The abstract is the quintessential technical writing genre, because abstract writing involves judiciously selecting content and conveying such content in lean, focused writing. This study tested the efficacy of the structured abstract content framework, proposed by Hartley, in the teaching of abstract writing in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Subject-matter experts and a technical editor independently assessed anonymised abstracts written by four (4) sophomore cohorts based on two (2) source texts. Findings demonstrate that instruction on the structured abstract content framework, as opposed to general abstract instruction, impacts neither content coverage nor writing clarity. However, the study has enabled the authors' to articulate the requirements for the ECE discourse community in a generic, text-blind assessment rubric for abstracts and has provided students with a formal schema for reading technical papers.

Densely-deployed embedded sensor networks are susceptible to constraints associated with contention across a shared transport medium. To improve channel reliability, as well as average power consumption across the system, densely-deployed embedded sensor networks often leverage node-based neighbourhood data aggregation strategies. The tradeoff is that individual sensor nodes will have increased memory capacity and access requirements; where access requirements are determined by the memory transport bandwidth, the nature and frequency of the memory accesses, and the latencies associated with the memory storage mechanism. Individual sensor nodes consume power both directly based on the number/nature of memory operations, and indirectly through leakage current through latent circuitry. This paper considers the impact of different memory archetypes on performance of aggregation-related algorithms by individual nodes - specifically the scalability of number of required bus transactions and memory-related latencies with data-set size. The archetypes under consideration were: linear-addressing (RAM), content-based addressing (ternary CAM), and multi-dimensional addressing (Parks'). VHDL-specified MicroBlaze-based nodes, a 32 bit data-bus, and archetypical memories were implemented on a Virtex-5 development board. Operations central to aggregation algorithms (min, sum, count) were run using each type of memory on data-sets of 8 different sizes between 8 and 1024 data-points. Results suggest that appropriate selection of local-node memory architecture, can offer performance benefits in densely deployed sensor networks.

The Quadrant Based Method (QUADBAM) for Global Motion Estimation introduced here exploits local motion fields. QUADBAM produces similar results to other global motion estimation methods with a lower algorithmic complexity. Two applications of QUADBAM in the treatment of broadcast cricket highlights are presented. An automated highlight detector for broadcast cricket, based solely on QUADBAM generated global motion features, provides acceptable recall rates. Mosaic visualization of individual cricket highlights, created using QUADBAM generated global motion features, are suitable for highlight summaries.

One challenge faced in the engineering education, is the need to imbue both technical competence and critical thinking skills within the bounds of academic program delivery. While technical competence can be built and assessed using structured and/or quantitative exercises, critical thinking is a skill that is both difficult to cultivate and to assess. Critical thinking involves the possession of both an expert mental model as well as the ability to leverage this model in various tasks. In engineering education, these tasks include making and justifying design choices, system optimization, and predicting system performance. Prior work, by one of the authors, explored the role of graphic organizers in the development of student's mental models. This paper describes action research underway, to explore the use of the argument map, as a structured means of leveraging mental models to promote critical thinking. In this paper, interactive smallgroup tasks based on argument maps are presented, and outputs generated by the initial cohort of undergraduate senior learners on these tasks are examined for evidence of critical thinking. These items form the basis of a longer-term longitudinal study in which the most effective means of deploying argument maps for promoting critical thinking will be examined.

This paper reviews a number of regional and extra-regional robotics initiatives. Each initiative was reviewed to determine different age groups of students, the goals of stake-holders involved in enabling an initiative, and the benchmarks for success of each initiative. The review has informed the design of an integrated intervention for Teacher Training initiated by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Division. The intervention is based on a problem-solving process, and targets teachers of students in the early secondary age group. Empowering and encouraging older student volunteers to support teachers allows for the increased longevity of the robotics initiative. The potential to foster wider student interest in STEM subjects within the Caribbean remains to be explored.

This paper explores whether engaging embedded electronic systems students in the creation of, as opposed to simply the use of, lab equipment improves their motivation to practice, and thereby their ability to acquire, discipline-specific skills. The specific piece of laboratory equipment considered is the Microchip In Circuit Debugger, inclusive of header, for PIC16F mid-range micro-controllers. A printed circuit board related teaching activity guided students through design of the ICD header (both 2011/12 and 2013/14), and physical assembly of a pre-designed ICD unit (2011/12 only). Three student cohorts subsequently used the in-house ICDs. Increased availability of units allowed each student to take the equipment outside of the lab and conduct studies at their convenience. The impact of the intervention was measured through the use of a survey; the survey instrument and response summaries are presented. Deliberate use of equipment construction as teaching activity could be an innovative way to improve skills acquisition by leveraging student motivation. Follow-up work will establish whether such activities yield reduction in time to minimal skill levels, and/or an improvement in final skill levels.

Graphic organisers, specifically concept maps, have been used to measure learning quality in higher education. This paper examines the use of an alternate graphic organiser to assess and improve learning quality. Mind maps interactively created within groups of learners, in support of specific constructivist learning practices, are assessed here. Results indicate that the mind map is an appropriate alternative to the concept map for observing constructivist learning within a technical discipline. Further, the practice of collective mind map creation, using an initial spoke structure, positively impacts learning quality within a community of learners.

This paper presents a novel method for colour image segmentation derived from the mean shift theorem. When applied to colour image segmentation tasks, the path assigned mean shift algorithm performed 1.5 to 5 times faster than existing fast mean shift methods such as the hierarchical 'neighbourhood consistency' FMS Method proposed by Zhang with comparable results. The complexity of the new PAMS algorithm can be represented as O(Phi2) where Phi represents the total number of unassigned points per iteration of the algorithm.

This paper presents a generic man-machine interfaces (MMI) performance model, based on a combination of Fitts' law and classical control theory. Experimental evidence is presented which supports the developed theory. It is suggested that, based on the new model, vectors of coefficients may be used to describe the performance of devices, independent of task or user.