Popular item response theory (IRT) models are considered complex, mainly due to the inclusion of a random factor variable (latent variable). The random factor variable represents the incidental parameter problem since the number of parameters increases when including data of new persons. Therefore, IRT models require a specific estimation method…

Since 2018, institutions of higher education have been aware of the "enrollment cliff" which refers to expected declines in future enrollment. This paper attempts to describe how prepared institutions in Ohio are for this future by looking at trends leading up to the anticipated decline. Using IPEDS data from 2012-2022, we analyze trends…

The design of algorithms is one of the hardest topics of high school computer science. This is mainly due to the universality of algorithms as solution methods that guarantee the calculation of a correct solution for all potentially infinitely many instances of an algorithmic problem. The goal of this paper is to present a comprehensible and…

In this note we demonstrate two instances where matrix multiplication can be easily verified. In the first setting, the matrix product appears as matrix element concatenation, and in the second, the product coincides with matrix addition. General proofs for some results are provided with a more complete description for 2×2 matrices. Suggested for…

This paper develops a spreadsheet simulation methodology for teaching simulation and performance analysis of priority queues with multiple servers, without resorting to macros, add-ins, or array formula. The approach is made possible by a "single overtaking" simplifying assumption under which any lower-priority customer may be passed in…

We review common situations in Bayesian latent variable models where the prior distribution that a researcher specifies differs from the prior distribution used during estimation. These situations can arise from the positive definite requirement on correlation matrices, from sign indeterminacy of factor loadings, and from order constraints on…

Educational assessment is inherently uncertain, where physiological, psychological and social factors play an important role in establishing judgements which are assumed to be "absolute". AI and other algorithmic approaches to grading of student work strip-out uncertainty, leading to a lack of inspectability in machine judgement and…

The aim of this paper is to present a teaching proposal for the theoretical part relating to the first- and second-order linear difference equations with constant coefficients suitable for the first-year students at various types of universities. In contradistinction to the methods often applied (memorization of algorithms without a proper…

This report describes the use of electroencephalography (EEG) to collect online learners' physiological information. Recent technological advancements allow the unobtrusive collection of live neurosignals while learners are engaged in online activities. In the context of multimodal learning analytics, we discuss the potential use of this new…

Inefficient targeting of students at risk of dropping out might explain why dropout-reducing efforts often have no or mixed effects. In this study, we present a new method which uses a series of machine learning algorithms to efficiently identify students at risk and makes the sensitivity/precision trade-off inherent in targeting students for…

Every educator knows the sinking feeling of a lesson gone wrong. As teachers look around the room and realize that many of their students are just not getting it, they often feel like failures. However, the struggle students experience as they persevere through high-quality challenging tasks is not a sign of failure, but rather a key aspect of…

Support vector classifiers are one of the most popular linear classification techniques for binary classification. Different from some commonly seen model fitting criteria in statistics, such as the ordinary least squares criterion and the maximum likelihood method, its algorithm depends on an optimization problem under constraints, which is…

The authors have found that having students learn accessible standard algorithms by explaining them using mathematics drawings increases students' sense of place--value numbers and enables students to articulate their understanding of what is actually happening with the numbers and why. In this article, they will discuss three standard algorithms…

The simple vehicle routing problem (VRP) is a common topic of discussion in introductory operations research/management science courses. The VRP can be framed in a variety of ways, and it can be difficult to solve to optimality. For solution purposes, introductory textbooks demonstrate how Excel's Evolutionary Solver (ES) add-in produces a…

In response to the significant disruption posed by emergent AI technology, we propose a four part framework for teaching and learning practice and development. Rather than focus on the specific technologies of the moment, this framework provides actionable suggestions for individuals with varying views of AI and its positive and negative…