This article reports on the development of a methodology that integrates virtual and hands-on inquiry in a freshman introductory biology course. Using a two time×two order-condition design, an effective combination (blend) of the two environments was evaluated with 39 freshman biology participants. The quantitative results documented no significant effect of presentation order but demonstrated ...

This study employed Kolb’s experiential learning model-specific experiences, observations of reflections, abstract conceptualization, and experiment-action in activities to serve as the theoretical basis for popular science education planning. It designed the six activity themes of “Knowledge of the Ocean, Easy to Know, See the Large from the Small, Challenge of Vessel Knowledge, Do It Yourself...

The facilities of an undergraduate optics teaching laboratory that was developed with NSF support have been incorporated in an established course in optical signal transmission. Students with majors in physics and engineering have learned professional optics techniques for evaluating the characteristics of optical fibers and obtained hands-on experience with optical communications.

This paper describes the usability evaluation of a WebGIS. The system under evaluation has been developed for a real-world community in the Swiss canton of Vaud, namely, for people who are involved in wine making. The system’s usability is tested with users from this community. The goal of the study is to validate hypotheses and answer research questions focusing on users’ performance and speci...

Describing Inner Experience? Proponent Meets Skeptic is a unique contribution to consciousness studies. The book presents a detailed and far-ranging debate between psychologist Russell T. Hurlburt, developer and defender of the Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) method of introspective reporting, and philosopher Eric Schwitzgebel, whose sceptical work challenges the accuracy of any introspec...

ISARA-Lyon is a specialized university offering courses on Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Our summer school is open to international undergraduates with a Science or Humanities major from beginning of June to mid-July. It is a comprehensive program of French language and culture lessons and scientific courses on Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture in English, excursions, visi...

It is commonly accepted that hands-on experiences increase both learning and enjoyment during coursework. Mechatronics projects provide both interesting and relevant hands-on experiences for a wide range of topics including design processes, basic mechatronics concepts, technical communication, and working in a group environment. ME2110: Creative Decisions and Design at Georgia Tech integrates ...

Here a numerical simulation model, implemented in Excel, that can be used to expand student understanding of the theory of customs unions is presented. The model allows examination of core customs union issues including trade creation, trade diversion, and the Kemp–Wan theorem. By responding to an experimental assignment that guides them through the simulation, students are able to learn the th...

This paper presents an ongoing project using participatory design methods to develop design concepts for socially assistive robots (SARs) with older adults diagnosed with depression and co-occurring physical illness. We frame SARs development in the context of preventive patient-centered healthcare, which empowers patients as the primary drivers of health and aims to delay the onset of disease ...

Communication infrastructures play a vital role in modern society. Advances in the range of mobile network service offerings, performance, quality of service, security, and ubiquity continue to flourish, despite global economy fluctuations. Access to experimental wireless infrastructures for real-life applications by specific user communities benefits all of the stakeholders involved: the end u...