Self-optimizing through CBR learning

In this paper, we foresee the use of Multi-Agent Systems for supporting dynamic and distributed scheduling in Manufacturing Systems. We also envisage the use of Autonomic properties in order to reduce the complexity of managing systems and human interference. By combining Multi-Agent Systems, Autonomic Computing, and Nature Inspired Techniques we propose an approach for the resolution of dynamic scheduling problem, with Case-based Reasoning Learning capabilities. The objective is to permit a system to be able to automatically adopt/select a Meta-heuristic and respective parameterization considering scheduling characteristics. From the comparison of the obtained results with previous results, we conclude about the benefits of its use.

PCMAT, an adaptive learning platform

This paper is about PCMAT, an adaptive learning platform for Mathematics in Basic Education schools. Based on a constructivist approach, PCMAT aims at verifying how techniques from adaptive hypermedia systems can improve e-learning based systems. To achieve this goal, PCMAT includes a Pedagogical Model that contains a set of adaptation rules that influence the student-platform interaction. PCMAT was subject to a preliminary testing with students aged between 12 and 14 years old on the subject of direct proportionality. The results from this preliminary test are quite promising as they seem to demonstrate the validity of our proposal.

Adaptation model for PCMAT ��� Mathematics collaborative learning platform

The aim of this paper is to present an adaptation model for an Adaptive Educational Hypermedia System, PCMAT. The adaptation of the application is based on progressive self-assessment (exercises, tasks, and so on) and applies the constructivist learning theory and the learning styles theory. Our objective is the creation of a better, more adequate adaptation model that takes into account the complexities of different users.

Word learning and text organisation: an intervention case

In the present study we focus on the interaction between the acquisition of new words and text organisation. In the acquisition of new words we emphasise the acquisition of paradigmatic relations such as hyponymy, meronymy and semantic sets. We work with a group of girls attending a private school for adolescents in serious difficulties. The subjects are from disadvantaged families. Their writing skills were very poor. When asked to describe a garden, they write a short text of a single paragraph, the lexical items were generic, there were no adjectives, and all of them use mainly existential verbs. The intervention plan assumed that subjects must to be exposed to new words, working out its meaning. In presence of referents subjects were taught new words making explicit the intended relation of the new term to a term already known. In the classroom subjects were asked to write all the words they knew drawing the relationships among them. They talk about the words specifying the relation making explicit pragmatic directions like is a kind of, is a part of or are all x. After that subjects were exposed to the task of choosing perspective. The work presented in this paper accounts for significant differences in the text of the subjects before and after the intervention. While working new words subjects were organising their lexicon and learning to present a whole entity in perspective.

A resolu����o de problemas e o c��lculo mental na educa����o pr��-escolar e no ensino do 1.�� ciclo do ensino b��sico: uma reflex��o em contexto de est��gio

Mestrado (PES II), Educa����o Pr��-Escolar e Ensino do 1�� Ciclo do Ensino B��sico, 1 de Julho de 2014, Universidade dos A��ores.

An Efficient Long Distance Echo Canceller

This paper describes an implementation of a long distance echo canceller, operating on full-duplex with hands-free and in real-time with a single Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The proposed solution is based on short length adaptive filters centered on the positions of the most significant echoes, which are tracked by time delay estimators, for which we use a new approach. To deal with double talking situations a speech detector is employed. The floating-point DSP TMS320C6713 from Texas Instruments is used with software written in C++, with compiler optimizations for fast execution. The resulting algorithm enables long distance echo cancellation with low computational requirements, suited for embbeded systems. It reaches greater echo return loss enhancement and shows faster convergence speed when compared to the conventional approach. The experimental results approach the CCITT G.165 recommendation levels.

Machine Learning Algorithms at Myocardial Perfusion Imaging - a Preliminary Study

Introduction: A major focus of data mining process - especially machine learning researches - is to automatically learn to recognize complex patterns and help to take the adequate decisions strictly based on the acquired data. Since imaging techniques like MPI ��� Myocardial Perfusion Imaging on Nuclear Cardiology, can implicate a huge part of the daily workflow and generate gigabytes of data, there could be advantages on Computerized Analysis of data over Human Analysis: shorter time, homogeneity and consistency, automatic recording of analysis results, relatively inexpensive, etc.Objectives: The aim of this study relates with the evaluation of the efficacy of this methodology on the evaluation of MPI Stress studies and the process of decision taking concerning the continuation ��� or not ��� of the evaluation of each patient. It has been pursued has an objective to automatically classify a patient test in one of three groups: ���Positive���, ���Negative��� and ���Indeterminate���. ���Positive��� would directly follow to the Rest test part of the exam, the ���Negative��� would be directly exempted from continuation and only the ���Indeterminate��� group would deserve the clinician analysis, so allowing economy of clinician���s effort, increasing workflow fluidity at the technologist���s level and probably sparing time to patients. Methods: WEKA v3.6.2 open source software was used to make a comparative analysis of three WEKA algorithms (���OneR���, ���J48��� and ���Na��ve Bayes���) - on a retrospective study using the comparison with correspondent clinical results as reference, signed by nuclear cardiologist experts - on ���SPECT Heart Dataset���, available on University of California ��� Irvine, at the Machine Learning Repository. For evaluation purposes, criteria as ���Precision���, ���Incorrectly Classified Instances��� and ���Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) Areas��� were considered. Results: The interpretation of the data suggests that the Na��ve Bayes algorithm has the best performance among the three previously selected algorithms. Conclusions: It is believed - and apparently supported by the findings - that machine learning algorithms could significantly assist, at an intermediary level, on the analysis of scintigraphic data obtained on MPI, namely after Stress acquisition, so eventually increasing efficiency of the entire system and potentially easing both roles of Technologists and Nuclear Cardiologists. In the actual continuation of this study, it is planned to use more patient information and significantly increase the population under study, in order to allow improving system accuracy.

Intelligent recommendation system for e-learning platforms

As more and more digital resources are available, finding the appropriate document becomes harder. Thus, a new kind of tools, able to recommend the more appropriated resources according the user needs, becomes even more necessary. The current project implements an intelligent recommendation system for elearning platforms. The recommendations are based on one hand, the performance of the user during the training process and on the other hand, the requests made by the user in the form of search queries. All information necessary for decision-making process of recommendation will be represented in the user model. This model will be updated throughout the target user interaction with the platform.

Forma����o em Universal Design for Learning

Na qualidade de Diretora Regional das Comunidades, fomos respons��vel pela reda����o dos artigos e coordena����o da p��gina "Comunidades", integrada no jornal A��oriano Oriental, servindo a mesma para a divulga����o das atividades realizadas pela Dire����o Regional Das Comunidades do Governo dos A��ores.

A��ores recebe Congresso Internacional de Universal Design for Learning

Na qualidade de Diretora Regional das Comunidades, fomos respons��vel pela reda����o dos artigos e coordena����o da p��gina "Comunidades A��orianas no Mundo", integrada no jornal Mundo Portugu��s, servindo a mesma para a divulga����o das atividades realizadas pela Dire����o Regional Das Comunidades do Governo dos A��ores.

Towards a complex model of cooperative learning

Este artigo �� uma introdu����o �� teoria do paradigma desconstrutivo de aprendizagem cooperativa. Centenas de estudos provam com evid��ncias o facto de que as estruturas e os processos de aprendizagem cooperativa aumentam o desempenho acad��mico, refor��am as compet��ncias de aprendizagem ao longo da vida e desenvolvem compet��ncias sociais, pessoais de cada aluno de uma forma mais eficaz e usta, comparativamente ��s estruturas tradicionais de aprendizagem nas escolas. Enfrentando os desafios dos nossos sistemas educativos, seria interessante elaborar o quadro te��rico do discurso da aprendizagem cooperativa, dos ��ltimos 40 anos, a partir de um aspeto pr��tico dentro do contexto te��rico e metodol��gico. Nas ��ltimas d��cadas, o discurso cooperativo elaborou os elementos pr��ticos e te��ricos de estruturas e processos de aprendizagem cooperativa. Gostar��amos de fazer um resumo desses elementos com o objetivo de compreender que tipo de mudan��as estruturais podem fazer diferen��as reais na pr��tica de ensino e aprendizagem. Os princ��pios b��sicos de estruturas cooperativas, os pap��is de coopera����o e as atitudes cooperativas s��o os principais elementos que podemos brevemente descrever aqui, de modo a criar um quadro para a compreens��o te��rica e pr��tica de como podemos sugerir os elementos de aprendizagem cooperativa na nossa pr��tica em sala de aula. Na minha perspetiva, esta complexa teoria da aprendizagem cooperativa pode ser entendida como um paradigma desconstrutivo que fornece algumas respostas pragm��ticas para as quest��es da nossa pr��tica educativa quotidiana, a partir do n��vel da sala de aula para o n��vel de sistema educativo, com foco na destrui����o de estruturas hier��rquicas e antidemocr��ticas de aprendizagem e, criando, ao mesmo tempo, as estruturas cooperativas.

Projecto dum laborat��rio remoto para automa����o de processos industriais

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obten����o do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mec��nica

O desenvolvimento de um modelo de ensino virtual num contexto de investimento incipiente em e-learning : progressos e desafios

Este artigo relata o desenvolvimento de um modelo de ensino virtual em curso na Universidade dos A��ores. Depois de ter sido adotado na leciona����o de disciplinas da ��rea da Teoria e Desenvolvimento Curricular em regime de e-learning e b-learning, o modelo foi, no ano acad��mico de 2014/15, estendido �� leciona����o de outras disciplinas. Al��m de descrever o modelo e explicar a sua evolu����o, o artigo destaca a sua ado����o no contexto particular de uma disciplina cuja componente online foi lecionada em circunst��ncias especialmente desafiadoras. Neste sentido, explica o processo de avalia����o da experi��ncia, discute os seus resultados e sugere pistas de melhoria. Essa avalia����o enquadra-se num processo de investiga����o do design curricular ��� a metodologia que tem sido usada para estudar o desenvolvimento do modelo.

Facebook vs moodle : Surveying university students on the use of learning management systems to support learning activities outside the classroom

CISTI'2015 - 10�� Confer��ncia Ib��rica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informa����o, 17 a 20 de junho de 2015, ��gueda, Aveiro, Portugal.