Problem-solving ability of first year CS students: A case study and intervention
- Marais, Craig, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Marais, Craig , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475235 , vital:77787
- Description: This paper reports the findings of computational thinking research undertaken to develop problem-solving skills in first year computer science students. Through the use of pre-and post-tests, statistical results are presented showing the definite acquisition of problem-solving skills by the students after completing the introductory first year computer science course. These skills are argued to be both innate in some students and acquired in others. By identifying the component skills required and presenting a step-by-step approach to teaching problem solving, this research aims to provide a method for actively instilling these skills in learners who lack them.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marais, Craig , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475235 , vital:77787
- Description: This paper reports the findings of computational thinking research undertaken to develop problem-solving skills in first year computer science students. Through the use of pre-and post-tests, statistical results are presented showing the definite acquisition of problem-solving skills by the students after completing the introductory first year computer science course. These skills are argued to be both innate in some students and acquired in others. By identifying the component skills required and presenting a step-by-step approach to teaching problem solving, this research aims to provide a method for actively instilling these skills in learners who lack them.
- Full Text:
Service learning based environmental health promotion activities for pharmacy students: educating young on the safe disposal of medicines and used sharps
- Srinivas, Sunitha C, Paphitis, Sharli, Ncomanzi, A.S, Tandlich, Roman, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Paphitis, Sharli , Ncomanzi, A.S , Tandlich, Roman , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475255 , vital:77788
- Description: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a service-learning based environmental health promotion exhibit in raising awareness of safe disposal of medicines and used sharps during the 2014 National Science Festival in South Africa. The study design utilised a computer-based quiz, an information poster, an interactive model and a take-home information leaflet on the safe disposal of medicines and used sharps which were developed by students and staff in the faculty of pharmacy at Rhodes University. Predominantly school students attended the exhibit and took part in a quiz. 413 participants took part in the environmental health promotion activity, with 91% of the participating learners attending schools in the Eastern Cape Province. significant improvement (p is less than 0.001). Moreover, the results show significant gender differences for both the pre- and post-intervention mean scores. The environmental health promotion project was successful in raising awareness of the safe and appropriate disposal of medicines and used sharps by highlighting the dangers associated with their incorrect disposal, both to the environment and eventually to humans. Similar continuous health promotion activities are essential for sustainable effectiveness in the transformation of individual and communal actions in South Africa for the safe disposal of medicines and used sharps.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Paphitis, Sharli , Ncomanzi, A.S , Tandlich, Roman , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475255 , vital:77788
- Description: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a service-learning based environmental health promotion exhibit in raising awareness of safe disposal of medicines and used sharps during the 2014 National Science Festival in South Africa. The study design utilised a computer-based quiz, an information poster, an interactive model and a take-home information leaflet on the safe disposal of medicines and used sharps which were developed by students and staff in the faculty of pharmacy at Rhodes University. Predominantly school students attended the exhibit and took part in a quiz. 413 participants took part in the environmental health promotion activity, with 91% of the participating learners attending schools in the Eastern Cape Province. significant improvement (p is less than 0.001). Moreover, the results show significant gender differences for both the pre- and post-intervention mean scores. The environmental health promotion project was successful in raising awareness of the safe and appropriate disposal of medicines and used sharps by highlighting the dangers associated with their incorrect disposal, both to the environment and eventually to humans. Similar continuous health promotion activities are essential for sustainable effectiveness in the transformation of individual and communal actions in South Africa for the safe disposal of medicines and used sharps.
