The post-9/11 security environment is one that confronts the United States, and specifically the U.S. Army, with complex problems that require development of leaders with improved knowledge, skills, and attributes to meet the challenges of defending the nation. The problem confronting the U.S. Army is that Army leaders lack a learning environment or methodology that enables effective self-development throughout their career. Research suggests that PLNs (PLNs) and a connectivist approach may address that problem, but these have been limited to civilian educational environments. This qualitative case study explored the use of PLNs with a connectivist approach for leader self-development in Army organizations. The case in this study was that of a cohort of 22 officers in a U.S. Army unit. Each officer developed a PLN and then employed a connectivist approach to connect, curate, create, and share knowledge. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed with a focus on themes that could inform future decisions by Army senior leadership on the self-development of leaders, and that could enable decisions that will reduce loss of life and destruction in wartime. The major themes developed in this study account for the approach and challenges to Army self-development, the motivation for and execution of connected learning, and the structuring and desired characteristics of self-development that employs PLNs and connectivism. Recommendations included integrating a semistructured approach to self-development into emerging educational approaches to Army leader development. More prepared Army leaders can respond to crises more effectively, reducing adverse effects, damage, and loss of life

The concept of formal networks is widely spread and appreciated as a way of building long-term relationships and creating value for the company. Value contains a number of different meanings and can therefore be valued differently by different people and businesses. This thesis focus on micro companies and how they create value through formal business networks. The thesis is all through divided into four different themes; networking, intentions, values and problems with formal networks. The themes are focusing on both aspects from theory and our seven respondents. The data collected through theories as well as interviews with members and former members has given a conclusion of what is most important while being in a formal network. The respondents had different views on what exactly they wanted to get out of being active in business networks. Overall we got a clear picture of the importance of goals, dedication, curiosity, loyalty, trust and preparation while attending a formal network.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:48:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 98346.pdf.jpg: 19938 bytes, checksum: 12d2a5affb72a5cc29f9a6711cf4935e (MD5) 98346.pdf: 1831649 bytes, checksum: e476c9fcbffefa4121687dd1d968eee7 (MD5) 98346.pdf.txt: 456826 bytes, checksum: f73780434d5b51e7f3c775d6c0359b52 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-10-07T00:00:00Z / This thesis aims at investigating the relationships between the development of organizational competence (specifically the business management) of a group of companies, through their participation in a learning network (PAEX), ascertaining the relation between such development and the network’s current attributes. It specifically seeks to identify which organization competences linked to business management have been developed, which learning network attributes have been present, to identify the relation between managerial development in the participating companies and the specific coordination attributes by a external entity. Data were gathered from managers in 52 companies, responsible for 80% of the PAEX companies at survey’s times. Given the stated objectives, a quantitative survey was carried out, using as data-collecting instrument a statistically-treated questionnaire (descriptive and multi-varied techniques). The theoretical anchors for the used analyses and considerations were the resource-based view, complemented in some aspects by organizational-capabilities approaches focused on business management and by approaches seeking to establish indicators for managerial development measurement. Moreover, support was sought in the network theory, especially in the concept of learning network and in the identification of network attributes. As output, the scales proposed to measure the variables of interest in this study were validated. Furthermore, hypotheses guiding its realization were verified, allowing us to vouch for the development of Organizational Capabilities of the companies through participation in the learning network (PAEX). Concomitantly, it was possible to ascertain the association between these pairs of variables: between Organizational Capability and the Network Attributes, between Organizational