Academic literature on the topic 'Formative assessment survey'

Formative assessment is a critical component to effective supervision for graduate students in both on-campus clinical assignments as well as in external placements. This article focuses on the role of student participation and self-reflection in effective formative assessments. A number of self-reflection formative assessment tools will be discussed along with a survey of students' perception of the value of each.

Aims and methodTo survey the quality of workplace-based assessments (WPBAs) through retrospective analysis of completed WPBA forms against training targets derived from the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Portfolio Online.ResultsAlmost a third of assessments analysed showed no divergence in assessment scores across the varied assessment domains and there was poor correlation between domain scores and the nature of comments provided by assessors. Of the assessments that suggested action points only half were considered to be sufficiently ‘specific’ and ‘achievable’ to be useful for trainees' learning.Clinical implicationsWPBA is not currently being utilised to its full potential as a formative assessment tool and more widespread audit is needed to establish whether this is a local or a national issue.

The article discusses the issue of transition of Kazakhstan secondary education to the updated content, reveals the main categories of the updated assessment system: assessment, criterial assessment, formative assessment. One of the goals of assessment is the formation and maintenance of students' motivation for purposeful learning. The introduced criterion assessment system is aimed at developing a student, increasing his motivation to learn. The role of formative assessment, evaluation criteria, feedback for each student and his parents becomes important. The authors formulate a number of features of the introduction of formative evaluation of the learning outcomes of primary school students. The article presents the results of a survey to identify the level of educational motivation of pupils in primary classes in the context of the implementation of criterion assessment. Based on a theoretical analysis of the sources, the results of the survey, the authors draw conclusions. The authors emphasize that the formative assessment conducted in primary school is aimed at working with each student, identifying the achievements of younger students and determining the level of skills and abilities, as well as systematically measuring the educational progress of students, which allows them to more accurately and objectively evaluate the achievements of each child. promotes the growth of the child, taking into account the interests and abilities of the student.

The student experience with different aspects of online instructional settings has been the focus of educational practitioners and researchers in many studies. However, concerning technology-enabled formative assessment, little is known about student satisfaction regarding different possible formative e-assessment strategies the students are involved in. Using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, a web-based survey was developed to examine students’ satisfaction with the formative e-assessment strategies within an enriched virtual blended course. The results show that, in general, the students were satisfied with the quality of their engagement and the quality of feedback across all the formative e-assessment activities offered. The results also show that the student satisfaction varied between and within the formative e-assessment strategies. However, the gap between the student satisfaction mean ratings across all formative e-assessment strategies was marginal and could not help researchers decide upon which formative e-assessment strategy that stood out as the most preferred one. Learner satisfaction with different formative e-assessment strategies was positively correlated to each other at various levels but no relationship was found between students’ scores on the final course exam and learner satisfaction with formative e-assessment strategies. In the end, the results indicated that a sustained and integrated use of the all three formative e-assessment strategies (online knowledge survey, online student-generated questions and peer-responses, and electronic reflective journals) should be used in the context of hybrid courses. The study also suggests further studies that would widen, diversify both the scope and research instruments to investigate learner satisfaction with formative e-assessment strategies.

Purpose: This study aims to design that using formative assessment as an instructional strategy in real-time online classes, and to explore the application of Bloom’s taxonomy in the development of formative assessment items.Methods: We designed the instruction using formative assessment in real-time online classes, developed the items of formative assessment, analyzed the items statistically, and investigated students' perceptions of formative assessment through a survey.Results: It is designed to consist of 2–3 learning outcomes per hour of class and to conduct the formative assessment with 1–2 items after the lecture for each learning outcome. Formative assessment was 31 times in the physiology classes (total 48 hours) of three basic medicine integrated. There were nine “knowledge” items, 40 “comprehension” items, and 55 “application” items. There were 33 items (31.7%) with a correct rate of 80% or higher, which the instructor thought was appropriate. As a result of the survey on students’ perceptions of formative assessment, they answered that it was able to concentrate on the class and that it was helpful in achieving learning outcomes.Conclusion: The students focused during class because they had to take formative assessment immediately after the learning outcome lecture. “Integration of lesson and assessments” was maximized by solving the assessment items as well as through the instructor’s immediate explanation of answers. Through formative assessment, the students were able to utilize metacognition by learning what content they understood or did not understand. Items that consider Bloom’s taxonomy allow students to remember, understand, and apply to clinical contexts.

