Evaluation systems

Memòries de les xarxes d'investigació en docència universitària pertanyent al ProgramaXarxes-I 3 CE d'Investigació en docència universitària del curs 2016-17 / Memorias de las redes de investigación en docencia universatira que pertence al Programa Redes -I3CE de investigación en docencia universitaria del curso 2016-17.

We study how different continuous evaluation systems affect final course grades. We use administrative and survey data from first-year students at the University of Alicante enrolled in two subjects: Mathematics and Microeconomics. We estimate the effect of achievement in a midterm test in each subject on subsequent performance using a regression discontinuity design since only students obtaining a midterm score greater than or equal to 5 may interpret their score positively. The sign of the effect is unclear ex-ante: students may believe that additional study effort is (un)important to ensure a pass; in either case, this can lead them to put more effort on other subject or not. Our results suggest that the general effect on the same subject is positive but small and insignificant. Nonetheless, we find evidence of cross-effect of a lucky performance in one subject, Microeconomics, on subsequent achievement in a different subject, Mathematics, but only for females. We interpret the p...

We study the effect of a nudge in achievement in a midterm test on subsequent performance in Math by using administrative and survey data from students at the University of Alicante. We estimate the effect through a regression discontinuity design since only students obtaining a midterm score greater than or equal to 5 may interpret their score positively. The sign of the effect is unclear ex-ante as a nudge may induce students to believe that additional study effort is (un)important to ensure a pass in course. We find that the overall effect is small and not significant. We do not find differences by gender or socioeconomic status; some differences might exist in students who majored in Arts and Humanities, whose initial knowledge in Math is lower, but a rigorous conclusion cannot be drawn. However, our results point out that the nudge effect is heterogeneous by students’ confidence: a nudge for non-confident students leads to lower performance in subsequent assessment, while confi...

Memòries de les xarxes d'investigació en docència universitària pertanyent al ProgramaXarxes-I3CE d'Investigació en docència universitària del curs 2017-18 / Memorias de las redes de investigación en docencia universatira que pertence al Programa Redes -I3CE de investigación en docencia universitaria del curso 2017-18.

En este segundo artículo de la serie sobre sistemas de valoración de jugadores de baloncesto se describen los sistemas usados por las principales competiciones del mundo a nivel de clubes y en los fantasy games. En ambos contextos, los sistemas de valoración juegan un papel fundamental a nivel económico, ya sea en la concesión de galardones individuales, como a la hora de otorgar premios o recompensas económicas. El desarrollo tecnológico de las diferentes ligas está lleno de contrastes a lo largo de los cinco continentes, pero las competiciones más relevantes tienen ya la capacidad de explotar los datos del play by play. Los sistemas usados, no obstante, son los más simples posibles, basados en ponderaciones lineales y de cálculo inmediato tras visionar el box-score. Sólo unas pocas competiciones utilizan sistemas más avanzados como el Net Plus Minus.

We study how different continuous evaluation systems affect final course grades. We use administrative and survey data from first-year students at the University of Alicante enrolled in two subjects: Mathematics and Microeconomics. We estimate the effect of achievement in a midterm test in each subject on subsequent performance using a regression discontinuity design since only students obtaining a midterm score greater than or equal to 5 may interpret their score positively. The sign of the effect is unclear ex-ante: students may believe that additional study effort is (un)important to ensure a pass; in either case, this can lead them to put more effort on other subject or not. Our results suggest that the general effect on the same subject is positive but small and insignificant. Nonetheless, we find evidence of cross-effect of a lucky performance in one subject, Microeconomics, on subsequent achievement in a different subject, Mathematics, but only for females. We interpret the p...

El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la experiencia que en estos momentos se está desarrollando de implantación de un nuevo recurso para la docencia como es el Sistema de Mandos Interactivos dentro de la asignatura “Contabilidad de Costes”, correspondiente al primer curso del Grado de Finanzas y Contabilidad. El trabajo analiza los problemas a los que se enfrenta la asignatura (absentismo, falta de puntualidad y atención, necesidad de sistemas de evaluación continua, entre otros) previos al uso de esta nueva herramienta. Así mismo, se describe el funcionamiento de la misma, así como su eficacia para la solución de los problemas antes referidos. Finalmente, se hará una valoración de los resultados obtenidos.The aim of this paper is to describe the experience that in these moments is developing about the implantation of a new resource for the teaching as the Interactive Controls System inside the subject "Cost accounting ", into the first course of the Degree of Finance ...

