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Environmental & Architectural Phenomenology Vol. 27, No. 1, Kansas State University. Architecture Department

Environmental & Architectural Phenomenology

No abstract provided.

Describing Images Using A Multilayer Framework Based On Qualitative Spatial Models, Tao Wang, Hui Shi

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

To date most research in image processing has been based on quantitative representations of image features using pixel values, however, humans often use abstract and semantic knowledge to describe and analyze images. To enhance cognitive adequacy and tractability, we here present a multilayer framework based on qualitative spatial models. The layout features of segmented images are defined by qualitative spatial models which we introduce, and represented as a set of qualitative spatial constraints. Assigned different semantic and context knowledge, the image segments and the qualitative spatial constraints are interpreted from different perspectives. Finally, the knowledge layer of the framework enables …

On The Polysemy Of The Lithuanian Už. A Cognitive Perspective, Inesa Šeškauskienė, Eglė Žilinskaitė-Šinkūnienė

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

Adhering to the principle of motivated polysemy, this paper sets out to demonstrate how the principle works in interpreting numerous senses of the Lithuanian preposition už ‘behind, beyond’. The present investigation relies on the cognitive linguistic framework employed, first of all, by Lakoff (1987), Langacker (1987), Talmy (2000), Tyler and Evans (2003), and Tyler (2012), who mainly worked on English, and such linguists as Tabakowska (2003, 2010) and Shakhova and Tyler (2010), who attempted to investigate inflecting languages, such as Polish and Russian. Based on such semantic principles as types of Figure and Ground, their relationship (geometric, functional, etc.), …

Language, Culture And Spatial Cognition: Bringing Anthropology To The Table, Norbert Ross, Jeffrey T. Shenton, Werner Hertzog, Mike Kohut

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

Languages vary in their semantic partitioning of the world. This has led to speculation that language might shape basic cognitive processes. Spatial cognition has been an area of research in which linguistic relativity – the effect of language on thought – has both been proposed and rejected. Prior studies have been inconclusive, lacking experimental rigor or appropriate research design. Lacking detailed ethnographic knowledge as well as failing to pay attention to intralanguage variations, these studies often fall short of defining an appropriate concept of language, culture, and cognition. Our study constitutes the first research exploring (1) individuals speaking different languages …

Antonymy In Space And Other Strictly Ordered Domains, Jessica Rett

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

Natural language references different types of entities. Some of these entities (e.g. degrees, locations, times) are strictly ordered with respect to one another; others (e.g. individuals, possible worlds) are not. The empirical goal of this paper is to show that some linguistically encoded relations across these domains (e.g. under, slower than) display a polar asymmetry, while others do not. The theoretical goal of this paper is to argue that this asymmetry – and its restriction to only certain relations – is due to intrinsic properties of strictly ordered domains, coupled with a bias in how language users perceive these …

The Lay Of The Land: Sensing And Representing Topography, Nora S. Newcombe, Steven M. Weisberg, Kinnari Atit, Matthew E. Jacovina, Carol J. Ormand, Thomas F. Shipley

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

Navigating, and studying spatial navigation, is difficult enough in two dimensions when maps and terrains are flat. Here we consider the capacity for human spatial navigation on sloped terrains, and how sloping terrain is depicted in 2D map representations, called topographic maps. First, we discuss research on how simple slopes are encoded and used for reorientation, and to learn spatial configurations. Next, we describe how slope is represented in topographic maps, and present an assessment (the Topographic Map Assessment), which can be administered to measure topographic map comprehension. Finally, we describe several approaches our lab has taken with the aim …

A Description Of Space Relations In An Nlp Model: The Abbyy Compreno Approach, Aleksey Leontyev, Maria Petrova

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

The current paper is devoted to a formal analysis of the space category and, especially, to questions bound with the presentation of space relations in a formal NLP model. The aim is to demonstrate how linguistic and cognitive problems relating to spatial categorization, definition of spatial entities, and the expression of different locative senses in natural languages can be solved in an artificial intelligence system. We offer a description of the locative groups in the ABBYY Compreno formalism – an integral NLP framework applied for machine translation, semantic search, fact extraction, and other tasks based on the semantic analysis of …

