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Title: CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: PATTERNS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ATTENTION OVER TIME.
Creator: Timko Jr, Thomas, Rapport, Mark, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Investigated differences in attentional processes between children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their classroom peers. Models of attention gleaned from laboratory experiments provided a theoretical structure for hypothesizing between-group attentional differences. Seventy-five children with ADHD and 36 normal control children were observed in their regular classrooms over a 1-week time interval. Explication of between-group differences revealed that...
Show moreInvestigated differences in attentional processes between children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their classroom peers. Models of attention gleaned from laboratory experiments provided a theoretical structure for hypothesizing between-group attentional differences. Seventy-five children with ADHD and 36 normal control children were observed in their regular classrooms over a 1-week time interval. Explication of between-group differences revealed that children with ADHD were approximately 21% less attentive on average. Both groups exhibited an accelerating-decelerating pattern of attention over time, however, children with ADHD cycled at a rate twice that of same-aged peers. Six variables derived from observed attention were examined for diagnostic utility using logistical regression, odds ratios, total predictive value, and receiver operating characteristics. Implications of these findings are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000686, ucf:46485
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000686

Title: NONLINEAR ADAPTIVE ESTIMATION ANDITS APPLICATION TO SYNCHRONIZATION OF LORENZ SYSTEM.
Creator: Jin, Yufang, Qu, Zhihua, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Synchronization and estimation of unknown constant parameters forLorenz-type transmitter are studied under the assumption that oneof the three state variables is not transmitted and thattransmitter parameters are not known apriori. An adaptivealgorithm is proposed to estimate both the state and systemparameters. Since Lorenz system shows the property of sensitivityto initial conditions and evolves in different mode with parametervariation, an equivalent system is introduced. The...
Show moreSynchronization and estimation of unknown constant parameters forLorenz-type transmitter are studied under the assumption that oneof the three state variables is not transmitted and thattransmitter parameters are not known apriori. An adaptivealgorithm is proposed to estimate both the state and systemparameters. Since Lorenz system shows the property of sensitivityto initial conditions and evolves in different mode with parametervariation, an equivalent system is introduced. The adaptiveobserver is designed based on this equivalent system without anyrequirement on initial conditions of the observer. It is shown byLyapunov arguments and persistent excitation analysis thatexponential stability of state and parameter estimation isguaranteed. Simulation results are included to demonstrateproperties of the algorithm. In a practical communication system,the received signals presented at the receiver part differ fromthose which were transmitted due to the effects of noise. Theproposed synchronization scheme is robust with regard to externalbounded disturbance. When an additive white gaussian noise (AWGN)channel model is considered, estimates of state and parameterconverge except for small errors. The results show promise ineither coherent detection or the message decoding intelecommunication systems.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000114, ucf:46187
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000114

Title: The Effects of the Marzano Observation System Training on the Self-Efficacy of Teacher Observers.
Creator: Ashley, Samuel, Murray, Kenneth, Murray, Barbara, Baldwin, Lee, Holt, Larry, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research analyzed the effects of the Marzano Teacher Observation training on the self-efficacy of teacher observers. In this study, seventy-four teacher observers reported their self-efficacy in the areas of evaluating student engagement, evaluating classroom management, and evaluating instructional strategies in pre and post surveys. The results of the surveys were analyzed with a paired samples t-test. This study found that the Marzano Teacher Observation system increases the self...
Show moreThis research analyzed the effects of the Marzano Teacher Observation training on the self-efficacy of teacher observers. In this study, seventy-four teacher observers reported their self-efficacy in the areas of evaluating student engagement, evaluating classroom management, and evaluating instructional strategies in pre and post surveys. The results of the surveys were analyzed with a paired samples t-test. This study found that the Marzano Teacher Observation system increases the self-efficacy of teacher observers. This study was delimited to participants of a Marzano Teacher Observation training conducted in the fall of 2014. The findings of this study will inform executive school leaders of the impact Marzano Teacher Observation training has on the self-efficacy of teacher observers.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005758, ucf:50109
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005758