Paper appears in: Cabrera, D. (Ed.). (2006). Systems evaluation and evaluation systems whitepaper series. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Dspace Open Access Repository. National Science Foundation Systems Evaluation Grant No. EREC-0535492. ... *Corresponding author. Email address: ...

Traditional architecture design approaches hide hardware uncertainties from the software stack through overdesign, which is often expensive in terms of power consumption. The recently proposed quantitative alternative of stochastic computing requires circuits and processors to be correct only probabilistically and use less power. In this paper, we present the first step towards a theory of stochastic computing. Specifically, a formal model of a device which computes a deterministic function with stochastic delays is presented; the semantics of a stochastic circuit is obtained by composing such devices; finally, a quantitative notion of stochastic correctness, called correctness factor (CF), is introduced. For random data sources, a closed form expression is derived for CF of devices, which shows that there are two probabilities that contribute positively, namely, the probability of being timely with current inputs and the probability of being lucky with past inputs. Finally, we show the characteristic graphs obtained from the analytical expressions for the variation of correctness factor with clock period, for several simple circuits and sources.

This paper addresses the problem of detecting and resolving conflicts due to timing constraints imposed by features in real-time systems. We consider systems composed of a base system with multiple features or controllers, each of which independently advise the system on how to react to input events so as to conform to their individual specifications. We propose a methodology for developing such systems in a modular manner based on the notion of conflicttolerant features that are designed to continue offering advice even when their advice has been overridden in the past. We give a simple priority based scheme for composing such features. This guarantees the maximal use of each feature. We provide a formal framework for specifying such features, and a compositional technique for verifying systems developed in this framework.

Different sustainable evaluation tools can provide a way to certify the building`s performance during its life cycle: raw material depletion, production of materials and components, construction, use and demolition. In this process, several variables that analyze common components, such as the reduction of resources consume, the reuse and recycle potential, flexibility and adaptability, the pollution components generated during the process, are involved. Some examples of these tools are the systems like SBTool, BREEAM, BEE or LiderA that are used to evaluate a specific context according to specific conditions. Meanwhile, the existing evaluation systems are oriented to the building´s design phase or have under consideration patterns adapted to the 21 st century reality. This work was developed due to the need to analyse and evaluate the built environment, specifically in what concerns the urban settlements in Portuguese cities, with more than three hundred years old, and that are not enclosed in the new construction's reality-both at materials and techniques levels. The knowledge gathered about the built environment allows the creation of a sustainable grid capable of guide-lining rehabilitation actions. The evaluation of these urban areas was carried out based on an exhaustive work of collecting the building's characteristics, in an area with around 770 buildings, allowing the creation of a built environment sustainability evaluation grid and adapted to socio, cultural, heritage, economic and environmental contexts. The grid mentioned before was designed after a set of parameters were analyzed, such as: i) the existent materials and the constructive solutions adopted; ii) the urban mesh and the meeting of the construction resources to the built environment; iii) the contemporaneous patterns and the possibilities of reusing; iv) the heritage and cultural values; v) the social and economic values. The evaluation grid presented in this work shows a set of different parameters, where the criteria that are related to the external environment are reassessed according to the existent urban possibilities and where the criteria related to internal environment are adapted to the existent spaces' possibilities.

Este trabajo describe una experiencia docente sobre el trabajo de campo experimental como método de aprendizaje práctico implantada en la asignatura de Comportamiento Organizativo. Con esta experiencia docente se pretende modificar la formación práctica y sus procesos evaluativos, con el objeto de favorecer el desarrollo de las competencias transversales del alumnado. Para ello, la utilización de un plan de prácticas, abordado a través de un trabajo de campo experimental y llevado a cabo con la colaboración de una organización empresarial en el seno de un equipo de trabajo (como unidad orgánica de aprendizaje), surge como una alternativa al método tradicional de enseñanzas prácticas y permite el acercamiento de la realidad empresarial al aula, así como fomentar de forma activa el empleo de habilidades transversales. En concreto, la experiencia se desarrolla en tres fases sucesivas. Inicialmente, los alumnos, tras formar un grupo de trabajo y definir un proyecto de trabajo de campo, deben conseguir la colaboración de una organización empresarial del entorno en la que obtener datos sobre una o varias áreas funcionales de su comportamiento organizacional. Posteriormente, los alumnos llevan a cabo el trabajo de campo con la realización de las visitas programadas y elaboran una memoria en la que establecen un diagnóstico sobre la estrategia seguida por la empresa en dichas áreas funcionales, al objeto de proponer y justificar alternativas de actuación que mejoren las existentes. Finalmente, los profesores evalúan las diferentes memorias de los trabajos de campo y sus exposiciones públicas de acuerdo con unas rúbricas de evaluación, que tratan de objetivar y unificar al máximo los criterios de evaluación y sirven de guía del proceso de aprendizaje de los alumnos. Los resultados de implantación de esta experiencia docente, medidos a través de un cuestionario Likert, son muy satisfactorios para los alumnos.

