Managing virtual project teams

The purpose of the Master’s Thesis is to study the best practices to virtual project management from the project manager’ point of view. The best practices are divided according to a five-phase virtual project life cycle model. Each phase include concrete suggestions for actions. Research’s theoretical background is wide because of the broad subject matter. In the theoretical part topics such as virtual working, virtual project management challenges are examined and some concrete actions to tackle these challenges are introduced. Thesis’ approach is constructive, where a known problem is solved piece by piece after creating a pre-understanding of the topic. Existing research work is utilized when creating a model for virtual project team management. The basis of the model comes from various best practices read from literature and from the interviews conducted on experienced virtual project managers in the case organization. As a result the model combines both previous research and the organizations empirical experience. As an output of the thesis a model for virtual project team management is developed, which can be used as a guideline by the virtual project managers in their work. The model includes actions and practices what can be used to overcome the challenges of virtual project management.

Implications, large and small, from chemical education research for the teaching of chemistry

Research studies in chemical education pose a communication problem for chemists. Unlike the findings from other specializations in chemistry the findings in chemical education tend to be reported in education journals that are not readily accessible to most chemists or chemistry teachers. This lecture is an attempt to remedy this gap in communication. Research studies fall into three broad categories. (i) issues related to the content of chemistry itself, that is, What content to teach? And What meaning of each topic is to be conveyed? (ii) issues related to how chemical content is taught, such as, the role of lectures, practical work, particular pedagogies, etc. and (iii) issues related to its learning, that is, learning of concepts, conceptual change, motivation, etc. Findings in each of these categories of research over the last twenty years have drawn attention to opportunities for improving the quality of chemical education in each of the levels of formal education where chemistry is taught. Sometimes the research findings seem small since they, in fact, merely diagnose the actual problem in teaching and learning. At other times, the research findings are large because they provide a solution to these problems. What remains to be done is to disseminate the findings so that appropriate teaching occurs more widely, with its consequent gains in the quality of learning. Research findings, of these small and large types will be used to illustrate the potential of research to make the practice of chemical education more effective.

Tilastollinen tutkimus ohjelmiston laatuun vaikuttavista tekijöistä

Tämä työ on tehty osana MASTO-tutkimushanketta, jonka tarkoituksena on kehittää ohjelmistotestauksen adaptiivinen referenssimalli. Työ toteutettiin tilastollisena tutkimuksena käyttäen survey-menetelmää. Tutkimuksessa haastateltiin 31 organisaatioyksikköä eri puolelta suomea, jotka tekevät keskikriittisiä sovelluksia. Tutkimuksen hypoteeseina oli laadun riippuvuus ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmästä, asiakkaan osallistumisesta, standardin toteutumisesta, asiakassuhteesta, liiketoimintasuuntautuneisuudesta, kriittisyydestä, luottamuksesta ja testauksen tasosta. Hypoteeseista etsittiin korrelaatiota laadun kanssa tekemällä korrelaatio ja regressioanalyysi. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa kartoitettiin minkälaisia ohjelmistokehitykseen liittyviä käytäntöjä, menetelmiä ja työkaluja organisaatioyksiköissä käytettiin, ongelmia ja parannusehdotuksia liittyen ohjelmistotestaukseen, merkittävimpiä tapoja asiakkaan vaikuttamiseksi ohjelmiston laatuun sekä suurimpia hyötyjä ja haittoja ohjelmistokehityksen tai testauksen ulkoistamisessa. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että laatu korreloi positiivisesti ja tilastollisesti merkitsevästi testauksen tason, standardin toteutumisen, asiakasosallistumisen suunnitteluvaiheessa sekä asiakasosallistumisen ohjaukseen kanssa, luottamuksen ja yhden asiakassuhteeseen liittyvän osakysymyksen kanssa. Regressioanalyysin perusteella muodostettiin regressioyhtälö, jossa laadun todettiin positiivisesti riippuvan standardin toteutumisesta, asiakasosallistumisesta suunnitteluvaiheessa sekä luottamuksesta.