- Full Text:
SPACES Project ARS AfricaE–Adaptive Resilience of Southern African ecosystems
- Falge, E M, Brümmer, Christian, Schmullius, Christiane, Hüttich, C, Scholes, Robert J, Midgley, Guy F, Hickler, Thomas, Scheiter, Simon, Twine, Wayne, Bradshaw, Karen L, Lück, W, Lenfers, Ulfia A, Thiel-Clemen, T, Mafukute, Mukelabai, Kutsch, Werner L
- Authors: Falge, E M , Brümmer, Christian , Schmullius, Christiane , Hüttich, C , Scholes, Robert J , Midgley, Guy F , Hickler, Thomas , Scheiter, Simon , Twine, Wayne , Bradshaw, Karen L , Lück, W , Lenfers, Ulfia A , Thiel-Clemen, T , Mafukute, Mukelabai , Kutsch, Werner L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475274 , vital:77791
- Description: Nowadays, many semi-arid ecosystems are affected by at least two different kinds of disturbances: land use (change) and climate change. Based on this, it can be hypothesized that even very resilient ecosystems may not return to their initial state after disturbance, but will rather adapt to a new steady-state. We name this phenomenon "Adaptive Resilience of Ecosystems" and use it as base for the research concept of ARS AfricaE. This project wants to go beyond older approaches that only describe structural changes in savannas and their drivers. It employs functional aspects, such as the investigation of biogeochemical cycles, but also targets a deeper understanding of the functional consequences of ecosystem changes caused by multiple disturbances, and defines "degradation" as a sustained loss in the broad set of ecosystem services, i.e. a decrease in natural capital. To achieve this goal, the project will • create a network of research clusters (with natural and altered vegetation) along an aridity gradient in the Greater Karoo, Kruger National Park in South Africa, and Kataba Forest Reserve in Zambia • link biogeochemical functions with ecosystem structure, diversity of species and eco-physiological properties • describe ecosystem disturbance (and recovery) in terms of ecosystem function such as carbon balance components and water use efficiency • build an individual-based model to predict ecosystem dynamics under (post) disturbance managements • combine this model with long-term landscape dynamic information derived from remote sensing and aerial photography • develop sustainable management strategies for disturbed ecosystems and land use change.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Falge, E M , Brümmer, Christian , Schmullius, Christiane , Hüttich, C , Scholes, Robert J , Midgley, Guy F , Hickler, Thomas , Scheiter, Simon , Twine, Wayne , Bradshaw, Karen L , Lück, W , Lenfers, Ulfia A , Thiel-Clemen, T , Mafukute, Mukelabai , Kutsch, Werner L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475274 , vital:77791
- Description: Nowadays, many semi-arid ecosystems are affected by at least two different kinds of disturbances: land use (change) and climate change. Based on this, it can be hypothesized that even very resilient ecosystems may not return to their initial state after disturbance, but will rather adapt to a new steady-state. We name this phenomenon "Adaptive Resilience of Ecosystems" and use it as base for the research concept of ARS AfricaE. This project wants to go beyond older approaches that only describe structural changes in savannas and their drivers. It employs functional aspects, such as the investigation of biogeochemical cycles, but also targets a deeper understanding of the functional consequences of ecosystem changes caused by multiple disturbances, and defines "degradation" as a sustained loss in the broad set of ecosystem services, i.e. a decrease in natural capital. To achieve this goal, the project will • create a network of research clusters (with natural and altered vegetation) along an aridity gradient in the Greater Karoo, Kruger National Park in South Africa, and Kataba Forest Reserve in Zambia • link biogeochemical functions with ecosystem structure, diversity of species and eco-physiological properties • describe ecosystem disturbance (and recovery) in terms of ecosystem function such as carbon balance components and water use efficiency • build an individual-based model to predict ecosystem dynamics under (post) disturbance managements • combine this model with long-term landscape dynamic information derived from remote sensing and aerial photography • develop sustainable management strategies for disturbed ecosystems and land use change.
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The current state of digital forensic practitioners in South Africa
- Jordaan, Jason, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Jordaan, Jason , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475285 , vital:77792 , ISBN 9781479977550 , https://doi.org/10.1109/ISSA.2015.7335068
- Description: Recent high profile court trials around the world, including South Africa, have highlighted the importance of forensic science evidence in court. They have also show what can happen when forensic science is handled poorly in court leading to incorrect convictions or acquittals. Most often the problems have been linked to the qualifications, training, competency and experience of the forensic practitioners who examined and analysed the evidence. With digital forensics being recognised as a forensics science and criminal trials such as Casey Anthony and Julia Amero dominated by errors in the digital forensics process attributed to the examiners, it is crucial to understand what the current situation is in South Africa with regards local digital forensic practitioners, so as to identify any strengths or shortcomings which could impact on digital evidence in a court of law. The research focused on understanding the academic qualifications, digital forensics training, competency, and experience of South African digital forensic practitioners. General trends were identified through the research showing that South African digital forensic practitioners often lacked the necessary academic qualifications, training, competency and experience required of a digital forensics practitioner, raising concerns about the quality of digital forensics practice in South Africa. When contrasted against international standards, the research identified areas of improvement, and suggested potential remedial actions to address the situation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Jordaan, Jason , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475285 , vital:77792 , ISBN 9781479977550 , https://doi.org/10.1109/ISSA.2015.7335068
- Description: Recent high profile court trials around the world, including South Africa, have highlighted the importance of forensic science evidence in court. They have also show what can happen when forensic science is handled poorly in court leading to incorrect convictions or acquittals. Most often the problems have been linked to the qualifications, training, competency and experience of the forensic practitioners who examined and analysed the evidence. With digital forensics being recognised as a forensics science and criminal trials such as Casey Anthony and Julia Amero dominated by errors in the digital forensics process attributed to the examiners, it is crucial to understand what the current situation is in South Africa with regards local digital forensic practitioners, so as to identify any strengths or shortcomings which could impact on digital evidence in a court of law. The research focused on understanding the academic qualifications, digital forensics training, competency, and experience of South African digital forensic practitioners. General trends were identified through the research showing that South African digital forensic practitioners often lacked the necessary academic qualifications, training, competency and experience required of a digital forensics practitioner, raising concerns about the quality of digital forensics practice in South Africa. When contrasted against international standards, the research identified areas of improvement, and suggested potential remedial actions to address the situation.