El Ministerio del Interior de Chile implemento un Sistema de identificacion, estimulo y aprendizajes de buenas practicas para el desarrollo de los territorios del concurso de buenas practicas. El metanalisis del sistema, a traves de la caracterizacion y comparacion de experiencias ganadoras y no ganadoras, permitio identificar las claves del buen desarrollo territorial. La metodologia utilizada consistio en un analisis cuantitativo de 292 experiencias postuladas, y las principales conclusiones indican que las caracteristicas presentes en las experiencias ganadoras y no ganadoras son distintivas; los rasgos comunes son de “termino medio”, no entregando conocimiento especifico diferenciador; finalmente, las caracteristicas presentes en las experiencias ganadoras, si bien refieren directamente al marco teorico que se utilizo, este es insuficiente. Keys to good territorial development Abstract The Ministry of the Interior of Chile implemented a system of identification, stimulation and ...

Different sustainable evaluation tools can provide a way to certify the building`s performance during its life cycle: raw material depletion, production of materials and components, construction, use and demolition. In this process, several variables that analyze common components, such as the reduction of resources consume, the reuse and recycle potential, flexibility and adaptability, the pollution components generated during the process, are involved. Some examples of these tools are the systems like SBTool, BREEAM, BEE or LiderA that are used to evaluate a specific context according to specific conditions. Meanwhile, the existing evaluation systems are oriented to the building´s design phase or have under consideration patterns adapted to the 21 st century reality. This work was developed due to the need to analyse and evaluate the built environment, specifically in what concerns the urban settlements in Portuguese cities, with more than three hundred years old, and that are not enclosed in the new construction's reality-both at materials and techniques levels. The knowledge gathered about the built environment allows the creation of a sustainable grid capable of guide-lining rehabilitation actions. The evaluation of these urban areas was carried out based on an exhaustive work of collecting the building's characteristics, in an area with around 770 buildings, allowing the creation of a built environment sustainability evaluation grid and adapted to socio, cultural, heritage, economic and environmental contexts. The grid mentioned before was designed after a set of parameters were analyzed, such as: i) the existent materials and the constructive solutions adopted; ii) the urban mesh and the meeting of the construction resources to the built environment; iii) the contemporaneous patterns and the possibilities of reusing; iv) the heritage and cultural values; v) the social and economic values. The evaluation grid presented in this work shows a set of different parameters, where the criteria that are related to the external environment are reassessed according to the existent urban possibilities and where the criteria related to internal environment are adapted to the existent spaces' possibilities.

Different sustainable evaluation tools can provide a way to certify the building`s performance during its life cycle: raw material depletion, production of materials and components, construction, use and demolition. In this process, several variables that analyze common components, such as the reduction of resources consume, the reuse and recycle potential, flexibility and adaptability, the pollution components generated during the process, are involved. Some examples of these tools are the systems like SBTool, BREEAM, BEE or LiderA that are used to evaluate a specific context according to specific conditions. Meanwhile, the existing evaluation systems are oriented to the building´s design phase or have under consideration patterns adapted to the 21 st century reality. This work was developed due to the need to analyse and evaluate the built environment, specifically in what concerns the urban settlements in Portuguese cities, with more than three hundred years old, and that are not enclosed in the new construction's reality-both at materials and techniques levels. The knowledge gathered about the built environment allows the creation of a sustainable grid capable of guide-lining rehabilitation actions. The evaluation of these urban areas was carried out based on an exhaustive work of collecting the building's characteristics, in an area with around 770 buildings, allowing the creation of a built environment sustainability evaluation grid and adapted to socio, cultural, heritage, economic and environmental contexts. The grid mentioned before was designed after a set of parameters were analyzed, such as: i) the existent materials and the constructive solutions adopted; ii) the urban mesh and the meeting of the construction resources to the built environment; iii) the contemporaneous patterns and the possibilities of reusing; iv) the heritage and cultural values; v) the social and economic values. The evaluation grid presented in this work shows a set of different parameters, where the criteria that are related to the external environment are reassessed according to the existent urban possibilities and where the criteria related to internal environment are adapted to the existent spaces' possibilities.