The study determined teachers’ conceptions on assessment which were bases in developing recommendations for policy review. The study used survey questionnaires adopted from Brown’s COA-III and an additional researcher-made questionnaire from DepEd Assessment Policy. The respondents are the 408 mathematics teachers from the different schools of National Capital Region using Cluster Sampling. Teachers “strongly agreed” that assessment held the students and school accountable, it’s for the improvement of the teaching and learning process, and they don’t believe that assessment is irrelevant. The teachers also believed that a sound assessment must be standards-based, for concept development, formative and summative. Moreover, eight variables are found to be correlated: school accountability, student accountability, improvement, standards-based, concept development, formative and summative. Assessment should be designed from classroom to national levels. Teachers’ assessments may consider the factors school accountability, student accountability, improvement, standards-based, concept development, formative, and summative. Teachers should undergo extensive training concerning classroom assessment. Teachers must see to it that in every assessment they implement in their class, it should always be aligned to the learning objectives whether the assessment is formative or summative for them to be properly informed regarding the learning development and achievement of the students.

The purpose of the current study was to measure the impact of formative assessment techniques on students’ writing skills. The techniques of formative assessment were used with sixty-four students. Formative assessment techniques were provided to students for three months. Summative assessment techniques and students’ survey was applied. In this study formative assessment was provided during the English writing process. After the completion of the intervention, it was found that when students are provided with formative assessment during their studies, this method of assessment improves their learning process. The result depicts that when student remained under continuous assessment process, it improved their English writing skill. On the basis of these conclusions, it is recommended that teachers should use formative assessment in their classes during their teaching. They should also provide formative assessment not only to the students by themselves but also enable them for self-assessment for improvement in their learning.

Although the importance of formative assessment of student progress has been well covered in previous studies, implementing formative assessment in the classroom requires targeted tools and educational policies. Therefore, we examined the factors that affect teachers' use of formative assessment practices and analyzed the moderating effect of the school's mastery goal structure in the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy and their use of formative assessment practices. Participants were 507 Chinese primary school teachers, who completed a survey. Structural equation modeling results reveal that teachers' selfefficacy regarding formative assessment and perception of a school mastery goal structure each positively predicted the use of formative assessment practices. The moderating effect of the school mastery goal structure in the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy and their use of formative assessment practices was also statistically significant. Our findings have implications for policy making and practice as well as for further studies regarding formative assessment of students.

In this study, which builds on a previous qualitative study and literature review, high school chemistry teachers' characteristics regarding the design of chemistry formative assessments and interpretation of results for instructional improvement are identified. The Adaptive Chemistry Assessment Survey for Teachers (ACAST) was designed to elicit these characteristics in both generic formative assessment prompts and chemistry-specific prompts. Two adaptive scenarios, one in gases and one in stoichiometry, required teachers to design and interpret responses to formative assessments as they would in their own classrooms. A national sample of 340 high school chemistry teachers completed the ACAST.Vialatent class analysis of the responses, it was discovered that a relatively small number of teachers demonstrated limitations in aligning items with chemistry learning goals. However, the majority of teachers responded in ways consistent with a limited consideration of how item design affects interpretation. Details of these characteristics are discussed. It was also found that these characteristics were largely independent of demographics such as teaching experience, chemistry degree, and teacher education. Lastly, evidence was provided regarding the content- and topic-specificity of the characteristics by comparing responses from generic formative assessment prompts to chemistry-specific prompts.

This study examines formative assessment procedures commonly used by Distance Education tutors’ during facilitation of the course model content. A descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. Census method was used in selecting the study respondents (tutors’) who were hundred and fifty (150) in number. Self-developed questionnaire was used for the data collection after it has been pilot tested for its refinement. The study revealed that ‘observation’, ‘oral questioning’, ‘peer-assessment’, ‘student self-assessment’ and ‘tutor made test’ are the current formative assessment practices of course tutors of on-site Distance Education in Ghana. It was recommended that tutors must use a wide range of formative assessment practices and not to cling on a single one. Unique student characteristics warrant the use of multiple formative assessment technique.

