Search results

Teaching venues are playing an important role in the filed of open and distance education (ODL). In China's ODL system over 70% enrolled students are from Radio and TV Universities (RTVUs). Many off-campus teaching venues of e-colleges in 67 conventional universities have been established in RTVUs at prefecture and city level. In this article, the authors have done a direct survey on the data of distance education cost over the past consecutive 4 years in 21 RTVUs at prefecture and city level from 3 provinces (Xinjiang, Hunan and Fujian) in China's western, central and eastern areas, and empirically studied the scale effect in teaching venues at prefecture and city level under the hypothesis condition-teaching effect of ODL and conventional education is the same. The study result illustrates that the average student cost of RTVUs at prefecture and city level demonstrates a scale economy feature, that is, with the expansion of enrolled students scale, there is a fall in the average student cost. The study indicates large differences between average student variable cost and average student cost, which shows a possible average cost reduction in RTVUs at prefecture and city level. In terms of geographical and economic differences, some imbalances of development have been found among RTVUs at prefecture and city level. A quadratic form regression model has been established for doing this research in the perspective of education economics. The results of the regression show that the optimal enrolled student number of RTVUs nationwide at prefecture and city level is around 7,800. For provinces, the most optimal enrolled student numbers are as follows: 9,100 for Fujian, 3,800 for Hunan, and 2,200for Xianjiang, which can serve as the reference for expanding scale economy in ODL. The research finding also indicate the changes in student average cost resulting from the changes in scale, the problem of determining investment direction. It is suggested that more input which benefit the quality improvement of distance education should be made.

In the field of education in China, a large number of learning management systems have been deployed, in which vast amounts of data on learners and learning processes have been stored. How can one make use of these data? How can one transform the data into information and knowledge that inform decision-making in teaching and optimize learning? These questions have become a matter of concern for educators and learners. Learning analytics helps to unlock the value of the learning process data, so that the data can become an important basis for prudent decisions and process optimization. 'Learning analytics' was listed in the 2013 NMC Horizon Report as one of the emerging technologies that will have a great impact on learning, teaching and innovative research in higher education in two to three years. The report notes that learning analytics aims to decipher trends and patterns in the teaching and learning process from educational big data. In this paper, an online course on the Moodle platform is used for the research. The study examines reflection on online teaching and learning based on massive records of the learning process from the perspective of a tutor employing learning analytics. It is a brand new form of reflection on teaching and learning. The analysis of interactive course forums can help tutors to focus on key teaching and learning activities, and achieve more accurate analysis than with conventional face-to-face teaching activities. The research indicates that learning analytics is effective in supporting tutor reflection on interactive online teaching and learning.

In order to keep the advantages of PM generators and eliminate its disadvantage – difficulty in regulating the magnetic field, hybrid excitation is an effective way. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel way to achieve hybrid excitation by use of tooth harmonic field.

Unlike weakening the tooth harmonics field and EMF in traditional machines, in this paper the tooth harmonics field is proposed to form a novel hybrid excitation permanent magnet synchronous generator (HEPMSG).

The generation mechanism of tooth harmonic electromotive force (EMF) of rotor winding is introduced, and its influencing factors are discussed in detail. The matching design of tooth harmonic winding and field winding for maximum output field current of tooth harmonic excitation system is analyzed.

This machine can achieve not only effective adjustment of the air-gap magnetic field, but also elimination of the brushes and slip rings.

Unlike weakening the tooth harmonics field and EMF in traditional machines, in this paper the tooth harmonics filed is proposed to form a novel hybrid excitation PM synchronous generator. This machine can achieve not only effective adjustment of the air-gap magnetic field, but also elimination of the brushes and slip rings.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between automated assembly and mass production environments such as the manufacture of cars, airplanes and white goods and methods of modelling and simulation. Even in this environment high‐level automated assembly is restricted to the original equipment manufacturers where production volumes are high and flexibility and the ability to quickly reconfigure systems are not major drivers. It proposes modelling of the fixing/assembly process and outlining why and how new methods are important throughout the manufacturing process. The paper aims to expand the domain of co operation of different research institutes, universities and companies.

The paper focuses on typically, fixture design, which involves the identification of clamp, locator, and support points, and the selection of corresponding fixture elements for their respective functions. In addition, the automation of fixture design activities in manufacturing is an important research area, which aims to achieve the integration of design and manufacturing. The most commonly used methods are pointed out.

The paper summarizes the main modelling and simulation methods applied to new fixing and assembly processes.

Because of the chosen research approach, the paper is more general.

The paper includes implications for the development of a powerful new fixing method applied in the automotive and aerospace industry, which is important for stability and easy change in a rough manufacturing environment.

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how new fixing methods can improve motorcar and aerospace manufacturing.

Aerospace and defence industries use the materials having better properties at elevated temperatures, and Inconel 718 is one of that. The complexity in realizing complex and intricate shapes necessitate the product realization through additive manufacturing. This paper aims to investigate the wear behaviour of additive manufactured material.

The wear behaviour of additively manufactured Inconel 718 samples through direct metal laser sintering process at three different build orientations was experimentally investigated using a standard pin-on-disc wear tester.

Among the varied wear parameters, the load was identified as the most influencing parameter on the wear rate. In addition, the post-failure analysis of the worn surface of the pins under the scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of various wear mechanisms.

Almost, the industries are now focussed on their production through additive manufacturing owing to its advantages. The present work displays the wear behaviour of the additive manufactured Inconel 718 and its associated wear mechanisms.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2019-0322.