探究式学习在信息技术课程中的应用

提高学生的综合素养,培养学生的终身学习能力正成为教育的重要目标,探究式学习受到越来越多教育工作者的重视。结合近年来在信息技术课堂开展探究式学习的教学实践谈一些体会和思考。     

带平衡约束矩形布局优化问题的深度强化学习算法

带平衡约束的矩形布局问题源于卫星舱设备布局设计,属于组合优化问题。深度强化学习利用奖赏机制,通过数据训练实现高性能决策优化。针对布局优化问题,提出一种基于深度强化学习的新算法DAR及其扩展算法IDAR。DAR用指针网络输出定位顺序,再利用定位机制给出布局结果,算法的时间复杂度是O（n³）;IDAR算法在DAR的基础上引入迭代机制,算法时间复杂度是O（n⁴）,但能给出更好的结果。测试表明DAR算法具有较好的学习能力,用小型布局问题进行求解训练所获得的模型,能有效应用在大型问题上。在两个大规模典型算例的对照实验中,提出算法分别超出和接近目前最优解,具有时间和质量上的优势。     

基于极限学习机的堤防工程多元风险指标评价方法

为提高堤防工程风险评价的准确性,提出了基于极限学习机的堤防工程多元风险指标评价方法。首先,综合考虑影响堤防风险的28个评价指标,利用层次分析法从预警系统、堤防工程系统、环境系统和社会经济系统这4个方面建立了堤防工程多元风险评价指标体系。接着,基于极限学习机算法对28个指标进行标准化处理及分级标准构建,以风险指标作为输入量,分级隶属度作为输出量,划分风险等级,量化评价指标,估计多元风险评价指标值和判断风险的严重程度。最后,依托鄱阳湖重点堤防——康山大堤,构建多元风险评价指标体系,运用极限学习机算法计算多元风险评价指标值。评价结果表明:康山大堤目前处于基本安全水平,符合康山大堤经过两次加固后的工程实际情况,并与其他方法进行对比,验证了提出方法的可靠性和有效性。该方法可拓展应用到其他重要水工结构工程风险评估中。     

Probabilistic heuristic estimates

Though they constitute the major knowledge source in problem-solving systems, no unified theory of heuristics has emerged. Pearl [15] defines heuristics as criteria, methods, or principles for deciding which among several alternative courses of action promises to be the most effective in order to achieve some goal. The absence of a more precise definition has impeded our efforts to understand, utilize, and discover heuristics. Another consequence is that problem-solving techniques which rely on heuristic knowledge cannot be relied upon to act rationally — in the sense of the normative theory of rationality.To provide a sound basis for BPS, the Bayesian Problem-Solver, we have developed a simple formal theory of heuristics, which is general enough to subsume traditional heuristic functions as well as other forms of problem-solving knowledge, and to straddle disparate problem domains. Probabilistic heuristic estimates represent a probabilistic association of sensations with prior experience — specifically, a mapping from observations directly to subjective probabilities which enables the use of theoretically principled mechanisms for coherent inference and decision making during problem-solving. This paper discusses some of the implications of this theory, and describes its successful application in BPS.This research was made possible by support from Heuristicrats, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Rand Corporation.     

LPNet: A DNN based latency prediction technique for application mapping in Network-on-Chip design

Analytical models used for latency estimation of Network-on-Chip (NoC) are not producing reliable accuracy. This makes these analytical models difficult to use in optimization of design space exploration. In this paper, we propose a learning based model using deep neural network (DNN) for latency predictions. Input features for DNN model are collected from analytical model as well as from Booksim simulator. Then this DNN model has been adopted in mapping optimization loop for predicting the best mapping of given application and NoC parameters combination. Our simulations show that using the proposed DNN model, prediction error is less than 12% for both synthetic and application specific traffic. More than 108 times speedup could be achieved using DPSO with DNN model compared to DPSO using Booksim simulator.     

Environmental Perception with Spatial Regularization Correlation Filter for Visual Tracking

With the introduction of correlation filtering (CF), the performance of visual object tracking is significantly improved. Circular shifts collecting samples is a key component of the CF tracker, and it also causes negative boundary effects. Most trackers add spatial regularization to alleviate boundary effects well. However, these trackers ignore the effect of environmental changes on tracking performance, and the filter discriminates poorly in the background interference. Here, to break these limitations, we propose a new correlation filter model, namely Environmental Perception with Spatial Regularization Correlation Filter for Visual Tracking. Specifically, we use the Average Peak to Correlation Energy (APCE) and the response value error between the two frames together to perceive environmental changes, which adjusts the learning rate to make the template more adaptable to environmental changes. To enhance the discriminatory capability of the filter, we use real background information as negative samples to train the filter model. In addition, the introduction of the regular term destroys the closed solution of CF, and this problem can be effectively solved by the use of the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Extensive experimental evaluations on three large tracking benchmarks are performed, which demonstrate the good performance of the proposed method over some of the state-of-the-art trackers.     