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Towards an Extensible Generic Agent-Based Simulator for Mammals
- Carse, Stephen, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Carse, Stephen , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475296 , vital:77793 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9856380"
- Description: Modelling tools are widely used by national parks, both within South Africa and in countries around the world. The modelling of animal behaviour, particularly in South Africa and other African countries, is well established. These models, however, tend to be developed with one particular application and species in mind and are not reusable in other scenarios, requiring further development work for the addition of another species. This paper presents an approach towards developing an agent-based generic system that simulates a range of mammal behaviours by building a set of core behaviours that can be parameterised according to the needs of each species. The system uses XML notation for the definition of a species and provides a GUI tool that produces the XML required to simulate a species and set up the initial animals present in the simulation. Various feedback tools allow the simulation to be examined and analysed in detail to ascertain the success of the simulation of the mammal behaviours and those behaviours' adaptation to various different species.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Carse, Stephen , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475296 , vital:77793 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9856380"
- Description: Modelling tools are widely used by national parks, both within South Africa and in countries around the world. The modelling of animal behaviour, particularly in South Africa and other African countries, is well established. These models, however, tend to be developed with one particular application and species in mind and are not reusable in other scenarios, requiring further development work for the addition of another species. This paper presents an approach towards developing an agent-based generic system that simulates a range of mammal behaviours by building a set of core behaviours that can be parameterised according to the needs of each species. The system uses XML notation for the definition of a species and provides a GUI tool that produces the XML required to simulate a species and set up the initial animals present in the simulation. Various feedback tools allow the simulation to be examined and analysed in detail to ascertain the success of the simulation of the mammal behaviours and those behaviours' adaptation to various different species.
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Accelerating a hydrological uncertainty ensemble model using graphics processing units (GPUs)
- Tristram, Dale, Hughes, Denis A, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Tristram, Dale , Hughes, Denis A , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475173 , vital:77781 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2013.07.011"
- Description: The practical application of hydrological uncertainty models that are designed to generate multiple ensembles can be severely restricted by the available computer processing power and thus, the time taken to generate the results. CPU clusters can help in this regard, but are often costly to use continuously and maintain, causing scientists to look elsewhere for speed improvements. The use of powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) for application acceleration has become a recent trend, owing to their low cost per FLOP, and their highly parallel and throughput-oriented architecture, which makes them ideal for many scientific applications. However, programming these devices efficiently is non-trivial, seemingly making their use impractical for many researchers. In this study, we investigate whether redesigning the CPU code of an adapted Pitman rainfall-runoff uncertainty model is necessary to obtain a satisfactory speedup on GPU devices. A twelvefold speedup over a multithreaded CPU implementation was achieved by using a modern GPU with minimal changes to the model code. This success leads us to believe that redesigning code for the GPU is not always necessary to obtain a worthwhile speedup.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tristram, Dale , Hughes, Denis A , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475173 , vital:77781 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2013.07.011"
- Description: The practical application of hydrological uncertainty models that are designed to generate multiple ensembles can be severely restricted by the available computer processing power and thus, the time taken to generate the results. CPU clusters can help in this regard, but are often costly to use continuously and maintain, causing scientists to look elsewhere for speed improvements. The use of powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) for application acceleration has become a recent trend, owing to their low cost per FLOP, and their highly parallel and throughput-oriented architecture, which makes them ideal for many scientific applications. However, programming these devices efficiently is non-trivial, seemingly making their use impractical for many researchers. In this study, we investigate whether redesigning the CPU code of an adapted Pitman rainfall-runoff uncertainty model is necessary to obtain a satisfactory speedup on GPU devices. A twelvefold speedup over a multithreaded CPU implementation was achieved by using a modern GPU with minimal changes to the model code. This success leads us to believe that redesigning code for the GPU is not always necessary to obtain a worthwhile speedup.