Avaliação da susceptibilidade magnética usando uma balança analítica

A simple system to measure the magnetic susceptibility of different materials is presented. The system uses an analytical scale with sensitivity on the order of micrograms and a permanent NdBFe magnet, based in the Rankine method. In this apparatus, the sample is placed near to the magnet that is fixed on the scale. Depending on the magnetic properties of the sample, an attractive or repulsive force will appear between the magnet and the magnetizing sample. Measuring this force, registered by the scale as a mass, the magnetic parameters such as: permeability and susceptibility of the sample can be determined. Despite it is simplicity the method is quantitative, precise and easily reproducible in many laboratories, what makes it attractive for teaching experiments.

Infància estrangera i coneixement de la llengua de l’escola

L’escolarització de la infància estrangera es fa en programes de canvi de llengua de la llar a l’escola. Per això, el progrés de les criatures estrangeres en el domini de la llengua del centre docent remet a fer possible una pràctica educativa semblant a aquella que permet assolir l’èxit escolar en els programes d’immersió lingüística. L’article discuteix aquesta qüestió a partir d’un estudi empíric i proposa alguns criteris per orientar la pràctica educativa amb aquest alumnat

Projectes de modelatge i simulació avançada de sistemes mitjançant l'entorn ARENA

En l’exercici de les funcions típiques de qualsevol activitat humana, l’home ha de prendre decisions d’un o altre tipus permanentment i aquesta situació porta afegit, per lo general risc i incertesa, el que compromet la qualitat i l’èxit de la decisió. Per ajudar i contrarestar aquesta situació, l’home ha desenvolupat a través del temps una diversitat d’eines que li permeten minimitzar el risc i la incertesa en la presa de decisions. La simulació és una d’aquestes eines. Mitjançant la seva aplicació no només s’aconsegueix la comesa anterior, sinó que també es minimitzen els costos involucrats en la decisió mitjançant un millor ús dels recursos, la disminució del temps emprat per a la seva realització i la minimització de les probabilitats de risc. Aquest projecte representa la continuació d’un primer estudi introductori de la simulació anomenat: Estudi i guia docent per a modelatge i simulació de sistemes mitjançant l’entorn ARENA [9]. Realitzat per l’alumna d’Enginyeria en Organització Industrial de la Universitat de Vic, Montse Carbonell Crosas, l’any 2008 i sota la codirecció del director d’aquest segon projecte, el professor Juli Ordeix Rigo. Aquest nou projecte s’inicia amb una primera part teòrica, continguda dins del primer volum, la qual reforça els conceptes teòrics referents a la simulació amb ARENA, ja vistos en l’anterior projecte. Complementant aquells considerats bàsics i els de més utilitat i finalitza introduint nous conceptes avançats. Els nous capítols de temàtica avançada, junt als primers més bàsics de la primera part són exercitats dins de la segona, formant el segon volum d’aquest projecte. El mateix requereix la participació activa de l’alumne, per tal de realitzar cadascun dels 89 exercicis pràctics que es plantegen i poder onsolidar l’aprenentatge teòric d’aquesta eina avançada de simulació fent consultes als apartats teòrics recomanats dins de cada exercici. La complexitat dels exercicis anirà augmentant gradualment i s’insisteix en seguir la metodologia presentada en el projecte per a realitzar-los tots de forma ordenada i ascendent. L’ alumne quan acabi la part pràctica, haurà consolidat tota la part teòrica i serà capaç d’exercir com analista per tal de generar els seus propis projecte de simulació.