This study investigates the effects of prescribed burning on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities in two different habitats, a pine forest stand in Northern Portugal and a shrubland in a central region that were fire treated in spring of 1998. These two ecosystems were considerably different floristically as well as structurally. Pitfall trapping was performed for two years in the pine stand and three years in the shrubland. Species of dryer open habitats dominated after fire in the shrubland site while the pine stand habitat showed a more or less constant carabid community structure for all treatments. Some Carabid taxa such as species/subspecies like Chrysocarabus lateralis, Petrophilus brevipennis sousai, Macrothorax rugosus celtiberus and Steropus globosus ebenus may be considered as indicators for fire managed areas in Mediterranean ecosystems.

Although the avifauna of central brazilian region known as Pantanal is reasonably well studied, there are few scattered informations about the ornithological composition of other parts of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Between November 1999 and January 2006, we realized fieldwork for the study of avifauna of the ecoturistic region of Bonito as well the neighbourhoods of Serra da Bodoquena National Park. We recorded 353 species, and some of these are highlights as endangered or poorly known taxa, like the Fasciated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma fasciatum), Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis), Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) and Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea). We hope that part of these results may be used in conservation plans for the region, as aid for the development of local ecoturistic activities, because the needing of informations about the regional avifauna have been increasing in the last two decades.

We extend the theory of labeled Markov processes with internal nondeterminism, a fundamental concept for the further development of a process theory with abstraction on nondeterministic continuous probabilistic systems. We define nondeterministic labeled Markov processes (NLMP) and provide both a state based bisimulation and an event based bisimulation. We show the relation between them, including that the largest state bisimulation is also an event bisimulation. We also introduce a variation of the Hennessy-Milner logic that characterizes event bisimulation and that is sound w.r.t. the state base bisimulation for arbitrary NLMP. This logic, however, is infinitary as it contains a denumerable ∨. We then introduce a finitary sublogic that characterize both state and event bisimulation for image finite NLMP whose underlying measure space is also analytic. Hence, in this setting, all notions of bisimulation we deal with turn out to be equal.

We extend the theory of labeled Markov processes with internal nondeterminism, a fundamental concept for the further development of a process theory with abstraction on nondeterministic continuous probabilistic systems. We define nondeterministic labeled Markov processes (NLMP) and provide both a state based bisimulation and an event based bisimulation. We show the relation between them, including that the largest state bisimulation is also an event bisimulation. We also introduce a variation of the Hennessy-Milner logic that characterizes event bisimulation and that is sound w.r.t. the state base bisimulation for arbitrary NLMP. This logic, however, is infinitary as it contains a denumerable ∨. We then introduce a finitary sublogic that characterize both state and event bisimulation for image finite NLMP whose underlying measure space is also analytic. Hence, in this setting, all notions of bisimulation we deal with turn out to be equal.

We consider a model for interacting objects, where the evolution of each object is given by a finite state Markov chain, whose transition matrix depends on the present and the past of the distribution of states of all objects. This is a general model of wide applicability; we mention as examples: TCP connections, HTTP flows, robot swarms, reputation systems. We show that when the number of objects is large, the occupancy measure of the system converges to a deterministic dynamical system (the "mean field") with dimension the number of states of an individual object. We also prove a fast simulation result, which allows to simulate the evolution of a few particular objects imbedded in a large system. We illustrate how this can be used to model the determination of reputation in large populations, with various liar strategies.

PEPS is a tool package for modeling and solving models expressed in Stochastic Automata Networks fS AN J. The SAN formalism defines a compact storage scheme for the transition matrix of the Markov chain and it uses tensor algebra to handle the basic vector ...

This paper addresses the problem of detecting and resolving conflicts due to timing constraints imposed by features in real-time and hybrid systems. We consider systems composed of a base system with multiple features or controllers, each of which independently advise the system on how to react to input events so as to conform to their individual specifications. We propose a methodology for developing such systems in a modular manner based on the notion of conflict-tolerant features that are designed to continue offering advice even when their advice has been overridden in the past. We give a simple prioritybased scheme for composing such features. This guarantees the maximal use of each feature. We provide a formal framework for specifying such features, and a compositional technique for verifying systems developed in this framework.