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Determining the difficulty of accelerating problems on a GPU
- Tristram, Dale, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Tristram, Dale , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475208 , vital:77784
- Description: General-purpose computation on graphics processing units (GPGPU) has great potential to accelerate many scientific models and algorithms. However, since some problems are considerably more difficult to accelerate than others, ascertaining the effort required to accelerate a particular problem is challenging. Through the acceleration of three typical scientific problems, seven problem attributes have been identified to assist in the evaluation of the difficulty of accelerating a problem on a GPU. These attributes are inherent parallelism, branch divergence, problem size, required computational parallelism, memory access pattern regularity, data transfer overhead, and thread cooperation. Using these attributes as difficulty indicators, an initial problem difficulty classification framework has been created that aids in evaluating GPU acceleration difficulty. The difficulty estimates obtained by applying the classification framework to the three case studies correlate well with the actual effort expended in accelerating each problem.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tristram, Dale , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475208 , vital:77784
- Description: General-purpose computation on graphics processing units (GPGPU) has great potential to accelerate many scientific models and algorithms. However, since some problems are considerably more difficult to accelerate than others, ascertaining the effort required to accelerate a particular problem is challenging. Through the acceleration of three typical scientific problems, seven problem attributes have been identified to assist in the evaluation of the difficulty of accelerating a problem on a GPU. These attributes are inherent parallelism, branch divergence, problem size, required computational parallelism, memory access pattern regularity, data transfer overhead, and thread cooperation. Using these attributes as difficulty indicators, an initial problem difficulty classification framework has been created that aids in evaluating GPU acceleration difficulty. The difficulty estimates obtained by applying the classification framework to the three case studies correlate well with the actual effort expended in accelerating each problem.
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HADEDA: A Concurrent Music Synthesis Project for the XMOS startKIT
- Dibley, James, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Dibley, James , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475224 , vital:77786 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.1352.3201"
- Description: The HADEDA (Highly Adaptive Device Emitting Digitally-synthesised Audio) project implements a softwaredefined audio synthesiser with stored musical sequences and real-time synthesis controls, using the XMOS startKIT low-cost development platform. This paper describes the design and implementation of the project as a practical demonstration of XMOS technology. We also demonstrate the use of XC programming techniques and the xTIMEcomposer development tools to build and test a concurrent real-time embedded application easily.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dibley, James , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/475224 , vital:77786 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.1352.3201"
- Description: The HADEDA (Highly Adaptive Device Emitting Digitally-synthesised Audio) project implements a softwaredefined audio synthesiser with stored musical sequences and real-time synthesis controls, using the XMOS startKIT low-cost development platform. This paper describes the design and implementation of the project as a practical demonstration of XMOS technology. We also demonstrate the use of XC programming techniques and the xTIMEcomposer development tools to build and test a concurrent real-time embedded application easily.
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Computational thinking in educational activities: an evaluation of the educational game light-bot
- Gouws, Lindsey Ann, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Gouws, Lindsey Ann , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477581 , vital:78101 , ISBN 9781450320788 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2462476.2466518
- Description: Computational thinking is gaining recognition as an important skill set for students, both in computer science and other disciplines. Although there has been much focus on this field in recent years, it is rarely taught as a formal course within the curriculum, and there is little consensus on what exactly computational thinking entails and how to teach and evaluate it. To address these concerns, we have developed a computational thinking framework to be used as a planning and evaluative tool. Within this framework, we aim to unify the differing opinions about what computational thinking should involve. As a case study, we have applied the framework to Light-Bot, an educational game with a strong focus on programming, and found that the framework provides us with insight into the usefulness of the game to reinforce computer science concepts.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gouws, Lindsey Ann , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477581 , vital:78101 , ISBN 9781450320788 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2462476.2466518
- Description: Computational thinking is gaining recognition as an important skill set for students, both in computer science and other disciplines. Although there has been much focus on this field in recent years, it is rarely taught as a formal course within the curriculum, and there is little consensus on what exactly computational thinking entails and how to teach and evaluate it. To address these concerns, we have developed a computational thinking framework to be used as a planning and evaluative tool. Within this framework, we aim to unify the differing opinions about what computational thinking should involve. As a case study, we have applied the framework to Light-Bot, an educational game with a strong focus on programming, and found that the framework provides us with insight into the usefulness of the game to reinforce computer science concepts.