The key purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an understanding of classroom teachers’ perceptions of the process and impact of formative assessment on classroom instruction in a secondary school. The study was designed to obtain information about how teachers view formative assessment as part of their everyday planning and preparation, as well as sought to determine whether or not there was a correlation between teachers’ perceived understanding of formative assessment and their implementation of formative assessment in the classroom. The three main research questions that guided this study were: 1) How do teachers’ perceptions of their own understanding of formative assessment affect their instructional practice? 2) How do teachers’ perceptions of their own understanding of formative assessment evolve over time? 3) What supports exist to help teachers implement formative assessment at the high school level? The case study focused on participants who were current 9-12 public school teachers representing mathematics, physical education, and foreign language. To triangulate the data, multiple types of data were collected from the teachers. Pre- and post-surveys, unstructured interviews, focus groups, classroom observations with participant observation notes, and logs were used to collect the data. Data was then analyzed using analysis of the pre-surveys and compared with information gained from the other data sources. Data was later analyzed using the post-survey and compared with the information from other data sources to determine individual teacher growth over time. The results from the first research question indicated that teachers understood the accountability of both teachers and students in the assessment process, but required additional support in determining how student learning becomes the basis for use of formative assessment, types of different methods used, and overall teacher competencies about formative assessment. The second research question indicated that growth occurred when professional supports were given in areas where weaknesses were identified. Initially, formative assessment was viewed by many as a means of compliance with the new teacher evaluation system. With continued professional development, teachers’ acceptance of formative assessment increased as their understanding of the process dually increased. In addition, as teachers began to see growth in student achievement, their overall acceptance of formative assessment also increased. The third and final research question indicated that supports must not only be global in nature, but must also be focused on the individual. When teachers know where they are and know the target of where they want or need to be, instructional growth does occur. Supports for teacher instructional practice will vary based on identified needs, understanding of formative assessment, and the type of supports available. Recommendations for follow-up study include the use of additional focus groups, extending the formative assessment survey to include lengthening the time of the study, and a change in setting to avoid certain nuances that can occur with studying the same school district. Additionally, research should be completed on the long-term effects of personalized professional development and whether teachers continue to use formative assessment practices as they gain more extensive experience. Since this particular school was undergoing a complete system change while the study was being completed, it would be dually important to investigate a school that was not in the midst of such a change. With all the additional supports available to the teachers in this study, it is important to see if a teacher’s perceived understanding of formative assessment would continue to translate into instructional practice if whole school and individual supports were not as prevalent.

