Waters ◽  
Complex Design ◽  
Hybrid Solution ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Water Field ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Very High

The development of a subsea field implies a complex design procedure with very high costs involved. The combination of low oil price, harsh environment, very deep waters and high drilling costs has emphasized the need for new ideas to reduce both CAPEX and OPEX. The paper considers different subsea layout scenarios of a typical deep water field. Each scenario is optimized considering pipeline length, equipment cost and flow assurance. The software QUE$TOR is then applied to estimate the cost of each optimized scenario. Two of them are selected for further studies, FPSO connected to six slots subsea manifolds, and subsea separator connected to eight slots cluster manifolds with tie-back to an existing platform. The latter representing a hybrid solution based on the subsea-to-shore concept. Cost and technical feasibility are considered in order to evaluate the two scenarios.

Group sex in the time of COVID: Intimacy, learning, and community-building in sexual communities during a pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210014
Author(s):  
Anabelle Bernard Fournier ◽  
Karyn Fulcher ◽  
Leah Shumka ◽  
Nathan J. Lachowsky
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Community Building ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Group Sex

Introduction: COVID-19 has had a profound effect on every aspect of contemporary life, including sexuality. Physical distancing measures and limitations on large gatherings explicitly restrict in-person group sex events. We sought to understand how the pandemic and associated public health control measures have affected group sex practitioners and activities. Methods: We used a community-based participatory research approach. In fall 2019, we recruited a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of group sex key informants via community agencies, social media, and relevant websites (e.g., FetLife, Squirt). To be eligible, participants had to be at least 18 years old and have recently participated in a local group sex event (i.e. sex, broadly defined, with more than 3 people). Ethics approval was secured for the CAB as a longitudinal focus group study. Focus group meetings were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. In December 2019, participants were asked about definitions of group sex. In May 2020, participants were asked about COVID-19 impacts. Results: Key informants shared that due to COVID-19 restrictions, group sex events were cancelled and participants only had sex with others they were isolating with. Participants emphasized the challenges of isolation, the need to be patient, but also the opportunities associated with isolation. Participants reported attending online group sex events (e.g. Zoom orgies) as well as skill-building classes (e.g. rope bondage). Participants anticipated in-person events in the future, but felt that moving online opened up new opportunities for community-building. Conclusions: Participants adhered to physical distancing protocols and quickly adapted to social isolation through innovative use of technology.

E-Mentors

2010 ◽  
pp. 244-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Macfarlan ◽  
Richard Everett
Keyword(s):  
Staff Development ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Education College ◽  
21St Century Learners

The eMentors scheme encapsulates the concept that the person in the home most likely to be able to programme the audio-visual equipment is the teenager. The scheme harnesses the digital generation’s propensity for technology by using the students to teach their teachers how to make appropriate use of electronic resources in the classroom. We present a case study that focuses on both staff and student experiences of the eMentoring system at a further education college in Hertfordshire, UK and outlines the strategy for ongoing staff development and support. The scheme has given lecturers the confidence to develop new technology-enhanced pedagogical practices and has given students the opportunity to play an active part in the development of their own learning environments and to influence policy on the use of technology. We believe that this model has been an effective element in a concerted approach to changing the prevailing attitudes to designing pedagogy for 21st century learners.

Connecting STEM Rich Learning Environments With Environmental Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 213-232
Author(s):  
Ellen Hamilton-Ford ◽  
Jeffrey D. Herron
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Education ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Stem Programs ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Large Complex ◽  
And Mathematics

The objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of research in the convergence of environmental education and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (E-STEM) education models through a values-based framework for nature. An argument for the interconnectedness of environmental education and STEM programs is presented. A further argument presented that nature-based learning environments engage children in E-STEM. Lastly, an exploration of research suggests how various pedagogical practices incorporate and facilitate the E-STEM paradigm to prepare young children for 21st century workforce that can solve large, complex problems in an information and service-based economy.

Making E-Training Cost Effective through Quality Assurance

2009 ◽  
pp. 623-631
Author(s):  
Lichia Yiu ◽  
Raymond Saner
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Corporate Learning ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Training Cost ◽  
E Learning ◽  
American Society ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Cost

Since the 1990s, more and more corporate learning has been moved online to allow for flexibility, just-in-time learning, and cost saving in delivering training. This trend has been evolved along with the introduction of Web-based applications for HRM purposes, known as electronic Human Resource Management (e-HRM). By 2005, 39.67% of the corporate learning, among the ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) benchmarking forum companies, was delivered online in comparison to 10.5% in 2001. E-learning has now reached “a high level of (technical) sophistication, both in terms of instructional development and the effective management of resources” in companies with high performance learning function (ASTD, 2006, p.4). The cost per unit, reported by ASTD in its 2006 State of Industry Report, has been declining since 2000 despite the higher training hours received per employee thanks to the use of technology based training delivery and its scalability. However, the overall quality of e-learning either public available in the market or implemented at the workplace remains unstable.

Cloud Computing as a Catalyst in STEM Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 470-485
Author(s):  
Vikas Kumar ◽  
Deepika Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Learning Technology ◽  
Mediated Learning ◽  
Computing Technology ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Stem Students

The under representation of students in STEM disciplines creates big worries for the coming demands of STEM occupations. This requires new strategies to make curriculum interesting to enhance student's engagement in learning. Technology integration in curriculum makes more interesting and engaging, where students can learn with flexibility in time and place. This methodology creates and deepens interest in students towards learning with creativity and innovation. STEM students can work on authentic and real solutions within a technology-mediated learning environment, while inculcating higher order thinking skills. Technology-mediated environments support new ideas, real time collaboration and promotes peer learning. However, affordance as an adoption factor of technology in academics can be addressed by cloud computing technology. STEM education on cloud computing technology will gain access to its content rich features based on flexibility, accessibility, scalability, affordability, and reliability and enhanced agility. The cloud computing based STEM education infrastructure will inculcate development and experimentation skills in students. The present work (a) reviews scholarly work in cloud computing technology for simulations and prototypes for different STEM subjects, (b) outlines the benefits of using cloud computing technology for students pursuing STEM careers, and (c) presents the case studies of the successful implementation of cloud computing in STEM disciplines.

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