- Full Text:
Evaluating the acceleration of typical scientific problems on the GPU
- Tristram, Dale, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Tristram, Dale , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477607 , vital:78103 , ISBN 9781450321129 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2513456.2513473
- Description: General-purpose computation on graphics processing units (GPGPU) has great potential to accelerate many scientific models and algorithms. However, some problems are considerably more difficult to accelerate than others, and it may be difficult for those new to GPGPU to ascertain the difficulty of accelerating a particular problem. Additionally, problems of different levels of difficulty require varying complexities of optimisations to achieve satisfactory results, and currently there is no clear separation between the different levels of known optimisations, which would be helpful to new users of GPGPU. Through what was learned in the acceleration of three problems, problem attributes have been identified to assist in evaluating the difficulty of accelerating a problem on a GPU. We envisage that with further development, these attributes could form the foundation of a difficulty classification system that could be used to determine whether GPU acceleration is practical for a candidate GPU acceleration problem, aid in identifying appropriate techniques and optimisations, and outline the required GPGPU knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tristram, Dale , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477607 , vital:78103 , ISBN 9781450321129 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2513456.2513473
- Description: General-purpose computation on graphics processing units (GPGPU) has great potential to accelerate many scientific models and algorithms. However, some problems are considerably more difficult to accelerate than others, and it may be difficult for those new to GPGPU to ascertain the difficulty of accelerating a particular problem. Additionally, problems of different levels of difficulty require varying complexities of optimisations to achieve satisfactory results, and currently there is no clear separation between the different levels of known optimisations, which would be helpful to new users of GPGPU. Through what was learned in the acceleration of three problems, problem attributes have been identified to assist in evaluating the difficulty of accelerating a problem on a GPU. We envisage that with further development, these attributes could form the foundation of a difficulty classification system that could be used to determine whether GPU acceleration is practical for a candidate GPU acceleration problem, aid in identifying appropriate techniques and optimisations, and outline the required GPGPU knowledge.
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First year student performance in a test for computational thinking
- Gouws, Lindsey Ann, Bradshaw, Karen L, Wentworth, Peter E
- Authors: Gouws, Lindsey Ann , Bradshaw, Karen L , Wentworth, Peter E
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477618 , vital:78104 , ISBN 9781450321129 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2513456.2513484
- Description: Computational thinking, a form of thinking and problem solving within computer science, has become a popular focus of research on computer science education. In this paper, we attempt to investigate the role that computational thinking plays in the experience of introductory computer science students at a South African university. To this end, we have designed and administered a test for computational thinking ability, and contrasted the results of this test with the class marks for the students involved. The results of this test give us an initial view of the abilities that students possess when entering the computer science course. The results indicate that students who performed well in the assessment have a favourable pass rate for their class tests, and specific areas of weakness have been identified. Finally, we describe the plan for a follow-up test to take place at the end of the course to determine how students' abilities have changed over a semester of studies.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gouws, Lindsey Ann , Bradshaw, Karen L , Wentworth, Peter E
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477618 , vital:78104 , ISBN 9781450321129 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2513456.2513484
- Description: Computational thinking, a form of thinking and problem solving within computer science, has become a popular focus of research on computer science education. In this paper, we attempt to investigate the role that computational thinking plays in the experience of introductory computer science students at a South African university. To this end, we have designed and administered a test for computational thinking ability, and contrasted the results of this test with the class marks for the students involved. The results of this test give us an initial view of the abilities that students possess when entering the computer science course. The results indicate that students who performed well in the assessment have a favourable pass rate for their class tests, and specific areas of weakness have been identified. Finally, we describe the plan for a follow-up test to take place at the end of the course to determine how students' abilities have changed over a semester of studies.
