The mental models of both novice and advanced chemistry students were observed while the students performed a periodic table activity. The mental model framework seems to be an effective way of analyzing student behavior during learning activities. The analysis suggests that students do not recognize periodic trends through the examination of elemental data. Even simple relationships (e.g., the sequence of atomic mass values) proved important to novice understanding of the trends in the periodic table. The use of common heuristics for decision making, and well-known common errors associated with those heuristics independent of the students' chemistry background, were also observed.

Many older adults find that they must manage one or more chronic illnesses entailing multiple medication regimens. These regimens can be daunting, with consequences for medication adherence and health outcomes. To promote adherence to medication regimens, we used contextual design to develop paper and digital prototypes of a medication management device. The design focused on enhancing users’ motivation to adhere to medication therapy. Our design process and outcome suggest that contextual design might serve as an effective data-driven method that can account for the less tangible aspects of work activities, such as motivation.

Objective: We developed a computational model of the effects of sleep deprivation on the vigilance decrement by employing the methods of system dynamics modeling. Background: Situations that require sustained attention for a prolonged duration can cause a decline in cognitive performance, the so-called vigilance decrement. One factor that should influence the vigilance decrement is fatigue in the form of sleep deprivation. Method: We employed the methods of system dynamics modeling (numerical-integration techniques for modeling complex feedback systems) to create a computational model of the vigilance decrement. We then simulated the computational effects of sleep deprivation on the behavior of that model, using empirical data obtained from the literature for calibrating such effects. Results: Sleep deprivation of 2 hr over a 14-day period should produce an additional decline of 9% in detection performance over that found with the typical vigilance decrement, whereas 4 hr of sleep deprivation over 14 days should produce an additional decline of 14% in detection performance. Conclusion: With respect to dual-process theory, it is through its deleterious effects on analytical cognition that sleep deprivation should impact the vigilance decrement. Application: Such computational modeling may be advantageous for human-machine teaming by theoretically allowing a future autonomous software agent to anticipate the decline of human performance and compensate accordingly.

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A new case study for the AP curriculum, based on a marine biology simulation program will be released for the 2000-2001 academic year. The case study highlights linear and two-dimensional data structures, object interaction, objectoriented design, and discrete simulation. This seminar will introduce the new case study to AP teachers and other interested CS educators, and will discuss how it can be integrated into the AP (or CS 1 and CS 2) curricula.

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