Teaching Reading to ESL Adult Literacy Learners: The Development of an Instructor’s Handbook

The purpose of this project was to develop an instructors’ handbook that provides the declarative, procedural, and conditional knowledge associated with the interactive instructional approach, differentiated instruction, and the gradual release of responsibility framework for teaching reading to English as a second language adult literacy learners. The need for this handbook was determined by conducting a critical analysis of existing handbooks and concluding that no handbook completely addressed the 3 types of knowledge for the 3 instructional processes. A literature review was conducted to examine the nature, use, and effectiveness of the 3 instructional processes when teaching reading to ESL adult literacy learners. The literature review also examined teachers’ preferences for reading research and found that texts that were relevant, practical, and accessible were favoured. Hence, these 3 elements were incorporated as part of the handbook design. Three peer reviewers completed a 35-item 5-point Likert scale evaluation form that also included 5 open-ended questions. Their feedback about the handbook’s relevancy, practicality, accessibility, and face validity were incorporated into the final version of the handbook presented here. Reference to the handbook by ESL adult literacy instructors has the potential to support evidence-informed lesson planning which can support the ESL adult literacy learners in achieving their goals and contributing to their societies in multiple and meaningful ways.

Novel approaches to the synthesis and treatment of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Nous avons mis au point une approche novatrice pour la synthèse d’un matériau de cathode pour les piles lithium-ion basée sur la décomposition thermique de l’urée. Les hydroxydes de métal mixte (NixMnxCo(1-2x)(OH)2) ont été préparés (x = 0.00 à 0.50) et subséquemment utilisés comme précurseurs à la préparation de l’oxyde de métal mixte (LiNixMnxCo(1-2x)O2). Ces matériaux, ainsi que le phosphate de fer lithié (LiFePO4), sont pressentis comme matériaux de cathode commerciaux pour la prochaine génération de piles lithium-ion. Nous avons également développé un nouveau traitement post-synthèse afin d’améliorer la morphologie des hydroxydes. L’originalité de l’approche basée sur la décomposition thermique de l’urée réside dans l’utilisation inédite des hydroxydes comme précurseurs à la préparation d’oxydes de lithium mixtes par l’intermédiaire d’une technique de précipitation uniforme. De plus, nous proposons de nouvelles techniques de traitement s’adressant aux méthodes de synthèses traditionnelles. Les résultats obtenus par ces deux méthodes sont résumés dans deux articles soumis à des revues scientifiques. Tous les matériaux produits lors de cette recherche ont été analysés par diffraction des rayons X (DRX), microscope électronique à balayage (MEB), analyse thermique gravimétrique (ATG) et ont été caractérisés électrochimiquement. La performance électrochimique (nombre de cycles vs capacité) des matériaux de cathode a été conduite en mode galvanostatique.

Links between developmental changes in kindergarten behaviors and later peer associations

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

A Reinforcement Learning Approach to Economic Dispatch using Neural Networks

This paper presents a Reinforcement Learning (RL) approach to economic dispatch (ED) using Radial Basis Function neural network. We formulate the ED as an N stage decision making problem. We propose a novel architecture to store Qvalues and present a learning algorithm to learn the weights of the neural network. Even though many stochastic search techniques like simulated annealing, genetic algorithm and evolutionary programming have been applied to ED, they require searching for the optimal solution for each load demand. Also they find limitation in handling stochastic cost functions. In our approach once we learn the Q-values, we can find the dispatch for any load demand. We have recently proposed a RL approach to ED. In that approach, we could find only the optimum dispatch for a set of specified discrete values of power demand. The performance of the proposed algorithm is validated by taking IEEE 6 bus system, considering transmission losses

A Nonparametric Approach to Pricing and Hedging Derivative Securities via Learning Networks

We propose a nonparametric method for estimating derivative financial asset pricing formulae using learning networks. To demonstrate feasibility, we first simulate Black-Scholes option prices and show that learning networks can recover the Black-Scholes formula from a two-year training set of daily options prices, and that the resulting network formula can be used successfully to both price and delta-hedge options out-of-sample. For comparison, we estimate models using four popular methods: ordinary least squares, radial basis functions, multilayer perceptrons, and projection pursuit. To illustrate practical relevance, we also apply our approach to S&P 500 futures options data from 1987 to 1991.