Följande analys är baserad på en undersökning med 14 informanter och ämnar synliggöra vad svensklärare fokuserar på i sina bedömningar av elevtexter i svenskämnet i Stockholms gymnasieskolor. Resultatet visar att texternas kommunikativa kvaliteter och språkfunktion ges störst utrymme och mindre fokus ligger på språkformella aspekter. Det framkommer också att avancerade texter får mer precis bedömning medan sämre textkompositioner får mer generell. I uppsatsens analysavsnitt belyses dessa aspekter samt bedömningen av dem, hur de preciseras och formativt fungerar för elevens skriftspråksutveckling utifrån Lev Vygotskys teorier. Därefter diskuteras hur bedömningspraktiken påverkar undervisningen och vilka eventuella konsekvenser sådana tekniker kan förväntas ge.
The following analysis is based on a survey of 14 respondents and intends to make visible what Swedish teachers in the subject of Swedish focus on in their assessments of student texts, in Stockholm's upper high schools. The result shows that the communicative qualities of the texts and language functions are emphasized while the textual form, its linguistic correctness aspects, are given less focus. It also emerges that the advanced texts get more precise assessment, while poorer text compositions may be critiqued more generally. The essay’s analytical chapter confronts how these aspects are practiced, specified and utilized according to formative assessments based on Lev Vygotsky's theories. Then follows a discussion on how assessment practices affects teaching and what consequences one may expect from such an assessment culture.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
This PhD dissertation aimed to review the concept of the nursing outcome Fluid Balance from the Nursing Outcome Classification (NOC) in postoperative patients who underwent cardiac surgery, and develop operational definitions. For so, a concept analysis was carried out according to the Walker and Avant Model (2005), using the integrative review for searching. It was developed from October to December/2010, based on the leading questions: Which indicators allow the body fluid volume assessment on the postoperative period of cardiac surgery? How these indicators are defined and how could they be evaluated? Which features or values are indicative of normal and altered body fluid volume on the postoperative period of cardiac surgery? Water electrolyte balance, thoracic surgery, and postoperative period were used as searching descriptors. The sample consisted of articles which answered at least one of the searching question(s); with full text available through Portal da CAPES, the University of Iowa electronic system, or the interlibrary loan service; in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. Editorials, letters to the editor, qualitative studies, case report studies, proceedings, duplicate articles, and animal research were excluded. The identified works were submitted to a four step evaluation, which resulted on the selection of 48 articles (CINAHL: 12; PubMed: 12; Scopus: 21; Lilacs: 3). Predominated the narrative reviews, cohort, and descriptive studies (level of evidence IV and VI). From the analysis, 14 indicators were identified, plus the 23 present on the Fluid Balance NOC outcome. The integrative review had a limited contribution for the operational definitions construction, mainly due to the nature of the concept of interest. The concept analysis highlighted the attributes: solvent and/or solute movement (active or passive) through semi-permeable membranes and between physiological compartments; effective regulation by homeostatic mechanisms (gradient between hydrostatic and coloidosmotic pressure, electroneutrality, and neurohormonal mechanisms); and maintenance of compartments concentration and volume. The case model represented a healthy individual, with hormonal and fluid compartments control functions preserved, whereas the contrary cases opposed the attributes partially. The borderline cases consisted of morbid situations in which alterations occurred in at most two attributes. The antecedents of fluid balance corresponded to organic, behavioral, and/or environmental conditions that opposed to those listed for the unbalance, or even their absence. The consequences of unbalance encompassed the estates of fluid deficit or excess, as well as the related concepts of hydration, electrolyte balance (sodium) and systemic (volemia) and local (tissue) perfusion. The consequence of balance consisted of the fluid homeostasis or the absence of consequences of unbalance while the empirical referents corresponded to the indicators. The concept analysis allowed its scope delimitation and identify which parameters assure its presence or even its alteration (unbalance). It encompasses the electrolyte balance, perfusion, and hydration phenomena and is beyond the simple measurement and control of fluid intake and output. As initial validity phase of the nursing outcome, it requires the development of experts and clinical research.
Esta tese teve o objetivo de revisar o conceito do resultado de enfermagem EquilÃbrio HÃdrico da Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) em pacientes no pÃs-operatÃrio de cirurgia cardÃaca e desenvolver definiÃÃes operacionais. Para isso, realizou-se anÃlise do conceito, segundo o modelo de Walker e Avant (2005), utilizando a revisÃo integrativa para busca. A mesma foi empreendida de outubro a dezembro/2010, com base nas questÃes norteadoras: que indicadores permitem a avaliaÃÃo do volume de lÃquidos corporais no perÃodo pÃs-operatÃrio de cirurgia cardÃaca? Como esses indicadores sÃo definidos e como podem ser avaliados? Quais as caracterÃsticas ou valores indicativos de normalidade e de alteraÃÃo no volume de lÃquidos corporais, no perÃodo pÃs-operatÃrio de cirurgia cardÃaca? Para busca, utilizaram-se os descritores equilÃbrio hidroeletrolÃtico, cirurgia torÃcica e perÃodo pÃs-operatÃrio. A amostra foi composta por artigos que contemplassem pelo menos uma das questÃes norteadoras; com resumo disponÃvel; texto completo acessÃvel pelo Portal da CAPES, pelo sistema eletrÃnico da University of Iowa ou pelo sistema de comutaÃÃo; em portuguÃs, inglÃs ou espanhol. Foram excluÃdos os editoriais, cartas ao editor, estudos reflexivos, relatos de experiÃncia, anais de eventos, produÃÃes duplicadas e pesquisas com animais. ApÃs o levantamento, as produÃÃes foram submetidas a quatro etapas de avaliaÃÃo, que resultaram na seleÃÃo de 48 artigos (CINAHL: 12; PubMed: 12; Scopus: 21; Lilacs: 3). Destacaram-se os estudos de revisÃo narrativa, coorte e descritivos (nÃvel de evidÃncia IV e VI). A partir da anÃlise, identificaram-se quatorze indicadores, alÃm dos vinte e trÃs presentes no resultado EquilÃbrio HÃdrico da NOC. A revisÃo integrativa teve contribuiÃÃo limitada para a construÃÃo das definiÃÃes operacionais, sobretudo devido à natureza do conceito de interesse. A anÃlise do conceito evidenciou os atributos: movimento de solvente e/ou soluto (ativo ou passivo) atravÃs de membranas semi-permeÃveis e entre compartimentos fisiolÃgicos; regulaÃÃo efetiva por mecanismos homeostÃticos (gradiente entre a pressÃo hidrostÃtica e coloidosmÃtica, eletroneutralidade e mecanismos neuro-hormonais); e manutenÃÃo da concentraÃÃo e do volume dos compartimentos. O caso modelo refletiu indivÃduo saudÃvel, com funÃÃes hormonais e de controle dos compartimentos hÃdricos preservadas, enquanto os casos contrÃrios se opuseram aos atributos apenas em parte. Os casos limÃtrofes compreenderam as situaÃÃes mÃrbidas, nas quais ocorrem alteraÃÃo de, no mÃximo, dois atributos. Os antecedentes do EquilÃbrio HÃdrico corresponderam Ãs condiÃÃes orgÃnicas, comportamentais e/ou ambientais que se opunham Ãquelas listadas para o desequilÃbrio, ou mesmo sua ausÃncia. Os consequentes do desequilÃbrio abrangeram os estados de dÃficit e excesso de lÃquidos, bem como os conceitos relacionados de hidrataÃÃo, equilÃbrio eletrolÃtico (sÃdio) e perfusÃo, tanto sistÃmica (volemia) quando localizada (tecidual). Jà o consequente do equilÃbrio consistiu na homeostase hÃdrica ou na ausÃncia dos consequentes de desequilÃbrio, enquanto os referentes empÃricos corresponderam aos indicadores. A anÃlise do conceito permitiu delimitar seu escopo e identificar quais parÃmetros asseguram sua presenÃa ou mesmo sua alteraÃÃo (desequilÃbrio). O mesmo engloba os fenÃmenos de equilÃbrio eletrolÃtico, perfusÃo e hidrataÃÃo e està alÃm da simples mensuraÃÃo e controle das perdas e ganhos de lÃquidos. Como fase inicial da validaÃÃo do resultado de enfermagem, requer o desenvolvimento de pesquisa com experts e clÃnica.