Title: Content and Effects of Specific Targeted Feedback from Teacher Observations on Student Achievement in a Large Urban School District.
Creator: Haynes, Rachel, Murray, Barbara, Baldwin, Lee, Doherty, Walter, Spadaccini, Becky, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the content of specific targeted feedback and student achievement and to identify student and teacher knowledge voids from the content of feedback in relationship to achievement level outcomes. This study aimed to deeply analyze the effects of specific targeted feedback as researched by Rafalski (2015). De-identified data from a purposive sample of Rafalski's (2015) original study were selected from a large urban school...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the content of specific targeted feedback and student achievement and to identify student and teacher knowledge voids from the content of feedback in relationship to achievement level outcomes. This study aimed to deeply analyze the effects of specific targeted feedback as researched by Rafalski (2015). De-identified data from a purposive sample of Rafalski's (2015) original study were selected from a large urban school district in Central Florida as well as student achievement level outcome data from the 2013-2014 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 (FCAT 2.0). Raw observation data were used to determine the content of the feedback and analyzed with statistical tests to identify if relationships existed between the feedback content and student achievement. The observation data came from the 2013-2014 Marzano protocol used in the large urban school district in this study. Data were coded from a rubric created to determine the categories and charges of specific targeted feedback. Descriptive statistics were calculated to identify frequencies in the data, and Pearson's r was used to calculate correlations between the categories and charges of feedback coded and the average student achievement level outcomes for FCAT 2.0 assessments for each teacher in the study. Data from frequency calculations showed areas in which elements scored, feedback categories, and feedback charge were heaviest and lacking. Correlations showed areas in which statistically significant relationships occurred and did not occur. From these data it was determined that in terms of supporting level 1 and level 2 students, teachers did not receive much feedback in areas of building student relationships, and probing low expectancy students. Teachers also received predominantly neutral feedback and feedback that contained coaching tips. The validity and relevancy of the feedback was beyond the scope of this study. Correlational data showed both positive and negative relationships between elements coded and student achievement level outcomes as well as feedback categories and student achievement level outcomes. There were no statistically significant relationships between the charge of feedback and student achievement data.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006343, ucf:51562
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006343

Title: CLASSROOM OBSERVATION OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD AND THEIR PEERS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW.
Creator: Kofler, Michael, Rapport, Mark, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Meta-analysis of 23 between-group direct observation studies of children with ADHD and typically developing peers indicates significant deficiencies in children with ADHD's ability to pay attention in classroom settings. Comparison with 59 single case design studies of children with ADHD suggests generalizability of between-group comparisons. Weighted regression analysis determined that several methodological differences – sample characteristics, diagnostic procedures, and observational...
Show moreMeta-analysis of 23 between-group direct observation studies of children with ADHD and typically developing peers indicates significant deficiencies in children with ADHD's ability to pay attention in classroom settings. Comparison with 59 single case design studies of children with ADHD suggests generalizability of between-group comparisons. Weighted regression analysis determined that several methodological differences – sample characteristics, diagnostic procedures, and observational coding schema – have significant effects on observed levels of attentive behavior in the classroom. Best case estimation indicates that after accounting for these factors, children with ADHD are on-task approximately 65% of the time compared to 85% for their classroom peers. Children with ADHD were also more variable in their attentive behavior across studies. Implications for conceptual models of ADHD are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000942, ucf:46752
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000942

Title: DEINDIVIDUATION OF DRIVERS: IS EVERYONE ELSE A BAD DRIVER?.
Creator: MacArthur, Keith, Hancock, Peter, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Deindividuation is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a given environment reduces the "individuality" or identifiability of a person. These environments may cause a psychological reduction in self-consciousness, potentially leading to violations of sociocultural norms (Festinger, Pepitone, & Newcomb, 1952; Singer, Brush, & Lublin, 1965). The present research sought to empirically test deindividuation theory among automobile drivers utilizing the anonymizing factor of observation....
Show moreDeindividuation is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a given environment reduces the "individuality" or identifiability of a person. These environments may cause a psychological reduction in self-consciousness, potentially leading to violations of sociocultural norms (Festinger, Pepitone, & Newcomb, 1952; Singer, Brush, & Lublin, 1965). The present research sought to empirically test deindividuation theory among automobile drivers utilizing the anonymizing factor of observation. Participants (N = 31) used a driving simulator and were either in the observed condition or an unobserved condition. Analysis of driving data did not reveal significant results, however self-report data had some interesting trends. Though limited in scope, this research begins to shed light on deindividuation of drivers and may provide a foundation for future research.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004644, ucf:45325
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004644