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HIV/AIDS: Preliminary Health Promotion activity based on service-learning principles in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Srinivas, Sunitha C, Wrench, Wendy M, Bradshaw, Karen L, Dukhi, Natisha
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy M , Bradshaw, Karen L , Dukhi, Natisha
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477629 , vital:78105
- Description: Objectives To investigate the effects of a service-learning based health promotion elective on knowledge of HIV and AIDS and ways to prevent them. Method A computer-based quiz, an information poster, an interactive board game and a take-home information leaflet on HIV/AIDS were developed by final year pharmacy students under supervision, as part of an exhibit during the 2009 National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest) held in Grahamstown, South Africa. Predominantly school learners took part in the quiz and other educational activities. Results The majority (53.1%) of the 179 junior quiz participants were male learners and the majority (63.6%) of the 253 senior quiz participants were female learners. Results of the pre-intervention scores demonstrate fair knowledge of HIV/AIDS with 64.5% and 71.3% for the junior and senior school participants, respectively. Educational interventions resulted in improvement in the number of correct answers to some of the questions. The results showed significant genderdifferences for the pre- and post-intervention mean percentage scores among the junior quiz participants and only in the pre-intervention scores of the senior quizparticipants.Conclusion The health promotion elective was successful in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS but continuous, concerted health promotion activities and advocacyby all health care professionals is needed to address the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy M , Bradshaw, Karen L , Dukhi, Natisha
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477629 , vital:78105
- Description: Objectives To investigate the effects of a service-learning based health promotion elective on knowledge of HIV and AIDS and ways to prevent them. Method A computer-based quiz, an information poster, an interactive board game and a take-home information leaflet on HIV/AIDS were developed by final year pharmacy students under supervision, as part of an exhibit during the 2009 National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest) held in Grahamstown, South Africa. Predominantly school learners took part in the quiz and other educational activities. Results The majority (53.1%) of the 179 junior quiz participants were male learners and the majority (63.6%) of the 253 senior quiz participants were female learners. Results of the pre-intervention scores demonstrate fair knowledge of HIV/AIDS with 64.5% and 71.3% for the junior and senior school participants, respectively. Educational interventions resulted in improvement in the number of correct answers to some of the questions. The results showed significant genderdifferences for the pre- and post-intervention mean percentage scores among the junior quiz participants and only in the pre-intervention scores of the senior quizparticipants.Conclusion The health promotion elective was successful in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS but continuous, concerted health promotion activities and advocacyby all health care professionals is needed to address the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
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An RTSP proxy for implementing the IPTV media function using a streaming server
- Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Terzoli, Alfredo, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429136 , vital:72562 , https://www.informatica.si/index.php/informatica/article/view/383
- Description: Multimedia content delivery in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), made up of media control and media delivery units, which in the case of IPTV are the Media Control Function (MCF) and Media Delivery Function (MDF), respectively. According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and obtains delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This also means that the streaming session needs to be initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due both to the lack of free and open source Media Servers and the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community is Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attacks and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow a different location for the session setup request and the delivery of media in the streaming session. In other words, most streaming servers are not designed to be controlled by some other entity other than the RTSP client that consumes the media. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS if one wanted to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. So, while waiting for streaming servers to work in this manner, it is better to find a work around in order to use streaming servers to develop and test IPTV services in IMS environments. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) as part of the IPTV MF and to mediate between the MCF and MDF. This unit correctly relays media control commands from the MCF to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. It also helps in the implementation of other streaming functionalities that are required for IPTV service delivery, but which are not implemented in the current open source streaming servers. Additional services can also be easily implemented with the help of this unit. This will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers and help researchers to evaluate their proposals on new services they would like to develop. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of an IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429136 , vital:72562 , https://www.informatica.si/index.php/informatica/article/view/383
- Description: Multimedia content delivery in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), made up of media control and media delivery units, which in the case of IPTV are the Media Control Function (MCF) and Media Delivery Function (MDF), respectively. According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and obtains delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This also means that the streaming session needs to be initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due both to the lack of free and open source Media Servers and the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community is Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attacks and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow a different location for the session setup request and the delivery of media in the streaming session. In other words, most streaming servers are not designed to be controlled by some other entity other than the RTSP client that consumes the media. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS if one wanted to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. So, while waiting for streaming servers to work in this manner, it is better to find a work around in order to use streaming servers to develop and test IPTV services in IMS environments. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) as part of the IPTV MF and to mediate between the MCF and MDF. This unit correctly relays media control commands from the MCF to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. It also helps in the implementation of other streaming functionalities that are required for IPTV service delivery, but which are not implemented in the current open source streaming servers. Additional services can also be easily implemented with the help of this unit. This will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers and help researchers to evaluate their proposals on new services they would like to develop. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of an IMS based IPTV service.