La technique de réalité augmentée basée sur la fluorescence permet de quantifier la dynamique d’un signal fluorescent et de superposer une cartographie de perfusion aux images laparoscopiques en temps réel. Un modèle d’ischémie colique a été choisi afin de différencier différents types d’ischémie et l’extension d’une zone ischémique dans les différentes couches de la paroi. L’évaluation de la dynamique de fluorescence assistée par logiciel et couplée à une approche d’apprentissage automatique a permis de faire la distinction entre une ischémie d’origine artérielle et d’origine veineuse avec un bon taux de prédiction. Dans la seconde étude colique, les cartographies de perfusion ont clairement mis en évidence que l’étendue d’ischémie était significativement plus large du côté muqueux et risquait d’être sous-estimée avec une analyse exclusive du côté séreux. Deux études ont démontré que la technique d’imagerie par fluorescence permet de guider le chirurgien en temps réel au cours d’une chirurgie mini-invasive des glandes surrénales et que l’analyse quantitative effectuée avec le logiciel facilite la distinction entre les segments vascularisés et ischémiques
The fluorescence-based enhanced reality approach is used to quantify fluorescent signal dynamics and superimpose the perfusion cartography onto laparoscopic images in real time. A colonic ischemia model was chosen to differentiate between different types of ischemia and determine the extension of an ischemic zone in the different layers of the colonic wall. The evaluation of fluorescence dynamics associated with a machine learning approach made it possible to distinguish between arterial and venous ischemia with a good prediction rate. In the second study, quantitative perfusion assessment showed that the extent of ischemia was significantly larger on the mucosal side, and may be underestimated with an exclusive analysis of the serosal side. Two further studies have revealed that fluorescence imaging can guide the surgeon in real time during minimally invasive adrenal surgery, and that quantitative software fluorescence analysis facilitates the distinction between vascularized and ischemic segments

Perioperative cardiovascular complications (including myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction) are the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The pathophysiology of perioperative myocardial infarction is complex. Prolonged myocardial ischaemia due to the stress of surgery in the presence of a haemodynamically significant coronary lesion, leading to subendocardial ischaemia, and acute coronary artery occlusion after plaque rupture and thrombus formation contribute equally to these devastating events. Perioperative management aims at optimizing the patient’s condition by identification and modification of underlying cardiac risk factors and diseases. The first part of this chapter covers current knowledge on preoperative risk assessment. Current risk indices, the value of additional testing, and new preoperative cardiac risk makers are investigated. During recent decades there has been a shift from the assessment and treatment of the underlying culprit coronary lesion towards a systemic medical therapy aiming at prevention of myocardial oxygen supply–demand mismatch and coronary plaque stabilization. In the second part of this chapter, risk-reduction strategies are discussed, including β‎-blocker therapy, statins, and aspirins. A central theme in this chapter will focus on long-term cardiovascular risk reduction. Patients who undergo non-cardiac (vascular) surgery are particularly prone to long-term adverse cardiac outcomes. The goal of perioperative cardiovascular risk identification and modification should not be limited to the perioperative period, but should extend well into the postoperative period.

The complexity of assessing musical performance as a nonverbal art form is well known within the field of professional practice. This chapter addresses key issues including the tension between assessing craftsmanship and artistry. It surveys the strong tradition of expert panel assessment that continues to be the hallmark of musical performance assessment in many contexts, in relation to both solo and ensemble performance. It also explores how such practices may intersect with the development of self-assessment and self-reflection as core professional skills for performers, as well as the processes of formative and summative assessment. Finally, it argues that the making of musicians is a lifelong process in which assessment and examination have an important role but are by no means the only factor in determining whether or not a music student’s eventual career will be successful.

Anticoagulation is increasingly prevalent in the general population and poses a significant risk of increased bleeding in patients needing urgent or emergent surgical procedures. There are two main classes of direct or anticoagulants: direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors. Management of these patients requires assessment of bleeding risk, possible reversal of anticoagulation, and subsequent management after surgery to prevent postoperative complications associated with either bleeding or clot formation (due to cessation of anticoagulants). This chapter covers the proper assessment and management of patients on oral direct thrombin inhibitor or oral Factor Xa inhibitor therapies.