Processat de vídeo aplicat a la robòtica

Aquest projecte consisteix en acoblar una càmera web uEye en una de les extremitats d'un robot industrial (ABB Irc5). Aquest robot, es mourà en cas què es detecti una cara a través de la webcam. L'objectiu és intentar que la cara es situï sempre al mig de la imatge captada per la càmera. Podem dividir les tasques d'aquest projecte amb 4 fases diferents. A continuació expliquem les diferents etapes. La Càmera uEye s'encarrega de capturar imatges i passar-les a un PC utilitzant Python. La funció de Detecció de Cares ens indica la posició i dimensions de la cara. Tot seguit, la funció LabJack s'encarrega de canviar els valors digitals de les 5 senyals mitjançant programació amb Python. Per últim el Robot ABB interpreta el valor d'aquestes 5 senyals i es desplaça mitjançant petits increments amb l'objectiu de situar la cara al mig de la imatge capturada.

Las redes de innovación docente de la Universitat de Girona : la perspectiva de los coordinadores

In 2009 the University of Girona (Spain) created four interest groups on teaching innovation. The objective of the project is that lecturers with an interest in teaching innovation can exchange their points of view and learn from one another, so University teaching is improved as a result. There are four such groups: “Problem based learning (ABP)”, “Cooperative learning”, “Evaluation”, and “Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Teaching���. The coordinators of the groups or networks, as they are also called, are chosen on a free basis by its members. This paper presents their point of view as regards the current activity of encouragement of interest in higher education and they elaborate on the main difficulties involved. The implications of the interdisciplinary work are explored, as well as the challenges of an initiative of this kind. The evolution of the ongoing work is reviewed, taking into account the context of a changing University, the lack of previous experience regarding projects of this kind, the asynchronous communication among the participants, and the necessity of a flexible approach in organizational matters

Les llengües de l’alumnat dins del sistema educatiu català als inicis del segle XXI

Over the course of the last decade, classes in the Catalan education system have witnessed significant demographic changes with major consequences for language education. This paper describes these changes and gives some data on students’ knowledge of Catalan and Spanish, their attitudes and their language habits

Implantação das diretrizes curriculares nacionais para formação de professores de química em uma instituição federal de ensino superior: desafios e perspectivas

The Curricular Proposals for Chemistry Teaching Courses aim at producing a reflexive-researcher teacher, who will be able to deal with cross-disciplinary subjects. The challenge faced by the majority of the federal universities, in implementing these guidelines, is to attain these objectives inside their departmental structure. We present here the formulation of the Chemistry Teaching Course Pedagogic Project from Federal University of Pelotas concerning on the CNE/CP 1/2002 and 2/2002 Resolutions. We discuss the impact of these Proposals, the difficulties faced and the new perspectives of organization inside of these institutions, which resulted in new spaces with cross-disciplinary and cross-departmental orientation.

Cálculo do volume na equação de van der Waals pelo método de cardano

Analytical solutions of a cubic equation with real coefficients are established using the Cardano method. The method is first applied to simple third order equation. Calculation of volume in the van der Waals equation of state is afterwards established. These results are exemplified to calculate the volumes below and above critical temperatures. Analytical and numerical values for the compressibility factor are presented as a function of the pressure. As a final example, coexistence volumes in the liquid-vapor equilibrium are calculated. The Cardano approach is very simple to apply, requiring only elementary operations, indicating an attractive method to be used in teaching elementary thermodynamics.

Gemifloxacin mesylate: UV spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination using experimental design for robustness

This study describes the validation of UV spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination of gemifloxacin mesylate (GFM) in tablets using methanol as solvent. The method was specific, linear, precise, exact and robust at 272 and 343 nm. The results confirmed that the method in both wavelengths is valid and useful to the routine quality control of GFM in coated tablets. The validate method was compared to liquid chromatography (HPLC), microbiological assay and visible (VIS) spectrophotometry, which were previously developed and validated to the same drug. There was not significative difference between the methods for GFM quantitation.