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Visualization of C Data Structures for Novice Programmers
- Van der Merwe, Dylan, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Dylan , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477133 , vital:78048 , ISBN 9780620536103
- Description: The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true in many contexts, including understanding programming concepts. We have developed an IDE, consisting of a parser, interpreter and visualizer, for a subset of the C Programming Language to facilitate the teaching and learning of data structures and memory management in the language. Utilizing a visual system to create an immersive application for novice C programmers, has been shown to lead to faster comprehension of the programming concepts, as well as greater familiarity with the vocabulary of the programming terms.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Dylan , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477133 , vital:78048 , ISBN 9780620536103
- Description: The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true in many contexts, including understanding programming concepts. We have developed an IDE, consisting of a parser, interpreter and visualizer, for a subset of the C Programming Language to facilitate the teaching and learning of data structures and memory management in the language. Utilizing a visual system to create an immersive application for novice C programmers, has been shown to lead to faster comprehension of the programming concepts, as well as greater familiarity with the vocabulary of the programming terms.
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Delivering a personalised video service using IPTV
- Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Ndakunda, Shange, Terzoli, Alfredo, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Ndakunda, Shange , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429163 , vital:72564 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5746086
- Description: Video oriented services are taking the lead in terms of revenue in the current Internet environment. In order to tap this revenue, Telcos are resorting to serious measures such as moving to Next Generation Network (NGN) where they can provide QoS for services that demand this feature, such as, IPTV. IPTV is more than just what its name implies and includes various types of additional services to make the TV a better entertainment and communication environment. Various innovative IPTV services have been proposed and developed by researchers and practitioners, including personalized advertisement, personalized EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and personalized VoD (Video on Demand). In this paper we introduce a new IPTV service called, the personalized dynamic video delivery service, which sends new video alerts (like breaking news alert) to subscribed users and notifies them when the video is available. If desired, users can watch the video automatically by switching from what they are currently watching without requiring explicitly a new video setup. Users can configure their profile and also set a policy on the way they wish to be notified and the types of video they wish to be alerted to. The paper describes the issues surrounding the delivery of this service and presents the architecture and the various open source technologies that are used to develop the service.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Ndakunda, Shange , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429163 , vital:72564 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5746086
- Description: Video oriented services are taking the lead in terms of revenue in the current Internet environment. In order to tap this revenue, Telcos are resorting to serious measures such as moving to Next Generation Network (NGN) where they can provide QoS for services that demand this feature, such as, IPTV. IPTV is more than just what its name implies and includes various types of additional services to make the TV a better entertainment and communication environment. Various innovative IPTV services have been proposed and developed by researchers and practitioners, including personalized advertisement, personalized EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and personalized VoD (Video on Demand). In this paper we introduce a new IPTV service called, the personalized dynamic video delivery service, which sends new video alerts (like breaking news alert) to subscribed users and notifies them when the video is available. If desired, users can watch the video automatically by switching from what they are currently watching without requiring explicitly a new video setup. Users can configure their profile and also set a policy on the way they wish to be notified and the types of video they wish to be alerted to. The paper describes the issues surrounding the delivery of this service and presents the architecture and the various open source technologies that are used to develop the service.
