Usage of a computer conferencing system by on- and off-campus engineering students

This paper reports on the introduction of a computer conferencing  component into a first year study unit in Technology Management at Deakin University, Australia. It was found that significant variations in computer  usage were correlated to student study mode, including source of computer access, source of Internet access, hours per week computer usage, regular use of email, regular use of the Internet, and number of times the conference was accessed. Other moderate differences were also noted. Following  exposure to the computer conference, on-campus students were more likely to agree computers could assist their learning, and off-campus students  were less likely to agree that learning from computers would be better than classes/lectures.

Academic performance and persistence of on- and off- campus engineering and technology students

A study of more than 9000 unit enrolments in an Australian engineering program found that: the off-campus withdrawal rate was close to twice that for on-campus students; whether a student withdrew or not was highly correlated to mode of study; the rate of withdrawal was significantly different between the two student groups; the grade distribution for completing students was significantly different between the two groups; the mean final grade was significantly higher for off-campus students; the failure rate for off-campus students was significantly lower; and the overall wastage rate (withdrawn rate plus fail rate) was significantly higher for off-campus students.

Simulating the change from a push to pull production system

This paper will document the initial discrete-event simulation performed to study a proposed change from a push to a pull system in an existing manufacturing company. The system is characterised by five machine lines with intermediate buffers, and five major part groupings. A simulation model has been developed to mimic the flow of kanban cards in the physical system, by using a series of requests that propagate back through the facility, which the machines must respond to. The customer
demand therefore controls the level of activity in the plant. The results of the initial modelling steps will be presented in this paper, especially the impact of kanban lot size and demand variability on the output and stability of the production system, from which a set of future work is proposed.

On-line support for students studying engineering management off-campus in summer semester

An on-line site was created to support students studying a time shortened, off-campus unit in engineering management that was being offered over summer semester for the first time. An evaluation exercise was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of this arrangement, to identify what types of on-line resources students rated as important, and to identify those on-line resources that students actually used in their summer semester studies. Most students reported that they were successful in achieving their summer semester study goals, and that summer semester study was as good as or better than studying in a standard semester. The types of on-line resources ranked most highly by students were those that assisted in strategic study and exam preparation. The on-line resource ranked as least important and used least in practice was a discussion forum for all students. Other results and statistical analysis are presented.

Application of co-operative agents in handling fluctuations in a pull production system

This paper presents the general details of the structure and strategy of a multi-agent system that is being developed to improve the performance of pull (kanban) production control to handle large fluctuations in product demand. Employing a set of generic, heterarchial agents each controlling a single product and co-operating together to ensure that all components, regardless of demand fluctuation, are manufactured on time as per basic kanban principles. Preliminary results indicate that the basic kanban model does not cater for large demand fluctuations and the application of this multi-agent strategy may be beneficial to improving the overall system performance and increase the likelihood that all products will be manufactured on time.

Improving on- and off-campus student performance in structural mechanics

This paper investigates the performance of 329 (173 on- and 186  off-campus) students enrolled in two structural mechanics units at Deakin University, a leader in engineering distance-education in Australia. The two units experience unacceptably high rates of failure. An analysis of the assignment, laboratory and examination marks is presented. Consideration is also given to the total marks. The results show that on-campus students perform better in structural mechanics than their off-campus counterparts. Plots of the student performance distributions for the three assessment methods are provided (for each unit) and high failure rates are linked to low examination marks. Students tend to perform best in assignments and worst in examinations. Parametric statistical tests show a correlation between the continuous assessment and examination marks. To motivate students to fully participate in continuous assessment tasks the authors therefore propose several changes to the assessment criteria and marking schemes.

An evaluation of streaming digital video resources in on-and off-campus engineering management education

A recent television documentary on the Columbia space shuttle disaster was converted to streaming digital video format for educational use by on- and off-campus students in an engineering management study unit examining issues in professional engineering ethics. An evaluation was conducted to assess the effectiveness of this new resource. Use of the video was optional, and about half of the class reported using the video, though usage was 90.0% for off-campus students. Most on-campus students accessed the video on-line, while all off-campus students accessed the video via CD-ROM. Off-campus students rated the educational value of the video higher than on-campus students, and were more likely to indicate that the video helped them understand the issues being studied. Most students were able to view the videos without any technical playback problems.

Delivery and assessment strategies to improve on- and off-campus student performance in structural mechanics

This paper considers the delivery and assessment strategies used in two structural mechanics units at Deakin University, a leader in distance education in Australia. The two units have had unacceptably high rates of student failure. Student perceptions of the delivery method were analysed and an investigation was carried out of the performance of 329 (173 on- and 156 off-campus) students enrolled in the two units. An analysis of the assignment, laboratory and examination marks is presented. Consideration is also given to the total marks. The results show that on-campus students performed better in structural mechanics than their off-campus counterparts. Plots of the distributions of student performance for the three assessment methods are provided (for each unit) and high failure rates are linked to low examination marks. Students tended to perform best in assignments and worst in examinations. Parametric statistical tests show a correlation between the marks obtained in continuous assessment and in examinations, and it is therefore proposed that, in order to improve performance, the students must be encouraged to participate fully in all aspects of the course. Many students were unenthusiastic about laboratory practical sessions and did not think they aided their understanding of the theoretical material. Motivation to participate is often dependent on the perceived relevance of a given task and its contribution to the total mark and, thus, to help motivate students to participate fully in the continuous assessment tasks, the authors propose several changes to the delivery methods, as well as to assessment criteria and marking schemes.

India's pharmaceutical industry: hype or high tech take-off?

India has built a large pharmaceutical industry through an array of measures in support of domestic firms. The absence of product patents enabled Indian companies to become world leading producers of generic versions of patented drugs. Low costs and a strong engineering tradition continue to sustain competitive strength. The implementation of the World Trade Organization patent regime in 2005 is driving a transformation of the industry. Key elements of the present shake-up include the return of 'big pharma' companies on a large scale and the emergence of several Indian firms that aim to become fullyfledged research-based multinationals. This article provides a description of the development and structure of the Indian pharmaceutical industry and explores questions and challenges arising from its integration into global markets.

'Off with his head!' : Inexplicable Faith in Bulgakov's Master and Margarita

Examining how, in the novel, Bulgakov shows the conflict between logic and faith through the actions of his characters : the characters who are logical are generally not portrayed as wise and are said to not appreciate, nor understand, faith.

Providing a practical education for off-campus engineering students

This paper considers the provision of laboratory-practicals for distance-education students in engineering degree programmes. The authors discuss the role of laboratory-practical work in the curriculum and reflect on five methods that can be used to ensure off-campus students have an equivalent practical experience as the traditional on-campus cohort. On-campus sessions, videotapes (or ‘on-line’ movie-clips), computer simulations, home experiment kits and laboratories controlled over the internet are covered. Some examples are given to show how these can be incorporated into the curriculum. A case study then discusses the problem of (and an exemplar solution to) delivering the laboratory-practical components of two microcontroller units offered at Deakin University – a leading provider of distance-education in Australia. In doing so, it leads the reader through the solution process and cites some constraints that drive the choice of model - for example, cost considerations and the need for relevant didactic materials.