When trying to learn a model for the prediction of an outcome given a set of covariates, a statistician has many estimation procedures in their toolbox. A few examples of these candidate learners are: least squares, least angle regression, random forests, and spline regression. Previous articles (van der Laan and Dudoit (2003); van der Laan et al. (2006); Sinisi et al. (2007)) theoretically val...

Data modelling is an important skill tbr students undertaking university courses in computing and Infi~rnlation Systems. It is a complex task which is not currently well provided with tool based support. This paper describes extensions to a learning environment for data modelling which is based on a text based virtual reality panldigm. This learning environment has been enhanced by the inclusio...

This paper provides general information about research at the University of Auckland into autonomous agents in highly dynamic environments, in particular in the RoboCup environment. The first part of this paper describes the design of our vision server and our camera calibration method and shows some of our experiences in developing our RoboCup entry. This may help other interested parties in a...

We introduce a conceptual model for building interactive hypermedia literary stories. Hyperstories extend and plasticize the idea of «branching games» and the classic «choose your own adventure» stories. The model combines static and dynamic objects embedded in nested contexts to allow flexible navigation through virtual worlds. Hyperstories include the concept of object migration between nodes...

We present a conceptual model for building hyperstories. Hyperstories are the hypermedia version of literary stories. The model combines static and dynamic aspects of a computer environment such as a nested context, allowing navigation through a virtual world. The flexibility of the model supports things such as the existence of objects to be acted on by the learner, autonomous objects or chara...

Reinforcement learning (RL) is an effective framework for online learning by autonomous agents. Most RL research focuses on domain-independent learning algorithms, requiring an expert human to define the environment (state and action representation) and task to be performed (e.g. start state and reward function) on a case-by-case basis. In this paper, we describe a general language for a teache...

it is disputed whether the law is an autonomous discipline or not? the adherents of the autonomy of law mainly are they, legal scholarship should be about distinctively legal topics and is not or should not be about other topics. the supporters of dependence of law mainly are legal realism, economic analysis of law, law and society, critical legal studies movement. they say the governing presup...

Agent technology can be incorporated into virtual learning environments to potentially address core issues of interest and engagement in learning. This paper proposes a learning companion agent to stimulate students’ curiosity in a virtual learning environment. Curiosity is the intrinsic motivation for learning and has been shown in educational studies to promote deep learning. The curious lear...

This paper challenges the dominant perception evident in the literature that mobile podcasting is primarily a medium for knowledge transmission. It describes why and how mobile audio learning can be facilitative, active and integrated, and how it can involve diverse voices, including those of students, in ways that usefully disrupt didactic pedagogy. Audio is described as an active learning env...

E-learners require activities and content based on their preferences and prior knowledge, not merely fully static, page-turning sequences. In this paper we present a framework that integrates and supports two approaches towards adaptation to the learner needs – design and runtime adaptation. The framework is based on IMS Learning Design (IMS LD). IMS LD offers a semantic notation to describe an...