Cognitive appraisals, emotional reactions, and their associations with three forms of peer-victimization

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Online and of???ine peer led models against bullying and cyberbullying

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Multilevel multitrait-multimethod model: application to the measurement of egocentered social networks

Our goal in this paper is to assess reliability and validity of egocentered network data using multilevel analysis (Muthen, 1989, Hox, 1993) under the multitrait-multimethod approach. The confirmatory factor analysis model for multitrait-multimethod data (Werts & Linn, 1970; Andrews, 1984) is used for our analyses. In this study we reanalyse a part of data of another study (Kogovšek et al., 2002) done on a representative sample of the inhabitants of Ljubljana. The traits used in our article are the name interpreters. We consider egocentered network data as hierarchical; therefore a multilevel analysis is required. We use Muthen's partial maximum likelihood approach, called pseudobalanced solution (Muthen, 1989, 1990, 1994) which produces estimations close to maximum likelihood for large ego sample sizes (Hox & Mass, 2001). Several analyses will be done in order to compare this multilevel analysis to classic methods of analysis such as the ones made in Kogovšek et al. (2002), who analysed the data only at group (ego) level considering averages of all alters within the ego. We show that some of the results obtained by classic methods are biased and that multilevel analysis provides more detailed information that much enriches the interpretation of reliability and validity of hierarchical data. Within and between-ego reliabilities and validities and other related quality measures are defined, computed and interpreted

Adding new components to the knowledge plane GMPLS over WDM networks

A recent study defines a new network plane: the knowledge plane. The incorporation of the knowledge plane over the network allows having more accurate information of the current and future network states. In this paper, the introduction and management of the network reliability information in the knowledge plane is proposed in order to improve the quality of service with protection routing algorithms in GMPLS over WDM networks. Different experiments prove the efficiency and scalability of the proposed scheme in terms of the percentage of resources used to protect the network

INFO2009 Reviews Partners, Commentary and Peer Review

guidance notes on review and evaluation processes. Part of the total handin required See also http://www.edshare.soton.ac.uk/9937/ for use in context and http://www.edshare.soton.ac.uk/9911/ for the guidance on the critical friend review process

PEER-REVIEWING, FEEDBACK & ASSESSMENT IN ENGINEERING TEACHING

Presentation

WEBS6203 Peer reviewing your reports

These notes contain a workflow, guidance notes, and supporting forms

De lo micro a lo macro prudencial: Un análisis de la supervisión bancaria desde la econometría espacial

La crisis que se desató en el mercado hipotecario en Estados Unidos en 2008 y que logró propagarse a lo largo de todo sistema financiero, dejó en evidencia el nivel de interconexión que actualmente existe entre las entidades del sector y sus relaciones con el sector productivo, dejando en evidencia la necesidad de identificar y caracterizar el riesgo sistémico inherente al sistema, para que de esta forma las entidades reguladoras busquen una estabilidad tanto individual, como del sistema en general. El presente documento muestra, a través de un modelo que combina el poder informativo de las redes y su adecuación a un modelo espacial auto regresivo (tipo panel), la importancia de incorporar al enfoque micro-prudencial (propuesto en Basilea II), una variable que capture el efecto de estar conectado con otras entidades, realizando así un análisis macro-prudencial (propuesto en Basilea III).

Utilidad de los conceptos y estrategias comunitarias en el marketing online para la prevención de la copia ilegal en el mercado musical

Esta investigación se dirige a determinar cuál es la utilidad de los conceptos y estrategias comunitarias en el marketing online para la prevención de la copia ilegal en el mercado musical. Con este proyecto se desea que por medio de una nueva disquera enfocada en el comercio online, y usando los conceptos del mercadeo comunitario y el mercadeo relacional, se pueda desarrollar nuevas estrategias de mercadeo en donde se logre incentivar y promover la compra de música original por medio de la creación de una relación más estrecha entre la compañía y el cliente, en la cual pueda afectar de forma positiva a la comunidad a la que este pertenece. El objetivo general es determinar cuál es la utilidad de los conceptos y estrategias comunitarias en el marketing online para la prevención de la copia ilegal en el mercado musical. Los objetivos específicos son: 1. Mostrar la utilidad de los conceptos y estrategias del marketing comunitario en la prevención de la copia ilegal del mercado musical y 2. Implementar las estrategias logradas en la investigación en un plan de creación de empresa. Se utilizará el método de investigación y análisis de caso, utilizando el plan de empresa en la creación de una empresa del mercado musical, tomando la relación estratégica comunitaria y el marketing dentro del plan de mercadeo como estrategia para la prevención de la copia ilegal. Mediante este proyecto se desea que por medio del marketing relacional y de los conceptos del mercadeo hacia comunidades, enfocado en une- marketing sepuedanestablecerestrategiasparalaprevencióndelacopiailegalydelacomprade estos productos Además, se busca implementar dichos resultados en la empresa que se pretende crear en el sector de la industria musical, puesto que la seguridad que tendrán los productos a la venta, serán la ventaja competitiva de la empresa.