Computational Thinking and Social Studies Teacher Education

Computational thinking is highly applicable to social studies education, particularly decision-focused social studies. To better fit the disciplinary needs of social studies and align with social studies standards, we adapt and group computational thinking skills into a heuristic of data, patterns, rules, and questions (DPR-Q). We then propose a four-step model for social studies teachers to follow when planning lessons that integrate computational thinking within their curricular instruction. Both the DPR-Q heuristic and the instructional planning model are explained with worked examples from social studies classrooms. Successful integration of computational thinking into decision-focused social studies can both enrich the social studies curriculum and provide a curricular home for teaching computational thinking, bearing out Wing's claim that computational thinking is ‘everywhere' and ‘for everyone.'

The Application of Kotter's Model of Change in the Higher Education: A Case Study in Vietnam Private Universities

With the changing demands of higher quality teaching profession, especially the increasing trend of studying at private universities, many fail to produce desired effects, even when guided by organizational change models. Educational specialists, educators, academics, school administrators, and even scientists have all contributed to the development of change management as a significant concept. The purpose of this study is to apply Kotter's 8-step model of change to educational administration of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City. Change efforts focus on enhancing faculty capacity to support diverse student success. The change process is planned using Kotter's (1996) eight-step change model and is therefore a regulated, linear, sequential change process. The initial steps were reviewed, and the strategies considered workable. This approach enhances faculty acquisition and project success. Characterization of each step provides insight into ways to apply Kotter's model of change in higher education settings.

Step-by-Step Model with Latent Parameters for Student Assessments

The article discusses the disadvantages of traditional approaches to statistical processing of assessments of intermediate attestations of students. We proposed a model in which the obtaining of the k grade on an ordinal scale is associated with the successful completion of k certification steps. By analogy with Item Response Theory used for processing test results the probability of a successful step is determined by latent parameters — the student's ability and the difficulty of the step. Methods for determining latent parameters from the estimates obtained and statistical procedures for checking the adequacy of the model are proposed. The data of processing the array of estimates are presented. The processing results confirmed the possibility of using the proposed mo­del for a more accurate assessment of students' ability and the difficulty of attestations.

Strategy to Approach Sustainability in Companies: A Step by Step Model

This chapter presents a five-step strategy for approaching sustainability in a corporation. It emphasizes the importance of anchoring the approach in top management and integrating it throughout the company; getting an overview of the current situation via mapping social and environmental impact, benchmarking relative to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a framework for a materiality assessment. The chapter continues on how to develop a sustainability plan, test among key stakeholders, launching, communicating, and implementing the plan, and finally, reporting on progress. This chapter includes practical advice on progress as well as concrete examples based on experience.

A Six-Step Model for Developing Competency Frameworks in the Healthcare Professions

Competency frameworks are developed for a variety of purposes, including describing professional practice and informing education and assessment frameworks. Despite the volume of competency frameworks developed in the healthcare professions, guidance remains unclear and is inconsistently adhered to (perhaps in part due to a lack of organizing frameworks), there is variability in methodological choices, inconsistently reported outputs, and a lack of evaluation of frameworks. As such, we proposed the need for improved guidance. In this paper, we outline a six-step model for developing competency frameworks that is designed to address some of these shortcomings. The six-steps comprise [1] identifying purpose, intended uses, scope, and stakeholders; [2] theoretically informed ways of identifying the contexts of complex, “real-world” professional practice, which includes [3] aligned methods and means by which practice can be explored; [4] the identification and specification of competencies required for professional practice, [5] how to report the process and outputs of identifying such competencies, and [6] built-in strategies to continuously evaluate, update and maintain competency framework development processes and outputs. The model synthesizes and organizes existing guidance and literature, and furthers this existing guidance by highlighting the need for a theoretically-informed approach to describing and exploring practice that is appropriate, as well as offering guidance for developers on reporting the development process and outputs, and planning for the ongoing maintenance of frameworks.

A simulation approach for closed-loop control of coupled four tank system

The coupled tank system is the most widely used sub-component in chemical process industries. Fluid mixing is a major step in chemical processes that alters the material properties and cost. Fluid flow and its level regulation between several tanks are important control problems. As the first step, this paper addresses the level regulation problem using classical integer order proportional, derivative, integral (PID), fractional order PID controllers. As a second step, model-based robust fractional order controllers are derived using sliding mode approach in order to achieve the desired response, parameters of the proposed controllers are tuned using genetic algorithm. Finally, system performance under all variants of control schemes has been tested using numerical simulations.

Hybrid Physics-Constrained and Data-Driven Approach for Interwell Saturation Estimation from Well Logs

Combining physics-based models for well log analysis with artificial intelligence (AI) advanced algorithms is crucial for wellbore studies. Data-driven methods do not generalize well and lack theoretical knowledge accumulated in the field. Estimating well saturation significantly improves if predictions from physical models are used to constrain data-driven algorithms in outlined primary fluid channels and other important points of interest. Saturation propagations in the reservoirs interwell region also generalize better under using combination of models. This work addresses combined usage of theoretical and data-driven models by aggregating them into single hybrid model. Multiple physical and data-driven models are under study, their parameters are optimized using observations. Weighted sum is used to predict water saturation at every point with weights being recomputed at each step. Model outputs are compared in terms accuracy and cumulative loss. A synthesized reservoir box model encompassing volumetric interwell porosity, resistivity and saturation data is used for the validation of the algorithms. Aggregated model for estimating interwell saturation shows improved prediction accuracy compared both to physics-based or data-driven approaches separately.

Removing Ableist Barriers in Nursing Education: Clinical Essential Requirements

The current approach to clinical placement training for nurses excludes students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to introduce a four-step model for nursing programs to identify clinical essential requirements – specific skills and competencies students must gain during placement. Engaging this four-step model will allow educators to identify how essential requirements can be achieved in a variety of ways, and thus can involve accommodations. It will also allow for the identification of which essential requirements cannot be accommodated and must be demonstrated in a prescribed manner due to impacting the nature or integrity of the task. Analyzing clinical essential requirements using this framework will create a consistent and defensible method to determine the flexibility or inflexibility of clinical tasks. The framework provided requires a collaborative process including key experts, nursing students and nurses with disabilities to comprehensively address the challenges clinical environments pose to inclusiveness.

Unique Pharmacological Properties of α-Conotoxin OmIA at α7 nAChRs

OmIA, isolated from Conus omaria venom, is a potent antagonist at α7 nAChRs. We determined the co-crystal structure of OmIA with Lymnae stagnalis acetylcholine binding protein (Ls-AChBP) that identified His5, Val10 and Asn11 as key determinants for the high potency of OmIA at α7 nAChRs. Remarkably, despite a competitive binding mode observed in the co-crystal structure, OmIA and analogues displayed functional insurmountable antagonism at α7 and α3β4 nAChRs, except OmIA analogues having long side chain at position 10 ([V10Q]OmIA and [V10L]OmIA), which were partial insurmountable antagonist at α7 nAChRs in the presence of type II positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). A “two-state, two-step” model was used to explain these observations, with [V10Q]OmIA and [V10L]OmIA co-existing in a fast reversible/surmountable as well as a tight binding/insurmountable state. OmIA and analogues also showed biphasic-inhibition at α7 nAChRs in the presence of PNU120596, with a preference for the high-affinity binding site following prolonged exposure. The molecular basis of binding and complex pharmacological profile of OmIA at α7 nAChRs presented in here expands on the potential of α-conotoxins to probe the pharmacological properties of nAChRs and may help guide the development novel α7 modulators.