No-reference stereoscopic image quality assessment using quaternion wavelet transform and heterogeneous ensemble learning

As the demand for high-quality stereo images has grown in recent years, stereoscopic image quality assessment (SIQA) has become an important research area in modern image processing technology.In this paper, we propose a no-reference stereoscopic image quality assessment (NR-SIQA) model using heterogeneous ensemble learning ‘quality-aware’ features from luminance image, chrominance image, disparity and cyclopean images via quaternion wavelet transform (QWT). Firstly, luminance image and chrominance image are generated by CIELAB color space as monocular perception, and the novel disparity and cyclopean images are utilized to complement with monocular information. Then, a number of ‘quality-aware’ features in the quaternion wavelet domain are discovered, including entropy, texture features, energy features, energy differences features and MSCN coefficients of high frequency sub-band. Finally, a heterogeneous ensemble model via support vector regression (SVR) & extreme learning machine (ELM) & random forest (RF) is proposed to predict quality score, and bootstrap sampling and rotated feature space are used to increase the diversity of data distribution. Comparing with the state-of-the-art NR-SIQA models, experimental results on four public databases prove the accuracy and robustness of the proposed model.     

Quadratic polynomial guided fuzzy C-means and dual attention mechanism for medical image segmentation

Medical image segmentation is the most complex and important task in the field of medical image processing and analysis, as it is linked to disease diagnosis accuracy. However, due to the medical image's high complexity and noise, segmentation performance is limited. We propose a novel quadratic polynomial guided fuzzy C-means and dual attention mechanism composite network model architecture to address the aforementioned issues (QPFC-DA). It has mechanisms for channel and spatial edge attention, which guide the content and edge segmentation branches, respectively. The bi-directional long short-term memory network was added after the two content segmentation branches to better integrate multi-scale features and prevent the loss of important features. Furthermore, the fuzzy C-means algorithm guided by the quadratic polynomial can better distinguish the image's weak edge regions and has a degree of noise resistance, resulting in a membership matrix with less ambiguity and a more reliable segmentation result. We also conducted comparison and ablation experiments on three medical data sets. The experimental results show that this method is superior to several other well-known methods.     

Mine,ours, and yours: Whose engagement and prior knowledge affects individual achievement from online collaborative learning?

In computer-supported collaborative learning research, studies examining the combined effects of individual level, group level and within-group differences level measures on individual achievement are scarce. The current study addressed this by examining whether individual, group and within-group differences regarding engagement and prior knowledge predict individual achievement. Engagement was operationalised as group members' exhibited activities in the task space (i.e., discussing domain-content) and social space (i.e., regulating ideas, actions and socioemotional processes). Prior knowledge and achievement were operationalised as group members' performance on a domain-related pre-test and post-test, respectively. Data was collected for 95 triads of secondary education students collaborating on a complex business-economics problem. Subsequently, three different multilevel models were tested to examine the combined effect. First a model with the individual level measures (model 1) was tested and in subsequent models the group level measures (model 2) and within-group levels measures (model 3) were added. Findings indicate model 2 showed the best fit; group members' individual engagement in the social space activities as well as the groups' average prior knowledge positively predicts individual achievement. No effects were found for either group members' or groups' engagement in the task space and for the within-group differences.     

Maximizing learning without sacrificing the fun: Stealth assessment,adaptivity and learning supports in educational games

In this study, we investigated the validity of a stealth assessment of physics understanding in an educational game, as well as the effectiveness of different game-level delivery methods and various in-game supports on learning. Using a game called Physics Playground, we randomly assigned 263 ninth- to eleventh-grade students into four groups: adaptive, linear, free choice and no-treatment control. Each condition had access to the same in-game learning supports during gameplay. Results showed that: (a) the stealth assessment estimates of physics understanding were valid—significantly correlating with the external physics test scores; (b) there was no significant effect of game-level delivery method on students' learning; and (c) physics animations were the most effective (among eight supports tested) in predicting both learning outcome and in-game performance (e.g. number of game levels solved). We included student enjoyment, gender and ethnicity in our analyses as moderators to further investigate the research questions.