Capability and the PAEX Attributes, between the Network Attributes and the PAEX Attributes. As regards the model postulated as hypothesis, the adjustment found can be deemed reasonable, although it cannot be considered an ideal model. Strategies, Plans and Leadership were the most developed capabilities, while Integrity and Strategic Importance showed the greatest presence in the network. As regards the PAEX Attributes, Concepts, Methodologies and Tools, FDC Coordination, Monitoring and Exchange within PAEX brought the most contribution to developing organizational capabilities. / A presente tese teve como objetivo investigar as relações entre o desenvolvimento da competência organizacional, especificamente a gestão empresarial, de um grupo de empresas, através da participação em uma rede de aprendizado (PAEX), verificando a relação entre esse desenvolvimento e os atributos presentes na rede. Visou mais especificamente identificar quais as competências organizacionais ligadas à gestão empresarial foram mais desenvolvidas, quais atributos de rede de aprendizado estavam presentes, identificar a relação entre o desenvolvimento da gestão das empresas participantes e a presença dos atributos de rede, e identificar a relação entre o desenvolvimento da gestão das empresas participantes e os atributos específicos de coordenação por uma entidade externa. Os dados foram obtidos junto a dirigentes de 52 empresas, responsável por 80% da população que, no momento da pesquisa, eram participantes do PAEX. Tendo em vista tais objetivos, realizou-se uma pesquisa quantitativa, utilizando-se como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário, submetido a tratamento estatístico, por meio de técnicas descritivas e multivariadas. As âncoras teóricas para as análises e considerações utilizadas foram a teoria de recursos (resource-based view), complementada em alguns aspectos por abordagens de competências organizacionais com foco na gestão empresarial e por abordagens que buscam estabelecer indicadores para a mensuração do desenvolvimento da gestão. Além disso, buscou-se apoio na teoria de redes, especialmente no conceito de rede de aprendizado e na identificação de atributos de redes. Como resultados, foram validadas as escalas propostas para a mensuração das variáveis de interesse deste estudo. Além disso, foram verificadas as hipóteses que nortearam sua realização, permitindo-nos constatar o desenvolvimento da Competência Organizacional das empresas através da participação na rede de aprendizado (PAEX). Concomitantemente, foi possível verificar a associação entre a variável Competência Organizacional e a variável Atributos de Rede, entre a variável Competência Organizacional e a variável Atributos do PAEX e entre a variável Atributos de Rede e Atributos do PAEX. Já quanto ao modelo hipotetizado, cabe salientar que o ajuste encontrado pode ser considerado como razoável, embora ele não possa ser considerado ideal. Observou-se que, as competências Estratégias e Planos e Liderança foram as mais desenvolvidas, enquanto que os atributos Integridade e Importância Estratégica foram os que manifestaram maior presença na rede. Em relação aos atributos do PAEX, constatou-se que Conceitos, Metodologias e Ferramentas, Coordenação da FDC, Monitorias e Intercâmbio dentro do PAEX foram os que mais contribuíram para o desenvolvimento das competências organizacionais.

While online students should take charge of their own learning and form collaborative learning communities, constructivist instructors should scaffold online learning without dominating course discussions. This research continues the longitudinal investigation of web-based courses at the Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria. The mixed methodological approach this investigation followed consisted predominantly of qualitative methods, augmented with quantitative approaches. I used two distinct online tools to explore student participation in an eight-week online Masters’-level course delivered via the WebCT™ platform. First, I reviewed the use of metaphors in the literature by a framework of requirements for successful online learning. The use of metaphor supports constructivism, facilitates course interaction, helps to avoid students’ initial inertia in online discussions, and contributes to the development of virtual learning communities. I researched how an explanatory metaphor as tool supported online participation and indicated that metaphors eased students’ communication of important and difficult issues. Secondly, I used the tool of a covert virtual student that also acted as an additional facilitator and course helper. I examined the ethical implications of the carefully concealed real identity of the mythical online helper, methical Jane. As she took part in all course activities and assignments, as well as providing her co-students with cognitive and technical support, the students accepted and integrated her presence