Title: Learning Internal State Memory Representations from Observation.
Creator: Wong, Josiah, Gonzalez, Avelino, Liu, Fei, Wu, Annie, Ontanon, Santiago, Wiegand, Rudolf, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Learning from Observation (LfO) is a machine learning paradigm that mimics how people learn in daily life: learning how to do something simply by watching someone else do it. LfO has been used in various applications, from video game agent creation to driving a car, but it has always been limited by the inability of an observer to know what a performing entity chooses to remember as they act in an environment. Various methods have either ignored the effects of memory or otherwise made...
Show moreLearning from Observation (LfO) is a machine learning paradigm that mimics how people learn in daily life: learning how to do something simply by watching someone else do it. LfO has been used in various applications, from video game agent creation to driving a car, but it has always been limited by the inability of an observer to know what a performing entity chooses to remember as they act in an environment. Various methods have either ignored the effects of memory or otherwise made simplistic assumptions about its structure. In this dissertation, we propose a new method, Memory Composition Learning, that captures the influence of a performer's memory in an observed behavior through the creation of an auxiliary memory feature set that explicitly models the aspects of the environment with significance for future decisions, and which can be used with a machine learning technique to provide salient information from memory. It advances the state of the art by automatically learning the internal structure of memory instead of ignoring or predefining it. This research is difficult in that memory modeling is an unsupervised learning problem that we elect to solve solely from unobtrusive observation. This research is significant for LfO in that it will allow learning techniques that otherwise could not use information from memory to use a tailored set of learned memory features that capture salient influences from memory and enable decision-making based on these influences for more effective learning performance. To validate our hypothesis, we implemented a prototype for modeling observed memory influences with our approach and applied it to simulated vacuum cleaner and lawn mower domains. Our investigation revealed that MCL was able to automatically learn memory features that describe the influences on an observed actor's internal state, and which improved learning performance of observed behaviors.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007879, ucf:52755
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007879

Title: LEARNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR FROM OBSERVATION FOR GAMING APPLICATIONS.
Creator: Moriarty, Christopher, Gonzalez, Avelino, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The gaming industry has reached a point where improving graphics has only a small effect on how much a player will enjoy a game. One focus has turned to adding more humanlike characteristics into computer game agents. Machine learning techniques are being used scarcely in games, although they do offer powerful means for creating humanlike behaviors in agents. The first person shooter (FPS), Quake 2, is an open source game that offers a multi-agent environment to create game agents (bots) in....
Show moreThe gaming industry has reached a point where improving graphics has only a small effect on how much a player will enjoy a game. One focus has turned to adding more humanlike characteristics into computer game agents. Machine learning techniques are being used scarcely in games, although they do offer powerful means for creating humanlike behaviors in agents. The first person shooter (FPS), Quake 2, is an open source game that offers a multi-agent environment to create game agents (bots) in. This work attempts to combine neural networks with a modeling paradigm known as context based reasoning (CxBR) to create a contextual game observation (CONGO) system that produces Quake 2 agents that behave as a human player trains them to act. A default level of intelligence is instilled into the bots through contextual scripts to prevent the bot from being trained to be completely useless. The results show that the humanness and entertainment value as compared to a traditional scripted bot have improved, although, CONGO bots usually ranked only slightly above a novice skill level. Overall, CONGO is a technique that offers the gaming community a mode of game play that has promising entertainment value.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001694, ucf:47201
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001694

Title: FPGA-BASED DESIGN OF A MAXIMUM-POWER-POINT TRACKING SYSTEM FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS.
Creator: Persen, Todd, Ejnioui, Abdel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Satellites need a source of power throughout their missions to help them remain operational for several years. The power supplies of these satellites, provided primarily by solar arrays, must have high efficiencies and low weights in order to meet stringent design constraints. Power conversion from these arrays is required to provide robust and reliable conversion which performs optimally in varying conditions of peak power, solar flux, and occlusion conditions. Since the role of these arrays...
Show moreSatellites need a source of power throughout their missions to help them remain operational for several years. The power supplies of these satellites, provided primarily by solar arrays, must have high efficiencies and low weights in order to meet stringent design constraints. Power conversion from these arrays is required to provide robust and reliable conversion which performs optimally in varying conditions of peak power, solar flux, and occlusion conditions. Since the role of these arrays is to deliver power, one of the principle factors in achieving maximum power output from an array is tracking and holding its maximum-power point. This point, which varies with temperature, insolation, and loading conditions, must be continuously monitored in order to react to rapid changes. Until recently, the control of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) has been implemented in microcontrollers and digital signal processors (DSPs). While DSPs can provide a reasonable performance, they do not provide the advantages that field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) chips can potentially offer to the implementation of MPPT control. In comparison to DSP implementations, FPGAs offer lower cost implementations since the functions of various components can be integrated onto the same FPGA chip as opposed to DSPs which can perform only DSP-related computations. In addition, FPGAs can provide equivalent or higher performance with the customization potential of an ASIC. Because FPGAs can be reprogrammed at any time, repairs can be performed in-situ while the system is running thus providing a high degree of robustness. Beside robustness, this reprogrammability can provide a high level of (i) flexibility that can make upgrading an MPPT control system easy by merely updating or modifying the MPPT algorithm running on the FPGA chip, and (ii) expandability that makes expanding an FPGA-based MPPT control system to handle multi-channel control. In addition, this reprogrammability provides a level of testability that DSPs cannot match by allowing the emulation of the entire MPPT control system onto the FPGA chip. This thesis proposes an FPGA-based implementation of an MPPT control system suitable for space applications. At the core of this system, the Perturb-and-observe algorithm is used to track the maximum power point. The algorithm runs on an Alera FLEX 10K FPGA chip. Additional functional blocks, such as the ADC interface, FIR filter, dither generator, and DAC interface, needed to support the MPPT control system are integrated within the same FPGA device thus streamlining the part composition of the physical prototype used to build this control system.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000287, ucf:46232
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000287