In recognizing that effective feedback and pedagogical approaches that support social interaction in learning are vital to students' achievement, this chapter focuses on students' need to be actively involved in their learning and assessment. It reports research into how undergraduate education students utilized assessment feedback. The students provided their perceptions of the feedback strategies employed by completing a survey. This included an investigation into whether the students used the feedback to “feed forward,” that is, to answer the question as to whether it was used to enhance their responses in their next assessments. The results revealed a contrast between the students' approach to their learning compared with that of the pedagogy underpinning the course, which sought to empower them in their learning through teaching and assessment practices that engaged them in critical thinking. The students appeared to lack assessment literacy since they treated the feedback as corrective of the assignment being marked and not relevant to them taking-action to improve their future work. It is recommended that this disconnect be further explored since without students' understanding of the purposes of assessment and feedback, in keeping with their educators' intent they are limited in their ability to learn.

The focus on assessment literate teachers who know how to construct, administer assessments and communicate learning outcomes on student learning raises questions on how student teachers can develop the necessary skills to assess their students' learning. This is so important since there is evidence that beginning teachers continue to feel under prepared to assess student learning. This chapter presents findings of a study conducted in Denmark with the aim of investigating how student teacher candidates develop the capacities to become ‘assessment literate' over the course of their teacher education program. This chapter presents preliminary survey and focus group interviews data after tracing 21 pre-service teachers over two years. Our findings reflected a picture of Danish student teachers who value in particular formative assessment practices, while summative assessment is acknowledged as necessary but unwanted and perhaps even unproductive process.

This paper maintains that the use of multimedia content in Web-based instruction - facilitated by the proliferation and standardization of learning management systems (LMS) - calls for the extension of traditional multimedia design and evaluation guidelines to the Web. The compliance with these guidelines needs to be thoroughly evaluated by any institution using (or planning to use) Web-based learning management systems. In addition to providing criteria and examples for the evaluation of these systems, the paper discusses survey questions that can be used for university-wide assessments of the design effectiveness of technologies that support learning. As an example, the proposed evaluation instrument is applied to a learning management system developed at a large university in the United States. While the assessment refers to one system, the model, the instructional and design evaluation criteria, and the questionnaire are built for use in any organization conducting a formative and summative evaluation or a selection of learning technologies.

This chapter reports the authors’ use and refinement of a wireless audience response system (ARS) over a 10-year period. The motivation for this effort was to replace the traditional passive lecture with a more interactive classroom. Our classroom procedures and the evolution of these procedures are detailed. The authors also illustrate how ARS systems can be applied in a variety of ways, including the use of modified multiple-choice questions. ARS systems allow for both formative and summative assessment in real time, which is a unique and desirable property. The use of ARS systems similar to the ones described has increased rapidly in the past few years. A brief survey of current and proposed commercial wireless keypad systems is included.

This chapter focuses on a specific, simple strategy to foster active blended learning, a pedagogical approach that values flexibility. The author discusses the use of optional learning activities (OLAs) in graduate courses as a strategy to enable the customisation of the learning pathway and the effective incorporation of formative assessment. A sample of 68 former Master's and doctoral students, who engaged with OLAs, answered an online survey. Their views were predominantly positive. Participants agreed that OLAs promote active, personalised learning, and considered them motivating. Moreover, the number of OLAs completed positively and significantly correlated with final grades. OLAs represent a simple, low-investment way to create engaging, personalised courses. These activities empower students to explore their own interests in a structured, meaningful way. Recommendations for practice are described.

Burn depth assessment is key assessing healing potential and risk of scarring. It informs wound management and surgical planning. The dynamic and evolving nature of a burn wound can make this difficult. Burns which are likely to take longer than 3 weeks to heal have a significantly increased risk of hypertrophic scar formation leading to functional and aesthetic morbidity. Assessing healing potential allows the treating clinician to optimize wound care and the need for surgical intervention.

This chapter evaluates the use of screencast video feedback for summative assessment tasks in the creative arts and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of such a format when compared to traditional feedback techniques. In 2017, in the second-year course Narrative Animation at the University of South Australia, video feedback was trialed for summative assessment tasks, in an attempt to improve students' understanding of their academic performance. Thirty-seven students participated in the course and received a five-minute feedback video for each of their three submissions. The video feedback provided to students during the course was evaluated at the end of the semester in the form of two online surveys, allowing participating students with the opportunity to critically reflect on the learning experience. The findings of the study disseminate the learning benefits afforded by the video feedback model and provide insight into the varying attitudes of both students and staff.