in their virtual learning community. I consequently analysed students’ reactions to her identity after disclosure of her origin after the course. Although the exposure precipitated students’ shock, disbelief and dismay as she was a convincing virtual student, they did not object to the presence of a virtual student, but rather felt betrayed due to her hidden real identity. The benefits of this teaching intervention include experts supplying technical expertise, multiple faculty enriching the learning experience, and support and teaching assistants and tutors participating with smaller groups in large online classes. I further examined how frequency of course access, discussion postings, collaborative behaviour and integration into a virtual learning community relate to learning and course completion. Quantitative indices indicated highly significant differences between the stratifications of student performance. Absent and seldom-contributing students risked missing the benefits of the online learning community. Students were discontent with peers who rarely and insufficiently contributed to group assignments. Low participation varied from only reading, skimming, or deliberately harvesting others’ contributions, to high student contributions of little value. Conclusions on the formation of an online learning community indicate that the passport to membership of the community is quality participation, rather than prior peer acquaintance. I indicated that students’ learning benefited from contributing high quality inputs to online learning communities while students with poor participation did not benefit from the online learning community. Online facilitators contribute to students’ learning through the timeliness and quality of tailored scaffolding. Recommendations for future research include uncovering the reasons for students’ stressful experiences of online learning; the effect of online assessment on student course participation; the alignment of learning metaphors in multi-cultural learning environments; and the support of non-participating online students. / Thesis (PHD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

The agriculture sectors in Canada are highly vulnerable to a wide range of inter-related weather risks linked to seasonal climate variability (e.g., El Ni ̃no Southern Oscillation(ENSO)), short-term extreme weather events (e.g., heatwaves), and emergent disease(e.g., grape powdery mildew). All of these weather-related risks can cause severe crop losses to agricultural crop yield and crop quality as Canada grows a wide range of farm products, and the changing weather conditions mainly drive farming practices. This dissertation presents three machine learning-based statistical models to assess the weather risks on the Canadian agriculture regions and to provide reliable risk forecasting to improve the decision-making of Canadian agricultural producers in farming practices. The first study presents a multi-scale, cluster-based Principal Component Analysis(PCA) approach to assess the potential seasonal impacts of ENSO to spring wheat and barley on agricultural census regions across the Canada prairies areas. Model prediction skills for annual wheat and barley yield have examined in multi-scale from spatial cluster approaches. The ’best’ spatial models were used to define spatial patterns of ENSO forcing on wheat and barley yields. The model comparison of our spatial model to non-spatial models shows spatial clustering and ENSO forcing have increase model performance of prediction skills in forecasting future cereal crop production. The second study presents a copula-Bayesian network approach to assess the impact of extreme high-temperature events (heatwave events) on the developments of regional crops across the Canada agricultural regions at the eco-district-scale. Relevantweather variables and heatwave variables during heatwave periods have identified and used as input variables for model learning. Both a copula-Bayesian network and Gaussian-based network modeling approach is evaluated and inter-compared. The copula approach based on ’vine copulas’ generated the most accurate predictions of heatwave occurrence as a driver of crop heat stress. The last study presents a stochastic, hybrid-Bayesian machine-learning approach to explore the complex causal relationships between weather, pathogen, and host for grape powdery mildew in an experimental farm in Quebec, Canada. This study explores a high-performance network model for daily disease risk forecast by using estimated development factors of pathogen and host from recorded daily weather variables. A fungicide strategy for disease control has presented by using the model outputs and forecasted future weather variability. The dissertation findings are beneficial to Canada’s agricultural sector. The inter-related weather risks explored by the three separate studies in multi-scales provide a better understanding of the interactions between changing weather conditions, extreme weather, and crop production. The research showcases new insights, methods, and tools for minimizing risk in agricultural decision-making / Graduate / 2021-08-19