Title: A CONTEXTUAL APPROACH TO LEARNING COLLABORATIVE BEHAVIOR VIA OBSERVATION.
Creator: Johnson, Cynthia, Gonzalez, Avelino, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation describes a novel technique to creating a simulated team of agents through observation. Simulated human teamwork can be used for a number of purposes, such as expert examples, automated teammates for training purposes and realistic opponents in games and training simulation. Current teamwork simulations require the team member behaviors be programmed into the simulation, often requiring a great deal of time and effort. None are able to observe a team at work and replicate...
Show moreThis dissertation describes a novel technique to creating a simulated team of agents through observation. Simulated human teamwork can be used for a number of purposes, such as expert examples, automated teammates for training purposes and realistic opponents in games and training simulation. Current teamwork simulations require the team member behaviors be programmed into the simulation, often requiring a great deal of time and effort. None are able to observe a team at work and replicate the teamwork behaviors. Machine learning techniques for learning by observation and learning by demonstration have proven successful at observing behavior of humans or other software agents and creating a behavior function for a single agent. The research described here combines current research in teamwork simulations and learning by observation to effectively train a multi-agent system in effective team behavior. The dissertation describes the background and work by others as well as a detailed description of the learning method. A prototype built to evaluate the developed approach as well as the extensive experimentation conducted is also described.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003602, ucf:48869
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003602

Title: DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED MICROWAVE OCEAN SURFACE EMISSIVITY RADIATIVE TRANSFER MODEL.
Creator: El-Nimri, Salem, Jones, W. Linwood, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: An electromagnetic model is developed for predicting the microwave blackbody emission from the ocean surface over a wide range of frequencies, incidence angles, and wind vector (speed and direction) for both horizontal and vertical polarizations. This ocean surface emissivity model is intended to be incorporated into an oceanic radiative transfer model to be used for microwave radiometric applications including geophysical retrievals over oceans. The model development is based on a collection...
Show moreAn electromagnetic model is developed for predicting the microwave blackbody emission from the ocean surface over a wide range of frequencies, incidence angles, and wind vector (speed and direction) for both horizontal and vertical polarizations. This ocean surface emissivity model is intended to be incorporated into an oceanic radiative transfer model to be used for microwave radiometric applications including geophysical retrievals over oceans. The model development is based on a collection of published ocean emissivity measurements obtained from satellites, aircraft, field experiments, and laboratory measurements. This dissertation presents the details of methods used in the ocean surface emissivity model development and comparisons with current emissivity models and aircraft radiometric measurements in hurricanes. Especially, this empirically derived ocean emissivity model relates changes in vertical and horizontal polarized ocean microwave brightness temperature measurements over a wide range of observation frequencies and incidence angles to physical roughness changes in the ocean surface, which are the result of the air/sea interaction with surface winds. Of primary importance are the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) brightness temperature measurements from hurricane flights and independent measurements of surface wind speed that are used to define empirical relationships between C-band (4 Ã‚Â– 7 GHz) microwave brightness temperature and surface wind speed. By employing statistical regression techniques, we develop a physical-based ocean emissivity model with empirical coefficients that depends on geophysical parameters, such as wind speed, wind direction, sea surface temperature, and observational parameters, such as electromagnetic frequency, electromagnetic polarization, and incidence angle.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003085, ucf:48323
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003085

