60884961
The benefit of information technology in managing outcomes focused curriculum development across related degree programs
This paper describes an interactive, web-based tool that provides access to an Outcomes Database for managing an Outcomes Focused curriculum plan. The approach provides a rapid way to involve subject specialists, course controllers, curriculum designers and educational consultants in the curriculum design and review process. The Outcomes Database is used to capture the relationships between units (i.e. subjects), Unit Learning Outcomes, Course Learning Outcomes, Generic Graduate Attributes and assessments. This is undertaken across courses (i.e. undergraduate degree programs) sharing common units in Information Technology, Computer Science, and Software Engineering. Automatically generated database reports that show how units contribute to the development of the generic graduate attributes are compared to those derived manually on a unit-by-unit basis. Preliminary experience with this IT-based approach demonstrates that automatically generated database reports effectively highlight areas requiring further attention during subsequent curriculum development iterations. The tools and approach described here show how the Outcomes Database can assist in making the transition from an existing program to one using an Outcomes Focused approach.
583415
Using dependence graphs to assist manual and automated object oriented software inspections
Many researchers have demonstrated the value of software inspections in finding and fixing defects early in the development process. However, manual inspection can be a labour-intensive process. We present a tool that applies dependence graphs to aid object oriented software inspection. Our tool, Coffee Grinder, uses control and data dependence graphs both to immediately visualise a Java system and to facilitate the development of scripts to find defects or locate areas of potential inspection interest. These scripts can output results textually or graphically. We present the design of Coffee Grinder and several example scripts. Coffee Grinder illustrates the case for extensible tool support in the software inspection process
36913632
E-Publishing Portal: A New Approach to Faculty Outreach
The recent journal price increases and state-wide budget cuts have forced librarians at the University of Maryland (UMD) to make outright cancellations to journals. The implementation of an in-house system for preserving scholarly work of faculty was necessary not only because of budgetary stringency. The ongoing “scholarly communication crisis”, the recognition that the library system needs to be changed, the need for archiving e-journal content has prompted the construction of an institutional repository. This poster aims to identify issues encountered during the design process of a digital repository and suggests possible solutions. New roles of the users of this newly implemented system are described. The main elements of the service are outlined, outreach methodologies are discussed, and faculty concerns are addressed.
35983610
Sorting of textual data bases: A variety generation approach to distribution sorting
Abstract A method of sorting large textual data-bases by computer using external storage is proposed. The range of sort-keys in a sample of data to be sorted is divided into a fixed set of partitions, which should also give an adequate representation of new data from a similar source. The partitions are composed of ordered key ranges. An incoming data stream is distributed into a series of bins according to the partition in which the key lies, and the bins are then seperately sorted, using an internal sort, to give an ordered file. It is shown how the number of disc accesses needed depends on the manner in which the bins become filled, and thus on statistics of the data. Experiments using an INSPEC data-base give information on which estimates of the efficiency of the method can be based.
6716103
Reading the fine print: what benchmarks don't tell you
computer is the most general tool ever developed by mankind. Computers differ from other tools, like cars, in that they can be used in an almost limitless ways. A car has little purpose other than to efficiently move people and things short distances over smooth terrain. A graphics computer, on the other hand, might be used for a wide variety of complex applications including industrial package design, battle simulation, earth resource analysis, medical diagnosis and surgical planning, genetic research, or virtual reality games. During the early days of the auto industry, there was little need to provide information to help customers decide which car to buy. Nowadays, manufacturers provide all sorts of specifications to help people make purchasing decisions, including engine size, miles per gallon, time to accelerate from 0 to 50, trunk size, and so on. When combined with the price and the appearance of the car, these specifications and performance metrics can help consumers decide which of the many makes and models of car to buy. We are in the Model-T stage of developing specifications and performance metrics that help people make computer purchasing decisions. It is clear that the performance of a graphics computer has a large bearing on its ability to solve complex problems, but the problems themselves are of such a wide variety that it is extremely difficult to characterize the machine's performance for all the uses to which it might be put. We have some extremely crude ways to characterize the performance of the pieces that make up a graphics computer. But we have not yet succeeded in developing performance metrics that enable people to easily see whether a graphics computer will have sufficient performance for the problem set that is important to them. A great deal of energy has been invested in developing ways to quantify graphics performance. Have these efforts helped the industry or have they only served to confuse people even more? This panel takes a look at the attempts that have been made to develop useful measures of graphics performance and how those measurements may be used to compare systems from different vendors. More importantly, the panelists will describe the cave-ats and limitations of various benchmarking metrics and provide some real-world insight into how people might be able to apply published graphics benchmark results to their own needs. Background As a precursor to NCGA's Graphics Performance Characterization (GPC) Committee, the …
6134873
Recognizing and Responding to Student Affect
This paper describes the use of wireless sensors to recognize student emotion and the use of pedagogical agents to respond to students with these emotions. Minimally invasive sensor technology has reached such a maturity level that students engaged in classroom work can us sensors while using a computer-based tutor. The sensors, located on each of 25 student's chair, mouse, monitor, and wrist, provide data about posture, movement, grip tension, facially expressed mental states and arousal. This data has demonstrated that intelligent tutoring systems can provide adaptive feedback based on an individual student's affective state. We also describe the evaluation of emotional embodied animated pedagogical agents and their impact on student motivation and achievement. Empirical studies show that students using the agents increased their math value, self-concept and mastery orientation.
2090341
Z in practice
Using Z. Structure, Process, Fluency. The Established Strategy. Security Properties. Other Approaches to Z Specification. Validation. Putting Together Your Method. House Style. A Word Counting Utility. Roles in Space. Structuring a Video Shop. Promoting Snakes and Ladders. Refining the Tower of Hanoi. Be Abstract. Sets or Functions?. Sets, Quantifiers, or Toolkit?. Sequences are Functions are Relations are Sets. Error Handling Styles. Promotion. Using Free Types. Using Bags. A Function Calculator. Making Schemas Work for you. Exploiting the Power of the Language. A Real Number Toolkit. and Finally...