This chapter extrapolates information processing theory and advances in research in memory formation and effective learning practices on to the first-year student. The authors will lay a context for what FYE is, and why it matters, survey advances in memory research, and explore the study practices that students actually use. Finally, the authors posit a structure for organizing FYE courses around the best practices in cognitive and educational psychology so as to change student study behavior and help them increase their academic performance.

In this chapter, a flipped model is implemented in an undergraduate mathematics course. There is a need to enhance learning experiences in STEM disciplines and college mathematics courses. The authors seek to redefine the traditional relationship of instructor as the active conveyor of knowledge and the student as the passive receiver of knowledge. They discuss their efforts to plan and prepare for the course and their experiences with its implementation. The authors started with what they wanted their students to learn in the course. Prior to coming to class, students watched video lectures and completed pre-work assignments. In class, the authors incorporated group-work through peer-instruction and lab activities, and the use of a classroom response system. They present the results of their data collection, feedback from student response surveys. Among other results, the students realized the value of preparation and took an active role in the formation of their own learning experiences.

The 3rd year Electrical Engineering Design Studio (EEDS) course is a project-based learning (PBL) course that gives students hands-on experience with putting electrical engineering principles into practice. It is an electro-mechanical project which provides a particular challenge since electrical engineering students often lack mechanical design skills. It is found here that learning outcomes are improved by a 2-stage formative assessment and time optimization strategy that allows students to extract as much value as possible out of the limited time they have to devote to this exercise. It consists of an innovative assessment strategy that includes formal, informal and self-assessments, and an innovative budgeting, lecture scheduling, parts distribution, and order queueing system. The impact on efficiency is shown through an end-of-term student survey and a subjective evaluation of their work, in comparison to the previous year.

[The final form of this paper was published in the journal Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology.] IT graduates need a suite of technical competencies and soft skills married with an understanding of the social and business contexts of the systems that they build. To instill in students an awareness of current IT industry practice coupled with the broader impact of their discipline in society, academics from Xxxx University and Yyyy University initiated an across-institutional collaboration. The initiative resulted in a common formative assessment task undertaken by teams of students enrolled in each institution’s professional development units. An initial survey of students was undertaken prior to the assessment task. The survey queried students’ perceptions of a broad range of professional attitudes and skill sets needed by IT professionals when compared to non-skilled workers. Upon the completion of the assessment task, students were surveyed again. This paper reports on the surveys’ results noting changes in student perceptions of the importance of personal skills, technical competencies, professional and team working skills, workplace knowledge, and cultural awareness for their future professional lives.

Abstract While drilling an 8 1/2-incli section of a north Kuwait producer well, severe mud losses were encountered. Hence, it was decided to design a light weight cement for the 7-inch liner section to avoid further losses while pumping the slurry. The main objective was to achieve a hydraulic isolation to avoid any heavy remedial intervention and potential dump flood behind the liner from the high-pressure Lower Burgan (LB) to Shuaiba. Full suite of well integrity logs were ran to properly assess whether enough hydraulic isolation was in place. To evaluate the bonding quality of the cement, two independent measurements were carried out across the 7-inch liner with the ultrasonic and sonic bond logs. A subsequent temperature survey was recorded to determine any geothermal anomaly, which could be indicative of fluid movement behind the casing. Finally, oxygen activation stations were conducted based on the cement log and temperature surveys to assure no water movement behind the casing. The ultrasonic and sonic bond log measurements showed an acceptable bond quality generally. However, the top part of Shuaiba formation up to LB exhibited relatively lower bond quality. The subsequent temperature and oxygen activation logs indicated that the zonal hydraulic isolation was achieved by showing no water movement behind the 7-inch liner. The two complementary surveys helped to take the proper forward decision for this well to go ahead with the planned perforation without cement remedial squeeze, since enough hydraulic isolation was proved to be in place behind the 7-inch liner. Additionally, this saved the rig utilization time and cost by avoiding unnecessary remedial operation. This is usually a heavy-duty operation, which takes time and induces holes in the casing that should be avoided, knowing this type of operation only provides a very marginal gain in terms of isolation. Furthermore, the well is currently producing at 0% water cut after completion. The proper cement design using light weight cement and optimized casing-landing plan were crucial to achieve good cement placement against formation. The use of the right well integrity approach helped to confirm that effective hydraulic isolation was achieved. Hence all these efforts resulted in the saved rig utilization time and cost by avoiding unnecessary squeeze intervention.