<p>Deep learning has been increasingly adopted in a multitude of settings. Yet, its strong performance relies on processing data during inference that is in-distribution with its training data. Deep learning input data during deployment, however, is not guaranteed to be in-distribution with the model's training data and can often times be distorted, either intentionally (e.g., by an adversary) or unintentionally (e.g., by a sensor defect), leading to significant performance degradations. In this dissertation, we develop algorithms for a variety of applications to improve the performance of deep learning models in the presence of distorted data. We begin by first designing feature engineering methodologies to increase classification performance in noisy environments. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed algorithms on two target detection tasks and show that our framework outperforms a variety of state-of-the-art baselines. Next, we develop mitigation algorithms to improve the performance of deep learning in the presence of adversarial attacks and nonlinear signal distortions. In this context, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods on a variety of wireless communications tasks including automatic modulation classification, power allocation in massive MIMO networks, and signal detection. Finally, we develop an uncertainty quantification framework, which produces distributive estimates, as opposed to point predictions, from deep learning models in order to characterize samples with uncertain predictions as well as samples that are out-of-distribution from the model's training data. Our uncertainty quantification framework is carried out on a hyperspectral image target detection task as well as on counter unmanned aircraft systems (cUAS) model. Ultimately, our proposed algorithms improve the performance of deep learning in several environments in which the data during inference has been distorted to be out-of-distribution from the training data. </p>

Criado a partir do trabalho colaborativo de grupos de pessoas, o ciberespaço expressa vocação para abrigar incontáveis agrupamentos, diversos e distintos como a natureza humana. Parte desses agrupamentos tem recebido o nome de redes de aprendizagem online e comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem. Uma vez que a aprendizagem é intrínseca ao homem, em variados tempos, lugares e situações, todos os agrupamentos do ciberespaço podem proporcionar aprendizagens. Mas o fato de que há aspectos em comum na diversidade não retiraria a necessidade de estabelecer diferenças entre os agrupamentos porque não se deve confundir multiplicidade com indistinção. Nesse sentido, esta investigação buscou identificar elementos que podem distinguir as redes e comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem dos demais agrupamentos do ciberespaço. A partir da compreensão de que as palavras são signos ideológicos e que seu emprego formata a realidade (BAKHTIN, 1981), verificamos que também há distinção entre redes de aprendizagem online e comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem. A reflexão proporcionou ainda mapearmos indicadores de formação de comunidades virtuais em situação de aprendizagem. Para levantar os elementos mencionados, realizamos revisão bibliográfica e examinamos três agrupamentos do ciberespaço, apontados neste trabalho como uma rede social, uma rede de aprendizagem online e uma comunidade virtual de aprendizagem. Mais do que apresentar uma sugestão quanto ao emprego dessas expressões, esta dissertação costura uma série de reflexões sobre rede e intencionalidade educativa, certos de que rede é a metáfora mais fundamental para a Educação do século XXI. / Elaborated from co-operated work by groups of people, the cyberspace expresses the vocation to shelter countless groupings, several and different as the human nature. Some of these groupings have been receiving the name of online learning networks and virtual learning communities. Once the learning is intrinsic to the man, in several times, places and situations, all groupings of the cyberspace can provide learning. But the fact that there are aspects in common in the diversity would not remove the need to establish differences among the groupings because it should not confuse multiplicity with indistinct. In that sense, this investigation looked for to identify elements that can distinguish the online learning networks and the virtual learning communities of the other groupings of the cyberspace. Starting from the understanding that the words are ideological signs and that its use formats the reality (BAKHTIN, 1981), we verified that there is also distinction between online learning networks and virtual learning communities. The reflection provided mapping of indicators of virtual communities\' formation in learning situation. To survey the mentioned elements, we accomplished bibliographical revision and examined three groupings of the cyberspace, pointed in this work as a social network, an online learning network and a virtual learning community. More than to present a suggestion for the use of those expressions, this dissertation sews a series of reflections on net and educational intentionality, convinced that net is the most fundamental metaphor for the Education of the XXI century.