Improved method to obtain pfaffic acid as a marker for quality control

Pfaffic acid, a marker of Hebanthe eriantha (Brazilian ginseng), was first isolated in 1983 but is not yet commercially available. This lack of availability compromises the quality control of this plant and its derivatives. This paper proposes a process for pfaffic acid isolation from roots of H. eriantha at a purity suitable for analytical purposes. The steps involved in this process included extraction, hydrolysis, fractionation and purification by preparative HPLC. This process led to isolation of pfaffic acid with a chromatographic purity of 98.5% in a 0.25% yield from dried roots of H. eriantha; this yield is more than forty times higher than that of the current method in the literature.

Metodologia de ensino jigsaw em disciplina de química medicinal

In this paper, we describe an educational experience involving the use of the jigsaw method on the Medicinal Chemistry course at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The goal of this proposal was to investigate acceptance and contributions of the method to undergraduate chemistry teaching. Feedback on the jigsaw method collected from the focus groups and questionnaires showed that participants generally acknowledged the advantages of the jigsaw method in helping them learn the Medicinal Chemistry subject. Suggestions for improving the jigsaw method were also received from participants.

Fiktiivisen kirjallisuuden maailmasta monikulttuuriseen Suomeen. Ennakointikertomus kirjallisuudenopetuksen ja monikulttuurisuuskasvatuksen välineenä

From the world of fiction literature into multi-cultural Finland. Anticipatory story as an educational tool in teaching of literature and multiculturalism The research clarifies the relationship between reading fiction literature and multicultural value education in basic education. The research focuses on the subject didactics of mother tongue and literature and on the literature teaching in particular. The objective is to develop a method that is easily transferable into a teaching context so as to intensify the educational discussion based on fiction literature. In essence, understanding fiction literature and the ethical and moral thinking resemble one another, because both of them aim at empathizing with the thinking of a person or with a situation foreign to oneself. For this reason fiction literature is ideally suited for the discussion on ethical and moral values within a subject entity in the basic education. The empirical unit of the research consists of two parts. The first part explains how youth novels published in the years 1993 – 2007 describe multiculturalism in Finnish society. Books on multiculturalism are still few in number within youth literature, and people with a foreign background are mainly minor or background characters in such literary works. Nevertheless, youth novels serve well as a starting point for an educational discussion about multicultural issues. More often than not characters in youth novels are stereotypes and even opposite to each other. The juxtaposing makes a young reader question the stereotypes associated with immigrants. Besides the stereotype, reference to a prototype or a model is possible. The second part tests the usefulness of an anticipatory story based on a fictive text for an educational discussion about multicultural issues. The empirical material was collected from the eighth-grade teaching groups in basic education as follows: one teaching group was an immigrant group, the second one a group of Finns with experience of immigrants while the third group of students had hardly any experience of immigrants. The anticipatory stories were written on the basis of extracts from youth novels with multicultural themes. The material collected for a total of 120 anticipatory stories was analysed by using meaning cue analysis. Using the meaning cue analysis, the anticipatory stories were divided into three groups: stories with predominantly positive meaning cues of interculturalism, ambivalent stories with both positive and negative meaning cues of interculturalism and the stories with predominantly negative meaning cues of interculturalism. The meaning cues produced by girls and boys differ from one another, in particular, by the negative meaning cues of interculturalism. For girls, the predominant meaning cue is fear whereas for boys, it is that of violence. It would also seem that the students, in particular, boys with little experience of immigrants produce more negative meaning cues of interculturalism than do immigrants or Finnish students with experience of immigrants. Further still, it seems that active reading of fiction literature affects the meaning cues of interculturalism in an ambivalent direction. In the way of youth novels this is understandable, because youth novels in general are made up of opposite characters and meaning cues. The less the student takes an interest in reading, the more he used meaning cues from outside the parent text for his anticipatory story. No doubt it would be possible to use fiction literature in the literature education to a much higher extent than it is being used today whereby the literature could be used in basic education for reviewing subject entities or study contents of other study subjects. By way of an anticipatory story and the meaning cue analysis, it is possible to intensify the educational discussions based on fiction literature. However, using fiction literature in the literature education requires consideration of the specific genre of fiction literature.