Aspects Of Space, Marcus Kracht

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

It is argued that spatial expressions come together with an encoding of the space called "aspect", which changes as we climb up the syntactic tree. The changing nature of aspect is necessary in order to simplify the meanings of elements. What appears to be a rather peculiar property of an element will be perfectly natural once we acknowledge that the elements compute on the space viewed in a particular way. Coordinates are always rooted in the landmark, for example. Thus, for the purpose of the distinction between static and dynamic it is not the "absolute" motion of the figure that …

Intuitive Direction Concepts, Alexander Klippel, Jan Oliver Wallgrün, Jinlong Yang, Kevin Sparks

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

Experiments in this article test the hypothesis that formal direction models used in artificial intelligence correspond to intuitive direction concepts of humans. Cognitively adequate formal models of spatial relations are important for information retrieval tasks, cognitive robotics, and multiple spatial reasoning applications. We detail two experiments using two objects (airplanes) systematically located in relation to each other. Participants performed a grouping task to make their intuitive direction concepts explicit. The results reveal an important, so far insufficiently discussed aspect of cognitive direction concepts: Intuitive (natural) direction concepts do not follow a one-size-fits-all strategy. The behavioral data only forms a clear …

The Geometry Of Preposition Meanings, Peter Gärdenfors

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

This article presents a unified approach to the semantics of prepositions based on the theory of conceptual spaces. Following the themes of my recent book The Geometry of Meaning, I focus on the convexity of their meanings and on which semantic domains are expressed by prepositions. As regards convexity, using polar coordinates turns out to provide the most natural representation. In addition to the spatial domain, I argue that for many prepositions, the force domain is central. In contrast to many other analyses, I also defend the position that prepositions have a central meaning and that other meanings can …

Editors’ Introduction, Michael Glanzberg, Jurģis Šķilters

Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication

Spatial cognition can be considered as a set of foundational and central cognitive abilities that enable a variety of conceptual processes, both non-verbal and verbal. Further, according to recent research, spatial thinking seems to be critical in the development of abstract knowledge and in the processes of abstraction. Although there is a consensus regarding the role and impact of spatial cognition, there are a number of different, divergent, and sometimes even discrepant theoretical and methodological perspectives in the study of spatial cognition.

Improving Urban Teachers’ Assessment Literacy Through Synergistic Individualized Tutoring And Self-Reflection, Dennis Murphy Odo

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

In this reflective piece, I provide an account of one method I am developing for fostering the assessment literacy of pre-service teachers’ in an Master of Arts in Teaching program through individualized tutoring of K-6 learners that also incorporated collaborative reflection. This method was developed for a pre-service teacher education course on individualized literacy assessment and instruction. I incorporated the individualized tutoring sessions and candidate reflection activities to develop candidates’ assessment literacy in response to several observations I made as I taught the class. The teacher research I consulted to address this challenge echoed my experience of the general superficiality …

Empowerment For Whom? Empowerment For What? Lessons From A Participatory Action Research Project, Meagan Call-Cummings, Christine James

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

This article sets forth the process through which I, an educator of over 20 years, my research mentor, and my 52 Latino/a students answered questions that were important to us through participatory action research. I start the process by asking if and how I am empowering my students, and they start their own parallel process by asking about their relationships with their White teachers. By engaging in various data collection approaches, including Boal’s (1985) Theatre of the Oppressed and Photovoice, we are all able to answer these questions. I learn that as a teacher I do not empower students; they …

Multimedia Teacher Research, Heather Leaman, Connie Dilucchio

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

In this qualitative study, two teacher educators and course instructors in a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) program explored beginning teacher researchers’ use of multimedia to support action research. Fifty-eight teachers (36 in spring 2010 and 22 in spring 2011) completed teacher research as the capstone in their M.Ed. program. Teachers utilized the MERLOT website (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) to develop and submit their research as an alternative to traditional paper submission. As teachers conducted their research, course instructors investigated how the teachers’ use of multimedia strengthened or limited their teacher research work. Data from teacher researchers …

A Book Review – Digging Deeper Into Action Research: A Teacher Inquirer’S Field Guide, Jim R. Carlson

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Digging Deeper into Action Research proves itself a handy companion for practitioners embarking on the journey of action research. The chapters are organized in logical order, beginning with a brief historical overview of teacher research and its critical contribution to the national dialogue on education. Dana frames educational research as highly contextualized, reminding readers that “outside experts,” those removed from the day-to-day operations of school, have historically set the terms for what counts as research in education (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 1993).

Teacher Candidates’ Learning Gains: The Tale Of Two Co-Teachers, Hillary Merk, Melanie Betz, Colleen O' Mara

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Co-teaching during the student teaching experience has been given increased attention among researchers and teacher educators. Co-teaching facilitates an apprenticeship arrangement that encourages modeling of classroom practice for the candidate and provides a chance to implement directly what is being learned. This qualitative study explored teacher candidates’ learning gains using the co-teaching model for student teaching. Teacher candidates were able to see more clearly the dynamics of how a classroom works and the process by which teachers plan lessons, implement curriculum, and manage the many duties of a classroom teacher.

Editorial Introduction, Suzanne Porath

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Too often teacher research is conducted in isolation, but deeper reflection and action can occur when teacher research is conducted and/or shared with others. In Volume 17, Number 2 of Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research educators/researchers illustrate how collaboration with others enhanced their understanding of their own practice. This issue provides a broad range of perspectives in using teacher research including teacher candidates, classroom teachers, and graduate students.

Assessing The Rural-Urban Divide In A Red State, Joe Blankenau, Chuck Parker

Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy

This paper explores the rural-urban divide, as it exists within Nebraska, which is a state that is largely homogenous, primarily red, with a historically sizable rural population that is in decline in most counties.1 Using survey data of attitudes towards political and economic issues, and self-identified political ideology, two key questions are considered. Has there been change in the rural-urban divide in Nebraska as rural areas lose population? Second, does the rural-urban divide persist when controlling for party identification, age, and income in multivariate analyses? Bivariate results show that the rural-urban divide continues to be an important factor on several …

Identification And Characterization Of A New Branching Mutant Of Neurospora Intermedia From Nature, Anita Mukati, Harish Vyas, Alka Vyas

Fungal Genetics Reports

Neurospora is a tropical fungus which is found abundantly growing on burnt sugarcane, discarded corn cobs and other burnt vegetation. It is being used as a model organism for understanding growth and branching in fungi. We have isolated and characterized a naturally occurring branching mutant of Neurospora intermedia which may be useful for understanding growth and branching in fungi.

28th Fungal Genetics Conference, Fungal Genetics Conference

Fungal Genetics Reports

Full abstracts from the 28th Fungal Genetics Conference Asilomar, March 17-22, 2015.

Introduction And Table Of Contents, Amy Harder

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education is the official refereed publication of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE). Its purpose is to enhance the research and knowledge base of agricultural and extension education from an international perspective.

Table Of Contents And Introductory Materials For Vol. 23, No. 1, 2015-2016, Bruce Quantic

The Advocate

This content includes the table of contents and editorial information for vol. 23, issue 1 (Fall - Winter 2015 - 2016).

Read4respect Service-­Learning Project: Motivating And Engaging Students In Reading, Valerie Zelenka, Eric Deneault, Keith Dreiling, Beth Walizer

The Advocate

This paper discusses an after­school service­learning project implemented over the course of the school year in a low SES elementary school. This project offered a sustained, coordinated effort to motivate and engage 57 struggling readers in a skills­based literacy tutoring program. A paired two-sample t­test was conducted to determine if there was a significant increase in scores from the reading attitude pre-survey to the post­survey for the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters. Increases in attitude scores were found for 13 of the 20 survey questions with three of the increases found to be significant.

Keeping Community Stakeholders Informed About The Rationale For Program Changes (Editorial), John Morton

The Advocate

An editorial comment: Communication is the key element in much of education. Gathering input and utilizing the information to help educators understand community perceptions is a vehicle that has long been underutilized in schools.

Pre-Service Teacher & Mentor Clinical Experiences, Kevin L. Splichal

The Advocate

Effective clinical experiences that pre-service teachers and pre-service teacher educators participate in are crucial for instruction to be highly effective and successful. However, the dynamics of different participating schools, mentors, instructors, and pre-service teachers add hundreds of variables to the quality of those experiences. How pre­service teachers and mentors perceive those clinical experiences can help unravel those variables and provide ways to increase quality. Based on the research, one key question is foremost as a priority, namely, what are the characteristics of pre-service teacher and the mentor relationships? Further, do those relationships equate to effective clinical experiences for pre­service teachers?

The Feasibility Of Virtual Service-­Learning, Lorie Cook-Benjamin, Chapman Rackaway Ft. Hays State University

The Advocate

This study assessed attitudes regarding the effectiveness of discipline­based service-learning within the virtual environment. The study, conducted at a comprehensive Midwestern state university, collected data using a Likert-scale survey and reflections. Research on virtual service-learning is sparse making it a field ripe with research opportunities. The quantitative results suggest virtual learners are not provided opportunities for service-learning commensurate with their in-person cohort. For one discipline, the qualitative data suggests there is a need for multiple and synchronous communication, and reflection at multiple points throughout the semester. The study validated literature on the need to use active learning pedagogies across disciplines.

The Impact Of The Common Core State Standards:The Top Five Shifts In Literacy Instruction, Carolyn Carlson

The Advocate

The Common Core State Standards Initiative adopted a goal of having every student in the United States college and career ready by the end of high school. As a result, the CCSS English/Language Arts have influenced the way teachers approach literacy instruction. Since the implementation of the CCSS (or standards similar to the actual CCSS but that vary slightly), there have been five main shifts in literacy instruction. Regardless of grade level, content area, or student characteristics (struggling, gifted, etc.), all instruction is impacted by these five shifts.

Secular Spirituality And The Foundations Of Education Classroom, Don Hufford

The Advocate

Every institution of higher education serves in some measure as a community of imagination in which every professor is potentially a spiritual guide and every syllabus a confession of faith (Parks, p. 159).

In a somewhat radically-inspired foundations of education classroom, I seek to stimulate thinking, and questioning ­ a little philosophical wondering and wandering - when I toss-out the statement that "teaching is a spiritual journey – as is life itself.”

Assessment Accommodations For English Language Learners Using The Student Language Assessment Plan, Sherri G. Brantley

The Advocate

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the assessment accommodation process for English Language Learners (ELLs) on high-stakes testing (HST). It is understood the accommodation process is a challenge for school staff members that administer assessments to ELLs. This study addressed the problem of accountability and identification systems for ELLs by: (a) investigating the assessment accommodation process used by the study school; (b) understanding the perceptions of educators regarding the assessment accommodation process, and; (c) exploring the assessment accommodation tool used by educators to document appropriate accommodations for ELLs.

Review Strategies To Recruit And Retain Rural Patient Participating Self-Management Behavioral Trials, Lufei Young, Susan Barnason, Van Do

Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy

Self-management plays a vital role in improving health outcomes and reducing costs in patient with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors. Based on existing studies, rural residents with CVD and/or risk factors show low engagement in self-management behaviors. Due to low participation in behavioral intervention trials, the most promising mechanism to promote self-management among rural populations is unknown. In turn, the purpose of this article is to review the evidence that supports strategies to recruit and retain rural patients to participate in behavioral intervention trials aimed to promote self-management of CVD and its risk factors. This review is expected …