This paper addresses the problem of detecting and re- solving conflicts due to timing constraints imposed by fea- tures in real-time systems. We consider systems composed of a base system with multiplefeatures or controllers, each of which independently advise the system on how to react to input events so as to conform to their individual specifica- tions. We propose a

This paper presents the last version of Draw-Net, a customizable tool for the design and solution of models expressed in any graph based formalism, including the possibility of representing complex models by means of multiformalism and analyzing them by exploiting different solution modules. In particular, it focuses on the new tools and features available in the current version of the framework.

A prematuridade encerra algumas questões éticas que quisemos analisar e reflectir e que se prendem com: Quais os limites da viabilidade do recém-nascido prematuro? Quando é que uma reanimação intensiva é considerada apropriada ou inapropriada? Quais os critérios ...

The Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) has participated in the Erasmus mobility programme for more than twelve years, becoming thus one of the Portuguese institutions that promotes students and teaching mobility the most. In the last decade, the IPB supported the mobility of 2900 students and more than 600 teachers and staff within this programme. These mobility numbers also place the IPB on a high level in the current international scene. The IPB is on the Top 100 of the European HEIs with the highest reception rates of teachers in Erasmus mobility. Since 2005, the IPB has organized an Erasmus Week for a more efficient collaboration with our European partners and to allow their teachers and staff to become familiar with the IPB campus, its Schools, the city and the region. During the IPB Erasmus Week, the IPB organizes teaching and staff training (STT) and the seminars prepared under Staff Teaching Assignment (STA) are scheduled and introduced in the regular timetable of Bache...

This article identifies selection and implementation of an effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system or performance management system (PMS) as an opportunity for quantum-leap improvement, for governments, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and
corporations in transitional and emerging economies. From here on we
refer to PMS, which combines effective M&E with a process of management feedback and action-taking. The conclusions of this article apply equally to PMS and M&E. Effective M&E is the foundation for effective PMS. By improving transparency, strengthening governance, building capacity and underpinning service delivery, a joined-up, cohesive PMS eliminates key barriers to funding and development.

The approach described here provides the ability to implement policy and eliminates grey areas of accountability and transparency that breed corruption, as well as loss of knowledge and competencies. In industrialised nations, implementation of a PMS is still very important, but with many existing measurement, auditing, monitoring and evaluation systems in place, it may be harder to do the right thing and
implement a joined-up, cohesive and integrated system.

Organisations in emerging economies and/or transitional
societies have the opportunity to leap-frog organisations in
other industrialised nations by implementing joined-up
performance management, governance and service
delivery from the start. We use the term “leap-frog” to
mean overtaking industrialised nations – as opposed to
playing “catch-up”: to take a position of primacy, by
recognising and operating from new global realities. Some
pundits avoid comparing “developed” with “developing”,
because this assessment ignores the fact that Africa, like
other emerging and transitional economies and societies,
may be more developed than industrialised countries in
essential human competences.

1 Doutorando em Psicologia, ISCTE-IUL 2 Professor Auxiliar, ISCTE-IUL Quando determinam a aceitabilidade ética de uma decisão, as pessoas tendem a tomar as consequências como base do seu julgamento. Especificamente, uma decisão ética tende a ser mais aceitável quando as consequências são apresentadas como positivas. O presente estudo (N=251) examina os efeitos da responsabilização (prestação de contas a terceiros) sobre o julgamento da aceitabilidade de uma decisão eticamente dúbia, cujas consequências se apresentam como positivas, neutras ou negativas. Os resultados indicam que os participantes que esperam ter de prestar contas sobre o seu julgamento, comparativamente com os não responsabilizados, mostram-se mais severos quanto à aceitabilidade da decisão quando as consequências são positivas ou neutras. Neste caso, os participantes tendem a considerar a decisão eticamente inaceitável, independentemente de estarem ou não responsabilizadas. Os resultados são discutidos no âmbito dos modelos teóricos da responsabilização, sendo destacada a relevância desta para o escrutínio de natureza ética nos processos de decisão nas organizações. Palavras-chave: Responsabilização, Tomada de decisão ética, Enviesamento.