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:07:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LouizeLLMC_DISSERT.pdf: 3080830 bytes, checksum: eb01a6463989fb3af5de7c0029771b42 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-31 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Over the last decades, the digital inclusion public policies have significantly invested in the purchase of hardwares and softwares in order to offer technology to the Brazilian public teaching institutions, specifically computers and broadband Internet. However, the teachers education to handle these artefacts is put away, even though there is some demand from the information society. With that, this dissertation chooses as an object of study the digital literacy practices performed by 38 (thirty-eight) teachers in initial and continuous education by means of the extension course Literacies and technologies: portuguese language teaching and cyberculture demands. In this direction, we aim at investigating the digital literacy practices of developing teachers in three specific moments: before, while and after this extension action with the intent to (i) delineate the digital literacy practices performed by the collaborators before the formative action; (ii) to narrate the literacy events made possible by the extension course; (iii) to investigate the contributions of the education course to the collaborators teaching practice. We sought theoretical contributions in the literacy studies (BAYNHAM, 1995; KLEIMAN, 1995; HAMILTON; BARTON; IVANIC, 2000), specifically when it comes to digital literacy (COPE, KALANTZIS, 2000; BUZATO, 2001, 2007, 2009; SNYDER, 2002, 2008; LANKSHEAR & KNOBEL, 2002, 2008) and teacher education (PERRENOUD, 2000; SILVA, 2001). Methodologically, this virtual ethnography study (KOZINETS, 1997; HINE, 2000) is inserted into the field of Applied Linguistics and adopts a quali-quantitative research approach (NUNAN, 1992; D?RNYEI, 2006). The data analysis permitted to evidentiate that (i) before the course, the digital literacy practices focused on the personal and academic dimensions of their realities at the expense of the professional dimension; (ii) during the extension action, the teachers collaboratively took part in the hybrid study sessions, which had a pedagogical focus on the use of ICTs, accomplishing the use of digital literacy practices - unknown before that; (iii) after the course, the attitude of the collaborator teachers concerning the use of ICTs on their regular professional basis had changed, once those teachers started to effectively make use of them, promoting social visibility to what was produced in the school. We also observed that teachers in initial education acted as more experienced peers in collaborative learning process, offering support scaffolding (VYGOTSKY, 1978; BRUNER, 1985) to teachers in continuous education. This occurred because of the undergraduates actualize digital literacy practices were more sophisticated, besides the fact being integrate generation Y (PRENSKY, 2001) / Nas ?ltimas d?cadas, as pol?ticas p?blicas de inclus?o digital t?m investido significativamente na aquisi??o de hardwares e softwares com o intuito de oferecer tecnologia ?s institui??es p?blicas de ensino brasileiras, especificamente, computadores e internet banda larga. A forma??o dos professores para lidar com esses artefatos, todavia, ? posta em segundo plano, apesar de se mostrar uma exig?ncia da sociedade da informa??o. Tendo isso em vista, esta disserta??o elege como objeto de estudo as pr?ticas de letramento digital efetivadas por 38 (trinta e oito) professores em forma??o inicial e continuada, por meio do curso de extens?o Letramentos e tecnologias: ensino de l?ngua portuguesa e demandas da cibercultura. Nessa dire??o, objetivamos investigar as pr?ticas de letramento digital dos professores em forma??o, em tr?s momentos espec?ficos: antes, durante a ap?s a realiza??o desta a??o de extens?o, com o prop?sito de (i) delinear as pr?ticas de letramento digital efetivadas pelos colaboradores antes da a??o formativa; (ii) narrar os eventos de letramento viabilizados pelo curso de extens?o; e (iii) investigar as contribui??es do curso de forma??o para a pr?tica docente dos colaboradores. Teoricamente, buscamos contribui??es nos estudos do letramento (BAYNHAM, 