Title: HURRICANE WIND SPEED AND RAIN RATE MEASUREMENTS USING THE AIRBORNE HURRICANE IMAGING RADIOMETER (HIRAD).
Creator: Amarin, Ruba, Jones, W. Linwood, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation presents results for an end-to-end computer simulation of a new airborne microwave remote sensor, the Hurricane Imaging Radiometer, HIRAD, which will provide improved hurricane surveillance. The emphasis of this research is the retrieval of hurricane-force wind speeds in the presence of intense rain and over long atmospheric slant path lengths that are encountered across its wide swath. Brightness temperature (Tb) simulations are performed using a forward microwave radiative...
Show moreThis dissertation presents results for an end-to-end computer simulation of a new airborne microwave remote sensor, the Hurricane Imaging Radiometer, HIRAD, which will provide improved hurricane surveillance. The emphasis of this research is the retrieval of hurricane-force wind speeds in the presence of intense rain and over long atmospheric slant path lengths that are encountered across its wide swath. Brightness temperature (Tb) simulations are performed using a forward microwave radiative transfer model (RTM) that includes an ocean surface emissivity model at high wind speeds developed especially for HIRAD high incidence angle measurements and a rain model for the hurricane environment. Also included are realistic sources of errors (e.g., instrument NEDT, antenna pattern convolution of scene Tb, etc.), which are expected in airborne hurricane observations. Case studies are performed using 3D environmental parameters produced by numerical hurricane models for actual hurricanes. These provide realistic Ã‚Â"nature runsÃ‚Â" of rain, water vapor, clouds and surface winds from which simulated HIRAD TbÃ‚Â's are derived for various flight tracks from a high altitude aircraft. Using these simulated HIRAD measurements, Monte Carlo retrievals of wind speed and rain rate are performed using available databases of sea surface temperatures and climatological hurricane atmospheric parameters (excluding rain) as a priori information. Examples of retrieved hurricane wind speed and rain rate images are presented, and comparisons of the retrieved parameters with the numerical model data are made. Statistical results are presented over a broad range of wind and rain conditions and as a function of path length over the full swath.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003082, ucf:48330
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003082

Title: Hyperactivity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Testing functional relationships with phonological working memory performance and attention.
Creator: Sarver, Dustin, Rapport, Mark, Beidel, Deborah, Mouloua, Mustapha, Vasquez, Eleazar, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Excessive gross motor activity is currently considered a ubiquitous and disruptive feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, an alternative model challenges this premise and hypothesizes a functional relationship between activity level, attention, and working memory. The current study investigated whether, and the extent to which, particular forms of gross motor activity are functionally related to children's attention and phonological working memory performance....
Show moreExcessive gross motor activity is currently considered a ubiquitous and disruptive feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, an alternative model challenges this premise and hypothesizes a functional relationship between activity level, attention, and working memory. The current study investigated whether, and the extent to which, particular forms of gross motor activity are functionally related to children's attention and phonological working memory performance. Objective observations of children's gross motor movements and attention by independent observers were conducted while children with ADHD (n = 29) and typically developing children (n = 23) completed multiple counterbalanced tasks entailing low and high phonological working memory demand. The tasks were then sequenced hierarchically to reflect the lowest to highest activity level condition for each child. Results revealed that (a) ADHD-related phonological working memory performance deficits are moderated by increases in intra-individual activity level, (b) heightened activity level impacts performance independently of changes in observed attention, and (c) increases in particular forms of movement (foot movement and out-of-chair movement) contribute to greater phonological working memory performance within the context of attentive behavior. The findings collectively indicate that phonological working memory deficits in children with ADHD are associated with an inability to up-regulate motor activity to facilitate optimal task performance, and that behavioral treatments targeting reductions in certain forms of hyperactivity may have unintended consequences on working memory functioning in ADHD.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004930, ucf:49630
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004930

Title: An Examination of Administrators' Knowledge of the Standards for Mathematical Practice - A Think Aloud.
Creator: Glenn-White, Vernita, Dixon, Juli, Ortiz, Enrique, Haciomeroglu, Erhan, Boote, David, Taylor, Rosemarye, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Administrators who observe mathematics teachers need to have knowledge and an understanding of mathematics teaching and learning to effectively evaluate teachers and how their instructional practices relate to student thinking. This research study was conducted to illustrate the importance of understanding the thought process of administrators as they make decisions about teacher effectiveness based on what they notice during observations of mathematics classrooms.The purpose of this study...
Show moreAdministrators who observe mathematics teachers need to have knowledge and an understanding of mathematics teaching and learning to effectively evaluate teachers and how their instructional practices relate to student thinking. This research study was conducted to illustrate the importance of understanding the thought process of administrators as they make decisions about teacher effectiveness based on what they notice during observations of mathematics classrooms.The purpose of this study was to examine what administrators attend to in the instructional environment and how what they notice influences their ability to identify the Common Core State Standards, Standards for Mathematical Practice. A purposive sample of six administrators engaged in cognitive interviews, known as think alouds, while observing two mathematics classroom videos. This study was designed to explore how administrators' instructional leadership knowledge or skills influence what they notice during mathematics instruction.There was evidence that administrators did notice aspects of the instructional environment pertaining to teachers, students, and, content. However, in this study it was found that administrators with an understanding of mathematics teaching and learning attended more to student's mathematical thinking during instruction. It was also found that there was an increase of the administrators' mathematical language and attention to student interactions with mathematics content when the administrators were presented with a tool describing the elements of a classroom engaged in the Standards for Mathematical Practice.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005797, ucf:50034
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005797

