P. E. MacNeil

Viking relativity experiment: Verification of signal retardation by solar gravity

Analysis of 14 months of data obtained from radio ranging to the Viking spacecraft verified, to an estimated accuracy of 0.1%, the prediction of the general theory of relativity that the round-trip times of light signals traveling between the earth and Mars are increased by the direct effect of solar gravity. The corresponding value for the metric parameter gamma is 1.000 plus or minus 0.002, where the quoted uncertainty, twice the formal standard deviation, allows for possible systematic errors.

A genetic algorithm approach to the solution of a differential equation

This paper proposes an approach to solving differential equations by using a genetic algorithm to adjust parameter values in candidate solutions so as to minimize the sum squared error of the differential equation. An example solution is developed for a differential equation representing an electron in the Coulomb potential of two protons. Two measurable parameter values are estimated via this process and compared with published values.

Alternative domains and levels of understanding for software engineering assessment

Assessment usually involves a set of learning outcomes to be assessed and a set of performance levels used to rate achievement in each outcome. Ideally, an assessment approach would support assessment of engineering performance capabilities. This work in progress considers teaching for understanding as a basis for software engineering assessment, and finds that it has advantages over approaches based on Blooms Taxonomy of Learning. Specific examples will be presented at the conference.

Assessment and design of instruction for variable-attendance/distance-learning ALN graduate software engineering education

Courses in the software engineering masters degree program at Mercer University are offered via asynchronous learning nets to students who may attend as many or as few face-to-face class meetings as they choose. As part of our assessment program, we investigated the impact of attendance at the face-to-face class meetings on learning outcomes for individual students. We found essentially no correlation between learning outcomes and attendance. The aggregated data used may conceal dependencies on other factors.Courses in the software engineering masters degree program at Mercer University are offered via asynchronous learning nets to students who may attend as many or as few face-to-face class meetings as they choose. As part of our assessment program, we investigated the impact of attendance at the face-to-face class meetings on learning outcomes for individual students. We found essentially no correlation between learning outcomes and attendance. The aggregated data used may conceal dependencies on other factors.

Teaching for understanding and its specialization to software engineering

Learning outcomes may be expressed as a set of items to be addressed and corresponding performance levels to be reached for each item. Engineering involves the capability to perform engineering functions, so it is desirable that learning outcomes address engineering performance. There are several frameworks for defining education levels. We briefly summarize the dimensions and understanding frameworks that were developed by one of the branches of the teaching for understanding school of educational thought. A few examples of specializing the dimensions and understanding frameworks to software engineering education are presented. The dimensions framework is compared with a set of levels from an agile process source, which also addresses software engineering performance. The dimensions and understanding frameworks appear to apply well to software engineering.

Software engineering masters programs- lessons learned

Nowadays most of the attention is on instantiating undergraduate programs in Software Engineering. Given that many of the master programs are well established, certainly there are lessons learned and advances in pragmatics of instruction that will be of help to new Undergraduate Programs. Furthermore variations of intent and organization of existing master programs provide numerous models of interest for undergraduate programs. And finally, the future of undergraduate education in Software Engineering cannot be fully discussed without an assessment of the trends among graduate programs, including what is going on at the Doctoral level. Lack of qualified teachers in numbers needed for a growing number of undergraduate programs is also a concern. The panel will focus on Master Level Curriculum Models and Pragmatics of Instruction in form of Lessons Learned in direct experience with Master Programs in Software Engineering and Software Engineering Management..

New results from the viking relativity experiment

Abstract The predicted general relativistic effect of solar gravity on the round-trip times of electromagnetic signals traveling between Earth and Mars has been verified by means of radio ranging to the Viking spacecraft. The ranging measurements were found to be consistent with the predicted increases of up to 200 μsec in the travel times of the signals to within the estimated uncertainty of 0.2%.