1995; KLEIMAN, 1995; HAMILTON; BARTON; IVANIC, 2000), especificamente, no que diz respeito ao conceito de letramento digital (COPE, KALANTZIS, 2000; BUZATO, 2001, 2007, 2009; SNYDER, 2002, 2008; LANKSHEAR E KNOBEL, 2002, 2008) e ? forma??o de professores (PERRENOUD, 2000; SILVA, 2001). Metodologicamente, este estudo etnogr?fico-virtual (KOZINETS, 1997; HINE, 2000), se insere no campo da Lingu?stica Aplicada e adota a abordagem quali-quantitativa da pesquisa (NUNAN, 1992; D?RNYEI, 2006). A an?lise dos dados permitiu evidenciar que (i) antes do curso, as pr?ticas de letramento digital dos professores concentravam-se nas dimens?es pessoal e acad?mica de suas realidades, em detrimento da dimens?o profissional; (ii) durante a a??o de extens?o, os professores participaram, de modo colaborativo, das sess?es de estudo semipresenciais com foco no uso pedag?gico das TIC, efetivando pr?ticas de letramento digital at? ent?o desconhecidas; (iii) ap?s o curso, a postura dos professores colaboradores diante da utiliza??o das TIC no seu cotidiano profissional sofreu modifica??es, uma vez que esses docentes passaram a utiliz?-las efetivamente, dando visibilidade social ao que ? produzido na escola. Observamos, ainda, que os professores em forma??o inicial atuaram como pares mais experientes no processo de aprendizagem colaborativa, oferecendo apoio scaffolding (VYGOTSKY, 1978; BRUNER, 1985) aos professores em forma??o continuada. Isso ocorreu em raz?o de os graduandos efetivarem pr?ticas de letramento digital mais sofisticadas, por integrarem a chamada gera??o Y (PRENSKY, 2001)

Criado a partir do trabalho colaborativo de grupos de pessoas, o ciberespaço expressa vocação para abrigar incontáveis agrupamentos, diversos e distintos como a natureza humana. Parte desses agrupamentos tem recebido o nome de redes de aprendizagem online e comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem. Uma vez que a aprendizagem é intrínseca ao homem, em variados tempos, lugares e situações, todos os agrupamentos do ciberespaço podem proporcionar aprendizagens. Mas o fato de que há aspectos em comum na diversidade não retiraria a necessidade de estabelecer diferenças entre os agrupamentos porque não se deve confundir multiplicidade com indistinção. Nesse sentido, esta investigação buscou identificar elementos que podem distinguir as redes e comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem dos demais agrupamentos do ciberespaço. A partir da compreensão de que as palavras são signos ideológicos e que seu emprego formata a realidade (BAKHTIN, 1981), verificamos que também há distinção entre redes de aprendizagem online e comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem. A reflexão proporcionou ainda mapearmos indicadores de formação de comunidades virtuais em situação de aprendizagem. Para levantar os elementos mencionados, realizamos revisão bibliográfica e examinamos três agrupamentos do ciberespaço, apontados neste trabalho como uma rede social, uma rede de aprendizagem online e uma comunidade virtual de aprendizagem. Mais do que apresentar uma sugestão quanto ao emprego dessas expressões, esta dissertação costura uma série de reflexões sobre rede e intencionalidade educativa, certos de que rede é a metáfora mais fundamental para a Educação do século XXI. / Elaborated from co-operated work by groups of people, the cyberspace expresses the vocation to shelter countless groupings, several and different as the human nature. Some of these groupings have been receiving the name of online learning networks and virtual learning communities. Once the learning is intrinsic to the man, in several times, places and situations, all groupings of the cyberspace can provide learning. But the fact that there are aspects in common in the diversity would not remove the need to establish differences among the groupings because it should not confuse multiplicity with indistinct. In that sense, this investigation looked for to identify elements that can distinguish the online learning networks and the virtual learning communities of the other groupings of the cyberspace. Starting from the understanding that the words are ideological signs and that its use formats the reality (BAKHTIN, 1981), we verified that there is also distinction between online learning networks and virtual learning communities. The reflection provided mapping of indicators of virtual communities\' formation in learning situation. To survey the mentioned elements, we accomplished bibliographical revision and examined three groupings of the cyberspace, pointed in this work as a social network, an online learning network and a virtual learning community. More than to present a suggestion for the use of those expressions, this dissertation sews a series of reflections on net and educational intentionality, convinced that net is the most fundamental metaphor for the Education of the XXI century.

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