Title: An Analysis of the Variables in Implementation of the Marzano Causal Teacher Evaluation System in the State of Florida.
Creator: Phillips, Matthew, Murray, Barbara, Murray, Kenneth, Baldwin, Lee, Hutchinson, Cynthia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This was a non-experimental, mixed methods study to research the different ways in which the Marzano casual teacher evaluation system was implemented in 25 school districts in the state of Florida during the 2012-2013 school year. Based on seven implementation variables, the teacher evaluation systems were compared to the implementation model and research-based best practice. The researcher then sought to determine what relationships may or may not exist in teacher performance ratings between...
Show moreThis was a non-experimental, mixed methods study to research the different ways in which the Marzano casual teacher evaluation system was implemented in 25 school districts in the state of Florida during the 2012-2013 school year. Based on seven implementation variables, the teacher evaluation systems were compared to the implementation model and research-based best practice. The researcher then sought to determine what relationships may or may not exist in teacher performance ratings between districts that followed the research-based implementation model and districts that did not. Two stated purposes of the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system were to improve the accuracy of teacher performance ratings and to improve the accuracy of feedback provided to teachers. Variation in implementation may possibly occur among school districts. To date no research has been conducted to analyze how variations in implementation may relate to teacher performance ratings. The purpose of this study was to provide data to support best-practice in the implementation of the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system and to guide instructional leaders on the implementation of this evaluation system. The researcher also sought to ensure the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system provides both accurate teacher feedback and accurate teacher evaluations. Data was collected from the Florida Department of Education published reports and information. School district implementation plans were gathered from state submitted documentation. Implementation plans were analyzed and read. Data was collected on a data collection sheet and then analyzed in SPSS using a crosstab Chi square test to determine if a statistically significant relationships existed between districts that followed the research-based implementation model and districts that did not. It was determined that implementation of the Marzano causal evaluation system varies widely. In six out of the seven implementation variables, it was determined that there were statistically significant relationships in teacher evaluation scores between districts that followed the research-based implementation variables and districts that did not. Further research should include validity and reliability studies on the Marzano causal evaluation system. Research should continue to analyze different ways in which the Marzano causal evaluation system is implemented, and what relationship there is between implementation and teacher performance ratings. Research should be conducted to analyze the effectiveness of feedback provided to teachers through the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system. This research indicates that the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system should be used following research based best-practice and how it is intended to be used. The research in this study shows that when implementation variables are altered in the Marzano causal teacher evaluation system, teacher performance ratings may become inaccurate. Based on misunderstandings of the Marzano causal evaluation system, it is recommended school leaders receive additional training on the understanding and implementation of the Marzano casual teacher evaluation system.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005399, ucf:50460
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005399

Title: EVOLVING MODELS FROM OBSERVED HUMAN PERFORMANCE.
Creator: Fernlund, Hans Karl Gustav, Gonzalez, Avelino J., University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: To create a realistic environment, many simulations require simulated agents with human behavior patterns. Manually creating such agents with realistic behavior is often a tedious and time-consuming task. This dissertation describes a new approach that automatically builds human behavior models for simulated agents by observing human performance. The research described in this dissertation synergistically combines Context-Based Reasoning, a paradigm especially developed to model tactical...
Show moreTo create a realistic environment, many simulations require simulated agents with human behavior patterns. Manually creating such agents with realistic behavior is often a tedious and time-consuming task. This dissertation describes a new approach that automatically builds human behavior models for simulated agents by observing human performance. The research described in this dissertation synergistically combines Context-Based Reasoning, a paradigm especially developed to model tactical human performance within simulated agents, with Genetic Programming, a machine learning algorithm to construct the behavior knowledge in accordance to the paradigm. This synergistic combination of well-documented AI methodologies has resulted in a new algorithm that effectively and automatically builds simulated agents with human behavior. This algorithm was tested extensively with five different simulated agents created by observing the performance of five humans driving an automobile simulator. The agents show not only the ability/capability to automatically learn and generalize the behavior of the human observed, but they also capture some of the personal behavior patterns observed among the five humans. Furthermore, the agents exhibited a performance that was at least as good as agents developed manually by a knowledgeable engineer.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000013, ucf:46068
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000013

Title: FAMTILE: AN ALGORITHM FOR LEARNING HIGH-LEVEL TACTICAL BEHAVIOR FROM OBSERVATION.
Creator: Stensrud, Brian, Gonzalez, Avelino, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research focuses on the learning of a class of behaviors defined as high-level behaviors. High-level behaviors are defined here as behaviors that can be executed using a sequence of identifiable behaviors. Represented by low-level contexts, these behaviors are known a priori to learning and can be modeled separately by a knowledge engineer. The learning task, which is achieved by observing an expert within simulation, then becomes the identification and representation of the low-level...
Show moreThis research focuses on the learning of a class of behaviors defined as high-level behaviors. High-level behaviors are defined here as behaviors that can be executed using a sequence of identifiable behaviors. Represented by low-level contexts, these behaviors are known a priori to learning and can be modeled separately by a knowledge engineer. The learning task, which is achieved by observing an expert within simulation, then becomes the identification and representation of the low-level context sequence executed by the expert. To learn this sequence, this research proposes FAMTILE - the Fuzzy ARTMAP / Template-Based Interpretation Learning Engine. This algorithm attempts to achieve this learning task by constructing rules that govern the low-level context transitions made by the expert. By combining these rules with models for these low-level context behaviors, it is hypothesized that an intelligent model for the expert can be created that can adequately model his behavior. To evaluate FAMTILE, four testing scenarios were developed that attempt to achieve three distinct evaluation goals: assessing the learning capabilities of Fuzzy ARTMAP, evaluating the ability of FAMTILE to correctly predict expert actions and context choices given an observation, and creating a model of the expert's behavior that can perform the high-level task at a comparable level of proficiency.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000503, ucf:46455
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000503

Title: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: THE NEED FOR INTEGRATED AND SPECIALIZED COURTS IN THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Creator: Caldero, Rose, Milon, Abby, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Over the last 30 years, the justice system has increased attention toward domestic violence. In many states, the emphasis has emerged to a specialization, separate dockets and specially trained judges (Center for Court Innovation 2009). Domestic violence courts have evolved, however the Ninth Circuit Court in Orange and Osceola County has yet to adopt this concept. At present, the Osceola County Courthouse utilizes the Unified Family Court (UFC), an integrated comprehensive approach which...
Show moreOver the last 30 years, the justice system has increased attention toward domestic violence. In many states, the emphasis has emerged to a specialization, separate dockets and specially trained judges (Center for Court Innovation 2009). Domestic violence courts have evolved, however the Ninth Circuit Court in Orange and Osceola County has yet to adopt this concept. At present, the Osceola County Courthouse utilizes the Unified Family Court (UFC), an integrated comprehensive approach which handles all cases simultaneously addressing the families involved in disputes, as well as the adults and the children of domestic violence. The Orange County Courthouse on the other hand, has the court rooms on one designated floor of the Orange County Courthouse which is dedicated to domestic relation's cases. There are (3) specialized judges for domestic violence cases which rotate every (6) months. This thesis will explore the different challenges that are faced by the judicial system in domestic violence courts in Orange and Osceola County. One of those challenges is that there is no set "model" to develop a consistency in practices and policies; therefore there is no mutual understanding or agreement for the purposed outcome. With the study of case law, statutes, court research, court observation, and goal assessments, this thesis will explore the possibilities of change in this court system. The purpose of this study is to contribute awareness, present recommendations to the legal system, and state that it is not enough -although critical- to focus on the victim's safety and the offender accountability, but also it is crucial to place an emphasis on specially trained judges and stakeholders in order to create a more unified structure.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004596, ucf:45229
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004596

Title: COED ADOLESCENT SOCCER PLAYERS IN A COMPETITIVE LEARNING MILIEU: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF GENDER ATTITUDES, PERCEPTIONS, AND SPORT SPECIFIC TESTING.
Creator: O DONNELL, FRANCIS, Rohter, F. D., University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACT:The history of association soccer dates back to the 1800's, and all indications are that prospects for the female athlete was scarce in all sports. The researcher has arranged an environment where young females can train with males in a soccer setting that has all the necessary elements for the athletes to learn, improve and compete with their own gender as well as opposite gender. The female group has been noticeable underachievers in this sport and is not aware of their potential....
Show moreABSTRACT:The history of association soccer dates back to the 1800's, and all indications are that prospects for the female athlete was scarce in all sports. The researcher has arranged an environment where young females can train with males in a soccer setting that has all the necessary elements for the athletes to learn, improve and compete with their own gender as well as opposite gender. The female group has been noticeable underachievers in this sport and is not aware of their potential. The research methodology is ethnographic in nature and study could easily be related to a traditional way to learn and develop in this sport. The method stresses the importance of reproducing procedures that were taught to the researcher. The employment of this method was to provide motivation and additional teaching resources to assist and enhance development of the research participant's potential.This was an ethnographic endeavor that accumulated several sources of data on 13 elite male and female athletes. Based on the data collected interpretations were made regarding their perceptions of the opposite gender. Ethnography was combined with descriptive statistics and employed to elicit and compile the data in the soccer specific testing components and the interviews. Merging techniques of observation (participant observation), field notes, video analysis, individual and group interviews were the sources of rich information for the researcher. This was a practical approach to bring out or discover any overt or covert trends, and to determine what possible barriers to learning would limit and reduce participation in the sport of soccer. The theoretical nature of the research, formal sociology is very much related to observational methods, choosing to gather data in a controlled and organized approach. The researcher's decision to tape the interview process and his preference to videotape events would thereby collect a complete and accurate account of the training progression subject matter. The results in the soccer specific testing indicated that the males were generally faster on sprint runs and had more endurance on the distance runs. However, a few of the females did better some of the males' scores in the aerobic and anaerobic events. The technical and tactical data indicated a slight improvement for the females when comparing pre and posttest results. Once more, the males were more advanced than the females. The psychological data showed the females progressed on the posttest scores. However, there was no overall male domination on the 20 categories. There are different areas on the inventory where females scored higher and other areas where the males would top the females. The interviews provided some enlightening information that confirmed aspects of male domination exist in sport and the feminist's role in sport as bringing attention to many gender issues, the positive and negative aspects of education and sport, the goals and motivation to participate in sport. Finally, the contrasting viewpoints between the American adolescent in this study and the English adolescent in Flintoff's (1993) dissertation and Flintoff and Scraton's (2001) study on physical education and gender issues. The most important finding was that learning had occurred in the training milieu. Learning was accomplished through the males' ability to facilitate the dynamics of attention and discipline required throughout the training sessions that were offered. The soccer specific test results indicated a much more motivated female group and the females' spring season was very successful; the team went undefeated in all competitions. The males in the study began to shed the superior attitude to one of more respect and tolerance of their female counterparts. The female differs emotionally from the male as the interview data illustrated and the co-education environment was both positive and productive, but there are limits to the inclusion of th
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000066, ucf:52853
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000066

Title: Life Long Learning in Sparse Learning Environments.
Creator: Reeder, John, Georgiopoulos, Michael, Gonzalez, Avelino, Sukthankar, Gita, Anagnostopoulos, Georgios, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Life long learning is a machine learning technique that deals with learning sequential tasks over time. It seeks to transfer knowledge from previous learning tasks to new learning tasks in order to increase generalization performance and learning speed. Real-time learning environments in which many agents are participating may provide learning opportunities but they are spread out in time and space outside of the geographical scope of a single learning agent. This research seeks to provide an...
Show moreLife long learning is a machine learning technique that deals with learning sequential tasks over time. It seeks to transfer knowledge from previous learning tasks to new learning tasks in order to increase generalization performance and learning speed. Real-time learning environments in which many agents are participating may provide learning opportunities but they are spread out in time and space outside of the geographical scope of a single learning agent. This research seeks to provide an algorithm and framework for life long learning among a network of agents in a sparse real-time learning environment. This work will utilize the robust knowledge representation of neural networks, and make use of both functional and representational knowledge transfer to accomplish this task. A new generative life long learning algorithm utilizing cascade correlation and reverberating pseudo-rehearsal and incorporating a method for merging divergent life long learning paths will be implemented.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004917, ucf:49601
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004917

ADHD (3)	+ -
Genetic Programming (3)	+ -
Machine Learning (3)	+ -
Artificial Intelligence (2)	+ -
Classroom Observations (2)	+ -

Context-based Reasoning (2)	+ -
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Hurricane Observation (2)	+ -
Microwave Remote Sensing (2)	+ -
Neural Networks (2)	+ -
Radiometry (2)	+ -
SFMR (2)	+ -
attention (2)	+ -
machine learning (2)	+ -
teacher evaluation (2)	+ -
Adaptive (1)	+ -
Administrators (1)	+ -
Algorithms (1)	+ -
Amplitude Estimation (1)	+ -
Calculus (1)	+ -
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