Change detection in desktop virtual environments: An eye-tracking study

It is common knowledge that attention is important for learning. We need to utilize attention in order to learn something efficiently and effectively. Similarly, we may also need to acquire familiarity with (i.e., learn) our surroundings in order to utilize our attention. In this study, learning is defined as a product of one’s exposure to natural visual stimuli. Using a virtual model of a natural scene, we investigate both attention and its relationship to learning, according to this definition. Specifically, our focus is the effect of environment familiarity on gaze direction. Our findings reveal that the factor of familiarity with one’s surroundings in virtual reality environments exerts a significant influence on peoples’ ability to detect a variety of specific changes that occur within scenes under their observation.     

Evaluation of an adaptive and intelligent educational hypermedia for enhanced individual learning of mathematics: A qualitative study

The purpose of this study is to design a personalized adaptive and intelligent web based tutoring system based on learning style and expert system named UZWEBMAT and to evaluate its effects on 10th grade students’ learning of the unit of probability. In the study, initially, learning objects were prepared in three different ways in relation to three sub-learning areas of Visual–Auditory–Kinesthetic (VAK) learning style for each subject of the probability unit. These were appropriate for secondary school mathematics curricula. Then, they were transferred into the digital environment. Each student’s dominant learning style determines the content to which s/he will be directed since s/he is directed to the content that is appropriate for his/her learning style. The course to be followed by the students within UZWEBMAT and their browsing around the pages are decided by expert system integrated into the system. This expert system sets the situations in which s/he will get solution supports and the course s/he will follow in accordance with the performance of the student. Hereby, each student may follow a different course, and the solution supports s/he will get may also differ highlighting the individual learning. The sample of the study consists of 81 10th grade students and 3 mathematics teachers from two high schools in Trabzon, Turkey. Qualitative data were obtained both from the teachers and students participating in the study in order to answer the research questions about the implementation and evaluation of UZWEBMAT for mathematics teaching in a high school classroom. Obtained data were analyzed using qualitative data analysis methods. According to the results of the present study, positive opinions of students and teachers such as taking into account the individual learning differences and deriving mathematical relations and formulas through exploration became prominent. In addition, there were also other positive opinions of students and teachers such as providing permanent learning and introducing learning responsibility to the students. In this sense, it was concluded that UZWEBMAT is a beneficial instrument for both students and teachers.     

Design and development of an innovative individualized adaptive and intelligent e-learning system for teaching–learning of probability unit: Details of UZWEBMAT

In this study, an innovative adaptive and intelligent web based e-learning system, UZWEBMAT (Turkish abbreviation of Adaptive and INtelligent WEB based MAThematics teaching–learning system) was designed, developed and implemented. This e-learning system was intended for learning and teaching secondary school level permutation-combination-binomial expansion and probability subjects. Content which was prepared according to Turkish curriculum for secondary school mathematics course was transformed into learning objects in three different ways in accordance with VAK (Visual–Auditory–Kinesthetic) learning styles. Primary/secondary/tertiary learning styles of learners registering the system are determined and each learner receives the content appropriate for his/her dominant learning style. Also, they can be directed to contents of other styles according to their performances thanks to an expert system. Learning objects constituting the content were prepared according to constructivist approach. An active role for the learner was the purpose. Tips and intelligent solution supports within the learning objects were presented with expert system support to the learners. With this structure, UZWEBMAT bears the characteristics of intelligent tutoring system as well as an adaptive e-learning environment. All the movements of learners studying with UZWEBMAT are recorded and the necessary information is reported to both learners and teachers in a visualized way.     

Stabilization of melon phase during the formation of g-C3N4 from melamine and its structure-property relationship towards photocatalytic degradation of dyes under sunlight

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The structure-property relationship of various intermediates formed during the step-wise dwell-in thermal condensation of melamine to g-C3N4...     

UV curable lens production using molecular weight controlled PEEK based acrylic oligomer (Ac-PEEK)

We produced UV curable lenses with properties blocking short wave UV light. In the UV-curable formulations, we used an oligomer (Ac-PEEK) with another urethan oligomer (Mw = 2000). Radically active, molecular weight controlled Ac-PEEK was obtained by reacting 2-hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate with molecular- weight- controlled and isocyanate terminated PEEK (Mn = 4500). We characterized all synthesized monomer, oligomer and optical materials with UV/Vis spectrophotometer with interferogram, elemental analyser, mass spectrophotometer, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy and gas chromatography. Results suggested that newly synthesized oligomer with the structure of PEEK absorbs short wave UV-light. Ageing tests [ISO 11979-5, Ophthalmic implants—intraocular lenses (IOL)—Part 5: Biocompatibility] performed on the IOL materials were successful. High contact angle of the obtained lenses suggests that all lenses were hydrophobic and SEM results revealed that lenses are morphologically homogeneous. Based on all positive properties just mentioned, we safely conclude that the lenses produced in this study are very promising for IOL production.