During design stage of high pressure/high temperature pipelines, some conservative parameters are adopted along with sensitivity analyses to assure safe operation in the presence of uncertainties that influence buckle formation, e.g. pipe-soil interaction, as-laid out-of-straightness and initial heat-up. After operation starts and lateral buckles appeared along the line, a survey may provide valuable information regarding confirmation of the design assumptions, evaluation of actual behaviour and the possibility of increase the operating conditions. This work presents the methodology applied to analyse the configuration of the P-53/PRA-1 12″ oil export pipeline in operation using data from a sidescan sonar survey. The aim of such analyses was to gather information for an FE model calibration as well as to obtain preliminary estimates for the bending strains at lateral buckling locations. Special attention was dedicated to smoothing and interpolation of the pipeline coordinates extracted from sonar imagery in order to avoid unrealistic strains estimates.

Northern Codrii represents a geographic entity in the Codrii Plateau and has a special morphological structure. Also, the wide range of pedological factors determined the formation of a very varied soil cover. Nowadays, a special attention in the soil survey is given to erosion, which is a serious problem both in Northern Codrii as well as on the whole territory of Republic of Moldova. In the current development of Geographical Information Systems, a quantitative assessment and modeling of the process of soil degradation is possible. Thus, LS-factor is a combined indicator of the L -factor, which defines the impact of slope length and S-factor, which measures the effect of the slope angle. Therefore, LS-factor describes the effect of topography on soil erosion, showing areas susceptible to erosion processes.

In Latvia, during the COVID-19 pandemic teachers represent one of the professions with a special role in solving the problems caused by the crisis. It is important to provide the highest possible quality of education during the state-of-emergency, despite the increased risks of COVID-19 what teachers face while work in a classroom. The workload of teachers has increased and for many of them working conditions have deteriorated. Multiple factors pose a risk to the quality of work-life in general. The aim of the paper is to find out the teachers’ opinions on the factors influencing their quality of work-life, comparing the situation in the regions of Latvia, and to develop proposals for strengthening social dialogue to improve teachers’ quality of work-life. In February 2021, the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees conducted a survey “Teachers’ Salaries, Principles of Workload Formation and Risks of Professional Burnout”, in which 10 077 teachers were surveyed to study various aspects of their quality of work-life. The results revealed differences between regions in the teachers’ assessment of their quality of work-life and the factors influencing it. The quality of work-life of teachers has decreased, comparing to the situation a year and five years ago. Significantly that 9 out of 10 respondents did not feel cared for at the national level. The authors conclude that it is crucial to improve the social dialogue between the state institutions, employers and employees in order to increase the quality of teachers’ work-life.

The arctic region hold abundant oil & gas resources according to the assessment by United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2009. While, the thaw of permafrost during drilling operation can lead to the instability of wellhead. A coupled thermal model between wellbore and formation is given considering the latent heat of fusing and migration of water during the thaw of permafrost, and the thawed permafrost zone can be estimated. A wellhead stability analysis method considering heat transferred from wellbore is also proposed in this paper. FLAC3D software is applied to analyze the wellhead stability. Some conclusions are made through a case study: Flow in the wellbore delivers heat from deep part of formation to the shallow part of the formation, which leads to the permafrost thaws. Thawed permafrost losses most of the shear strength compared to that of the frozen permafrost which leads to the settlement of wellhead. The calculated results using FLAC3D software shows that the wellhead settles as deep as 0.66 m resulting from the permafrost thaw. In addition, the installation of anti-sinking pad is suggested to reduce the wellhead settlement. According to our simulation, the anti-sinking pad with radius of 8 times the wellhead radius is suggested, which can reduce the wellhead settlement to 0.1 m.

A numerical investigation of a low NOx partially premixed fuel nozzle for heavy-duty gas turbine applications is presented in this paper. Availability of results from a recent test campaign on the same fuel nozzle architecture allowed the exhaustive comparison study presented in this work. At first, an assessment of the turbulent combustion model was carried out, with a critical investigation of the expected turbulent combustion regimes in the system and taking into account the partially premixed nature of the flame due to the presence of diffusion type pilot flames. In particular, the Fluent partially premixed combustion model and a flamelet approach are used to simulate the flame. The laminar flamelet database is generated using the Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) chemistry reduction technique. Species and temperature are parameterized by mixture-fraction and progress variable. Comparisons with calculations with partially premixed model and the steady diffusion flamelet (SDF) database are made for the baseline configuration in order to discuss possible gains associated with the introduced dimension in the FGM database (reaction progress) which makes it possible to account for non-equilibrium effects. Numerical characterization of the baseline nozzle has been carried out in terms of NOx. Computed values for both the baseline and some alternative premixer designs have been then compared with experimental measurements on the reactive test rig at different operating conditions and different split ratios between main and pilot fuel. Numerical results allowed pointing out the fundamental NOx formation processes, both in terms of spatial distribution within the flame and in terms of different formation mechanisms. The obtained knowledge would allow further improvement of fuel nozzle design.

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.