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Diabetes mellitus: Preliminary health-promotion activity based on service-learning principles at a South African national science festival
- Srinivas, Sunitha C, Wrench, Wendy M, Bradshaw, Karen L, Dukhi, Natisha
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy M , Bradshaw, Karen L , Dukhi, Natisha
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477592 , vital:78102
- Description: Objectives: To investigate the effects of a service-learning-based health promotion elective in influencing knowledge of diabetes mellitus (DM) and ways to prevent it. Method: A computer-based quiz, an information poster, interactive models and a take-home information leaflet on DM were developed as part of an exhibit during the 2009 National Festival of Science and Technology held in Grahamstown, South Africa. Predominantly school students visited the exhibit and took part in the quiz and other educational activities. Results: The majority of the 119 junior and 332 senior quiz participants were male students attending government schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. After an educational intervention, there was significant improvement in the junior quiz participants’ overall percentage knowledge scores (p-value = 0.024), while the senior quiz participants showed a markedly significant improvement in the overall percentage knowledge scores (p-value is less than 0.001). The results showed significant gender differences for both the pre- and post-intervention mean percentage scores among both groups, with better scores for female participants. Conclusion: The health-promotion elective was successful in raising awareness of DM. This approach may offer an additional tool that can be used in the continuous, concerted health promotion activities and advocacy by all healthcare professionals to address the prevention of DM.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy M , Bradshaw, Karen L , Dukhi, Natisha
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477592 , vital:78102
- Description: Objectives: To investigate the effects of a service-learning-based health promotion elective in influencing knowledge of diabetes mellitus (DM) and ways to prevent it. Method: A computer-based quiz, an information poster, interactive models and a take-home information leaflet on DM were developed as part of an exhibit during the 2009 National Festival of Science and Technology held in Grahamstown, South Africa. Predominantly school students visited the exhibit and took part in the quiz and other educational activities. Results: The majority of the 119 junior and 332 senior quiz participants were male students attending government schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. After an educational intervention, there was significant improvement in the junior quiz participants’ overall percentage knowledge scores (p-value = 0.024), while the senior quiz participants showed a markedly significant improvement in the overall percentage knowledge scores (p-value is less than 0.001). The results showed significant gender differences for both the pre- and post-intervention mean percentage scores among both groups, with better scores for female participants. Conclusion: The health-promotion elective was successful in raising awareness of DM. This approach may offer an additional tool that can be used in the continuous, concerted health promotion activities and advocacy by all healthcare professionals to address the prevention of DM.
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Using an RTSP Proxy to implement the IPTV Media Function via a streaming server
- Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Terzoli, Alfredo, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429120 , vital:72561 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5676629
- Description: Multimedia in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), which is made up of Media Control and Media Delivery Functions (MCF and MDF). According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and gets delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This generally means that the streaming session is initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due to lack of free and open source Media Servers and on the contrary, the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of media in multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community are Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attack and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow different locations for the session setup request and the delivery of media of the streaming session. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS, if one wants to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) to be part of the IPTV Media Function (MF). The unit will be used to mediate between the MFC and MDF and will properly relay media control (RTSP) commands from the UE and MFC to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. This, we believe, will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy and relay unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429120 , vital:72561 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5676629
- Description: Multimedia in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), which is made up of Media Control and Media Delivery Functions (MCF and MDF). According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and gets delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This generally means that the streaming session is initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due to lack of free and open source Media Servers and on the contrary, the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of media in multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community are Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attack and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow different locations for the session setup request and the delivery of media of the streaming session. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS, if one wants to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) to be part of the IPTV Media Function (MF). The unit will be used to mediate between the MFC and MDF and will properly relay media control (RTSP) commands from the UE and MFC to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. This, we believe, will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy and relay unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text:
Using an RTSP Proxy to implement the IPTV Media Function via a streaming server
- Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Terzoli, Alfredo, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477122 , vital:78047 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1109/ICUMT16976.2010"
- Description: Multimedia in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), which is made up of Media Control and Media Delivery Functions (MCF and MDF). According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and gets delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This generally means that the streaming session is initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due to lack of free and open source Media Servers and on the contrary, the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of media in multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community are Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attack and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow different locations for the session setup request and the delivery of media of the streaming session. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS, if one wants to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) to be part of the IPTV Media Function (MF). The unit will be used to mediate between the MFC and MDF and will properly relay media control (RTSP) commands from the UE and MFC to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. This, we believe, will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy and relay unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477122 , vital:78047 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1109/ICUMT16976.2010"
- Description: Multimedia in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), which is made up of Media Control and Media Delivery Functions (MCF and MDF). According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and gets delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This generally means that the streaming session is initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due to lack of free and open source Media Servers and on the contrary, the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of media in multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community are Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attack and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow different locations for the session setup request and the delivery of media of the streaming session. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS, if one wants to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) to be part of the IPTV Media Function (MF). The unit will be used to mediate between the MFC and MDF and will properly relay media control (RTSP) commands from the UE and MFC to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. This, we believe, will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy and relay unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text: