title: Recognising and building on freshman students' prior knowledge of economics

authors: Cameron, Michael Patrick

subjects: freshman economics

abstract: The results of three surveys of freshman economics students (2008-2010) at the Waikato Management School, New Zealand, suggest that incoming students have significant levels of prior economics knowledge. Given this head start in knowledge, we have expanded our freshman lecture material with more advanced content than students would normally encounter in a microeconomics principles class. This paper examines the sources of incoming students’ prior economics knowledge and discusses some of the changes made to the learning material. The changes relate principally to the links we make between students’ basic, prior economics knowledge and the more advanced learning content that demonstrates how formal economics training can add considerable value in thinking more deeply about current affairs, business issues and daily life experiences.

text: Recognising and building on freshman students' prior knowledge of economics The results of three surveys of freshman economics students (2008-2010) at the Waikato Management School, New Zealand, suggest that incoming students have significant levels of prior economics knowledge. Given this head start in knowledge, we have expanded our freshman lecture material with more advanced content than students would normally encounter in a microeconomics principles class. This paper examines the sources of incoming students’ prior economics knowledge and discusses some of the changes made to the learning material. The changes relate principally to the links we make between students’ basic, prior economics knowledge and the more advanced learning content that demonstrates how formal economics training can add considerable value in thinking more deeply about current affairs, business issues and daily life experiences.

year: 2011-05

title: Change detection in categorical evolving data streams

authors: Ienco, Dino

subjects: categorical data

abstract: Detecting change in evolving data streams is a central issue for accurate adaptive learning. In real world applications, data streams have categorical features, and changes induced in the data distribution of these categorical features have not been considered extensively so far. Previous work on change detection focused on detecting changes in the accuracy of the learners, but without considering changes in the data distribution.

To cope with these issues, we propose a new unsupervised change detection method, called CDCStream (Change Detection in Categorical Data Streams), well suited for categorical data streams. The proposed method is able to detect changes in a batch incremental scenario. It is based on the two following characteristics: (i) a summarization strategy is proposed to compress the actual batch by extracting a descriptive summary and (ii) a new segmentation algorithm is proposed to highlight changes and issue warnings for a data stream. To evaluate our proposal we employ it in a learning task over real world data and we compare its results with state of the art methods. We also report qualitative evaluation in order to show the behavior of CDCStream.

text: Change detection in categorical evolving data streams Detecting change in evolving data streams is a central issue for accurate adaptive learning. In real world applications, data streams have categorical features, and changes induced in the data distribution of these categorical features have not been considered extensively so far. Previous work on change detection focused on detecting changes in the accuracy of the learners, but without considering changes in the data distribution.

To cope with these issues, we propose a new unsupervised change detection method, called CDCStream (Change Detection in Categorical Data Streams), well suited for categorical data streams. The proposed method is able to detect changes in a batch incremental scenario. It is based on the two following characteristics: (i) a summarization strategy is proposed to compress the actual batch by extracting a descriptive summary and (ii) a new segmentation algorithm is proposed to highlight changes and issue warnings for a data stream. To evaluate our proposal we employ it in a learning task over real world data and we compare its results with state of the art methods. We also report qualitative evaluation in order to show the behavior of CDCStream.

year: 2014

title: Taonga maioha: (Born this way) The in-depth stories of three Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous Queens

authors: Tamuera Ariki, Paikea

abstract: Who else has the right to define these, Queens? 

This thesis provides a vital platform for the voices of three Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous Queens, allowing them to share their transformation stories in their own words. Their experiences and feelings about in their words “being born into the wrong bodies” highlight the complex realities of identity and the struggle for acceptance by others. 

These Queens are unified in their desire for dignity and respect. Dignity and respect underscore a fundamental human right. They seek recognition in all areas of their lives, from healthcare to education, housing, employment, and beyond. By articulating their needs, they advocate for themselves and all marginalized individuals, seeking fairness and understanding within systems that often overlook them. 

Focusing on their lived experiences is crucial for fostering empathy and promoting systemic change, as it brings attention to the disparities they face and the importance of inclusivity in society. By sharing their truths, these Queens contribute to a broader dialogue about identity, respect, and the pursuit of equality for all. 

This thesis aims to illuminate the transformation stories or pūrākau of ten Māori and Pasifika Queens, to foster understanding of their unique experiences. The focus on those who identify as wahine despite being born biologically male allows the reader to highlight the rich diversity of gender identity within these cultures and groups. 

The Māori Ethics Committee granted ethics approval for the study, thereby paving the way for the Queens to tell their stories or pūrākau from their truths and perspectives. 

Taonga Maioha details the in-depth transformation stories of three Māori-Pasifika Queens aged 60 plus, supported by a contextual and cultural analysis of their generation. The voices and stories of the Queens are central to this thesis. These stories are thematically analyzed to unpack the cultural and generational influences impacting their identities. The core identity constructs of whakapapa, tinana, hinengaro, and wairua are used to frame and organize their transformation stories according to their instructions. Above all, this thesis is anchored in their rights to define themselves on the premise that they have the mana to define themselves irrespective of others who define them from the sidelines of their lives. Their definitions are theirs alone. The storytellers call themselves Queen, Wahine, or women. This is based on the assertion that it is their right to be called a Queen. In certain contexts, they may refer to themselves as takatāpui and transgender for the sake of acceptance by others. This thesis is written to enhance the mana of the storytellers. These are their stories and their truths. 

The late Dame Georgina Beyer, was one of the original participants in this thesis. Many interviews were conducted with her. Instructed by Georgina before her passing to publish elements of her story as part of this thesis. Unfortunately, the Ethics Committee at Waikato University did not accept this due to her passing. Hence, the reason ‘First Lady’ was introduced, where Liz Roberts gives exclusive details of her change, both legally and physically.

text: Taonga maioha: (Born this way) The in-depth stories of three Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous Queens Who else has the right to define these, Queens? 

This thesis provides a vital platform for the voices of three Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous Queens, allowing them to share their transformation stories in their own words. Their experiences and feelings about in their words “being born into the wrong bodies” highlight the complex realities of identity and the struggle for acceptance by others. 

These Queens are unified in their desire for dignity and respect. Dignity and respect underscore a fundamental human right. They seek recognition in all areas of their lives, from healthcare to education, housing, employment, and beyond. By articulating their needs, they advocate for themselves and all marginalized individuals, seeking fairness and understanding within systems that often overlook them. 

Focusing on their lived experiences is crucial for fostering empathy and promoting systemic change, as it brings attention to the disparities they face and the importance of inclusivity in society. By sharing their truths, these Queens contribute to a broader dialogue about identity, respect, and the pursuit of equality for all. 

This thesis aims to illuminate the transformation stories or pūrākau of ten Māori and Pasifika Queens, to foster understanding of their unique experiences. The focus on those who identify as wahine despite being born biologically male allows the reader to highlight the rich diversity of gender identity within these cultures and groups. 

The Māori Ethics Committee granted ethics approval for the study, thereby paving the way for the Queens to tell their stories or pūrākau from their truths and perspectives. 

Taonga Maioha details the in-depth transformation stories of three Māori-Pasifika Queens aged 60 plus, supported by a contextual and cultural analysis of their generation. The voices and stories of the Queens are central to this thesis. These stories are thematically analyzed to unpack the cultural and generational influences impacting their identities. The core identity constructs of whakapapa, tinana, hinengaro, and wairua are used to frame and organize their transformation stories according to their instructions. Above all, this thesis is anchored in their rights to define themselves on the premise that they have the mana to define themselves irrespective of others who define them from the sidelines of their lives. Their definitions are theirs alone. The storytellers call themselves Queen, Wahine, or women. This is based on the assertion that it is their right to be called a Queen. In certain contexts, they may refer to themselves as takatāpui and transgender for the sake of acceptance by others. This thesis is written to enhance the mana of the storytellers. These are their stories and their truths. 

The late Dame Georgina Beyer, was one of the original participants in this thesis. Many interviews were conducted with her. Instructed by Georgina before her passing to publish elements of her story as part of this thesis. Unfortunately, the Ethics Committee at Waikato University did not accept this due to her passing. Hence, the reason ‘First Lady’ was introduced, where Liz Roberts gives exclusive details of her change, both legally and physically.

year: 2024