Assessing a New Academic Model Using Artificial Neural Networks

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source of Publication

Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics

Publication Date

12-1-2002

Abstract

Zayed University-ZU is a young University that adopted a new Academic Program Model-APM. The new academic program is an Outcome Based Education-OBE model that was developed to address challenges that face a rapidly changing society such as the UAE. The Learning Outcome-LO academic model was designed around six learning outcomes; Information Literacy and Communication, Information Technology, Critical Thinking and Reasoning, Global Awareness, Teamwork, Leadership, to help students develop critical intellectual capacities and skills that will help them. Furthermore, the new academic model focuses on the process of student learning. To simulate the APM performance, a mathematical model that uses neural networks and fuzzy logic was developed. The neural network was trained on mapping 40 activities into a set of 24 indicators. Then, we used a number of well chosen fuzzy If-Then rules obtained from expert knowledge to classify the 24 indicators into the six ZU Learning Outcomes. The simulations were all successfully performed using the MATLAB simulation package. We believe that the combined Neural Networks-Fuzzy logic modeling technique is a very effective and efficient tool to study how the APM performs under various conditions.

Publisher

IEEE

Volume

6

First Page

118

Last Page

122

Disciplines

Business

Keywords

Hybrid academic model, Learning outcomes, Neural networks, Outcome based education

Scopus ID

0036971761

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

Link to Full Text

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